THE TASTY CLIPS FAVES OF 2010!!
MOVIES: Inception; Toy Story 3; The Social Network (This film haunted me for days afterwards, much like last year's Best Picture The Hurt Locker did - Could be an omen of accolades to come); The Fighter (Christian Bale, Melissa Leo & Amy Adams actually stole the film from lead Mark Wahlberg); Black Swan; Iron Man 2; The Karate Kid (Jackie Chan's finest English language performance and lets face it, Jaden Smith is the most talented youth actor in the biz today); Kick-Ass; The Kids Are Alright; True Grit TV: Sons of Anarchy; Treme (David Mills, R.I.P.); Boardwalk Empire; LOST; Dexter; Survivor: Heroes & Villains (Watching Russell go against Rob was a treat while it lasted. It's rumored the rematch goes down this season); The Walking Dead (Put a knot in my stomach I hadn't felt since 24); Mad Men; Men of a Certain Age; Chopped; Fringe
CDs: Travie McCoy - Lazarus (A hip-hopper who understands melody); Sheryl Crow - Last Train To Memphis; Nas/Damian Marley - Distant Relatives; Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid; Kem - Intimacy (Album III); Prince - 20 Ten (And why wasn't this released in the US?); Voodoo Weekend - Contra (Their Afro-Pop influences caught me delightfully unaware); Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy; Raheem DeVaughn - The Love & War MasterPeace; B.O.B. - The Adventures of Bobby Ray INDEPENDENT RELEASES: Sonya Robinson - Cry; Toro Y Moi - Causers of This BEST REISSUES/COMPILATIONS: Fela - The Best of The Black President; Jimi Hendrix - Valleys of Neptune SONGS: Space Cowboy - Herbie Hancock w/Susan Tedeschi & Derek Trucks; Sometimes I Cry - Eric Benet; California Girls - Katy Perry w/Snoop Dogg; On My Way - Res (Can't tell you how many times I played this for inspiration. Would've gotten top airplay if say a Rihanna had recorded it ... and that's part of what's wrong with radio today); Riverman - Kathryn Bostic w/Keb Mo (This sneak preview of the singer/songwriter's long awaited album delivered a poignancy rarely heard these days. The cut is memerizing); Glad I Met You Tonight - Will Downing (Tres cool cut from the crooner's ambitious Audio Novel: Lust, Love & Lies); F**k You - Cee Lo Green; Grenade - Bruno Mars
CONCERTS: Fantasia/Eric Benet/Kandi - Nov 19 - Township Auditorium (Fans expecting a concert got a show as the headliner presented a history of Black music as seen through the signs of the times. Starting as a Cab Calloway like revue to a 40s flapper singing Prince to 60's protest songs through today's hip-hop influences, "Tasia" proved she can reign supreme. Loved how she dealt with her tabloid infamy by telling the audience that "We're young people. We're going to make mistakes ... But we really just want to make good music); Maysa - May 21 - Center Stage (Rarely does this vocalist of Incognito fame get to perform with her full band. It took a friend of hers, who had never promoted before, to miraculously make it happen. That it was a near sell-out had to be rewarding as well) THEATRE: Jersey Boys - Apr. 2 - Belk Theatre; Jitney - Jun 25 - Alliance Theatre (Finally got to see this piece of August Wilson's oeuvre in a True Colors Theatre Company production expertly directed by Kenny Leon); Porgy & Bess - May 14 - Belk Theatre (Opera Carolina brought the 75th Anniversary Tour of this classic. Magnificent!!); Darker Face of the Earth - Aug 7 - King's Plow Arts Center (Rita Dove's plantation tragedy was imaginatively staged by Essential Theatre. That director Betty Hart only does one production a year is a crime)
DINING: Antico Pizza Napoletano - Atlanta (This has now become my #1 recommended culinary must when visiting "The A." Winner of the prestigious Top In Class from Naples' Festa Della Pizza. A couple of heads ups: Go during prime dinner hours and chance long waits. Family style dining is near the ovens and they don't serve slices or take special orders ... but trust me and them .. It's all worth it!); Central Piedmont Community College Culinary Arts Night - Charlotte (A foodie's heaven! Some of the QC's most promising future wizards preparing recipes from around the world. Loved the Braised Short Ribs on Creamy Grits, Barbecued Pork Belly, Coconut Shrimp, Fig & Goat Cheese Tarts, Petit Fours, and flowing wine. Let's make this an annual event!); Hector Santiago of Top Chef fame - Atlanta (One Saturday, I arrived too early to try his tapas restaurant, Pura Vida and his gourmet latino sandwich shop, Super Pan is only open on weekday afternoons. My sadness turned to joy upon discovering the chef under a tent in the parking lot across the street! This is the day - weather permitting - he sets up shop and serves these incredible burrittos and sopas. His marinated chicken was so good it didn't need the extras many shops pile on. Wash it down with some Mexican Coca-Cola and you'll be straight for about seven bucks!) Also want to give a shout-out to who catered Nordstrom's Private Holiday Shopping Evening in Charlotte. The butter poached lobster on crumpets was delectable and those white cranberry martinis a big hit! FAVE 2010 PRODUCT DISCOVERIES: The Oilerie - Hilton Head, SC (Owners Linda & Tom encourage you to sample some of the finest varieties of olive oils on the planet ... and wait til you taste their premium balsamic vinegar! Best I've ever had); Falafel Chips (Perfect for your hummus and other dips. They're availabe mild, spicy, organic, and all natural); Gullah Luv Seasoning (Shake this on your meats, greens, eggs, and popcorn and you can't go wrong. I can guess some of the authentic low country spices. Must be the Luv that keeps it secret); BodTea Shoppe (I was thoroughly impressed by the aroma and taste of these teas. Open a tin and you'll hold an upgrade on the ordinary tea bag. Their mail-order and packaging are top notch. Order some for that special person in your life.
And now some FAVES of 2010 from some illustrious friends and supporters:
KEKE PALMER - Actress (True Jackson, VP & the currently filming Joyful Noise w/ Queen Latifah & Dolly Parton)/Singer (The One You Call)/Blogger (www.kekepalmer.com) - SONG: Most of the songs off of Rihanna's Loud. RECORDING ARTISTS: Too many to name. MOVIE: Tangled TV: Degrassi FAVE 2010 ACTOR & ACTRESS: Denzel Washington & Angelina Jolie BOOK: Unfortunately did not have one. DINING: Saddle Ranch - Universal City, CA
GLENN LEWIS - Recording Artist (Good One) CDs: Slum Village's "Fantastic Voyage Vol 1", Drake's "Thank Me Later" BOOKS: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield, Pimp by Iceberg Slim, The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. TRAVEL DESTINATIONS: Paris, France. London, UK. Jamaica. Los Angeles, Miami, ATL, Houston, Philadelphia. DINING: Cheesecake Factory, Fatburger, and any steak house or pasta place. FAVE SITE: World Star HipHop.
JULIA PACE MITCHELL - Actress (The Young & the Restless) MUSIC: Erykah Badu's Cd was on deck for all of 2010. BOOKS: I reread Sisters of the Yam: Black Women and Self-Recovery by Bell Hooks. FILM: I loved the scary sexy movie, Black Swan. TRAVEL EXPERIENCE: I traveled to Las Vegas for the Daytime Emmys and won at the Penny slots. Goodtimes! DINING: And many a late night in LA was spent with my fave #9 at Roscoes Chicken and Waffles.
LENNY GREEN - Radio Air Personality (SupeRadio syndicated show, KISSing After Dark) DINING: Reddings in Atlantic City, NJ. They do Southern cuisine, being conscious of health for people of color. It's good and thought out well, prepared delicately and not over-seasoned. It's exquisite. BOOK: Quincy Jones' new book, The Quincy Jones Legacy Series: Q on Producing. Whether you love music or not, this book is quite inspiring, informative and in depth about his life, the lives he touched and the things he did to make great careers. MUSIC: On the new side, I'd like to big up Trey Songz because he reminds me so much of Kevon Edmonds. And Jazmine Sullivan because she's just raw, great talent. Then among our classic singers, quite a few returned to the forefront in 2010 with some great new music, from Sade to Will Downing, Maxwell and Lenny Williams. TRAVEL DESTINATION: The beautiful island of Turks and Caicos. It's a true reflection of what paradise is. TV SHOW: The Event starring Blair Underwood as the President. That tv series was very surreal and it really makes me scratch my head about everything now.
JULIANNE MALVEAUX - Author/Lecturer/Columnist/President (Bennett College) THEATRE: I didn’t see much on Broadway this year, but Fela was the bomb. I found myself sitting in a row with half a dozen women who had also come solo, and I found myself standing for much of the play and dancing with the dynamic music. CONCERTS: This year’s Essence Music Festival had, as always, dynamic entertainment. Mary J, Patti, wow! I am always grateful for the opportunity to attend that celebration. BOOKS: Isabel Wilkinson’s book, Warmth of Other Suns, is a masterful and personal story of the Great Migration. It expands our view of the migration from the 1917-1919 period, as is customarily interpreted, to a migration that took place into the 1950s. The three people and the families that she follows offer rich interpretations of what we African Americans gained, and what we lost, by leaving the South. BOOK SIGNING: I have a new book out, Suriviving and Thriving: 365 Facts in Black Economic History (available at www.lastwordprod.com) and did several signings in 2010. My favorites came at the end of the year, in a bookstore I grew up in, Marcus Books. Can’t say whether I preferred the Oakland signing or the San Francisco one, because in both places friends of long standing came, shared, and bought. I must say, though, that it is marvelously affirming to be in the oldest black bookstore in our nation and to have the daughters of a mentor lift me up. CHARITY: Africare. My grad school classmate Darius Mans is leading an effort to continue to involve America in Africa. His dinner is November was masterful and included tributres to Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and former South African President (and our icon) Nelson Mandela. Darius is a man to watch as he brings his leadership to this important organization. OPENING: The International Civil Rights Museum opened on February 1, 2010, fifty years after four young men (supported by dozens of Bennett College women) sat in at a lunch counter at Woolworth’s in Greensboro, North Carolina. Amelia Parker masterfully led the fundraising campaign to complete this museum, and the entire Greensboro community rallied around her. The is a must-visit. VICTORY: DC Mayor Vincent Gray beat incumbent Adrian Fenty who was considered invincible just six months ago. Though Fenty won every precinct in 2006, he managed to alienate enough people (with his pivotal diss revolving around his failure to meet with Dr. Maya Angelou and Dr. Dorothy Height around his attempt to remove Cora Masters Barry from the house she built – the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center) to simply squander this race. TRAVEL: I have always wanted to do “April in Paris” and so managed to get there with bells on. Thanks to Ricki Stevenson and her Black Paris Tours, my trip absolutely exceeded expectations. I stayed at the Hotel Letitia (conveniently located across the street from a department store – heaven for a shopaholic), learned how to ride metro, and had a great time at several museums. DINING: I love eating in my mama's house. This year she put her foot up in some clam chowder. I don't have the recipe and I could not replicate the experience. But this is one of those ask, tell, kind of things (as in if you ask I will tell). Even though I've been eating there for five years, my favorite DC restaurant is Acadiana on 9th & New York Ave. Lord, the grilled oysters will make your temperature rise. The gumbo is almost as good as Mom's.
JEFF REDD - Recording Artist (new single--Take You Higher; new CD in 2011) MOVIE: The Social Network--a very interesting film. BOOK: It was good to see Terry McMillan release a followup to Waiting To Exhale, with Getting To Happy. TV: TV One's "Unsung" series, particularly the shows on Sylvester, Heatwave and the Bar-Kays. And, of course, their show on Teena Marie is now a classic. Also, the Wendy Williams Show really took off! RESTAURANT: The final dining experience at the closing of Tavern on the Green, a phenomenal, historic restaurant in New York's Central Park. MUSIC: Eclectic music is my favorite, but I'm most impressed with Melanie Fiona, Kem, Janelle Monae and Jazmine Sullivan. EVENT: The Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, DC--I was glad to see two people of color honored in 2010.
MARA DAVIS - Radio Host (DAVE FM - ATL)/Blogger (www.maradavis.com) ALBUM: Vampire Weekend’s “Contra”. Without a doubt, this album was my all time favorite. It sucks that Honda has kinda ruined the song “Holiday” but whatever. This album rocks. TV: Andy Cohen and anything on Bravo. He is my gay best friend crush. Watch What Happens has become my all time favorite show. Count me in for any housewife show that is on. Even if they go to Boise, I’ll be watching. Special props to the new Beverly Hills cast, this is definitely the best one by far. Lisa Vanderpump is a goddess. Conan O Brien. The late night wars were fascinating and Coco handled all of it with grace and class. Getting the chance to go to LA and interview him was a career highlight. It’s very rare to meet one of your heroes and have them exceed your expectations. The Walking Dead. Normally I wouldn’t be into a zombie show but watched because it was filmed in Atlanta. Interviewing Jon Bernthal each week about the show was too much fun and I am counting the minutes till next season. This really is the new LOST—but dare I say a little better? Mad Men. Don’t even get me started on Don Draper. There are very few shows that I don’t want to end after each episode and this is one of them. Each season and episode gets better and better. FAVE ATL HANGOUTS: Dragonfly Salon and the Westside in general. This is my favorite part of Atlanta. It’s a little gritty but it’s just so hip. Restaurants like Bocado (love), Miller Union (overrated, sorry) and JCT Kitchen make it a destination for a night out. It’s also got great shopping for furniture and housewares and an anthropologie coming soon!!! OMG!! Shout out to my favorite new salon, Dragonfly. I love going there to see Beth, Brett and Kyoko!!! MEDIA: Howard Stern. Yes, I’m obsessed with the whole thing. Thank jebus that Howard has resigned with Sirius and he’ll now be on a phone app so I can listen anywhere. Gary’s book was also awesome and I highly recommend it. Hey now. Oprah’s last season. WTF am I gonna do when this is over? I know OWN is coming but the idea that this is the final season is so depressing. How amazing was favorite things? Seriously, I could not stop laughing at the 2 (!!) episodes of this.
JASON ORR - Founder (FunkJazz Kafe)/Filmmaker (Diary Of A Decade) MOVIE: The Book of Eli; Radiant Child (movie about Jean Michel Basquiat) BOOK: The Immortal Cells Of Henrietta Lacks CONCERTS: Goodie Mob reunion (at Masquerade - ATL); Sa Ra & Razzi Dame (live at Lenny's - ATL) TV: Boondocks [love Uncle Ruckus]; Soul Train Awards 2010 (BET/Centric) RADIO: Novaradio.com (French radio- this is the way radio should be. They play EVERYTHING) MUSIC: Black Coffee - "Superman"; Mos Def & Slick Rick - "Auditorium"; Bilal - "Robots"; Erykah Badu - "New Amerykah-Return Of The Ankh"; Osunlade's remix of Erykah Badu's "20 Feet Tall" (Jammin'); Prince - "20Ten"; Cee Lo - "You Don't Shock Me Anymore"; Dead Prez & DJ Drama Mixtape; Maddslinky feat. Omar - "Special"; Janelle Monae - "ArchAndroid"; Lil Louis - "Two Sides To Every Story" (a super classic if you can find it); Avery Sunshine - "All In My Head"; W. Ellington Felton - "Land of Sheep, Ran by Pigs, Ruled By Wolves"
TAMI ROMAN - Reality TV Star (Basketball Wives; The Real World) CD: Usher, Drake, Fantasia SONG: Hello, Good Morning - Diddy-Dirty Money BOOKS: In the Paint by Philana Boles; DeCoded by Jay Z; Dateable, Are You, Are They by Justin Lookadoo and Hailey DiMarco MOVIES: Inception; The Social Network; The Fighter TRAVEL: Madrid, Spain - went there with the cast of Basketball Wives and thoroughly enjoyed it. A country very rich in culture, old world architecture and the "jamon" was to die for. DINING: Since I live in NY, my favorite this year was Crustacean in Beverly Hills. I've been there before, but I haven't had it in a very long time. It was just as good as I remember.
CORY WIRES - Recording Artist (Debut single Lost In The Music due Jan. 26 via Sound Shuttle Records/Bronx Bridge Ent.) MOVIE: Inception ALBUMS: David Guetta - One Love; Bruno Mars - Doo-Wops & Hooligans; Daft Punk - Tron: Legacy (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) DINING EXPERIENCE: I was working on a movie this past summer up in NH and we stopped at this place called The Red Arrow Diner. They had some of the best tasting Coke ever ... LOL ... but the food was really good. It just had this really old fashioned feel. Something you just couldn't recreate these days. It was good to see a restaurant that's been around for such a long time. It's also Adam Sandler's favorite food spot back near his home town.
DYANA WILLIAMS - Radio Host (107.9 WRNB-FM/RNBPHILLY) MUSIC: I was totally captivated with Foreign Exchange's Authenticity! My real joy was when I had the pleasure to host their SRO performance at BB King's in New York this past fall. Nicolay, Phonte and company represent in the fashion of the truly gifted! If you haven't heard this and their other cd's, do yourself a favor! Second Chance, El DeBarge!!! My favorite track that gets me going, is El & Faith Evans, Lay With You. It brings back classic r&b with sheer joy, produced by Mike City! The leaked 1000 Deaths by D'Angelo was just an appetizer...recently I savored the entire track and more from the forthcoming album. A soul satisfying and delectable treat for sure! Get ready universe for soul stirring music from one of our most gifted artists. BOOKS: My Life in Three Acts: A Memoir by Pam Grier with Andrea Cagan. The iconic actress delves into her roles in blaxploitation films, the impact that it had on the community at large, sexism, and racism. Plus, she shares details about her high profile romances with Richard Pyror, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Freddie Prinze Jr. The Olympian: An American Triumph by Craig T. Williams -This is a compelling historical novel about Dr. John Baxter Taylor Jr., the first African-American Olympic gold medalist. He won his medal over 100 years ago. Why aren't our children being taught these kinds of stories of triumphs in the face of great adversities? The Style Checklist: The Ultimate Wardrobe Essentials for You by Lloyd Boston: Ladies, this is a delightful book that will help you stay stylish and revitalize your look! MOVIES: Must see documentary films about two of my preferred musical stars. Coming Back for More: This Sly Stone documentary by Willem Alkema is a fascinating search for the mysterious and brilliant, Sly! Also Still Bill, about Bill Withers, directed by Alex Vlack and Damani Baker. These filmmakers spent years trying to track down these reclusive artists to share insights about their rise, global musical influence and why they disappeared from the public. Also The Social Network. TV: TV One's Unsung, reigns supreme on my list of engaging and enlightening television. I had the honor of serving as a co-executive producer, with Mark Rowland on last season's opener on Teddy Pendergrass. HBO's powerful Boardwalk Empire. Also, Showtime's comedic drama, The Big C starring Laura Linney as a schoolteacher whose life is radically changed when she is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Oscar nominated actress Gabourey Sidibe (Precious) is hilarious as a contentious student with a crush on fine, Idris Elba!
SERGIO KARDENAS - Photographer/Filmmaker/Recording Artist (Designer Music) CDs: Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster, Fangoria (Spain) - Del Vaudeville A La Astracanada MOVIES: Machete; The Slayer Bureaucrat BOOK: Still being Patricia Highsmith's The Talented Mr. Ripley DINING: Anywhere there is sushi. FILMMAKER: Robert Rodriguez FAVE SINGERS: In 2010 I fell in love with the voices of Mary Wilson, Miki Howard and Vesta Williams after hearing them upclose in concert.
RAH DIGGA - Recording Artist (Classic; You Need This Music by NottzRaw) CDs: Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III) and Sade - Soldier of Love. MOVIE: The Book of Eli starring Denzel Washington. THEATRE: Fela (although technically released Nov. 2009). TRAVEL EXPERIENCES: Bungee jumping in Croatia for the first time!! Finding a classic MCM bag in Germany like the one I lost in a housefire never to be replaced!! FINALLY!!: After 20 years of friendship doing a collaboration with Redman for my first single. DINING: A.W. Shucks Raw Bar & Grill - Norfolk, VA. Best Crab Burgers ever!!!
DJ DOC ERVIN - DJ/RADIO HOST (V103-ATL; Spasmodic Radio Movements) MOVIES: The Fighter, Inception, Ironman, Black Swan and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Trilogy. TV: Sons of Anarchy and Boardwalk Empire FAVE INTERVIEW: I got the chance to interview and have a candid conversation with 98.7 Kiss' Legendary Kool Dj Red Alert. ALBUMS: Kanye West-My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Janelle Monae-The Archandroid, Angela Johnson-It's Personal, Erykah Badu-New Amerika Part 2, Big Boi-Sir Lucious Left Foot Son of Chico Dusty, Avery Sunshine-Avery Sunshine, Yahzarah-Ballad of Purple St. James, Chico Mann-Anolog Drift, Zo!- Sunstorm, Blue Six-Neosis, Cee-Lo-Stray Bullets, Black Coffee-Home Brewed FAVE MIXTAPE: Vikter Duplaix-For Players Only Compiled by Vikter Duplaix and mixed by yours truly Dj Doc and Dj Mars BOOKS: (Were not published this year but I re read and read this year) The Don Miguel Ruiz Box Set (I got as a gift)
CYNTHIA HORNER - Celebrity Magazine Editor/Owner (Cinnamon Chips P.R./Cinnamon Flix Photo Agency w/ hubby Kenneth Harris) MUSIC: Nicki Minaj, Sade, Trey Songz, Chrisette Michelle, Jazzmine Sullivan, Mindless Behavior TV: 24. I am crushed that they cancelled this show. I didn't get into it until season 7 and after season 8, it was a wrap! I'm saving up to buy the DVD of the eight seasons so that I can catch up with the previous cast of characters. My niece-in-law, Kosi Harris, loves Criminal Minds, so I recently started watching it, and I am hooked on this FBI show. Shemar Moore is easy on the eye, but the scripts are real winners, too. I found out that it airs on two different networks, so I am having fun! I don’t believe that I will watch Dancing With The Stars in 2011, however, I was interested in supporting my friend Brandy who was amazing on the series. I did an interview with her and I let her know that she did a superb job and she looked incredible. It was a great experience for her and she was number one, in my opinion. Law and Order: SVU. My friend Ice-T said he will stay on the show until they throw him off! It has been an incredible experience for him and he has had a lot of longevity with the program. BOOKS: Zane has come out with a whole series of authors who are very interesting. But my favorite African-American fiction authors are Rochelle Alers and Brenda Jackson. MOVIES: Yogi Bear was always a childhood favorite of mine, so naturally, I had to see Yogi and Boo Boo in 3-D! Salt is one of the few films that I actually paid to see. But kudos go to Brooklyn’s Finest, directed by Antoine Fuqua. TRAVEL: Atlanta, Paris, Bermuda, Atlantic City, Martha's Vineyard.
A. SCOTT GALLOWAY - L.A. based Music Writer/Liner Notes Essayist (Bill Withers’ “+Justments,” Tony Williams’ “The Joy of Flying,” Nina Simone’s “Black Gold (Live),” Phyllis Hyman’s “Goddess of Love” and “Somewhere in My Lifetime,” Labelle’s “Pressure Cookin’,” Esther Phillips’ “Capricorn Princess,” and the Ohio Players’ ”Contradiction.”) ALBUM: I’m New Here by Gil-Scott Heron is short on time but long on impact. Comprised of new songs, a couple of blues covers, some poetry and spoken interludes, it was a disturbing snapshot of a man that sounds as if he has literally been to Hell and back - and still carrying a few demons ON his back. Play it alone in the dark after midnight and it will chill you to your core…a riveting glimpse into the dark side of a brilliant Black man’s tortured soul. COMEBACK: El DeBarge – Second Chance. The title track of El’s album is a heart-on-sleeve letter of thanks to God for giving him a second chance. The rest is a winning update of his ice cream soul sound from a man still young at heart and still spinning his carousel of sweet love. May he remain as sober and saved as the three Christmas songs he included as heartfelt bonus tracks. SINGLE: “I’ll Be Back” (from “The Beatles Complete on Ukulele”) – Nicki Richards. Very, very biased here, but at least I’m keeping it real. This lady took a song from my least favorite period of The Beatles’ canon - the early years – and completely won me over by whisking it to the Motherland via her hypnotizing arrangement that prominently features the African kalimba and kora. The world needs to pay better attention to this artist. She goes a long time between releases, but when she strikes, it’s with the precision of a panther on a nocturnal mission. EP: Lions & Fires & Squares - Carolyn Malachi. Two words: Next Level! Singer/Songwriter Malachi and Producer James McKinney wove a brilliant tapestry of techno soul with this Grammy-nominated gem that in all fairness should be giving Gaga, Badu and Monae a serious run for their money. TRIBUTE ALBUM: Lady – Lynne Fiddmont. Some of the finest musicians in jazz have waxed albums dedicated to the haunting mastery of Billie “Lady Day” Holiday, but Fiddmont – in only her second project as a solo artist – has put an artfully contemporary spin on classics from her portfolio that, in a perfect world, would introduce her to a new generation while also giving longtime fans some irresistible new ear candy to savor. CONCERTS: Jose’ Feliciano, Dumpstaphunk, Gipsy Kings, Jeff Beck, Teena Marie, Sugarfoot’s OHIO Players, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Barbra Winn, Wild Lotus @ The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival – April 29-May 1; Sonny Rollins - Disney Hall - May 16; Jimmy Webb/Thelma Houston - Grammy Museum - May 21; Billy Childs - Redcat - June 10 (2nd Set); Scorpions "Farewell Tour" - Ontario - July 29; Bettye LaVette - Santa Monica Pier - Aug. 19; “Bitches Brew 40th Anniversary Band”- Sunset Junction – August 21; Herbie Hancock “Seven Decades Celebration” – Hollywood Bowl – Sept. 1; Charles Lloyd Quartet – Nate Holden Performing Arts Center – Sept. 25; Tia Fuller Quartet – Catalina Bar & Grill – October 27. TV: “Unsung” MOVIE: “Night Catches Us”
AVERY SUNSHINE - Singer/Songwriter/Pianist (All In My Head) CDs: B. Reith; Charlie Wilson; Earnest Pugh FAVE LIVE PERFOMANCE: Jamiroquai @ The Jazz Cafe - London MOVIE: Tron Legacy BOOK: A Letter To My Daughters - Maya Angelou TRAVEL EXPERIENCE: London ! ! ! Miami ! ! ! DINING EXPERIENCE: Mambo's in London; Croakers in Richmond, VA ! ! !
NOTTZ - Recording Artist (You Need This Music) MUSIC: Trey Songz - Can't Be Friends; Tank - You Mean That Much; Alicia Keys - Unthinkable. MOVIES: Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too? and Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad By Myself. TRAVEL: Cayman Islands; Jamaica; Costa Rica. HOTELS: The Ritz-Carlton; The Villa.
LIL MO - Recording Artist/Radio Host (WPGC-95.5 - DC) MUSIC: I have a lot of favorites, but one that never ceases to stop being my all time fave producer/artist/writer/mogul/ is none other than THE KANYE WEST. All of his albums, no matter how weird the media makes him seem, I feel I totally understand where he is going with his vision. So hate it or love it, Kanye is the best artist of our time, in my MOpinion. Owwwww! DINING: The CheeseCake Factory. Insane thing is I only eat my mothers' cheesecake, but the food at the CCF is amazing. They make your plate so full, a doggy bag is inevitable. If my husband and I could go everyday I think we would, if we don't already. MOVIE: The Town TV: MARTIN. Hands down this show is one of the greatest shows created in sitcom history. Since it has been off the air, TV just hasn't been the same. I began my radio career just off the fact that if Martin could do it, so could I. I've since had a #1 Afternoon Drive show and have been in the SOURCE Magazines Power 30 in Radio. Owwwww
STEPHEN KING - Author (The Dark Tower) 2010 MOVIES: 10. Green Zone – “one Iraq war movie that puts story and suspense above shrill outrage.” 9. Jackass 3D; 8. Monsters; 7. Splice; 6. Kick-Ass; 5. Takers - “This satisfyingly complex cops-’n'-robbers movie features great performances … and the armored-car heist is the best action sequence I’ve seen this year.” 4. The Social Network - “succeeds where Michael Douglas; Wall Street sequel fails.” 3. Inception; 2. The Town – “Bad title, fantastic movie. … a strangely intimare film” 1. Let Me In - www.ew.com
CDs: Travie McCoy - Lazarus (A hip-hopper who understands melody); Sheryl Crow - Last Train To Memphis; Nas/Damian Marley - Distant Relatives; Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid; Kem - Intimacy (Album III); Prince - 20 Ten (And why wasn't this released in the US?); Voodoo Weekend - Contra (Their Afro-Pop influences caught me delightfully unaware); Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy; Raheem DeVaughn - The Love & War MasterPeace; B.O.B. - The Adventures of Bobby Ray INDEPENDENT RELEASES: Sonya Robinson - Cry; Toro Y Moi - Causers of This BEST REISSUES/COMPILATIONS: Fela - The Best of The Black President; Jimi Hendrix - Valleys of Neptune SONGS: Space Cowboy - Herbie Hancock w/Susan Tedeschi & Derek Trucks; Sometimes I Cry - Eric Benet; California Girls - Katy Perry w/Snoop Dogg; On My Way - Res (Can't tell you how many times I played this for inspiration. Would've gotten top airplay if say a Rihanna had recorded it ... and that's part of what's wrong with radio today); Riverman - Kathryn Bostic w/Keb Mo (This sneak preview of the singer/songwriter's long awaited album delivered a poignancy rarely heard these days. The cut is memerizing); Glad I Met You Tonight - Will Downing (Tres cool cut from the crooner's ambitious Audio Novel: Lust, Love & Lies); F**k You - Cee Lo Green; Grenade - Bruno Mars
CONCERTS: Fantasia/Eric Benet/Kandi - Nov 19 - Township Auditorium (Fans expecting a concert got a show as the headliner presented a history of Black music as seen through the signs of the times. Starting as a Cab Calloway like revue to a 40s flapper singing Prince to 60's protest songs through today's hip-hop influences, "Tasia" proved she can reign supreme. Loved how she dealt with her tabloid infamy by telling the audience that "We're young people. We're going to make mistakes ... But we really just want to make good music); Maysa - May 21 - Center Stage (Rarely does this vocalist of Incognito fame get to perform with her full band. It took a friend of hers, who had never promoted before, to miraculously make it happen. That it was a near sell-out had to be rewarding as well) THEATRE: Jersey Boys - Apr. 2 - Belk Theatre; Jitney - Jun 25 - Alliance Theatre (Finally got to see this piece of August Wilson's oeuvre in a True Colors Theatre Company production expertly directed by Kenny Leon); Porgy & Bess - May 14 - Belk Theatre (Opera Carolina brought the 75th Anniversary Tour of this classic. Magnificent!!); Darker Face of the Earth - Aug 7 - King's Plow Arts Center (Rita Dove's plantation tragedy was imaginatively staged by Essential Theatre. That director Betty Hart only does one production a year is a crime)
DINING: Antico Pizza Napoletano - Atlanta (This has now become my #1 recommended culinary must when visiting "The A." Winner of the prestigious Top In Class from Naples' Festa Della Pizza. A couple of heads ups: Go during prime dinner hours and chance long waits. Family style dining is near the ovens and they don't serve slices or take special orders ... but trust me and them .. It's all worth it!); Central Piedmont Community College Culinary Arts Night - Charlotte (A foodie's heaven! Some of the QC's most promising future wizards preparing recipes from around the world. Loved the Braised Short Ribs on Creamy Grits, Barbecued Pork Belly, Coconut Shrimp, Fig & Goat Cheese Tarts, Petit Fours, and flowing wine. Let's make this an annual event!); Hector Santiago of Top Chef fame - Atlanta (One Saturday, I arrived too early to try his tapas restaurant, Pura Vida and his gourmet latino sandwich shop, Super Pan is only open on weekday afternoons. My sadness turned to joy upon discovering the chef under a tent in the parking lot across the street! This is the day - weather permitting - he sets up shop and serves these incredible burrittos and sopas. His marinated chicken was so good it didn't need the extras many shops pile on. Wash it down with some Mexican Coca-Cola and you'll be straight for about seven bucks!) Also want to give a shout-out to who catered Nordstrom's Private Holiday Shopping Evening in Charlotte. The butter poached lobster on crumpets was delectable and those white cranberry martinis a big hit! FAVE 2010 PRODUCT DISCOVERIES: The Oilerie - Hilton Head, SC (Owners Linda & Tom encourage you to sample some of the finest varieties of olive oils on the planet ... and wait til you taste their premium balsamic vinegar! Best I've ever had); Falafel Chips (Perfect for your hummus and other dips. They're availabe mild, spicy, organic, and all natural); Gullah Luv Seasoning (Shake this on your meats, greens, eggs, and popcorn and you can't go wrong. I can guess some of the authentic low country spices. Must be the Luv that keeps it secret); BodTea Shoppe (I was thoroughly impressed by the aroma and taste of these teas. Open a tin and you'll hold an upgrade on the ordinary tea bag. Their mail-order and packaging are top notch. Order some for that special person in your life.
And now some FAVES of 2010 from some illustrious friends and supporters:
KEKE PALMER - Actress (True Jackson, VP & the currently filming Joyful Noise w/ Queen Latifah & Dolly Parton)/Singer (The One You Call)/Blogger (www.kekepalmer.com) - SONG: Most of the songs off of Rihanna's Loud. RECORDING ARTISTS: Too many to name. MOVIE: Tangled TV: Degrassi FAVE 2010 ACTOR & ACTRESS: Denzel Washington & Angelina Jolie BOOK: Unfortunately did not have one. DINING: Saddle Ranch - Universal City, CA
GLENN LEWIS - Recording Artist (Good One) CDs: Slum Village's "Fantastic Voyage Vol 1", Drake's "Thank Me Later" BOOKS: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield, Pimp by Iceberg Slim, The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. TRAVEL DESTINATIONS: Paris, France. London, UK. Jamaica. Los Angeles, Miami, ATL, Houston, Philadelphia. DINING: Cheesecake Factory, Fatburger, and any steak house or pasta place. FAVE SITE: World Star HipHop.
JULIA PACE MITCHELL - Actress (The Young & the Restless) MUSIC: Erykah Badu's Cd was on deck for all of 2010. BOOKS: I reread Sisters of the Yam: Black Women and Self-Recovery by Bell Hooks. FILM: I loved the scary sexy movie, Black Swan. TRAVEL EXPERIENCE: I traveled to Las Vegas for the Daytime Emmys and won at the Penny slots. Goodtimes! DINING: And many a late night in LA was spent with my fave #9 at Roscoes Chicken and Waffles.
LENNY GREEN - Radio Air Personality (SupeRadio syndicated show, KISSing After Dark) DINING: Reddings in Atlantic City, NJ. They do Southern cuisine, being conscious of health for people of color. It's good and thought out well, prepared delicately and not over-seasoned. It's exquisite. BOOK: Quincy Jones' new book, The Quincy Jones Legacy Series: Q on Producing. Whether you love music or not, this book is quite inspiring, informative and in depth about his life, the lives he touched and the things he did to make great careers. MUSIC: On the new side, I'd like to big up Trey Songz because he reminds me so much of Kevon Edmonds. And Jazmine Sullivan because she's just raw, great talent. Then among our classic singers, quite a few returned to the forefront in 2010 with some great new music, from Sade to Will Downing, Maxwell and Lenny Williams. TRAVEL DESTINATION: The beautiful island of Turks and Caicos. It's a true reflection of what paradise is. TV SHOW: The Event starring Blair Underwood as the President. That tv series was very surreal and it really makes me scratch my head about everything now.
JULIANNE MALVEAUX - Author/Lecturer/Columnist/President (Bennett College) THEATRE: I didn’t see much on Broadway this year, but Fela was the bomb. I found myself sitting in a row with half a dozen women who had also come solo, and I found myself standing for much of the play and dancing with the dynamic music. CONCERTS: This year’s Essence Music Festival had, as always, dynamic entertainment. Mary J, Patti, wow! I am always grateful for the opportunity to attend that celebration. BOOKS: Isabel Wilkinson’s book, Warmth of Other Suns, is a masterful and personal story of the Great Migration. It expands our view of the migration from the 1917-1919 period, as is customarily interpreted, to a migration that took place into the 1950s. The three people and the families that she follows offer rich interpretations of what we African Americans gained, and what we lost, by leaving the South. BOOK SIGNING: I have a new book out, Suriviving and Thriving: 365 Facts in Black Economic History (available at www.lastwordprod.com) and did several signings in 2010. My favorites came at the end of the year, in a bookstore I grew up in, Marcus Books. Can’t say whether I preferred the Oakland signing or the San Francisco one, because in both places friends of long standing came, shared, and bought. I must say, though, that it is marvelously affirming to be in the oldest black bookstore in our nation and to have the daughters of a mentor lift me up. CHARITY: Africare. My grad school classmate Darius Mans is leading an effort to continue to involve America in Africa. His dinner is November was masterful and included tributres to Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and former South African President (and our icon) Nelson Mandela. Darius is a man to watch as he brings his leadership to this important organization. OPENING: The International Civil Rights Museum opened on February 1, 2010, fifty years after four young men (supported by dozens of Bennett College women) sat in at a lunch counter at Woolworth’s in Greensboro, North Carolina. Amelia Parker masterfully led the fundraising campaign to complete this museum, and the entire Greensboro community rallied around her. The is a must-visit. VICTORY: DC Mayor Vincent Gray beat incumbent Adrian Fenty who was considered invincible just six months ago. Though Fenty won every precinct in 2006, he managed to alienate enough people (with his pivotal diss revolving around his failure to meet with Dr. Maya Angelou and Dr. Dorothy Height around his attempt to remove Cora Masters Barry from the house she built – the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center) to simply squander this race. TRAVEL: I have always wanted to do “April in Paris” and so managed to get there with bells on. Thanks to Ricki Stevenson and her Black Paris Tours, my trip absolutely exceeded expectations. I stayed at the Hotel Letitia (conveniently located across the street from a department store – heaven for a shopaholic), learned how to ride metro, and had a great time at several museums. DINING: I love eating in my mama's house. This year she put her foot up in some clam chowder. I don't have the recipe and I could not replicate the experience. But this is one of those ask, tell, kind of things (as in if you ask I will tell). Even though I've been eating there for five years, my favorite DC restaurant is Acadiana on 9th & New York Ave. Lord, the grilled oysters will make your temperature rise. The gumbo is almost as good as Mom's.
JEFF REDD - Recording Artist (new single--Take You Higher; new CD in 2011) MOVIE: The Social Network--a very interesting film. BOOK: It was good to see Terry McMillan release a followup to Waiting To Exhale, with Getting To Happy. TV: TV One's "Unsung" series, particularly the shows on Sylvester, Heatwave and the Bar-Kays. And, of course, their show on Teena Marie is now a classic. Also, the Wendy Williams Show really took off! RESTAURANT: The final dining experience at the closing of Tavern on the Green, a phenomenal, historic restaurant in New York's Central Park. MUSIC: Eclectic music is my favorite, but I'm most impressed with Melanie Fiona, Kem, Janelle Monae and Jazmine Sullivan. EVENT: The Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, DC--I was glad to see two people of color honored in 2010.
MARA DAVIS - Radio Host (DAVE FM - ATL)/Blogger (www.maradavis.com) ALBUM: Vampire Weekend’s “Contra”. Without a doubt, this album was my all time favorite. It sucks that Honda has kinda ruined the song “Holiday” but whatever. This album rocks. TV: Andy Cohen and anything on Bravo. He is my gay best friend crush. Watch What Happens has become my all time favorite show. Count me in for any housewife show that is on. Even if they go to Boise, I’ll be watching. Special props to the new Beverly Hills cast, this is definitely the best one by far. Lisa Vanderpump is a goddess. Conan O Brien. The late night wars were fascinating and Coco handled all of it with grace and class. Getting the chance to go to LA and interview him was a career highlight. It’s very rare to meet one of your heroes and have them exceed your expectations. The Walking Dead. Normally I wouldn’t be into a zombie show but watched because it was filmed in Atlanta. Interviewing Jon Bernthal each week about the show was too much fun and I am counting the minutes till next season. This really is the new LOST—but dare I say a little better? Mad Men. Don’t even get me started on Don Draper. There are very few shows that I don’t want to end after each episode and this is one of them. Each season and episode gets better and better. FAVE ATL HANGOUTS: Dragonfly Salon and the Westside in general. This is my favorite part of Atlanta. It’s a little gritty but it’s just so hip. Restaurants like Bocado (love), Miller Union (overrated, sorry) and JCT Kitchen make it a destination for a night out. It’s also got great shopping for furniture and housewares and an anthropologie coming soon!!! OMG!! Shout out to my favorite new salon, Dragonfly. I love going there to see Beth, Brett and Kyoko!!! MEDIA: Howard Stern. Yes, I’m obsessed with the whole thing. Thank jebus that Howard has resigned with Sirius and he’ll now be on a phone app so I can listen anywhere. Gary’s book was also awesome and I highly recommend it. Hey now. Oprah’s last season. WTF am I gonna do when this is over? I know OWN is coming but the idea that this is the final season is so depressing. How amazing was favorite things? Seriously, I could not stop laughing at the 2 (!!) episodes of this.
JASON ORR - Founder (FunkJazz Kafe)/Filmmaker (Diary Of A Decade) MOVIE: The Book of Eli; Radiant Child (movie about Jean Michel Basquiat) BOOK: The Immortal Cells Of Henrietta Lacks CONCERTS: Goodie Mob reunion (at Masquerade - ATL); Sa Ra & Razzi Dame (live at Lenny's - ATL) TV: Boondocks [love Uncle Ruckus]; Soul Train Awards 2010 (BET/Centric) RADIO: Novaradio.com (French radio- this is the way radio should be. They play EVERYTHING) MUSIC: Black Coffee - "Superman"; Mos Def & Slick Rick - "Auditorium"; Bilal - "Robots"; Erykah Badu - "New Amerykah-Return Of The Ankh"; Osunlade's remix of Erykah Badu's "20 Feet Tall" (Jammin'); Prince - "20Ten"; Cee Lo - "You Don't Shock Me Anymore"; Dead Prez & DJ Drama Mixtape; Maddslinky feat. Omar - "Special"; Janelle Monae - "ArchAndroid"; Lil Louis - "Two Sides To Every Story" (a super classic if you can find it); Avery Sunshine - "All In My Head"; W. Ellington Felton - "Land of Sheep, Ran by Pigs, Ruled By Wolves"
TAMI ROMAN - Reality TV Star (Basketball Wives; The Real World) CD: Usher, Drake, Fantasia SONG: Hello, Good Morning - Diddy-Dirty Money BOOKS: In the Paint by Philana Boles; DeCoded by Jay Z; Dateable, Are You, Are They by Justin Lookadoo and Hailey DiMarco MOVIES: Inception; The Social Network; The Fighter TRAVEL: Madrid, Spain - went there with the cast of Basketball Wives and thoroughly enjoyed it. A country very rich in culture, old world architecture and the "jamon" was to die for. DINING: Since I live in NY, my favorite this year was Crustacean in Beverly Hills. I've been there before, but I haven't had it in a very long time. It was just as good as I remember.
CORY WIRES - Recording Artist (Debut single Lost In The Music due Jan. 26 via Sound Shuttle Records/Bronx Bridge Ent.) MOVIE: Inception ALBUMS: David Guetta - One Love; Bruno Mars - Doo-Wops & Hooligans; Daft Punk - Tron: Legacy (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) DINING EXPERIENCE: I was working on a movie this past summer up in NH and we stopped at this place called The Red Arrow Diner. They had some of the best tasting Coke ever ... LOL ... but the food was really good. It just had this really old fashioned feel. Something you just couldn't recreate these days. It was good to see a restaurant that's been around for such a long time. It's also Adam Sandler's favorite food spot back near his home town.
DYANA WILLIAMS - Radio Host (107.9 WRNB-FM/RNBPHILLY) MUSIC: I was totally captivated with Foreign Exchange's Authenticity! My real joy was when I had the pleasure to host their SRO performance at BB King's in New York this past fall. Nicolay, Phonte and company represent in the fashion of the truly gifted! If you haven't heard this and their other cd's, do yourself a favor! Second Chance, El DeBarge!!! My favorite track that gets me going, is El & Faith Evans, Lay With You. It brings back classic r&b with sheer joy, produced by Mike City! The leaked 1000 Deaths by D'Angelo was just an appetizer...recently I savored the entire track and more from the forthcoming album. A soul satisfying and delectable treat for sure! Get ready universe for soul stirring music from one of our most gifted artists. BOOKS: My Life in Three Acts: A Memoir by Pam Grier with Andrea Cagan. The iconic actress delves into her roles in blaxploitation films, the impact that it had on the community at large, sexism, and racism. Plus, she shares details about her high profile romances with Richard Pyror, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Freddie Prinze Jr. The Olympian: An American Triumph by Craig T. Williams -This is a compelling historical novel about Dr. John Baxter Taylor Jr., the first African-American Olympic gold medalist. He won his medal over 100 years ago. Why aren't our children being taught these kinds of stories of triumphs in the face of great adversities? The Style Checklist: The Ultimate Wardrobe Essentials for You by Lloyd Boston: Ladies, this is a delightful book that will help you stay stylish and revitalize your look! MOVIES: Must see documentary films about two of my preferred musical stars. Coming Back for More: This Sly Stone documentary by Willem Alkema is a fascinating search for the mysterious and brilliant, Sly! Also Still Bill, about Bill Withers, directed by Alex Vlack and Damani Baker. These filmmakers spent years trying to track down these reclusive artists to share insights about their rise, global musical influence and why they disappeared from the public. Also The Social Network. TV: TV One's Unsung, reigns supreme on my list of engaging and enlightening television. I had the honor of serving as a co-executive producer, with Mark Rowland on last season's opener on Teddy Pendergrass. HBO's powerful Boardwalk Empire. Also, Showtime's comedic drama, The Big C starring Laura Linney as a schoolteacher whose life is radically changed when she is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Oscar nominated actress Gabourey Sidibe (Precious) is hilarious as a contentious student with a crush on fine, Idris Elba!
SERGIO KARDENAS - Photographer/Filmmaker/Recording Artist (Designer Music) CDs: Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster, Fangoria (Spain) - Del Vaudeville A La Astracanada MOVIES: Machete; The Slayer Bureaucrat BOOK: Still being Patricia Highsmith's The Talented Mr. Ripley DINING: Anywhere there is sushi. FILMMAKER: Robert Rodriguez FAVE SINGERS: In 2010 I fell in love with the voices of Mary Wilson, Miki Howard and Vesta Williams after hearing them upclose in concert.
RAH DIGGA - Recording Artist (Classic; You Need This Music by NottzRaw) CDs: Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III) and Sade - Soldier of Love. MOVIE: The Book of Eli starring Denzel Washington. THEATRE: Fela (although technically released Nov. 2009). TRAVEL EXPERIENCES: Bungee jumping in Croatia for the first time!! Finding a classic MCM bag in Germany like the one I lost in a housefire never to be replaced!! FINALLY!!: After 20 years of friendship doing a collaboration with Redman for my first single. DINING: A.W. Shucks Raw Bar & Grill - Norfolk, VA. Best Crab Burgers ever!!!
DJ DOC ERVIN - DJ/RADIO HOST (V103-ATL; Spasmodic Radio Movements) MOVIES: The Fighter, Inception, Ironman, Black Swan and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Trilogy. TV: Sons of Anarchy and Boardwalk Empire FAVE INTERVIEW: I got the chance to interview and have a candid conversation with 98.7 Kiss' Legendary Kool Dj Red Alert. ALBUMS: Kanye West-My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Janelle Monae-The Archandroid, Angela Johnson-It's Personal, Erykah Badu-New Amerika Part 2, Big Boi-Sir Lucious Left Foot Son of Chico Dusty, Avery Sunshine-Avery Sunshine, Yahzarah-Ballad of Purple St. James, Chico Mann-Anolog Drift, Zo!- Sunstorm, Blue Six-Neosis, Cee-Lo-Stray Bullets, Black Coffee-Home Brewed FAVE MIXTAPE: Vikter Duplaix-For Players Only Compiled by Vikter Duplaix and mixed by yours truly Dj Doc and Dj Mars BOOKS: (Were not published this year but I re read and read this year) The Don Miguel Ruiz Box Set (I got as a gift)
CYNTHIA HORNER - Celebrity Magazine Editor/Owner (Cinnamon Chips P.R./Cinnamon Flix Photo Agency w/ hubby Kenneth Harris) MUSIC: Nicki Minaj, Sade, Trey Songz, Chrisette Michelle, Jazzmine Sullivan, Mindless Behavior TV: 24. I am crushed that they cancelled this show. I didn't get into it until season 7 and after season 8, it was a wrap! I'm saving up to buy the DVD of the eight seasons so that I can catch up with the previous cast of characters. My niece-in-law, Kosi Harris, loves Criminal Minds, so I recently started watching it, and I am hooked on this FBI show. Shemar Moore is easy on the eye, but the scripts are real winners, too. I found out that it airs on two different networks, so I am having fun! I don’t believe that I will watch Dancing With The Stars in 2011, however, I was interested in supporting my friend Brandy who was amazing on the series. I did an interview with her and I let her know that she did a superb job and she looked incredible. It was a great experience for her and she was number one, in my opinion. Law and Order: SVU. My friend Ice-T said he will stay on the show until they throw him off! It has been an incredible experience for him and he has had a lot of longevity with the program. BOOKS: Zane has come out with a whole series of authors who are very interesting. But my favorite African-American fiction authors are Rochelle Alers and Brenda Jackson. MOVIES: Yogi Bear was always a childhood favorite of mine, so naturally, I had to see Yogi and Boo Boo in 3-D! Salt is one of the few films that I actually paid to see. But kudos go to Brooklyn’s Finest, directed by Antoine Fuqua. TRAVEL: Atlanta, Paris, Bermuda, Atlantic City, Martha's Vineyard.
A. SCOTT GALLOWAY - L.A. based Music Writer/Liner Notes Essayist (Bill Withers’ “+Justments,” Tony Williams’ “The Joy of Flying,” Nina Simone’s “Black Gold (Live),” Phyllis Hyman’s “Goddess of Love” and “Somewhere in My Lifetime,” Labelle’s “Pressure Cookin’,” Esther Phillips’ “Capricorn Princess,” and the Ohio Players’ ”Contradiction.”) ALBUM: I’m New Here by Gil-Scott Heron is short on time but long on impact. Comprised of new songs, a couple of blues covers, some poetry and spoken interludes, it was a disturbing snapshot of a man that sounds as if he has literally been to Hell and back - and still carrying a few demons ON his back. Play it alone in the dark after midnight and it will chill you to your core…a riveting glimpse into the dark side of a brilliant Black man’s tortured soul. COMEBACK: El DeBarge – Second Chance. The title track of El’s album is a heart-on-sleeve letter of thanks to God for giving him a second chance. The rest is a winning update of his ice cream soul sound from a man still young at heart and still spinning his carousel of sweet love. May he remain as sober and saved as the three Christmas songs he included as heartfelt bonus tracks. SINGLE: “I’ll Be Back” (from “The Beatles Complete on Ukulele”) – Nicki Richards. Very, very biased here, but at least I’m keeping it real. This lady took a song from my least favorite period of The Beatles’ canon - the early years – and completely won me over by whisking it to the Motherland via her hypnotizing arrangement that prominently features the African kalimba and kora. The world needs to pay better attention to this artist. She goes a long time between releases, but when she strikes, it’s with the precision of a panther on a nocturnal mission. EP: Lions & Fires & Squares - Carolyn Malachi. Two words: Next Level! Singer/Songwriter Malachi and Producer James McKinney wove a brilliant tapestry of techno soul with this Grammy-nominated gem that in all fairness should be giving Gaga, Badu and Monae a serious run for their money. TRIBUTE ALBUM: Lady – Lynne Fiddmont. Some of the finest musicians in jazz have waxed albums dedicated to the haunting mastery of Billie “Lady Day” Holiday, but Fiddmont – in only her second project as a solo artist – has put an artfully contemporary spin on classics from her portfolio that, in a perfect world, would introduce her to a new generation while also giving longtime fans some irresistible new ear candy to savor. CONCERTS: Jose’ Feliciano, Dumpstaphunk, Gipsy Kings, Jeff Beck, Teena Marie, Sugarfoot’s OHIO Players, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Barbra Winn, Wild Lotus @ The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival – April 29-May 1; Sonny Rollins - Disney Hall - May 16; Jimmy Webb/Thelma Houston - Grammy Museum - May 21; Billy Childs - Redcat - June 10 (2nd Set); Scorpions "Farewell Tour" - Ontario - July 29; Bettye LaVette - Santa Monica Pier - Aug. 19; “Bitches Brew 40th Anniversary Band”- Sunset Junction – August 21; Herbie Hancock “Seven Decades Celebration” – Hollywood Bowl – Sept. 1; Charles Lloyd Quartet – Nate Holden Performing Arts Center – Sept. 25; Tia Fuller Quartet – Catalina Bar & Grill – October 27. TV: “Unsung” MOVIE: “Night Catches Us”
AVERY SUNSHINE - Singer/Songwriter/Pianist (All In My Head) CDs: B. Reith; Charlie Wilson; Earnest Pugh FAVE LIVE PERFOMANCE: Jamiroquai @ The Jazz Cafe - London MOVIE: Tron Legacy BOOK: A Letter To My Daughters - Maya Angelou TRAVEL EXPERIENCE: London ! ! ! Miami ! ! ! DINING EXPERIENCE: Mambo's in London; Croakers in Richmond, VA ! ! !
NOTTZ - Recording Artist (You Need This Music) MUSIC: Trey Songz - Can't Be Friends; Tank - You Mean That Much; Alicia Keys - Unthinkable. MOVIES: Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too? and Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad By Myself. TRAVEL: Cayman Islands; Jamaica; Costa Rica. HOTELS: The Ritz-Carlton; The Villa.
LIL MO - Recording Artist/Radio Host (WPGC-95.5 - DC) MUSIC: I have a lot of favorites, but one that never ceases to stop being my all time fave producer/artist/writer/mogul/ is none other than THE KANYE WEST. All of his albums, no matter how weird the media makes him seem, I feel I totally understand where he is going with his vision. So hate it or love it, Kanye is the best artist of our time, in my MOpinion. Owwwww! DINING: The CheeseCake Factory. Insane thing is I only eat my mothers' cheesecake, but the food at the CCF is amazing. They make your plate so full, a doggy bag is inevitable. If my husband and I could go everyday I think we would, if we don't already. MOVIE: The Town TV: MARTIN. Hands down this show is one of the greatest shows created in sitcom history. Since it has been off the air, TV just hasn't been the same. I began my radio career just off the fact that if Martin could do it, so could I. I've since had a #1 Afternoon Drive show and have been in the SOURCE Magazines Power 30 in Radio. Owwwww
STEPHEN KING - Author (The Dark Tower) 2010 MOVIES: 10. Green Zone – “one Iraq war movie that puts story and suspense above shrill outrage.” 9. Jackass 3D; 8. Monsters; 7. Splice; 6. Kick-Ass; 5. Takers - “This satisfyingly complex cops-’n'-robbers movie features great performances … and the armored-car heist is the best action sequence I’ve seen this year.” 4. The Social Network - “succeeds where Michael Douglas; Wall Street sequel fails.” 3. Inception; 2. The Town – “Bad title, fantastic movie. … a strangely intimare film” 1. Let Me In - www.ew.com
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