Go uptown to the legendary Apollo for the first big concert of the year!

Romantic New Yorkers, of every persuasion, it’s time to really get 2015 started right!

Go uptown to the legendary Apollo for the first big concert of the year - a one night only special evening with R&B Soul maestro D’ Angelo on Saturday, February 7th at 8pm. 

Fresh on the heels of his critically acclaimed recent release, Black Messiah, D’Angelo will grace the Apollo stage for what is, as of right now, his first and only U.S. engagement since the release of the album.

The Apollo concert  will be just in advance of his recently announced international tour. 

Although this will be D’Angelo’s first time headlining the Apollo, he has a lot of history with the Theater and is an actually an Amateur Night alumni and won Amateur Night three times. In fact, he told a wonderful story in an interview about how he used his Amateur Night winnings to buy equipment he used to record his first album – his classic debut, Brown Sugar. So we are so happy to welcome him back home to the Apollo.

Tickets go on sale to the general public Wednesday, January 21st at 10am. 

About the Apollo Theater

The legendary Apollo Theater— the soul of American culture—plays a vital role in cultivating emerging talents and launching legends. Since its founding, the Apollo has served as a center of innovation, and a creative catalyst for Harlem, the city of New York, and the world. With music at its core, the Apollo’s programming extends to dance, theater, performance art, spoken word initiatives, and more.  Recent highlights have included James Brown: Get on the Good Foot, which will begin an international tour in 2015, the Africa Now! Festival, and Apollo Club Harlem. Since introducing the first Amateur Night contests in 1934, the Apollo Theater has served as a testing ground for new artists working across a variety of art forms, and has ushered in the emergence of many new musical genres – including jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel, blues, soul, and hip hop. Among the countless legendary performers who launched their careers at the Apollo are Lauryn Hill, Machine Gun Kelly, Miri Ben Ari, D’Angelo, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, James Brown, Michael Jackson, Gladys Knight, Luther Vandross, and Stevie Wonder; and the Apollo’s forward-looking artistic vision continues to build on this legacy.

The Apollo Theater is a not-for-profit organization and currently in the midst of fundraising for its 21st Century ApolloCampaign, created to extend the institution’s role in fostering artistic innovation and in building appreciation of American culture around the world.  For more information, visit www.apollotheater.org.

Glory from Selma wins best song at Golden Globes

Last night, after winning a Golden Globe for the song “Glory” which he co-wrote with John Legend he paid tribute to his hero the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Common and Legend's song Glory plays over the closing credits of the film “Selma” and was written at the request of director Ava DuVernay.

Selma was written by Paul Webb and is based on the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches led by King (played by David Oyelowo), James Bevel and Hosea Williams. Common also paid tribute to Dr King, saying: "He was one of the first people that I looked at as a hero. He was my first hero.”

In his acceptance speech, rapper and actor Common, 42, said: "The first day I stepped on the set of Selma I began to feel like this was bigger than a movie. As I got to know the people of the Civil Rights Movement, I realized I am the hopeful black woman who was denied her right to vote. I am the caring white supporter killed on the front lines of freedom. I am the unarmed black kid who maybe needed a hand, but instead was given a bullet. I am the two fallen police officers murdered in the line of duty. Selma has awakened my humanity."

Interesting to note that the winning song began with a phone call (from London) when Common reached out to R&B singer Legend, he might be young but he has nine Grammys, not shabby!

Using modern communication, they two emailed and bam — out comes the song title “Glory.”

The song is expected to be an Oscar contender. Common has also been nominated for two Grammys next month, for best rap album for Nobody's Smiling and best rap collaboration for Blak Majik, a song that also features Jhene Aiko.

Glory references the unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, in August 2014, following the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, with the words:

'Resistance is us,
That's why Rosa sat on the bus.
That's why we walk through Ferguson with our hands up.
When it go down we woman and man up,
They say, "Stay down" and we stand up.
Shots, we on the ground, the camera panned up,
King pointed to the mountain top and we ran up.’

Here is what COMMON had to say about “Selma” in his own words:

“Well, it’s a beautiful honor to be a part of Selma because as a kid I think the first person that I read about and came across that black people and white people both recognize as a hero was Dr. Martin Luther King. And he was always something I really, like, looked up to, and it became a point in my life where, you know, I became real [PH] Malcolm X-ist and it was like, I don’t know, Martin may be soft. But you know, as I grew and evolved as a human being, I realized that this peaceful protest is one of the strongest things you can do, and the strength that it  took to do that.

Me being involved in Selma, like, taught me that it was women, it was men, it was children, it was a spirit that they said we want freedom, we want justice, and a lot of people contributed to that. You know, because originally I was like, man, as Martin Luther King, you know is Martin Luther King, but to get to meet the everyday people, some people we don’t know their names.

Yeah, we do know of the Annie Lee Coopers and we do know of the [PH] C.T. Vivians, but it’s some people like I had a journalist yesterday talk to us about her uncle who was out marching, and we don’t know his name, but everybody contributed, and what this film did was make me realize that we all have a part in contributing towards making the world better. So it was like me being – this was like a life changing experience for me because I felt I could do more, you know, just being able to be James Bevel and  be around Ava and be around the cast, and the people that we worked with. I was, like, I have to do more, I mean, learning about what they did, I got to do more. And now people are out there doing more. And we want to do more. So I’m just grateful to be a part of it, and the revolution is here.”

O.C.A.D.’s Arie Dixon and Olivia Cipolla

Arie Dixon warns, “Don’t ever call me crazy.” Dixon and Olivia Cipolla make up the musical group O.C.A.D., an unexpected pairing that creates an explosive, untapped, raw energy that makes the city shake when they step on and off a stage. 

Music is important to me. So much so, I rarely write about it. I don’t have a word to do justice to a beat or a sentence to share the visceral experience of excellent phrasing. I ask myself, how can I carve out paragraphs to share that “this song, at this time” has been added to the soundtrack of my life?

Right now, I’m going to make an attempt and share my passion for O.C.A.D.: Dixon and Cipolla. In short, in my opinion, they are on the verge of going “boom, shaka-boom!” However, you can test my theory once in November and again in December. I might be wrong, but I sincerely doubt it.

Dixon is handsome. He stands over 6-foot-3 and reminds me of a young Jay-Z. Business and music doing a dance from left to right brain and back again.

Cipolla is a mixed beauty with a five-octave range. Plus she can dance. Man, can she move, and Lady Gaga and Beyoncé agree. 

When first introduced to Dixon, I was struck by his polite manners, his dreamy looks and his personality—strange, but in a friendly kind of way. Plus, he listens. He is all “active listening,” and despite his height, always locked eyes in our conversation.

So walking the streets of Broadway, here is what I learned about Dixon and Cipolla- 

myNewYorkeye: Your new song “Heart of the City” is rocking, brother. I’m falling in love all over again. What do you and Olivia like about the Apple?

Dixon: We love everything about NYC — the culture, the vibe, the undeniable feeling that anything you are looking to accomplish is possible. This city can and will eat you alive if you can’t handle its reality. But there is no place like NYC, our home. 

myNewYorkeye: You warned me to never call you crazy in your song. I won’t. Your music feels organic. Did you have an issue with that “crazy” label? 

Dixon: Most artists have been challenged on their viewpoints at one time or another. Crazy is one word. There are others. Our influences, in the music, are absorbed from life. The basic human psyche, the environment that we live in. The emotions of the human experience. Our musical influences stem from classical to hip-hop, from Back to Michael Jackson to Eminem, to just the sounds that we hear throughout our surroundings. Whether it’s a symphony or a dog barking, to a baby crying!

myNewYorkeye: Olivia has tremendous pipes. A five-octave range, clearly, puts her in the league with the top urban divas. So … intimidated much, Dixon? 

Dixon: Oh, you have jokes! To answer you, no, Olivia is opera-trained and I love the discipline she brings to everything she does. Eeeeeeverything. She told me that I could dance, so I did and I do.

myNewYorkeye: Brother, she’s the one that let the 6-foot-3 go crazy on the stage. Umm, well, Hurricane Sandy jacked your Halloween date, so when are you and Olivia going to shake up the city?

Dixon: We are back, by popular demand, at the Bitter End on Nov. 20 and again on Dec. 21. There’s new songs, including “The Heart of the City,” which is our love song to Gotham. 

myNewYorkeye: I’m there, RSVP me for six. So where can we download your music and start feeling O.C.A.D.?

Dixon: You can download and view our new stuff at OCADmusic.com and on iTunes. You can follow us, and we love friends. Twitter @OCADmusic and Facebook.com/OCADmusic.

Alex Bugnon Is Playing Home, In Harlem at the Apollo-January 31

By Lapacazo Sandoval and Bill  Myers-special to myNewYorkeye

Influential jazz musician Alex Bugnon pays homage to his adopted community with his new CD appropriately titled, HARLEM.  And on Friday, January 31 he brings his brand of funk/R&B and soul inspired playing to the historic Apollo stage, joined by Grammy-Winner Ms. Regina Belle, Grammy-Nominated Lalah Hathaway and Valerie Simpson.

Bugnon hails from the picturesque town of Montreux, Switzerland – site of the world famous Jazz Festival. No doubt, the annual convergence in his hometown (and his own home), of some of music’s most illustrious names, played a role in his decision to pursue a musical career -- as did his early friendship with Herbie Hancock. The fact that his uncle was the legendary Donald Byrd only served to further his decision.

I make a Herculean effort not to write about music because I love it and can't find the right combination of adjectives to describe my sincerity.

So, I reached out to Bill C. Myers, one of my oldest friends, who recently tendered his post as President of the African-American Jazz Caucus.

An experienced jazz musician, educator and force behind "Bill Myers Inspires" (a new series that highlights good acts-by-good people), I thought it would be enlightening to bring these two passionate professionals together for a dialogue.

Here is an excerpt from our hour long interview with jazz great Alex Bugnon.

myNewYorkeye: You grew up in Switzerland in the small town of  Montreux which is home to the world renowned international jazz festival. What inspired your relocation to the US?

Alex Bugnon: When I first came to the USA I lived in Boston but after six years I moved to New York City and have lived there ever since. The music scene has always been vibrant and, as I see it, although on the west coast it's often about the image, here it's more about the music.

Bill Myers: What advice would you offer to young  inspiring jazz  musicians seeking a career?

Alex Bugnon: Stay away from extremes.  Right now,  jazz seems polarized into two camps.  On one side there is smooth jazz that has become watered down beyond recognition. On the other, there is a resurgent straight ahead movement.  Yet between these extremes, there is an abundance of great music, full of light and shade and very much what I play on the road.

myNewYorkeye: How do you pay homage to the art form and stay connected?

Alex Bugnon: I tour extensively.  It's about taking the music to the grass roots, to the people who want to hear it.

myNewYorkeye: Do you shy away from connecting with younger audiences that are social media focused?

Alex Bugnon: No. Of course I use social media; Facebook, Twitter and all the places people now go to get their musical knowledge.

Bill Myers: What are your thoughts on how can jazz survive and thrive in the current market place?

Or is jazz simply stuck?

Alex Bugnon: Smooth jazz radio simply got ran into the ground by sticking too closely to a format it believed would work forever and by lacking innovation.

Now innovation is found elsewhere. It's found via the internet and on the live music scene.

To listen to a section of the new album HARLEM visit here.

On the verge: Brianna Colette

At a Gracie Mansion event during Harlem Week, Brianna Colette, 5-foot-9, with her signature red afro and smooth caramel skin, stood out, even in a sea of uniquely stylish people of color.

In full plume, Colette reminded me of an exotic, mystical songbird strutting among the mortals. Perhaps it’s her Creole/Cajun roots?

Colette is really just a down-home, sweet Southern gal whose sultry, rich voice gets compared to the likes of the late, great Billie Holiday. Based in funky Brooklyn now, the Nashville-born songstress credits those roots in shaping her musical style. Music, for Colette, began in the Southern heat. 

“The most memorable years were my summers in Nashville with all my cousins,” Colette says. “Every summer, the five of us lived at our grandmother’s house, and we put on talent shows for our parents. That’s how performing became a part of me at a very young age.” 

Five years on the New York City music scene and critics still can’t peg her. This chick just does not fit into any old music box. Colette’s style is funky and fluid, flowing between dance, pop and soul—genres that are all evident on her newest single, “Too Old.”

In the spunky cut, Colette sings about two lovers who realize that age isn't just a number.

Autobiographical musical storytelling? Who is to say? If art imitates life, the songstress isn't giving any juicy details. When asked to describe herself, Colette counters in a rapid cadence and with a loopy smile.

“I am a goofy, silly, adventurous risk-taker who is very loving,” she confides. “And I love to have a good time wherever I am. It’s important to make the best of every situation. Don’t you agree?”

I do. Lately, her music has been added to my iPad shuffle and is providing the soundtrack of my own New York life. It’s easy to become a fan.

UK producer Lewis Parker fell in “muse love” and crafted a short film around Colette’s talents, showcasing her dancing, singing and acting skills. The video follows a female con artist raised in a world of organized crime, where wealth and power are like air and water— necessary for life. 

Her take on it: “It’s kind of like James Bond, ‘Harlem Nights’ and ‘Entrapment’ all tied into one. It’s great to try on characters and then leave them to live on screen.”

As the world beckons, Colette answers. Most recently she’s been working in Russia with world-renowned pianist Daniel Kramer. “Too Old” was recorded in Belgium and produced by Lunaman.

So, my interest is now piqued. I had a few more questions for Colette.

myNewYorkeye: Besides the U.S. passport in your purse, what are the must-haves in your daily wardrobe? 

Brianna Colette: I must have 4-inch heels! I love the feeling of being tall! When traveling, of course, it’s flip-flops. Last but not least, I must have leggings, and any color will do. They fit great and are easy to move in. 

myNewYorkeye: Your look is unique, striking even, but who do people tell you look like?

Brianna Colette: People say I look like the singer Kellis, when she used to have long hair, but when I wear my hair up, people have told me I look like Janet Jackson. Well, when she played Penny on the TV show “Good Times.”

myNewYorkeye: Now that you’ve been here five years, what is your favorite restaurant in New York City?

Brianna Colette: I really enjoy eating at Spice! Great Thai food. I always order the Crispy Half Chicken and a Thai iced tea. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it.

myNewYorkeye: Now I’m hungry too, so let’s start to wrap this up. What is your favorite song today and of all time?

Brianna Colette: My favorite song of all time is “Part of Your World” from the “Little Mermaid” soundtrack. When I am leaving the house, I put on my Skull Candy headphones and listen to the David Guetta station on Pandora. This gets me pumped for the day.

myNewYorkeye: Anything you want to add to close this interview?

Brianna Colette: Happy Holidays. Check me out. If you like what you hear, share—it’s the cool thing to do!

Chill out with Miss Colette at briannacolette.com