@brcnewyork

It’s on like a megaton! Yup, this Friday, January 21, the BRC massive convenes to celebrate 25 years of championing the full spectrum of black musical and creative expression.  Talk about impact: First of all, I wouldn’t be doing this blog if it weren’t for the BRC and my time as Director of PR.  More importantly, it was–and still is–an incredible community of likeminded folks who believe that not only were we bigger than the music industry’s narrow definitions of blackness but, knowing that, we all had a responsibility to reach out and reach back into the black community and share the possibilities with the bredren and sistren.

Where do you think I got the idea that black rock can save black culture? The BRC worldview informed my thinking heavily.  It wasn’t just about the music: There was always the understanding that music was linked to a progressive cultural and political vision, the goal of which was the betterment of black people.  Particularly during the 90s, when hip hop became big business and started reducing black people to caricatures of themselves, black rock was always that namaste to the community.

So, there’s time for politics and there’s time for parties.  This is the latter.  The deets:

The BRC’s Drop The Bomb 25th Anniversary Party

Friday, January 21

730pm – midnight

The Gibson Guitar Showroom

421 West 54th Street (bet 9/10th Avenues)

NYC

FREE!

Even better: Short sets by Helixdown, Ajo of Bang Language, Lachi, pillowTheory, Analogue Transit, McRad, King Aswad, Burnt Sugar, plus a VERY SPECIAL GUEST (yeah, I know who it is, but I can’t tell you: Just gotta show up, homie.)

As you all probably know, the great Abbey Lincoln passed away on Saturday.  I never saw her perform live, but certainly respected her for the work she did with Ivan Dixon in “Nothing But A Man”.  I the two albums of hers that I always played were You Gotta Pay The Band and A Turtle’s Dream.  Given her passing, I’m reminded of the powerful “When I’m Called Home” from Pay The Band.

Of course, outlets like The New York Times have done their obits on the legendary singer.  But it’s great to read more personal accounts from friends of what Abbey meant to them.  Thembisa Mshaka is one I liked.  I met Thembisa during my days in the PR game, when she was the editor of music industry publication The Gavin Report.  She’s done many things in the intervening years, the latest of which is her book Put Your Dreams First: Handle Your [Entertainment] Business, which is a guide for women wanting to have long-term careers in the entertainment industry.

Here’s a piece of what she wrote:

I met my Abbey Lincoln through my parents. Well, not literally. My father introduced me to her heady mix of soaring and sobering vocal style by playing “Bird Alone” for me many years ago. I’ve loved her voice ever since.

My mother introduced me to Abbey as an actress in the seminal film, Nothing But A Man, in which she starred as Josie. If you don’t know this film, Netflix it and IMDB it. It is a classic story of race and relationships. Abbey Lincoln delivers a tour-de-force performance.

But then, those are the only kind she’s ever delivered.

Read the rest of Thembisa’s thought’s on Abbey Lincoln here.

The Hackneys (l to r): Dannis, Bobby Sr. (holding pic of original trio), & son Bobby Jr. of Rough Francis
credit: Burlington Free Press

I'm in the process of prepping for my SXSW interview with Death on March 20.  I'm doing background research as well as pre-interviews with the band, Bobby Jr. (Rough Francis) and some folks from the label.

But, I then thought it'd be cool to incorporate some of your questions into the discussion.  You can ask anonymously, but do include your email address in case I need clarification on something.

Thanks!

A Walk Through Fort Greene – TRAILER from Diane Paragas on Vimeo.

For those of us who lived in Fort Greene, Brooklyn during the early 90s, this will take you back.  Nelson George and Diane Paragas co-direct.  From the Vimeo page:

A feature length documentary of the black arts movement that exploded
in Fort Greene from the mid 1980s through the 90s as intimately told by
writer, historian and director, Nelson George. The film features Spike
Lee, Chris Rock, Rosie Perez, Branford Marsalis, Vernon Reid, Carl
Hancock Rux, Saul Williams, Lorna Simpson, Alva Rogers, Kevin Powell,
Toure, Bill Stephany to name a few.

And a big bow wow to you, too.

Additional links:

• Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton on Wikipedia
• Buddy Guy official site

Do you like what you've seen on this blog over the last three years? If so, consider making a small donation–$1, $5, $10–whatever you can. Here's why I'm asking and how you can donate.

I took the MLK holiday off today, as I do every year.  Not just a day off from the day job, but a day spent remembering and honoring Dr. King.  As we've done for the last several years, we went to the memorial at Brooklyn Academy of Music.  Danny Glover was the keynote this year.  Many people know him as an actor, but he's also an activist, philanthropist and humanitarian.  While talking about Dr. King, he veered his remarks to Haiti and became visibly choked up.  I guess we were all feeling the enormity of this last week: the Haitian earthquake leading into Dr. King's holiday.  For me, it was all very resonant.  I felt very moved by the New Life Tabernacle Choir's singing of "Lift Ev'ry Voice And Sing" and "We Shall Overcome".  And between those two songs, they also did the "Star Spangled Banner."  It was a reminder to all that no group of people have had a more complicated relationship with this country than African Americans.  Yes, we criticize it or call it to task when it falls short of its ideals, but I think it'd be difficult to find a group that has loved this country more.  And, yes, it's strange to think that it was only 40-odd years ago that black folks were
fighting to secure the basic dignities that were supposedly afforded to
all by the Constitution.

Anyway, we spent about an hour yesterday looking at videos on YouTube of Dr. King with my son and daughter.  I realized it's been a while since I saw the entire video of his speech in Washington.  It takes you back in more ways than one.  The good thing is that it provides an opportunity to connect the events of the past to the freedoms we all enjoy today.  Dr. King is, without question, one of the giants on whose shoulders we all stand.

So, another King holiday draws to a close.  If you're at all moved by this video, I urge you to take Dr. King's example and do some good in the world wherever you are.

Jimi would've been 67 next week.  Very cool that MuthaWit Orchestra and Leila Adu team up to celebrate his birthday in grand style: Avant, yet fresh-to-death!

MuthaWit at Harlem Stage (photo: Ed Marshall)

Leila Adu performing @ this year's URB Alt fest (photo: Ed Marshall)

URB ALT: Jimi Hendrix Tribute
Friday, November 27, 2009 – 10:30pm
$10

LOCATION & DIRECTIONS
Galapagos Arts Space

16 Main St at the corner of Water Street in DUMBO, BK
F train to York Street, A train to High Street or 2/3 train to Clark Street

My man Boston Fielder writes compellingly about this event here.

Additional links:

• URB Alt
• MuthaWit
• Leila Adu

Detroit's own DEATH -Where Do We Go From Here? Documentary – Tour 2009 Promo from Howlermano on Vimeo.

Good news for Death fans.  More info on the doc at wheredowegofromheredoc.com, where you can become a fan on Facebook and/or friend them on MySpace.  Also, note the Rough Francis tour dates.

Hat tip to The Daily Swarm for the heads up.

Additional link:

• Listening Post: Death — "Politicians In My Eyes"

In 1974, the most celebrated American R&B acts of the time–James Brown, B.B. King, Miriam Makeba, The Fania All-Stars (featuring Celia Cruz), Bill Withers, The Spinners, The Crusaders, Sister Sledge– came together with the most renowned musical groups of Southern African for a 12-hour, three night concert held in Kinshasha, Zaire.  The dream-child of Hugh Masekela and Stewart Levine, this music festival became a reality when they convinced boxing promoter Don King to combine the event with “The Rumble in the Jungle,” the epic fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, previously chronicled in the Academy Award-winning documentary WHEN WE WERE KINGS.

SOUL POWER is a verité documentary, by Jeffrey Levy-Hinte
chronicling the legendary festival Zaire ’74, and made entirely
using the original 1974 footage.

The dream child of musician/producer and life long friends
Hugh Masekela and Stewart Levine (Grazing In The Grass, Don’t
Go Lose it Baby), this music festival became a reality when
they convinced boxing promoter Don King to combine the event
with “The Rumble in the Jungle,” the epic fight between Muhammad
Ali and George Foreman.

SOUL POWER highlights the experiences and performances of
such musical luminaries as James Brown, BB King, Bill Withers,
Celia Cruz, Miriam Makeba, The Spinners among a host of others.
These artists were inspired by this return to their African
roots, as well as the enthusiasm of the Zairian audience,
to give the performances of their lives. The concert has achieved
mythological significance as the definitive Africa(n)-American
musical event of the 20th Century.

This footage has remained vaulted for the past 35 years, unused,
unseen, until now. Filmed by some of the most celebrated documentary
cinematographers Albert Maysles (Gimme Shelter, Grey Gardens),
Paul Goldsmith (Rust Never Sleeps), Kevin Keating
(Harlan County USA), and Roderick Young (Wattstax).

A feast for the senses, the clothes, the gadgets, the culture
of Zaire, the colors, the music, it’s a challenge to sit still
and not boogie in the aisles.

Releases in other cities will follow.

Additional links:

• Official site for Soul Power
• When We Were Kings

How's this for some deep sh*t on Monday morning?

According the Britain's The Independent:

Read the full article here.

Hat tip: DailySwarm.