Email Bulletin!
ANNOUCEMENTS:
THE GRAND OPENING OF THE HARLEM TAP DANCE & REHEARSAL STUDIO on 401 W 149th St. in NYC!!!
DANCING, MUSIC, REFRESHMENTS … come to JAM!
Join Tap Family Sensations Omar & Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards in the Celebration!!!
Friday April 14th from 7-11pm
Take A Train to 145st – dance 4 blocks North.
Call 347-401-5838
SCHEDULE OF CLASSES:
Mon – 2-3:30pm, 5-6pm, 6-7pm (Spotlight Class), JAM SESSION 9-11pm
Tues- 2-3:30pm, 5-6pm, 6-7pm
Wed- 12-1:30pm
Thur- 2-3:30pm, 5-6pm, 6-7pm (Spotlight Class)
Fri- – 2-3:30pm, JAM SESSION 9:30-11pm
Sat- 12-1pm, 2-3pm
Sun- REHEARSAL SPACE AVAILABLE 12-5pm
REHEARSAL SPACE AVAILABLE DAILY – CALL FOR BOOKING & more information – 3474015838.
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EVENTS:
The Jazz Museum in Harlem
104 East 126th Street
New York, NY 10035
212 348-8300
Jazz Museum in Harlem Celebrates Women in Jazz
Harlem Speaks Brings in Spring with Producer Cobi Narita and Historian
Delilah Jackson
• Cobi Narita, Producer: Thursday, April 13, 2006
• Delilah Jackson, Historian: Thursday, April 27, 2006
Nobuko Cobi Narita, guest of Harlem Speaks on Thursday, April 13, 2006,
has been a steadfast volunteer in the NY jazz community since 1969.
Married to Paul Ash, her partner of 32 years, at 80 she remains quite
active, producing special events while publicizing the activities of
her more than 600 individual and organization members—without
remuneration.
In 1976, Cobi founded a jazz service organization called the Universal
Jazz Coalition. From 1983-1988 she had a place of her own, the Jazz
Center of New York, Inc., a large loft space, funded by Paul Ash of the
Sam Ash Music Stores, where she presented daily concerts and events
featuring artists, great and less-known, who loved the space. Her
smaller current space is “Cobi’s Place,” at 158 W 48 Street, part of
the Jazz Center of New York.
Cobi, in 1995, founded the International Women in Jazz, Inc., serving
as president for its first three years, board chair for the next three,
and now on its Advisory Committee.
She produced 16 annual New York Women’s Jazz Festivals from 1978, with
music, workshops, jam sessions, and conferences, spotlighting women
leaders, both renowned and emerging. During the first few years the
festivals took place outdoors on the stage at Damrosch Park, Lincoln
Center, and later at venues such as Saint Peter’s Church, Harlem School
of the Arts, UJC’s Jazz Gallery (in the 1980s), and UJC’s Jazz Center
of New York.
At her Jazz Center of New York, Cobi presented great artists, including
Dizzy Gillespie, Randy Weston, Phineas Newborn, Jr., Ahmad Jamal,
Dakota Staton, Monty Alexander, George Coleman, Abbey Lincoln, Melba
Liston, Bill Barron, Al Grey, Lou Donaldson, Maxine Sullivan, Houston
Person & Etta Jones, Mingus Dynasty, Jamil Nasser, Harold Mabern, Billy
Harper, Philly Joe Jones, Ricky Ford, Horace Tapscott, Harlem Blues &
Jazz Band, Idris Muhammed, Major Holley, Benny Powell and many others.
As director of the Universal Jazz Coalition and the Jazz Center, Cobi
has: presented, produced or assisted over 5,000 concerts; provided free
technical assistance services to musicians; spearheaded tributes and
fundraisers to benefit ailing musicians, among those a special one
co-hosted by Max Roach and Jamil Nasser, which gifted Papa Jo Jones
with $15,000; presented free weekly “hands-on” Workshops for Musicians,
courtesy of the Sam Ash Music Stores; published since 1976 a monthly
jazz newsletter/calendar and a 32-pager, Cobi’s Music News (Aug
2000-Sept. 2002); hosted “Jazz USA”, on WBAI-FM for four years; and
developed and directed a year-round vocal jazz workshop series, “UJC
Discoveries,” which presented more than 350 new voices in concert over
10 years.
Among her numerous awards, Cobi was recently honored by the
International Women of Jazz at their 10th Anniversary festivities and
by James Jabbo Ware’s Me We & Them. She has been honored by the
government of Japan, receiving its Foreign Minister’s Commendation in
Commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the US-Japan Relationship in
2004 for her support, promotion and presentation of Japanese and
Japanese-American jazz artists over the years; Incorporation of Artists
on the Move (AIM), receiving its 1st Annual Martin Luther King
Community Service Award in Jan 2003; The Jazz Foundation of America,
receiving its first Lifetime Achievement Award at the Apollo Theatre
October 2001; The Saeko Ichinohe Dance Company, receiving its Fourth
Annual Cultural Bridge Award (March 2001); The Manhattan Country
School, receiving its Second Annual John Garcia Gensel Award (May
2000); and The Kennedy Center, receiving its first Mary Lou Williams
Jazz Award at their first 3-day Women’s Jazz Festival (May 1996).
* * *
The April 27, 2006 guest, cultural historian Delilah Jackson has worked
with Cobi Narita since the late ’70s, to co-produce numerous tap
concerts and film showings, and now presents her programs at Cobi’s
Place in Manhattan. Delilah is founder and artistic director of the
Black Patti Research Foundation (named after Sisseretta Jones who
organized the most prestigious group of touring black troubadours at
the turn of the century), and has amassed one of the most extensive
collections of African American expressive culture anywhere – more than
1000 rare slides, photos, and vintage films documenting the
performances of musicians, singers, actors and dancers of Harlem during
the 1920s and 1930s.
Delilah has given talks, curated exhibitions, and held programs at
libraries, churches, universities and museums. She has been a
consultant for TV documentaries and news reports. She has worked as a
consultant on such films as The Cotton Club, the BBC production of
Going Back to Harlem, and Essence Magazine’s Women in Jazz. In 1997,
she curated a show at the Smithsonian entitled “Paris, the Jazz Age”
(1914-1940). Delilah has lectured at Columbia University, the New
School for Social Research, Museum of Natural History, Schomburg Center
for Black Culture, and Smithsonian Institution.
In 1993, Delilah was inducted into the Black Collectors’ Hall of Fame.
She is the recipient of the Mama Lu Parks Achievement Award for Dance
History; the 2001 Flo-Bert Lifetime Achievement Award from the New York
City Committee to Celebrate National Tap Dance Day; and on June 28,
2005, Delilah Jackson received the coveted Tap Preservation Award from
Tap City 2005.
Recently, Delilah moved the lion’s share of her collection to Emory
University’s African-American archives. The move included some 4,000
photos of actors, singers, dancers, sports figures and politicians;
twenty-plus reels of 10-minute “soundies” – film performances of jazz
musicians and others, made mostly in the 1940s before the advent of
television – the precursors of music videos; a scrapbook that belonged
to Johnny Hudgins, a black entertainer who played in blackface, which
is filled with 20 years of clippings, pictures and itineraries of gigs
in the United States, Cuba and Europe.
On August 5, 2001, an in-depth article about Delilah Jackson and her
on-going work appeared in the New York Times.
On April 2, 2003, a 2-page spread appeared in the Atlanta
Journal-Constitution, replete with photos.
Delilah has celebrated Tap Dance for over 25 years. She has presented
Dr. Buster Brown, Charles “Cookie” Cook, Lon Chaney, Chuck Green, Henry
Le Tang, Jr., Tina Pratt, Mable Lee, Salt and Pepper, and The Cotton
Club Girls in Harlem Week shows. She has kept tap alive.
* * * * *
This discussion series is free to the public. To view the photo
archives of Harlem Speaks go to:
http://www.jazzmuseuminharlem.org/hs_photos.html
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YOU’VE WAITED LONG ENOUGH
IT’S TIME FOR THE NEXT
BROADWAY UNDERGROUND
THURSDAY NIGHT
APRIL 27th
8:00PM
@
The Lamb’s Theatre
130 West 44th Street
(Mainstage Theatre 3rd Floor)
Hosted by
Jared Grimes and DeWitt Fleming
and starring new up and coming artists from
New York City
plus
T.A.D.A.H
and the sounds of
Will Johnson and Clive Lendore
AND OF COURSE
THE OPEN SESSION
(BRING YOUR GROOVE)
General Seating Tickets-$15
or
RSVP Discount Tickets-$12
Required email RSVP by Wednesday April 26th.
(in order to save $3 you must email info@projectdance.com Leave your full name and how many tickets you would like.
You will receive an email confirmation in return.)
VISIT www.projectdance.com for updates
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LIAISON DEUX
The imaginative, creative and always exciting Chicago Tap Theatre will be joined by its French sister company, Tapage, for two performances at the Harold Washington Library Auditorium on Saturday, April 22, at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 23, at 2:00 p.m. Liaison Deux marks the return of Tapage to Chicago after a critically acclaimed, sold-out joint run with Chicago Tap Theatre in 2004. Tickets can be purchased at the door, online at www.chicagotaptheatre.com or by calling 773-655-1175. Tickets are $25 for Adults, $20 for Seniors and $15 for Students or Dancers. Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more. For additional information, please e-mail jazztapdancer@hotmail.com or call 773-655-1175.
YOUR LIAISON WITH DANCE
On the evening of April 21, from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., the innovative and critically acclaimed dance company, Chicago Tap Theatre, will host a fun and fanciful benefit to celebrate the arrival of its French sister company, Tapage, in Chicago. The event will be held in the spectacular 44th floor penthouse club room of Eugenie Terrace (1730 N. Clark St.) overlooking Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. The benefit will feature complimentary Champagne and French pastries, as well as the opportunity to meet and mingle with both business professionals and dancers from both companies (a good chance for guests to practice their French, though most of the French dancers speak English!). Attendees can also bid on unique and whimsical goods and services at a silent auction, enjoy previews of the upcoming performance, and have the chance to win exciting prizes in the free raffle, as well as much more. Tickets are $60 and are available at the door, by phone (773-655-1175) or via the internet (http://www.chicagotaptheatre.com). Space is limited. Questions about the benefit, the companies or Liaison Deux may be referred to Mark Yonally, Artistic Director of Chicago Tap Theatre, at (773) 655-1175.
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Preview the schedule for Tap City –
The New York City Tap Festival
July 8 – 22, 2006:
http://www.atdf.org/tapcity.html
Tap City 2006 festival information and registration now available!
Check out our on going tap classes in New York City:
DON’T MISS IT!!!
www.atdf.org
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THE LA TAP FESTIVAL 2006…
over 40 classes, special events, history talks, films, tap jams, performances, catered lunches, and unforgettable memories… all in Sunny Los Angeles California at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy!
Directed by
Jason Samuels Smith & Chloe Arnold
www.latapfest.com
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Special $65* Offer!
Be among the first to see HOT FEET!
Get ready for the hottest new show on Broadway! It’s Hot Feet, a heart-stopping, totally energizing, music and dance explosion, featuring the music of Earth, Wind & Fire, including such hits as “After The Love Is Gone,” “Boogie Wonderland,” “Shining Star,” “September,” and six all new original songs.
HOT FEET
The Musical That Dances to the Sounds of
EARTH, WIND & FIRE
Hot Feet–a Transamerica presentation, produced by Rudy Durand, in association with Kalimba Entertainment, Inc–is the newest creation of Tony nominated dancer, actor and choreographer MAURICE HINES and Earth, Wind and Fire’s very own MAURICE WHITE.
http://click.theatermania.com/t?ctl=11A145B:32BD502
*Conditions: $1.25 facilities fee included in the established price of each ticket. Subject to availability and prior sale. Blackout dates may apply. Limit 10 tickets per order. Normal service charges apply to phone and online orders. Offer may be revoked at any time. All sales are final. No refunds or exchanges. Not valid in conjunction with any other offer or discount. Order by 5/21/06; valid for performances 4/20/06 through 7/9/06.
Click Here and enter code JMANIA
212-307-4100 or 1-800-755-4000 and mention code JMANIA
Bring a printout of this offer to The Hilton Theatre Box Office at 214 W 42nd Street–New York
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Friends..
I originally had reservations about sending out releases for the upcoming ‘Believe in Magic’ show because it’s a musical being done completely by performers under the age of 18. But after seeing first hand how amazing this show is and how its message has already touched so many people’s lives. I decided I was doing all of you a disservice by not spreading the word for such a special event. Last year our show made over $25,000 for Children’s Hospital, this year we are almost sure to increase that amount. I have been around theatre my entire life and never have I been so proud of what is being accomplished through the power of performance.
Hope to see you at our show…..you won’t regret it.
Lisa Holtz Odell
Director/Co-Producer
What: 2006 Loft Production “Believe in Magic”
A musical with lots of music, fun and an inspiring message.
Where: Starstruck Academy’s Galaxy Theatre
7108 S. Alton Way Bldg C
Centennial, CO 80112
When: Friday April 14th 7:00pm
Saturday April 15th 2:00pm
Saturday April 15th 7:00pm
Cost: $15 (Every dollar raised will go the Gabby Krause Foundation)
There will be a silent auction and a raffle held prior to each show.
Tickets: Call Lisa Odell at 303-503-0709 or B.J. Kingsbaker at 303-725-4154
Tickets are limited so call today!
The theme for the 2006 Loft Production is “Believe in Magic” in memory of young Gabby Krause. The show follows one girl’s journey through a life altering sickness and illustrates the perseverance it takes to keep on fighting. As the girl (Amanda) is ready to give up, she is given a very special hat by her doctor. It is said to have magical powers as long as one believes. Amanda of course is reluctant to believe and throws the hat away. Now Amanda’s journey begins, as she searches to find hope, strength and the hat that could be her last chance at magic. Throughout the show the magic hat touches many people’s lives but in the end it finds its way back to Amanda with a special message that will inspire people of all ages. This show was written and produced by an incredibly talented group of performers aged 10-17 and it’s message is in memory of a girl who most of us have never met, but whose story has touched our hearts.
Gabby Krause was an amazing six year old who died on September 28, 2004 after a courageous 19 month battle with brain cancer. Gabby loved purple, swimming, and coke-flavored slurpees. She sang, danced, and laughed her way through chemo. She found the silly in everything! It is in her memory that the Gabby Krause Foundation was started, and in her spirit that ‘Bags of Fun’ began. The foundation goal is to continue her legacy of smiles, zest for life, and the “Grip it & Ripp it” attitude that she exemplified while facing life’s toughest challenge.
The mission of the Gabby Krause Foundation is to make a difference in the lives of children and their families who are faced with fighting cancer and other long term childhood illnesses.
“Bags of Fun” is the signature project of the Gabby Krause Foundation. A Bag of Fun is a bag filled with games, toys, and activities that are age appropriate, practical for a hospital setting and chosen by children from the community. Gabby had the original ‘Bag of Fun.’ To the delight of other patients she shared her games and toys. It was Gabby’s wish that every child could have his/her own ‘Bag of Fun.”
The short term goal of the foundation is to give a ‘Bag of Fun’ to every child admitted for cancer treatment at the Children’s Hospital in Denver, Gabby’s Hospital. They hope to be able to give a bag to every child fighting cancer in Colorado within the next two years. The immediate financial plan is to raise a minimum of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars. This will provide the foundation a great start in the quest to bring smiles to sick children throughout the community. The long term goals of the Foundation include scholarship funds and grants that help children enjoy life while fighting cancer or other childhood illnesses.
Last year our “Loft” fundraiser show raised more than $25,000 for Children’s Hospital. This year we hope to exceed that number for the Gabby Krause foundation.
If you are interested in buying tickets, would just like to make an item donation to the silent auction or a cash donation to the charity please don’t hesitate to call. 303.770.4480 ext. 1
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Sunday, April 30 at 2:00
Children of Uganda
This dynamic ensemble performs traditional African song and dance, all accompanied by authentic African instrumentation, colorful costumes, and a distinctly youthful zest that has won raves. The troupe tours in an effort to increase awareness about the AIDS epidemic in Africa and raise funds for Uganda’s more than 1.5 million orphans.
www.njpac.org
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PRODUCTS:
TAP HEAT: THE COMPLETE DVD –
Features the Award Winning short film by Dean Hargrove starring Arthur Duncan and Jason Samuels Smith, a 50-minute workout with Jason Samuels Smith, movie extras and more… OWN A PIECE OF HISTORY TODAY – www.tapheat.com!!!
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YOUR ONE STOP SHOP FOR THE BEST IN HIP HOP: www.mrwiggles.biz
Also, WWW.GRAFFITITATTOOS.COM Your place for the best custom graffiti style tattoos online.
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OPPORTUNITIES:
Job Opp: Karabel Dancewear in Burbank
Owner of Karabel Dancewear in Burbank needs detail oriented,
organized, motivated, reliable sales assistant with good memory &
customer service skills. Person will fit shoes, check in shipments,
write tickets and tag new items, ring up sales (after learning
inventory). Must have some formal dance background since we are a
specialty store. Need to be available weekdays (all day) 10:15-5:45,
and Sat. 10-5 and/or Sun 12-5. A combination of 4-5 days per week
(28-35 hours). Need happy person with positive attittude who’s
willing to learn product information and wants a steady job, (not
auditioning). Physically fit: it’s on your feet most of the day. Come
fill out application and call back to follow up. Pay depends on
experience. Everyone helps keep the place clean, no prima donnas please!
The address is 3901 W. Magnolia Blvd. Burbank, CA 91505. (818) 955-8480
Two blocks west of Hollywood Way.
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ALIVE WITH STYLE
Crazy Rhythm Productions is casting Alive With Style, an upcoming concert. Alan Onickel, choreo. Seeking Jazz and Tap Dancers: male and female, very strong and versatile. Pay.
Tue, April 25, 2006
11am-1pm / females
1pm-2pm / males
Ripley-Grier Studios
520 Eighth Ave (bn 36th & 37th sts)
NYC
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ANYTHING GOES – WILLIAMSTOWN THEATRE FESTIVAL
Williamstown Theatre Festival (Williamstown, MA) is casting its 2006-07 season. Mainstage season includes Anything Goes (Roger Rees, dir.; Ed Barnes, music dir.; runs July 5-16). Rehearsals begin three weeks prior to each opening night. All roles open. Note: All actors must be able to sing and dance. Specifically looking for tap dancers. All performers, bring pix & résumés, stapled together. Williamstown Theatre Festival is an equal opportunity employer and practices non-traditional casting. $848.34 min./wk.; $510 min./wk. Equity CORST X & CORST Special Contracts. Equity principal auditions:
Wed, April 12, 2006 (no accompanist)
Thu, April 13, 2006 (no accompanist)
Fri, April 14 (musical day)
10am-1:30pm / EPA
2pm-5:30pm / EPA
AEA Audition Center
165 W. 46th St., 2nd fl. – NYC
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BYE BYE BIRDIE in Seoul, KOREA
GCM Productions is casting Bye Bye Birdie. To be performed in English Aug. 11-24 in Seoul, Korea. All roles open. Ensemble: to play teenagers and parents, must sing and dance. Note: All actors must be 18+ and have a valid passport. Callbacks on April 12. Principals and singers: prepare 16 bars of a standard musical theatre uptempo. Be prepared to dance in afternoon. Dancers: combination will be taught at 2 p.m. Bring jazz shoes. Women, be prepared to tap. Be prepared to sing 16 bars of a standard musical theatre uptempo if asked. Accompanist provided. Competitive pay, plus all Korean expenses paid.
Mon, April 10, 2006
Tue, April 11, 2006
10am-2pm / principals & singers
2pm-6pm / dancers
Chelsea Studios
151 W. 26th St.
6th fl.
NYC
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CID Circular – March 2006
1. Grants and scholarships for dancers
Available free-of-charge to current and former professional dancers who can demonstrate having earned their livelihood from performing as dancers.
2. Fellowships in arts management
Fellowships require a 40-44 week commitment and are available to work with seasoned professionals in the areas of artistic and technical production, arts administration and community engagement.
3. Travel subsidy grants
Travel subsidy grants of up to $2,000 are available to theatre directors, producers, presenters, managers, artists and agents to see work by ensemble theatre companies who have initiated a dialogue with them about a long-term partnership. Other grants are available to community-based ensembles for touring.
4. Opening for a Senior Lecturer
University in the UK has an opening for a Senior Lecturer in Dance & Performance Studies. Salary: 38,772-46,296 pounds per annum. Closing date 24 March 2006.
5. Past Circulars
For opportunities announced previously you can visit the CID web site
http://www.cid-unesco.org/html/news.html
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PERFORMANCE PREFIX – ELOJES DANCE THEATER
Elojes Dance Theater invites artists to present new work in PERFORMANCE PREFIX. Performance May 9, 7pm, Teatro La Tea, 107 Suffolk Street, NY 10002. This semi-annual one-night event is designed to exhibit an array of newly completed works by choreographers and artisans who are looking for public presentation. The evening captures the multi-disciplinary arts via performance and installations, and encourages artist and audience interaction with a pre-show reception. Many styles accepted, any and all dance forms are fine. All ages. Performance acts of any size (the stage can accommodate group numbers of up to 25, and solos would work fine as well). The application fee is $25. Elojes can be reached directly at 718-384-5060 and info@elojes.org. Accepting applications through April 12, 2006. Please email for application and more information:
info@elojes.org
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Deadlines
Periodically, NYFA Current provides listings of upcoming grant, award, and residency deadlines culled from its database of opportunities for artists, NYFA Source. These listings are for the month of May.
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MAKING IT BIG – NEW TV SERIES
Making It Big, a prime time television series seen across North America, is looking for three talented, triple threat dancers. All three young professionals will be showcased in the Making It Big triple threat dance episode but only one will earn the career break of a lifetime. Making It Big provides the thing money can’t buy: access. To qualify you must have: Professional experience & a reel of your best work; Extraordinary talent & the drive to make your mark; The desire to tell your story on television; The ability to cross the Canada/United States border and your residence in North America. The deadline is April 15, 12pm Pacific Time. Applications available at:
www.forcefour.com/makingitbig
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AMERICA’S GOT TALENT – REALITY TV SHOW
Simon Cowell & FremantieMedia (the producers from American Idol) and NBC are casting for America’s Got Talent, a new reality-TV talent competition in which talent performs in front of a panel of celebrity judges, showing they have what it takes to be the next big star. The series is scheduled to premiere this summer on NBC. Seeking Variety & Novelty Acts: hot acts from across the U.S.A., all types and all ages, individuals and groups, singers, dancers, animal acts, bizarre novelty acts, magicians, comedians, belly dancers, etc., candidates must be either U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents of the U.S., or possess a current legal visa allowing them to seek employment freely in the U.S. Note: The production reserves the right to refuse an audition to any individual or act, in its sole discretion. Pre-book an audition time by emailing confirmation to americantalent@aol.com or by calling (323) 782-0430. Note what city you are audit ioning in, and note if you have an elaborate set up (such as bands, illusionists, animals) so the audition coordinators can give you time to set up. Also call if you have animals or are performing physical and/or dangerous stunts, since there will be paperwork to fill out beforehand. Bring a photo ID (required); come to the audition dressed in as much of your costume as possible. Singers must prepare a second number. Animals must have proper immunization papers. Minors (applicants under the age of 18) need to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian and must have parental permission. For more info, visit www.nbc.com/Casting. A cash prize will be provided to winners of the TV series.
Mon, April 17, 2006
10am / By Appt.
Westin Hotel Time Square
270 East 43rd St.
NYC
Wed, April 19, 2006
10am / By Appt.
The Crowne Plaza Hotel
LaGuardia Airport area
104-04 Ditmars Blvd.
East Elmhurst,
NY
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REVIEWS:
March 31, 2006
Jazz Festival Review
Billy Harper Opens the Central Brooklyn Jazz Festival
By NATE CHINEN
When a group of business owners, community activists
and musicians formed the Central Brooklyn Jazz
Consortium in 1999, their goal was to preserve a jazz
culture deemed to be withering at the grassroots
level. The following year, they applied that sense of
purpose to the first annual Central Brooklyn Jazz
Festival, along with an educational outreach and a
Brooklyn Jazz Hall of Fame.
The festival’s seventh season begins tomorrow and runs
through the end of April, with events scattered mainly
throughout Bedford-Stuyvesant, Crown Heights and Fort
Greene. The overarching theme this year is “Jazz: A
Music of the Spirit,” and it was employed to full
effect in a kickoff concert on Wednesday night at the
Sugarhill Supper Club, on DeKalb Avenue.
Appropriately, the evening’s featured artist was Billy
Harper, a tenor saxophonist who cites spirituality as
a central tenet of his music. Like John Coltrane, Mr.
Harper seeks uplift, even rapture, within his process
of improvisation. On Wednesday, clothed in somber
black — including a leather cloak that suggested some
streetwise clerical vestment — he applied that process
to a program of aggressive post-bop.
Mr. Harper’s quintet took a while to find its stride.
The set opener, “Illumination,” and an ensuing
standard, “My Funny Valentine,” both had an unsteady
tilt that was easily traced to the loud and lurching
drumming of Newman Taylor Baker. Partly as a result,
the trumpeter Keyon Harold, soloing on the first tune,
and the pianist Francesca Tanksley, playing on both,
sounded hesitant and disoriented. But Mr. Harper
showed no sign of frustration; he surged ahead,
pulling his bandmates along.
They managed to catch up with him on “Credence,” a
modal original in waltz time, and “Soran Bushi, BH,” a
Japanese fisherman’s song that Mr. Harper once used as
the title track of an album. On “Soran Bushi” in
particular, the ensemble clicked. Ms. Tanksley chimed
hypnotic syncopations behind Mr. Harold, who delivered
a surefooted yet exploratory solo. Mr. Baker finally
connected with the bassist Hans Glawischnig. And Mr.
Harper let loose his Coltrane urges, both
authoritative and beseeching.
Another of Mr. Harper’s signature songs, “If Our
Hearts Could Only See,” was entrusted to a guest
vocalist, Judy Bady. On record, Mr. Harper sings the
ballad in a stately baritone; Ms. Bady, a contralto,
adopted the same regal cadence. She also brought the
appropriate degree of drama to the lyrics — like “Love
circumvents disaster / Love is indeed the master” —
which offer a shorthand summation of Mr. Harper’s
philosophical stance.
That stance obviously makes sense to the Central
Brooklyn Jazz Consortium, which followed Mr. Harper’s
performance with an induction ceremony for its Hall of
Fame. The festival, modest in most regards, puts forth
a similarly noble proposition.
The Central Brooklyn Jazz Festival runs throughout the
month of April; www.centralbrooklynjazz.org or (718)
875-1016.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/31/arts/music/31harp.html
Copyright 2006The New York Times Company
Original Woman Productions
P.O. Box 6306, Paterson, NJ, 07509-6306, USA
(TX) (973) 523-2722; (FX) (973) 523-8113
E-mail: jbady@yahoo.com
http://www.judybady.com
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