Whitney Museum Looks Back at the Mystic Arts of Harry Smith

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Parent Category: Film and the Arts

Category: Previews

Published on Tuesday, 21 November 2023 19:30

Written by Brad Balfour

An eccentric and fascinating figure of the beat era, Harry Smith (1923-1991) pursued animation, art, music archiving, and wrapped his life in mysticism and creativity. Now The Whitney Museum of American Art celebrates his life with a new retrospective exhibition and accompanying festival.

Hosted in conjunction with Smith’s first solo museum exhibition, Fragments of a Faith Forgotten: The Art of Harry Smith, My Harry is a three-day celebration of his life and art, bringing together devoted friends, artists, musicians, and writers who have championed Smith since his death in 1991. 

The program includes contributions from: 

• Carol Bove
• Ali Dineen,
• Bradley Eros
• Raymond Foye
• April & Lance Ledbetter
• James Inoli Murphy
• Rani Singh
• Peter Stampfel
• Charles Stein
• Anne Waldman

And more!

Activities during the festival include a stop motion animation workshop, singing circles, concerts, panel discussions, screenings and more.

To learn more, go to: https://whitney.org/my-harry

My Harry
December 8 - 10

Whitney Museum of American Art
99 Gansevoort Street
New York, NY 10014

History, Art, Film, & Black History Meet [at] The Intersection

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Parent Category: Film and the Arts

Category: Previews

Published on Friday, 06 October 2023 17:33

Written by Brad Balfour

 
Meet history, art and culture [at] The Intersection. Held at the historic Apollo Theater,  [at] The Intersection, running October 6th to the 8th, is a festival to exploring the incredible range of Black innovation shaping our world. Curated by The Apollo’s Artist in Residence Ta-Nehisi Coates.

From award winning actress Kerry Washington to Pulitzer prize winning journalist Nikole-Hannah Jones, to Oscar winning filmmaker Barry Jenkins, to renowned activist Dr. Yaba Blay and multiple Emmy and Tony nominees, the speakers and artists presenting [at] The Intersection are breaking the mold and helping shape the future of film, television, music, dance, theater, food and sports journalism and more. 

The festival opens Friday, October 6 with a screening of three of Barry Jenkins’ films: Medicine for Melancholy, If Beale Street Could Talk, and Moonlight. Jenkins appears again during the Saturday October 7th slate of performances and talks.

To learn more, go to: https://intersection.apollotheater.org/

[at] The Intersection
October 6 - 8, 2023

Apollo Theater
253 West 125th Street 

New York, NY 10027

Organ Virtuoso Booker T. Jones Played A Retrospective in City Winery and is On Stage At Lincoln Center July 12th

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Parent Category: Film and the Arts

Category: Previews

Published on Sunday, 09 July 2023 09:15

Written by Brad Balfour

Preview/Review by Brad Balfour & Bruce Alexander
Photo Above: Bruce Alexander

Lincoln Center Presents
Summer for the City Social Dance
The Stax Academy Rhythm Section
Plus a Special Appearance by Booker T. Jones
Wednesday, July 12
7 pm
The Josie Robertson Plaza

Booker T. Jones in Conversation: A Career Retrospective
David Rubenstein Atrium
Wednesday, July 12
5 pm

Booker T. Jones
April 15th, 2023
8 pm
City Winery Main Venue

The legendary organist Booker T. Jones and his current band performed an amazing gig at The City Winery to celebrate his groundbreaking 1962 “Green Onions” recording. The pop hit was not only unique for being an instrumental but one based on riff heard through Jones’ articulation of the Hammond organ keyboards.

Over 60 years ago, Jones had started playing with his famous group, Booker T. and The MGs, which included guitarist Steve Cropper, bassist Donald Duck Dunn and drummer Al Jackson. Jones had kept The MGs going until bass player Donald Duck Dunn passed away. Drummer Al Jackson died way back in 1975 and guitar player Steve Cropper retired. 

Jones opened his set with “Soul Dressing,” followed by other classics like “Summertime” and “Hip Hugger.” His new killer band now features Vernon “Ice" Black on guitar, Darin Gray on drums and Melvin Brannon on bass. Besides playing the keys, Jones also came out to play several songs on guitar. In addition, it featured a fantastic young female singer who came out on stage to do a killer version of “Respect” , almost stealing the show from him.

He talked about playing with the late soul legend singer Bill Withers and then proceeded to perform “Ain’t No Sunshine.” Jones then went into a groovy tune called “Melting Pot” followed by “Soul Limbo” and “Time Is Time.” That composition had been created for a film score for the movie ” Up Tight.” Booker came back to finish the night with “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” and “Everything is Everything.”

Of course the Grammy winner played “Green Onions” and proved to be as great as he had been back then when he had this hit. City Winery was packed and Booker T. Jones delivered.

Since Booker T has not lost his magic touch, audiences are clamoring to see him. That’s now possible this Wednesday, July 12th. First, at 5 pm, there will be “Booker T. Jones: A Career Retrospective” — and he will be in conversation with Memphis-based DJ Jared “Jay B.” Boyd as they kick off a Southern soul evening.

Then at 7pm, The Stax Academy Rhythm Section will play at The Dance Floor in the Josie Robertson Plaza — which features an appearance by this Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, Booker T. Jones— for a Memphis- style Southern soul party.

And it’s all Free!