Today at Saint Peters Church on the Upper Eastside there will be a jazz-filled funeral for renowned trombonist Benny Powell starting at 7pm. Jazz and swing fans are invited to come by and pay your respects, and hear some incredible music while you are there. Benny was born March 1, 1930 in New Orleans, learned…
My Birthday “Mad Hatter” Picnic in Prospect Park
I had a wonderful day yesterday celebrating my birthday with friends in Prospect Park for a “Mad Hatter” picnic party. A dozen or so of some of my favorite people gathered for some relaxing, noshing, games, kite-flying, and frisbee tossing as the afternoon turned into the evening. I can’t think of anything else I’d rather…
If I have learned one thing in my 41 years on this planet, it is this…
DON'T POSTPONE JOY. Seen at Luna Park in Coney Island.
Transmedia / transatlantic hip-hop music video integrates Second Life, Twitter, Skype & YouTube
Here's a creative and fun music video by Philly-based hip-hop artist Legrand that is exemplary for a number of reasons. First off, fun song! Secondly, created as a collaboration between Legrand and a group of 20 students at the Tokyo campus of Temple University, it's an interesting example of what can be accomplished using fairly…
Talk on history of of b-boying by Ken Swift and Joe Schloss now online (video)
HHTF Humanities Series: Ken Swift (Pt 1) from Clyde Valentin on Vimeo. The nice folks at the Hip-hop Theater Festival have released online a video of the really interesting conversation between b-boy pioneer Ken Swift and hip-hop historian Joe Schloss that took place a few months ago at NYU. I learned a lot from attending…
Review of Episodes 1 & 2 of the Legion of Extraordinary Dancers
So I got to see the two first episodes of the Legion of Extraordinary Dancers today on Hulu. Announced in December of last year, the "LXD" has been billed by director John Chu as the world's "first online dance adventure." Finally today we got to see what the heck Chu has been talking about, and…
The LXD Episodes 1 & 2 are Out: the Tale of Trevor Drift (video)
Apparently I've been sleeping on the job, because I didn't notice that Episode 1 and 2 of the Legion of Extraordinary Dancers web-series is now out. I'm at work now, so can't really enjoy it till later. But watch it yourself if you so inclined: Episode 1: The Tale of Trevor Drift Episode 2: Antigravity…
Swinging to the Moonshiners of New Orleans at Lincoln Center (video)
Tonight the incredible Moonshiners of New Orleans tore it up for an appreciative, if sweaty, crowd of dancers at Midsummer Nights Swing at Lincoln Center. Such an amazing band! And their first time playing outside of New Orleans! Other Moonshiners videos: a slower, latin-inflected number Moonshiners with vocalist singing French song Lindy hoppers on Damrosch…
Monday Swing Awesomeness: Ninjammers at the Montreal Jazz Fest (video)
Here's a ridiculously cool video of world-renowned lindy hop team the "Ninjammers" performing before a crowd of 50,000 people at the Festival de Jazz de Montreal. I love how they integrate the lindy hop movement into the funky, electro-swing sound of the group Caravan Palace. Not an easy feat! Featured dancers: Max Pitruzzelli, Annie Trudeau,…
1stFans Ice Cream Social on the Roof of Brooklyn Museum (pics)
I love being a 1stFan of the Brooklyn Museum. It's always interesting getting a personal, curated view of what's happening at one of my favorite cultural institutions in the city. And at $25 a year, it's a steal! On Saturday, 1stFans got a very special treat: an ice cream social on the roof of the…