The late Atlantic City musician Hassan Abdullah performing in Atlantic City for what would have been Chris Columbo's 109th birthday, at the Asbury United Methodist Church. The special musical celebration for the late Atlantic City jazz icon Columbo, a one-time house drummer at the legendary Club Harlem on Kentucky Avenue, included performances by local jazz artists. (Photo by Nastassia Davis)
PLEASANTVILLE, N.J. — A real celebration of the life of Hassan Abdullah (aka Stanley Barber) took place on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 27, at Wash’s Inn in Pleasantville.
Wash’s provided the Grand Hall and light fare en gratis, because according to owner Jean Griffin, the late Atlantic City musician who passed away Nov. 23, "was such a nice young man. I’d always see him walking around the city and he’d always speak and smile.”
Bassist Will White sponsored the event and more than 30 area musicians showed up.
The Hassan Abdullah Quintet (Robin VanDuzee, keyboard; Tom Angello, drums; Joe Breidensteine, trumpet) set up around 3pm while waiting on its bass player, Tim Lekin, to arrive all the way from Cleveland, Ohio.
Lekan was determined not to miss this opportunity to honor the life of his friend and fellow musician.
In the meantime, Rick Cason filled in quite well, as did Ken Moore on Hassan’s usual instrument, the tenor saxophone.
Of course, long-time friend and R&B artist Angela Burton (and Passion) performed, along with Judah Dorrington and Paradise, two groups with whom Hassan often acted as musical director.
Between their sets, Will White’s band, Crosswinds, also performed.
For more than four hours, musicians of all colors, ages, styles and backgrounds came and went, jammin’ with the remaining members of the quintet, while trombonist (and this columnist's husband) Hassan Abdur-Raheem, whom Hassan Abdullah had befriended during the last few years of his life, stood in as master of ceremonies. They had become known as "Hassan #1" and "Hassan #2" during rehearsals and gigs.
Though there was some mix-up with musicians signing in — some thought they were signing up for order of performance for the memorial concert jam — audience members and supporters still had a great afternoon and evening full of jazz standards and three R&B groups, as well as some poetry from one of the A.C. Peacekeepers.
Steve Young and others spoke about the mission of the Peacekeepers, remarking that both "Hassans" had walked neighborhood streets with the group in recent weeks.
It was hard for people to leave once they arrived and began sharing their memories of Hassan and listening to such great music.
A few came and went during the afternoon, but more than 100 people stayed for the length of this celebration of Hassan Abdullah’s life, including his daughter, Tamika Bullock, his ex-wife Maria Forth Barber, a bassist who actually sat in once or twice, Atlantic City Mayor Lorenzo Langford and his wife Nynell, and a host of other relatives, friends and well-wishers.
The following are interview notes about how a few people came to know, love and play with Hassan Abdullah, who will be dearly missed for his kindness, musicianship, knowledge and love of music:
Robin VanDuzee met Hassan in 1991 and he was one of the first horn players he met by way of Tim Kelly, a left-handed drummer. They played together at the former Blue Light in A.C. and opened for Bobby Humphrey and Roy Ayers and continued playing together for many years.
Jeff Hebron and Russell Banks met Hassan at a Cape May Jazz Festival, and said Hassan was known for his true jazz performances: "[His] improvisation, that’s what it’s all about." The pair really got to know him personally only recently, never saw him angry, and always saw him as a peaceful, kind, gentle, humble soul.
Henrietta Shelton met him when he was playing a Chicken Bone Beach concert, and says he was "always a gentleman." The headliners at the shows would often say, according to Shelton, that Hassan "was exceptional, not just good," adding that he was "always there when I needed him." Like most, Shelton was shocked to hear of his death. After talking to his daughter on Wednesday morning, Nov. 23, she made several other calls "to make sure what I was hearing was true." She adds: "Such a great guy that will be very missed by Chicken Bone Beach concert series. {We] definitely had him on the line-up for next year."
Joe Breidensteine and Tim Lekin met Hassan "about 2003," and say they were "looking to play again" and decided to form the quintet, "because we loved all the same music, same artists. Hassan always brought new music in for our gigs." The guys in his band say they loved playing with him at Ike’s Corner "years ago," and over the last couple years they "always played together." They remember him as "such an honest, positive presence wherever he went."
Bobby Manning met Hassan "when he lived a couple blocks over from me before I was off to Boston Conservatory and when I came back he began showing me some stuff I didn’t know. His knowledge of chord structure was unbelievable. We became very close while traveling together overseas, and played together for at least 15 years with Angie [Burton] and Passion. I feel like he lives on through me.
Photos from the event coming shortly; check back soon.
If the mayor does run again, she will play a major role in campaigning, because she enjoys urging people to get-out-the-vote, making them feel a part of something special and taking ownership.
Plus Drew Toonz, the Atlantic City Antiques Show and (New!) Singles of the Week
Over the last few months when families were gathering for all types of occasions, some of the young men in our family refused to attend because of “so many divorced couples and so few new marriages.” I was disappointed by their absence but understood their sentiments. Like many modern American families, we’ve had so many divorces now that one niece asked, “Is divorce a tradition in our family?”
From prominent local business people, musicians and humanitarians, to movie stars, politicians and internationally known faces, 2011 bid farewell to many interesting and outstanding personalities.
Let’s set the record straight: Kwanzaa is truly African-American. It is NOT a religious holiday.
"He had no known history of heart or breathing problems. This is a big shock for everybody."
Patti Harris is not only an Atlantic City legend, she is also a legend in the worlds of dance and performing arts. Spending time with her can be like opening a history book with which you can share the most stimulating conversations. Every performing artist, from dancer to singer to poet, should get the chance to meet and work with Harris and learn from her vast experience and expertise. Thanks to her series the “Incubator for Talented Youth,” any serious performing artist can have the opportunity to meet Harris and some of her amazing friends. Harris began the series 10 years ago at Wash’s Inn in Pleasantville. Since that time, she explains, many of the kids who started out with her at the first Incubator have gone on to work professionally in the world of entertainment. “I’ve seen little kids come the first year and participate, and by the following year they have gotten so much better because they work with the professionals who come out and are inspired by them,” she says. These past few years, Incubator events at Kennedy Plaza have been among the...
Do you like the beach? And summer? And live music? And free? Well, the Jazz on the Beach series, which runs Thursday evenings through Aug. 12, is just for you. Especially if you love jazz. The 11th annual Jazz on the Beach concert series in Atlantic City is chock full of amazing talent this year and includes performances by Avery Sharpe with Pete Chavez opening on July 8 and John Blake Jr. with Hassan Abdullah opening on July 15. Each show — the series is put on by A.C.’s Chicken Bone Beach Historical Foundation (CBBHF) — is presented at Kennedy Plaza on the Atlantic City Boardwalk from 7-10pm. The series kicked off July 1 with Ralph Peterson Jr. Kennedy Plaza, on the Boardwalk between Mississippi and Georgia avenues, has a stage for the bands and offers beautiful...
The familiar sound of sizzling summer jazz along that famous Atlantic City Boardwalk stretch from Missouri to Ohio avenues is back again. The 10th annual Jazz on the Beach Series kicks off Thursday e...
Article:
Race Matters: Trayvon Martin Case and Fear
Article:
Health, Wellness and Dreams
Article:
Reparations for Atlantic City Locals — Just a Thought
Article:
I Guess I’ll Keep Asking
Article:
Art Dorrington Ice Rink and Community Updates
Article:
Atlantic City's Talent Showcase
Article:
How Folks Felt about the 2011 Elections
Article:
The Great Migration to Atlantic City
1. sandy warren said... on Dec 8, 2011 at 10:38PM
“Turiya, even when you were too sick to come to the gig, you still managedto do your beautiful column about Hassan. It was always fun when Hassan 1 and I would see you and Hassan 2 at gigs and on the boardwalk. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers.”
2. JOYCE SYLVESTER said... on Dec 14, 2011 at 05:51PM
“SO,SO SAD TO HEAR OF HASSAN'S PASSING.HE TRULEY WAS A HUMBLE SPIRIT AND HAD SUCH A SOOTHING SMILE.I MET HASSAN IN 1973 WE WORKED TOGETHER IN THE KITCKEN OF A NURSING HOME.GOD ONLY PICS THE BEST.”
3. Judah Dorrington said... on Dec 15, 2011 at 09:30PM
“Turiya, thanks again for such a lovely article about the "Jam for Hasson" at Wash's Inn. Thanks also to Will White and Hasson#2 for pulling it off and holding it down while some of us were pulling together home going arrangements. Thanks also to all the musicians that came out to show their love and those who listened and gave donations. It was a night to remember. We will never forget you Hasson. Peace..”