October 27, 2009 • Chrisnatha Derosier
UNTITLED, a satirical movie dedicated melding noise and art, opens in theatres.
September 3, 2009 • Tiffani Knowles
Boasting the mini dresses and butterfly-collared shirts of the disco era and the seamlessly-delivered revolutionary rhythms of its gun-toting lead, the live staged version of the cult Jamaican film The Harder They Come moved audiences to roaring applause and a spirited sing-a-long on August 29 at Downtown Miami's Adrienne Arsht Center.
Nearly filled to capacity, the Arsht's 2-400-seat Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House housed a diverse audience of multiple nationalities - not just Jamaican - to witness the U.S. premiere of the musical adaptation of the film written and directed by Perry Henzell nearly 40 years ago.
Nearly filled to capacity, the Arsht's 2-400-seat Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House housed a diverse audience of multiple nationalities - not just Jamaican - to witness the U.S. premiere of the musical adaptation of the film written and directed by Perry Henzell nearly 40 years ago.
August 19, 2009 • Chrisnatha Derosier
Devin T. Robinson X, a young poet, uses his poetry and a new film to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Florida.
August 9, 2009 • Tiffani Knowles
With a new album, a soulful new vocalist, and a new vibe - to boot - the Grammy-nominated rock band, Newsboys, set audiences ablaze at Rock The Sound New York on July 31.
On the strength of hits like "Shine," "Spirit Thing," and "Beautiful Sound," the boys possessed an uncommon effervescence as the Australian-born band graced the stage of The Hammerstein Ballroom with their new lead vocalist, Michael Tait. Silver-tongued as though he'd been singing the band's tunes for more than a mere year, Tait not only belted out new hits like "In The Hands of God" and "The Way We Roll," but also delivered nuanced performances of classics like "Not Ashamed."Backstage, NEWD was "taken to their leader" - the fearless Tait, former vocalist with Grammy-winning trio dc Talk.
On the strength of hits like "Shine," "Spirit Thing," and "Beautiful Sound," the boys possessed an uncommon effervescence as the Australian-born band graced the stage of The Hammerstein Ballroom with their new lead vocalist, Michael Tait. Silver-tongued as though he'd been singing the band's tunes for more than a mere year, Tait not only belted out new hits like "In The Hands of God" and "The Way We Roll," but also delivered nuanced performances of classics like "Not Ashamed."Backstage, NEWD was "taken to their leader" - the fearless Tait, former vocalist with Grammy-winning trio dc Talk.
August 4, 2009 • Eyiwunmi Salako
One word. Brilliant. Entering the Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem, one was not quite sure what to expect.
At the entrance, people robed in white, representing the back-to-Africa movement pounded incessantly on African drums while reenacting what seemed like a traditional African ceremony.
On the other side of the park, the stage was set for the witty, fantasy-like Essential Shakespeare - Dream A Little Dream.
Love, betrayal, magic, and friendship. All are themes that run through this family-friendly work put on by the Tisch School of the Arts, NYU Continuum Company.
At the entrance, people robed in white, representing the back-to-Africa movement pounded incessantly on African drums while reenacting what seemed like a traditional African ceremony.
On the other side of the park, the stage was set for the witty, fantasy-like Essential Shakespeare - Dream A Little Dream.
Love, betrayal, magic, and friendship. All are themes that run through this family-friendly work put on by the Tisch School of the Arts, NYU Continuum Company.
August 3, 2009 • Farah Louis
New Yorkers were recently treated to a triple bill with three of R&B music's legendary heartthrobs: Chico DeBarge, Ginuwine and Joe.
Men, women and children from all backgrounds came together on July 26 for the Summer Stage concert series at Central Park. Sultry R&B crooner Chico DeBarge, opened up the concert with a jazz groovy rendition of "I like it," a hit song from the famed 1980's R&B group The Debarges, of which Chico was a former member. DeBarge also sang his new single "Oh No," a man's mission to win a woman's heart, from his album Addiction. It was his first album after a six-year hiatus.
August 3, 2009 • Eyiwunmi Salako
Unrestricted to a singular artistic genre, Jessica Care Moore's one-woman show, God Is Not An American, was one of the more obscure artistic offerings of community theater courtesy of the New York City Parks Foundation.
Held in the open amphitheatre at Herbert Von King Park, Moore presented her socio-political multi-disciplinary play to an audience of Brooklynites on July 21-22 -- despite the steady northeastern rain.
Fusing documentary, poetry, dance and song, Moore's use of multimedia was intriguing and complex - as was the subject matter - yet, certainly very New York avant garde.
Moore's content itself covered various issues such as racism, feminism, spirituality and color identification.
July 21, 2009 • Tiffani Knowles
Paths crossed. Words were exchanged. And, now this profound conversation is etched in our archives forever.
In a true Iconoclasts-style inteview, NEWD initiated the premier recontre of two neo-soul vocalists whose talent is unmistakable, whose love for humanity is sublime and whose stories are mysteriously parallel.
Both young mothers with a gritty past steeped in sexual abuse, these gorgeous songbirds have found a way to reclaim their womanhood and offer their velvet vocal chords in service to God.
Lisa McClendon, Stellar and Dove award nominee, is a pioneer in Christ-centered Neo-Soul music and spoken word. With her recent most recent studio release Reality out for a mere five months and already reaching Billboard Top 20, McClendon's hope in this album is to shine a probing flashlight on tough decisions associated with responsibilities of life.
In a true Iconoclasts-style inteview, NEWD initiated the premier recontre of two neo-soul vocalists whose talent is unmistakable, whose love for humanity is sublime and whose stories are mysteriously parallel.
Both young mothers with a gritty past steeped in sexual abuse, these gorgeous songbirds have found a way to reclaim their womanhood and offer their velvet vocal chords in service to God.
Lisa McClendon, Stellar and Dove award nominee, is a pioneer in Christ-centered Neo-Soul music and spoken word. With her recent most recent studio release Reality out for a mere five months and already reaching Billboard Top 20, McClendon's hope in this album is to shine a probing flashlight on tough decisions associated with responsibilities of life.
July 21, 2009 • Gregory Vilfranc
Gregory Vilfranc shares a timely, heartfelt tribute about the King of Pop.
July 3, 2009 • Ebony Reid
From super-strength Kenyan acrobats and an African couture-laced runway to performances by well-known Afro-hip hop musicians and appearances by African luminaries, FanAfrik served up an extra live production this past weekend in an event dedicated to flaunting Mother Africa's artistic offspring at Newark Symphony Hall, dubbed simply -- "AFRIKA."