Drummer Rudy Lawless, 65, spent his early years in Harlem on 159th and Amsterdam Avenue, within blocks of fellow drummers Sid Catlett, Denzel Best, "Slick" Jones and Jimmy Crawford. He heard these artists and others as a young man at Harlem clubs such as Dexter's and the Amsterdam Cafe. Alto sax legend Jackie McLean set up his first drum set; Art Blakey, one of his idols, even came to his home to give him drumming tips. At 16, he spent a summer touring cross country with Eddie Durham. In addition to leading his own ensembles, he's performed with Andy Kirk, Blue Mitchell, Hank Jones, Rex Stewart, Roy Eldridge, and bassist Addison Farmer. He's recorded with vibraphonist Freddie McCoy, vocalists Etta Jones and Betty Roche, and pianist Lenore Raphael, with whom he recently did a five-day gig at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola.

On January 26, 2006 come and hear his account of the above as well as his "giving back what was given to me" by hosting a jam session for the past three years at Local 802 for the Jazz Foundation of America.

The Harlem Speaks Education Initiative

In this course students learn about the vibrancy of jazz and the magnitude of the achievements of its practitioners. Through the method of Oral Histories students gather and preserve historical information through recorded interviews with the participants. Students make connections by gaining a larger understanding of the role of music and musicians by learning about the music of famous jazz musicians, different styles of jazz and by tracing the history by means of interviewing honorees, musicians and others connected to jazz, through independent and group research, deepening their historical and cultural understanding of music.

Harlem Speaks

The Jazz Museum in Harlem's "Harlem Speaks" series is a bi-weekly discussion centered on past and present musical greats. Executive Director Loren Schoenberg launched the series to honor persons keeping the flame of jazz alive in Harlem. "Jazz lives and breathes in Harlem today, not just in the gloried past of yesterday," says Schoenberg. "There are musicians, writers, dancers, promoters, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists, among others, whose efforts insure that this great music perseveres. We at the Jazz Museum in Harlem salute these individuals, and invite the jazz community to share in our celebration of their contributions to jazz in Harlem."

The Harlem Speaks series is co-produced by Loren Schoenberg, Co-Executive Director Christian McBride and Greg Thomas Associates. Each event takes place at the offices of the Jazz Museum in Harlem, located at 104 East 126th Street, between Park and Lexington Avenues, from 6:30pm-8:00pm twice a month on Thursdays.

The Harlem Speaks Education Initiative culminating event will occur at the Frederick Douglass Academy, located at 2581 Seventh Avenue and 149th Street. (The 148th Street stop of the #3 train lets out right next to the school. Parking is available.)