The Sit-Down Podcast with James Hurt-Goussy Celestin-Haitian-New Yorker

Composer, pianist, vocalist, dancer, and educator Goussy Celestin, born of Haitian parents, visits The Sit-Down Podcast with James Hurt to discuss her origin story of becoming a multidimensional artist through the rich community of resources provided through her family homes in both Brooklyn and Queens, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, Dr. Billy Taylor's "Jazz Mobile", Barry Harris' Jazz Workshop, Bertha Hope, the New York Underground through "The University of the Streets", the "Village Gate", "Fareta School of Dance & Drum, Leslie Dance and Skate", musician and educator Arnie Lawrence (New school Jazz Founder-1986), and "Smalls Jazz Club" (in West Village). Celestin is currently a "WeBop" educator (JALC) introducing Jazz to yet another generation of curious minds of the future. This episode is dedicated to all of the unmentioned men and women of song, dance, and music who worked tirelessly to assist Goussy in becoming the expansive artist she is today. Upon relocating here in 1994 by train, meeting Goussy was key in shaping my friendships with hundreds of artists that migrated to the city from around the world during this vibrant period of creativity and sense of community. Background music composed and performed by James Hurt. 

© 2024 James Hurt. All rights reserved.

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Chapters

• 1:00 The Big Apple, the Major Migration of Artists in 1994, and the Thriving Underground Artist Culture
• 5:27 Haitian Brooklyn-born Origins of a Native New Yorker
• 7:57 Earliest Childhood Musical Memories Through a Father's Guitar Music
• 13:06 Instrumental Experimentation and Development Through Laguardia High School of Music and The Performing Arts
• 18:35 Music Theory and the Building Blocks of Music Comprehension
• 24:47 The Creative Crossroads-The Road to Becoming a Creative Artist Through Peers
• 32:17 Barry Harris' World of The Six-Diminished Concept of Harmonic Movement and Jazz Piano Development
• 37:41 Improvisational Presentations Through the YAWWII Arts Collective
• 41:14 Jazz-The Art of Conversation Through a Structured Framework and Jazz Mobile at Grant's Tomb in Harlem
• 49:34 The Challenge of Surrendering to the Moment
• 50:37 Bertha Hope's impact as a Trailblazing Black American Women, gifted pianist, and Mentor in Jazz Education in the 20th Century
• 54:37 Early Dance and Formal Studies Leading to Jazz Piano Through The New Muse Studio, Fareta Dance Studio, and Leslie Dance and Skate
• 1:05:39 Spiritual Significance within the City of Empire State
• 1:14:29 Identity Politics and Creative Expressionism
• 1:22:32 The New Generation of Creative Music Potential Through WeBop
• 1:32:56 Future Events and New Music
• 1:36:57 Remembering The Underground Community-New York City's Creative Incubator