Amsterdam The Harlem Gospel Choir from Brooklyn and Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens

Amsterdam

A beautiful cold day in Beautiful Bahrain

Hello Jazzlovers,

I have just returned from 3 wonderful weeks in a city I truly love Amsterdam, (now don't let your head go there) to me it is the most beautiful place.I walk for hours and hours daily, and as many years I have been going, it still amazes me at each turn, it is constantly unfolding it's Beauty. When I say Amsterdam to my friends their minds automaticly go to the pleaseures they have experienced, or the pleasures they think is Amsterdam. Those who have been there only saw or experienced exactly what they were looking for (most have limited themselves only to the areas of their pleasures) but the City is so much more!

The amazing thing about Amsterdam is the music,(if you limit yourselves to only the tourist areas you only hear commercial music, they play to your taste) it never ceases to amaze me the Dutch taste in Music. Remixes and original artist, Dianah, Billie, Marlena, Ella, Miles,Cassandra ,Nina,Jill,Angie,and the list just goes on ans on, They really appreciate the greats...Sitting in local bars or cafes is of the greatest pleaseurs....
By all means visit the music store Concerto, if they don't have it it has not been released (don't think Fame or Virgin) it is a true Amsterdam experience...

http://www.nlstreets.nl/EN/shop/concerto--music-amsterdam/

I had a young traveling companion, that was a little bored with the music store and tried to drag me kicking and screaming in ti the 21st centry of Ipods and downloads, but I understand the instant gratification genaration. They will never know the sound of records,and needle, the pleasure of 45s,331/3s, LPs but that is ok! But the Dutch understands and that is what is important the music is being preserved...and enjoyed by a new generation, including my friend, he too was amazed at the music...and that is what's important. he was able to hear it for in may instances  the first time...One day he will understand the pleasure of choosing a CD, reading the liner notes and placing the CD in the changer and hearing that sweet  sweet sound....I still have a tape deck and a turntable for goodness sakes!!!( it is ok to laugh here..).

The first day we were walking to one of my favorite places, when we saw the poster, The Harlem Gospel Choir in Concert ! and decided to go.....OK...now I have attended concerts in Amsterdam over the years and have always enjoyed them very much, so I felt no reserveations about going...now here is where it gets interesting!!!!!I will also post photos after I get my film developed (yes I still use a point and shoot) as I am slow sometimes. But this was one of the most interesting nights of my life! We went to the ticket center(something you must do in Amsterdam) and even got half price tickets! we then walked to Paradiso to see the distance from the hotel to plan our time for the next night......Looking forward to the Harlem Gospel Choir!!

So on the next night we left early to get to the hall and good thing too because there was a long line..then we had to buy membership to get in (no problem) when we entered we choose floor seats about 5 rows back on the end (good seats). A very interesting couple took seats next to us ( in Amsterdam it is ok to have conversations with people you are near) we started a nice conversation and it was all good.....Now I grew up in the South and remember" Revivals" so I was cool Until!!!!my friend went to get refreshments, and came back with BEER!!!Baby Louisiana and my Mama came flying through that room instantly!!!Beer and Gospel Music just did not instantly compute!!!!The look on my face must have been amazing, because I stopped in mid sentence and just stared at the beer and lost it!!!! You can take the man out of Louisiana but you can not take Louisiana out of the man, I have never laughed so hard in my life!!!WOW! But more confusion was yet to come!!!

The first group was a young Dutch Female Acappela Quartet that was very good, the second group was a gospel rock group which was very nice. The Third Group was when I started to get Nervous! it was a Polish Gospel Choir, lead by a Chicago Brother, (now I must say here I do believe in something bigger than me in this universe, butI have a fear of organized religion, I have paid too many dues and suffered a lot of pain)The first words out of the brothers mouth was " If you thought you were coming to a concert you are so wrong"!and started a serious guilt trip on the crowed!!!!Now picture this,I have beer in my hand and except for my friend, the only one in the area with a beer!!!!"We are here to praise"Get up"!and it looked like I had walked into a another time!!!All of you Southerners know what I am talking about it was a little freaky......I turned to my friend and asked should we leave(it was his first time) he said no lets stay awhile.....Now I am glad I did (I am still not to the best part)! The Polish Gospel Choir even though singing gospel were 2 steps from a disco I have never seen any gospel group get so close!!!!

Then the magic happend in the form of Ms. Naomi Shelton and The Gospel Queens! She was assisted down to the stage and WOW! Brooklyn can be very proud of this Lady!!!Here is a clip from a few nights later in Brussels,  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xfCPl1zKpo
My friend did take videos of the night we were there but he has not sent them to me yet, but this is the group traveling with her currently, on  their European tour, Amsterdam was the first city on the tour...When she did "A Change is gonna Come""Sam Cooke anyone " she brought the house down.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6kBEAlNEzM&NR=1

I was really amazed at her stage presence and the Dutch loved her I am sure all of Eroupe will embrace her, as they did that night...She was so amazing she really took me home for one night.....I fell in love.....When she did this I was was lost!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJxf9-hmYIk&feature=related

Please keep up with her I am sure there will be more posted on You tube of the Eroupean trip so check her out.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjtBCHi8hO0

Now here is the Clincher, Naomi was not tthe closing act!NO NO the closing act was the Harlem Gospel Choir....and the first thing the Choir director said after the first song was "Not everyone from New York is from Harlem" !" We are from Brooklyn"!!!!! Now I wasssss really confused!!!! Is the Harlem Gospel Choir from Harlem or Brooklyn? Then they procceeded to try and take me back to that scary place!!!Jazzlovers I am not saying they were not good! but I was not at a Revival!!!and I was not up to a guilt trip at a concert,and that is when people started to leave including me....by the way only the Dutch singers and Naomi had mention on the morning news the next morning....I am truly trying to find news on the rest of the tour....as i said the Dutch knows music!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8FI5ppJEH4&feature=related

Jazzlovers there will be more on Amsterdam in the next couple of post as there is lots to tell...My Birthday was one of the best I have ever had, The Dutch know how to relly say happy birthday, they made it very special! (but that's a whole nother story) too be continued!

Until then have a very Happy Holiday and a Wonderfully Happy New Year..Jazzlovers..You are Loved.


Keep the beat...

DW Jazzlover

The Power of Now and Plato or What's Love Got to Do With It?

A State Of Mind

Another Beautiful Day In Bahrain

Hello JazzLovers,

A lot of my friends and I have been having conversations about life and love! I have noticed that in the conversation we have been talking about the past or what would they would like in the future but nothing about right now....We dwell in ramifications of past events or create future events in our minds, anything to keep us out of right now....when we do this we are missing a beautiful time ! we are missing right now..... We are missing the beauty of ourselves just as we are now..until we get intouch with who we really are, we will never know love!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKqn-aCL4KU&feature=player_embedded

In this search for love we often lose ourselves, Sister Toldja in her blog helped me to put into words the things I have been thinking of., we give our power to others and then live reliving the ramifications of those decisions and when not doing that we plan our future loves and create a dream situation for that love which is imposible to achieve..That is because most of us are in love with the idea of love! We really have no idea of what love really is...Trust me on that one! We go into relationships looking at the end of that relationship!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgpybP5QhKU

In Plato "The Symposium" (One of my favorite reads) it is stated " Love has no parent!", that hit me as truth! Every other emotion has a parent and can be taught and described, Anger, hate, sadness, heartache, and pain  we can describe! But ask someone to describe Love! everyone can tell you what love is like, but no one can describe what love is....Plato got it right! I recommend reading the book.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz2cUX0CNA8

Jazzlovers as you know by now I never comment  on the picture I use here but they all have a message...I pass this trash can everyday and it amazes me that trash is placed everywhere but where it should be...Isn't that a lot like what our lives are like? One of my favorite bloggers Kellybelle (Emhpatha) spotlights depression and I respect her highly for this....but I am a solution based person, we can not keep talking about the problem without talking about the solution! (we must put the trash in the trash can) Cleaning 101! Depression is real and the ramifications can be the lost of a beautiful soul like Korean model Daul Kim, 20 this week in paris..

http://www.dubaisitgirl.com/2009/11/rip-daul-kim.html

You know Jazzlovers it is still about the Music, yet at the same time are we really listening to the music? I am so grateful to my 9th grade English Teacher Mr. Floyd Coleman, he really brought me to this moment....We clashed the first day of class!!!!!!!(for reasons I will go into in a future blog because it truly is a part of my story) But it was a weekend assignment, we were Conjugating ! verbs and he gave each of us on Friday a word to completly conjugate on Monday!!!!Everyone in the class got easy words, He gave me the verb "to be"( can any of you conjugate it now?) now Jazzlovers I lived in the Country and we were not allowed in the library in those days, but it was no way I was going to class on Monday without knowing how to conjugate that  word!!! (Ramifications of things past) it's importance today is that the first conjugation (1st person present) of the word to be is "I Am"! Powerful message,Now is very important.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqQ7iCXhTAo&feature=related

Jazzlovers let yesterday only be a reference book! The future will take care of it's self and living in the now is the most beautiful place to be....Right now please just stop thinking for a moment, just breath,feel your breath, now listen to sounds around you, identify them all, look around you what do you see? don't think about it, don't analize it, just see or hear it,place no thoughts on it,just be!Feel the stillness in yourself! Isn't it beautiful? That is the real you.......and in that moment there is clarity. At this moment I remember the poem "If" I first read this poem in the 8th grade...Thanks Mr. Sibley..

http://www.adamandtiffy.com/blog/if-by-rudyard-kipling

Jazzlovers when you get to that quiet place, when you experience the stillness, when you are intouch with your core, there you will find you ! Then you are ready for love, for you will Recognize The beauty of the Universe and your unique place in it...You will Know love............This would be the perfect place to put Nancy Wilson singing " I have never been to me" but darnit I can not find it on You Tube.........But i did find it by the Temptations so enjoy!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tBd2Tn3seI&feature=related

The Creator of this universe does not make Mistakes so why spend time thinking of things you are not instead of Celebrating all the wonderful ways you are you !!!!! And Jazzlovers that's "What loves got to do with it" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0pOAVGvePQ

Well Jazz Lovers until next time....

Keep the beat!!!!

DW Jazzlover...

P/S Kellybelle, I am looking for a poem I wrote when I was totally lost in Depression that I want to share with you, but alas it is not wanting to be found..It is also the title of my book " Screaming in a sound proof booth" !

PP/S Dubai It Girl, Thank you, you were the inspiration for this blog entry.

D.W.

Dubai Fashion Week 2009 Showing Studio Kalid Spring Summer 2010

Dubai Fashion Week

Studio Kalid

Hello Jazzlovers,

Another Beautiful day in Beautiful Bahrain.

Well jazzlovers we have just returned from presenting our collection at Dubai fashion Week and as you can see from the below links, we looked very good..Just click on Studio Kalid..

http://www.masala.com/15842?layout=gallery&galleryNum=1

http://www.timeoutdubai.com/photos/

It was my first Fashion show and I learned a lot of interesting bits of information, it takes a lot of orginazation to carry off the wonderful illusion of seemless glamor,Salina did a fantastic job!!(Thanks Salina) From this date forward Models have gained my upmost respect...believe me when I say they are not just beautiful, Models are smart and very intelligent Women...they really have to be.We used for music, Randy crawford and Joe Sample's version on Nina Simone's "See Line Woman" and Jazzlovers it was perfect! I wanted to add it here but alass their version is not available..so here is Nina!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8ATFsXmX4g&feature=related

And Jazzlovers here is a live version.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1AF3scils8&feature=PlayList&p=128161FB2BF6F5E8&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=27

And while we are Nina just alittle more!! Jazzlovers.Just for a little celebration of a successful Fashion Week!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K-wjdnIkjM&feature=fvw


An Interview with Our Desidner....Kalid

http://www.dubaisitgirl.com/search?updated-min=2009-01-01T00%3A00%3A00%2B04%3A00&updated-max=2010-01-01T00%3A00%3A00%2B04%3A00&max-results=50

Well Jazzlover, time to go but Dubai Fashion Week was wonderful,

So until Next time,

Keep the beat,

DW JazzLover


JazzLover Fashionistas Our fashions are available on line, studiokalid@gmail.com

Better Late than Never Little Jimmy Scott

Place St. Michael Paris

Hello JazzLovers,

A Beautiful Autum Day In Beautiful Bahrain.

There are Entertainers that are sometimes seen as forgotten, or people will say they missed there chance. Not so in the case of Little Jimmy Scott, a man with a truly beautiful sound.I have all of his music and my Dear Cuz brought him to mind recently, so he is the Soul Artist for this weeks blog. ( Thank you LoJo).Little Jimmy Scott was born 1925, and has had a rough time to the top, check out this  next cut, which I love and I am sure Nancy Wilson does too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRYJbaxwJ20

Jimmy Scott first rose to national prominence as "Little Jimmy Scott" in the Lionel Hampton Band when he sang lead on the late 1940s hit "Everybody's Somebody's Fool", recorded in December 1949 was a top ten R&B hit in 1950. Credit on the label, however, went to 'male vocalist', a slight to his talent and a blow to his career. A similar professional insult occurred several years later, when his vocal on "Embraceable You" with Charlie Parker, on the album "One Night in Birdland", was credited to female vocalist Chubby Newsome.(Wikipedia)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYG55t2JcIA


In 1963, it looked as thoughJimmy Scott's luck had changed for the good. Signed to Ray Charles's Tangerine label, he recorded under the supervision of the great man himself, creating what is considered by many to be one of the great jazz vocal albums of all time, Falling in Love is Wonderful. Owing to obligations on a contract Jimmy had signed earlier with Herman Lubinsky, the record was yanked from the shelves in a matter of days, while Jimmy was honeymooning . 40 years later this cult album became available to the public again. Jimmy disputes the 'lifetime' contract; Lubinsky loaned Jimmy out to Syd Nathan at King Records for 45 recordings in 1957 & 58..(Wikipedia)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_swnyxaxUPo&feature=related      (1955 Imagination)


Another legendary masterpiece, the album The Source (1969), on which Jimmy sings as intensely as ever, was denied a release until 2001..(Wikipedia)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBNzwxkdDYk        (If you only Knew recorded 1956)


Scott's career faded by the late 1960s and he returned to his native Cleveland to work in a hospital and as an elevator operator in a hotel..(Wikipedia)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQbYy9aQr-Q  ( Please Forgive Me' recorded in 1956)

In spite of everything his talents were reconized and he is being celebrated today just as he deserves.This next cut was one of my favorites as a child in 1955, "Someone to watch over me. "

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtqGpgdD_6k&feature=related      (1955)

This next cut is one of the songs I love both by Jimmy Scott and TV Mama ( I am still collecting music by her, until I get enough for a future blog) Jimmy has one of the most  unique voices I have ever heard , so Jazzlovers enjoy. "All Of Me" Live in Tokyo 2000.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gZBq39-TdM&feature=related

And Jazzlovers my absolute Favorite by Jimmy Scott, "Slave to Love"here is a live version, it is also on the album "Holding Back the Years"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC-pv3fFIGI

Musicians Like Jimmy Scott who beat the odds and come out on top,gives all of us hope and encourages us not to give up ever...No matter how bad the winter, there is always the spring!!!
All of his music is now available and would be a good idea to collect it now because it is something you will want to have in the future. Jimmy Scott is still here after 65 years as an Entertainer and lives now in Las Vegas, so give him a shout out when you are there visiting.Let him know he is appreciated.

Well Jazzlovers until next time,

keep the beat.

DW Jazzlover.

'Him that I love, I wish to be free, even from me "

Iris in Paris

Hello Jazz Lovers,

Another Beautiful Day I Bahrain,

A Lot of my friends and fellow bloggers are talking about relationships and letting go, including me. Well today one of my Dearest Friends Alan from Down under, You know Australia, sent me this poem and I just thought it was beautiful. I am not going to speak of anything else because I don't want to take away from the Poems beauty. So Jazz lovers  enjoy.


'Him that I love, I wish to be free
even from me'


What a shame it is that some of us haven't heard this before.
It would have made things so much easier.
How far can you go?
It all makes sense now;
blinded by my desire to be close with someone.
I misread all the clues
that were there all along;
how can you expect to love
if you don't give freedom?

Absolute control won't make you calmer
it will make you paranoid;
and paranoia spreads quickly from you to me,
and it all starts making sense.
If you're prepared to do that,
what else are you ready to do?
I'd love to know,
but somehow I think it's better
if I don't find out.


Alan

It is the truth Jazzlovers.....Well Alans Poem started me to thinking of Dakota Staton, so these are my recommendations this week."The Album is the Late, Late Show" Misty.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giaXeMlu9Ug

I thought about you " Miss Dakota Staten Live"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlx1SrxVxG4&NR=1

Let Me off Up Town  From Dynamic Dakota

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qViOhKFD_g

And one more Shirley Horn with Miles Davis, "You Won't Forget Me" I love this Cut!!!Jazz at it's best.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdHVw4HGAHA&feature=related

Shirley Horn Playing "Blue in Green" By Miles Davis,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jn51v_cMHCw&NR=1


Well Jazz lovers Until Next time,

Keep the Beat..

DW Jazzlover

September Birthdays and an Oboe and an Ex or as Dinah says September in the Rain

The Jardin des Tuileries Paris



Hello JazzLovers,

Another Beautiful Day in Bahrain.

Ah September! I came into being because of September!(I can not believe I didn't know what an Oboe was!)September is a very emotional month for me, I have to always reflect in September, you see Jazz Lovers my Mother and Father were born in September, and I am a Love Child!! No ( don't Go There) they were married when I was born, matter of fact they had been marrried 7 years before I was born and divorced 2 years after I was born but never fell out of love with each other.That is how I know I am a love child, ( Private confessions from both of them)that is an interesting weight to carry. What did they do take one look at this mystery they had produced and said we can't do this again! And jazzlovers belive me when I say I was a mystery to my Parents! (Ok to smile here)

As I said Jazzlovers this blog writes it's self, I can be thinking of writing something but when I start My head just goes somewhere else.I had planned to write!(News Bulletin Studio Kalid Has made Dubai Fashin Week!!!!)God is so good...My head is so full until I need to start another Blog!!!!I just got the call from Kalid.............In Dubai! http://studiokalid.blogspot.com/ and then you will understand, Aiwa!!!I have the biggist smile on my face...

Now where was I?Ah The Mystery, My Mother is September 12, My Father September 19, and My Lovely Sister September 19, and My Ex September 15, today! My Exxx times 2, September 4, and they are the only 2 exes I have ever truly loved, can someone explain this picture to me?..Ah That September!In The Rain!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvB6rrnzDM8

Love is the stranges thing, ( as I said September is a very emotional month for me).My Exxx times 2 and I are the best of friends but we were friends before we became lovers,( I am having a fantastic time finding music to go with this one!)so this was a natural progression. But do I send a birthday message to the last ex?( because I am still having computer problems!!!)I have never loved anyone as much as these two people, and I do really only want the best for them..(but I can not stand a liar) (grown folks don't have to lie!Enough of that) But Dammit I still love! Maybe I am beginning to understand my parents.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iknEJf9cPeY

Well Jazzlover Until Next time ( I need to thinK)

A Little of old school, when I was about 15 years old I use to sneak into Club Matinee on weekend to hear this man! Enjoy Brooke Benton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq4_k36Zu0g&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4M2jVscymg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bK8wZCSgzw&feature=fvst

The Oboe is important! I will continue with that because it is!!!!

Keep the beat.

DW Jazzlover.

For some reason Jazzlovers Blogger is not allowing the links to activate! Help!

Bitter Sweet Memories of Home Town Greats and Family

Another Hot Humid and Beautiful Day In Bahrain

Hello Jazzlover,

It has taken me a little while to process my feeling about my cousin Claude, I always knew he was out there some where and I am sure he still is.Love U Cuz.

This has truly been a bittersweet time for me, bitter for losing him and sweet because of writing about it in my blog, I have found My Cousin his Sister...after all these years. I guess there is some joy in all things. I have also found anothe 1st cousin that we had lost touch with each other almost 20 years ago, that has been a true joy! LoJo and I have kept this computer hot playing katch up!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6DFEOFHl0w

There will be more on that later, but I had been having serious trouble writing because of all the things going on in my head concerning my Fathers Family, I needed some healing time. ( Damn I almost Lumped up my Cornmeal mush!! I am making Hot tamale pie for dinner) But that is another story for another time...
Families are amazing!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0kSlORbAnQ&feature=related

As I have said this blog is finding it's voice,it's song,it's beat, and it's tempo so I am not surprised where it goes sometimes Jazzlovers and this one is no different..LoJo is back reading my blog and offers wonderful feed back. She was reading the one about home town talent and our greats like Phil Phillips, and instead of telling you about I am going to post her email to me on shared memories. I think by posting the letter in it's complete will help you to understand Bitter sweet memories. This blog is really about the music.
Here is the email: and I will be back at the end!!!Jazzlovers enjoy

Phil Phillips..... et al

The Sea of Love=when I hear that song I think about young lives lost and fortunes stolen. Phil ate in Miller's Cafe almost daily-of course, never on Sunday. He had a son who was an addict........don't know what happened to him. I was not far enough along in my own Christian journey to know that we were to try to rescue our brother's and sister's whenever possible.

I have seen many stars as Bubba Lutcher(Nellie's brother and local DJ as I know you remember) would bring them all to to the cafe to eat. I remember Otis Redding having red beans and rice a couple of weeks before he died in the plane crash. See this is why I don't understand why a landmark like Miller's Cafe was recently demolished by the city of LC. No one cares about our history. We can only preserve our memories in our minds. We do have pictures of the restaurant in the early years. My sister has them as she inherited the big house and all therein. We had a drag queen called Esquerita. Don't know if you remember that diva.

I am sure you remember the old Dixie Theatre. White folks have bought it and use it as their local playhouse. You know if they bought into that neighborhood that they have plans. They are going to get all that land for redevelopment. It has already started since they have flattened everything on our end of Enterprise Blvd. I wonder if the Cab Shack survived? Pryce's Rx did as far as I know.

Anyway, obviously I read your older blog. So much soul.

Music is Soul Pleasure


LoJo

And Jazzlovers This was my reply...

Cuz you brought tears to my eyes, and it is written so well now I know why I have not been able to write!! May I post your letter as this weeks blog? I think you said it sooo well!
And of course I remember Esqureita, and a Diva she was!!! They don't make them like that any more....Phil was also the Uncle of Cheryl, I know you remember her, she is my adopted sister, we grew up together! Small world...I know you remember Katy Webster , and I don't know if you knew Bubba Lutcher has a son by my stepfather's sister.
I think I will add some Nellie Lutcher to this blog.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7GciyR3dyA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmKTKemcIXI&feature=related

The amazing thing is Katy was to be on that plane,
Love D

Well Jazzlovers until next time Keep the beat.

Never try to explain love!!!


DW Jazzlover