Author: mitchmuse

Global communicator, Journalism, Entrepreneur, Web editor, Blogger, Freelance writer, Jazz enthusiast

Monthy TV show to feature Oklahoma City’s Black Liberated Arts Center Inc.

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date September 10, 2011

Anita Arnold

Anita G. Arnold, executive director of Black Liberated Arts Center Inc. in Oklahoma City, announced in a recent news release that the 41-year-old arts organization will be seen every third Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m. on “Oklahoma Live” at KSBI Television.
“Oklahoma Live” show host Lyn Hester said BLAC Inc. has many interesting and exciting things going on that the public needs to know about.
For the September 20, 2011, show, Arnold will be sharing information about BLAC Inc.’s upcoming annual benefit and recognition dinner with Silent Auction on Oct. 22, 2011. Special announcements will be made about two new awards being established for the late Clara Luper and Lyndell Walls, Jr. Arnold will be showcasing one of the special auction items that will create a buzz among attendees.
Upcoming shows will cover BLAC Inc.’s annual season of performing arts, arts education programs, and the upcoming statewide arts education professional development conference. Additionally, television viewers can expect to see and hear artists presented by BLAC Inc. that will be performing in different community venues including schools.
Arnold said “Oklahoma Live” is another way to make the community aware of the many services
being provided by BLAC, Inc.
“For years, we have looked for ways to educate and inform the public about the work of the organization. KSBI’s offer for us to appear on the ‘Oklahoma Live/ show monthly provides us an opportunity to reach the public consistently. We are appreciative of KSBI’s invitation,” Arnold said.
For more information, call BLAC, Inc. at (405) 524-3800.

Uncategorized

The Nice Guy Trio to release “Sidewalks and Alleys/Waking Music” on Sept. 20, 2011

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date September 7, 2011

With a name like The Nice Guy Trio, it should come as no surprise that trumpeter Darren Johnston’s singular ensemble knows how to make the most out of new musical friendships. Since Johnston joined forces with accordion ace Rob Reich and well-traveled bassist Daniel Fabricant four years ago, the Nice Guys have engaged in a series of stylistically unfettered musical adventures with a daunting array of artists, from Ethiopian-born singer/songwriter Meklit Hadero and clarinet explorer Ben Goldberg to tabla expert Sameer Gupta, pedal-steel guitar maestro David Phillips and versatile violinist Dina Maccabee.

Photo credit: Peter Varshavsky

Sidewalks and Alleys/Waking Music, the group’s second release for San Francisco’s Porto Franco label, documents another captivating excursion, this time in the company of an all-star string quartet. Commissioned by the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, the project features two very different five-piece suites. Reich’s picaresque metropolitan gadabout “Sidewalks and Alleys” is a wondrously evocative work that celebrates the transformative experience of exploring a city on foot. Inquisitive, fretful and frankly sensuous, it’s a soundtrack for an urban romance between a pedestrian and the naked city.

“This project is a continuation of what we’ve been working on, collaborating with artists from musically different worlds, which feels organic to us because the three of us come from completely different places to begin with,” says Johnston in a recent news release. “We have this hunger to put ourselves in uncomfortable situations. Working with strings is like venturing into a different culture where we have to compromise and ideally arrive at something we wouldn’t have otherwise. Hopefully, no matter where the music goes it always sounds like us.”
The project was originally conceived as a collaboration with the Grammy Award-winning Turtle Island Quartet, but when scheduling became too daunting, the Nice Guys decided to proceed with Turtle Island’s founding cellist Mark Summer and powerhouse Danish-born violinist Mads Tolling, who joined TIQ in 2008 and has toured and recorded with Stanley Clarke. They rounded out the quartet with violist Dina Maccabee, a longtime Nice Guy collaborator, and violinist Anthony Blea, a player equally versed in Latin jazz, European classical music and pop.
A major force on the Bay Area creative music scene for the past decade, Johnston has collaborated with heavyweight improvisers such as guitarist Fred Frith, ROVA Saxophone Quartet and bassist/composer Marcus Shelby. Along with the Nice Guy project, he’s also releasing a bracing free jazz session on Porto Franco with a quintet of Windy City masters “Gone to Chicago.”

Uncategorized

Mitch’s Travel: Hilton Worldwide introduces “Bride Whisperers” at five Puerto Rico properties

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date September 7, 2011

Five Hilton Worldwide properties across Puerto Rico today announced the debut of their new “Bride Whisperers.” From wedding planner to life coach – and everything in between – these specially trained consultants will partner with couples to create a seamless, fairytale wedding on the Island of Enchantment.

“The wedding planning process can be daunting, which often puts unnecessary strain on couples at what should be one of the most exciting times in their lives,” said Jessica Sierra, area director of sales, San Juan, Puerto Rico for Hilton Worldwide. “There is nothing our Bride Whisperers can’t or won’t do. They are here as free consultants and are about more than just selling a wedding package – they truly want to put brides-to-be at ease, creating a stress-free destination wedding and honeymoon from start to finish.”

The new “Bride Whisperers” are available at the following properties:

Couples seeking a destination wedding escape will enjoy the El Conquistador Resort, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, which features its own private island and much more. With recently renovated guestrooms and the $42 million addition of the Grand Atlantic Conference Center, El Conquistador Resort boasts two ballrooms and 16 more intimate event rooms totaling more than 100,000 square feet of function space. Couples can choose from a selection of awe-inspiring outdoor spaces to start their life together, including the resort’s Coqui Water Park or private, 100-acre Palomino Island, which can be reserved for the most exclusive events.

After the big day is over, couples can leave their wedding guests behind and immediately begin their honeymoon with an escape to the cliffside Las Casitas Village, A Waldorf Astoria Resort – El Conquistador Resort’s award-winning sister property. With sweeping ocean views, full kitchen facilities, 24-hour butler service, privatedining options and a breathtaking infinity pool, Las Casitas Village is ideal for honeymooners seeking an unforgettable honeymoon retreat. Both El Conquistador Resort and Las Casitas Village offer a variety of wedding packages for the most upscale events and the Bride Whisperers here are specially trained to customize options for brides on a budget. To reach Bride Whisperers Patricia Villali and Yajaira Hernandez, call 888-543-1230. For more information, to go www.elconresort.com and www.lascasitasvillage.com.

Nuptials at the legendary El San Juan Resort & Casino blend authentic tropical splendor with old-world elegance. Just five minutes from the airport, this charming retreat features elegantly refurbished guestrooms and 35,000 square feet of event space, including a magnificent ballroom and a variety of venues for rehearsal dinners and cocktails receptions. Couples can wed beside a romantic Banyan Tree; at Las Terrazas, a breezy, tropical setting with indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the pool, gardens and Isla Verde beach; on the Panorama rooftop offering sweeping ocean views; at the alluring Encanto Beach Club, an elegant, outdoor poolside location for events; or in the soon-to-be renovated wedding-function space. Bridal parties will love La Galeria shops and Edouard de Paris Spa. For grooms, BRAVA nightclub is the ultimate bachelor party experience. To reach Bride Whisperer Amnel Colon, call 888-579-2635. For more information, go to www.elsanjuanhotel.com.

From a tropical affair on picturesque, white-sand beaches to a chic gala overlooking the Atlantic Ocean andCaribbean Sea, Conrad San Juan Condado Plaza is a romantic wedding retreat with a bevy of options. Tie the knot during a breezy beachfront ceremony or in the resort’s flexible, elegant 41,000 square feet of indoor event space. Minutes from Historic Old San Juan, Conrad San Juan Condado Plaza boasts guestrooms with modern décor, a 24-hour casino, a romantic outdoor massage area and a sprawling pool layout. Two exquisite on-property rehearsal dinner options include renowned Chef Wilo Benet’s Varita and Pikayo. To reach Bride Whisperers Giovanna Buono and Anita Fernández, call 866-317-8934. For more information, go to www.condadoplaza.com.

The Historic Caribe Hilton provides the most exquisite services for an intimate ceremony at the beach up to the most extravagant wedding reception for 500 guests. The outdoor venues overlooking the Atlantic Ocean or the magnificent gardens provide an unparalleled atmosphere for such an important occasion. With 910 luxurious guestrooms and suites, including the Condado Lagoon Villas, Caribe Hilton is San Juan’s largest hotel and the perfect locale for over-the-top wedding celebrations. Centrally located near the heart of Old San Juan, Caribe Hilton sits on an exclusive beachfront peninsula and boasts 17 acres of lush tropical gardens. The hotel features a secluded beach, two oceanfront swimming pools, the full-service Olas Spa and Morton’s Steakhouse, making it an unforgettable wedding or honeymoon spot sure to create long-lasting memories. To reach Bride Whisperers Rubén Alvarez and Maricarmen Santaella, call 787-721-0303. For more information, to go www.caribehilton.com.

32nd Detroit International Jazz Festival concert contemporary jazz jazz Michigan United States world jazz world music

Detroit Jazz Festival’s 32nd season on Labor Day weekend

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date September 5, 2011

Voted one of the top three jazz festivals in North America in national jazz publications this year, the 32^nd annual Detroit Jazz Festival continues to demonstrate how much jazz shines as a symbol of freedom and democracy during Labor Day weekend.

Subtitled “We Bring You the World,” artists from Benin, Brazil, Cuba, Israel, Japan and the Netherlands will convene in Detroit. Performers include: Toots Thielemans, Dave Holland, Luciana Souza, Gary Burton, Ivan Lins, Paquito D’Rivera, Angélique Kidjo, Kevin Eubanks, Vijay Iyer, Vinicius Cantuária, Joe Lovano, Mandrill, Chuck Jackson, Deacon Jones Blues Revue, Steve Wilson, U.S. Airforce Airmen of Note with Joe Locke, Anthony Wilson, Sun Ra Arkestra, Sammy Figueroa, Tony Monaco, Richie Goods, Rahsaan Patterson, Sean Jones, and Christian McBride with Ernie Andrews and the Detroit Jazz Festival Orchestra, this year presented by MotorCity Casino Hotel.

While artists are visiting from across the globe, some of native Detroit jazz artists will be coming home. The Detroit-born Dianne Reeves, Geri Allen, Regina Carter, Curtis Fuller, Robert Hurst and Karriem Riggins will prove once again that, based on the talent that comes from southeast Michigan, there must be something in the water. The festival will also recognize Detroit’s big band tradition with a J.C. Heard tribute band led by Walt Szymanski, and the music of Detroit’s Jean Goldkette played by Josh Duffee & his Orchestra.

With the drum being the most universal instrument, 2011 artist-in-residence Jeff “Tain” Watts will beat the drum on the JPMorgan Chase Main Stage opening night. He will be joined by his newly created project “The Drum Club,” featuring percussionists Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez, Tony Allen, Pedro Martinez and, Susie Ibarra, along with vibraphonist Joe Locke and bassist Robert Hurst. The freedom theme will be further celebrated opening night with “Sing The Truth!” featuring Dianne Reeves, Angélique Kidjo and Lizz Wright performing the songs of the legendary Miriam Makeba, Abbey Lincoln and Odetta. The festival’s closing concert on the same stage aptly features another important drummer, Karriem Riggins, collaborating on a special jazz-based performance with hip hop artist Common. His ensemble will feature Robert Hurst, Perry Hughes, Mike Jellick, Roger Jones, Mic Holden and DJ dez.

For more information on the Detroit Jazz Festival, go to http://detroitjazzfest.com/.

black history dedication gospel Martin Luther King Jr. Maryland music United States Washington D.C.

Shirley Murdock to sing at two Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Dedication events this weekend

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date August 22, 2011

Shirley Murdock

Legendary soul singer Shirley Murdock (best known for her 1986 gold-selling classic, “As We Lay”), is coming to the nation’s capitol to sing her new radio hit “Dream” (from her forthcoming CD “Live: The Journey”) on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011, at two official Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Dedication events.

The powerhouse vocalist will be backed by The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Dedication Choir at the Pre-Dedication Concert Ceremony (also featuring Patti LaBelle, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Jennifer Holliday, Donnie McClurkin and Mary Mary) taking place 9-11 a.m. EST on the National Mall. Later that day, Murdock will be backed by the “Sing for a King” Community Choir as she performs “Dream” at the Lift Every Voice Gospel Extravaganza taking place 4-6 p.m. EST at the Washington Convention Center. That event features The Sounds of Blackness, Bryan Wilson, Earnest Pugh and the Duke Ellington High School of the Arts Students and Orchestra. The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Dedication Choir was birthed through a partnership of Desho Productions and NEWorks Productions. The Rev. Nolan Williams Jr., music director, assembled a multi-generational, multi-racial group of vocalists that will sing Williams’ composition “I Am The Dream” during the pre-service and “We Shall Overcome” at the unveiling program where President Obama will speak.

Coming to Washington to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy is important to Murdock who vividly recalls the day he was assassinated. “I was almost 11 yrs old,” she said in a news release. “I remember all the adults being absolutely grief stricken, as if a family member had died. There was a lot of hurt, disbelief and anger after Dr. King died. My Mother was a praying woman, so as she placed her worries into God’s hands, I drew my peace from her peace. I heard him being referred to, as the ‘Moses’ of our time. Like Moses, he didn’t make it to the promised land, but he let us know he’d been to the mountaintop and that his eyes had seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.”

Murdock and her husband, Dale DeGroat, wrote her new radio hit “Dream” (#33 on BDS) with Bishop T.D. Jakes.

“My song is a reminder that God is the giver and the fulfiller of all the dreams He places in our hearts,” she said. “The dream is a glimpse of our future selves being more and doing more. It’s us at our BEST… fulfilling our PURPOSE … to loving one another, serving one another …celebrating and embracing our diversity and uniqueness.”

BeansnFrank cartoons dance education hip hop Maryland music rap teachers United States youth

Beans-n-Frank creators elevate academic enrichment through catchy hip-hop beats

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date August 22, 2011

Teaching with hip-hop isn’t a new idea, but it has never been done as cool as Beans-N-Frank. They are the cartoon kids who rap lessons over hard-hitting hip-hop beats. The lyrics are as catchy and memorable as Sesame Street songs, but the music sounds like tracks from your favorite radio jam. We make music that the entire family can enjoy.

Our creators, Mark Davis and David Washington are veteran teachers with over 22 years of classroom experience between them, and even more experience as hip-hop artists. Davis and Washington are the hosts who join the mascot characters on stage for live performances that involve a lot of rapping, dancing, fact reviews, and “edutainment” at its finest. The combination makes for products and performances that are much more relevant and exciting than what can usually be found amongst children’s entertainers, yet the content reinforces skills that are critical for academic enrichment.

We offer the following services:
– Live Performances
– Curriculum Supplements
– Remediation (for Groups of All Sizes)
– Song Personalization
– Gang/Bully Prevention Training
– Birthday Parties/Special Events
– Fundraisers

Our recorded music and live presentations reinforce the skills that align with the following Common Core State Standards recognized and adopted by most educational systems in the U.S.:

(Elementary Grades)
•Print concepts
•Phonological awareness
•Know number names and the count sequence
•Count to tell number of objects
•Compare numbers
•Understand addition as putting together and adding to, and understand subtraction as taking apart and taking from.
•Identify and describe shapes
•Phonics and word recognition
•Add and subtract within 20
•Tell and write time
•Work with time and money
•Comprehension and collaboration

For more information on Beans-n-Frank, go to http://www.reverbnation.com/beansnfrank.

contemporary jazz Marsalis Music Miguel Zenon music Puerto Rico releases United States world world music

Grammy-nominated MacArthur fellow and saxophonist-composer Miguel Zenón releases his fifth album

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date August 20, 2011

Miguel Zenon

In Alma Adentro: The Puerto Rican Songbook (Marsalis Music), saxophonist, composer and arranger Miguel Zenón brings that jazz tradition home – his home.
The album is comprised of 10 pieces, two each by Bobby Capó, Tite Curet Alonso, Pedro Flores, Rafael Hernández, and Sylvia Rexach, who Zenón refers to as “the George Gershwins, Cole Porters and Jerome Kerns of Puerto Rican song,” and it features his regular quartet augmented by a 10-piece wind ensemble. The music was arranged by Zenón and orchestrated by Argentine pianist, composer and arranger Guillermo Klein.
“This project grew out of my interest in exploring the history and development of The Puerto Rican song,” says Zenón in a news release. “… I started focusing on the similar characteristics between The Puerto Rican Songbook and The Great American Songbook, not only musically, but also in terms of cultural impact. From there on, the project started to take shape.”
Zenón has explored his musical heritage previously in albums such as Jibaro (2005), in which he revisited the country music of Puerto Rico, and last year’s Esta Plena, in which he reinterpreted the traditional plena style.
“These are songs I know well because either my parents listened to them or they were very popular when I was a kid, so I grew up listening to them,” he says and, he notes, he’s not alone. “We have been playing some of these songs with the quartet for awhile, and after every concert we have people who come to tell us ‘You know, my mom used to listen to that song on the radio…’ or ‘I used to hear that song when I was younger…’.”
But in Alma Adentro the subject is popular song – and it transcends regionalisms.The wind ensemble and Zenón’s core quartet – Luis Perdomo, piano; Hans Glawischnig, bass; and Henry Cole, drums – were recorded in the same room, live.
“Very often when I play this type of material I’m thinking about the lyrics to the song,” he says. “In this case these are songs I know well so it’s actually difficult for me not to think about the lyrics. But eventually, you internalize the words and make it more your own, then it becomes something much more personal.”
Remaking popular songs is part of the stock in trade of a jazz musician, but Alma Adentro was a profoundly different experience for Zenón.
“This was not just about melodies and harmonies,” he says. “There was a deeper, more emotional connection here. I grew up with these songs and they all had a very special and lasting effect on me.”

Common Detroit Jazz Festival festivals hip hop jazz jazz festivals Karriem Riggins rap United States

Detroit Jazz Festival announces addition of Karriem Riggins, Common to 2011 festival lineup

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date August 17, 2011

Common

In a recent news release, organizers of the Detroit Jazz Festival are pleased to announce an exciting addition to the festival lineup-a special collaboration with Detroit native drummer Karriem Riggins and hip hop artist Common on Monday, Sept. 5, 2011.

“This extraordinary presentation of jazz and hip hop gives the festival an opportunity to step out of the box and attract a new audience while maintaining the connection to the festival’s artistic core – jazz,” said Terri Pontremoli, festival artistic director. “The connections and gaps between the two genres will be celebrated on Labor Day on the JPMorgan Chase Stage.”
This kind of project is not unusual for Riggins, who has spent the better part of his career successfully straddling the two worlds of jazz and hip-hop. The Detroit native established his jazz chops under the tutelage of Betty Carter, Ray Brown, Oscar Peterson, Mulgrew Miller and Kenny Burrell. In addition to being a mainstay in Diana Krall’s quartet, he has made a name for himself in hip hop circles as a producer and collaborator with the likes of Common, Erykah Badu, Talib Kweli, The Roots, Slum Village and Kanye West.
Common rose to prominence as one of hip hop’s most poetic and respected lyricists, having recorded over eight albums and garnering multiple Grammy Awards. The album Be with Kanye West garnered four Grammy nominations, and the Grammy award-winning Finding Forever debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 Album Chart. His ninth album, The Believer, The Dreamer, will be released in November 2011.
Other special guests joining Common and Riggins will be announced at a later date. For more information on Karriem Riggins, go to www.karriemriggins.com.
For the full 2011 Detroit Jazz Festival artist roster, visit detroitjazzfest.com.

Anita Arnold black history Black Liberated Arts Center Inc. books Deep Deuce history music Oklahoma Oklahoma City

“Oklahoma Music: Deep Deuce and Beyond” is subject of research project

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date August 17, 2011

Evelyn Larue Pittman

According to Oklahoma City author Anita G. Arnold, research is being conducted by researchers on radio in the 1940s, and included in the information being collected is the 1940s WKY radio program, “Southern Rivers.”
The program featured Evelyn Larue Pittman of Oklahoma City. Pittman had an active career in composing, teaching and choral composition during the 1930s and 1940s. A book, “Oklahoma Music: Deep Deuce and Beyond,” written by Arnold, led researchers to Oklahoma seeking information. Pittman was mentioned in Arnold’s book. Researcher Karl Schadow stated in a letter that he has been able to find only one copy of Pittman’s show in the NBC Collection at the Library of Congress.
“Here is another example of the rich music history of Oklahoma City’s African Americans that is highly valued and sought after by others outside our state. It has been my pleasure and joy to have documented some of this history in this book,” Arnold said in a news release.
“Oklahoma Music: Deep Deuce and Beyond” was published and released in June 2010. Arnold continues to accept invitations to speak about history and sign books. Her next book signing will be Sunday, August 28, 2011, at St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church, 5700 N. Kelley, Oklahoma City, OK, before and after the morning worship service.
Books may be purchased at Black Liberated Arts Center Inc., Barnes & Nobles bookstore, Borders bookstore, Capitol Square Station, Charlie’s Jazz, Rhythm & Blues Store, Dean’s Typesetting Service, Full Circle Book Store, Hastings Books, Music & Videos, Walgreen’s and online through Arcadia Publishing or Amazon.com.
For more information, call BLAC Inc. at (405) 524-3800.

offers products United States Vocalpoint

Mitch’s Freebie: Vocalpoint offers FREE* classic Swiffer Duster to members

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date August 16, 2011

Signup at Vocalpoint to get a free classic Swiffer Duster while supplies last: Vocalpoint.com/BeTheFirstSample

The new and improved line of Swiffer^® products is designed to provide a high quality, HD clean. Look for it in stores!

New Swiffer Dusters^® with Dust Lock technology clean better than
a regular dry cloth, even in tight spaces.
New Swiffer Sweeper^® Dry Cloths clean better than a broom on
multiple floor types, even on textured surfaces.
New Swiffer WetJet^® solution cleans better to reveal more shine
than a mop on glossy ceramic tile, hardwood and laminate floors.

*Must be a Vocalpoint member; limited quantities available. Only one package will be mailed per member. Please allow 5-7 weeks for delivery.