Jazz Icon to Appear with Fellow Grammy Winner Al Jarreau

By D. Kevin McNeir GBMNews Sr. Correspondent & Editor

 

Two legends of jazz, pianist/composer Ramsey Lewis(l) and vocalist Al Jarreau(r), will bring their unique styles of musical expression to the stage of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County in the next installment of Larry Rosen's Jazz Roots Series on Friday, February 26th at 8 p.m.

Lewis has promised to share some of his newest compositions from his recently released CD, "Songs from the Heart," and said that he and Jarreau, besides doing their own thing, will team up for some improvisation during the performance. Both Grammy-Award wining artists have the ability to nail a jazz standard then move into pop, blues or gospel. In a word, they are stellar "soul" performers. Look for our complete interview with Lewis in next week's edition of Centre Stage Magazine where he speaks candidly about efforts like Rosen's to continue to educate young people on the important history of jazz as well as his thoughts on returning to the studio and the excitement he feels about his latest recording.

 

By Albert StummPhiladelphia Daily News   Silky voiced soul singer Teddy Pendergrass, whose hits "Turn Off the Lights" and "If You Don't Know Me By Now" set the mood for millions of fans, has died at age 59. The singer's son, Ted...

Manhattan Transfer teams up with legendary Jon Hendricks

By D. Kevin McNeir
Sr. Correspondent
& Editor

If vocal jazz is your thing and if you have been looking for an opportunity to enjoy some "real music" then you might want to hop over to downtown Miami's Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade this Friday, January 15, when Larry Rosen's Jazz Roots Series will present an evening of some of the greatest vocalese artists to ever step to a microphone.

The concert promises to tickle the cockles of jazz aficionados when the Grammy-award winning quartet The Manhattan Transfer are joined by New York Voices and the 88-year-old master of vocalese performance, Jon Hendricks, as they each make their way to the stage - the first time that all three have ever been featured together.

 

"We are thrilled to present this rare opportunity to see Jon Hendricks, a living legend and the definitive king of vocalese, in concert with some of the greatest jazz luminaries of our day," said M. John Richard, President and CEO of the Arsht Center. "It is an honor for us to welcome these all-stars of the jazz vocal world, as they ascend on South Florida for this historic joint engagement."

Please continue to Full Story

 

The term "blue-eyed soul" has been used for the last 40-something years to describe soul music performed by white singers. What frequently went with that distinction was an air of diluted or inauthentic quality to the music. In other words, it just didn't sound like "the real thang." Well, Alice Russell smashes through that restrictive mold like no other since Teena Marie. (Maybe her mother watched episodes of "Good Times" while she was pregnant.)

In this episode of  Interviewing Hollywood, we chat with the innovative Papa Joe Aviance. Papa Joe acually allows us to debut his new music video "Now".

Check it out!

Papa Joe Aviance talks about his music and his dreams

By: D. Kevin McNeir

Shahid Manning is at it again: this time hanging out with Papa Joe Aviance - a recording artist and performer whose newest song "Now!" is on its way to topping the Billboard dance charts.
Manning, the host and senior entertainment correspondent for "Interviewing Hollywood" has been getting rave reviews since airing his first episode here on www.gbmnews.com when he interviewed popular author and playwright Stanley Bennett Clay. This time it's about the music and the "house community" that is unique to the Black SGL community - Aviance embodies both.

 

"I met Papa Joe and told him about the show and immediately knew that he would be perfect for the show," Manning said. "We want to showcase those in Hollywood who are working hard at their craft - both those are struggling to make it as well as those who have established themselves. The objective is to give folks publicity and access to our viewers and at the end of the day we believe we are providing a real service to our community." Aviance's story of how he was discovered is one of those "fairy tales do come true" tales. "I was working at a video store here in Hollywood when international hit DJ Eddie Amador came in to rent a movie," Aviance said. "He asked how I was and I told him I was an Aviance [House of Aviance]. The next thing I knew, he asked if he could record my voice and the rest is what you see before you - I mean, I'm living my dream." Papa Joe has his hands full hoping to best his previous number six spot on the Billboard dance charts with his newest song, "Now!", starting a production company with a webisode called "Rise of a Superstar," launching a new clothing line, and still holding on to his day job.

Please continue to Full Story

By Senior Entertainment Correspondent, John Frazier

Breaking News from Michael Jackson's will:

The 2002 document leaves Michael Jackson's entire estate to a family trust. It names his mother, Katherine Jackson, as legal guardian of his three children and executor of the trust. The shocking news is that if Ms. Jackson becomes incapacitated or dies, the singer Diana Ross would get custody of Jackson's children.

 

March 1981 at the "53rd Annual Academy Awards" A young Michael Jackson escorts Diana Ross.  Photo by Curt Gunther

Not with standing her sometimes stormy professional life, Ross has been a wonderful mother. By leaving his children's care to the women he trusted the most, Jackson in death is showing that his children actually were a priorty in his life. You read it here at GBMNews.com

By Entertainment Correspondent, John Frazier

I just happen to catch one of the nighttime gossip television shows, when Kristina DeBarge, 19, and "Baby Face" Edmond were interviewed. At that time, it was announcement the latest addition to the entertainment world is Ms. Kristinia DeBarge, daughter of James DeBarge (who once was married to Ms. Janet Jackson), from the famous DeBarge family, has been working on her first CD. The CD "drop" will be released this summer.

The first single released is "Goodbye". At first listen her vocals remind one of recording superstar, Rihanna, yet more polished, if you will. The "goodbye" vocals and hook is borrowed from a song called, "Na Na Hey Kiss Him Goodbye".

Bio: "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" is a song written and recorded by Paul Leka, Gary DeCarlo and Dale Frashuer. Attributed to a fictitious band they named "Steam," it was released under the Mercury subsidiary label Fontana. It became a number one pop single on the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1969. Although subsequent recordings and a quickly assembled touring band Steam met with little success, "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" remains a perennial favorite. Just in case you are on the television game show, "Jeopardy", you will be prepared.

Ms. DeBarge instead of saying "goodbye", she's opened her musical door with a huge successful hello, as if it hasn't happened yet, it will, the radio stations will be burning up the sound waves, with this single, "Goodbye. She has a bright future in front of her.

Mr. "Baby face" Edmonds has signed Ms. DeBarge to his new label, Soda Pop" on Island Def Jam, and is one of Ms. DeBarge's producer's and songwriter's on this project. It will be interesting to watch what happens. Now if you've heard the Nivea Products commercial, the music in the background, the voice singing, "Na Na Hey Kiss Him Goodbye", is guess who? Yes, Ms. Kristinia DeBarge.

For more information on Kristinia, click: MySpace/Kristinia DeBarge Kristinia DeBarge.com

You read it here at GBMNews.com

By James Rawls

Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God! I'm so glad I was alone when I finally heard the debut CD from this funky UK trio. I don't like many to witness me screaming like a schoolgirl, though that's exactly what happened.  This CD hit my musical spot and has rocketed up my list of favorite releases. It's unfortunate they haven't generated a larger following because they're great! They're great! They're great! (And since you have great musical taste, I can count you as a new fan, right?) Okay, let me take a break, put my poms poms down and try to be intelligent for a second.

Unklejam, whose name is taken from Funkadelic's 1979 album Uncle Jam Wants You, describe their sound as a mix of 80s pop, R&B, funk and soul with influences ranging from P-Funk to Prince to Sly & the Family Stone. When you add their playful spirit to the mix.... oh, f*ck it... IT'S "G"!.... IT'S "R".... IT'S "E-A-T"! IT'S GREAT! IT'S GREAT! IT'S GRRRRREAT!! YAYYY FANTASTIC MUSIC! Now watch the video while I roll out of this split and go to the emergency room.

If you like this artist, check out other music recommendations at   Me Like Good Music

By Entertainment Correspondent, John Frazier

As many of you already know, Jennifer Hudson is on tour, opening for blue eyed soul singer, Robin Thicke. While performing in Atlanta, Ms. Hudson surprised her fans by introducing Ms. Jennifer Holliday, the original "Dreamgirl", to the stage to sing, "And I'm Telling You (I'm Not Going).

 

The wonderful performance has become the latest You Tube hit, over 220,877 thus far. Many may recall that during the filming of "Dreamgirls" Ms. Holliday was displeased as she was not ask to appear in the film. But all the negative feelings are gone.  Ms. Hudson reached out to Ms. Holliday asking her to help her surprise the Atlanta fans. Ms. Hudson is a class act.

On the You Tube recording, you can hear the totally shocked fans, screaming, "Oh my god, oh my god, as the two divas battled vocally. Another night Ms. Hudson surprised the fans with Ms. Fantasia, where they performed their recording of "I'm His Only Woman." If nothing else, its wonderful to see our sisters unite instead of fight. You read it here at GBMNews.com