Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Incognito
Incognito,
a British jazz band is quite impressive.
One would only have to listen to its albums to know the in depth feeling
the group has for its music and its audience. This band has made a name for
itself in Asia and throughout the world in Jazz. I am speaking in particular
about the album Bees and Things and Flowers(2006). The band plays songs originally
performed by Earth Wind and Fire; Roy Ayers and Quincy Jones and performs them
admirably and creatively to not only sooth the listener but gives her or him a
sense of political and social direction. The songs by its founder, Jean Paul “Bluey”
Maunick are equally impressive and show the band’s sensitivity to life; love
and people. Their songs seemed to be about humanity. The vocals are superb and
crystal clear. The lyrics are tantalizing and hold a tremendous amount of
content. Raise, one of the songs on
the latest CD album is not only remarkable for its style and power but for its
humanistic content. The band Incognito was formed in 1981 .Its members Carlene
Anderson; Tony Momrelle; Richard Bailey; Jocelyn Brown; Matt Cooper; Dominic
Glover; Imaani; Tyrone Henry; Francis Hylton; Maysa Leak; Tony Remy; Joy Rose; Andy
Ross; Nichol Thomson work together with such finesse and sophistication as to
make them in my opinion one of the most aggressive jazz bands in recent history
of modern jazz. I think they have a great deal to offer to the world,
especially to the world of jazz.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz Are Expecting
Alicia Keys, R&B Soul artist has recently made public that she and Swizz Beatz another famed R&B Soul artist are expecting a child. The two lovers have a long standing relationship. Many believe Alicia Keys is responsible for the break up of Swizz Beatz with his former wife Mashonda Tifrere, the Harlem raised R& B Soul artist. Whether this is true or not one thing is for certain this couple is expecting a bundle. Alicia Keys, born Alicia Auquello Cook, is a product of a biracial relationship between her Italian- American mother and an African American flight attendant. She was raised by her mother in Hell’s Kitchen in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Swizz Beatz, born Kasseem Dean, on the other hand is a Bronx native.
Alicia Keys has made a remarkable contribution to the R&B Soul music genre. Alicia Keys has won five Grammy awards for her album Songs in A Minor, an album that sold over 12 million copies. In 2003, she released a second studio album; The Diary of Alicia Keys was also a hit selling over eight million copies world wide. This album also won her an additional four Grammy awards. She also is noted for Unplugged one the highest selling live albums ever produced in the United States. She was also nominated for the NAACP Image Award for her role in the Secret Life of Bees .She released her fourth album The Element of Freedom in December 2009. She has won numerous awards and has sold over 30 million albums. Billboard has ranked her as the best R&B recording artist of the 2000-2009 decade.
Swizz Beats has also made a contribution to R&B Soul/Hip –Hop. He produced his solo debut album One Man Band Man in August 21, 2007 this album sold 45,000 copies in its first week. On October 19, 2007, Swizz Beatz launched a contest presented by Music Video 2.0 and The Source magazine.
Alicia Keys has made a remarkable contribution to the R&B Soul music genre. Alicia Keys has won five Grammy awards for her album Songs in A Minor, an album that sold over 12 million copies. In 2003, she released a second studio album; The Diary of Alicia Keys was also a hit selling over eight million copies world wide. This album also won her an additional four Grammy awards. She also is noted for Unplugged one the highest selling live albums ever produced in the United States. She was also nominated for the NAACP Image Award for her role in the Secret Life of Bees .She released her fourth album The Element of Freedom in December 2009. She has won numerous awards and has sold over 30 million albums. Billboard has ranked her as the best R&B recording artist of the 2000-2009 decade.
Swizz Beats has also made a contribution to R&B Soul/Hip –Hop. He produced his solo debut album One Man Band Man in August 21, 2007 this album sold 45,000 copies in its first week. On October 19, 2007, Swizz Beatz launched a contest presented by Music Video 2.0 and The Source magazine.
Nikki Giovanni :In Philadelphia
May 28, 2010 Nikki Giovanni, world renowned poet appeared in Philadelphia. She appeared as a guest of Art Sanctuary, the host of The 26th Annual Celebration of Black Writing Festival that is held May 28-29, 2010 in Philadelphia. She held a reading and a discussion at the Church of the Advocate. It was a wonderful setting. There was barely a seat left in church. Children and adults came from every part of the city to hear her speak. Her poetry was excellent but she offered more than her poetry to her repertoire. She spoke on a wide variety of subjects; Rosa Parks; The teabagger movement; and the connection between rap poetry and American art and literature.
Nikki feels that anyone who supports the teabagger movement” is a fool.”She feels that most of them have nothing to complain about. In fact it is nonsensical that anyone could believe that they should not have to pay taxes in a modern nation. She felt they were greedy and cruel people who really wanted to turn there millions into billions. She tied this into the general attitude of the right wing; an attitude that allowed children to receive less in education. These days it is acceptable to cut out: the gym; the library; the after school programs and pay teachers next to nothing in the American school system.
On the subject of Rosa Parks she delivered both a poem and eulogy to her late friend. She knew Rosa Parks and was close to her. She said that her death was untimely because she wished she were here so children of this generation could experience her. She knew how to say no. “No to those people who would deny freedom to others in this land.” Rosa Parks saw oppression in these United States and did something about it.
Nikki Giovanni was born in Knoxville, Tennessee. It is a city located in Eastern Tennessee. She says that when she grew up television had not really arrived and people in that region entertained each other by stories. She feels that storytelling is a traditional gift of the people of that region. She cites Dolly Parton a person who tells her stories through her songs.
Nikki Giovanni believed that the rap poetry movement was a contributing force in world literature. She felt that it was created in much the same way that classic literature was developed throughout the world. First, she felt it was developed from the songs and language of the people and although first vilified later rose to become classic forms of world literature.She cited Italian Renaissance culture and Moorish culture as examples. She says that she enjoys Tupac Shakur and believed that he was a major force in the development of rap poetry.
She felt that people needed information in order to write. Feeling is important but one must research and read other sources in order to have something to write about. Nikki Giovanni said she started writing poetry seriously while she was in college. In college she read a great deal of history, a subject she loves. She feels that this information provided her with the material she needed to create poetry.
Nikki Giovanni stated that she was glad to be in Philadelphia. She felt that the Philadelphia Sound, the music of Gamble and Huff had a tremendous impact on the music; culture and poetry in the United States.
Nikki feels that anyone who supports the teabagger movement” is a fool.”She feels that most of them have nothing to complain about. In fact it is nonsensical that anyone could believe that they should not have to pay taxes in a modern nation. She felt they were greedy and cruel people who really wanted to turn there millions into billions. She tied this into the general attitude of the right wing; an attitude that allowed children to receive less in education. These days it is acceptable to cut out: the gym; the library; the after school programs and pay teachers next to nothing in the American school system.
On the subject of Rosa Parks she delivered both a poem and eulogy to her late friend. She knew Rosa Parks and was close to her. She said that her death was untimely because she wished she were here so children of this generation could experience her. She knew how to say no. “No to those people who would deny freedom to others in this land.” Rosa Parks saw oppression in these United States and did something about it.
Nikki Giovanni was born in Knoxville, Tennessee. It is a city located in Eastern Tennessee. She says that when she grew up television had not really arrived and people in that region entertained each other by stories. She feels that storytelling is a traditional gift of the people of that region. She cites Dolly Parton a person who tells her stories through her songs.
Nikki Giovanni believed that the rap poetry movement was a contributing force in world literature. She felt that it was created in much the same way that classic literature was developed throughout the world. First, she felt it was developed from the songs and language of the people and although first vilified later rose to become classic forms of world literature.She cited Italian Renaissance culture and Moorish culture as examples. She says that she enjoys Tupac Shakur and believed that he was a major force in the development of rap poetry.
She felt that people needed information in order to write. Feeling is important but one must research and read other sources in order to have something to write about. Nikki Giovanni said she started writing poetry seriously while she was in college. In college she read a great deal of history, a subject she loves. She feels that this information provided her with the material she needed to create poetry.
Nikki Giovanni stated that she was glad to be in Philadelphia. She felt that the Philadelphia Sound, the music of Gamble and Huff had a tremendous impact on the music; culture and poetry in the United States.
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