• Home
  • News
  • World
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Travel
  • More
    • Web stories
    • Trending
    • Press Release

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest USA News and updates directly to your inbox.

What's On
1,200-year-old Robin Hood oak tree in Sherwood Forest has died, group says: “Heartbreaking for everyone”

1,200-year-old Robin Hood oak tree in Sherwood Forest has died, group says: “Heartbreaking for everyone”

June 18, 2026
Voters head to the polls in key UK by-election

Voters head to the polls in key UK by-election

June 18, 2026
The world’s longest non-stop flight is set for take off in 2027

The world’s longest non-stop flight is set for take off in 2027

June 18, 2026
Bunnie Xo Sings Jelly Roll Song About Her Being a ‘Human Barbie’ Amid Their Divorce

Bunnie Xo Sings Jelly Roll Song About Her Being a ‘Human Barbie’ Amid Their Divorce

June 18, 2026
Trump’s firing power faces twin Supreme Court tests, but one agency may get special treatment

Trump’s firing power faces twin Supreme Court tests, but one agency may get special treatment

June 18, 2026
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Just In
  • 1,200-year-old Robin Hood oak tree in Sherwood Forest has died, group says: “Heartbreaking for everyone”
  • Voters head to the polls in key UK by-election
  • The world’s longest non-stop flight is set for take off in 2027
  • Bunnie Xo Sings Jelly Roll Song About Her Being a ‘Human Barbie’ Amid Their Divorce
  • Trump’s firing power faces twin Supreme Court tests, but one agency may get special treatment
  • Giants’ Cam Skattebo vows to maintain violent playing style after gruesome ankle injury
  • Exclusive | Peeved NYC students, teachers, parents beg mayor to cancel school for Knicks parade: ‘This is once in a lifetime’
  • Former LA firefighters union official Adam Walker arrested, charged with stealing nearly $83,000 from nonprofit
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise
  • Contact
US Times MirrorUS Times Mirror
Newsletter
  • Home
  • News
  • World
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Travel
  • More
    • Web stories
    • Trending
    • Press Release
 Weather Login
US Times MirrorUS Times Mirror
Home » In Harlem living room, grieving mom’s jazz tradition blends heart and soul
News

In Harlem living room, grieving mom’s jazz tradition blends heart and soul

staffstaffMarch 23, 20262 ViewsNo Comments
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Telegram Pinterest Email
In Harlem living room, grieving mom’s jazz tradition blends heart and soul

HARLEM, Manhattan — At 555 Edgecombe Ave., on the third floor in Apartment 3F, love lines the walls and soul fills the air.

This is where you’ll find Harlem legend Marjorie Elliot.

“When I started this, Shaunie said, ‘Mommy, you have your own little Carnegie Hall, and you’re going to be here.” I get my way, don’t I?” Elliot said.

And taking it in from the sidelines, Rudel Drears, her son, gets ready.

“What’s on the set list today?” Eyewitness News entertainment reporter Joelle Garguilo asked.

“He has a set list in his head,” Elliot said.

For more than three decades, Miss Marjorie has opened her home, hosting jazz concerts for friends, neighbors and strangers.

“Sometimes people will come and I’ll say, ‘You’re here for jazz?’ And they’ll go, ‘Yes, I am,'” Drears said.

In this apartment, in this parlor, strangers become family and music becomes medicine.

“Parlor Entertainment, the Black national anthem.”

“We always start with the gospel,” Drears said. “The origins of this music, you know… coming out of slavery. The field hollers, the shouts, into ragtime, the blues and jazz. So we honor the ancestors in that way.”

“No one goes away,” Elliot said. “No. No. We’ve never not connected.”

It all started in 1993 when Marjorie’s son Philip passed away on a Sunday.

“To celebrate his anniversary, I wanted to do a jazz concert in the park,” she said.

Her only way to get through every Sunday after that has been through music.

“She had a burst of inspiration to honor him with jazz concerts on Sundays,” Drears said.

“I needed to do this,” Elliot said.

“There were a couple of people who said, ‘Oh, that’s too much. You should do it once a month.’ She said, ‘No. No. No. I’m going to honor him every Sunday,'” Drears said.

She’s now lost four sons, but these sessions haven’t stopped.

“When I get real, I go to my great grandmother. She said, ‘You can cry, but if you play and really concentrate on giving it right, the tears will go away,'” Elliot said.

So, every Sunday, rain or shine, no exceptions, the music plays.

“We wonder sometimes, ‘Well, how did you get here? How did you find out?’ And it’s a lot of word-of-mouth,” Drears said.

You can talk about the experience, but you really need to be there.

“Beautiful, intimate family affair, because that’s how she treats everyone: as family,” a guest said.

“To me, this is like going to church. Sunday church,” another guest said.

“It’s a good feeling. After the show, we’ll hear things like, ‘Oh, I really needed that. I really needed to be here today,'” Drears said. “They just become part of the fabric of what we do here, and then they’ll come back.”

“The people who come here are my family, and we’re in partnership. That’s how I look at it,” Elliot said.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Telegram WhatsApp Email

Related News

1,200-year-old Robin Hood oak tree in Sherwood Forest has died, group says: “Heartbreaking for everyone”

1,200-year-old Robin Hood oak tree in Sherwood Forest has died, group says: “Heartbreaking for everyone”

Former LA firefighters union official Adam Walker arrested, charged with stealing nearly ,000 from nonprofit

Former LA firefighters union official Adam Walker arrested, charged with stealing nearly $83,000 from nonprofit

Austin Metcalf’s dad supported Karmelo Anthony judge’s hard line on cameras

Austin Metcalf’s dad supported Karmelo Anthony judge’s hard line on cameras

Arrests of immigrant parents create mental health crisis for children

Arrests of immigrant parents create mental health crisis for children

8 pedestrians hit during Culver City police chase before crash at McDonald’s drive-thru

8 pedestrians hit during Culver City police chase before crash at McDonald’s drive-thru

Florida couple reaches agreement with daughter’s biological parents after alleged IVF mix-up

Florida couple reaches agreement with daughter’s biological parents after alleged IVF mix-up

Breaking down the preliminary U.S.-Iran deal as Trump, Iranian president sign remotely

Breaking down the preliminary U.S.-Iran deal as Trump, Iranian president sign remotely

Los Angeles police and DEA agents conducting anti-drug operation in MacArthur Park

Los Angeles police and DEA agents conducting anti-drug operation in MacArthur Park

Austin tech leader Joshua Baer identified as victim of Texas plane crash after jet caught fire along highway

Austin tech leader Joshua Baer identified as victim of Texas plane crash after jet caught fire along highway

Add A Comment

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Latest News

Review: Record Shares of Voters Turned Out for 2020 election

Review: Record Shares of Voters Turned Out for 2020 election

January 11, 2021
EU: ‘Addiction’ to Social Media Causing Conspiracy Theories

EU: ‘Addiction’ to Social Media Causing Conspiracy Theories

January 11, 2021
World’s Most Advanced Oil Rig Commissioned at ONGC Well

World’s Most Advanced Oil Rig Commissioned at ONGC Well

January 11, 2021
Melbourne: All Refugees Held in Hotel Detention to be Released

Melbourne: All Refugees Held in Hotel Detention to be Released

January 11, 2021

Subscribe to News

Get the latest USA News and updates directly to your inbox.

Editor's Picks
Review: Record Shares of Voters Turned Out for 2020 election

Review: Record Shares of Voters Turned Out for 2020 election

January 11, 2021
EU: ‘Addiction’ to Social Media Causing Conspiracy Theories

EU: ‘Addiction’ to Social Media Causing Conspiracy Theories

January 11, 2021
World’s Most Advanced Oil Rig Commissioned at ONGC Well

World’s Most Advanced Oil Rig Commissioned at ONGC Well

January 11, 2021
Facebook X (Twitter) Pinterest WhatsApp TikTok Instagram
2026 © US Times Mirror. All Rights Reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Sign In or Register

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below.

Lost password?