Welcome in winter with Verses from the Village, a Harlem sound celebration featuring jazz, drumming, spoken word -- and you!
Meet up at local small business Ginjan Cafe to jam with musicians TC the 3RD (vocals), Marcus Persani (keys) and Joqueem Poso (percussion), hosted by poet and artist Sista Zock. We'll be grooving together to welcome in the Winter Solstice with maracas, shakers and more -- as we help the sun set and greet the Winter Lights along the street as they start to glow.
About the artists:
William Theodore Carney III, known as TC The 3RD, is a jazz vocalist, songwriter and producer. Born in Philadelphia, he grew up in a musical environment influenced by his parents, Trudy Pitts, an acclaimed organist, and Mr. C., a celebrated drummer. TC began performing at the age of 14 and has since collaborated with numerous jazz legends including Sun Ra Arkestra, Grover Washington, Jr., Art Blakey and Wynton Marsalis. TC's third project, "THE MUSIC," features a collection of jazz music that includes renditions of "The New Star Spangled Banner," "Bye Bye Blackbird," and "Solar Sign." TC's work has been recognized for its rich jazz tones and his ability to vocalize rhythms that mesmerize audiences.
Marcus Persani is a versatile musician with a diverse musical vocabulary who has performed with notable artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach and Tito Puente, and has been a member of the Sugar Hill Quartet for nearly two decades in the band’s residencies at St. Nick’s Pub, Lenox Lounge, Minton’s Playhouse and Smoke. Marcus attended Grinnell College, the same school as Herbie Hancock, and later studied at the American Conservatory in Chicago. His musical journey has taken him from Chicago's vibrant musical scene to New York's artistic hub, where he continues to craft soulful music and tour with some of the greats in the music world.
Joaquin Pozo is a master conguero and bongocero, playing both the congas and bongos with ease and a unique finesse reminiscent of the classic Cuban bongo style. Having grown up in Havana and descended from a long line of revered Cuban musicians, Pozo was very early indoctrinated in the rich rumba tradition. Over the past three decades, Joaquin has honed his traditional and popular chops by mastering both folkloric forms like rumba and modern forms like jazz.
Sista Zock, a Renaissance woman from Harlem, crafts a sonic experience that transcends boundaries. Existing in the space of sound articulated through spoken word and music, she introduces a unique Afro-jazz fusion sound with a touch of hip-hop. Her latest album, "Zock Solid: Where the Stem Meets the Root," features a collaboration with Abiodun of The Last Poets, adding depth and resonance to her musical journey, while her track "You Should Know That" resonates as the official trailer for Spike Lee's Academy Award-winning Netflix series, "She's Gotta Have It (Season 2)." Currently, Sista Zock is working with Savion Glover's Project 9.