4/1/18 O&A NYC OUT AND ABOUT- WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK: Spring Break!!!!

Spring Break is here! And the city is abounding with activity “24- 7- 365”. We have art celebrating popular culture in Harlem. Ballet, modern and more throughout the city. Blockbuster and Indie film share the silver screen,  jazz to Motown grooves Midtown and the world’s most exotic cars hit the westside. Here are a few of the many events happening in the city that never sleeps guaranteed to keep you Out and About. Continue reading

3/25/18 O&A NYC THEATRE REVIEW: Chicago- Valerie Simpson Takes No Prisoners As Matron “Mama” Morton

By Walter Rutledge

Songwriter, recording artist, entrepreneur, and restauranteur Valerie Simpson can now add Broadway thespian to her impressive list of accomplishments. On March 12, 2018 Simpson made her Broadway debut as Matron “Mama” Morton in Broadway’s longest running musical Chicago. For her six-week run (through April 22) Simpson is flanked by a talented cast of Broadway veterans including: Amra- Faye Wright as the Vaudeville villainess Velma Kelly, Bianca Marroquin– the murderous ingénue Roxie Hart and Chaz Lamar Shepard as brash barrister Billy Flynn. Continue reading

3/4/18 O&A NYC SUNDAY AFTERNOON JAZZ CONCERT: Mary Lou’s Mass-Excerpt Featuring The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Alvin Ailey’s collaboration with jazz pianist and composer Mary Lou Williams, two artists who shared roots and memories in the southern church, is a deeply spirited theatrical experience.
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3/7/24 O&A NYC THROWBACK THURSDAY- CELEBRATING WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: Billie Holiday – Strange Fruit

Strange Fruit a song performed most famously by Billie Holiday, who first sang and recorded it in 1939. Continue reading

2/25/18 O&A NYC SUNDAY AFTERNOON JAZZ CONCERT: Black Violin – Broward Center For The Performing Arts (1/25/2018)

Black Violin, the hip hop duo from South Florida comprising two classically-trained string instrumentalists, Kevin Sylvester and Wilner Baptiste, who go by the stage names Kev Marcus and Wil B, respectively. Continue reading

2/16/18 O&A NYC MUSIC- CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Miles Davis

Miles Dewey Davis III,  the iconic American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th century music. Davis adopted a variety of musical directions in his five-decade career which kept him at the forefront of a number of major stylistic developments in jazz. Continue reading

2/14/18 O&A NYC SONG OF THE DAY- VALENTINE’S DAY ENCORE PERFORMANCE: My Funny Valentine – Dee Dee Bridgewater & The Italian Big Band

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My Funny Valentine performed by Dee Dee Bridgewater & The Italian Big Band brings a jazz favor to the day that honors romance.  Continue reading

1/7/18 O&A NYC SUNDAY AFTERNOON JAZZ CONCERT: Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers- Moanin’ (1958)

Moanin’ stands as one of the archetypal hard bop compositions and albums of the era, for the intensity of Blakey’s drumming and the work of Morgan, Golson and Timmons, and for its combination of old-fashioned gospel and blues influences with a sophisticated modern jazz sensibility. The album was identified by jazz critic Scott Yanow  as one of the 17 Essential Hard Bop Recordings.  Continue reading

12/3/17 O&A NYC SUNDAY AFTERNOON JAZZ CONCERT: Dave Brubeck – Take Five ( Original Video)

Take Five (Live) by The Dave Brubeck Quartet is a 1961 live album by the American jazz singer Carmen McRae,  focusing on the songs composed by Dave Brubeck. Continue reading

11/5/17 SUNDAY AFTERNOON JAZZ CONCERT: Shirley Horn– Here’s To Life

Shirley Horn performs Here’s To Life at North Sea Jazz Festival with Het Metropole Orkest, 1994 Continue reading