August 24 Concert Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop

NYS Office of General Services Commissioner Jeanette Moy today announced the remaining lineup for New York State’s Summer Stage in Harlem 2023 series of free concerts presented by OGS and the Harlem Community Development Corporation.

The concerts take place between 5 and 7 p.m. on Thursdays at the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State Office Building at 163 West 125^th Street in Harlem.

“Harlem has long been an epicenter for the arts in New York and the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State Office Building is a great location to showcase the music and talent that this culturally rich neighborhood is famous for,” Commissioner Moy said. “I want to thank our partners at the Harlem Community Development Corporation and all our generous sponsors for supporting this summer’s amazing lineup of entertainment.”

Empire State Development President, CEO, and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “As we mark the 50th anniversary of hip hop, these concerts are a great way to celebrate how this dynamic, homegrown art form rose from its roots in New York City’s neighborhoods to a global cultural force. By commemorating hip hop’s birth and evolution, we recognize its power to speak truth, touch hearts, and shape the future.”

August 17, A Jazzy Evening

Featuring performances by Keith “The Captain” Gamble and Omar Edwards & The Nu Gypsies!

Singer/songwriter, guitarist, and harmonica player Keith “The Captain” Gamble’s heart and soul are rooted in the blues. He applies his many talents as a guest artist for the LaGuardia Community College lecture series on the Blues and as a guest instructor with Jazzmobile in Harlem. During Black History Month programs, The Captain has provided children with an enlightening history of the Blues. He co-wrote the documentary “From the Root to the Fruit – A Chronicle of the Blues,” then later staged it as a musical production. The Captain completed a three-nation European tour, performed at the Debrecen Jazz Festival outside of Budapest, and participated in a U.S. Embassy tour in Lusaka, Zambia. The Captain also performed at the W.E.B. Dubois Center in Ghana in honor of the inauguration of President Barack Obama.

Through a pool of sounds from jazz to funk and back again, virtuoso rhythm tap dancer Omar Edwards and his band take patrons on a journey through sound. The driving percussion of Omar’s Tap-shoes combined with the instrumentation of band members provide a unique experience for the audience in having the cadence and rhythm of Omar’s feet, not voice, lead them down a broad river of musical genres.

August 24, Salute to Hip Hop

Celebrating 50 years of hip hop, this concert will feature performances by Clean Money Music, Impact Repertory Theatre, and spoken word artists from the Harlem Bomb Shelter.

Clean Money Music is a diverse group of hip hop artists and entertainers who take responsibility for improving conditions around them. They return rap music to its original roots, with social commentary, lifestyle, culture, and fun as its basis. Their passion is to entertain, educate, and empower audiences with great music and memorable performances. Clean Money Music brings a different dynamic to the way people and the media perceive hip hop artists and the communities they represent.

IMPACT Repertory Theatre Performance Company is a safe space where young people use current events and their own personal experiences as material to explore the issues facing young people in America. The Repertory Company performs in front of over 25,000 people per year at venues ranging from the United Nations Headquarters, NYC’s City Hall, hospitals, public schools, and penitentiaries. IMPACT co-founders Jamal Joseph and Voza Rivers created IMPACT Repertory Theatre to be, at its core, a sanctuary for the many kids who have entered its walls, providing a safe space where they can explore their full potential without fear of stigma, ridicule, or recrimination. Born from an incident of violence, IMPACT strives always to promote a positive paradigm: PEACE.

The Harlem Bomb Shelter, much like an actual bomb shelter is an escape and shield from war, explosions, nuclear fallout, and apocalypse, The Harlem Bomb Shelter is a relief from the war and fallout of our everyday lives where those who make it pool their resources, experiences, thoughts, and ideas in preparation to repair and rebuild the real world. The Harlem Bomb Shelter is a spoken word cultural institution that produces open mics, showcases, events, and opportunities for entertainment, empowerment, and education through the arts.

August 31, Salute to Harlem Week

Featuring performances by Uptown Dance Academy and Lorenzo Laroc, this concert was initially scheduled for August 10 and was postponed due to inclement weather. It was rescheduled to August 31.

Since opening its doors in 1996, Uptown Dance Academy has been considered the premiere dance school for urban youth interested in making dance their primary focus. The Academy has been dedicated to providing high-quality dance disciplines, training, and professionalism for youth ages 3-19. The well-rounded curriculum designed by founder and director Robin Williams exposes children to the diverse world of dance as they prepare for the professional stage.

A native New Yorker, Lorenzo Laroc is an electric violinist, composer, and arranger. Classically trained, he now plays a range of musical styles, from jazz and rock to Latin. After several years working in California with the pop artist Sheila E., he formed his own seven-piece band. His hit CD, “Lorenzo Laroc Live in New York City,” features original compositions on his trademark instrument, a custom-made, five-string plexiglass electric violin/viola. For over 25 years, Laroc has performed “with intensity, passion, and versatility” at venues in New York City and around the world.

All events are free and open to the public. Please bring your own chair.

Summer Stage in Harlem sponsors include Harlem Community Development Corporation, SUNY Manhattan Educational Opportunity Center, The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, P.C. Richard & Son, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, Harlem Presents, WBLS 107.5 FM, New York State of Health, and Harlem Arts Alliance.

For more information and event updates, follow us on Facebook and Instagram @Plazaeventsharlem, visit www.ogs.ny.gov/plaza-events-harlem, or call 212-961-4390.