"Raising The Bar" at New York's Tap Family Reunion

Last night, Da Super Villainz (top) put on a show
to honor jazz, tap and Bill "Bojangles" Robinson.
Photo: Courtesy of Billy Rose Theatre Division,
The New York Public Library Digital Collections 

Up in Harlem last night, the tap fam turned out for the signature event of the first annual Tap Family Reunion. Raising The Bar--created by formidable tap stars Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, Derick K. Grant and Jason Samuels-Smith--celebrated National Tap Dance Day, birthday of ancestor Bill “Bojangles” Robinson. Hosted Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, the show was cookin' like the first barbecue of Memorial Day weekend. People, without exaggeration, this was one of the best and hottest shows of New York's jam-packed season. Following a brief introduction by the three co-conspirators--they do call themselves Da Super Villainz--and a blessing from renowned Debbie Allen, the evening took off with the warm, sumptuous jazz of Igmar Thomas's quartet.

Intergenerational by design, the show mixed solo turns by well-respected entertainers like tap guru Brenda Bufalino, Maurice Chestnut (Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk) and Broadway's Karen Calloway-Williams with peppy ensemble numbers created for youngsters who brought refined training, charm and notable confidence. For this celebration of two American inventions--jazz and tap--the bar for rigorous thought and execution was raised especially high by Chicago's Star Dixon (M.A.D.D. Rhythms) and Nico Rubio (Tap Company 333). Bring us more from Chicago, please.

Grant, Sumbry-Edwards and Samuels-Smith never danced in the show. But I can tell you the two guys' resounding play-by-play and grunts of appreciation (and occasional disbelief) greatly enhanced my viewing experience. Presenters, take note: From now on, I always want to be seated directly in front of Grant and Samuels-Smith--and maybe not only for tap shows.

Featured performers: Antoinette Montague (vocals), Maurice Chestnut, Karen Calloway-Williams, Skip Cunningham, Nico Rubio, Star Dixon, Brenda Bufalino

Ensemble performers: Ciper Goings, Demi Remick, Destiny Delancy, Eric Decaminada, Jalen Saint Phifer, Jabu Graybeal, Maia Dumas, Naomi Funaki and Nakya Fenderson

Musicians: Igmar Thomas (Musical Director; trumpet); Jason Brown (drums); Zaccai Curtis (piano) and Luques Curtis (bass)

Upcoming Tap Family Reunion events include a day of classes today taught by tap greats at the Ailey Studios, a jam session at Swing 46 and much more. For the full schedule of events and ticketing details, click here.

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Keeping time with Geri Allen and Maurice Chestnut

Jazz Standard 

presents

 Geri Allen’s Timeline Band

Wednesday-Sunday, November 28-December 2, 7:30PM and 9:30PM 
(additional 11:30PM set on Friday & Saturday)


Geri Allen – piano
Kenny Davis – bass
Kassa Overall – drums
Maurice Chestnut – tap dancing

In 2009, Geri Allen recorded performances at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio and Reed College in Oregon to create the first live album of her stellar career. For these shows, Geri led a truly unique group that combined the kinetic talents of her piano trio with those of tap dancer Maurice Chestnut, “who brings magical footwork and musicianship in the vein of the late Gregory Hines and contemporaries Savion Glover.” (Mark F. Turner, AllAboutJazz.com) The resulting CD, simply titled Live and released in 2010 on the Dig imprint, was hailed by The New York Times as “the rewardingly bold new statement from Ms. Allen, a wise and dynamic pianist, and Timeline, her sharp young working band.” Jazz Standard welcomes Geri Allen and Timeline for four gala nights in the great jazz/tap tradition – make your reservations now!

About Maurice Chestnut: One of tap's brightest young stars, Maurice Chestnut is an original member of the New Jersey Tap Dance Ensemble. His extensive list of credits includes his appearance at Carnegie Hall and throughout Europe with the Geri Allen trio as a featured soloist, and his performances in productions with Savion Glover such as Bring In 'Da Noise, Bring In 'Da Funk, Improvography, Classical Savion, Tappin' Into Monk, Invitation to the Dancer and on ABC-TV's Dancing With The Stars. At the turn of the 21st century, the Newark Star Ledger's arts reviewers named Maurice "one of the twenty New Jersey faces to watch for in the new century."

Straight from Newark, New Jersey, Maurice Chestnut introduces tap as an instrument. Maurice takes from his classical rhythm tap training and infuses hip-hop, funk and soul. Maurice Chestnut began dancing at the age of 5, under the direction of Mr. Alfred Gallman. At the age of 9 Maurice joined his first professional dance company; New Jersey Tap Ensemble. Under the direction of Ms. Deborah Mitchell with NJTE. He is currently principle dancer and choreography with the ensemble. Maurice brings us the soul which can only be inspired from the Hoofing greats, watching him dance is like walking through Harlem in the 1940's. Maurice has performed at many prestigious events such as; The Apollo Theater, where he was crowned Top Dog performer, Carnegie Hall yearly Jazz Festival, as well as the Playboy Jazz Festival. He was also featured on Sally Jesse Raphael's My Kid's a Star. At the age of fourteen Maurice was named one of New Jersey’s artists to watch in the "New Millennium". He was also a gold medalist in the NAACP's Act-So competition and was featured on the TV special. He has also had the opportunity to be on tour in the Tony award winning Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Funk, with Savion Glover. Maurice is working with Savion again, currently touring with his Improvographgy tour. His off- Broadway credits include Shades of Harlem, The Wiz, as well as Bubbling Brown Sugar, directed by illustrious George Faison at Atlanta's Fox Theater, where he played the role of Bumpy Johnson. Mr. Chestnut is now fusing tap as a live instrument in a band, he is touring with a show entitled Can I Hit That.

To purchase tickets, contact Jazz Standard at 212-576-2232.

Jazz Standard116 East 27th Street (between Park Avenue South and Lexington Avenue), Manhattan
(map/directions)

While I was away...

When you've had very little (and unreliable) access to the 'Net, catching up with nearly three weeks of dance-related news (just for starters) is quite a task. Here's a handful of notable items culled from The New York Times, just in case you happened to miss these, too.

Gerald Myers, 85, Writer on Dance and Philosophy, Dies by William Grimes, February 23

New Punch in an Old tale as a Trickster Reappears by Claudia La Rocco, February 27 (I'm including this since my pile of email messages reveals quite a bit of raving about this work, and I regret missing it. Damn nicely-done review, too.)

Pearl Lang, Dancer and Choreographer, Dies at 87 by Jack Anderson, February 27

For a Dancer Making His Way, It's All Tap, All Day by Tammy La Gorge, March 1

Bigger Woes for Library, as a Buyer Backs Out by Robin Pogrebin, March 4 (not dance-related, specifically, but...you know.)

Dancing With the Average Folk by David McKay Wilson, March 8, 2009