A Weekend at Bessies, Album Preview Event.

Dates:

• Friday, October 24, 2025 – Sets at 7:30 PM & 9:30 PM
• Saturday, October 25, 2025 – Sets at 7:30 PM & 9:30 PM

Venue:
Bessie’s Place – Harlem, NY
(Only 65 seats per set – intimate capacity)

Harlem is the source of sound. For two nights only, join Sista Zock and her all-star band for an immersive album preview and naming experience at Bessie’s Place.

This is not just a concert — it is a living conversation. Across 10 tracks, the music moves like Harlem itself: rooted in the past yet pulsing toward the future. Drawing on the spirit of Sankofa, the project reclaims what was ours — with tributes and reimaginings of Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, and John Coltrane, extended and transformed through Zock’s original sound.

Produced by bassist Rashaan Carter and mixed/mastered by hip hop icon D Moet, the album bridges Harlem’s jazz legacy with today’s energy, featuring a lineup of world-class musicians:

• Sista Zock – vocals & poetry
• Lonnie Plaxico – bass
• Sharif Kales – trumpet
• Xavier Hill – drums
• Matt Smyth – keys

And special contributions across the record from Stacy Dillard (alto & soprano sax), Jason Marshall (tenor sax), Benny Rubin (alto sax), Alexis Marcello (keys), and Nate Jones (bass).

At the close of each night, the audience will be invited to reflect on what they’ve heard — to help name the album itself. Your voice becomes part of the record’s story, carrying forward the communal legacy of Harlem’s music.

• Early Bird Special: $30 (limited)
• Week-of Tickets: $45
• Available via Eventbrite (only 65 seats per set).

From the legendary nights at Saint Nick’s Pub to the pulse of today’s Harlem, this project is both a tribute and a new creation. It speaks to Harlem as a living archive and a future sound.

This is the unveiling.
This is where the story meets the music.
This is She Sounds Like Harlem.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Bessie's Place, 458 West 145th Street, New York, United States