Saturday Afternoon with Jazz Legend: Marjorie Eliot
On Saturday afternoon, as part of another E100 monthly adventure organized by the fantastic Rob Gonzalez, we trekked up to Sugar Hill, Harlem for some parlor jazz with the infamous Marjorie Eliot. Not only were we privy to an intimate private performance by Ms. Eliot, but we were privy to this performance IN her apartment.
Every Sunday, for the past 17 years, Marjorie has been opening up her home to Jazz fans, free of charge. You literally pull up a folding chair, and just start listening in as she tickles the ivory and features other jazz greats.
This weekend, she played alongside drummer Al Drears for this special Saturday concert Rob had arranged for us. As the performance came to a close, the room was dark with the glow of blue lighting; it was post 5PM and the sun had gone down in Manhattan. Majorie thanked us all for our attendance and let us know that these performances are meant to honor her son, Philip Eliot, who shared in her passion for music, and tragically passed away in 1992. In that moment, in her home, you could feel how much history had taken place in that very room.
Words cannot explain the warm-natured souls of both she and Al Drears (who was bad ass on the drums, by the way). She is thanking us? We are in her home, we should be thanking her!
Proving it is a small world, I said a quick hello & thank you to her after the show, and reminded her that I actually helped to publicize one of her shows at Symphony Space in the Upper West Side back on Valentine’s Day, 2006. She remembered the connection and was so excited that I was able to witness this legendary jam session that I had once written about, with my own eyes. It was honor.
A true gem of New York – her concerts are open to all, every Sunday at 4PM, rain or shine. Just go to 555 Edgecombe Avenue (@ 160th Street) and ring up to 3F.
*Photos courtesy of Rob Gonzalez
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