John Steinbeck said, “We learn a great deal about people by listening to their music. Listen to their songs, for into the songs go the anger, fears and frustrations, the hopes and aspirations.”
I have created a series of videos that highlight the role of women in the labor movement. Each video portrays an event and includes a song that is related to the event or to the labor movement in general.
The subjects of this video, the third in the series, are the 1913 Calumet Massacre, Anna “Big Annie” Clemenc and the song, “Which Side Are You On?”
Some musicians shine in the studio but don’t quite have what it takes live and on stage. Here are some male performers who could/can do both. Women to follow shortly.
FLY ME TO THE MOON/FRANK SINATRA
Who and what is “cool”? That reminds me of Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart’s comment about pornography and obscenity: “I know it when I see it.” What’s “cool”? Watch this. Sinatra was so at ease with himself, so subtle. A flick of his head, a slight movement of his shoulders, a swinging style and a great storyteller.
TUPELO HONEY/VAN MORRISON
Some of Van Morrison’s performances move me like no other artist. Listen to this one, which includes an incredibly inspired solo by saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis.
TO BE LOVED/LONELY TEARDROPS/ ALONE AT LAST JACKIE WILSON
Before there was Michael Jackson there was James Brown and before Brown there was Jackie Wilson. Known as Mr. Entertainment, Wilson could dance and sing like few others. Here, Wilson’s brilliant multi-octave tenor is on display.
TRY A LITTLE TENDERNESS/OTIS REDDING
Otis Redding was a major figure in soul and R and B during the early and mid-sixties. First recognized for his soulful and highly energized live performances, Redding soon became a major recording artist. His last hit, Dock of the Bay, was recorded a few days before his death in late 1967 and released in early 1968. Redding died in a plane crash at the age of twenty-six. Here’s Otis and “Try A Little Tenderness” performed during one of his fabulously successful European tours.
SO WHAT/MILES DAVIS AND JOHN COLTRANE
In the mid-fifties Miles Davis lead a small band, which included the young saxophonist, John Coltrane. Their music changed the course of jazz. In this video both are featured in “So What” a song from Miles’ seminal album Kind of Blue. The best selling jazz album of all time is also, arguably, one of he most influential musical works ever produced. While Miles and Trane made incredible music there were times when Miles would become impatient with Coltrane’s lengthy solos. Coltrane would respond to Miles exasperation with, “I don’t know how to stop ,” to which Miles would respond, “Just take the effin horn out of your mouth.”
NESSUN DORMA/LUCIANO PAVAROTTI
And what was the best live performance I ever attended? Not even close. Listen to this now popular video of Luciano Pavarotti. Adults, dressed to the nines, were standing on their seats, cheering. Never saw anything like it. It still raises the hair on my arms when I listen to it.
Cat Dwyer’s photos of The Mosaic Dance and Theater Company, including dancers Samara Adell, Mary Susan Sinclair-Kuenning and Naima. From Tuesday night’s Artists Without Walls’ Showcase at The Cell Theatre in NYC.
Artists Without Walls’ growing multicultural community includes singers, dancers, painters, writers, actors, oral historians, poets, and cultural enthusiasts. Joining us for Tuesday night’s showcase will be Samara Adell, the founder of the Mosaic Dance Theater Company, whose objective is not unlike Artists Without Walls’. MDTC develops and presents original dance, theater, and educational programs celebrating the rich diversity of cultures and folkloric traditions of the Mediterranean, including the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey, Greece, Italy, and Spain. The dances and music, the stories and myths, and the history and legends of this fascinating area of the world form the wellspring of inspiration for MDTC’s creative vision. On Tuesday night, Samara and two members from MDTC’s troupe will be performing original works from MDTC’s extensive repertoire of dance.
Marni Rice
Chanteuse-Accordionist and Theater Artist Marni Rice, whose musical repertoire includes vintage French Chanson, Euro Cabaret Songs and original music will be performing songs from herEP (Extended Play) Songs for a Small Chamber, a collection of original ballads. Marni’s goal is to create and present musical and theatrical performance works for an international audience, and to bridge the gap between people across cultural and linguistic barriers.
Filmmaker and writer Stephanie Silber will be reading from The Lemon Tree, a story of the day in the life of a little girl who’s been separated from her many siblings and sent to stay with her grandma following her mother’s collapse from nervous exhaustion. The story contemplates the question of what it means to be wounded; how trauma is experienced, and the redemptive possibility of healing.
Chris Stover
Recording artist, composer and trombonist Chris Stover will be playing a brand new solo arrangement of Chico Buarque’s “Apesar de você. ” Chris said, “The song is dedicated to all of his friends in Brazil, fighting the good fight and making things happen over the last weeks – saravá, gente!”
Jenai Huff
For almost two decades Jenai Huff managed bands because she felt that music could impact the world in a positive way. Now, with her first CD, Transitions, released in 2011 she wants to do just that. And certainly the world could use some positive impressions these days. A little bit folk, a little country and a touch of bluegrass, Jenai is currently recording her second CD and will be performing songs from her new work.
Mark Donnelly will perform a monologue from the climactic scene in his one-act play The Steamfitter’s Dream. The monologue, which occurs in a Manhattan bar, centers around a middle aged, alcoholic construction worker trying to convince a young man that the drinking life is not something to aspire to. The play was published in Best Men’s Monologues of 1998 by Smith and Kraus.
And there will be more. The Showcase begins at 7pm at the The Cell Theater, located at 338 West 23rd St., NYC. Hope to see you there.
One of the objectives of Artists Without Walls (AWoW) is enabling the exchange of ideas, methods, and creative concepts by connecting people of various cultures and communities.
A few months ago, brothers from Ireland, Owen and Moley Ó Súilleabháin, teamed up with the dynamic spoken word poet from Nigeria, Koro Koroye, after meeting at an AWoW Showcase. They performed new works that bring together Latin Gregorian chant and sacred songs from ancient Ireland with poems-some in Koro’s ancient tribal language–and her contemporary themes of identity and individual expression. In this video, ideas of family, home, migration, self-discovery and transformation are seamlessly presented in a dynamic performance that honors tradition and rejoices in innovation.
We feel that this performance is representative of Artists Without Walls’ vision, developing a multicultural community that springs from “creative chemistry.”
Owen O Suilleabhain, Koro Koroye, Moley O Suilleabhain
Antoinette Montague will be performing “Jazz Vespers” at Bethany Church, 275 West Market Street Newark, NJ, this morning, Sunday, August 25, 10am. For info call 203 820-8819
Tara O’Grady
Tara O”Grady and the Black Velvet Band will be swinging originals and standards tonight, Sunday, August 25, 8:30pm, at New York City’s best swing dance club, Swing 46 Jazz and Supper Club located at 349 West 46th Street. Tara will also be appearing at Winnie’s Lounge at the Refinery Hotel, 63 West 38th St. Tuesday, Aug 27 from 5-9pm and on Wednesday, August 28, from 6-9pm.
Chris Stover
Artists Without Walls presents its “Showcase at The Cell Theater,” 338 W. 23rd St., NYC. Tuesday, 7pm, August 27th. Evening includes jazz musician and composer Chris Stover, singer/songwriter Jenai Huff, dancer Samara, chanteuse Marni Rice and more.
Honor Finnegan
Honor Finnegan will be performing at the CT Folk Festival and Green Expo in Edgerton Park, New Haven, Saturday, August 31, 4:30-5:30
What’s an Artists Without Walls gathering like? Is a picture worth a thousand words? This photo was taken at the Ed Romanoff’s performance at Rockwood Music Hall this past Tuesday night. A great evening of music, fun and laughter. Who can’t use a few hours of that?
Well, Saturday, beginning at 4:30, AWoW will be convening at NYC’s Swift Hibernian Lounge located at 34 East 4th St., between Bowery and Lafayette. All are welcome. If you’d like to bring an instrument–guitar, fiddle, accordion, bodhran, kamancheh, whistle whatever–or if you’d like to sing a song, recite a poem, or try something new go ahead, we encourage it. Maybe a collaboration between a musician and singer, or a storyteller or a poet might be fun. It’s all meant to be very informal. And, if you have a friend, musician or otherwise, who’d like to join us, bring them along.
John Steinbeck said, “We learn a great deal about people by listening to their music. Listen to their songs, for into the songs go the anger, fears and frustrations, the hopes and aspirations.”
I have created a series of videos that highlight the role of women in the labor movement. Each video portrays an event and includes a song that is related to the event or to the labor movement in general.
The subjects of this video, the fifth in the series, are the first woman on the cover of Time Magazine, Addie Wyatt, and the song “How I Got Over.” In addition to Addie’s work in the labor and women’s movements, Addie was deeply committed to the Civil Rights’ movement. She helped organize the 1963 March on Washington, which celebrates it’s fiftieth anniversary on August 28th.
As the audience was making its way to their seats at a recent AWoW Showcase, AWoW cofounder Niamh Hyland got everyone’s attention when she stepped on stage and, unannounced, belted out a few lines from “You Have No Idea Who I Am,” which opens Brendan Connellan’s comedy Pompa Pompa. Niamh co-starred in a New York City production of Connellan’s play earlier this year.
Niamh will be appearing with singer/songwriter Ed Romanoff tonight, Tuesday, August 20, at Rockwood Music Hall, 196 Allen Street, NYC, 7pm. Poet Liv Mammone will be joining Niamh and Ed as well.
