Author: mitchmuse

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

25th annual Charlie Christian International Music Festival to convene June 1-6 in Oklahoma City

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date April 8, 2010

Black Liberated Arts Center Inc. announced this week that the 25^th annual Charlie Christian International Music Festival will be held June 1-6, 2010, in Oklahoma City. This popular event will be held at several downtown venues.

The Charlie Christian International Music Festival is the center piece of Oklahoma’s rich music history that produced international personalities Charlie Christian, father of Bebop; jazz and blues singer Jimmy Rushing; the Blue Devils, famous Territorial Band and Ralph Ellison, the voice of jazz music.

Urban contemporary jazz artist Najee and other well-known music acts (yet to be announced) will be the headliners for this year’s festival. There are more than 12 jazz, blues, gospel, rhythm & blues bands from Europe and the United States features in this year’s festival.

The Charlie Christian International Music Festival has featured music greats such as Regina Carter, the late Isaac Hayes, Branford Marsalis, the late Claude “Fiddler” Williams, Jay McShann and Little Milton; George Benson, Kirk Whalum and many others. Over the past 24 years, more than 500,000 people have danced to the music, snapped their fingers, and had a ball at the indoor and outdoor activities of the festival.

For more information, call (405) 524-3800 or e-mail blac37inc@yahoo.com.

contemporary jazz Gianna Welling jazz Oklahoma Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame tulsa

Check out Gianna Welling with Charlie Redd and Full Flava Kings today at Jazz Depot

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date April 7, 2010

Rising smooth jazz recording artist Gianna Welling, along with Charlie Redd and Full Flava Kings will perform in concert at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 7, 2010, at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame‘s Jazz Depot, 111 E. First Street, in Tulsa, OK. Tickets at the door are $15.
Welling’s vocal style is a mix of smooth jazz, R&B and soul. Her first album is a critical success, and she is already at work on her second one. Look for her on United Kingdom-based Expansion Records label. Welling is a Tulsa native and graduate of Booker T. Washington High School.
The Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame is located on 1st Street between Cincinnati and South Boston Avenue in downtown Tulsa. For more information, call (918) 281-8600.

arts Beauty and the Beast Muskogee Little Theatre Oklahoma performances youth

Muskogee Little Theatre presents Disney’s “Beauty and The Beast” in April

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date April 6, 2010

“Disney’s “Beauty and The Beast” is presented by Muskogee Little Theatre at 8 p.m. April 8-9, 1 and 8 p.m. April 10, 2 p.m. April 11 and April 18.
This stage version includes all of the songs written by Alan Menkin and the late Howard Ashman along with new songs by Menkin and Tim Rice. The audience is transported to the heart of provincial life in a lovely French town.
When Maurice becomes lost in the woods on the way to the fair, he seeks shelter in an old castle, but the master of the castle is a horrible beast that takes him captive. Maurice’s daughter, Belle, must then give up her freedom to save his life. Belle’s taming of the unfortunate Beast and his ultimate transformation back into a handsome prince has enthralled Braodway audiences for over 13 years.
“Disney’s Beauty and The Beast” is sponsored by Bank of Oklahoma and with the assistance of the Oklahoma Arts Council. Advance tickets are on sale at Soundworld, 123 E. Okmulgee, Muskogee. Soundworld’s phone number is (918) 683-4901. Tickets may be available at the theatre box-office 1 hour prior to curtain ONLY if the shows are not sold-out. Adult tickets are $14 and student tickets are $10.
For more information, go to www.muskogeelittletheatre.com.

Bethany Baptist Church concert gospel releases United States

Abundant Harvest Entertainment showcases talent in concert at Bethany Baptist Church

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date April 6, 2010

According to a news release, Abundant Harvest Entertainment will showcase some of gospel music’s dynamic future superstars in concert on Friday, April 16, 2010, at the Bethany Baptist Church’s Harvest Hall in Lindenwold, NJ.
The company has signed Cherry Hill, New Jersey’s homegrown rapper, Christawn; Long Island, New York, vocalist Karen Orlando; and Delaware-based female group known as His Own.
The purpose of the concert is to introduce the tri-state area of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware to these exciting new artists who will release new CDs sometime this year.
Hip-Hop minstrel Christawn’s debut CD “Life Story” will debut May 18, 2010. The guitar-
driven radio single “Save Me” features Micah Stampley’s dramatic wail and retells the real-life story of the day that Christawn escaped getting arrested for drug possession. $10 pre-orders of his CD will be sold at the concert.
Although, she was diagnosed with brain damage at birth and was tone deaf until age 14, Karen Orlando has defied the odds. Through her faith, she triumphed over the diagnosis and was rewarded with a beautiful singing voice. She’s recorded several praise-and-worship CDs,
is a conference speaker and hosts a local Christian TV show “Straight Talk.” Her next project is expected to drop in late summer 2010.
The seven-member female vocal group, His Own, met at Delaware State University and is working on their debut CD. The group will perform songs from their forthcoming projects at the concert, as well.
Abundant Harvest Entertainment (AHE) is a recording label founded by Bishop David G. Evans, pastor of the 27,000-member Bethany Baptist Church in Lindenwold, NJ. Evans co-founded Sweet Rain Records, the company that made Grammy winner Hezekiah Walker a star. AHE is
distributed by the Universal Music Christian Group. The label is enjoying success with the Top 20 Billboard smash “This Joy” from the Automatic Praise CD and the CD “Pure Love” that features several radio hits.

arts Green Country Event Center Oklahoma performances Round the Bend Players tulsa

View Wolfhawk and the Flying Eagles at Tulsa’s Green Country Event Center April 9-10

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date April 4, 2010

Round the Bend Players presents Wolfhawk and The Flying Eagles at 8 p.m. April 9 and at 2 p.m. April 10 at the Green Country Event Center, 12000 E. 31st Street in Tulsa, OK. Tickets are $5.
Wolfhawk is the totem of well-known Tulsa poet Deborah Hunter. She will be performing poems which reflect not only her African-American heritage but her Native American heritage. This will be the debut public performance of The Flying Eagles. The group plays regularly for the Airport Free Will Baptist Church. They also get together and jam, said spokesman Jerry Sparkman in a news release.
Green Country Event Center is located on 31st Street between Garnett and 129th E. Avenue. It is on the south side of the street, and the presentation will be in the farthest east section of the Center. Signs will be posted.
For reservations, call Nancy at (918) 743-6876. Round the Bend Players is the first senior theater troupe established in Tulsa. Its main focus has been establishing a senior theater program for mature-aged performers. Rita Boyle and Sherry Zyskowski are the founders of the program.

arts BLAC Inc. Black Liberated Arts Center Inc. blues classical music events jazz Oklahoma Oklahoma City United States

BLAC Inc. presents “An Evening with Ray Charles” Soul Food Dinner Theater on April 17 in Oklahoma City

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date April 1, 2010

gospel kingdom records music releases United States

Phil Tarver to release project “Place of Worship”

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date March 26, 2010

According to a recent news release, Kingdom Records is preparing for the highly anticipated rollout of Elder Phil Tarver’s third solo U.S. CD release.
Tarver’s new praise-and-worship project “Place of Worship” will hit stores nationwide on May 18, 2010. The project was recorded live before 3,000 people at Valley Kingdom Ministries International in Oak Forest, IL, in February.
The million-selling Shekinah Glory Ministry is a dynamic ensemble of psalmists, minstrels, praise dancers, encouragers and banner bearers who say that they perform “under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. “ Their Hebrew name means “the glorified presence of God.” The group’s projects “Praise is What I Do” (#5 peak Top Gospel Albums) and “Shekinah Glory Ministry Live” (#3 peak Top Gospel Albums – 103 weeks on the chart) were both certified gold in 2005 and 2008 respectively. The “Shekinah Glory Ministry Live” DVD was certified gold and platinum in the summer of 2008. Tarver is their worship and praise leader. He’s recorded four solo CDs (including one only available in South America), and his latest CD “Draw Nearer” features the Top 20 single “Better Than That.” For more information, go to www.kingdomrecordsinc.com.

Editor’s note: Release dates are subject to change by record label. Mr. Tarver’s project is now set to drop on June 29.

arts Nightingale Theater. Tulsa Oklahoma performances Theatre Tulsa Tulsa Performing Arts Center United States

“Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” continues at Tulsa Performing Arts Center

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date March 21, 2010

Theatre Tulsa presents “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” by Tennessee Williams at 2 p.m. March 21 and 8 p.m. March 25-27, 2010, at the Liddy Doenges Theatre, Tulsa Performing Arts Center in Tulsa, OK. The production is directed by Lisa Stefanic and the stage is managed by April Harris.
General admission is $16 and $11 for seniors. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.tulsapac.com or by calling (918) 596-7111.
According to a news release, the 1955 Pulitzer Prize winner for Drama centers on the family dynamics of a Mississippi plantation tycoon known as Big Daddy. Brick, his ex-football son, along with his trophy wife, Maggie, have gathered with his brother’s family to celebrate Big Daddy’s 65th birthday. Unbeknownst to Big Daddy is that he is dying of cancer and what ensues is each couple’s attempt to discredit the other and to put themselves in the position to inherit Big Daddy’s enormous wealth.
Stefanic says in a news release, “One of the components ‘Cat of a Hot Tin Roof’ deals with, are the struggles of honesty among others and, more importantly, being honest with yourself. That’s a big challenge in today’s world. Our society is dominated both culturally and politically by people who excel in avoiding the truth; in spinning their message-and simple, courageous honesty is becoming lost in the battle. I think the story of people literally fighting their way though hypocrisy toward an honest account of who they are is quite timely.”
The Theatre Tulsa’s production consists of the following cast members: Jeremy Sheldon as Brick, Sara Wilemon as Maggie, Charles Whitson as Big Daddy, Karyn Maio as Big Mama, Kurt Harris as Gooper, Amy Lee as Mae, Robert Young as Reverend Tooker, Starr Hardgrove as Dr. Baugh, Margie Jenkins as Sookey, and Cole Jett as Lacey.
Theatre Tulsa is a proud member of the American Association of Community Theatre, Oklahoma Community Theatre Association, Arts & Humanities Council of Tulsa, and a recipient of the 2009 Tulsa Award for Theatre Excellence for outstanding production.

Editor’s Note: The March 20 performance was canceled due to weather, and tickets will be honored at 8 p.m. Wed., March 24, 2010, at the Liddy Doenges Theatre, Tulsa Performing Arts Center in Tulsa, OK.

Bible God's sovereignty reflections United States

Mitch’s Reflection: Nature reflects God’s sovereignty

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date March 20, 2010

Less than 24 hours ago, I was enjoying a lovely, summer-like day. It was 71 degrees; I drove to a shopping center in another city. My car windows were down, music pumping. And everyone else seemed to enjoy it, too. Sandals, flip flops, short sleeves, shorts adorn those who walked from store to store, soaking in their daily dose of Vitamin D.

Today, however, is a different story. It’s not 71 degrees, the wind is howling, there are occasional power surges and snow is falling. Ice forms on the window pane. Many may ask, “Why is there a sudden temperature change, and why should there be snow on what is supposed to be the first day of spring?”

I ask myself that question as I laid awake this morning in bed, and my thoughts were interrupted with this idea – God is sovereign! “Sovereign?” I thought. What does that mean and what does God have to do with the change of weather?

According to Merriam Webster dictionary, sovereign means “one that exercises supreme authority within a limited sphere.” However, according to Theopedia, God’s sovereignty is “the biblical teaching that all things are under God’s rule and control, and that nothing happens without His direction or permission. God works not just some things but all things according to the counsel of His own will (see Ephesians 1:11).”

There are so many biblical references that refer to God’s sovereignty, but these two stick out most in my mind: Psalm 22:27,28: “All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will worship before Thee. For the kingdom is the Lord’s, and he rules over the nations.”

Deuteronomy 32:39: “See now that I, I am He, and there is no god besides Me; it is I who puts to death and gives life. I have wounded, and it is I who heals; and there is no one who can deliver from My hand.”

Incredible! Even in the midst of nature, God is in control. We may not understand the logic behind such changes (good or bad), but we benefit in viewing the wonders and power behind what is known as God’s majestic creation.

jazz Julia Dollison Kerry Marsh Maria Schneider releases United States vocal performance

Jazz vocalists Julia Dollison and Kerry Marsh releases “Vertical Voices: The Music of Maria Schneider” on ArtistShare

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date March 19, 2010

Jazz vocalists Julia Dollison and Kerry Marsh have joined forces to produce their latest project “Vertical Voices: The Music of Maria Schneider” that compliment the multi-Grammy Award-winning composer’s musical techniques. The album was released on March 16, 2010.
Using their two voices via studio multi-tracking, Dollison and Marsh created a virtual vocal orchestra by wordlessly singing the brass and woodwind parts in Schneider’s lush, harmonically deep and rhythmically complex compositions. The tracks are all-new improvised solos featuring Dollison and Marsh, which reflect their personal vocal character and expression.
According to a news release, Dollison was the first vocalist to perform wordlessly with the Maria Schneider Orchestra at New York’s Jazz Standard in 2000, singing “Hang Gliding,” “Journey Home” and “Allegresse.” According to her bio, she has performed under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas and Erich Kunzel as well as with Ben Folds during his performances with the Boston Pops Symphony and National Symphony Orchestra. Dollison can be heard on the Academy Award-winning Vera Drake film trailer and on film scores for The Stepford Wives and The Corpse Bride.
Marsh, also a beneficiary of Schneider’s guest artist visits to the Universities of Kansas and North Texas, became one of the very first project participants in ArtistShare history when he joined the 2003 Schneider recording project that became Concert in the Garden. Schneider’s influence on Kerry’s composition and arranging techniques during his studies helped earn him a DownBeat Student Music Award for best collegiate jazz arrangement later that same year. According to his bio, Marsh has most recently worked as a vocal arranger and choirmaster for indie-pop singer/pianist Ben Folds, performing alongside Folds with major symphony orchestras on tour. Kerry’s arrangement of Folds’ “Selfless, Cold and Composed” was featured on the 2009 Epic Records release Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella.
Regarding the “Vertical Voices: The Music of Maria Schneider” project, Schneider says in the news release, “I was a bit skeptical at first because of the enormous range of my pieces, the intricacy of the lines and the general extreme demands of the repertoire, but I decided to give it a shot. Julia was extraordinary! Her range, her sound, her ability to blend with the instruments and her absolutely perfect pitch just blew me away! She was nothing short of amazing.”
For more information on the project, go to http://www.artistshare.com/home/project_experience.aspx?projectID=225&artistID=108.