Fairhill - Home to Congos, A Capella and Collard Greens

My father and I don't always see eye to eye. Last night, I spoke to him on the phone about what I’ve been up to. I talked about my time spent in the Fairhill neighborhood of Philadelphia, which I’ve been doing a lot of lately.

Keep in mind we’re from North Jersey. My dad’s a little sarcastic, and a bit like Tony Soprano.

Me: "So yea, then I met this guy in the neighborhood I’m covering who makes wood carvings and repairs bongos.”
Dad: “You what? Yea, sure, I bet that’s in high demand. You know how many bongos I’ve had break?”

I just rolled my eyes, something I knew my dad couldn’t hear over the phone. I guess he’s got a point though; bongos aren’t something you hear of people playing, let alone breaking, every day.

That’s the thing with Fairhill. Music is one of the ways that this neighborhood is helping to keep old traditions alive as well as establish new ones. Robert Smith-Shabazz who owns Wood and Music on North 5th street, plays the saxophone as well as the bongos, and cuarto, a Latin American instrument similar to a guitar.

The Village of Arts and Humanities, located in Fairhill has a number of programs that serve Philadelphia youth. Students can learn film editing and production, dance, as well as engage in a number of other programs. Older crowds benefit as well.

Every Thursday, a group of senior citizens from Fairhill come into the Village Arts of Arts and Humanities for lunch. On this particular Thursday, the group noshed on Southern Cuisine. The meal included macaroni and cheese and collard greens, and was prepared by a woman Native to South Carolina, who owns a store down the street.

In between bites, the group of senior citizens sampled the sounds of an a capella group from the Germantown Friends High School. A capella group sang selections from John Legend, The Temptations, and Imogen Heap.

At first I thought that there was no way that this music was connected to that of Wood & Music a few blocks away. Then, for a rendition of Over the Rainbow, the group brought out a cuarto.

In Fairhill, it seems that music is everywhere. You just have to listen for the notes.

Group 4: Kate Leshko, Daniel Lymarenko, Lauren Hard