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The Flushing Town Hall celebrates milestone and carries on great legacy into a modern era
By Tammy Scileppi
We always tell our audiences: Welcome to Flushing Town Hall youre in The Jazz Capital of Queens, says Clyde Bullard, producer of the Jazz Live! Series and other concerts presented there. As the pre-eminent venue in Queens showcasing world-class artists at an affordable price, the New York City historical landmark on Northern Boulevard celebrates its 150th anniversary this year. Its hard to believe that the historic building, built in 1862 during the Civil War, has transformed into a renowned multi-arts center, whose performances have been reviewed by major newspapers and media outlets. Its jazz concerts won Village Voices Best Jazz Tour in New York City. Not bad for a former multi-purpose building with humble beginnings. When it first opened its doors in 1864, the hall had little identity and functioned as a municipal office building, a library, the Queens County Savings Bank, and a lecture and concert hall presenting light operas. Following Flushings incorporation into the City of New York in 1898, the Romanesque Revivalstyle building served as a courthouse from 1902 to the 1960s. In December 1909, Flushing Courthouse made headlines throughout Gotham, as a scorned husband, Captain Peter Hains Jr., and his brother, Thornton Jenkins Hains, a successful novelist were tried there for one of the most heinous murders in New York City history. Rumor had it that Peters lovely young bride was taking part in orgies with her husbands friend, William Annis. On Aug. 15, 1908 the idyllic coast of Little Neck Bay became a horrific crime scene when Peter Hains shot the unsuspecting lover eight times to settle the score, while his brother stood guard. The two then calmly waited for the police. Jurors convicted Captain Hains despite his lawyers outrageous Dementia Americana claim, based on the unwritten law apparently, this madness overtook American husbands just long enough for them to take revenge upon their wives lovers. Thornton was acquitted.
Sudoku 42 Theater Calendar 43 Town Hall Events 44 Crossword Puzzle 45 Arts & Entertainment 45
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At one point in the 1970s, the Flushing Town Hall served as a supper club, with diners seated on the halls front porch.
Photo courtesy Flushing Town Hall
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The Queens Jazz Orchestra peforms at Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd. in Flusing.
Photo courtesy Flushing Town Hall
can take almost 50 to 60 years for a jazz musician to attain that status, Bullard explained. He added that NEA masters routinely perform at festivals around the world and lecture frequently. Some of those masters
whove performed at Flushing Town Hall include Jimmy Heath, Brad Weston, Jon Hendricks, Freddie Hubbard, Barry Harris, Curtis Fuller, Quincy Jones and Nat Hentoff. In addition to being recognized as the pre-eminent destina-
tion for great jazz in Queens, the town hall has been home to African American and Caribbean music icons as well such as NEA Jazz Master and Latin music icon Eddie Palmieri, Barry Gonzalez and many Brazilian artists as well. Continued on Page 45
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Town Hall
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The founder
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From those rough-andtumble days as a courthouse to the arts institution of today, it is Jo-Ann Jones who will always be remembered as the feisty gogetter who made Flushing Town Hall flourish. In a sense, she put Flushing on the map, not only in Queens but in the city at-large, and changed residents and artists lives for the better. Following a series of events that changed Flushing Town Halls destiny, the building was starting to find itself with a lot of help from its friends, namely Ms. Jones. From its former neglected, ugly duckling state, it blossomed into a beautifully appointed modern swan, with a much-needed $8 million face-lift. In 1993, the first floor galleries were opened and the restoration continued until 1999, when the second floors 308-seat concert hall was opened to the public. Since 1993, world-class quality programs, including jazz, classical and international music, have been enjoyed by thousands who chose to stay local and avoid the trek to Manhattan and its pricey entertainment. The building got a new lease on life when Jones, a classically trained musician, served as executive director of the Flushing Council on Culture and Arts from 1979 to 2003. FCCA restored and now operates the institution on behalf of the City of New York, the property owner. Flushing Council on Culture and the Arts is thrilled to celebrate Flushing Town Halls 150th Anniversary, said Gabrielle M. Hamilton, director of
Education and Public Programs. With our long history from our roots in welcoming back Queens Civil War veterans, to presenting the abolitionist Frederick Douglas, to seating Queens County Savings Bank and the Flushing Library here, and more recently showcasing Queens jazz artists Flushing Town Hall has been instrumental in commemorating the culture, art and lives of Queens residents, as well as the general population. An outdoor garden can host up to 250 guests for musical performances and community events, and its a great venue for multicultural weddings.
The talent
Producer Clyde Bullard, a native of Harlem and Bronx resident, has been the force behind organizing the memorable music performances at the hall. Bullard is a professional bass player with the Boys Choir of Harlem, and has played the White House four or five times, including President Bill Clintons inauguration. He has performed in Broadway shows like Hair and Pippin, and with stars like Gloria Gaynor. Bullard said he is proud of the fact that National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters perform at Flushing Town Hall. He insists its mature, sophisticated audiences wont settle for less than artists with stature and experience that play well. The audience cant be fooled. The artists are the same artists youll see at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and even Europe, he said. Audiences know when they pay money to go their concert is going to be a professional show in whatever musical genre is performing: Professional theater, lighting and sound; and a 9-foot
General Peter Conover Hains (l.), father of the Hains brothers, who were tried for murder in 1908, walking with his son Thornton outside the Flushing Courthouse (today known as Flushing Town Hall). Thornton was acquitted of murder due to pyschiatric reasons while his brother, Captain Peter Hains, Jr., was convicted despite using the same defense.
Photo courtesy Flushing Town Hall
A member of the Korean Drumline performing outside the Flushing Town Hall earlier this year.
Photo courtesy Flushing Town Hall
Jazz it up
Last year, with support from the Louis Armstrong Foundation, we launched our Jazz Jam series and free monthly jazz clinics for high school students, said Hamilton. These monthly jazz jams provide local area graduate stud-
ies jazz musicians, instrumental music teachers and professional jazz players with a much-needed jazz gathering in Queens to network, learn, improvise and play with other jazz musicians. She added, The response to the Jazz Jam has been tremendous, and we are thrilled to be a gathering place for great music and artists. Jams are free for musicians and members, while non-members pay $10. Hamilton said she looks forward to many more years of fabulous art and culture by and for Queens residents.
Historic Flushing Town Hall 137-35 Northern Blvd. Flushing, NY 11354 718-463-7700 x239 www.flushingtownhall.org
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Monthly Jazz Jam Open to professional jazz musicians, graduate students studying jazz and music educators. Meet new musicians and network for potential new projects. Free and open to the public. When: Oct. 3, 7 pm The Collage Aesthetic of Louis Armstrong: In the Cause of Happiness Louis Armstrong was an avid collage artist. This exhibition, produced for Lincoln Center, features reproductions of collages created by the jazz great, affixed to boxes of his audio tapes. When: Oct. 14 through Dec. 31
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Monthly Jazz Jam Open to professional jazz musicians, graduate students studying jazz and music educators. Meet new musicians and network for potential new projects. Free and open to the public. When: Sept. 5, 7 p.m.
Stage
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Other types of music weve hosted by way of performances include South Asian and Indian music, folk, rock n roll and more, Bullard said. Further, the venue has regularly featured classical music concerts with musicians from the Queens Philharmonic. And in addition to hosting a series of free summer concerts as well as great jazz players such as the upcoming Dandy Wellington and his Band, Bullard said that every month the venue helps to continually nurture jazz in the borough with free jazz jams. The jams happen every month, usually the first Wednesday, from 7pm 10pm and are open to professional jazz musicians, graduate students studying jazz, music educators and the general public. Calling Flushing Town Hall the Jazz capital of Queens, Bullard, who has
THE ARTS
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Champion Fulton Quartet Pianist and jazz vocalist Champian Fultons distinct sound blends that of Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday with her own twist. When: Aug. 11, 2 pm and 4 pm Where: Forest Hills Public Library, 108-19 71st Ave., Forest Hills Contact: (718) 268-7934 Website: www.queenslibrary.org
ENTERTAINMENT
Contact: (718) 366-7400 Website: www.ctkrhs.org Warm Up 2012 The annual music series Warm Up at MoMA PS1 is celebrating its 15th year, featuring temporary urban landscape by HWKN called Wendy, the winning design of MoMA PS1s 13th annual Young Architects Program. When: Through Sept. 8; Saturdays, 29 pm Where: MoMA PS1, 22-25 Jackson Ave., Long Island City Contact: (718) 784-2084 Website: momaps1.org
Jewish Music under the Stars Brong your own lounge chair or blanket. When: Aug. 15-29, Wednesdays, 7 pm Where: Cunningham Park, 73rd Ave. and Francis Lewis Boulevard, Fresh Meadows Jazzmobile Concert Jazzmobile Concert, the Louis Armstrong House Museum annual free summer block party sponsored by Jazzmobile, will be featuring Cuban-born trumpeter and multi-Grammy award winner Arturo Sandoval. This is a rare chance to hear one of the worlds greatest trumpeters and a Summer with Satchmo highlight. When: Aug. 16, 7 pm Where: Louis Armstrong House Museum, 34-56 107th Ave., Corona Contact: (718) 478-8274
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Tango dancers performing during the Flushing Town Halls free concert series, which also features an instructional component.
Photo courtesy Flushing Town Hall
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toured the world himself as jazz and cant be fooled, a jazz musician, said that Bullard said. in 2004 Flushing Town Hall Moreover, Bullard said received an honor from the that the theater itself is a Village Voice for conduct- very professional experiing the best jazz tour in ence for high-level artists as New York City. well since the venue features The tour spotlighted a rare Steinway Grand, where some of the bor- known by musicians as the oughs famous jazz musi- Rolls Royce of pianos. cians, such as Louis ArmFlushing is a destina strong, Ella Fitzgerald, etc. tion for jazz, world and clas had lived and played. music, Bullard said. sical Any artist we book In many ways, I have the here at Flushing has a high best of both worlds here as degree of professionalism a musician and an adminis and stature because people trator who can ensure this that come here know their history moves forward.
Dominic Sabatino Il Tabarro by Giacomo Puccini with 20 artists. When: Aug. 12, 12 pm Where: Christ the King High School, 68-02 Metropolitan Ave., Middle Village
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