Syracuse alum and ATL music/entertainment insider Shanti Das (aka Shoestrings) appeared last week at SXSW on a panel to discuss gender politics in Hip Hop culture. We also heard her on a recent Combat Jack Show where she talked about an upcoming campaign called “Silence the Shame” to create dialogue about mental health.
Das came to CBT last fall.
If you are a SU Basketball fan, you may be missing the team in this year’s NCAA Tournament, but here is some good news about one former player…
Former ‘Cuse bigman Rony Seikaly is now a house music DJ in Miami. He has program on Soundcloud and Sirius XM called “Sugar Free Radio,” and he will spin tomorrow as part of Miami Music Week.
Earlier in the week we were pleased hear, for the first time, Starlett Brown. She performed as one of the acts for the Women in Music event at the Community Folk Art Center.
Brown has sang background for many national-acts. In this clip she shows her range and takes a secular song and folds it into the sacred realm. Listen and let it take you to church…
Here is a Marvin Gaye cover from Thursday’s Women in Music event at the Community Folk Art Center. You’ll enjoy the great melodic synergy between Sherri Williams, Jeff Houston and Travis Reed, plus the slide show of local and national protest photographs that accompanied the song was genius. Almost makes you wanna holler!
Patricia Albright
Vocalist Patricia Albright was one of the first artists to sing for last night’s Women in Music event at the Community Folk Art Center.
Albright was accompanied by Brian Moore (right) on piano.
Vocalist Sherri Williams talked about the impact of music on her family.
We saw five dynamic ladies participate in the Women in Music series last night at the Community Folk Art Gallery (CFAC). The featured vocalist was Sherri Williams. Her set, complete with a visual slide show, reminded us how much our relationship to music has changed in terms of sharing and appreciating songs. Unlike today’s personal device/social media/digital download environment, back in the day we often listened to music as families, and did our own version of liking and sharing. One particular cut Williams remembered hearing through her uncle’s collection was “For the Love of You” by the Isley Bros. Her rendition of that classic, with Jeff Houston on guitar and Travis Reed on keys, ushered in a sweet wave of nostalgia that felt like a late summer cookout.
A spoonful of the brownie waffle makes the funk go down.
Mike Heagerty makes no excuses when it comes to hospitality as he shares a James Brownie Waffle Sundae with musicians at the tribute to James Brown “Doin’ It to Death” (DITD) last week.
Emanuel Washington gets a taste of the James Brown Waffle Sundae during the second set.
Gregory Collins: The Mr. Please, Please, Please of the local Funk Scene
We wish you knew what it was like to experience something this funky. We’re not talking uptown, but strictly some downtown, alleyway, outside of Armory Square, dumpster funk. Emanuel “never miss a beat” Washington organized “Doin It to Death,” a tribute to James Brown and the show had people nearly climbing the walls inside Funk-n-Waffles (downtown) on Thursday. We don’t know if the band (including a killer horn section) rehearsed or had a previous gig, but on this night the force (of funk) was with them indeed. The only thing that would have made this a better outing is if they had been scheduled during the NCAA Regional Finals weekend.
Making short cameo appearances during the two-hour plus show were Washington’s band mates from Sophistafunk, Adam Gold and Jack Brown.
Mike Spadaro: All about the bass
E. Washington, drummer, and a crowd jammin’ on the one.
The multi-generational crowd also roared when Washington announced that he would be putting together a Beastie Boys Tribute in June.
This was a first show at the new Funk-n-Waffles location and the place definitely has the potential to make some noise on the Downtown music scene.
The tight horn section was a Fields sandwich (Dan on trumpet and Nick on tenor sax) punctuated by the book ends of Melissa Gardiner (trombone) and 17-year old Dunham Hall (alto sax).
Anjela Lynn, ladies first
When it comes to bringing the crowd to the Sitrus Lounge, and making them get off their feet and dance, or in some cases sing, nobody does it like Michael & Anjela Lynn. Their second show for the season at the Sheraton Hotel was a perfect celebration of the roots of smooth R&B and the gift of musical enjoyment on Friday. They were backed up superbly by the next generation, aka the Talented Ones.
Deyquan Bowens
John Buda Bowens
Michael Houston
Al Cutri
Anjela gets some help on vocals during the second set