10/30/16 O&A NYC SUNDAY AFTERNOON JAZZ CONCERT: Cab Calloway And Betty Boop- Minnie the Moocher (1932)

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Cab Calloway And Betty Boop- Minnie the Moocher cartoon begins with actual film footage of Cab Calloway dancing a slow and sensuous dance in front of his orchestra as they perform the Prohibition Blues. This is the oldest known film footage of Cab. 

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The haunting and beautiful instrumental, Prohibition Blues, is an old Missourians piece that was recorded by them in early 1930, right before Cab took over as leader of their band. This cartoon has the only recording of the piece with Cab Calloway. By early 1932, when this cartoon was produced, the group had been renamed Cab Calloway and His Orchestra, but in this film, they are still wearing their old Missourians uniforms. 

Cab Calloway And Betty Boop- Minnie the Moocher (1932)

10/26/16 O&A NYC DANCE ENCORE PERFORMANCE: Banda (excerpt) Geoffrey Holder and Carmen de Lavallade (Repost From 10/3/14)

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Geoffrey Holder’s Banda dance debuted in the 1954 Truman Capote/Harold Arlen musical House Of Flowers. Holder the Baron of The Cemetery (based on the Haitian Loa of Death Baron Samedi) and received both a performer and choreographer credit in the program. The Broadway musical takes place somewhere in the West Indies during Mardi Gras weekend. Continue reading

10/25/16 O&A NYC INSPIRATIONAL TUESDAY: Sylvie Guillem- Mademoiselle Non (1993)

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Sylvie Guillem joined the corps de ballet of the Paris Opera at age fifteen. A dance superstar whose breathtaking technique ranks her beside the likes of Nureyev and Baryshnikov the program centers on film of Guillem rehearsing and performing a range of pieces, both contemporary and classical, which display her astonishing virtuosity. Continue reading

(repost) 5/1/23 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Carmen Jones- Gypsy Song – Beat Out Dat Rhythm on a Drum

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In the groundbreaking black version of Carmen Jones there is a wonderful club scene Gypsy Song -Beat Out Dat Rhythm on a Drum featuring three sepia divas, Dorothy Dandridge, Pearl Bailey and Diahann Carroll. But there are at least three more present and future stars in the scene. As Carmen enters the club, the stunning woman with the pony-tail is famous beauty/dancer Carmen De Lavallade. Next two are fabled drummer Max Roach, and albeit just for a couple of seconds, Alvin Ailey! Continue reading

10/23/16 O&A NYC SUNDAY AFTERNOON JAZZ CONCERT: Quincy Jones – Listen Up The Lives Of Quincy (1990)

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Quincy Jones – Listen Up The Lives Of Quincy (1990)  a documentary that presents a unique look at the legendary musician, arranger, composer and producer offers a collage of memories, sounds and intimate interviews with musical greats in a rousing showcase. Continue reading

10/17/16 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Harlem Nights- Eddie Murphy and Della Reese Fight Scene

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Harlem Nights is a 1989 comedy-drama crime film starring Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor. The film also featured Michael Lerner, Danny Aiello, Redd Foxx  (In his last film before his death in 1991), Della Reese  and Murphy’s brother Charlie Murphy. Murphy and Pryor star as a team running a nightclub in late-1930s  Harlem, New York while contending with gangsters and corrupt police officials. Continue reading

10/11/16 O&A NYC WITH WaleStylez MOVIE PREVIEW: Harry Potter Spin-Off ‘Fantastic Beasts

By Adewale Adekanbi Jr.

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Harry Potter film franchise reached its conclusion over five years ago, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the wizarding fun has to come to an end – we can all still look forward to the upcoming Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

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10/10/16 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Tina Turner- The Acid Queen (Tommy)

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The Acid Queen, a song written by Pete Townshend and the ninth song on The Who’s rock opera album Tommy, tells the attempts of Tommy’s parents to try to cure him. They leave him with a gypsy, a self-proclaimed “Acid Queen”. She feeds Tommy various hallucinogenic drugs. Continue reading

10/3/16 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: The Wiz – If You Believe

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If You Believe  performed by Lena Horne as Glinda the Good Witch of the South in Sidney Lumet’s The Wiz, the film version of the popular Broadway musical. The film retells the events of L. Frank Baum’s classic novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz through the eyes of a young African-American kindergarten teacher who’s never been below 125th Street. Continue reading

9/26/16/ O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Do The Right Thing- Radio Raheem Tribute

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Actor Bill Nunn died of cancer on Saturday, September 24  “Radio Raheem is now resting in power, Radio Raheem will always be fighting da powers dat be. May God watch over Bill Nunn.” wrote Do The Right Thing director Spike Lee.  Continue reading