Title: African-Festival O8
Location: Arisona State University West Campus
Description: Celebrate African Music, Dance and Food.
Start Time: 10:00
Date: 2008-10-18
End Time: 18:00
I’ve always liked Montreal, Canada. Beautiful and graceful, this city always seems to have something going on – regardless of the weather. ( Montreal has finessed the whole concept of “underground” shopping.)
The festival has an eclectic musical mix planned, including:
“Return to Forever” with Chick Corea and Stanly Clarke, Aretha Franklin, Leonard Cohen , Omara Portuondo, (you might know her if you saw the documentary, “ Buena Vista Social Club” she sang a duet with the late Cuban crooner, Ibrahim Ferrer), and, lots of others. There is still time to make a plan!
(photo – Festival street scene from 2007)
Montréal Jazz Festival
For information call: 1 888 515-0515 (toll free)
www.montrealjazzfest.com
So, I’m still living on the fumes of my April in New York City adventure.
Went to MOMA on 53rd St and saw the usual suspects – Cezanne, Picasso, Gauguin, Rothko, etc. But, then I went into a little room with the Van Gogh’s. I’ve always liked his work, but I had never seen them in person. They are all beautiful in an intense way.
Of course I’ve seen “Starry Night” in books, magazines, but, when looking close up, I noticed the coiled energy. The whirling stars look as it they are flying thru the air and about to explode. Just amazing.
“Starry Night”, Vincent Van Gogh, 1899
Museum of Modern Art, http://www.moma.org/
* I enjoyed seeing “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”. Unfortunately, James Earl Jones was absent from his role as “Big Daddy” (made famous by Burl Ives in the 50’s movie of the same name), but the rest of the cast, directed by the talented Debbie Allen – Terrence Howard, Phylicia Rashad and Giancarlo Esposito – do a great job with this Tennessee Williams play about a southern family with lots of secrets and lots of lies.
Tony award winner Anika Noni Rose, the “cat” on the heated roof, is terrific as she fights with and for her man – from the opening curtain to the final scene, she radiates and sparkles. She is a star!
Big Daddy: “What’s that smell in this room? Didn’t you notice it, Brick? Didn’t you notice the powerful and obnoxious odor of mendacity in this room?”
“Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”, Broadhurst Theater, NYC
*And, I saw the marvelous Laurence Fishburne in “Thurgood”. Only 90 minutes, the play takes the audience thru personal and historic events of the life of the first African American Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall.
Written by George Stevens and directed by Leonard Foglia, “Thurgood” highlights how the man called “Mister Civil Rights” in the 1950’s, used the law to effect change.
The play follows him from childhood, thru his dangerous and stubborn excursions into the South to register black voters, to his successes with anti segregation legislation and then thru his 20 years on the court.
Fishburne delivers, not just an historic figure but, an accomplished, complex man. Great stories, great events some human and funny, others just make you proud.
“Thurgood”, Booth Theatre, NYC
Last Summer I attended a performance of “Snow White” produced by Arizona Magic of Music and Dance a program for children and young adults with physical or mental disabilities — that prepares them in one week to stage a wonderful theater production that is written and choreographed just for them. This was an inspirational event. This weekend in Scottsdale they have partnered with Barnes & Noble to help raise funds for this year’s production of the Jungle Book.
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
(10500 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale Tel. 480-391-0048)
“Magical Possibilities for Youths with Disabilities”
SHOW UP: Free performance by the Arizona Magic of Music & Dance – please bring the entire family
SHOP: Barnes & Noble will give each person in attendance a charitable voucher.
This voucher will be valid at any valley location for the following 30 days.
SUPPORT: The proceeds from your purchasing from Barnes and Noble fund the barrier
free week-long camps
June 2 – 6 in Fountain Hills & June 9 – 13 in Phoenix
for children and young adults with physical and mental disabilities. In just one
week, they will stage The Jungle Book with the help of teen and adult volunteers.
We need your help. Please visit www.AZMagic.org to enroll a special needs
“actor” or to volunteer – but most of all, we need your donations. 100% of all
proceeds support these two fabulous productions.
Tax Deductible 501 – C-(3)
Just shop at Barnes & Noble for any books or gifts you
want in the next 30 days. Present the voucher at checkout
and Barnes & Noble will donate a portion of the
profits to the Arizona Magic of Music & Dance!
I have to say a glimpse because I was in Belize for only one week and wasn’t even aware of the trip until two days before (not much time for researching). So, this past week, I had the pleasure and honor of working on Nyasha Liang’s documentary “Punta Rock”, about the musical culture in Belize. We went down this week because one of the musical greats of this gorgeous country, Andy Palacio had passed away. He was a young 47 and at the cusp of major international stardom. Funerals and memorials in Belize reminded me of New Orleans: lingering sadness but HUGE celebration. There was lots and lots of music. Happy, joyous music.
Although my introduction to Garifuna culture, Belizean Art and Andy is still so recent and limited, I did want to share its splendor with my readers. If you are like me and have a serious addiction to Samba, Calypso or Roots Reggae, then you’ll enjoy Andy’s music. Some other artists to look into (remember this is a glimpse, so very far from complete, just what I’ve heard so far and adored) are Garifuna Collective, Aurelio Martinez (he has charisma for days), Mr Peters & Lela Vernon.
For context: The New York Times Obituary for Andy Palacio.
Nyasha’s blog and also her website on producing “Punta Rock” (check out the trailer).
And this site I found online: “Watina: A Look Behind the Music of Andy Palacio”
Enjoy!
Side note: I also had a chance to check out some local artists. Two of my favorites were Michael Gordon and Gilvano Swasey. A definite place to go in Belize City is Image Factory.
I wanted to bring light to one of the greatest opportunities: thanks to the generosity of Agnes Varis and Karl Leichtman, New Yorkers can enjoy $20 Orchestra seats at the Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center. 200 tickets are made available each day for every performance. Most people are aware of the $20 Standing Room tickets. However, if you are like me, and would appreciate a reserved seat, you can also do that for $20.
This past Tuesday, I went to see my favorite opera, “Madama Butterfly”, designed by famed film director, Anthony Minghella ( “Talented Mr Ripley”, “The English Patient”.) Distilling the experience into words is difficult. It was the most dynamic, evocative and emotive rendition that I have ever experience. It lasted about 3 1/2 hours but felt about half of that. Next, my friends and I will take advantage of the upcoming performances of “Aida” and “Carmen”.
The trick to the $20 Rush tickets is to arrive at the MET around 2pm and wait for the tickets to be available at 6pm. It’s well worth the wait. After purchasing your ticket, treat yourself to an unforgettable dinning experience at Cafe Fiorello’s across the street. If you can, grab a seat at the bar, where you will be face-to-face with all of their delectable Antipasto and have easy access to some of the most incredible wines and charming waitstaff.
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