Month: May 2012

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AMC Theaters Deitrick Haddon film gospel music Releve Entertainment Tyscot Records United States

AMC Theaters extend singer Deitrick Haddon’s film ‘A Beautiful Soul’ another week

Grammy Award nominated singer Deitrick Haddon’s second film venture, “A Beautiful Soul”, enjoyed robust box office receipts in its limited engagement premiere this past weekend at 20 AMC Theaters in 11 markets such as Chicago, Philadelphia, Indianapolis and Haddon’s native Detroit. Variety magazine calls the film, “a natural for young, Christian oriented aud[iences].” The film has done so well that AMC Theaters has extended the run another week to accommodate the public demand to see the movie.
 
“It was humbling to see a dream manifested this weekend,” Haddon says in a news release. “The fact that the film opened in theaters was a success; the fan support was overwhelming, and we are grateful”. Haddon’s co-partners echo his sentiments. “I am so happy to play a part in an effort that is helping to take the gospel message to the mainstream audience,” says Holly Carter of Releve Entertainment. “This was a small step to a big vision! To God be the glory!”
 
“I am excited about the success we are experiencing, not just with movie tickets sold, but with lives being changed,” says Bryant Scott of Tyscot Films. “This movie is having a powerful, positive impact on people, including those who have not been regular church goers.  To sum it up, God is using this film in a major way to change lives, and that’s what it’s all about.”
 
This movie comes on the heels of Haddon’s 2010 debut “Blessed & Cursed” which has sold over 100,000 copies as a direct to DVD film. It’s also aired on the GMC Channel and Showtime. Aside from Haddon, who stars as an R&B singer named Andre Stephens, the film also stars Harry Lennix (“The Matrix”, “The Five Heartbeats”, “Barbershop 2”) as Jeff Freeze, Robert Ri’chard (“One on One”, “Coach Carter”, “The Matrix) as Chris Scott, Lesley Ann Brandt (“Spartacus”, “Diplomatic Immunity”) as Angela Berry, and Barry Floyd (“The Game”) as Terrance Wilson.
 
Directed by Jeff Byrd (“Seventeen Again”, “Soul Food The Series”, “Kings Ransom”, “Jasper TX), “A Beautiful Soul”, a contemporary twist on Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”, is the story of Andre Stephens, an R&B superstar who has success, fame and fortune but spiritually has lost his way.  The film follows Andre after his “perfect” life is shattered in a brutal attack that leaves he and his best friend Chris Johnson (Ri’chard) clinging to life.  As he embarks on a spiritual journey that exists in a place that is neither on Earth nor in Heaven, Andre is forced to make a choice that could change his destiny forever.
 
Shot on location in Los Angeles, California, “A Beautiful Soul” was cast by Twinkie Byrd (“Jumping the Broom”, “Notorious”, “Stomp the Yard”) and features cameos by NBA Legend John Salley, Golden Brooks, Vanessa Bell Calloway and Bishop Noel Jones.  The film will feature an original soundtrack of music from Deitrick Haddon as well Kierra Sheard, and Faith Evans, among others. “A Beautiful Soul” is a presentation of Tyscot Manhaddon Films and Relevé Entertainment, in association with Mission Pictures International. The screenplay is written by Allison Elizabeth Brown and Deitrick Haddon.  The film was produced by Holly Carter, Kimberly L. Ogletree and Dominique Telson.  The executive producers are Leonard S. Scott, Bryant S. Scott, Jeff Byrd, Cindy Bond, Chevonne O’Shaughnessy, and Deitrick Haddon.





The film continues to show at these AMC theaters:
 
Atlanta, GA:
Southlake 24 (7065 Mount Zion Circle, Morrow, GA 30260)
Stonecrest 16 (8060 Mall Parkway, Lithonia, GA 30038)
 
Chicago, IL:
Crestwood 18 (13221 Rivercrest Drive, Crestwood, IL 60445)
Country Club Hills 16 (4201 W.167th St., Country Club Hills, IL 60478)
Ford City 14 (7601 S. Cicero Ave., Chicago, IL 60652)
 
Dallas, TX:
Grapevine Mills 30 (3150 Grapevine Mills Parkway, Grapevine, TX 76051)
Mesquite 30 (19919 Interstate 635, Mesquite, TX 75149)
 
Detroit, MI:
Southfield 20 (25333 West 12 Mile Road, Southfield, MI 48034)
Forum 30 (44681 Mound Road, Sterling Heights, MI 48314)
 
 
Hampton, VA:
Hampton Towne Center 24 (1 Town Center Way, Hampton, VA 23666)
 
Indianapolis, IN:
AMC Theatre Castleton (6020 East 82nd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46250)
 
Los Angeles, CA:
Ontario (4549 Mills Circle, Ontario, CA 91764)
AMC Burbank Town Center 6 (770 North 1st Street, Burbank, CA 91501)
 
New York/ New Jersey:
Jersey Gardens 20 (651 Kapkowski Road, Elizabeth, NJ 07201)
 
Philadelphia, PA:
Hamilton 24(325 Sloan Avenue, Hamilton, NJ 08619)
Cherry Hill 24 (2121 Route 38, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002)
 
Washington, D.C . Area:
Hoffman 22 (206 Swamp Fox Road, Alexandria, VA 22314)

Categories
A. Cortes Rex Jr. BLAC Inc. Black Liberated Arts Center Inc. Charlie Christian International Music Festival festivals James Cleveland jazz festivals Oklahoma Oklahoma City performances United States

Rev. Dr. A. Cortes Rex Jr. featured in Charlie Christian International Music Festival in June

Rev. Dr. A. Cortes Rex Jr.

The Rev. Dr. A. Cortes Rex Jr. of Los Angeles is scheduled to appear in Oklahoma City on June 3, 2012, during the 27th annual Charlie Christian International Music Festival. The gospel concert, a tribute to the late Rev. James Cleveland, founder of the Gospel Music Workshops of America, will be held at 5 p.m. at Frederick A.Douglass Auditorium.


Rex, a friend of Cleveland, said in a recent news release, he recalled that during the formative years of his singing ministry, he was influenced by Cleveland, Clara Ward and Allie B. Anderson (his grandfather), Aretha Franklin and many others. Rex never dreamed that he would meet Rev. Cleveland and someday do a show in tribute to a man whose songs touched him and many others.


Born in Wichita, Kan., Rex grew up in Tulsa, OK, where he attended Booker T. Washington High School. Following graduation, he attended Langston University, where he graduated in 1980 with honors and was voted the Most Talented Male in his senior year. He later pursued a Masters of Administration Degree at California State University at Dominguez Hills in Long Beach, Calif.


He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and is the president and producer of Signs
and Wonders Inc. Rex sang background for live performances and recording sessions with well-known gospel and secular artists. He received the City of Los Angeles Motown Award in  April 2008. He was nominated to the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame in 2009.


 Rex will perform the show, “A Tribute to Rev. James Cleveland” and will be joined by Gospel Music Workshops of Oklahoma musicians and other special guests. Tickets are $10 and $15 for VIP seats. For more information, call Black Liberated Arts Center Inc. at (405) 524-3800.


The Charlie Christian International Music Festival is sponsored by BLAC Inc., Friends of the Oklahoma City/County Historical Society and Oklahoma Arts Council and Integris Health.

Categories
Amazing Grace BBC BBC Radio Candi Staton documentary film gospel Judy Collins London music Pete Seeger Sandi Patty United Kingdom

Artists come together for ‘Amazing Grace’ documentary

Written over 200 years ago in Olney, England, “Amazing Grace” is the world’s most renowned hymn and has been recorded by a who’s who of contemporary music. On May 8, 2012, BBC Radio 2, the United Kingdom’s most listened to radio station, will broadcast an original documentary celebrating the song and its controversial history. It airs at 10 p.m. London Time (5 p.m. EST/2 p.m. PST in the USA) and can be heard on www.bbc.co.uk (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01h5xfy).

Grammy Award nominated soul singer Candi Staton narrates the incredible journey of the song’s composer John Newton, from 18th century slave trader to evangelical preacher and abolitionist. She also charts the song’s recording history and revisits classic recordings from the worlds of gospel (Aretha Franklin, Mahalia Jackson, Al Green), folk (Pete Seeger, Judy Collins) and pop (Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke, Royal Scots Dragoon Guards).

The program features a rare interview with the legendary 93-year-old Pete Seeger, as well as fresh reflections on the song’s impact from artists who have recorded it such as folk’s leading lady Judy Collins, Jimmy Carter of The Blind Boys of Alabama, Tramaine Hawkins, organist Moses Tyson Jr., Beverly Knight, Basil Meade of the London Gospel Choir, platinum-selling Contemporary Christian artist Sandi Patty, and new generation gospel artist Bryan Wilson, who recently released to iTunes and Amazon MP3, “Grace, It’s Amazing”, a reggae-folk flavored tune that is loosely based on the old hymn. Others such as journalist Steve Turner; author Anthony Heilbut (“The Gospel Sound”); the British Ambassador of Soul, David Nathan; scholar Adam Hochschild and Archbishop Carl Bean also provide commentary on the song and its illustrious legacy.

Candi Staton is famed for her 1970s hits such as “In the Ghetto” and “Young Hearts Run Free”. She’s remained current over the last two decades with critically-acclaimed CDs such as “His Hands” (2006), her platinum party favorite “You Got the Love” and last year’s Triple A #1 smash, “Kandi”, with the British band, one Eskimo. Alex Feldman for Pixiu Productions produced the special.


Categories
Aspen Aspen Music Festival and School Boz Scaggs Colorado Dukes of September festivals jazz Jazz Aspen Snowmass Joe Cocker k.d. lang Michael McDonald performances rock Snowmass soul United States

K.D. Lang, the Dukes of September, and others to headline Jazz Aaspen Snowmass June Festival

k.d. lang
The Dukes of September
It has been announced in a recent news release that The Jazz Aspen Snowmass (JAS) June Festival returns to the Benedict Music Tent with a line-up including new faces and old favorites, an expanded JAS Café Downstairs at the Nell series, and the addition of a nightly pre-concert Lawn Party prior to the headline concerts.
           
The festival kicks off on Friday, June 22, 2012, with three of the biggest names in jazz-rock and soul, The Dukes of September, featuring Donald Fagen, Michael McDonald and Boz Scaggs.  Saturday, June 23 brings the iconic blues-rocker, Joe Cocker, to the stage, who last played at JAS in June 2003.  The first weekend concludes on Sunday, June 24 with pop/country singer/songwriter k.d. lang and the Siss Boom Bang in her first ever JAS appearance.    
The following two weeks will feature an array of eclectic performances at the JAS Café Downstairs at the Little Nell: on Friday, June 29 the French/Brazilian magic of vocalist Cyrille Aimee and guitar virtuoso Diego Figueiredo returns after wowing audiences with their January performances; Saturday, June 30 will feature the Gypsy Jazz of the Hot Club of Detroit; Thursday, July 5 the 14-piece Cuban Band Wil Campa Y su Gran Union takes the stage; and on Friday, July 6 New Orleans trombonist, and 21-year head horn playing in Harry Connick’s Big Band, Lucien Barbarin and the New Orleans Rhythm Revue will close out the Nell shows.  On August 10-11 singer/songwriter/guitarist Raul Midon will be featured at the JAS Café with more summer acts still to be announced.  Each evening will feature performances at 7:30 and 9:15pm.  Tickets are $32/each in advance, $40 at the door.

The June Festival concludes with jazz trumpeter Chris Botti and special guest Caroline Campbell on violin, Saturday July 7 at the Benedict Music Tent, presented in association with the Aspen Music Festival and School.  Botti tickets are available now at 970-925-9042 or aspenmusicfestival.com.

New this year is a nightly JAS pre-concert Lawn Party on the Benedict Music Tent grounds (June 22-24).  Live music and multiple food and beverage vendors will be available from 6pm nightly for the public to enjoy.

June Festival Host Sponsors include The Town of Snowmass Village and The Denver Post.  Other sponsors include CME, Coors Light, Alpine Bank, Patron Tequila, KSPN, The Myers Roberts Collective and Aspen Sojourner. 

Tickets for the June 22-24 shows are on sale now.  They can be purchased at 866-JAS-TIXX (527-8499), jazzaspensnowmass.org, or the Belly Up Box Office (544-9800).  For information on festival patron (VIP) tickets please contact the JAS office at 970-920-4996 or visit  jazzaspensnowmass.org. 

JAS Café tickets are available at 866-JAS-TIXX or jazzaspensnowmass.org In addition to the June Festival Café shows, additional Café performances will take place July 27-28 (acts tba) and August 10-11 (featuring singer/songwriter/guitarist Raul Midon & an additional act to be announced).

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Afro Latin Jazz Alliance Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra contemporary jazz jazz New York New York City performances spoken word United States

Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra to conclude 10th anniversary season on May 10-11


According to a news release, Arturo O’Farrill’s Grammy Award-winning ensemble, the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, will conclude its 10th Anniversary season with a celebration titled, “Música Nueva 5: Big Band Poetry Jam & Beyond” at Symphony Space in New York City. 

Performance times are at 8 p.m. Friday, May 11, 2012, and 8 p.m. Saturday, May 12, 2012, at Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street in New York City.
The program will celebrate the Nuyorican Poetry movement and the Latino community, and the artists will mix the classic sound of mambo, boogaloo, and salsa with hip-hop, acid jazz, and alternative improvisation. 

Additional guests for the evening include poet and curator Angel R. Rodríguez, Sr., as well as Tony Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda and turntablist DJ Logic. Spoken word artists include Sandra María Esteves, Tato Laviera, Odilia Rivera Santos, Caridad “La Bruja” De La Luz, Circa ’95 (PattyDukes & RephStar), and Christopher “Chilo” Cajigas. The arrangers for the two-night engagement include O’Farrill, Todd Bashore, Adam Kromelow, Jason Lindner, Adam O’Farrill, Jay Rodríguez, and Bill Ware. 

Founded in 2002 by O’Farrill to perform the full repertory of big band Afro Latin jazz and commission new works to advance this culturally rich genre, the ALJO was a resident orchestra at Jazz at Lincoln Center from 2002 to 2007. In 2007, the ALJO left Lincoln Center to pursue the twin goals of developing new audiences for big band Afro Latin jazz and of creating a robust educational program for young performers. O’Farrill founded the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance that same year to pursue both the performance and educational aspects of this uniquely pan-American art form.
The ALJO is currently in its fifth season in residence at Symphony Space, and it continues to tour nationally and internationally to critical acclaim, performing over the past several years at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Boston Symphony Hall, the Newport Jazz Festival, The Joyce Theater (with Ballet Hispanico), Megaron Concert Hall (Athens, Greece), and the Taichung Jazz Festival (Taichung, Taiwan), among countless other venues. The ALJO received a Grammy nomination for its 2005 album, Una Noche Inolvidable (Palmetto), and in 2009 earned a Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Album for its release Song for Chico (Zoho). The Orchestra’s newest album, 40 Acres and a Burro (Zoho), was a 2012 Grammy nominee for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album.


 

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daily deal magazines O magazine Purex United States

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contemporary jazz jazz Mexico Mole music RareNoiseRecords releases United States world

Jazz quartet Mole to release ‘What’s the Meaning?’ on RareNoiseRecords label on May 15

It was nearly eight years ago that Mexican born pianist-composer Mark Aanderud joined forces with Argentinian drummer Hernan Hecht. Their chemistry was immediate and natural. 

“The first things we did were all related to free music, with electronic elements or not, but always with the idea of creating songs or forms in the moment,” says Aanderud in a news release. “We do have some incredible magic going on, inasmuch as we can play concerts or record without ever speaking of music, and never repeating ideas or stifling development. This actually hasn’t changed over the years.” 
From their initial encounter, the two kindred spirits progressed to the formation of Mole (pronounced Mo-Lay), an exhilarating quartet that is breaking new ground in its approach to contemporary jazz with their auspicious RareNoiseRecords debut, What’s The Meaning?.

“I think this project is an inevitable spot in my career,” says Hecht, who is also a member of the RareNoiseRecords band Brainkiller. “It is our version of contemporary jazz, the sum of all the things we’ve heard and experienced in our lives related to jazz and everything else we have acquired; sounds of other music, other arts, the sense of song. It’s a freedom of expression, not determined by traditional jazz or directly from any line of traditional language learning. I am interested in music that is broad, not determined by a style.”
Though both Aanderud and Hecht would cringe at the prospect of being labeled a fusion band, Moledoes indeed fuse a variety of music styles, from jazz and rock to classical, funk and hip-hop. 

“I don’t really like the fusion concept, but of course with all the groove and electronic elements in our music it’s natural to think it sounds like fusion a little bit,” says Aanderud. “But I see us more in the same line as groups like Phronesis, e.s.t. and Kurt Rosenwinkel and in terms of electronic music, groups like Sigur Rós, Massive Attack and Radiohead.”
After a few years of exploring their chemistry together, Aanderud and Hecht began inviting other musicians into their inner circle to see how it affected their music.

 “We always considered the possibility of working with more people to achieve different characters, sounds and experience new artistic possibilities,” says Hecht. “So I instigated tours and recordings with Tim Berne, Rick Parker, Eli Degibri, Jonathan Kreisberg, Marco Renteria, Aaron Cruz and many more musicians, always with the desire of novelty.”
For their super-charged What’s the Meaning?, Aanderud and Hecht recruited New York guitarist David Gilmore, whose impressive list of credits includes tours and recordings with the likes of Wayne Shorter, Trilok Gurtu, Don Byron and Steve Coleman’s Five Elements.

“When we decided to tour with someone else from New York, to have new sounds and pressure to work with someone already recognized internationally, someone from which to learn with a shared philosophy and professionalism, we automatically thought of David Gilmore,” says Hecht.
Adds Aanderud, “There is probably no other guitarist as diverse in groove, time and the free approach as him. So it was easy to know he was the one we were looking for.”
Rounding out the quartet is Mexican upright bassist Jorge “Luri” Molina, whom Aanderud met years ago in their native country. 

“I’ve known Luri since I started playing jazz music,” says the keyboardist who is currently based in Prague. “We were still kids and we were starting to dig this music. He was a very straight-ahead player but he became one of the most charismatic and strong rhythm players I know, and an incredible musician who just understands any musical situation.”

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BLAC Inc. Black Liberated Arts Center Inc. music Oklahoma Oklahoma City performances Uganda Ugandan Orphans Choir youth

Ugandan orphans spread hope for children in poverty

The Ugandan Orphans Choir, a group of 10 talented children ranging from ages 11 to 14, has announced that they will be performing in Oklahoma during the month of May. All 10 children have been given hope through Childcare Worldwide’s sponsorship program, and now they devote their energy to helping other children have access to sponsorship and education.


These exuberant children delight audiences as they dance in colorful, traditional
costumers accompanied by authentic African drums and other instruments. They sing
African songs in their native language, which in Luganda, and have learned some songs
in English as well. Former audience member Kurt Swanson said in a new release, “Audiences just can’t seem to get enough of what these children have to share; from their natural musical
talents to their raw expression of African culture. People are also amazed by the deep joy
these children have despite the circumstances they came from.”


Each of the 10  children has a story to tell about how their lives have been changed through the power of education provided through Childcare Worldwide’s sponsorship program. The choir has performed in churches and schools nationwide, as well as reputable venues such as Disneyland, KING 5 Television’s “New Day Northwest” as well as Qwest Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks.


The Ugandan Orphans Choir will be performing at the following locations in Oklahoma City:
1 p.m. Wednesday, May 9, 2012 – Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School.


1 p.m. Thursday, May 24, 2012 – Douglass High School.


1 p.m. Friday, May 25, 2012 – Wilson Arts Integration Elementary School.


The Ugandan Orphans Choir is a ministry of Childcare Worldwide and has been devoted to transforming lives of children for over 30 years in nine developing countries. Childcare Worldwide seeks to make learning and the hope of future employment possible for every child they serve. The ultimate goal of sponsorship and education is to break the cycle of poverty in children’s lives.


According to Anita G. Arnold, executive director of BLAC Inc., the concerts are free and open to the public. For more information, call BLAC Inc. at (405) 524-3800.