Tag: United States

Mitch’s Travel: Blue Harbor Resort entices travelers with summer rates

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date July 21, 2015

Travelers looking for a summer escape with minimal planning but maximum fun can take advantage of special last-minute summer rates offered on select dates at Blue Harbor Resort on Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan coast. Located in scenic Sheboygan, Wis., less than an hour up the coast from Milwaukee, Blue Harbor Resort is the ideal Midwest “staycation” destination, offering the beauty and recreational activities of faraway beach vacations. Known as the “Malibu of the Midwest” for its ocean-like waterfront, sailing, boating, paddle boarding and fresh water surfing, the resort is now a mecca of indoor surfing, also, with its recent premier of The Riptide Eastern — Wisconsin’s only indoor double surf simulator.

This exciting new attraction is located in the resort’s 54,000-square-foot entertainment area/waterpark and is great fun for all ages, with custom boards that allow guests to tackle it boogie-board style or by full-on, stand-up surfing. Now is a great time to visit Blue Harbor Resort, which was just awarded “Hospitality Star of the Year” out of the many outstanding hospitality organizations in Sheboygan County. The resort is currently offering special last-minute late summer Hot Dates and Rates.

Dates starting at just $169 per night for a Family Suite City View include July 19-23, July 29-30 and August 3-4. Other room types include Family Suites Lake View (starting at $199), Loft Family Suites City View (starting at $209) and Loft Suites Lake View (starting at only $229). The rates include waterpark and outdoor pool access, access to putting green and bocce ball, nightly bonfire. The Flowrider is included with your guest room or admission to the water park. Mention promo code: JULY. Select dates after August 23 start at just $159 (no code required). Limited quantities available.

“Blue Harbor Resort offers an easy, last-minute getaway that will leave guests with epic summer memories,” said resort general manager and vice president David Sanderson in a recent news release. To book special vacation and getaway deals at Blue Harbor Resort and to view the resort’s live beach cam, guests can go online to www.BlueHarborResort.com. With stunning Lake Michigan beachfront and water views, Blue Harbor features 244 suites and villas, more than 17,000 square feet of meeting and event space, a 54,000 square-foot indoor waterpark entertainment area, a new and expanded full service spa, three restaurants, and recreation amenities including watersports and access to the Bull golf course. This Classic Lakeside Resort and Victorian style landmark is a favorite for leisure travelers and groups because of its proximity to Chicago, Milwaukee, Green Bay and other gateway cities.

The resort is located in the Harbor Center District in Sheboygan, Wis., a city known as the “Malibu of the Midwest” for its scenic waterfront, sailing, boating, and fresh water surfing. It has also received many accolades including Best Places to Raise a Family by Bloomberg and other national news organizations. Out of the many outstanding hospitality organizations in the area, Blue Harbor was awarded the outstanding “Hospitality Star of the Year” in Sheboygan County.

Tags Blue Harbor Resort, family, staycation, summer, travel, United States, vacation, Wisconsin

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Orrin Evan’s project “The Evolution of Oneself” comes in September

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date July 19, 2015

Pianist Orrin Evans takes stock of the pivotal moments that shape the trajectory of a life on The Evolution of Oneself, his new release on Smoke Sessions Records available on Sept. 11. The album is itself a landmark in Evans’ musical evolution, introducing a remarkable new piano trio with two longtime associates but first-time collaborators: bassist Christian McBride and drummer Karriem Riggins. The result is a raw and thrilling excursion incorporating a startlingly wide range of influences, from jazz and neo-soul to country and hip-hop.

As suggested by the title, The Evolution of Oneself explores deeply personal terrain, with Evans reflecting on the road he’s traveled to become the man and musician he is today. “This album is about personal evolution,” he explains in a news release. “For me, there have been different moments or people in my life that have made me evolve. You can call it change, but ultimately you’re still the same person from the day you came out of your mother’s womb. But you evolve, and that process is what this record is about.”

Through 25 albums as a leader and co-leader, including his neo-soul/acid jazz ensemble Luv Park and the bracing collective trio Tarbaby, Evans has always followed a vigorously individual path. The Evolution of Oneself is no exception, with Evans setting a pace that brings out fiery, gut-churning playing from both McBride and Riggins — two of modern jazz’s most renowned and distinctive voices in their own rights.

While The Evolution of Oneself takes the concept more literally than usual, an Orrin Evans recording session is always a family affair, with a party atmosphere and guests stopping by whether they end up contributing or not. “Being in the studio and doing what I do is no different than a cookout on a Saturday night,” Evans says, and that openness is reflected in the raucous verve of this album.

Tags Christian McBride, jazz, Karriem Riggins, new releases, Orrin Evans, Smoke Sessions Records, The Evolution of Oneself, United States

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Tye Tribbett to headline concert for families of Charleston church shooting

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date July 17, 2015

Grammy Award winning recording artist Tye Tribbett is launching a “Hate Won’t Win” concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 23 at The Medallion Conference Center, 7309 Garners Ferry Road in Columbia, South Carolina, to benefit the Mother Emanuel Hope Fund that helps retire burial debt and other expenses related to the nine people who died in a tragic incident on June 17. The concert will feature some of the biggest names in Christian music such as recording artist Israel Houghton, “Break Every Chain” singer Tasha Cobbs, R&B star Akon’s protégé Mali Music and Columbia, South Carolina, native Travis Greene.

The concert will cap the first day of Tribbett’s second annual “The Chosen Music Mentorship” conference for church worship leaders.

“Gospel is the good news,” Tribbett says in a recent news release of his use of music as a healing tool to create racial harmony in the Carolinas. “By spreading the music we induce hope, and we train new worship leaders so they are equipped with the same intent to go fearlessly where some have lost hope and to boldly declare through this gospel that there is yet hope.”

The Chosen Music Mentorship Program, which runs July 23-25, will feature some of the country’s top gospel practitioners such as producer Donald Lawrence and rising star Jonathan McReynolds to provide spiritual and practical workshops that will improve the lives and ministries of the participants. For more information,
call (973) 351-1569 or send an email to chosenmentorship@gmail.com.

Tribbett arrived on the national scene in 2004 with Top 10 radio smash hits “No Way” and “Everything.” His frenetic energy and showmanship catapulted him to the top of the gospel field with subsequent radio hits such as “Victory,” “No Other Choice” and “If He Did It Before… Same God.” Four of his five albums have peaked at No. 1 on Billboard Magazine’s Top Gospel Albums sales chart and his latest release “Greater Than” won the artist two Grammy Awards including Gospel Album of the Year.

Tags Chosen Music Mentorship Program, concerts, gospel, south carolina, tye tribbett, United States

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Pianist Yelena Eckemoff ‘s “Everblue” coming August 21

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date July 13, 2015

When pianist Yelena Eckemoff released Cold Sun (L & H Production, 2010) — a trio date with drumming legend Peter Erskine and Danish bass whiz Mads Vinding — the jazz world was introduced to a startlingly fresh voice destined for great things. Over the course of the six albums that followed, Eckemoff lived up to that promise, delivering organically crafted music reflective of her classical background, fascination with the natural world, poetic soul, communicative spirit, and overall open-mindedness. Now, Eckemoff is poised to make even more waves with the spellbinding Everblue, her third in-studio encounter with Norwegian bass icon Arild Andersen and her first musical meeting with two other Norwegians — drummer Jon Christensen and saxophonist Tore Brunborg.

The musical affinity that exists between Eckemoff and Andersen is already abundantly clear, having been demonstrated on two beautifully rendered trio outings — Glass Song (L & H Production, 2013), with Peter Erskine on drums, and Lions (L & H Production, 2015), with Billy Hart on drums. On Everblue, their rapport is deepened and broadened, as both players seem to resonate sympathetically throughout. While Eckemoff has worked with a number of fine bassists in the past, including Vinding and George Mraz, her relationship with Andersen helps to take her work to another level; it’s a relationship that, she notes, plays out like “an interactive conversation.”

With Everblue, Eckemoff doesn’t simply present a set of tunes: she presents an overarching musical concept that guides this voyage. “Part of our human consciousness constantly searches and yearns for the divine, unspeakably beautiful, eternal,” she says in a recent news release. “In my world, I call this place Everblue.” It’s a concept and a world that’s plainly laid out in her poetry and music, as everything is drawn around beaches and oceans. And it’s a concept within that concept-the search for beauty-that informs this journey of faith and discovery.

Tags Everblue, jazz, L&H Production, music, United States, Yelena Eckemoff

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Joe McBride, Najee, and Kirk Whalum to headline June music festival in Oklahoma City

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date May 18, 2013

The Charlie Christian International Music Festival will feature national artists Joe McBride, Najee, and Kirk Whalum in concert at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark on Friday and Saturday nights, June 7 and 8 in Oklahoma City. They will be joined by All Funk Radio Show from Dallas, TX, and Grady Nichols from Tulsa. Also feature in the lineup are Matt Stansberry & The Romance and the Robert Banks & Classic Edge.

Gates will open at 6 p.m. Friday, June 7, and the show starts at 7 p.m. On Saturday, June 8, gates open at 3:30 p.m. and the final concert of the week begins 4:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased online at the festival website, www.charliechristianmusicfestival.com or www.okcredhawks.com. For more information, call Black Liberated Arts Center (BLAC) Inc. at (405) 524-3800. According to Mark Temple, festival chairman, tickets may be purchased at the following Oklahoma City outlets: Charlie’s Jazz, Rhythm & Blues Store, Hopkins HairCare and Learning Tree Toys and Books.

The festival runs June 4-8 and has three free events associated with it. The opening event, “Ralph Ellison Understood Through Charlie Christian,” will beat 7 p.m. June 4 at the Oklahoma History Center. Music will be provided by TaylorMadeJazz. This event is free and funded in part by the Oklahoma Humanities (OHS) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Other funding is provided by the Oklahoma Arts Council, Friends of the Oklahoma City/County Historical Society Archives, Friends of the Oklahoma City/County Historical Society and BancFirst.

Wednesday, June 5 is the date for the Jam Session at Woody’s Sport Bar and Grill at 7 p.m. Musicians are admitted free, and general admission is $5. The Battle of the Bands between Shortt Dogg and the 411 Band takes place on Thursday, June 6 in Lower Bricktown, on the Lower Bricktown Plaza and is presented by Chevy Music Showcase. Deep Deuce’s Urban Roots is the place on Saturday, June 7 for a delicious brunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with music by “Miss Muffy” & Friends and stories of Deep Deuce told by Anita Arnold, author, “Oklahoma City Music: Deep Deuce and Beyond. This family friendly event will feature non-food and arts and crafts vendors.

Tags arts, Black Liberated Arts Center Inc., Charlie Christian, Charlie Christian International Music Festival, festival, music, Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, performances, United States

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Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble to perform in Oklahoma City

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date February 11, 2013

According to a recent news release, Black Liberated Arts Center Inc. (BLAC Inc.) will present the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23 at the Frederick A. Douglass High School Auditorium, 900 N. Martin L. King Jr. in Oklahoma City. The 40-year-old Denver-based company, in the middle of its Spring tour, will travel to Crested Butte, Colo., and Seattle, Wash., before the Oklahoma City appearance.

Led by its founder, executive director and choreographer Cleo Parker Robinson, the company has performed in Iceland, Singapore, Hawaii, Nassau, Belize, Israel, Egypt, Turkey and throughout Europe and Africa. Parker Robinson holds an honorary doctorate degree from Denver University (1991), an honorary doctorate of Humane Letters from Colorado College (2003) and an honorary doctorate of Public Service from Regis University, Denver (2008).

In 1998, President Clinton named Parker Robinson as one of two artists to be appointed to the National Council on the Arts in Washington, D.C., where she served until 2005. She received a Kennedy Center Medal of Honor during the center’s “Master of African American Choreographers” series.

The dance ensemble will arrive on Feb. 20 and will work with Oklahoma City fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders from several area schools. Selected students will perform a welcome dance at Douglass on the same stage as the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble.

This performance is made possible by the MetLife Community Connections Fund of the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project. Major support for the National Dance Project is also provided by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation with additional support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Local support is provided by the Oklahoma Arts Council and the Ad Astra Foundation.

Tickets for the performance are on sale at Learning Tree Toys, Charlie’s Jazz, Rhythm & Blues Store and Hopkins HairCare at $20 general admission. VIP tickets that include reserved seats and a reception are $50 and can be purchased at BLAC Inc. offices using MasterCard, Visa, checks or cash. Discount tickets are offered at BLAC Inc. For more information, call (405) 524-3800.

Tags arts, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Frederick A. Douglass High School Auditorium, Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, performance, United States