i'm really not the one to be repetitive (something I really loathe to do anyway) but those who had the opportunity to but did not make it out for Round 2 of the ABSOLUT Jams Jazz Talent Search this past Monday, you missed out on an even better showcase of talent—I’m talking next level, "A - material", and this time I’d say that 90% of the talent was very on point! The gloves have been thrown off and the competitors are bringing it as only a chance at $5000.00 can motivate one to perform. I never really knew that there was so many different artists out there yet undiscovered that I haven’t heard of as yet, but I’m open now. At this point I’m not even going to try to sell any more people on this event because those who really know are those who show [up]. Interestingly enough, the women in these contests have been the fiercest competitors, and this past Monday was no exception. Yet another young lady, by the name of Ramona Dunlap, pretty much blew everyone away to the effect that when she was done, even some of her competition joined some of the audience members who gave her a standing ovation—yup, it was pretty much over at that point!  So now we have two finalists (Lola and Ramona) who will be competing against each other as well as the winner of next Monday’s (August 4th) Final Round…yes, the winner from that night will have to do double-duty to beat the other 11 or so contestants THEN turn right around and go up against the best two from the previous rounds.  Intriguing, isn’t it?!  I must sat that everyone did a spectacular job so far, though I have to mention that the final competitor in Round 2 pretty much was there just to publicize his…um…unique brand of music. Let’s just say that the "Gospel Cowboy" was really…um…special; and whatever first comes to your mind after reading his stage name, just let your imagination take you there.  I mean, dude had a country music track to "Just a Closer Walk With Thee" (choreography included), steel-toe black boots (w/spurs), black Stetson cowboy hat, a silvery satin shirt, black wrangler jeans, and all on a man that could be mistaken for Grady from "Sanford & Son"—words can’t really describe but it was a memorable finish to an already interesting event!  Next Monday is going to be a little different, so those who’ve been coming out, you DO NOT want to miss this!

Going back one day earlier to last Sunday (07.27) at Eleven50, this month’s edition of Dr. Lloyd "Doc G" Geddes’ Front Row Series was, as always, very on point!  This month’s artist was none other than Faith Evans looking beautiful as ever and sounding just as lovely.  She knocked out about 5 tunes taking us way back with "You Used to Love Me" from the first joint.  I was, however, kinda concerned about coming too close to the stage because her mammoth of a bodyguard was scopin’ everyone who even breathed the wrong way and dude was scary!  Anyway, Faith had the whole place in check, especially the men, as she ran through selections from pretty much all her albums with a sole DJ running her music as opposed to a full band, but none of us cared!  Prior to Faith, none other than local phenom, Phillippia (backed by the Teddy White band), got the whole auditorium hyped up with a melody of current hip-hop joints mixed with her fiery vocals…a re-enactment of what you’d see if you catch her shows at Taboo Bistro on Sundays at around 9pm.  Overall, the production from the reception all the way down to the late night dance set after the show was exceptional, as always and "Doc G" is pretty much setting the bar for others to reach in terms of quality entertainment and top local and national acts.  Technically, this was to be the last regular series concert with a grand finale during the last weekend of August on Lake Lanier Island. However, as told to me direct from the man himself, there will be one more concert at Eleven50 occurring on August 24th (performers to be announced), followed by the grand finale at the end of September.  For more details and photos from previous events, go to www.docgproductions.com.  Great job, "Doc"!

I would also like to commend Keith "Kebo" Brown (head honcho of the www.Hushbox.com  for the outstanding job he did with the private tasting that he orchestrated for Martell Cognac for their signature brands.  The detail was impeccable and the presentation was first-rate with the renowned Cellar Master, Patrick Ragenaud who even gave the attendees a detailed lecture on the beginnings of Martell, the intricate process that went into each marquee that was presented before each seated taster (VS, VSOP, Cordon Bleu, and XO) that involves selecting the right vineyards with the right soil content right down to the aging process and final bottling. I’ve learned more about distillation that evening than I’ve ever known before, and could probably hold an educated conversation with anyone about this particular subject, and I don’t even consume alcoholic beverages!  It is interesting to note that African-Americans are their largest consumers, making up around 80% of their entire market…yes…8 - 0 - %!  Last year alone, Martell’s revenue checked in at about $3.5 billion; so…um…what does that tell you about the economic power of African-Americans while simultaneously raising the question of why there is a lack of "return on investment" of said community, as well?  You think about that while men and women like Mr. Brown, who don’t have to answer that question, make the most of their opportunities/relationships with companies who benefit significantly from African-American consumers.  For those who attended, I hope you took notes…and then I hope you took notes.

• WCLK 91.9FM hosts this week’s Wednesday Wind down at Centennial Park /5:30pm – 8:30pm.  Featured artists include Julie Dexter, Phillippia, and a special performance by 1st and 2nd Round winners of the past two ABSOLUT competitions, Lola Gully and Ramona Dunlap, respectively.
• Day 1(of 2) of the SMI/ASCAP Smirnoff Ice Triple Black Urban Music Showcase at The Park Tavern.  Neo-Soul/R&B night’s roster includes Sleepy Brown, Ramona Debreaux, Heston, and others. Doors @8pm/FREE.

Tracy Chapman resurfaces on the music scene with the "Let it Rain Tour" with special guest Joseph Arthur at The Tabernacle @8pm.

Atlantis Music kicks off today, running until Saturday, August 2nd.  Visit www.atlantismusic.com for full conference details, times, venues, and schedule of performances/special events/panels.  Any of you aspiring songwriters, musicians, and would-be or up-and-coming industry peeps…this is your "how-to" weekend and it’s only $25 to cop the wristband for access to all performances throughout the city, as opposed to paying $8-15 per show.

THURSDAY (07.31)

• Day 2(0f 2) of the SMI/ASCAP Smirnoff Ice Triple Black Urban Music Showcase at The Park Tavern.  R&B/Hip-Hop night’s roster includes Pastor Troy, Koncrete, TCP, Rico Wade, and more.  Doors @8pm/FREE.

• Soul Sista’s Juke Joint returns at its regular time BUT at a new location!  From now on, the best and original all-female talent showcase will take place at Endenu Restaurant (392 Marietta Street/Downtown)…and it will be FREE!  Yes, you won’t have to be one of the first 17 men, or even be a man at that!  Show @9:30pm.

• Dionne Farris in concert (as part of the Atlantis Music Conference), with special guests Slick & Rose, Julie Dexter, and more.  Apache Café (go to www.apachecafe.info for complete details).

SATURDAY (08.02)

• SESSION SATURDAYS at Tarrazu Coffeebar  www.tarrazucoffeebar.com  featuring the world-renowned (though only locally known) band, The Formula (with a different guest vocalist each week)…and yes, I am aware that the previous statement was an oxymoron.  From 9pm – Midnight/no cover.  Come and witness freestyle jam sessions, as you’ve never seen/heard it before. 404.815.2077.

• Paul Morton(of Freestyle Nation) in concert, for the Atlantis Music Conference, with additional performances by Inobe, Chiedza, EmDee, and more.  Apache Café (go to www.apachecafe.info for further details).

Have you ever heard a voice so smooth, so mellifluous, so elegant yet gritty, so soulful?  Donny Hathaway could just breathe and it would as if he were singing.  You could think that because it was so effortless.  Then to have experienced it "live" would have been a dream come true...had I been born a few years earlier.  If this isn't in your collection, or if your original vinyl copy is old and scratched, it's available on CD, has been for a while, digitally recapturing the genius of an otherwise troubled man.  I love Marvin Gaye, but Donny flipped the whole game by doing his own cover of "What's Going On" as the intro track, and did in such a way that his and Marvin's don't even sound anything alike except that the words are the same.  It's thrilling to me to live vicariously through the audience who's enthralled and excited voices are captured on the recording, which is a combination of two concerts; one at the Troubadour in Hollywood, CA and the other at the Bitter End in New York City (almost prophetic).  Other tracks include the classics, "You've Got a Friend" and the jam session version of "The Ghetto".

   (1945-1979)

"We're Still Friends" is one of my favorite cuts with its bluesy/soulful orchestration coupled with melancholy lyrics of two lovers who've parted ways but bump into each other later in life, still cool with each other.  If you ever remember the feeling you had when you when to a jam session, or a "live" concert that wasn't held in a large place with a lot of people close together just enjoying great music (think Apache or even Nuyorican for my NY peeps), this is the true essence of what happens when music is made in the moment...and you're right ther e a part of it all.

As a follow up to the possibility of seeing one of the largest entertainment company mergers since AOL and Time/Warner did their thing, MGM recanted its offer to link with Vivendi Universal.  The pullout was simply because MGM valuated VUE at $11.5 Billion, but VUE was asking MGM for $14 Billion…and nothing less.  Right, someone was trippin’ in France during that board meeting!  Other players in this hookup game include NBC, Liberty Media, Viacom, and an independent investment group.  However, MGM might pull a U-turn if the price dip s.  Now I see why stockbrokers have alimentary issues and can be suicidal the higher the stakes are.

MTV’s Video Music Awards airs on August 28th, "live", with Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliot leading the votes with eight nominations (including Video of the Year) off of one video, "Work It".  Justin Timberlake (7 noms) and Johnny Cash (6 noms) fill out the rest for the top three with the most nominations.  Besides anything else, two things really stand out to me about this particular show: 1) it’s airing "live", and 2) Chris Rock is hosting…make a note to yourself to set your unit on "record".

Looks like the "cat" is back...without the tail, though.  Napster is slated to resurface around the Christmas holidays, but all the legalities are in place, this time.  Napster 2.0, however, will not be it’s file-sharing self so that means you’ll have to buy each individual song, with your choice of the 500,000 songs in their current catalog.  They’ve also thrown in Internet radio programming, sorta like the whole XM Satellite Radio.  For some reason, though, I just don’t see this blowing up.

Probably one of the most interesting and controversial things I’ve ever heard of, given everything what I have been exposed to in the world of Hip-Hop/Rap, is the genre’s newest variation called "Flip-Hop".  Prepare yourself for the first self-proclaimed star of this new twist, TruDog, with his appropriately named debut album…are you ready for this…The Notorious Homo Thug!  For those of you waiting for a punch line…I have none to offer.  Seriously, this man is attempting to (and just may) shake up the industry by releasing his music as well other Hip-Hop artists who are openly gay.  For more details on this, click this link: http://www.eurweb.com/articles/musicpages/07302003/musicpages1073907302003.cfm

This is definitely groundbreaking and historical given the very macho, misogynistic, and gay-unfriendly world of Hip-Hop/Rap, and I can only sit back and watch what happens because I really can’t call this one at all.  Not even commenting from just a heterosexual standpoint but from an industry-insider or even consumer aspect, I am really wary at how well this will do…I have to wonder if even the gay community (especially the African-American sector) would feel that this genre is going to have one of the most difficult jobs to pull off a feat of this magnitude and the tremendous amount of antagonism these artists are going to face.  From a marketing aspect, I don’t know if "Homo Thug" would be the way to go, but then it is eye-catching; I just don’t see a video with this dude in a pool with other dudes in bikini thongs, as the counterpart/antithesis to videos with the same storyboards you currently see now on MTV and BET, although that would be an interesting satirical approach to combating misogyny.   Well…we’ll just have to wait and see.   

Bob Hope I really, really enjoyed Bob Hope, and because of his rich legacy he left behind, I still will.  Everyone is writing their particular piece on him, but I’ll just say from my personal experience, that he was one of the funniest and wittiest comedians I’ve ever seen (old or new school).  I truly admire his dedication with sharing his gift to the world, literally, and especially when boosting the morale of American troops throughout so many different eras of war…even when it put him in harm’s way.  His "Road to…" movies were my first introductions to his comic genius, and his specials were always something I caught growing up.  Consistency, longevity, and a loyal fanbase are some of the most highly-coveted things industry people can only hope they will ever have…if even one out of three.  To top it off, how many people can say they lived a full life at 100 years of age and doing the thing they loved to do, day in and day out?  Much respect and love to the memory of one man who did.

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Life is short…so what’s taking you so long—Ahmed

peace2ya!