Having said that what I CAN say is that the performances for Dreamrole went very well and it was some of the most fun I’ve had on stage in a long time, especially with mega mix’s like Priscilla-Queen of the Desert & Mamma Mia . It was fun kindling and rebuilding friendships with the cast along the last week of the run and I feel incredibly honored to have been a part of it.

Something else that was changed in a way to compensate for the lack of change to the site was this slight addition I’ve added to the left sidebar when you get to the homepage, including a widget that allows you to follow my blog via email, meaning that everytime I would create a new post you would get sent a notification of it via your email address, which I thought was somewhat neat, it also proudly showcases my might 3 number of followers, to which I thank. Also to disprove that it’s just not those 3 reading at the bottom of the left sidebar I’ve included a basic statistic hit counter for the blog, which it currently lies at just under 300, but who knows it might be more by the time you read this. Finally under my twitter feed I’ve put in a Post Log that has a calender showcasing the dates of my posts, which I thought might be nice so you can forever mock my inconsistency in posts.

Throughout the course if this past month I’ve developed an incredibly passionate admiration of Charles Chaplin to the point of him being my idol, I was aware of him for the longest time but I’d never REALLY gotten to know him in depth until I heard of Chaplin the Musical, which lasted roughly a month on Broadway, but there was a multitude of media coverage on it mostly from themselves, which really gave me an in depth look at their process of the show and the Tramp himself, so it eventually sparked an interest and I started looking into him and his films, and I’ve never been more touched by motion pictures in my life. The sequences are at times heart wrenching and make me tear up every time I watch some of them, and then the more comedic moments I could replay an endless number of moments and it would never get old. This is all coming from a theatre person who is not known for really being an avid movie fan or critic, but I truly do relish him and his films he has put out, we are so very lucky someone like him came into history, and someday I may possibly write a rant about the man.

Just yesterday was State for Solo & Ensemble, and I was there from quarter to 8:00 until about 4:00, running tirelessly between my events and catching my wonderfully talented friends perform, like the separate Barbershop quartets of my good friends Josh and Sergei who both sang the song For the Longest Time by Billy Joel as well as my dear friend Margie who had about 9 events to attend to yesterday-one of which earned an Exemplary rating for extreme dedication to the piece, I’m glad I was able to attend when it happened. Regardless of the fact that my theatre piece was basically my warm up given the fact I didn’t warm up prior to 8:00 when it happened, that and my classical german piece was able to earn a 1 rating, and the Barbershop along with Mixed Jazz ensembles I was involved in received 1′s as well. Before we went on for Jazz we sang some of our songs we’d learned for other concerts out on the open campus set in the breezy warm spring air, it felt fantastic. Overall the talent was just marvelous and I can’t get over how many bright futures there are going to be shipped out from this region of Wisconsin.

And that’s really I have for this Sunday, and now that Dreamrole and Solo Ensemble are over, I can turn my attentions to that of the England Tour and learning an immense amount of Barbershop songs for the Youth and Harmony Festival in May. I hope to write more rants in the future, until then see you next week!

-M@

The salient difference-maker when confronted with the inevitable interference (you know what I mean – buses late, traffic patterns bunching up, a suddenly ill chorus member) is not the interference itself, but how you handle the interference.  We cannot control circumstances, we can only control our reaction to those circumstances. We are the only thinkers in our own minds. Developing an A+ level of Interference Management Mastery will positively influence your performance experience and results.  

I had the fascinating volunteer job of working in the traffic pattern at our recent Regional competition and got to witness first-hand the varied mental state of all of the directors and choruses in the warm-up area after they experienced delays in the traffic pattern.  

Leaders:  When you do your competition planning, consider your mindset mastery level. Prepare your reaction to the inevitable interferences because your chorus will follow your modeling example.  Pre-plan the ways that you will refocus and support your chorus to refocus so that it becomes second nature.   Acknowledge the interference,  and make the choice then to let that interference go.  Take the lead in communicating with and encouraging your chorus members to do the same.

“And don’t get me started on Tyson Chandler. He’s a waste of space on offense. He can rebound, and that’s an art. But on offense, he can only dunk. That’s it. I only root for him because he looks like you.”

-my brother (to me )

This statement couldn’t be anymore true now that I’ve cut my curly locks that have been blooming since Halloween. It’s pretty crazy that I went this long without a haircut, and somehow held a job. My mom is happy. This is rare, so I must savor this.

My inner hipster is sad, as the wildebeest look was in touch with this part of my soul. Now I will have to resort to being….Tyson Chandler-hipsterish.

running: 5 miles, 34:30

I have a huge amount of pride in knowing that I earn every dollar on my feet, busting up the cartilage in my knees and putting miles on my wrists with clipper cuts and scissoring.

However, my thoughts on freedom are being pushed and pulled when I ask people to believe in me as I launch a campaign that mentors Newark youth through grooming.

Nonetheless, this isn’t about me or my ego. I have to smash that and keep pushing. But that is easier said than done. Yet and still, you get kicked to put on a steel backbone and move forward at the most unexpected times, in the most unexpected ways.

As I was going over logos and photos that could use, I came across one of me teaching my son how to put on a tie. I sat there and looked. He was about 13 at the time, now he’s 16 and taller than me. He is confirmation that we must nurture the seeds that we plant.

If I have this barbershop in Newark, a city that is full of kids who need guidance, than it is my responsibility to provide a platform where they can grow. So here I am, in unfamiliar territory passing out donation packets and making calls for a mission and movement. Pride swallowed and looking ahead.

Be FRESh

And please donate to the Grooming Blueprint

You can also attend our fundraiser, May 18, 2013 from 6-9PM at Savion Glover Productions, 131 Brunswick Street, Newark, NJ 071104. For ticket purchases, click here.

The Grooming Blueprint Wine and Beer Tasting Fundraiser, May 18, 2013 from 6-9PM at Savion Glover Productions, 131 Brunswick Street, Newark, NJ.

Images copyright 1994-2013 by Louis Maistros.

For more unusual New Orleans photography, please visit http://louismaistros.com

Get something cool for free here. No kidding, no catch.

My head felt like a chia pet left untended somewhere with plenty of water and sunlight, and it was speeding through my supply of tiny bottles of hotel shampoo. I would have gotten it cut in Belgium, but I suspected a Turkish haircut might be interesting.

Good call.

A not-tall man with short gray hair was reading the paper when I opened the door, and gestured me to a seat. He spoke no English, and I can only say “thank you” in Turkish, but my gestures and shoulder shrug of “something like that” were met with a nod of understanding.

He started with the buzzer, which seemed to have a hard time with my long hair. One spot in particular was giving him trouble, and he went over it again and again, slowly, until I looked in the mirror and saw he was watching the TV in the corner, where overly emotive sighs and gasps sounded like an adult movie.

We see you watching TV, Mr Barber

It wasn’t the first time a barber has gotten sucked into a soap opera while cutting my hair, but as long as he wasn’t holding anything sharp, I didn’t mind.

After the buzzer came the scissors, and soon I felt ready to go. But we weren’t done.

He asked something in Turkish, and I agreed. Why not? He pulled me forward and pushed my head into the sink, and I retroactively heard the word “shampoo” in his question. Shampoo what is 97% buzzcut? Oh well.

It was the first time someone else has washed my hair since Jennifer, the Elizabeth Shue lookalike who was the object of one of my 6,000 Middle School crushes. It was kind of nice, actually.

Another old Turkish man had come in by the time the barber was toweling my head dry, and for some reason, there under the towel, I got the giggles. I tried to stifle it before either man noticed, or the concealing towel was removed.

“Why is he giggling?”
“I don’t know. I do nothing. I just wash his hair.”
“Foreigners are very strange people.”

Thank you to K for the pictures

Luckily I was composed in time, because we still weren’t done. Next was a warm-foam shave with one of those little brushes and a straight razor. A friend once recommended I have this done in New York, saying it would make me feel like a million bucks. I should have taken his advice. There is something relaxing in a uniquely manly way about having another man scrape your face and throat with a razor blade.

We still weren’t done. Next: aftershave. The kid in Home Alone was overreacting, but I see his point.

Still not done. A cotton swab swished around in my ear, then out came the cigarette lighter. I have the fuzzy ears of an 80 year old man, but Turkish Barber was going to help me. With artistic brushes of flame, he singed those bad boys right off.

Almost done. Just a few puffs of cologne across my chest, and I was ready, emerging onto the Istanbul street a new man.

Or at least smelling like one.

Teşekür ederim, Mr Barber Man.

…

MAYBE LIKE…

… And this kind of out there, but–

WEARING IT?

Next thing I remember, Rey’ made a crazy prank video in which he pretended to be 90, I believe. Which — I mean, he can do. It’s a thing he’s good at. And, like, the views on his video were, like, highly paralleled in likes and dislikes. I’d like to call that a sign of popularity. And then — who would show up by “Weird Al” Yankovic, and… I think it might’ve been Tim & Eric. … this makes Weird Al’s third-ish cameo in my dreams? And as per usual, he’s kind of… violent with me for some reason. So– he was around because, apparently, Rey’ got a hold of him and wanted him to record the theme music for his video. Which was absolute genius, and I wish my subconscious would allow me to remember the sweet little accordion tune. But no dice. No jingle-jangle. Anyway, when I realized he was leaving off on some tour bus, I just went up and told him that he was “the bandsaw of comedy cutting into the arm of the Earth”. No, seriously, verbatim. And for some reason, he didn’t understand my reference, so I mimed out him cutting into his arm and saying, “You don’t need to worry about kids imitating you anymore, though.” But yeah, he grinned, but it was still a vacant grin, then slapped me HARD on the back, and I fell over. (I’m sorry, Weird Al. You’d always know what I was talking about.) But I tried to brush it off, and I just told him thank you so much for helping out Rey’– that he was fantastic. And then Weird Al, as a last attempt to make me go away (perhaps– maybe I’m insinuating too much into these dream characters. Don’t want to misinterpret things about creations of my own subconscious, now, do I?) — he said, “Would it give you much pleasure if I was to sign you my autograph, sir?”

And I was, like, “… oh, shoot, I completely forgot. Y-yes. Yes, please. Thank you.”

But I pulled out millions of papers out of my backpack, from my books, from my sketchpads, from my notepaper, from the insides of my folder– but everything I found was either too messy or too already-used. And for some reason, Weird Al really didn’t want to write his autograph on lined paper. I guess it’s too conforming for him.

Anyway, I never got his autograph.

Happy.

Endings.

And last detail along this track of my mind is that I met up in town with an unusual pet store that had recently become a meme due to its infectious viral video. (According to the owners when I asked them in this dream, they were pretty embarrassed about the video, because it wasn’t SUPPOSED to be so awkward. But they appreciated that it backfired on them in such a positive light.) So, like, there were dolphins and unicorns and snakes and such just flopping around on the inside of this strange store. (I remember talking about some other store that used to be in this spot. Something else equally bizarre. I dunno, a barbershop with actual barbershop quartets cuttin’ you down.) And then the dolphins plotted to rise up and dominate over the humans.

Endings.

Happy.

EDIT: You know what? I really felt like that wasn’t supposed to be the end of this one. So here I am to report on the small itty-itsy-eensy rememb-erances of my dream last night. Just to give a sort of one-two on how my dreams are always both different and the same.

I dreamt that one of my classmates was a wanted felon who had to wear a sign over himself every hour of school stating the crimes he’d committed. Which included manslaughter. And, like, he was my lab partner, along with this really sweet girl who was at the top of our class — who didn’t seem to pay it no mind. And saw into the deeper psyche of the beast, as it were. … But, um, the moment I realized what was around his neck– for some reason I hadn’t noticed before when he and I had become serious chums earlier in the dreams — I couldn’t help feeling rather skittish. I almost felt like grabbing the girl and running, as we were the only ones up all alone in his dorm room. …

And I dreamt I saw a really beautiful history-of-cinema piece that showed a whole bunch of beautiful, meaningful, artsy-fartsy partses of our past. We even got to watch it on the silver screene! Aren’t YOU just greene with envy? E? And one of them had this awfully difficult shot to watch considering it was shot upside-down and the main point of view was in the uppermost-left and uppermost-right hand corners of the screen. … So I just craned up my neck as high as I could in my comfy chair and got a serious twerk that way. … And then there was this censored scene with Maggie Gyllenhaal seducing her own son. … *blinks* Thank goodness it was censored in my dreams, too. It was r–rr-raw-ther awkward to be watching this, at all, but especially in a venue where it was so… HUGE… like, censor blocks bigger than ME. YOU KNOWWWW.

And then as a final detail, I dreamt that Morgan from my highschool had her hair in Leia buns and was wearing some flowy black warlock-like robes. Had some very theatrical make-up on, too, and she was heading over into class. And I was, like, HOW MUCH DO YOU ROCK?

AS MUCH AS A ROCK ROCKS. WHICH IS ACTUALLY THE EXACT AMOUNT ANY ONE THING CAN ROCK.

She was bashful about my compliments, which is… odd, considering she had made the decision to come to school to face the scorn and ostracism and opposite of many. But positive reinforcement made her blush. D’awww. Ees’ okay, Morgan. You awesome chica.

And this may seem like a LESS climactic note to leave things on. And yet it seems vaguely related to how this all began. Picking up on things and being surprised with the results– picking up things for friends– for great people– important things– peculiar and precious things– but the reactions are never expected. Great timing for this dream, because just this morning, I finally got a response back from Jack after all these years. We could most certainly benefit from having a friend in each other again.

Put it there, unexpected friends all over.

I GOT SOME ICE CREAM, I GOT SOME ICE CREAM! Update on our wine and beer fundraiser on May 18, 2013, from 6-9PM 2013 at Savion Glover Productions, 131 Brunswick Street in Newark, NJ.

We have just linked up with The Taharka Bros ice cream for our deserts.

These men and one woman are all 24 and under and are banging out good treats. We are trying to get our hands on their line of ice cream that is linked to social movements, sustainability and black history.

The following flavors are: 1. Choka Khan (ode to Chaka Khan’s participation in the Black Panther Party and serving in the breakfast program);

2. a Dream Preferred (an ode to Langston Hughes’ work and his love for coconut penny candy);

3. the Jazz Man’s Blues (an ode to Cornel West and his self-appointed crown of being a Blues man);

4. The Big Payback (Haitian vanilla and chocolate flavors as an ode to the Haitian Revolution that sparked the end of slavery throughout the Americas and Caribbean);

5. and Murphy’s Law (an ode to jockey Patrick Murphy the jockey to have the most Kentucky Derby wins).

Along with ice cream by The Taharka Bros we will be featuring wines by Trenton-native, Andre Hueston Mack and beers made by Brooklyn Brewery brew master, Garrett Oliver.

Related articles

• Savion Glover Donates Space for Wine & Beer Tasting (thegroomingblueprint.org)
• African-American Brewmaster’s Beers to be featured at Wine & Beer Tasting (thegroomingblueprint.org)
• Wine & Tasting Fundraiser (thegroomingblueprint.org)
• Haiti Doesn’t Need Our Help (forbes.com)

His specialty are garage d’or wines, a system where he leases different vineyards and experiments with taste. The OPP wine is his ode to his state, dirty Jersey, and a taste of his unapologetic, bold style and flavor.

Our wine and beer fundraiser is on May 18, 2013 from 6-9PM at Savion Glover, 131 Brunswick Street, Newark, NJ 07102.

FEEL THE POWER!!
Suavecito Firme/Strong Hold Pomade.
#suavecito #pomade #getithombre #barbershop #approved

The Tonesetters

The Tonesetters
April 16
7-7:45pm
Gladstone Public Library
135 E. Dartmouth Street
Gladstone OR 97027
(503)656-2411

I know my blog output has suffered recently, but having a job where I (now) have to write for a living and trying to write a book don’t leave a whole lot of time for blogging. I’ve learned a lot in my time since I moved up to DC and my first full-time job, and I have a lot to share about my experience that fits in with the original bent of 40 Acres, humorous takes on situations affecting young black professionals. Well, now that I’m figuring out a good writing schedule again, I’m revisiting that stuff (especially our Survival Guide entries) with more experience and insight. Welcome to the new 10-part Office Survival Guide. Enjoy.

The very first thing I looked for in new cities at new jobs were barbershops. As a young Black man, the barbershop is a refuge, a place where we can go to un-codeswitch and recharge after a long day in the office of discussing whether the racism in “42″ was realistic or not (ugh) and discussing the health virtues of sprouted breads. There’s also nothing like the boost you get from a good haircut with a great line. But not all barbershops are created equal, and picking the wrong one can be a near-fatal flaw. Each barbershop has risks, from affordability to the chance of a bad line-up (the ULTIMATE loss), to the chance of overzealous barbers doing something crazy like arching your eyebrows or using that marker on your hairline. I’ve run into each of these issues, and I’m here to give you advice on how to steer clear of them

1. Make sure you’re going to a barbershop that cuts “your” hair. This may seem like an obvious thing, but Supercuts probably isn’t going to give you everything you need. I mean, if you go to Supercuts already, that’s fine. That’s where Kevin Durant gets his hair cut too.

Fresh out of the shop

But if you’re serious about this, you’ll want to find a place where your barber knows what a taper is, knows what direction to cut your hair and asks you whether you want your sideburns squared or pointed. A Black Barbershop. Usually Yelp will be helpful with this, as a search for “Black Barbershop” will usually turn up some good results. If you’re unsure, read the reviews or look where the shop is located. If it’s on a street named after a Civil Rights leader, you should be good. If none of this works, or if you work in a city without a large Black population, you may have to find a Black guy roaming the street to ask him where he gets his hair cut. Just use the Black Nod and don’t ask Kevin Durant.

Again

2. Now that you’ve found potential shops, now is time to scout them out and figure out which one is right for you. If there’s only one, skip down a step to finding the right barber. Look at the folks going in and out of your target shop. Do they have good haircuts? Do they appear in good spirits? Are the haircuts affordable? (Hint: try to stay away from shops without posted prices for standard cuts). Is Lebron James enjoying a mirthful conversation about his ravaged hairline with your barber?

 But seriously, feel the place out before you get your haircut. Get to know the inevitable CDs/DVDs guy and the Incense Guy. Get a feel for the conversation. Most shops tend towards sports, but the ones in DC tend more towards politics. After you get comfortable, and even inject commentary on your own, now’s the time to find a barber.

3. Don’t pick the guy in a crowded shop with an open chair.

4. Don’t pick this guy.

The old guy has shaky hands and will push your line back in time like Stevie Wonder’s. Don’t do it, even in a hurry. A line is a terrible thing to waste.

5. Don’t pick this guy.

Every inch of dreadlock is an inch of your hairline he will wipe away

The guy with dreads is never your friend. He’s better than the old guy, but not by much. And if the Old Guy happens to also be the Guy with Dreads, run. Don’t come back to the shop.

6. This leaves you with a few options, usually the Barbershop Owner, his First Mate, and the Corner Philosopher. Each of the three has a different style, and you have to decide which one is for you. The Barbershop Owner is the most professional of the three and will give you a good haircut quickly and the way you want it. His chair is usually full, and you’ll have to wait a bit, but he’s pretty responsive to appointments.

The First Mate is the best cutter-of-hair in the shop. This man is an absolute savant with the clippers. He will make you look exactly like one of the model cuts on the posters. But his style comes with drawbacks; his chair is always full, he ALWAYS forgets appointment, and he will inevitably always be on the phone with someone.

The Corner Philosopher is easily identifiable by his presence in leading whatever debates and conspiracy theories prevail in shop conversation. His appearance itself may vary, as Corner Philosophers can come from a wide variety of African-American Studies majors, Nation of Islam members, and Prison Platos. But he will always greet you with an intricate dap and call you “Brother.” This guy gives the least consistent haircuts out of your preferred barber targets, but he has the shortest chair wait times and usually is available without an appointment. Whether or not he is your preferred barber depends on if you enjoy being regaled with tales of fringe Black Panther racial conspiracy theories or not, but this is usually the guy I go to. He’ll be the most likely to remember you and your cut and the most likely to have honest and relaxing code-switch-free conversation with. Building a good rapport with your barber is key.

7. Establish your limits. If your barber has a rack of hair dryers, markers, or other unnecessary tools at his disposal, you have to let him know what you need and what you don’t. Don’t get a razor line if you don’t want. Don’t get one of those pencil Johnny Depp mustaches if you don’t want. Don’t let him arch your eyebrows if he’s itching to do it (this is apparently a thing in DC). Control your haircut, and you control everything. Don’t walk away from your haircut looking like a Ken doll, if that’s not your thing. And tip your barber.

This could be you. Don’t let this be you.

That’s it for the first guide. Hope you found it entertaining and maybe a little useful. Come back next week for the next guide.

Please join us, Saturday, May 18, 2013 from 6 PM – 9 PM at Savion Glover Productions (131 Brunswick Street, Newark, NJ 07114) for a beer and wine tasting.

Here you can expect to relax and enjoy several local wines, as well as craft brews while networking with our partners and supporters.

The owner of the facility is Savion Glover, an internationally celebrated tap dancer from Newark who has donated his space for our event. Tickets for this event are $35 each.

This event is hosted and sponsored by Seventy Sixes Barbershop in Newark, NJ, a local shop that is also responsible for launching The Grooming Blueprint.

Thanks to the following companies for helping our efforts: Beers by Brooklyn Brewery, Wines by Mouton Noir, Ice Cream by Taharka Bros.

Credit: Jill Scott

Credit: www.jillscott.com.

Admittedly, by the time Scott took the stage last weekend, the crowd had been primed by other acts like Buena Vista Social Club, The Brand New Heavies and South Africa’s own Thandiswa Mazwai and a reunited Mafikizolo. Also, they’d been waiting for a year, after Scott’s scheduled headline slot at the 2012 festival was cancelled. To a grooving man and grinning woman, though, the smiles and clapping from the audience made it clear the audience felt it was worth the wait.

Fast forward to end of the show, where one night’s portion of the annual thirty-eight thousand attendees – so, safely call it upwards of 8 000 people – are clapping and whistling and demanding an encore after Miss Jill Scott finishes her show with a rousing rendition of a Spanish opera piece. The set was infused with soul and more than a touch of gospel; her backing singer brought in touches of Barbershop as much as the rich recent tradition of R’nB, and her backline evidence a groove that was drenched in funk. So what is Jill Scott doing headlining the biggest jazz festival in South Africa?

“Music can’t just sit idle in one place,” she explains the day after, to a rapt press-conference, smiling about the protea that’s been given to her as a gesture of appreciation. “I sing jazz but I love hip hop – all of it makes sense to me. Every song reflects a bit of my experience, but some are from the point of view of others. They need to be truthful and genuine so that I can relate to them – and that is what makes music real. So my songs, typically, they’re not what you’re thinking it is; it’s not coming from where you think it’s coming from. But that’s my business. A song is like making a new baby every time, with a different person,” she says, with a mischievous twinkle in her eye, “And I love all my children.”

“It was a blush fest…”

Scott’s jazz credentials – whatever that means in an ever-changing, ever-evolving genre – are rock-solid, though. Two of her Grammy Awards – for “Daydreamin‘” in 2008 and “Cross My Mind” in 2005 – were in the category “Best Urban/Alternative Performance” and her third was for “Best Traditional R&B Performance”. But that last (“God Bless The Child” in 2007) was a collaboration with George Benson and Al Jarreau, two of vocal jazz’s best loved innovators.

Scott lists that as her favourite collaboration ever. “It was a blush-fest,” she giggles. “There they were and I was thinking I should have a little tribe, one with each of them! George Benson comes into the (recording) booth with me, where I’m trying out different timings and he said, ‘Try this’. There he was, singing right in my face. I don’t know what happened, ‘cos I blacked out a little bit, but I guess it must have worked because we got that Grammy.”

Scott’s live show is powered, in large part, by a unwaveringly funky foundation laid down by her bassist and musical director, Thaddaeus Tribett, and drummer George Spanky McCurdy, who also plays with Lady Gaga and Kanye West. Two days before the Scott show, they were the highlight of a drumming workshop, and both said they loved Cape Town and hoped to return. Tribett is renowned as a bassist and musical director, but has an independent career as a vocalist and recording and performing gospel artist. He helped Scott recruit the members of the early Fat Back Taffy backing band, and is a co-pioneer of the “Philly sound”, a variation of soul music that borrows from funk and R’nB that emphasises vast arrangements, usually with sweeping horns. In other words: it’s big, and big on groove.

“When I listen to rock or I listen to blues and it feels like people have poured out their guts and their heart into the song and the music – that’s all about soul.”

Following her public press conference, Scott was interviewed for a performers’ documentary by Cape Town International Jazz Festival organisers ESP Afrika. She spoke of the path from journal entry or jotted note to stage show, talking about how the arrangements were about giving the songs space to breathe, and to live, but also ensuring a connection with a big audience. She said she loved the fact that she could see individual people in the Cape Town crowd, and pick up on a smile, or a wave or someone closing their eyes to listen to the music. She said that, even to a crowd of thousands, she likes to think of establishing an intimate connection with her listeners – although the luxury of small intimate shows is something she’s seldom able to indulge.

Also present at the Sunday press conference was globe-trotting South African star singer, Lira. “The most frustrating question that I get asked is, ‘What do you call your music?’,” said the SAMA, Metro and MOBO Award winner, and asked Scott how she described what she does. “I call it soul,” came the immediate answer. “When I listen to rock or I listen to blues and it feels like people have poured out their guts and their heart into the song and the music – that’s all about soul. I listen to pop; there’s Big Bang, this Korean pop group, and they’ve got soul too.” “I call my music Afrosoul,” Lira noted, at which Scott smiled and exclaimed, “That’s so cool!”

Off camera, Lira and Scott shared the dilemma of being an instantly recognisable diva. It seemed a truly earnest moment when the American star looked at her South African counterpart, who’d mentioned that she’d attended the Cape Town International Jazz Festival the night before as an audience member, and said, “It is so, so cool that you can do that, and her you are now, just walking around this hotel by yourself.” Moments earlier, though, in her documentary interview, Lira had said she’d had little chance to enjoy wandering the festival’s stages after agreeing to the first fan’s request for a photograph with her – and then being deluged by hundreds more pleas.

New Jill Scott albums: “Brown Baby Lullabies’“, Robert Glasper, Missy Elliot, 9th Wonder and more…

Scott’s future music plans involve various projects: “I’m working with (fellow CTIJF star) Robert Glasper and Derek Hodge, an incredible bassist from Philadelphia, and also John Roberts, who happens to be my son’s father. Then there’s ‘Brown Baby Lullabies‘, where the music has to be intelligent enough for babies and parents to listen to. The lyrics will primarily be affirmations – I hope it’s a record that everybody buys, and nobody hears because they are asleep. Then I’m doing a record with Neo and we’ve been talking with Missy Elliot - that’s with BJ The Chicago Kid and if you haven’t got his music yet, it’s great. Also with (repeat South African visitor) 9th Wonder, an incredible hip hop producer.”

This interview by Evan Milton first appeared in the Cape Argus “Good Weekend” of 2013/04/14.

We’ve just confirmed that the beers we will feature will be from Brooklyn Brewery, a local brewing house that is led by African-American and world-renown brewmaster, Garret Oliver. Since joining Brooklyn Brewery in 1994, Oliver has garnered national and international awards for his bold, daring constructions in ale and lagers.

Currently, he travels the world hosting tastings, while going back to Brooklyn to create some of the tastiest beers.

Please join us, Saturday, May 18, 2013 from 6 PM – 9 PM at Savion Glover Productions (131 Brunswick Street, Newark, NJ 07114) for our beer and wine tasting fundraiser for our summer initiative and kickoff of The Grooming Blueprint, a mentoring program that provides grooming services, training and kits to boys and teens in Newark.

I made one last stop to the Barbershop before I leave to the East Coast. He will be blogging Tips on Men’s Grooming in the near future. You can also go to my “Men’s to do list”section and find tips on grooming.

Attention Portlanders and neighboring cities, Chrome is having a 415 Work Boot launch party this Thursday @ Lizard Lounge in PDX. Free trims courtesy of Rudy’s Barbershop, live music by The Shivas, and whiskey pours by Eastside Distilling. Click the above image to view the details!

Article via PDLCON

In the clip I posted, a barber at Proper Barber Shop said, “I think of myself as an artist, not just a barber”. I personally agree, but I would like to hear your response. Good video either way.

I started going to a new barbershop since I got back from Ft Jackson last Aug. As far as I know, it’s the first time I’ve ever used a place called a barbershop. Before this it was salons. I’m really not sure of the difference. But, I’ve never seen a woman get her haircut here.

Anyway, it’s cheap and they do a good job for the cut I get now, Army 101. It’s behind the mall, in a part of the mall with a poorly lot parking lot. The walls are bare except for a couple of sports pictures. Furniture and mirror stands look like they were bought at a second hand store, or from a business that went under. The guys seem nice, the floor usually needs swept, and there’s a revolving door of families with boys and older guys.

I knew this place existed, but I wonder how it is that I didn’t start going here til this past year? It gives off the feel
of an institution. Everyone knows each other, and the barbers know the customers. The talk is sports, local and national, and the relationships are deep enough that jabs are heard about a team or two.

I wonder how many other places are like this? How many parts of my community am I ignorant about because they’re located behind malls and in poorly lit places?