Forgotten Treasure: The Har-You Percussion Group (1969, ESP Disk)

Uptown baby, Uptown. Once you pass the Upper West and East Sides of Manhattan you are quickly transferred to a whole new world.

From Harlem up through Washington Heights and all the way into Inwood, the diversity of cultures and realities that you experience are what gives New York City its dynamic energy. Harlem, in particular, has been a haven for generations of people and birthed some of the greatest cultural, and political, movements ever.

Back in 1969, a group of young African-American and Puerto Rican youth from the social activism organization, Harlem Youth Opportunities Unlimited teamed up with Jazz master Roger “Montego Joe” Sanders to give the world “The Har- You Percussion Group”.

The album is a melodic masterpiece that sways from rhythm to rhythm never losing its upbeat infectious feel.

The nerd in me enjoys playing lost gems in the neighborhoods that raised them. Whenever I play Uptown, I try and sneak in “Welcome to the Party”, which to me is the perfect early set burner. More importantly, it is an easy way to pay homage to an era and community that means so much to me. It is my own anti-gentrification weapon in gluten free NYC.

As gentrification spreads it cancerous effects throughout New York, less and less of what made New York City so dynamic is being lost.

Christian Martir

Born in Santurce, Puerto Rico and now residing in New York City, Christian Mártir likens himself to a renaissance man. Over the last 7 years, as founder of the Rice & Beans Sound System, he has played and spread his love for Latin and Afro-Caribbean rhythms and culture.