Arts + Culture

Acoustic Africa: Dobet Gnahoré, Manu Gallo and Kareyce Fotso   Sun,, Oct. 21, 7 and 9 pm Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant 1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., 612-332-1010 or www.dakotacooks.com Acoustic Africa 2012 focuses on the richness of the African traditions of the voice and the song, featuring three of the continent’s most dynamic up-and-coming vocal […]

Talitha V. Anyabwele’s Black Girl Speaks, makes its area premiere, launching the 2012-13 national tour, at a most appropriate venue, North Minneapolis’ Capri Theater. After all, where better to honor African American women with this celebrated production than the heart of the Black Twin Cities. Author-director-performer-producer Anyabwele states this theatrical experience is, “a series of […]

When a Man Loves a Diva   Every Thurs.-Sat., Oct. 18 — Nov. 10, 8 pm The Lab Theater 700 N. 1st St., Mpls., 612-333-7977 or http://thelabtheater.org  Sanford Moore leads Dane Stauffer, Ben Bakken and Julius Collins, III in singing songs about love that made divas of the women who recorded them. Tickets are $29.50 […]

Longtime collaborator Zsamé featured at party, on album Wenso Ashby featuring Zsamé, premier Twin Cities neo-soul purveyors (Midnite Walkin’, Wenso Ashby Live and Love Is So Amazing) are in transition. Namely, on the newest offerings, The Moment of Truth and Signature, ace pianist-composer-producer Wenso Ashby goes solo. Sterling vocalist Zsamé Morgan and sax wizard Willie […]

More Than Lights’ Sights & Sounds release party Cabooze October 5th and 6th, 8:30 pm 917 Cedar Ave., Mpls., 612-338-6425 or www.cabooze.com  Tickets are $8-$12. This event is for ages-18+. Smoke DZA First Avenue & 7th Street Entry Tues., Oct. 9, 8 pm (in the Entry) 701 1st Ave. N., Mpls., 612-332-1775 or www.first-avenue.com With […]

By Charles Hallman Staff Writer Re-enactments of true events in documentaries are common practice. University of Minnesota professors Rose Brewer and John Wright both were critical of the use of re-enactments in Mighty Times: The Children’s March, which won the best short documentary Oscar in 2005, during a discussion after its August 24 screening at […]

True artists know how to captivate an audience. Inspiration from their musical mentors may have something to do with it. Bassist/vocalist Esperanza Spalding is an artist who knows how to captivate an audience. Just ask Prince. He is very supportive of her work. She’s coming to the State Theatre on September 30. Spalding’s latest Heads Up International album is Radio Music Society. According to her […]

By Charles Hallman Staff Writer Talibah L. Newman wrote and directed Busted on Brigham Lane, and Jesse Atlas and Aaron Wolfe co-wrote Record/Play, directed by Atlas. The two short films were included in the “Relationships” shorts program at the recent Minneapolis Underground Film Festival hosted by the Film Society of Minneapolis/Saint Paul at St. Anthony […]

A music review By Demetairs Bell Contributing Writer Twin Cities Funk & Soul: Lost R&B Grooves from Minneapolis/St. Paul 1964-1979 (Secret Stash Records) allows you to time travel to the days of live instruments, tight horn sections, heavy bass lines and percussions along with raw, uncut funk. The CD features 21 songs that take you […]

Wanda Sykes is wonderful. Just ask anyone who’s seen this stand-up ace in action. She hit town several years back, opening for Tommy Davidson, and had a full house at the Orpheum Theatre absolutely howling. It is wry, dry wit delivered with Swiss-clock timing that distinguishes Sykes as a premier artist. When she returns to […]

We are pleased to present part-two of our interview with world-class bassist Marcus Miller. He performed with his band at the Dakota on Sept 11-12. His new album is Renaissance on Concord Records. MSR: As it’s been referenced in the press material, you feel a change is coming, a changing of the guard, a revolution […]

A music review By Stephani Maari Booker Associate Editor Like many people who weren’t even born during that time, I’m most familiar with the late music legend Etta James through her 1961 classic “At Last.” She had a long string of hits on the R&B/soul chart starting in the mid-1950s (with her biggest hit period […]

Marcus Miller has one of world’s most recognizable bass sounds, and he’s bringing that sound to the Dakota for a two-night stint on Sept 11-12. At 53, his impressive musical résumé reads like a who’s who of some of the best talent in the world. We’re talking Luther Vandross, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Michael Jackson, […]

It is with great pride and pleasure to announce, it’s time to kick back and enjoy one of the best free music festivals in the upper Midwest. I’m talking about the 2012 Selby Ave. JazzFest happening on Saturday, September 8, 11 am — 8 pm, at Selby Avenue and Milton in St. Paul. The festival […]

Bandleader and bassist, Ben Williams is on his way to the Dakota on Sept 4 and 5 with the Pat Metheny Unity Band. He’s also well on his way to carving out a beautiful career. He won the 2009 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition for double bass and is currently a Concord Records recording artist. […]

By Maya Beecham Contributing Writer On any given weekday morning in 1963, average schoolchildren stood upright in classrooms, hand over heart, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. It was a customary act. Ironically, the lives of average Black children and their families during that time were at odds with the pledge’s line, “one nation, under God, […]