11/15/15 O&A NYC Sunday Afternoon Jazz Concert: Ray Charles – Newport Jazz Festival 1960 (Full Concert)

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A soul music icon, Ray Charles was equally conversant in jazz, as he often showcased in the early part of his career. Charles brought his stellar band back to Newport in 1960 for George Wein’s annual clambake and turned in another electrifying performance that easily straddled the jazz and R&B worlds. Continue reading

Missy Elliott – WTF (Where They From) ft. Pharrell Williams

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Missy Elliott has returned in spectacularly weird style in the vibrant, clever video for “WTF (Where They From),” her new single with Pharrell. The clip opens with a handful of New Yorkers already singing along to “WTF” and goes on to feature the rapper and a rotating cast of dancers working locations around the city. Though the concept is simple, the execution is far from it. Continue reading

11/5/15 O&A NYC Wildin Out Wednesday (On Thursday): Obama Does Thriller

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Our Editor In Chief must have been shuffled between time zones, because somehow Throwback Thursday went out yesterday (Technically it was Thursday in China). In order to make things right today is Wildin Out Wednesday On Thursday. For those of you who haven’t put away your Halloween costume, or are still eat candy corn here is Obama Does Thriller. Continue reading

3/28/20 (REPOST) O&A NYC SATURDAY MORNING CONCERT: Agon – With Additional Footage Featuring Diana Adams and Arthur Mitchell

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Agon (1957) is a ballet for twelve dancers, with music by Igor Stravinsky and choreography by George Balanchine. The cast includes:First Pas de Trios Peter Boal, Zippora Karz, Kathleen Tracey Second de TriosAlbert Evans, Arch Higgins, Wendy Whelan Pas de DuetDarcey Bussell, Lindsay Fischer.                                                                                            

And an excerpt from the Pas de Duet featuring Diana Adams and Arthur Mitchell

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12/31/21 O&A NYC Shall We Dance Friday (Repost): Banda (excerpt)- Geoffrey Holder and Carmen de Lavallade

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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

(Repost) 11/16/20 O&A HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Cotton Comes To Harlem- Iris, Officer Jerema and the Paper Bag

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Cotton Comes to Harlem was the beginning of short period in American film that featured black actors in leading roles and the themes dealt with issues from the African-American microcosm. With a screenplay by Arnold Perl and Ossie Davis, and directed by Davis this action drama represents the black prospective. Much of the film’s humor is urban black comedy, which was groundbreaking in 1970.

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10/21/17 O&A NYC THE MORNING FUNNIES/FOOD: Chef’s Chocolate Salty Balls

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Chef’s Chocolate Salty Balls performed by Issac Hayes is the ninth episode of the second season of the animated television series South Park, and the 22nd episode of the series overall. Chef’s Chocolate Salty Balls originally aired in the United States on August 19, 1998 on South Park.  Continue reading