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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 1981)
Page 10 Portland Observer, October 1, 1981 HAPPENINGS entertainment entertainme nt . "There are alternatives” Grassroot News. N. » '. — T w irlin g , w hirlin g , moving and swaying to Donald Byrd. Pharoah Sanders and Max Roach, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater moved on Portland. For a dancer. Alvin Ailey is the tops. One former resident o f the Northwest. Stanley Perryman, achieved this dream. " I always wanted to dance with this dance group and New York was a long way from Seattle. So I just worked my way up. 1 started in L .A . and danced with Donald McKayle, the Dance Theatre o f Harlem and appeared on Broadway. 1 received a lot o f my early training from Black Arts West in Seattle." Fani skin treatment products deal directly with the cause of skin problems, rather than masking over the effects. Contour Wrap Anti Stress creme Face Masque Callous Body Lifts treatment The Ailey Dance Theater by Lanita Duke Grassroot News Service tlltld fí “ I ’ve always liked to dance and when I joined A. A. my whole approach to dance changed. It put me on a d iffe re n t level because o f the professionalism. When you watch the movements o f A . A . you see the fusion o f jazz and ballet movement. * It s a spiritual thing that we bring across io our audien ce. When we first join. Alvin knows we have a technique. Once inside the group he tries to get our personal talents on the stage.” lotstud in krwur l«v«t ot Proline Beauty Products 917 S.W Alder 222 3058 Penny Connor Marianne Smith Certified Fani Consultants Natalie Cole Happy Love AILEY DANCER STANLEY PERRYMAN (Photo by Richard J. Brown) Alvin Ailey was born in Texas and began his career with Lester Horton. His own company started in 1958 w ith 7 members. Now it ’ s a complex repertory company with a cast o f 29. Perryman states, “ W e are not all a Black thing but we are in the spiritualness o f the whole third w o rld ." Perryman believes that with the budget on the bottom for cultural outlets that the community will fill the gap by sponsoring local dance troupes with a community spirit (like our Hereo). Donna W oods, a nine-year veteran o f A . A ., says. “ H o p e fu lly , the government will continue to support the arts. But it seems that Reagan doesn t want to go that way. Things will be cut and we won’t be able to put it on T V and our tours might be lengthened.” The cutting o f our arts just reflects how little this country cares about the arts. But I guess when you could buy a tank, why would you want to see or hear something about peace? One o f the most sensitive and beloved song interpreters o f our day is the lovely Natalie Cole, who has been a consistent public and critical favorite since she stepped into the limelight with Inseparable, her debut recording, in Inseparable garnered her a golden album award and a Grammy for “ Best New Artist” that year, while its smash hit "This W ill Be" earned her a second Grammy for “ Best Female R&B Vocal Performance." Since then Natalie and success have been virtually inseparable; she has reaped five more gold LP certifications— Natalie. Unpredictable. Thankful, Natalie. . Live, and / Love You So— and two platinum a w a rd s - Unpre dictable and T h a n k fu l. She has also been the recipient o f a host more kudos, including a third Grammy in 1976 for "Best Female R&B Vocal Per formance” once again. Natalie has also made several significant television appearances, both as a performer and charming interview subject, and she hosted her own variety special for the CBS network. Natal.e spent the early part o f 1981 film ing television commercials for Posner Cosmetics and Ford M otor Company, yet somehow found time to chair the American Cancer Society-sponsored Great American Smokeout before entering the studio to record her new album. Happv Love (Septem ber 1981). Happy Love is an apropos title Tor\his magnificent LP. Natalie is in her element, singing optimistic songs of love and togetherness with a flair all her own and the result is a sweet soul blend o f pulsating rhythm and blues. Natalie's warm, full-bodied vocals are complemented perfectly by a tight band and light string ensemble under the direction o i producer/arranger George Tobin. Natalie’ s new association with Tobin, in fact, represents the first time in nine albums that she has worked with a new producer. And Tobin fresh from producing the smash hit “ Bein’ W ith Y o u " for Smokey Robinson, was lit for the task. He showcases Natalie in warm tones and polished ar rangements. emphasizing her rich vocal timbre. W ith the changes in the production company came changes in the creative team, and new songwriters were recruited to bring fresh material to the Happy Love project. Lead guitarist M ike Piccirillo collaborated with Tobin Productions director Gary Goetzman to come up with the LP's first his single, You Were Right G ir l," and Bill Amesbury penned the explosive follow-up smash “ Nothin' But A Fool.” Natalie herself contributed three tunes, proving herself as more than just a stellar perform er, but a songwriter who can write in several styles. She penned “ Love A nd Kisses" and co-w rote “ The Joke Is On Y o u " a id “ Across The N ation.” The album also features updated versions o f two old chestnuts. Percy Sledges’ No. 1 “ When A Man Loves A W om an” and the Guess W h o ’s pop masterpiece. “ These Eyes.” All o f the tunes have one thing in common, however. Natalie Cole’s verv happy love. Forrest Jenkins ALVIN AILEY DANCER DONNA WOODS Still, it’s the European relatives o f America who can’t do enough for our artists. Donna explains. “ They are very warm people and they want the arts to come over. You just have to say that in Europe they are very supportive o f their arts. Donna feels that although the future support o f the dance theatre may come from large corporations and rich individuals, the direction o f the company won’ t change. " T h e direction doesn’t always come from Alvin but from the choreographer." In watching their performance you could see the non-verbal thought pass from dancer to dancer. The flow is smooth; the ballet buffs complained that he music was too jazzy and the jazz buffs cried that it wasn’t up enough. ,ul ,o »" back with an open mind you could get right into their movement ith the same ease and grace. Alvin Ailey is just A lvin Ailey. I f the dic- mnary were to pick up on him they would say, "A lv in Ailey: Third World movements with spirit.” has written 7 m illion dollars o f life insurance to date in 1981. M r. Jenkins has opened a convenient new location to better learn your needs and better f i l l them. Discover the advantage o f having a ll your m ajor insurance coverages with one agent who provides meaningful savings, who gives fast, fa ir, frie n dly service and who has monthly payments available. - c.Nowbe^r£YsLJ[qy^lJ3enle2 Coupon 4 M I pfcg IVORY SOAP ¡1 3 ’/» oz size Stock up on th it famous brand 1.13 value Oct. 1 thru 6th C a ll F o rre s t f o r a u to . lif e , h o m e o w n e r s , f ir e c o m m e rc ia l a t 249-2966 3714 N. W illiam s. Welcome Home Concert **® ® V,H o u ,,o n 8 h lv ,rs Soprano), in concert, Sunday, October 18 1981, at 4 pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1824 N.E. Hancock’ H n iJ r » '' Joe ’ ’ 8900 N Vancouv»T Stevens & Son Jewelers, Lloyd Center. Ticket cost: $10 per person. -.z 1 ‘i KB'S Ítf.íi k it V SAVE Fa r Eltieera COOKIES x On« pound hn of drthetous Danish butler cookitrs J J o y d c e n t n r N e w b e rry , only w ith couPo° Oct. 1st thru 8th
