Category: United States
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.
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.
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 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.
Gospel vocalist Lucinda Moore not only shares personal experiences (including depression, divorce) via her upcoming sophomore release “Blessed, Broken & Given” (Tyscot Records), but will launch a conference that will feature guest speakers
Bishop Noel Jones, Bishop Tudor Bismark and psalmist Judy Jacobs. The conference will take place at 7 p.m. each night (except Saturday – service is at noon) on April 22-24, 2010, at the Wake Chapel church, 3805 Tarheel Road, Raleigh, NC. Attendees may register online at www.lucindamoore.com or call (203) 887-1660 for more information.
CD “Blessed, Broken & Given” will be released on April 20. Moore said in a news release regarding her project: “This is my testimony of what God did for me. He’s blessed me with a voice but He had to break some things in me in order for me to be given to the nation.” A portion of CD sales profits will benefit a North Carolina women’s organization called Impact that aides abused women in getting back their feet.
Jazz group One For All is set to release their 15th project “Incorrigible” on April 6 for Jazz Legacy Productions.
One for All, which consists of tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, pianist David Hazeltine, trumpeter Jim Rotondi, trombonist Steve Davis, bassist John Webber and drummer Joe Farnsworth, replicate the sound of the quintessential ’50s-’60s Blue Note vibe, of which fans may relate to the classic Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers recordings.
According to a news release, the origins of One For All go back to Auggie’s, a jazz club on New York’s Upper West Side near the Columbia University campus where drummer Farnsworth held down a regular gig. The other members joined later at different times.
Although they hadn’t officially named the band, One For All members began playing together as a complete unit at Auggie’s as early as 1995. According to their bio, they first documented their kindred hookup on Steve Davis’ sextet outing for the Criss Cross label, “Dig Deep” (1996). The official band name eventually came from a Steve Davis tune, the title track of Art Blakey’s final recording “One For All” (1990).
One For All members continue to do side gigs and recording solo projects. Davis (who debuted as a leader on JLP last year with “Eloquence”) plays in the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Alumni Big Band, Jimmy Heath’s big band and Benny Golson’s New Jazztet. Alexander works with pianist Harold Mabern and guitarist Pat Martino while also recording prolifically as a leader. Webber has performed with other notables such as Johnny Griffin, Etta Jones, Tommy Flanagan and Milt Jackson and continues to work with drummer Jimmy Cobb and pianist Hank Jones. Farnsworth works with the Cedar Walton trio and with tenor saxophonist Pharoah Sanders. Hazeltine and Rotondi have also worked in a variety of sideman settings while releasing several recordings as leaders.
Shekinah Glory Ministry celebrates its 10th year anniversary with a new, and as yet untitled, live CD/DVD recording that
will take place at 6 p.m. Sunday, May 16, 2010, at Valley Kingdom Ministry International, 5300 W. 151st St. in Oak Forest, IL.
Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. For more information on the live recording, visit www.kingdomrecordsinc.com.
According to a news release, the live recording event is the finale to Shekinah Glory Ministry’s first praise-and-worship conference to will begin Friday, May 14, 2010. During the workshops, attendees will learn the varied facets of performing praise-and-worship music from some of the genre’s most gifted practitioners. The registration cost for the “Refreshed By Fire… Ascending Higher” conference is $60. For more information, visit http://www.kingdomrecordsinc.
Since their evolution from 1999-2000, Shekinah Glory Ministry has earned five R.I.A.A. (Recording Industry Association of America) gold certifications for their musical projects, including “Praise is What I Do” and “Shekinah Glory Ministry Live.” Their debut CD spent 103 weeks on the Billboard gospel albums sales chart. They have become renowned around the world for their radio anthems “Yes,” “Jesus,” “How Deeply I Need You” and signature tune “Praise is What I Do.” Their acclaimed CD “Jesus” won the Stellar Award (the gospel industry’s Grammy equivalent) as Praise and Worship CD of the Year in 2009.
The country’s three largest African-American Methodist denominations (the African Methodist Episcopal-AME, African Methodist Episcopal Zion-AME Zion, and Christian Methodist Episcopal-CME) are convening as a body for the first time in 45 years from March 1-3 at the Carolina Coliseum, 701 Assembly St. in Columbia, SC.
“It appears that we could do more together than we can apart,” said Senior Bishop George W.C. Walker, one of the organizers for the historic Great Gathering.
According to a news release, the purpose of the Great Gathering meeting is to address how illiteracy, unemployment, crime, personal responsibility and other issues are affecting African-American men’s ability to be good providers and role models in their communities.
“Together, all our denominations represent a people and a community with many ills and problems,” Senior Bishop John R. Bryant said. “But we feel strongly that we can overcome all that might separate our churches so we can all focus collectively on what we can do to make things better for our people.”
Over the course of three days, some of the country’s leading thinkers from the fields of education, religion and politics will discuss and collaborate on an initiative to solve the problems that the Great Gathering will define. Among the confirmed participants are Princeton University professor scholar Cornel West; Marian Wright Edelman of the Children’s Defense Fund; philosopher Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu; platinum recording gospel artist Marvin Sapp; singer Byron Cage, and Grammy winner artist Bishop Hezekiah Walker.
AME Zion pastor Dr. Staccato Powell, who is also the CEO of Grace in the City, a community development corporation that is redeveloping the blighted College Park neighborhood in Raleigh, NC; is the chairman for this groundbreaking summit. All activities will take place at the Carolina Coliseum in Columbia, SC. For more information, go to http://www.greatgathering.org/ for registration details.
According to a recent news release, Jazz Aspen Snowmass will kick off their 20th Anniversary season from June 24-July 3, 2010, with some of the biggest names in jazz, pop and world music.
Making his first ever JAS appearance jazz pianist/vocalist Harry Connick Jr. and Orchestra have been added to the June Festival lineup appearing at the Benedict Music Tent (pictured at right) on Friday, June 25.
On Saturday, June 26 at the Benedict Tent JAS will present JAS @ 20!, a special evening of performances in a Grammy-like format of multiple guests artists backed by a crack Big Band. Directed by JAS Distinguished Artist in Residence Christian McBride, the show will also feature jazz legends Dianne Reeves, Patti Austin, Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Terence Blanchard, John Clayton and more.
Pink Martini will perform at the Benedict Music Tent on Sunday, June 27. The closing night of the JAS 20th June Festival will take place on Saturday, July 3 featuring Natalie Cole with Big Band and Musicians from the AMFS. Cole, who had to cancel an appearance with JAS last July due to a kidney transplant last May, is already back on stage feeling “healthy, whole and 100% again.”
The JAS Academy Summer Sessions, again with Christian McBride, will be in residence June 24-July 3. JAS’ flagship music education program, the Academy is the nation’s only all-scholarship jazz residency program, uniting the finest young jazz artists with the world’s “jazz legends.” JAS has contributed $5 million dollars to music education since 1996.
Attendees can obtain tickets by calling (866) 527-8499 or www.jazzaspen.org. For information on Patron (VIP) tickets, call the JAS office at (970) 920-4996. Ticket and lodging packages are also available at 800-SNOWMASS or www.snowmasstourism.com.