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On the “A” w/Souleo… Author: Feb 13

Keith Sweat wants to help readers make love last forever

Harlem Arts Alliance Presents: On the “A” w/Souleo

Singer-songwriter and syndicated radio host, Keith Sweat doesn’t just sing about love, he now writes about it too with the release of his relationship advice book, Make it Last Forever: The Dos and Don’ts. On Wednesday February 20th, the Harlem native will appear at MIST Harlem for a special book-signing event presented by Hue-Man Bookstore.

While promoting the event, Sweat reflected on his past, admitting that as a younger man he wasn’t always practicing healthy relationship behavior. “In the past there were trials and tribulations that had to do with infidelity. I talked at the person and should have talked to the person and handled things in a hot headed way and should have been calmer,” he reveals.

Now Sweat, declares that he has matured and is ready to share his wisdom. One of his key pieces of advises is to urge people to soul search before making a commitment. “I think I’m where I need to be now. I learned everybody should not be in a relationship and are not built for a relationship. You have to ask yourself am I built for this relationship and the person I’m with do we see things eye-to-eye?”

Let’s hope that your mate is compatible enough with you to enjoy Apollo Club Harlem, a throwback to Harlem’s hottest clubs of the 30’s and 40’s, where jazz reigned supreme. Beginning Monday, modern jazz legend, Dee Dee Bridgewater will headline the event, which marks her debut performance at the Apollo Theater. While she is excited about bringing attention to the history of jazz, she is also concerned about the genre’s present and future state. “They say that jazz holds its own like classical music but it doesn’t enjoy the sales of pop music so record companies close down the [jazz] departments,” she notes. “There is no forward thinking about the music. If individual artists want larger exposure then they have to do it by working with people outside of the jazz world.”

While such collaborations have led to greater mainstream success for jazz artists such as Herbie Hancock, don’t expect Bridgewater to try that strategy on her next album, which will be all blues. “I’m pursuing my own direction and have to be true to my sprit and soul. I am investigating my lineage to go to Mississippi and Memphis, Tennessee where I was born and try and get to know those areas and music,” she says. “I want to understand what my music is made up of and who I am.”

Disco music may not have yet received the same institutional recognition as jazz or classical music, but that’s not stopping Village Voice columnist Michael Musto from throwing a ‘70s Disco Extravaganza at 54 Below. It is likely that banter at the dance party will include Musto reminiscing about his days at the legendary club, Studio 54. As a teaser he shared with us an unpleasant but memorable encounter he had with openly gay disco icon, Sylvester. “I met Sylvester and interviewed him one night. I did not find him all that charming. He really had an attitude,” he says. “When I sat down to interview him he pulled out a recorder to record me at the same time. That was like saying ‘I don’t trust you.’ I was also told he doesn’t want to talk about who he sleeps with. I thought well this is a performer breaking ground but he doesn’t want to talk about it or not to me anyway. But I still worship him and the stuff he did.”

Before you put on your glittery outfit to hit the dance floor you may want to consider the following events. On Valentine’s Day join Ella Veres and her Transylvanian ArtVentures with activists around the world for ONE BILLION RISING, the largest day of action in the history of Valentine’s Day to end violence against women and girls here. Then on Saturday The LeRoy Neiman Art Center in Harlem will present a free screening of the documentary, The Central Park Five followed by a Q&A, open-mic poetry jam and art viewing here.

From Sweat’s new book to ONE BILLION RISING’s campaign, there’s more than one way to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year.

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The Harlem Arts Alliance is a not for profit arts service organization celebrating 10 years of service to a prestigious list of members such as the Apollo Theater, the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, Columbia University, Harlem Stage (Aaron Davis Hall) and over 850 more cultural/arts institutions and individuals. The weekly column, Harlem Arts Alliance Presents: On the “A” w/Souleo, covers the intersection of the arts, culture and entertainment scene in Harlem and beyond and is written by Souleo, founder and president of event/media content production company, Souleo Enterprises, LLC.

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On the “A” w/Souleo… Author: Jan 31

Comedian, Kim Coles Reveals Battle with Depression in One-Woman Show 

Harlem Arts Alliance Presents: On the “A” w/Souleo

 There was a time when the pain behind the laughter brought on by career and financial challenges became almost too much to bear for actress/comedian, Kim Coles. For the first time ever, in her one-woman show, Oh But Wait, There’s More, which makes its New York premiere this weekend, she opens up about her struggle with depression.

“Nobody knows I had a breakdown,” she reveals. “I was always someone who said yes and any obstacle I could figure out my way around it not thinking it was an obstacle. But there came  a point when being tenacious was not enough. I didn’t know how I was gonna get out of it [depression] but I realized sometimes you need to breakdown to break through.”

Now after her beloved role on the hit TV series, “Living Single” and being the first African-American woman to host a primetime game show (BET’s Pay It Off), Coles is ready to share her message of empowerment on the stage with lots of laughter along the way. “I want to get my message out which is love and laughter and create a space where it’s alright to say I’m not alright. I will continue spreading the message.”

Sharing one’s gifts is something that publicist to the stars, Elvira Guzman hopes to inspire with her book, Your Blueprint: An Interactive Guide To Finding Your Purpose In Life. “My book reminds the reader that every individual co-creates his or her life with God and the universe. If you believe you can or cannot do something, you are correct both times. You can co-create any life you want but you must believe that you can achieve it first,” she advises.

Famed cultural critic, journalist and filmmaker, Nelson George is clear about his purpose in life which is to entertain and educate through a new film and discussion series at NJPAC. Beginning Friday Feb. 1 through May 10, he will screen several important films (Jazz on a Summer’s Day, Krush Groove) that document American music from 1959 to 1985. Following screenings will be intimate discussions with celebrities such as Nona Hendryx, Melvin Van Peebles, George Clinton and more. “Some of these films haven’t been seen that much and part of this project is to make sure to experience them at larger than life capacity,” he says. “I also want to talk about what went on outside the frame and why they exist to give it a wider resonance.”

Woodie King, founder of The National Black Touring Circuit’s Black History Month Play Festival also understands the power of the arts to entertain and enlighten. Now in its eight year, King’s festival will once again examine American history from the slavery to civil rights through dramas on the lives of African American historical figures Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. DuBois and Adam Clayton Powell in theaters throughout New York City from February 8-24. While the series has been successful, King hopes going forward that he can receive more funding to expand programming. “I see the festival getting bigger and bigger. We are trying to get a sponsor to do a weeklong program and expand it. So we are reaching out to all these funders now because it is not an expensive festival.”

Speaking of affordable opportunities, this Friday MIST Harlem welcomes 95 Live: The New Jack Hustler Edition. Presented by The High End Agency, the event is the brainchild of Grammy Award winning producer and Harvard University Fellow, 9th Wonder. Joining the line-up of talent for the franchise’s debut in New York City is Hot 97′s Peter Rosenberg and Statik Selektah. The conceptual dance event is an audio excursion through the 1980’s, 1990’s and early 2000’s with inspiration from the classic film, New Jack City and visuals curated by UpNorthTrips.com.

From laughter and empowerment with Coles to dancing at MIST, there’s enough to keep a smile on your face this week.

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The Harlem Arts Alliance is a not for profit arts service organization celebrating 10 years of service to a prestigious list of members such as the Apollo Theater, the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, Columbia University, Harlem Stage (Aaron Davis Hall) and over 850 more cultural/arts institutions and individuals. The weekly column, Harlem Arts Alliance Presents: On the “A” w/Souleo, covers the intersection of the arts, culture and entertainment scene in Harlem and beyond and is written by Souleo, founder and president of event/media content production company, Souleo Enterprises, LLC.

 

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On the “A” w/Souleo… Author: Nov 14

Actress Phyllis Yvonne Stickney Returns After Rescuing a Harlem Neighborhood

Actress Phyllis Yvonne Stickney

 

Harlem Arts Alliance Presents: On the “A” w/Souleo

 In the late 1980’s to mid-1990’s, actress and comedienne, Phyllis Yvonne Stickney was one of Hollywood’s most promising talents. A string of roles in films such as What’s Love Got to Do With It, Malcolm X and the TV series, A Different World won over viewers and critics. However just as she was reaching her peak, Stickney virtually disappeared from the limelight. Now she exclusively reveals to us what she’s been up to for over a decade including transforming the formerly drug-infested St. James Court building in Harlem to launching several new business ventures.

“There was a building in Harlem that became drug infested. I moved away, kept the apartment and after I became famous I came back to save the building. It took 5 years of my life,” she says. “I closed three crack houses and a heroin shooting gallery in my building. I pretty much became a social worker.”

The Harlem Arts Alliance member also experienced career setbacks due to her personal life, which involved the end of a marriage. “I tried to focus on having a marriage, a child. When I wasn’t able to conceive later with my husband it broke up our relationship. So I came back to work.”

Stickney doesn’t look back on her absence with regret even though she admits to turning down highly coveted roles in hit TV shows such as Boston Legal, and  Californication. Throughout the years, Stickney has continued honing her craft and developing new projects including a clothing line, directing and nurturing young talent through the Stickney Theatre Project.

“The challenging thing is connecting to the generation who forgot what I did and remaining relevant. So for me to be a poet, designer and all those things is how I get to pass it on to younger talent.”

Today’s generation could also use a reminder as to the genius of playwright, August Wilson. Signature Theatre is keeping Wilson’s legacy alive with a new production of his Pulitzer Prize-winning The Piano Lesson. The fourth play of Wilson’s epic Century Cycle, The Piano Lesson is a powerful drama depicting the Charles family battling their surroundings and each other over their shared legacy—an antique piano. The new production directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson premiered this past week and runs until Dec. 16th.

Reaching the youth and a broader base is one of the goals of Opera Ebony, the longest surviving African-American Opera Company in the U.S. The organization celebrates its 40th anniversary with a musical montage of Sass’ N Class on Friday, November 16 at Aaron Davis Hall, City College of New York. The 7-year old piece will celebrate America’s best popular music from the catalogs of Duke Ellington, Jerome Kern, Ira Gershwin and Cole Porter. For managing director, Gregory Sheppard the approach of mixing opera with classic and contemporary material is but one of the many ways he aims to make the musical genre more accessible. “We have the ability to take productions to public schools, churches and to areas where the population would more than likely not be exposed to opera and classical singing. By exposing our humanity and presenting programs that are neither stuffy or rigid we break down the barriers that make people feel this music isn’t approachable and is an elitist art form,” he says.

Breaking down divisions of gender, class and political status is one of the central themes of the newly released documentary Sweet Dreams, which had a special screening at MIST Harlem. The film by siblings Lisa and Rob Fruchtman, documents the story of Ingoma Nshya, Rwanda’s first Hutu and Tutsi female drumming troupe, which also founded Inzozi Nziza, the only locally owned ice cream shop in Rwanda. The founders of Brooklyn’s Blue Marble Ice Cream played an integral role in the development of Inzozi Nziza. Rob hopes that this depiction in his film sends a clear message for others to get involved in the development of Africa. “We need to do as much as we can to change the mindset of people around the world who think of Africa as a desperate and impoverished land when, in fact, it is full of creative energy, hope and economic progress.”

Still even with 56% of women in political power, Rob notes that Rwanda has more work to do when it comes to the advancement of women. “The country has made great strides in empowering women, creating job opportunities for them and even eliminating the taboos that prevented women from engaging in male activities, such as drumming. But there are still huge challenges. Domestic violence is an enduring problem, as are children raised by single mothers and lack of education,” he notes.

And although we wouldn’t want to see her go another decade out of the spotlight, Rwanda seems like just the kind of place where Stickney could do quite some good.

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The Harlem Arts Alliance is a not for profit arts service organization celebrating 10 years of service to a prestigious list of members such as the Apollo Theater, the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, Columbia University, Harlem Stage (Aaron Davis Hall) and over 850 more cultural/arts institutions and individuals. The weekly column, Harlem Arts Alliance Presents: On the “A” w/Souleo, covers the intersection of the arts, culture and entertainment scene in Harlem and beyond and is written by Souleo, founder and president of event/media content production company, Souleo Enterprises, LLC.

 

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