notesong

A heartfelt Thank you!!! to Dr. Shirley Weber and the San Diego State University Africana Studies Department for sponsoring the Arts Summit on Tuesday February 22nd. I enjoyed the opportunity to host the event as moderator. Students, staff, and faculty also enjoyed the very honest and insightful comments by panelist in attendance: playwright/musician Clarence Cutherbertson and choreographer/dancer Teran Brown.

Celebrate!!!!! Black History month is again here and many organizations have been offering a variety of events in the San Diego area. The Martin Luther King Community Choir of San Diego(also known as the M L K Choir-Director Pastor Kenneth Anderson) is in concert season raising money for scholarships to present to deserving young musicians across the county. This philanthropic choir, with a vast sacred repertoire, gives stellar performances both in the U.S. and in Europe. Their program "All 'Bout The Blues" with the San Diego Children's choir Neighborhood Choir was a standing room only event.1 This particular concert at the Logan Heights Branch Library allowed the public to enjoy a different facet of the MLK Choir's musical depth, flexibility and range. The performance included blues music by such greats as Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, Nina Simone, Bessie Smith and Fats Waller. Pastor and professor Ken Anderson has been a source of inspir...

A new year of art, fashion, and creativity is unfolding here in San Diego. Although it's almost the end of January, the weather here feels like early June(without the gloom)and the city is pulsing with activity from East Village's writing circles to Little Italy's art galleries,South East San Diego's cultural celebrations, and City Heights dance festivals.(Sandra Foster King . . .you go lady!!   Foster-King Bio: http://theatre.ucsd.edu/people/faculty/SandraFosterKing/     )

He ya'll. I ran into T (Tony) the "speak just like you mean it, son" blues guitarist of the Fremonts during early morning coffee. Looked for juke joint drummerman Kurt, but T was alone. After some serious "conversatin', T confirmed that the old website has been having a few "issues" and will soon be replaced. So for those fans who are waiting look for the new site . . . here's a little future speak on the real.

Shout out, shout out, shout out!!!!!!!! The long awaited video of the hit single "Role Mama" by Danielle Lo Presti and the Masses is finally here, people --got it from sources at Say It Records. Directed by Gabriel Soto of Semper Productions,this video is a fun positive salute to all those supportive women who helped pave the way for our 21st century freedom.Often invisibilized by constrictive media spin gaze, many of these "sheroes" are standing or sitting right next to you at this very moment. One of them could BE YOU!!!!

Ah yes, my sources are emailing with exciting local theater news. San Diego's theater scene is REALLY happening right now from small theaters to larger regional houses that draw national touring companies. It's a healthy time to be in San Diego for aspiring dancers, singers, actors---and the triple threat combination performers.

San Diego has the distinct honor of being the only major West Coast city in the United States with an internationally acclaimed female Civic organist. Dr. Carol Williams, originally from Britain, is a respected award winning, concertizing, recording artist. She is also the artistic director for the Spreckels Organ Society.                                            Concert organist Carol Williams & Composer,                                                        Robert Jones at   Glocester Cathedral, UK Organ concer...

                                                Delores Fisher pianist Gospel music concerts are usually expressive, energetic worship explosions of individual spirituality embedded in group soundings. These soundings can be vocal, instrumental or various combinations of both. In the past, some African Americans included dance during worship as a necessary component--without it--one's experience would be incomplete.(1.)

  Early Morning Reflection at San Diego Pier  Photo by Delores Fisher   It's been a couple of days now since hearing about the passing of legendary singer Lena Horne. Not much in the news... her career spanned several decades and resulted in landmark achievements for African American women "song stylists" as I like to call those gifted vocalist-whether pop or classical-whose phrasing and emotional commitment to the totality of their songs transcends time. Her life was not without controversy.  She did not tolerate bigotry. She barely tolerated being relegated to "the colored girl with the voice" specialty film cameos. Lena also paid a steep price for loyalty to friends. Thinking back awhile, whenever Lena appeared on TV in the sixties, her performances became sophisticated celebrations of coded resistance, resilience blended with grace and poise. I would sit close to the television, dreaming, hoping that someday I would be like her on stage.  Lena Horne toure...

                                             Professor Richard Thompson                       San Diego State University School of Music and Dance Professor Richard Thompson Composer/Pianist Exciting news!!!!!!! Richard Thompson has consented to an interview to discuss his new chamber opera: "Mask in the Mirror." The work-in-progress premiered informally at San Diego State University featuring School of Music and Dance vocal faculty and guest vocalists. Thompson has been working on the orchestration for approximately a year now. Originally from Aberdeen Scotland, Thompson is an assistant professor of music in San Diego State's School of Music and Dance. He will ta...