Marjorie Eliot- New York Hidden Jazz Queen

8 min read

Harlem, a place where jazz legends were born, where the Harlem Renaissance redefined American culture, and where in the apartment living room of Marjorie Eliot, has become a Sunday retreat for the musical arts. 

A friend of mine came across Marjorie’s place by accident while taking a vacation in New York city a few years back. What they discovered in this tiny apartment was both beautiful and inspirational. So, what is it about this unique space that Marjorie has created that’s captured the hearts of so many people in the U.S. and draws tourists from around the world? 

Here’s a hint, for Marjorie, it’s very personal.

Welcome to That's Life, I Swear. This podcast is about life's happenings in this world that conjure up such words as intriguing, frightening, life-changing, inspiring, and more. I'm Rick Barron your host. 

That said, here's the rest of this story

One evening a friend of mine was watching the NBC Evening News. The news show always closes with a unique story. Turns out this story was about to surprise my friend. The news clip talked about a lady who holds weekly jazz concerts in Harlem, in her small living room apartment. 

No sooner did he watch the story unfold that he jumped out of my chair and shouted out loud, “I was there’!

Later, my friend told me about this place and I was immediately intrigued. 

Times Square. Courtesy of: Frommers

My friend explained to me that a few years back he made a visit to New York to see friends he hadn’t seen for a long time. While there they took him around to some of the key hot spots. Times Square, Central Park, Broadway, the new One World Trade Center, where the old World Trade Center once stood. Seeing all these areas was cool but my friend wanted to see places that were unique and void of large crowds of people. His friends said they had just the spot. 

They took a drive north to Harlem. This area that’s nestled in upper New York is known internationally as the Black Mecca of the world. Harlem is home to many races and ethnic groups including Dutch, Irish, German, Italian, and Jewish.

Apollo Theater. Courtesy of: NYC Tourism

Harlem is known for its civil rights history, soul food and thriving music scene. Harlem is also attracting a new wave of travelers keen to appreciate the community and culture of New York's most influential Black neighborhood.

Walking around the neighborhood, my friend found himself on Edgecombe Avenue. Turns out this was the street his friends wanted him to see. As they were walking, they stopped in front of an apartment building on 555 Edgecombe Avenue.

My friend wasn’t sure why they stopped walking and why finishing that thought, he heard the reason why they stopped. Jazz music was drifting out from the apartment building. It was here that my friend would meet Marjorie Eliot. 

My friend explained the setting. Walking up to Apartment #3F, you enter a very small apartment. The living room and kitchen combined was about fifteen feet by twelve feet. 

A quick count showed about fifty chairs were cramped together for guests to sit. Those who didn’t get a seat we’re welcomed to stand in the narrow hallway along with people sitting. We’re talking tight quarters here, but the environment in her apartment was very intimate. On the hallway walls are photos of past musicians who have played in her apartment and various newspaper clippings of writeups about Marjorie and her Parlor Entertainment Harlem over the years.

Marjorie Eliot playing piano in her apartment. Courtesy of: Medium

After hearing this story, I jumped into researching more on who Marjorie Eliot was. I knew investigating Marjorie and her Sunday jazz retreat would be fun as I for one love jazz. 

Some of the musicians I like listening to stem from Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Kendrick Scott Oracle, and Jazzmeia Horn. 

During my research I discovered that Marjorie Eliot has been hosting free jazz concerts at her apartment since1993, every Sunday, which makes it 30 years. She calls her series "Parlor Entertainment Harlem," and it has become a beloved institution in the community. Eliot's concerts are known for their intimate setting, high-quality musicians, and an atmosphere that makes everyone feel very welcome.

She has not missed a Sunday performance since 1993 rain, snow, or shine. Over the years, Marjorie has received a handful of noise complaints from neighbors, but nothing that stopped her from moving forward. 

Personally, if Marjorie were to ever stop, the tenants of the apartment building would most likely miss it.

Marjorie, is very petite with big, wiry red hair, is a longtime Harlem resident, jazz musician, actress, playwright, and teacher. She established a children's theater and worked with students at P.S. 128, a New York public school.  To make ends meet Marjorie played piano at nursing homes, hospitals, and colleges.

She wanted to create a space where people could come together to enjoy jazz music and appreciate the rich culture of Harlem. Eliot's living room is small, but somehow, she manages to pack in up to 50 or more people each Sunday. The concerts are free and open to all, and donations are appreciated.

When Marjorie started out, she only wanted to spend time in her apartment to write and produce music, and nothing more. For Marjorie, her apartment was her Carnegie Hall.  

To understand why Marjorie Eliot devotes herself to this unique musical undertaking and the story behind her jazz shows, one must dig deep into her background, motivations, and the cultural significance of her living room concerts.

The background

Marjorie Eliot, born in 1930, grew up surrounded by the rich cultural heritage of Harlem. Here’s a cool tidbit of information I found. Her father, Clarence Williams Jr., was a jazz pianist and composer, while her mother, Ruth Ellington, was the sister of the legendary Duke Ellington.

I guess you can see where Marjorie got the good genes for music. 

The inspiration

As for her motivation to create her unique Sunday music jazz retreat for all to hear every Sunday, was bittersweet inspiration. 

The musical retreat for jazz musicians was started in memory of her son, Phillip, a gifted saxophonist. He passed away in 1992 from kidney failure. Phillip died on a Sunday. Marjorie started the program in her son's memory but also to help her deal with the loss and absorb the tears. 

If Phillip’s loss wasn't painful enough, she lost two other sons nine years apart. Michael, 47, fell ill with meningitis; his health collapsed and he died in 2006. Alfred died in 2015, due to heart failure.  

After dealing with tragic passing of her three sons, Marjorie found comfort in the soothing power of music and decided to share that healing experience with her community. She opened her home to jazz musicians, offering them a warm, welcoming space to perform. Her apartment became a sanctuary for artists and enthusiasts alike, reminiscent of the Harlem Renaissance's spirit of artistic expression and community unity.

During that span of twenty-three years dealing with the loss of three sons, one wonders where she found the strength to start her music retreat and keeps going to this day. The Sunday sessions in a way help her deal with the loss and absorb the tears. Guess you could call her a steel magnolia. 

Marjorie's commitment to hosting these two-hour jazz concerts every Sunday afternoon is a testament to her enduring passion for music and her dedication to her son's memory. She understands the transformative power of jazz, not just as a genre of music but as a source of hope, joy, and healing. In a world where music often becomes a commercial commodity, Marjorie Eliot's Parlor Jazz serves as a reminder of the pure essence of jazz.

Today, people who visit her apartment to listen to Sunday’s jazz, look around the small apartment and see pictures of the three sons she has lost. On the hallway walls are photos of past musicians who have played in her apartment and various newspaper clippings of writeups about Marjorie and her Parlor Entertainment Harlem over the years. There’s a history in this apartment without question.

Regina Carter. Courtesy of: MNWorld

Marjorie’s concerts have featured some of the biggest names in jazz, including Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, no relation, and Regina Carter. She also showcases up-and-coming musicians, giving them a platform to perform their music. Eliot is passionate about supporting young musicians, and she believes that Harlem is a great place for them to develop their talent.

There’s also an annual two-day outdoor jazz concert in August at the Morris-Jumel Mansion — Jazz at The Mansion, held by Marjorie, which is the oldest building in Manhattan and across the street from her Edgecombe location.

Over the years, Marjorie's living room concerts have attracted a diverse and loyal audience, including locals, tourists, and even renowned jazz musicians who appreciate the authenticity and intimacy of the setting. Her commitment to keeping the shows free and open to the public reflects her desire to make jazz accessible to all, regardless of their financial circumstances. In a city where entertainment can be expensive, Marjorie's concerts offer a rare opportunity for people to experience world-class jazz without any barriers.

Beyond the music itself, Marjorie's Parlor Jazz concerts have become a symbol of community cohesion and cultural preservation in Harlem. In a neighborhood facing rapid gentrification and the potential of having its historical roots erased, Marjorie Eliot's living room stands as a symbol of resistance against cultural homogenization. Her home has been a sanctuary for jazz enthusiasts, a place where the spirit of the Harlem Renaissance continues to thrive. 

Marjorie Eliot's Parlor Jazz series is not just about two hours of live music in her apartment living room; it is a celebration of the enduring power of jazz and a tribute to the cultural heritage of Harlem. Marjorie's dedication to preserving the essence of this uniquely American art form, while also fostering a sense of community, is nothing short of inspirational. 

If you’re ever in Harlem and want to visit Marjorie’s Jazz Parlor, here are directions:

Marjorie’s Jazz Parlor (555 Edgecombe Ave., the Paul Robeson Residence) is easy to get to. From the west side take the C train to 163rd and Amsterdam, walk east one block to Edgecombe, then south to 160th Street. The east side trip involves changes of trains, but still takes less than an hour from midtown east.

Afterwards, you can stop for a treat and coffee at Duaa’s Cafe (500 W. 162nd St.) or Taszo Coffee Bar & Panini (5 Edward M Morgan Pl. and 157th, near the 1 train).

After the concert you can exit through the side door at 160th Street, as privacy-seeking tenants have done over the years.

Why does story this matter? 

Eliot says she hosts the concerts because she loves jazz music and wants to share it with others. She also believes that music can bring people together and create a sense of community. Marjorie said, and I quote, "I want to create a space where people can come together and enjoy good music, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status," end quote.

For me, it's a moment in time you can't miss. It's two hours that take you away from thinking about what's happening in our cockamamie world. Yes, 120 minutes of pure bliss is uniquely genuine for your heart, mind and soul.

What can we learn from this story? What's the takeaway?

Marjorie Eliot’s story reminds us that music has the power to heal, unite, and transcend boundaries, and that true passion, can create a lasting legacy that enriches the lives of countless individuals. As long as Marjorie continues to open her home to jazz musicians and enthusiasts, the heartbeat of Harlem's jazz scene will continue to echo through her living room, serving as a testament to the enduring spirit of this iconic neighborhood. 

Somewhere her mom, the great Duke Ellington, and her three sons are looking down at her with big smiles.

Well, there you go, my friends; that's life, I swear

For further information regarding the material covered in this episode, I invite you to visit my website, which you can find on either Apple Podcasts/iTunes or Google Podcasts, for show notes calling out key pieces of content mentioned and the episode transcript.

As always, I thank you for listening and your interest. 

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