RHYTHM & BLUES/JAZZ

RHYTHM & BLUES/JAZZ EVENTS REVIEWS

RON POWELL’S LA SAMBA – WATTS TOWERS DAY OF THE DRUM & JAZZ FESTIVAL, WATTS (CA) – OCTOBER 27TH, 2013

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Ron Powell along with his band delivered a very impressive Carnival-like performance. His Brazilian style drumming with the sticks punctuated with Afro-cuban drumming on the Congas and acrobatic and dance moves were truly mesmerizing. The Samba dancers were also excellent and further brought the vibes of the Rio Carnival. Great great performance!

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ANGELIQUE KIDJO/HUGH MASEKELA – PLAYBOY JAZZ FESTIVAL HOLLYWOOD BOWL – JUNE 16TH, 2013

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ANGELIQUE KIDJO/HUGH MASEKELA – PLAYBOY JAZZ FESTIVAL HOLLYWOOD BOWL – JUNE 16TH, 2013

Angelique Kidjo (Left on Bottom right picture) was in Hollywood, CA representing Benin as usual and blessed the crowd with her singing and dancing. Hugh Masekela the Jazz trumpetist (Right on Bottom right picture) was also part of the festival, representing his native South Africa . Both artists took part of the same interview, representing the continent proudly.

SHEILA E. – PLAYBOY JAZZ FESTIVAL HOLLYWOOD BOWL – JUNE 16TH, 2013

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SHEILA E. – PLAYBOY JAZZ FESTIVAL HOLLYWOOD BOWL – JUNE 16TH, 2013

Sheila E. hasn’t lost a step at age “56”. The USC Marching band opened up her performance and she gave a real all-around drum clinic from the drum set to the congas. Great crowd participation, even security was dancing and both her parents as well as India Arie joined in with dancing and drumming. Sheila E. is the real deal, a real drum virtuoso/singer who rocked the crowd with her classic hits.

ACTOR JEFFREY ANDERSON-GUNTER – TARGET SUNDAYS (JAZZ) – CAAM – JUNE 2ND, 2013

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PLAYBOY JAZZ FESTIVAL - CAAM - JUNE 3RD, 2013

Wolof Times reporter Sunny Moore stepping off the stage in her Fulani hat, after helping Actor Jeffrey Anderson-Gunter draw audience winner tickets. Great live Jazz music which featured Jazz and Spoken word as well as various established and upcoming singers and musicians. The show was MCed by Actor Jeffrey Anderson-Gunter and Jazz Singer Freda Payne who did a great job entertaining the crowd during pauses and introducing Spoken Word artist Yazmin Monet Watkins and Jazz artists Dominique Toney, Ryan Cross, Kenneth Crouch etc…

PATRICE RUSHEN – PLAYBOY JAZZ FESTIVAL FREE COMMUNITY CONCERT SERIES – JUNE 2ND, 2013

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PATRICE RUSHEN - PLAYBOY JAZZ FESTIVAL - JUNE 3RD, 2013

I was blown away by the music and singing of Patrice Rushen (Left-column, here featured with Wolof Times reporters Bunaama Diagne & Sunny Moore) who is now Director of the Grammys Awards show and sang classic hits such as “Forget me nots” and “You remind me”. I didn’t know she could play the keyboards in both R&B and Jazz music genres. Leon “Ndugu” Chancler her producer/drummer also rocked the crowd with live great energy and incredibly versatile drumming. Great Great show!

BILAL – ROXY THEATRE – MAY 29TH, 2013

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BILAL - ROXY THEATRY - MAY 29TH, 2013

Bilal (Far-left column), here featured with Wolof Times reporters Bunaama Diagne and Sunny Moore, definitely rocked the crowd with his falsetto voice and unimprovised stage comedy act. The band was great and played Jazz fused with R&B and Hip Hop music which are Bilal’s music influences/genres. The show also featured Grammy winner Robert Glasper who showcased his talents as a pianist.

SHINE BLACKHAWK – DRAWING ON THE MOON, MALIBU – MAY 24TH-27TH, 2013

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SHINE BLACKHAWK - DRAWING ON THE MOON, MALIBU, CA - MAY 24TH-27TH, 2013

SHINE BLACKHAWK (Top Picture,Top Center), here featured with Wolof Times reporter Bunaama Diagne (Left) and other band members) rocked the stage late night with FIRE tribal music within a beautiful natural setting in the Malibu mountains with the Moon hovering over us. Her music is an original blend of Rock, Rhythm & Blues, Hip Hop as well as Native American and African influences. The Festival was cut short due to fire code violations but featured Yoga workshops, raw vegan cuisine, drumming, dancing, folk music, acrobats, club dancing etc…Wonderful camping first-time experience amidst the Malibu Mountains.

FELA! BROADWAY SHOW (MICHELLE WILLIAMS, ADESOLA OSAKALUMI) – AHMANSON THEATRE – MAY 4TH, 2013

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FELA! BROADWAY SHOW - AHMANSON THEATRE - MAY 4TH 2013

This show is just a future classic, so much musical education due to the diversity of African music utilized from the Continent and the Diaspora. A beautiful musical and dance mix of African cultural elements WORLDWIDE. Both Adesola Osakalumi (Right Column, Right) and Michelle Williams (Destiny’s Child, Right Column, Right), who play the main characters of Fela Anikulapo Kuti and Sandra Izsadore respectively, delivered beyond great performances as well as all other members of the troop from the dancers to the musicians to the singers. A TRUE LEGENDARY CLASSIC PERFORMANCE!

DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND – UCLA-ROYCE HALL, LOS ANGELES (CA) – FEBRUARY 12TH, 2013

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The band did a great job displaying all of the cultural musical elements that are the foundation of all modern music by performing great Blues, Jazz and New Orleans Folk music. There was great crowd participation since it was Mardi-Gras and attempts to recreate that New-Orleans scene within the music hall with the beads, dancing, chanting and line dancing around the room. The show was somewhat of an American music history lesson.

FEMI KUTI – EL REY THEATRE, LOS ANGELES (CA) – JANUARY 18TH, 2013

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FEMI KUTI - EL REY THEATRE - JANUARY 18, 2013

Wolof Times reporters Bunaama Diagne, Sunny Moore and Fusicology.com’s Asya Stein outside the El Rey Theatre after Femi Kuti’s performance. Show was live, the “Los Angeles Afrocentric Tribe” was there, Femi was very professional yet with a great sarcastic sense of humor like his father the great Fela Kuti (RIP). Well-accomplished musician on the Saxophone as well as the keyboards.

STEVIE WONDER – NOKIA THEATRE L.A LIVE – 17TH ANNUAL HOUSE FULL OF TOYS, LOS ANGELES (CA) – DECEMBER 17TH, 2012

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STEVIE WONDER - NOKIA THEATRE L.A LIVE - 17th ANNUAL HOUSE FULL OF TOYS - DECEMBER 17, 2012

The show was full of upcoming artists’ guest appearances but the legendary Stevie Wonder was well worth the wait. Such a talented singer, keyboardist, music director and COMEDIAN (which I was unaware of LOL). He cracked hilarious jokes about his disability and was very gracious after the show to his fans with interactions and posing for pictures even though he was exhausted. The legendary NY rapper Doug E Fresh did a great job hosting the show.

CLARISA ROSE – BLAZE THE STAGE, VENICE BEACH (CA) – MAY 19TH, 2011

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Clarisa Rose (Right) is a new upcoming artist, winner of 106&Park in 2010 judged by Alicia Keys. Clarisa gave me goosebumps and almost brought me to tears with her sultress voice delivery over Hip Hop tracks. The festival featured professional and street basketball players competing in a tournament as well as performances by upcoming artists in the legendary Venice Beach setting.