Last night I had the pleasure of catching local jazz diva Kim Nalley play a divine set of Nina Simone songs in the elegant and intimate Rrazz Room at the Hotel Nikko in SF. Kim has been doing her tribute to the great Nina Simone from mid-June, finishing up on July 17. What made last…
Lindy Hoppers Ryan François and Remy Kouame in Slow Club Music Video “Two Cousins” (video)
Check out this awesome music video by the band Slow Club for their new single "Two Cousins." It features lindy hoppers Ryan François and Remy Kouakou Kouame doing an homage to legendary dancers Al Minns and Leon James. I love it, even if their dancing doesn't really go with the music.
I’m older today….
… but probably not any wiser. 😮 ;-)
Jazz Mafia Free 10 Year Anniversary CD: Bring the Brass, Bows and Beats!
For you jazz heads and hip-hop heads, check out this awesome free music compilation by the incomparable Jazz Mafia, which I've got playing out of my speakers right now! Just head to their website for instructions on how you can download it. I know I am like 10 years too late to the party….
Step Up 2 the Streets: Dance Review, Not a Movie Review
I finally got around to seeing "Step Up 2 The Streets," (2008) the "sequel" to "Step Up" (2006) which bears almost no connection whatsoever to the original movie. I can't remember why I didn't see it in the theaters. I think the title was just so stupid I couldn't stand it. Or I liked…
RIP Terry Monaghan, Lindy Hop Historian
I regret to pass along the sad news that Mr. Terry Monaghan, longtime historian of lindy hop from the UK, has passed away. Terry was co-founder of the legendary Jiving Lindy Hoppers dance troupe in the 1980s and a long-time chronicler of the history of swing dancing. This is what I received from Elliott Donnelly…
My Sis and I as Disco Robots (video)
Here's a fun little video of my sister Cori and I playing around in this Svedka Vodka photo booth thingee they set up at Club Mezzanine last Friday. You can see the original video on the Svedka site (for as long as they keep it up.) We happened to be there with our cousin Reena…
The Fall (2006): A Lush Tale about the Power of Storytelling
This weekend I saw "The Fall" (2006) directed by Tarsem Singh. While I am sure it is not everyone's cup of tea, I thought it was fantastic. I'm a sucker for lush fantasy tales that are beautifully shot and told sincerely and simply (ala "Dark Crystal," "Like Water for Chocolate"). "The Fall" interweaves two different…
Congrats to Global Kids for Winning the $200K Chase Community Award!
I am so excited to share the news that my friends and colleagues at Global Kids, Inc in New York City are the recipients of the $200,000 Chase Community Giving Award for their work with at-risk teenagers. As someone who has worked there for three years, I can speak to the life-changing work that Global…
Loving My New Aeropress Coffee Maker
I'm perhaps the last coffee snob to get on the bandwagon about this, but I finally plunked down $25 and got myself an Aeropress coffee maker. I have had four perfect cups from it so far, and am looking forward to many more. I am still a big fan of the Chemex coffee maker, which…