Culture. Is. Power.
And I’m talking about the Tony Award winning play, “War Horse” by Nick Stafford based on the Michael Morpurgo novel. The play’s been around for a bit, but I’m still amazed by this production especially the puppeteering by Handspring Puppet Company of South Africa “War Horse” is currently at the Kennedy Center. The International Horse Show is in Washington, DC too. Beautiful horses.
This is the month where programmers and cultural professionals go gaga. It’s always a February feast kicking off with Langston Hughes’ birthday (February 1). If you want to savor the history of the African American experience in the arts, you must, must, must get a copy of Black Magic: A Pictorial History of Black Entertainers in America written by Langston Hughes and history writer/professor Milton Meltzer. The time line for Black Magic begins in Africa and ends at the time of Langston Hughes’ death in 1967. He never saw the final published book. Meltzer died in 2009 at age 94.
As for what’s going on in February I can barely scratch the surface. “Negro History Week” founder and DC resident Carter G. Woodson may have be astounded.
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The U.S. Capitol Historical Society celebration of African American History Month Tribute to the First African American elected to the United States Senate – Hiram Rhodes Revels.
WHEN: Wednesday, February 9, 2011, 12 Noon to 1:00 PM
WHERE: Cannon House Office Building – Room 12, Independence Avenue and First Street, SE
(Metro Stops: Capitol South or Union Station)
WHO: Keynote speaker Laura Turner O’Hara, Historical Publications Specialist for the U.S. Office of History and Preservation. Ms. O’Hara is also Co-Author of ‘Black Americans in Congress 1870 -2007.’
RSVP: RSVP, email uschs@uschs.org or call (202) 543-8919, x. 38, (Automated line: leave message and contact number). This event is free and open to the Public. Seating is limited.
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AFRICA: THE ROOTS OF SALSA
Celia Cruz and the Fania All Stars – Quimbara – Zaire Africa 1974
WHEN: Thursday, February 17, 8:00 PM
WHERE: The Dome @ Artisphere, 1101 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA
http://artisphere.com/
ADMISSION: $5.00
Drumming traditions brought over to the new world by the enslaved peoples from Africa were forbidden in the U.S. The authorities feared the Africans would communicate over distances by way of the drum. However Cuba did not place severe restrictions on the newly arrived Africans. In Cuba the traditions continued. The presentation highlights the marriage of African percussive rhythms with traditional Cuban music-very European in nature in the 20s and 30s. The decade-by-decade journey pays tribute to the Afro Latinos that created a new musical style. Arsenio Rodriguez, Beny Moré, Chano Pozo, Antonio Machin, Mario Bauzá, Machito, and Perez Prado are some of the artists that will be covered. Full circle and back to Africa– artists like Laba Sosseh, Ricardo Lemvo and Africando will be highlighted. Eileen’s presentation is punctuated with vintage film and music clips.
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JESSICA B. HARRIS, “HIGH ON THE HOG”
FOOD & FOLKLORE at EATONVILLE RESTAURANT
WHEN: Wednesday, February 16, 6:30 PM
WHERE: Eatonville Restaurant, 2121 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20010
TICKETS: $45 (plus tax and gratuity) To make reservations, go to www.brownpapertickets.com/event/155216 or call 202-332-9672.
Jessica B. Harris is the author of eleven cookbooks documenting the foods and foodways of the African Diaspora. Harris is one of a handful of African Americans who have achieved prominence in the culinary world. In May 2010, she was inducted into the James Beard Who’s Who in Food and Beverage in America.
In High on the Hog Harris takes the reader from Africa across the Atlantic to America, tracking the trials that the people and the food have undergone along the way. From chitlins and ham hocks to fried chicken and vegan soul, Harris celebrates the delicious and restorative foods of the African American experience and details how each came to form such an important part of African American culture, history, and identity.
The menu, prepared by Eatonville’s Chef Garret Fleming, includes West African Shrimp and Spinach Soup; Sweet and Spicy Curried Goat with Chapati Bread and Smashed Plantains; and Banana Fritters.
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BILL T. JONES/ARNIE ZANE
Bill T. Jones can’t be put in the “black box,” or any box for that matter. The Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane company is coming to The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to perform Fondly Do We Hope… Fervently Do We Pray. According to the program description, “the work, danced to live music, investigates the myriad meanings of Lincoln, rejecting accepted truth in favor of challenging and celebrating the lasting contributions of this great man. By envisioning the America that might have been had Lincoln completed the Reconstruction, Mr. Jones exposes the great distance between what is and what could have been.” With the Lincoln theme, this can be tucked into “President’s Day” as well as Lincoln’s birthday. Bill T. Jones was a Kennedy Center Honors recipient for 2010.
WHEN: February 24 and 25 (there is a post-performance discussion on February 24 with members of the company)
WHERE: John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Eisenhower Theater
TICKETS and SCHEDULE: Go to this link.
The John F. Kennedy Center’s president, Michael Kaiser, has set up a new non-profit –an online arts crisis hotline –for arts organizations needing administrative counseling during the current economic downturn.
The Arts In Crisis initiative connects arts organizations with mentors, Kennedy Center experts, and arts administrators who will consult and advise struggling organizations via email, phone on fundraising, budgeting, marketing, technology, board building. And the site pledges:
Requests for assistance will be handled with respect and held in confidence.
Organizations can register here: http://www.artsincrisis.org
Read more in Jacqueline Trescott’s article on washingtonpost.com.
Jazz has long since left the back rooms and alleys of our communities. It has taken the concert stage and more. Jazz now has a place in the communities. Like-minded people tend to gather together. When you hear or play jazz and direct your energies toward the music, you don’t think of war and crime and all those things that debilitate hearts.
It’s a refreshing change to blog about great artists with a lot of creative mileage on the dashboard and an engine that’s still kickin’. That would be tenor saxophonist and composer Benny Golson who turns 80 January 25th. I believe Benny is on the Freddie Hubbard clip I posted earlier. He recorded “Moanin” with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers in the 1950s.
A special birthday tribute is on the calendar at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for Saturday, January 24, 2009 at 7:30 PM. [There will be a free afternoon concert on the Millennium Stage with the Duke Ellington School of the Arts Jazz Orchestra.] On the bill for the evening event is actor Danny Glover, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, vocalist Al Jarreau, and bassists Ron Carter and Carl Fuller. Tickets are $22 – $50 and are selling out!
If you haven’t heard any of Golson’s compositions, think again. Golson was writing music for television including M*A*S*H, “The Mod Squad,” “Mission Impossible,” “The Partridge Family,” and the last episode of “The Cosby Show.” Golson wasn’t playing sax in the prime time years, but for the jazz enthusiasts, you probably know his standards: “Killer Joe,” “I Remember Clifford,” “Along Came Betty,” “Stablemates
Whisper Not,” “Blues March,” “Five Spot After Dark,” “Are you Real?”
Benny Golson was named a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master in 1993.
I have to admit, I’m not up to speed with jazz these days. And until Dorothy McSweeney told me about this concert, I didn’t know Benny Golson by name or face. Heard some of his tunes, but didn’t make the connection. So here we are. Glad to meet you Mr. Golson and hope you have a Happy Birthday.
Alicia Adams has to have one of the best jobs in the world. She’s the vice president for international programs at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Her job takes her all over the world where she’s presented and introduced to new and traditional works in music, dance, theater, literature, and visual arts. She returns to DC with her treasures and transforms them into an annual festival of arts and culture focusing on a region, culture, or country in our global community.
This year’s festival is “Arabesque: Arts of the Arab World” (February 23 – March 15). Over 22 countries will be represented for performances of traditional and contemporary dance, theater, and music. There will be several programs devoted to literature including poetry by Suheir Hammad of Def Poetry Jam. I produced a public access program with Suheir and Ethelbert Miller several years ago at Provisions Library. It’s one of my favorite video pieces. I had to do a lot of research on Arab music and east coast NYC hip hop to keep up with Suheir’s references. It helped that my first DC job was with the American Arab Affairs Council where I coded the journal’s manuscripts for publication. The Council was co-founded by George A. Naifeh (1924-2006), a retired USIA officer.
Last year I read my second Mahfouz book, The Thief and the Dogs. My first introduction to his writing was Maghrib Alley. I recognized some of Naguib Mahfouz’s characters from my own encounters. I’ve never been to Cairo.
I’m looking forward to the festival. The arts have always been my bridge to people and places that are unfamiliar to my limited experiences, perspectives, and encounters. It’s hard to be creative in a chaotic world or perhaps the arts can make sense of it. At least it makes space to breath again.