For Harlem
Elijah J. Thomas
I am an extremely proud resident of Harlem, New York. In almost every way that I can think of, the meaning of this land is inextricably tied to my pursuit to achieve the fullness of myself. Harlem is sacred.
As a Black man; as a creator and artist; as an educator; as an individual working in the freedom struggle; as a lover and learner of culture and history – Harlem is mecca. To be able to call it my home is not simply a blessing, but helps to direct my life and living to be all that I can be for my community and Black and brown communities everywhere. The land is full of glory: from the day-to-day interactions with native Harlemites, to the many protests and demonstrations on behalf of oppressed peoples; to scholarly talks at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, to equally scholarly discourse outside of Sylvia’s Soul Food or on any brownstone stoop. It’s my wish to pay homage to Harlem by capturing it in its beautiful existence through a proposed musical work for flute, bass, and assorted electronics with prerecorded tape.
For Harlem is a brief tone poem – really, a memory piece – that depicts moments that encapsulate the vibrancy, energy, and light moments of life and pulse of Harlem today. A focus on Central Harlem (my home) will be present, where history continues to be active in its scope and impact and unraveling: a morning of peaceful rising in Marcus Garvey Park; a walk down busy 125th Street to Africa Square, where a celebration in the midst of struggle unfolds; and Harlem lives lived during nights filled with laughter and love on 6th, 7th and 8th Avenues. The scenes portray a number of aspects of Central Harlem – from the seemingly mundane to the grand and major – with hopes of pointing to the greatness of what Harlem is and what Harlem can become as it moves into the immediate future. Extended timbral techniques for flute will be employed to show the breadth and depth of each scene, along with the use of analog effects pedals to deepen and expand the sound world of each scene. Additionally, the use of soundscapes from across Harlem will be present to sonically enhance the beauty of the poem, and the use of bass (upright double and electric) will serve to capture the ever-changing flow, feeling and rhythmic pulse of the historic New York City region. This work is intended to honor the land of Harlem, its Black citizenry, its history (both past, present, and possible future), and its cultural impact.
Elijah’s Artist Statement
“Think about the action. Think a lot about the space around the action. Gratitude and coexistence with the things that are inactive -- to remove the self, To engage in exercise that activates the inactive, and is a place of simply being for all. To just exist. To have intention to remove intention, and exist and coexist with others.” - Lisa E. (Li) Harris
The above words were passed onto me during the summer of 2020, from the incredible artist Lisa E. (Li) Harris, during a talk I had with her about who I wanted to be and what worked I desired to output. They summarize my artistic intention and philosophy, and preface all of the musical works that I create. “enuff music” is music for healing. Music of intention, in some kind, that exists as itself and coexists with other works, and is enough as a work of mere existence. It focuses on sound that is interconnected, that strives to be selfless. It is music and sound that in itself is a “living practice” -- that can evolve and change over time, that can invite play that is always okay – music that has the inherent right to transform or stay the same or both, and remains intent on being selfless art, even when it misses that mark. What is music that is “not enough”? Music that perhaps does not acknowledge the inactive, that seeks to have no intention. Whose action is not to be, nor to exist and coexist with others – music that limits space. In relating to Blackness...well, We are enough, in every way. Blackness is intentional, Blackness is selfless, Blackness is healing, and Blackness is transcendent. “enuff music” seeks to be these things, seeks to be Blackness.
Artist Bios
Elijah J. Thomas
Elijah J. Thomas (he/him/his), a Black Philadelphia-born and Harlem-based windist, multi-instrumentalist, educator and composer began his musical journey at a very young age under the direction of educator and pianist John Zisk. A graduate of Temple University, Elijah holds a M.M. in Music Education and a B.M in Jazz Arranging & Composition from the Esther Boyer College of Music and Dance (with an instrumental concentration in flute and single reed instruments). Elijah has studied woodwind performance and improvisation with musicians Dick Oatts, Tim Warfield, Jr., Walter Bell, and Dr. Cynthia Folio, as well as composition/orchestration with Kevin Rodgers, Dr. Cynthia Folio, Dr. Maurice Wright and Dr. Norman David. As an educator, Elijah has held numerous teaching positions across Philadelphia and New York City with Temple University Music Prep; Settlement Music School; Tune Up Philly (of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra); Education Through Music, Inc; and BASIS Independent Schools. Additionally he is an avid composer, and creates and outputs what he calls “enuff music”: music intent on Black healing, spirituality, and selflessness. Elijah has two solo releases, enuff music, vol. i (published with Off Latch Press) and Our Search available for free listening on Bandcamp, as well as two full-length projects Diversity and The Unity of Sound released with his former group The NeW Quintet (available at all online retailers). www.artistecard.com/elijahjthomas
Justin Valazquez
Justin Valazquez (B.M. Musical Performance) has been a fixture of the New York/North Jersey music scene for a number of years. Justin has studied string performance under Gregg August and Lou Kosma and has become well versed in Latin, Jazz and Classical traditions. He has worked with national broadcast channels such as Telemundo in providing talent for commercials and live broadcasts, as well as collaborated with industry professionals such as Bryan Carrot, Renato Thomas and Eldad Tarmu. In addition to performing accolades, he manages a music shop in Jersey City, NJ called Guitar Bar where he teaches and has made instrument repairs for several years.