Category: arts

Songwriter Derrick Stark receives BMI award for most performed gospel song of year

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date January 26, 2010

Photo caption: BMI Senior Director, Writer/Publisher Relations Wardell Malloy; BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton; 2010 Most Performed Gospel Song of the Year writer Derrick Starks; 2010 Trailblazers honoree Donnie McClurkin; co-host Yolanda Adams; and BMI President & CEO Del Bryant. (Photo by Arnold Turner).

According to a news release, veteran songwriter Derrick Starks, who resides in Atlanta, was recently honored by Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI), the performing rights organization, at their 11th Annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon in Nashville, TN.
BMI Vice President of Writer/Publisher Relations joined Grammy winner Dorinda Clark Cole to present Starks with the BMI Award for the Most Performed Gospel Song of the Year for composing Dorinda Clark Cole’s smash hit “Take It Back.” The song reached #2 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs and #17 on its Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles charts in 2008 and remains a popular recurrent.
A gifted organist/keyboard player, Starks founded the contemporary gospel ensemble Today’s Generation in 1991. His group has backed such artists as John Tesh and Shirley Caesar. Starks and his group released best-selling gospel CDs such as “Derrick Starks and Today’s Generation” (1994), “He’s On Time” (1999) and “Sacrifice” (2001). His 2001 remake of the Commodores’ classic “Jesus is Love” proved to be a major hit for Starks as well.
Currently the music director for the Trumpet Awards on the TBS television network, Starks is also a gifted songwriter. He’s written Dorinda Clark Cole’s big hit “So Many Times,” “Been Good to Me” for The Mighty Clouds of Joy, “I Am Yours” for Dorothy Norwood and “Let the Healing Begin” for Bishop Paul S. Morton, among others.

arts Oklahoma theater Theatre Tulsa tulsa

Theatre Tulsa presents British farce “What the Butler Saw”

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date January 13, 2010

Theatre Tulsa production “What the Butler Saw” by Joe Orton is a British farce that focuses on the antics of Dr. Prentice, a psychiatrist who believes that the best way to interview a girl for a job is to seduce her. The production is directed by Jim Queen and is recommended for mature audiences only.
Geraldine does her best to comply, but nothing is going to work smoothly in this nut house that includes Mrs. Prentice, a nymphomaniac who is seduced by a bellhop in a hotel (or is it the other way around?). What follows is a wild melee of disappearances, disguises and discoveries as husband and wife try to hide their prizes from one another and from the state inspector.
Performances are at 8 p.m. January 8-9, 14-16 and at 2 and 8 p.m. Jan. 10 at the Liddy Doenges Theatre, Tulsa PAC, located at 110 E. 2nd St. in downtown Tulsa. For tickets, call the PAC box office at (918) 596-7111 or Theatre Tulsa at (918) 587-8402.
Theatre Tulsa is the 2009 TATE award recipient and a proud member of the American Association fo Community Theatre, Oklahoma Community Theatre Alliance, The Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa, and the Tulsa Area Community Theatre Alliance.

arts Nightingale Theater. Tulsa Oklahoma theatre tulsa

50swats group examines death in production “The Grace Project”

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date January 13, 2010

50swats presents “The Grace Project” at Nightingale Theater, 1416 E. 4th St., in Tulsa.
Death is the theme in this brand-new show from the writers’ group 50swats, commissioned by Tulsa’s Grace Hospice. Short-form scenes and monologues examine the nature of death, in pieces alternately funny, disturbing, touching, and absurd.
“The challenge of creating an entertaining bit of theater out of such a serious and daunting subject has been hard,” said a 50swats writer in a news release, “but if you can’t laugh at necrophilia, then the terrorists have won.”
Performance time is 8 p.m. Jan. 15-16, 22- 23, 29-30. Admission is $8. For more information, call (918) 633-8666, e-mail info@nightingaletheater.com or go online to http://www.nightingaletheater.com.

arts jazz music releases United States world

Pianist/Composer Greg Burk takes fans to “Many Worlds” on Jan. 26

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date January 10, 2010

Pianist/composer Greg Burk returns to the spotlight on Jan. 26 with his fourth release “Many Worlds” on 428 Music.
The project marks the first recording of a quartet featuring Burk, Henry Cook on woodwinds, bassist Ron Seguin and drummer Michel Lambert. According to a news release, Burk and Cook’s collaborations date back to their time with Boston’s Either/Orchestra, and Burk, Cook and Seguin have a performing history in Rome, Burk’s home since 2004.
Nevertheless, to Burk, “Many Worlds was inspired by the mysterious lives and folk dances of electrons, quarks, neutrinos, protons, neurons and the like.” His diverse interests which include the innovations of John Coltrane, studies with Yusef Lateef, Archie Shepp and Paul Bley help conjure his involvement in the rhythmically flexible group concept which pervades much of the quartet interplay on “Many Worlds.”

arts contemporary jazz jazz releases United States

Saxophonist Dave Rempis, drummer Frank Rosaly release “Cryllic”

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date January 9, 2010

Chicago jazz musicians Dave Rempis and Frank Rosaly have released new compact disc “Cryllic,” comprised of improvisations produced without written material or standard licks, on the 482 Music label.

Rempis and Rosaly have worked together in The Rempis Percussion Quartet and The Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten Quintet, and since 2004, they have been performing as a duo. “Cyrillic” consists of seven improvised tracks ranging from “Still Will” to the heavy swing of “In Plain Sight” to the pseudo blast beats of “How to Cross When Bridges Are Out.” While the music can be explorative, “Cyrillic” is a high energy affair with heavy grooves recorded during a short four-hour session at Chicago’s Strobe Studios.

According to a news release, Rempis has been named twice “a rising star” in the annual DownBeat Critic’s Poll on both alto and baritone saxophones. Rosaly is an active member of several bands, such as Matana Roberts’ Chicago Project, Rob Mazurek’s Mandarin Movie, Jeff Parker/Nels Cline Quartet, as well as leading his own quintet.

arts jazz media music United States world

Pianist Marian McPartland receives order by Queen Elizabeth II

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date January 9, 2010

Legendary jazz pianist and National Public Radio host Marian McPartland, 91, was awarded the prestigious “Officer of the Order of the British Empire” honor by Queen Elizabeth II.

McPartland, one of two honorees with New York ties, received the citation (the highest honor other than “Dame”) for services to jazz and for aspiring young musicians in the United States.

“I am thrilled and proud to have received this great honor bestowed on me by Queen Elizabeth,” said McPartland in a news release. “I am truly grateful.”

The Order of the British Empire recognizes distinguished service to the arts and sciences, public services outside the Civil Service and work with charitable and welfare organizations of all kinds.

McPartland continues to showcase the world’s top musicians on NPR’s longest-running and most widely carried jazz program, “Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz,” which recently celebrated its 30th anniversary on-air.

arts Black Liberated Arts Center Inc. jazz music Oklahoma Oklahoma City Soul Food Dinner Theatre

Vocalist/Pianist Justin Echols headlines BLAC Inc.’s Soul Food Dinner Theater January event

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date December 30, 2009

Black Liberated Arts Center (BLAC) Inc. announced that the 2010 opener will be “An Evening of Jazz” featuring Justin Echols, as part of its Soul Food Dinner Theater series at the Petroleum Club, 34^th Floor, in Oklahoma City. The Soul Food buffet begins at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, and the show starts at 8 p.m.
Echols, who is a vocalist/pianist, has appeared in many venues and is a favorite on the Oklahoma City jazz scene. He performs on a regular basis at the Skirvin Hotel Lounge.
“We are pleased to present Mr. Echols in performance for this series,” BLAC Inc. Executive Director Anita Arnold said. “What better way to begin our 40^th anniversary year than to have a wonderfully delicious meal with great artistry in a superb environment. Justin opens the first of three Soul Food Dinner shows. The remaining two will be Feb. 6 and April 17.”
The show is sponsored in part by the Oklahoma Arts Council. Tickets are $45 and are on sale now and may be purchased through BLAC Inc., Capital Square Station, Charlie’s Jazz Rhythm and Blues Store, KM66, and Learning Tree Toy Store. Mastercard and Visa may be used by calling BLAC Inc. at (405) 524-3800.

arts Clark Theatre theater tulsa youth

A “Hello/Goodbye” Party for Tulsa’s Clark Theatre

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date December 20, 2009

Clark Theatre, 11440 E. Admiral in Tulsa, is moving to a new location at the end of the year. However, all the classes, shows, and camps that audiences have been used to at Clark will be moved to a new theatre facility at Henthorne Park, 4825 S. Quaker, Tulsa.

Clark Theatre had been housed at the 11440 E Admiral location for 32 years, and there will be a party from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20 to say “goodbye” to the old and “hello” to the new. The party will be held at the ‘old’ Clark Theatre building (11440 E Admiral). Anyone and everybody who’s had anything to do with Clark Theatre is invited.

Activities include: 3 to 4:30 p.m. – socializing, dancing, and signing the stage; 5 to 6 p.m. – pizza party & open mic (sign up with Bailey Grufik); 6 to 7 p.m. – sharing stories and a ‘memories’ slideshow.

Admission is free. Donations are accepted but not necessary. All proceeds go to the Clark Council. For more information, go to http://www.clarktheatre.com/ or call (918) 746-5065.

arts holidays Muskogee Oklahoma theatre

Muskogee Little Theatre continues “Miracle on 34th Street” this weekend

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date December 11, 2009

Muskogee Little Theatre will end its holiday production “Miracle on 34th Street” this weekend. The production, directed by Charles Mutch, is about Kris Kringle, who is the personification of good will and holiday spirit. As Macy’s holiday Santa, he enchants children and shoppers so completely that he is deemed dangerous by fellow employees who question his competency and plot to ruin him. A small girl’s belief in Santa and the magic of the holiday is at stake in a climactic courtroom decision.

Ticket prices are $14 for adults and $10 for students. Advanced tickets may be reserved at Soundworld, 123 East Okmulgee, Muskogee by calling (918) 683-4901. Remaining tickets may also be available at the theatre box office, Cincinnati & D Street, Muskogee, 30 minutes prior to show. For more information, contact box office at (918) 683-5332. “Miracle on 34th Street” is sponsored with the assistance of the Oklahoma Arts Council. For additional information, visit www.muskogeelittletheatre.com.

arts Oklahoma theater tulsa Tulsa Spotlight Theatre youth

Revisit Narnia via Tulsa Spotlight Theatre production “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date December 11, 2009

Tulsa Spotlight Theatre, 1381 Riverside Drive, presents “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” at 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Dec. 11-13, and 18-19. The production is directed by Joshua Barker, John Barker, and Mindy Barker. Tickets are $8-$10. Early reservations are recommended. For tickets, call the Spotlight Theatre box office at (918)587-5030.