S: Is for Blinding Justice

Our civil liberties are one of our most precious gifts, yet we take them for granted. Most Americans don’t even know what they are. Civil Liberties are what protect the individual from government tyranny. They set limits for our government so that it can not abuse its power and interfere with our lives. In our past they have been revoked and the aftermath is a time in history that blemishes constitutional rights. In the 1950s the Freedom of Information Act allowed the FBI to open files and engaged in a number of illegal practices including burglaries, opening mail and illegal wiretaps. Many on trial were not allowed to cross-examine or know the identities of those who accused them. In many cases they were not even told what they were accused of. It is difficult to estimate the number of victims. The number imprisoned is in the hundreds, and some ten or twelve thousand lost their jobs. In the film industry alone over 300 actors, authors and directors were denied work in the U.S. included in this list Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Miller, Paul Robeson, Artie Shaw and Orson Welles. On February 19, 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt issued the relocation and incarceration of thousands of Americans of Japanese descent in camps all over the United States. It wasn’t till three years later that they were allowed to return home. Forced to start their lives from scratch and though they were supposed to be compensated it took till 1988, however, half of the 120,000 incarcerated Japanese-Americans died even before that happened. After the September 11 detention without trial, wire tapping and other criminal acts are being carried out in the guise of protection and we sit in silence. In NY during the Republican Convention Americans were kept in squalor conditions at a Pier, not allowed the mandatory phone call, and for some it was because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Enter the Bush administration and our Attorney General Alberto Gonzales who is currently under fire for recent FBI infractions by improperly, and illegally, using the USA Patriot Act. To quote Gonzales “ We have a special obligation to protect America against future acts of terrorism.” I’m sure that the eight dismissed US attorneys are asking whose going to protect us? Prior to serving at the Department of Justice, he was commissioned as Counsel to Bush in 2001 and was appointed by Bush to the Texas Supreme Court. Could this have been because he helped Bush get excused from jury duty when he was called in a 1996 Travis County drunk driving case and did not disclose Bush's 1976 drunk driving conviction? During his term in Texas he actively worked against clemency in a number of borderline cases. The state of Texas executed more prisoners during Gonzales' term. Gonzales' name was suggested as a nominee to the United States Supreme Court during both of Bush’s terms and denied. His appointment to Attorney General, was a maneuver designed by Karl Rove. On December 7 2006, eight United States Attorneys were notified by the United States Department of Justice that they were being dismissed, after the Bush administration asked for their resignations. Many claimed the dismissals are motivated by desire to install attorneys more loyal to the Republican agenda. E-mails have been released which show Gonzales' chief of staff communicating with White House Administration officials. Gonzales has admitted that Justice Department officials had misled Congress. Gonzales has also publicly stated that no immigration documentation exists for three of his grandparents and they may have entered and resided in the United States illegally. This is whose running the country. Did you know you can be recorded on your phone without your consent and it can be used against you in a court of law? Its actually stated in your telephone book in small print. History has lessons to teach us and if we don’t learn them we are apt to repeat our mistakes. We are seriously in danger of losing our rights. McCarthyism and the WWII Japanese camps may have happened in our past but is a F.A.C.T that if we don’t stand up for our liberties they will happen again.

T: Is for moving your body and Soul

In 1998 I went with some friends to New Orleans. During the trip I went to the Zoo and they were having a singing/songwriting competition so I entered and won. Thus began my love with the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. So when March rolls around I begin to crave craw fish Po boys, infusion of jazz and chicory coffee. This year more so than ever. After the wake of Katrina, New Orleans can not only use our support financially but emotionally in gaining back a celebration of music which makes New Orleans a place to cherish. "Jazz Fest is an invitation to move your body and your soul," which is this years saying. This year they're presenting more music than ever. Annually drawing tens of thousands of fans during each of its six days of activities. Back in 1970 Mahalia Jackson, Fats Domino, The Meters and Duke Ellington appeared at the first festial which drew only 350 people where about half were musicians and other participants in the event. This spontaneous, momentous scene—this meeting of jazz and heritage—has stood for decades since unparalleled. With a Food Fair offering more than 100 varieties of authentic Louisiana cuisine and a stunning array of one-of-a-kind crafts available around the grounds it is a slice on New Orleans at its best. This list of peformers this year is impressive with Norah Jones, John Mayer, Van Morrison, Rod Stewart, Steely Dan, John Legend with Harry Conick Jr closing the festval. Below are four reasons if you haven't been to the festival why you should attend.
Accordionist Buckwheat Zydeco and his band's music is a blend of traditional Louisiana bayou Creole Zydeco with Afro-Caribbean rhythm and blues, soul, and rock. Ever since Stanley Joseph Dural, Jr. formed Buckwheat Zydeco and his Sont Partis 20 years ago, audiences around the world have rocked, rolled, and frolicked in waves of ragin’ Cajun calamity. I first saw The Iguanas at Tip and Tina’s. Infused with a Latin and Caribbean flare, mixing in R&B, blues and jazz when they play one cannot stop dancing. Formed in 1989 by guitarist/accordionist Rod Hodges and Joe Cabral, who alternate between sax and a traditional Mexican stringed instrument known as the bajo sexto. These two also share lead vocal. Bassist Rene Coman, drummer Doug Garrison and saxophonist Derek Huston round out the group. If you have never seen the Iguana’s I suggest you do so. What makes them unique is their drummer, playing a drum that looks like a tambourine. The sounds; rhythms and beats he brings out are astounding. Against all odds, The Radiators have kept their original line up together for 25 years, bringing their New Orleans-infused blend of swamp rock and rhythm and blues to fans throughout the United States and Europe. With a constantly changing "book" of more than 300 original songs, as well as covers, The Radiators never play the same show twice. As a result, they are followed around the country by a devoted group of "fishheads". Last but not least and one of the posters for this years event ReBirth Brass Band is an institution. Formed in 1983, they conquered the streets of New Orleans and moved on to theaters and festivals all over the world. ReBirth is committed to upholding the tradition of brass bands while at the same time incorporating modern grooves. Their signature brand of heavy funk has garned them 10 albums. Touring the world when it comes to NY they sell out the Knitting Factory. To see these bands as well as over 500 more groups go to www.nojazzfest.com . The 38th annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival will commence April 27-29 and May 4-6 and the price for a weekend ticket? An unheard of $35 and that is a F.A.C.T.

C: Is for life is a Cabaret

The legendary Birdland has become one of the hottest places in town to see emerging and established musical talent. You aren't a New Yorker until you experience the legendary Birdland's Monday nights with Jim Caruso's "Cast Party". A wildly popular weekly soiree which mixes the glitz of Broadway's best with those who see themselves as cabaret up-and-comers. This three year soiree has become the ultimate spot to mix and mingle with theater celebrities and their fans. Caruso guides the entire affair like a bubbly cruise director while musical genius Billy Stritch holds court at the ivories. The audience is invited to participate in the festivities! It's the party that uniquely happens only in NY. If you are a star in the making sign up begins at 9:15. There is a cutoff and a waiting list. Most performers line up around 6:30. Bring sheet music in the correct key and at least 2 copies as there is a bass player. Now…this is important…remember it’s a party! An evening of weepy ballads is no fun for anyone except Edith Piaf, and she rarely attends. However you will see Liza Minnelli and James Taylor who are frequent attendees. Above all, have a great time! Cast Party is a celebration of the Broadway, jazz and nightclub communities. As Jim says, it’s where "you can see and hear some of the best performers in the world and also other people." Price for this marvelous time $10 with a two drink min. Now that's a bargain!
Over at FEINSTEIN'S at the Regency Hotel, Tony Award winning singer and actress Betty Buckley will perform starting March 27th through April 7th. Her new show "Singin' For My Supper" will include a blend of theater, contempary and classic standards. Buckley who won her Tony meowing in Cats and was nominated for Triumph of Love is an aclaimed cabaret Diva. In London she was nominated for an Olivier in Sunset Boulevard and is a cult favorite for her roles in Stephen King's Carrie, Oz and is a favorite to the baby boomer generation who know her as "Abby" in the hit series "Eight is Enough." Completing eight CDs, her next recording, Quintessence, will be released later this year. I have seen Betty several times and her show is a must for anyone who loves cabaret. Expensive her show carries a $60 cover and a $40 minimum.
I have the pleasue of being friends with the next two who triumphed in their THE ALGONQUIN OAK ROOM salute to Jule Styne, Dorothy Fields and Cole Porter. KT Sullivan and Mark Nadler now turn their spotlight on to "Make Someone Happy: Remembering Betty Comden & Adolph Green" which opens March 20th. Multiple award-winning international cabaret, concert and musical theater artists KT Sullivan and Mark Nadler's recent Oak Room shows have elicited praises from critics and audiences alike. Cabaret has become like B'way "Pricey" there is a $60 cover charge for this show as well plus a $25 minimum. I wrote this column because music sooths the soul and in a sea of cabaret listings these are the best for this month. I also recommend THE BROADWAY BOYS March 19 @ 7pm (this group includes performers from Jersey and Alter Boys,Hairspray and others, THE MARCY & ZINA SHOW (Terrific songwriters and performers March 26 @ 7pm and MERCEDES HALL CD Release Celebration
March 27 these shows all at Birdland carry a $25 cover and the standard 2 drink min.
Remember life is a cabaret so make it a F.A.C.T to join in.

A: Is The Museum that helps young artists excel

The Whitney houses approximately 12,000 works of twentieth-century American art encompassing a broad range of mediums, and it is still growing. The Museum, making the most of its resources purchases works of living artists, particularly those who are young and unknown. It has been a long-standing tradition of the Whitney to purchase works from the Museum's Annual and Biennial exhibitions, which began in 1932 as a showcase. A number of the Whitney's masterpieces came from these exhibitions, including works by Gorky, Matthew Barney, Louise Bourgeois and Jasper Johns. Classical Masters such as Donald Judd, Georgia O'Keeffe and the now exhibiting Edward Hopper round out the mix. Continuing the tradition of celebrating young artists, on view is Taryn Simon: An American Index of the Hidden and Unfamiliaron. Born in 1975 Simon examines culture through science, government, medicine, entertainment, nature, security, and religion. Transforming the unknown into a seductive and intelligible form, Simon confronts the divide between the have and the have not's. Most effective is the glow of Cherenkov radiation. The pool of water serves as a shield against radiation. A human standing one foot from an unshielded capsule would receive a lethal dose of radiation in less than 10 seconds. This exhibit is highly moving. Completing the new comers Lorna Simpson well known for her photographic and film works, examines racial and gender identity. The new installation in the Whitney's Lobby is Terence Kohon monochromatic environments vieing for dominance. This is his first solo museum show in the United States. Kohon's gestures evoke isolation and secrecy, but also protection and ecstasy. It seems to me that the Whitney is focusing more on the digital aspect of art. Lights, Camera Action: Artists' Films for the Cinema is the documentary of Gordon Matta Clarkon. During his brief life he exerted a powerful influence on artists and the architects who knew his work. However the reason I picked the Whitney was my friend Robert sent this notice asking me to participate in an art project called Dreams and Possibilities. Upon reading the curriculum vitae so to speak I became intrigued. It told me to enter a dreamy landscape of surreal houses that would be installed at Whitney's adjunct Altria, and that viewers would become cast members of a feature film in the making. Praxis Studio (Delia Bajo and Brainard Carey) the husband-and-wife art collaborative, working with an extended team would be the directors, editors and all the behind the scene staff. Using a hybrid process they call Metalobe, Praxis blends web technology and traditional film industry techniques to establish a new form of film making with user-generated content. At scopeMiami, Praxis previewed much of this work in progress. In order to understand the process I auditioned. First given a script I was to memorize 5 lines while I was sent to
make-up to become
"Dramatic". A staff of 6 make-up artist from Aveda lent their skills. When finished I waited to be interviewed. The head of the project was behind the lens and as I was asked a series of questions. I was asked if I sang? Yes! What was my favorite song? And I stated mine. I am in the process of writing several songs and if you don't love what you create then why do it?. Anyway since I opened my big mouth, I was asked to sing one. Now I have never been shy and I sang a song I wrote called "Flight". I guess when people say they do things they don't mean it because whenever I say I sing people look at me like yeah, right. Then I sing and they are stunned into silence and make remarks like "You really wrote that"? or "Why don't you sing more"? I wouldn't be surprised if "Flight" makes its debut at the "Whitney". I still had the monologue to perform so ala Ingrid Bergman I did. To find out what happens next you have to see this most interesting exhibit playing on u-tube and until the 22nd of March and thats a F.A.C.T.

http://twobodies.com/metalobe/

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=BrainardandDelia

F: Is for the fundementals of securing an audience

In 2006, about 15% of the films that made it to release are from independent studios. Distinguished by their content or style, the creative vision of the writer or director's is for the most part maintained in the final cut. These films often are produced by subsidiaries of larger studios, so for a small independent studio whose director has put up most of his own money making it to the big time is rare. “My Brother” is one of those unique films that has broken the barriers. Predominately staring an African American cast, two of whom are developmentally disabled, these odds make this film ”The little engine that could”. Or can it? Marketing your product is a science of knowing your audience, the odds against you and being creative. It takes just as much creativity to get your product to launch as it does to make it. But I’m getting ahead of my self. Lets describe the product in full detail. “My Brother” follows two brothers, one developmentally disabled,as they live their lives together created by a bond of love established in their youth by their mother. Driven by impoverishment and adversity,events happen that set in motion a turn of events that will set the clock backwards to reveal how this bond was forged. This moving and courageous film shows hope at overcoming adversity at every level. This really is a wonderful film and worthy of a run, but that doesn’t guarantee its success. Jumping the 1st hurdle after two years and numerous awards at independent film festivals they found a distributor “Codeblack”. If you go on to “Codeblacks” website www.codeblackentertainment.com you can not find “My Brother” under its theatrical releases. Its not even listed under the 24 DVD’s soon to be released. Was this an oversight? However “Shadow Boxer”has not even been released and it is under both theatrical and DVD. Why? Its stars Helen Miren and Cuba Gooding Jr and DVD’s bring in more money than a theatrical release. My question to marketing and or PR team of this film is why have you not noticed this and done something about it? This is a red light warning. Who is supporting your film. What do you do when your film goes into major release on Friday March 16th? I can give you the answers but would you listen? You have 4 days left to promote your own film. I would suggest a press kit or have a site where you can download? The most important part of a press kit is including the right materials? Find a street team who loves your film or that you can buy with $$ to be in love? St. Patrick’s Day is the 17th a jammed packed opportunity. Will you take advantage? What about church? Considering that this was written, directed and produced out of Liberty Studios, the oldest continually running film studio in New York City, this is a movie New Yorkers especially should promote and attend. When you take into consideration that a large percentage of New Yorkers make their craft and or earning from the creative arts shouldn’t we call upon each other for support. This is a hint: to all of you out there trying to promote or produce excellent craftsmanship and are looking for an audience, look in you own backyard. If this film succeeds beyond step one it is due to the developmentally disabled community. It was thanks to them that I could offer pictures. That I could read articles and as a reporter make the F.A.C.T.S come alive for you. I support this remarkable film and urge you to do the same. You can attend screenings at the following theaters in NY AMC BAY PLAZA CINEMAS, AMC EMPIRE 25, (42nd ST), AMC MAGIC JOHNSON HARLEM 9 and AMC LOEWS 34TH STREET 14