NYC
Actor/Director
Producer/Jazz Vocalist
CONGRATULATIONS
to ROME NEAL
who in 2022, received the
Lifetime Achievement Award at the
AUDELCO Awards Spectacular 50th Celebration of Black Theatre Excellence!
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Cashapp: $RNBJ18
Zelle: romeneal25@gmail.com
Your Donations Make a difference!
ROME NEAL 72 BIRTHDAY PARTY AND ALL THAT JAZZ*
Celebrating 22 YEARS OF
BANANA PUDDIN' JAZZ
THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY
Executive Director, Crystal Field
Presents
Rome Neal’s Banana Puddin’ Jazz’s
Monday, September 30, 2024 at 7:00 PM
Tickets: $20 General Admission
Tickets on sale NOW
Your Support Is Appreciated!!!
To help make this night unforgettable and kick off our new season,
I’m asking for your support: Make a contribution or become a sponsor.
About Rome Neal’s Banana Puddin’ Jazz
* Running for nearly 22 years
* Originally started at the Historic Nuyorican Poets Cafe
Celebrated artists across generations:
Pre-teens: Jelena and Isis Watts (Legendary drummer Jeff Watts’ daughters), Desmond Austin ( Jazz Consortium's Board Chair Clarence Mosley’s grandson), Angelo Lewis (3-year-old son of award winning pianist Andre Chez Lewis)
Teens: Award winning Mimi Block and Leonieke Scheuble
Legends: Dr. Randy Weston, Bill Lee, Dr. Barry Harris, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Mary Wilson of the Supremes and more!
I’ve had the honor of presenting my Shekere award to many of these legends at various Banana Puddin’ Jazz events.
A Night of Reciprocation
This year, I want to see all my friends at this magical night combining my birthday celebration with the launch of our new jazz series. For those who have enjoyed and benefited from our events over the years, now’s your chance to give back! Let’s reciprocate the love and support what has made Banana Puddin’ Jazz a staple in our community for over two decades.
In Closing
I would like to thank those of you who have been supportive over the past 22 years and have made the difference. Your unwavering support has been the backbone of Banana Puddin’ Jazz, allowing us to celebrate and nurture jazz talent across generations. This journey wouldn’t have been possible without you.
Peace & Blessings,
Rome Neal (Libra, September 25th)
Sponsors: Stephen Mckinley Henderson, John D. Smith, Kenneth White, Tracy Appleton , Sheryl Renee Productions, Dr. Mona Vaughn Scott, Dr. Monika Davis, Malaika M.Scott MD., Black Repertory Group Berkeley, Nina Causey, Sid & Betty Burston, Kwabena Comedy Lamon Fenner, Adalia Raye Gwatney, Brooklyn Printing, Eric Frazier, Black Theatre Project (Documentary)
Become a Rome Neal Banana Puddin’ Jazz SPONSOR today:
BECOME A MONTHLY or YEARLY
SPONSOR TODAY
call Rome Neal: at 718-288-8048 for more details on how you can support and make a difference!
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On November 1, 2024, the Nuyorican closed its iconic doors for a $24 million 3-year renovation project called the "Nuyoricanstruction" phase ushering us into the next 50 years.
Rome Neal's Article Features | Click to enlarge
"Wow, what an honor to be acknowledged by Woodie King Jr. for having created my very own
ROME NEAL'S BANÀNA PUDDIN'JAZZ!!!" Rome
Theater produced and created by African-Americans helped mold generations influenced by their performance art and helped shape cultures.
Now, a new documentary hopes to show these Black creators, past and present, seeking stages to share their voices, entertain and inform on issues in front of a live audience and other performance platforms.
Since 2003, Rome Neal and his Banana Puddin' Jazz, have showcased over 500 singers, poets, dancers & musicians at NYC's World Famous Nuyorican Poets Cafe. Join him for an evening of glamour, celebration, incredible music & food* and yes, delicious banana puddin'!
Press
The Virtual
Experience
Banana Puddin' Jazz Jam
& the Nuyorican Poets Cafe
The Banana Puddin' Jazz Jam and Open Mic was conceived by Rome Neal on April 7, 2003 at the world famous Nuyorican Poets Cafe. After going out to many jazz clubs doing research on jazz musicians in order to develop the Thelonious Monk character in Laurence Holder's one-man play (Monk), Neal found himself at quite a few jazz jam sessions. He became ecstatic over the musicianship and environment which instilled in him a desire to bring (that same energy of the jazz jams of 40s and 50s, which still exist in some clubs in harlem today) downtown to his artistic home (the Nuyorican Poets Cafe).
In personalizing his particular jazz jam, Neal added his favorite banana puddin dish which he makes for everyone to eat, and the banana puddin jazz jam poem, a group poem written by the audience in attendance on the night of the event and recited by a member of the audience with jazz music as it's underscore and finally e-mailed to everyone on his e-mail list. The Banana Puddin' Jazz Jam evenings begins with a featured band, and is preceded by an open mic with musicians, singer, poets and dancers welcomed to perform. All hosted by Rome Neal, who sings and dances his way into the hearts of those in attendance as well as serves up his legendary banana pudding for dessert.
Over the past years the featured bands have been:
The Onaje Allan Gumbs Trio
The John Di Martino Trio
Cynthia Scott and her Trio
Bill Lee and His Mo' Better Quintet
The Danny Mixon Trio
Lafayette Harris Trio
Lou Myers and His Band
Chester Gregory and His Band
The Bob Cunningham Trio
Eric Frazier and his Quintet
Patience Higgins and The Sugar Hill Quartet
The Bill Saxton Trio
The Donald Smith Trio
George V. Johnson Jr.
The William Ash Trio
The Japanese Jazz Connection
Blueswing Jazz
Lakecia Benjamin Trio
The Sayuri Goto Trio
The Mamiko Watanabe Trio
Nick Porcaro Trio
The Atiba Wilson Trio
The Goussy Celestin Trio
The Efacho Okeke Jazz Trio
Seth Sharp and the Shinya Yonezawa Trio
IC EXPRESS
Flash Drive
Courtney Bryan and the Marvtastic Ladies in Jazz
Mfergu Trio
Richard Clements Trio
Keith "The Captain" Gamble
And More!
