2/21/17 O&A NYC INSPIRATIONAL TUESDAY: Ajani the Brave

Ajani the Brave, an African folk tale about a boy going on a quest to overcome his fears. The animation was produced by Aphton Corbin from the California Institute of Arts. Continue reading

2/16/17 O&A NYC DANCE- BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Bad Blood by Ulysses Dove

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Bad 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

2/15/16 WHAT THE FUNK!: Sly & The Family Stone – Higher And Higher Live (1969)

I Want to Take You Higher, a song by the soul/rock/funk band Sly and the Family Stone, which also featured Stand! on the B side. Unlike most of the other tracks on the Stand! album, “I Want to Take You Higher” is not a message song; instead, it is simply dedicated to music and the feeling one gets from music. Continue reading

2/9/22 O&A NYC WILDIN OUT WEDNESDAY: Richard Pryor Show- Mojo Healer

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Richard Pryor shows up with energy and comic timing as Mojo the medicine man, who attracts his cult with the divine words “Let Mojo heal it!” Continue reading

2/14/17 O&A NYC DANCE- VALENTINE’S DAY: A Song For You- Dudley Williams/ Choreography Alvin Ailey

 

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In 1972, Alvin Ailey created the elegiac solo Love Songs for dancer Dudley Williams. The  sixteen minute solo, composed in three sections includes A Song for You by Donny Hathaway; Poppies by Nina Simone; and He Ain’t Heavy, He’s my Brother by Donny Hathaway. Many  thought of the work as the male equivalent of the female solo Cry (1971). Continue reading

2/14/17 O&A NYC WHAT THE FUNK- VALENTINE’S DAY: Ebony Eyes- Rick James featuring Smokey Robinson

Ebony Eyes by super freak Rick James and Motown balladeer Smokey Robinson for the Gordy (Motown) label. The song was first featured on James’ album Cold Blooded. Continue reading

2/14/17 O&A NYC MUSIC: Tribe Called Quest Grammy Performance

Tribe Called Quest gave the most politically charged performance at the 2017 Grammy Awards. Continue reading

2/13/17 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Foxy Brown Starring Pam Grier (Opening and Fight Scene)

A voluptuous black woman takes a job as a high-class prostitute in order to get revenge on the mobsters who murdered her boyfriend. Continue reading

2/13/17 O&A NYC WHAT THE FUNK! PUMPING IT UP FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Parliament Funkadelic: P-Funk Wants to Get Funked Up- Mothership Connection (Houston 1976)

What The Funk! O&A NYC honors the sound that defined the defiant 70’s. “Make my funk the P.Funk, I wants to get funked up”.  Continue reading

2/12/17 O&A NYC GOSPEL SUNDAY: Ain’t Gonna Let No Body Turn Me ‘Round- The Freedom Singers In Performance at the White House

(Ain’t Gonna let Nobody) Turn Me Round performed by The Freedom Singers at the White House Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement.
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