The Twin Cities and beyond will be awash in purple this week as Prince fans mark the two-year anniversary of the music legend’s April 21, 2016 passing. The University of Minnesota symposium and panel discussions are at capacity, but there’s still plenty to do to celebrate the Purple One’s legacy. Below we’ve compiled a list of a […]
Music
Local and national stories, reviews, and information highlighting African American music and artists.
Posted inArts + Culture, Music
‘U Have the Right’ sounds the alarm on teen rape
U Have the Right (a CD from the High School for the Recording Arts, 2002) stands any test of time. Created and performed by teens, it is spoken word prose-poetry no less significant or artistically sound than such social commenters as Sha Cage, E. G. Bailey and Truth Maze. To this day, U Have the […]
Posted inArts + Culture, Music
Earth, Wind & Fire with special guest Sinbad coming to Minnesota State Fair
It was announced today that legendary R & B group, Earth, Wind & Fire with special guest Sinbad have been added to this year’s Minnesota State Fair entertainment lineup. The Hall of Fame and nine-time Grammy award-winning group will appear on the Grandstand August 26 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $39-49 and go on sale […]
Posted inArts + Culture, Music
Toki Wright aims to educate and engage on The Current’s new hip hop show
Throughout his illustrious career, Toki Wright has educated many on the history of hip hop. Now he’s using the public radio airways as his classroom. “Wright About Now with Toki Wright” premiered February 28 and now airs Wednesdays at 10 pm Central time on Minnesota Public Radio’s (MPR) The Current — 89.3 FM in the […]
Posted inArts + Culture, Music
Take 6 and Manhattan Transfer joust in fun at the Ordway
Two Grammy Award-winning groups — one delivering four-part harmonies as the quartet Manhattan Transfer, and the other being one of the most versatile a cappella groups in the music business as sextet Take 6 — performed live to a sold-out auditorium at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul on Feb. 15. […]
Posted inArts + Culture, Music, Photo Galleries
Diddy, Cardi B., DJ Khaled and more light up Players Ball
The Players Ball concert in Minneapolis after Super Bowl LII Sunday, Feb. 4 was a real crowd-pleaser. Even though The Armory doors opened 30 minutes late and people had to wait in the bitter cold, it didn’t take long for Kid Capri and other DJ’s to warm up up the crowd spinning the latest and […]
Posted inArts + Culture, Music
Snoop didn’t disappoint at Super Bowl Gospel Celebration
The walls didn’t come crashing down at Bethel University’s Benson Great Hall as some thought just because famed rapper Snoop Dogg performed at the annual Super Bowl Gospel Celebration. Snoop performed two songs from his forthcoming non-secular album, Snoop Dogg Presents the Bible Of Love, including “Blessing Me Again” accompanied by Rance Allen of the […]
Posted inMusic
Super Bowl and upcoming shows will provide a feast for music lovers
The James on Jazz journey continues in 2018. It’s hard to believe we started this journey back in 2000. thank you for hanging in there. There’ve been some pauses along the way, nevertheless, it’s always an adventure and richly entertaining for all of those on board. Lately, the talk of the town is the Super […]
Posted inArts + Culture, Music
Legendary jazz trumpeter and activist, Hugh Masekela, dead at 78
Hugh Masekela was one of the few jazz artists to penetrate pop music with covers of “Up, Up and Away” in 1967, and the next year, the through-the-roof hit “Grazing in the Grass” — his unique trumpet style rendering the mellow, laid-back tune a strutting ode to quintessential cool. Released in May and topping the charts […]
Posted inArts + Culture
Free Super Bowl LIVE concert series: schedule and additional acts revealed
Free 10-day fan fest coming to Nicollet Mall Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis will be the site of the massive free, 10-day fan festival leading up to Super Bowl LII on February 4. Events include a robust schedule of free concerts throughout the 10-day festival that opens Friday, January 26 at 4 pm. Minnesota music legends Jimmy Jam and […]
Posted inArts + Culture, Music
Stokley brings “sonic healing” to the Ordway
On Sunday, December 10, 2017, Stokley Williams, the Grammy-nominated vocalist, songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist best known as the lead singer/drummer for the R&B group Mint Condition, kicked off his Sonic Healer Tour at the Ordway Concert Hall in St. Paul. Williams first captivated the audience with a variety of his original new music. Throughout his performance, […]
Posted inArts + Culture, Music
‘Tis the season for Sounds of Blackness
The timeless phrase “Twas the night before Christmas” from the classic ode, A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore, has never been quite the same since Gary Hines and Sounds of Blackness (www.soundsofblackness.org) got their hands on it and took the yuletide scenario to soulville with the annual heartwarming The Night before Christmas — A […]
Posted inArts + Culture
Fats Domino, rock-and-roll’s ‘Blueberry Hill’ legend, dies at 89
Fats Domino was there at the beginning, a rock-and-roll pioneer on a par with Chuck Berry and Little Richard. Indeed, his recording “The Fat Man” was the first in the genre to move a million units. Arguably the true king, between 1955 and 1960 he had 11 Top-10 hits with overall sales surpassed only by Elvis […]
Posted inArts + Culture
REVIEW: Joey Alexander Trio at the Dakota
If you want to simply describe 14-year-old Joey Alexander as a remarkable child prodigy who happens to play jazz, well you needn’t. He’s on a much higher plane. The pianist, composer and bandleader from Indonesia made his Dakota Jazz Club debut with his trio on Sunday night, October 15. It was his first performance at the club, […]
Posted inArts + Culture
Local opera star returns home to headline benefit concert
Taking a short break from packing for her upcoming trip to her hometown, soprano Brittany Renee Robinson spoke to the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder about what attendees can expect from her appearance at Faith Tabernacle Gospel Fellowship’s (FTGF) 30th anniversary concert. The New York City transplant explains that performing at her mother Yvonne’s church was planned for […]
Posted inPhoto Galleries
PHOTOS | 16th Annual Selby JazzFest brings out music lovers
Lawn chairs and smiling faces filled the intersection of Selby Avenue and Milton in St. Paul, as jazz enthusiasts gathered Saturday, September 9 for the 2017 Selby JazzFest. Attendees enjoyed the smooth sounds of MotorSOUL Collective, New Sound Underground, Walker West Music Academy’s Urban Legends of Jazz, Salsa Del Soul and more at the annual fest, […]
Posted inArts + Culture
2017 Selby Ave JazzFest lineup announced
Mychael Wright, founder of the Selby Ave JazzFest and owner of Golden Thyme Coffee Café, recently announced the entertainment line-up for the 2017 Selby Ave JazzFest. “With 2017 marking our 16th anniversary, I wanted to bring in a mix of past fest performers and a few acts who are starting to tear things up,” stated […]
Posted inArts + Culture
Afro Cuban All Stars share Cuba’s rich culture
Juan de Marcos González reflects on vibrant musical heritage For Juan de Marcos González, there are three pillars that are constants in his life: family, spirituality and music. From his days as a relative unknown paying his dues, to the enviable position he now occupies, each of these elements have always been intertwined in ways […]
Posted inArts + Culture
CD REVIEW: Chastity Brown’s ‘Silhouette of Sirens’
Premier vocalist-songsmith Chastity Brown’s Silhouette of Sirens (Red House Records) takes a serious, hard-earned next step. The artist’s ascent has been fascinating to witness. Years ago, principally by benefit of sheer grit, she took to You Tube and self-produced discs of erratic quality and varied fidelity, introducing herself to the Twin Cities after knocking around in Memphis and […]
Posted inRemembering Prince
Prince-inspired art coming to Southside utility boxes
Residents of the Central neighborhood in Minneapolis will soon see a bit more purple, as Prince-inspired artwork is set to launch on select utility boxes next month. The initiative entitled Project Purple was created and funded by the Central Area Neighborhood Development Organization (CANDO), and has been in the works since Prince’s passing in April of […]