Arts + Culture

By Donavee Chappell Contributing Writer F.H. Brown, among other things, is a spoken-word artist, hat designer and painter. Photos courtesy of F.H. Brown Felix Hampton (F.H.) Brown is a self-named “edgertainer”: educator and entertainer with a satirical, political edge. He is also a painter and fashion designer. This man wears many hats — in fact, […]

Science Museum of Minnesota 120 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, 651-221-9444 or www.smm.org Feb. 18 — Sept. 5: Tutankhamen: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs More than 100 artifacts from the tomb of the famed pharaoh and other notable ancient sites are featured in this exhibit. Tickets are $16-$30 (includes admission to the museum’s […]

Milking the Rhino Bell Museum Auditorium, 10 Church St. SE, Mpls., 612-331-3134 or www.bellmuseum.org Thurs., Feb 17, 7 pm: Filmed in some of the world’s most magnificent locations, this documentary offers complex, intimate portraits of rural Africans on the forefront of community-based conservation — a movement that’s turning poachers into preservationists and local people into […]

Channeling enthusiasm: After reading these two words somewhere, I stopped and thought about how one channels enthusiasm. All I had to do was review the previous week’s news items for several powerful examples, many of which I believe could apply to the jazz world. Channeling enthusiasm: President Obama did just that during not one but […]

By James L. Stroud, Jr. Contributing Writer Brian McKnight Brian McKnight fans defied the cold weather, went to downtown Minneapolis, stood in the lobby of the Dakota Jazz Club, and waited with excitement and anticipation for McKnight’s 7 pm performance to end so they could take their seats for his 9:30 pm performance. This was […]

By Eartha Bell Contributing Writer Family is at times powerful, tragic, hopeful, and wrenching. In her first novel, J. California Cooper manages to capture a breadth of emotions as she guides the reader through the lives of a family born into slavery during the Civil War era. Published in 1991 (Anchor Books, $13.95), Family illustrates […]

First Avenue & 7th Street Entry 701 1st Ave. N., Mpls., 612-332-1775 or www.first-avenue.com Fri., Jan. 28, 8 pm: 5th Annual TC Hip Hop Awards With Paris Bennett, I Self Devine, No Bird Sing, Maria Isa, Chrishan, Young Rocky, Illuminous 3, Sick, Anchormen, 925ve, Definition of Dope, Chevy Boy, S.Madison and 50 Tyson Tickets are […]

By Charles Hallman Staff Writer Stephen Smith, co-author of Say It Loud! Great Speeches on Civil Rights and African American Identity -Photo by Laurie Stern Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) in February will debut a new work on Black oratory. Husband and wife Stephen Smith and Kate Ellis will host a 90-minute event February 8 to […]

Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant 1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., 612-332-1010 or www.dakotacooks.com Mon.-Tues., Jan. 24-25, 7 pm & 9 pm: Roy Hargrove Quintet Tickets are $40 for the 7 pm show and $25 for the 9 pm show. Epic Event Center 110 N. 5th St., Mpls., 612-332-3742 or www.epicmpls.com Fri., Jan. 21, 7:30 pm: Angélique […]

James on Jazz By Robin James (l-r) Delfeayo Marsalis, Branford Marsalis and Wynton Marsalis performed at the NEA Jazz Master Awards Ceremony and Concert held in New York Jan. 11. Their father Ellis (left photo) accepted a Jazz Master Award granted to the entire family. -Photos by Charles Skye courtesy of the Associated Press Hello, […]

• Park Square Theatre Historic Hamm Building, 408 St. Peter St., Suite 110, St. Paul, 651-291-7005 or www.parksquaretheatre.org Jan. 14 — Feb. 6: The Odyssey Legendary warrior Odysseus fights tides, beasts, temptresses and his own arrogance on his epic journey to make it home to his wife and son. Tickets are $20 for adults: ($60 […]

The Bookworm Sez By Terri Schlichenmeyer Doesn’t it seem like everybody in the world is weighing in with their Official Best of the Year list? Yeah, well, here’s mine. Here are my Top Picks, Can’t Miss ‘Em, Go Back and Find Them Books for 2010… Fiction One Good Dog by Susan Wilson — I read […]

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHTS: Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant 1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., 612-332-1010 or www.dakotacooks.com Sun., Jan. 9, 7 pm & 9 pm: Stanley Jordan Tickets are $25 for the 7 pm show and $20 for the 9 pm show. Tues.-Wed., Jan. 11-12, 7 pm & 9 pm: Oleta Adams Tickets are $40 for the […]

By Charles Hallman Staff Writer As a young girl in the early 1900s, Lena Baker and her mother pick cotton in rural Cuthbert, Georgia. Much to the chagrin of her mom, Baker later began working as a prostitute because she wanted to move north, but was arrested and sentenced to 10 months’ hard labor. She […]

James on Jazz As we wrap up another year in music, let’s take a moment to reflect on the past year and look ahead a bit. Two things immediately come to mind. First, all the fabulous concerts held in the Twin Cities: Hats off to those responsible for bringing such fine talent to town. In […]