GISH AT THE MOVIES JAMMIN ’ WITH JAZZ FOR 63 YEARS
There are two kinds of jazz : quiet and loud . When I went to Café 4212 at 4212 Almeda Road ( www . cafe4212 . com ) a few months ago , the words to the Fats Waller song “ The Joint is Jumpin ’” popped into my head . It was loud jazz and I liked it ! It ’ s a happening place every Monday night because of the historic Monday Nite Jazz Jam , the longest-running jazz jam in the country . Originally set in motion in 1953 by jazz legends VI and JOHNNY WILLIAMS at the J & V Lounge in the heart of Third Ward , artists like wellknown “ Texas Tenor ” ARNETT COBB and beloved Houston teacher “ Prof ” CONRAD JOHNSON ( who played with Count Basie and led the award-winning Kashmere Stage Band ) joined in these weekly musical affairs . The Jazz Jam moved around over the next 63 years – landing in places like the small nightclub Pecko ’ s ( owned and managed by record producer and music mogul DON ROBY of the famous Duke / Peacock Records ), then finally ending up at Café 4212 on Monday nights from 8pm – midnight .
This Jam is unique because producer T . R . REED ( who took the reins from Vi and Johnny ) has a screen on the stage showing rare and classic film clips he programs – many of them going as far back as 1919 and all of them depicting the “ Golden Era of Jazz ,” films from the 1920s and 1930s . T . R ., also known as “ The Ambassador of Jazz ,” sends weekly emails with notes and links for the films as well as snippets of jazz history and a preview of the week ’ s musical guests ( to get on his list , shoot an email to sncproductions @ att . net ). Some recent films included clips of Sammy Davis , Jr ., at the age of 6 ; a 17-year-old LENA HORNE ; and performances with NAT “ KING ” COLE , JOSEPHINE BAKER , FRANK SINATRA and BENNY GOODMAN .
T . R . produced the Jam with his late wife , jazz vocalist CAROL SANDERS , and both of them felt it was important to not only showcase the music but to also educate the audience through the films . “ These African- American sounds and images are a treasured part of this nation ’ s culture and their influence continues to impact new music of the 21st century ,” T . R . told me recently .
Like the art form itself , jazz in Houston is always jumpin ’. TEX ALLEN , a well-known New York jazz man who grew up in Houston , is opening Al J ’ s this month , and jazz is on the menu at places like Bohemeo ’ s ( www . bohemeos . com ), Renae ’ s Homestyle Restaurant and Bar ( www . renaeshomestylerestaurant . com ), Cezanne ( www . cezannejazz . com ), the Mosaic Bar and Lounge ( www . mosaicbarandlounge . com ), and Sambuca Restaurant ( www . sambucarestaurant . com ). Annual events include the Trinity Jazz Festival ( www . trinityjazzfest . net ) in January , the Red Cat Jazz Festival ( www . redcatjazzfest . com ) in May and the Houston International Jazz Festival by Jazz Education Inc . ( www . jazzeducation . org ) in August .
WANT TO SEE MORE ART FILMS ?
CHECK OUT THESE VENUES
14 Pews ( www . 14pews . org ) Alamo Drafthouse ( www . drafthouse . com ) Asia Society ( www . asiasociety . org / texas ) Aurora Picture Show ( www . aurorapictureshow . org ) Blaffer Art Museum ( www . blafferartmuseum . org ) Café Brasil ( www . cafe-brasil . net ) Contemporary Arts Museum ( www . camh . org ) Discovery Green ( www . discoverygreen . com ) DiverseWorks ( www . diverseworks . org ) Holocaust Museum ( www . hmh . org ) Jewish Community Center ( www . erjcchouston . org ) Landmark River Oaks Theatre ( www . landmarktheatres . com ) Menil Collection ( www . menil . org ) Miller Outdoor Theatre ( www . milleroutdoortheatre . com ) Museum of Fine Arts , Houston ( www . mfah . org / films ) Orange Show ( www . orangeshow . org ) Rice Cinema ( www . ricecinema . rice . edu ) Sundance Cinemas ( www . sundancecinemas . com )
By Sarah Gish | www . gishcreative . com
38 L O C A L | september 16