Central Park, New York: The Lake, Bow Bridge and The Ramble

9 NOVEMBER 2103. CENTRAL PARK, NEW YORK. 30 BANDS. 1 SET LIST

This remarkable event involved 30 different jazz bands spread round different locations throughout the whole of Central Park, simultaneously playing from one carefully timed set list. The ensemble below, the Jazz at Lincoln Center All-Stars (feat. Russell Hall Quartet), were stationed at Cherry Hill, the scenic horse carriage circular turn-around overlooking The Lake and Bow Bridge (see header picture, taken in February)

I’m not a jazz person myself, but this sort of open air occasion could get me interested… For anyone who might like to know more details, here’s the set list to give an idea of the breadth of the repertoire and the opportunity for quality soloing. The four-hour event was entirely free. What’s not to like on a misty November day?

12.00 – 1.30 pm

• Caravan (Juan Tizol)
• Bemsha Swing (Thelonius Monk)
• Cherokee (Ray Noble)
• A Night in Tunisia (Dizzy Gillespie)
• So What (Miles Davis)
• Footprints (Wayne Shorter
• Maiden Voyage (Herbie Hancock)
• Take 5 (Paul Desmond)
• Tenor Madness (Sonny Rollins)

2.00 – 3.00 pm

• Take the A Train (Billy Strayhorn)
• Harlem Nocturne (Earl Hagen)
• Stompin’ at the Savoy (Chick Webb)
• Grand Central (John Coltrane)
• Central Park North (Thad Jones / Mel Lewis)
• New York City (Gil Scott Heron / Brian Jackson)
• A Foggy Day in London Town (George Gershwin)
• Las Vegas Tango (Gil Evans)
• We live in Brooklyn, Baby (Harry Whittaker)

3.30 – 4.00

• Encore – Original Material [‘Free-for-all’]

ON KEYBOARDS…

(Note horse carriage passing in the background at 0.10…)

SAX APPEAL…

Central Park, New York: The Lake, Bow Bridge and The Ramble near dusk

Credits: RH – Bow Bridge images; Mrs RH + iPh@ne – the rest of the Jazz