We here at GFM are not novice to the legends. We’ve covered greats like Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder and the list goes on. However, every once in a while we encounter our own star struck moment due to the sheer admiration of the musicians we’re covering. In this particular case, our star struck moment came from reporting at the Fox Theatre for the Quincy Jones and Friends Benefit Concert. We were on a high that night and what was greater was the great celebration of the American Cancer Society on their 100th anniversary. The significant milestone commemorated advances and great achievements in the cancer fight along with the great people who have built bridges to finding a cure. For this star struck event, celebrities came in by the droves for the red carpet. While the lavish prelude caused a stir of excitement, it didn’t come close to the performances of Pentatonix,Nikki Yanofsky, Allen Stone, Alfredo Rodriguez, Siedah Garrett, Patti Austin and James Ingram. On top of everything else, we witnessed greatness right before our very eyes when the awesome Quincy Jones graced the stage. At that very moment, we didn’t know whether to kiss his pinky ring as the “godfather” or sit at his feet a the musical “yoda”. Here is our picture review from that great event!! (more…)
Listen up, music fans!!! If you’re in the Atlanta area and looking for a concert that will set off your weekend, you absolutely don’t want to miss The Robert Glasper Experiment live in concert!!! This show will introduce Jazz Future along with a few special guests. Now, a little birdie told me that singer/songwriter, Marsha Ambrosius would be blessing the mic. Other guests are scheduled but of course, our lips are sealed for this is strictly confidential information. So, if you’re interested in some incredible music and some surprise performances, you can catch The Robert Glasper Experiment Sunday, May 5th at Center Stage Theater. Be sure to get your tickets at CenterStage-Atlanta.com. Doors will open at 7pm, showtime will be 8pm. Hope to see you there.
Hey Family, indeed it is better to give than receive, so Grown Folks Music is giving away three (3) combo packs consisting of the new CDs from Jazz greats Phil Perry and Marion Meadows. Stay tuned to our Facebook page on April 11, 12, and 13 at 8pm EST each evening for a trivia question. Be the first to answer correctly when we post the question on Facebook and win the combo pack! It’s that simple, but you gotta check us out at www.facebook.com/GrownFolksMusic1 to win! One winner per evening.
I have to say this three time Grammy winning album was such a great piece of work from the songwriter and songstress, Anita Baker. From the Giving You the Best That I Got album, Priceless is the song that invites your heart to a sun kissed morning snuggled in a lover’s arms. The mood has a care free sentiment that simply bathes the soul in happiness. Any tune that creates that kind of joy is truly “priceless”.
I’m looking at the date and no there’s no joke here… just bring on Spring already! Time for renewal, rebirth and for people to come out of their caves and walk down the lane or something like that.
“1215″ the new offering from Pittsburgh based trumpeter Ian Gordon resides somewhere near the cross streets of Jazz and Electronic music. Inventive, forward thinking and at times humorous, Ian Gordon’s playing and concept embodies the spirit of those innovators who constantly challenge music’s status quo to ultimately move the music forward.
This track is aptly described as “A vibrant dinner party where the conversationalists are made of brass… literally. No subject is off limits for the assembled guests and the banter is often as passionate as it is humorous.” Make sure you find your space on the wall to see how it all goes down! You can purchase “1215″ from Ian Gordon here.
Nothing excites me more than seeing iconic artists reinventing themselves and cultivating their relevance through the medium of music and technology!! When I heard about Billboard Magazine’s Star Tribute issue coming together with the 60th birthday of the ten-time GRAMMY® Award winning songstress, Chaka Khan, I couldn’t contain myself. Now you may ask, “what’s the big fuss?” Well, this issue is more than just a simple spread. It is the first issue published by Billboard Magazine that features “Augment Reality” through Printergize, a new and creative way of linking traditional print media with ones online marketing efforts. With this app you simply scan the target object and watch the content take on a life of its own. The awesome thing about this innovation is its utilization of mobile technology that engages the audience in a unique fashion.
Also, this mobile app will go directly to www.chakakhan.com, where fans will see Chaka introduce her 100 Days of Chaka campaign, which marks the 100 days from her birthday (March 23) to the anniversary of the release of her first recorded album with Rufus, Rufus (July 1, 1973) 40 years ago. This app will also highlight a timeline that will commemorate a series of historic moments in Chaka’s career, mixed with celebratory current events. The 100 Days of Chaka culminates with the release of The iKhan Project: Alive! The Commemorative Edition, in stores July 2nd. This CD and DVD project will be recorded the same way Chaka recorded her first album. “I want to experience the magic I felt 40 years ago when I recorded my first record,” says Chaka. “The thrill of recording with all the musicians in one room, the interaction with the producer and the spontaneous moments of the experience.”
So don’t miss out on this great mix of innovation and music engagement from Chaka Khan. The Billboard Magazine Star Tribute issue is now out on newsstands! Go check it out!
Yes, it’s your girl WestStyle Chronicles giving you the 411 to the shows that “must be” on your personal calendar. On Saturday, March 16th, funk soul group, Tortured Soul will be headlining at The Vinyl at Center Stage. Special guests will include Waterseed, DJ Kemit and Brand New Heavies’ N’dea Davenport. To get a taste of what you’ll experience, check out their live performance at the Java Jazz Festival. Advance tickets are $17 and available at Moods Music and The Center Stage Box Office. Doors will open at 8pm and showtime will start at 9pm.
Hola mi GFM familia,