Concert hails music of Harlem
2/23/2006The jazzy music that flourished in Harlem during the 1920s and 1930s will be celebrated Sunday at 5 p.m. at St. Martin de Porres church's annual February concert.
The Toledo Symphony Orchestra and the David Carter Symphonic Choir will perform works in honor of Black History Month. The popular concert, in its 16th year, is usually attended by nearly 1,000 people.
It will be followed by two hours of dining, dancing, and listening in a replication of the great New York City night spot, the Cotton Club.
The concert will include "Satchmo: A Tribute to Louis Armstrong," a medley from George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, Duke Ellington's "Harlem," a piece called "Hip Hop Essay" by Florida violinist and composer Daniel Roumain, and more.
The orchestra will be conducted by Chelsea Tipton II. David Carter will conduct his choir, established in 1985.
After the concert, the second part of the evening will be the afterglow reception in the adjacent school cafeteria, decorated to look like the Cotton Club, said K. LaVerne Redden, head of the event and the parish's director of social concerns.
It will feature continuous entertainment by musicians and singers, dancing, and food, including a coffee bar, beer, and wine, Redden said.
The event is the church's biggest fund-raiser of the year, she added.
"Harlem: A Tribute to Glory" will be Sunday at 5 p.m. in St. Martin de Porres church, 1119 West Bancroft St. at Detroit Avenue. Doors open at 4:15 p.m. and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets are $15. The Afterglow Reception begins in the adjacent school cafeteria following the concert, about 6:30 p.m., and continues until 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 for this event and include a full meal, beverages, and entertainment. Tickets may be purchased today at the church's parish center until 5 p.m. and at the door on Sunday, beginning about 4:15 p.m. Information: 419-241-4544.