9/29/19 O&A NYC GOSPEL SUNDAY: Kanye West Sunday Service- Chicago (Full Stream)


On September 8th Kanye West and his infamous Sunday Service choir and crew turned to perform in Kanye’s hometown Chicago (Chi-Town), and they had many odds against them in terms of being able to deliver one “Hell” of a performance due to harsh weather. Continue reading

9/28/19 O&A NYC SATURDAY MORNING CONCERT: Motown Returns to The Apollo (1985)

Motown Returns to The Apollo (1985) a star studded celebration of the 50th anniversary and re-opening of The Apollo Theatre in Harlem, New York. Proceeds from the concert went to the Africare/Ethiopian Relief Fund. The program received a 1985 for Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Program. Continue reading

9/22/19 O&A NYC DANCE- REVIEW: Legacy- Creative Outlet and Deeply Rooted at BAM Fisher

By Walter Rutledge

Legacy, a shared concert between Brooklyn based Jamel Gaine’s Creative Outlet and Chicago’s Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, presented a well curated evening of dance theatre works at BAM Fisher on Friday and Saturday September 13 and 14, 2019. Founding directors Jamel Gaines and Deeply Rooted’s Kevin Jeff (both Queens natives and Bernice Johnson Dance School alums) presented a concert of shared dance philosophies. The evening had a kindred aesthetic; presenting seven works spanning thirty-five years. Continue reading

9/15/19 O&A NYC SUNDAY AFTERNOON JAZZ CONCERT: Bad Blood- Ulysses Dove

ulysses-doveBad Blood received its World Premiere, in 1984 on Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal. Featuring music by Laurie Anderson (Gravity’s Angel and Walking and Falling) and Peter Gabriel (Excellent Birds) the work in an erotic tour de force battle of the sexes. The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre premiered the work in 1986. It is one of seven Dove ballets in the Ailey Company repertoire.  Continue reading

9/11/19 O&A NYC SONG OF THE DAY SPECIAL: Billy Joel – NewYork State Mind ‘ Live’

New York State of Mind is by Soft Rock artist Billy Joel which initially appeared on the album Turnstiles  in 1976. Although it was never a hit song and was never released as a single, it has become a fan favorite and a song that Joel plays regularly in concert. Continue reading

9/5/19 O&A NYC THROWBACK THURSDAY: Jackie Wilson Baby Workout on Shindig 1965


Jackie Wilson was called Mr. Excitement for good reason. With dazzling stage moves and a soaring voice that handled soul, rhythm & blues, rock ‘n roll, standards and more with power, passion & panache, it’s no surprise that generations of artists like Elvis Presley, James Brown, Michael Jackson, Usher and Bruno Mars have cited him as a huge influence. Continue reading

8/12/19 O&A NYC REVIEW: Maze At The Shed

By Walter Rutledge and Adewale Adekanbi Jr.

Maze made its world premiere at The Shed’s Griffin Theater, 545 West 30th Street on July 24.  The production explores “the puzzles and poetry of human existence” taking on issues including the school to prison pipeline and systemic racism in the justice system. This new street dance presentation, commissioned by The Shed for its inaugural season, features sixteen dancers from The D.R.E.A.M. Ring and two performers from The Shed’s FlexNYC program. Continue reading

7/18/19 O&A NYC THROWBACK THURSDAY: Issac Hayes- Theme from Shaft (Live at the Oscars, 1972)

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Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr. was an singer-songwriter, actor, and producer. Hayes was one of the creative forces behind the southern soul music label Stax Records, where he served both as an in-house songwriter and as a record producer, teaming with his partner David Porter during the mid-1960s. Hayes, Porter, Bill Withers, the Sherman Brothers, Steve Cropper, and John Fogerty were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005 in recognition of writing scores of notable songs for themselves, the duo Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas, and others. Hayes is also a 2002 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Continue reading

The 7/17/19 O&A NYC WHATS HAPPENING THIS WEEK: July 17 through July 23, 2019

Heatwave! New York City is getting ready to become steamy, hot, and sticky- yeah summer in NYC is the best! We have great events indoors and out. There is interactive art on Randall’s Island, Dance in Central Park and on Fire Island, and a jazz brunch in Harlem. Here are a few of the many events happening in the city that never sleeps, guaranteed to keep you Out and About. Continue reading

7/5/19 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Infra – Final Duet (The Royal Ballet)

Principal dancers Edward Watson and Marianela Nuñez dance the final pas de deux in Wayne McGregor’s abstract ballet Infra, a moving exploration of emotion, set to Max Richter’s melancholic and beautiful score. Continue reading