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COURIER LIFE, J 24-7 AN. 11-17, 2019 45
By Alexandra Simon They’re thinking big!
A Caribbean restaurant in Park
Slope welcomes jumbo jazz ensembles
and oversized orchestras to play new
tunes every Monday night. “The Living
Large Ensemble Series” takes place at
the Slope Lounge, opened last September
by husband-and-wife Omari Clarke and
Nicole Price-Clarke.
The Caribbean-fusion spot took over
the space previously occupied by the Tea
Lounge, which often invited bands to
play at the space, and the music series is
an expanded version of that tradition. To
accommodate the musical acts, the new
owners built a stage, adorned by a colorful
mural in the background. Previously,
bands had just set up in the corner, said the
Lounge’s co-owner.
“When we walked into the space, I felt it
was missing something, and it was a stage,”
said Clarke. “We needed to make one just
so bands could come and play, and I felt the
corner wasn’t the right place.”
The center of the cafe now sports a
raised platform large enough to hold up to
two dozen musicians at once. The expansive
stage is a welcome change from other
spots in Brooklyn, which can often only
host a jazz trio, according to the co-curator
of the music series.
“There really aren’t a lot of big rooms in
town that can even accommodate groups
that large,” said Joshua Schneider, who also
lives in the Slope. “But the idea was to have
the place where writers and players who
are into this kind of music, where there are
sometimes 20 people on the bandstand —
can have a place to come and play. We’ve
been fortunate in getting some really wonderful
bands.”
Previous bands have included the
Grammy-winning Afro Bop Alliance,
along with some of the city’s best established
and up-and-coming bands. The
series has gotten a great reception from
regulars and musical acts, and several
groups have clamored to play again, said
Schneider.
“It’s been really heartening, and a lot of
bands are interested in trying to get in the
series,” he said. “We are seeing bands from
all over the city.”
Up next, on Jan. 14, will be Michael
Sarian and the Big Chabones, followed on
Jan. 21 by the Neal Kirkwood Big Band, led
by the other curator of the music series.
In addition to Monday night jazz, the
lounge also hosts an open mic night, soca
music on Saturdays, puppet shows for kids,
and karaoke with a live band.
The lounge is currently experimenting
with other daily and weekly themes to find
out what appeals most to its patrons, and
its owners hope the Living Large series
becomes a staple for the community.
Schneider said that he hopes the series
also introduces live jazz to a new demographic
of listeners.
“People are not really exposed to this
kind of music, and unless you know about
it or are introduced to it, you’re really not
going to know about it,” said Schneider.
“It’s contemporary music, and it comes
from all different directions. What we are
hoping to do is to make it available to people,
because a lot of people aren’t exposed
to live music.”
“Living Large Ensemble Series” at
the Slope Lounge 534 Union St. between
Sixth and Seventh avenues in Park Slope,
(347) 889–5005, www.theslopelounge.com.
Monday nights at 8 pm. Free.
Setting the stage: The
owners of the Slope
Lounge, husband and wife
Omari Clarke and Nicole
Price-Clarke, teamed up
with jazz musician Joshua
Schneider to create the
Living Large music series
every Monday night.
Photo by Alexandra Simon
All that jazz
Slope Lounge welcomes the really big bands
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