February 10, 1988, Portland Observer, Page 7
ENTERTAINMENT
Natalie Cole
"W hether it's a ballad or an up
tempo song, I want quality and
thought put into it," Natalie Cole
says emphatically.
"A record
should capture a real human ener
gy — that's what's important to
m e."
"Everlasting,"
Natalie
Cole's
June 1987 debut album for Man
hattan Records, is a reaffirmation of
the high artistic standards by which
she's always been guided. She's
long been considered among the
most versatile and passionate R&B/
pop singers around — with this
album, she's found the material
and the producers to match her
talents. Cole was excited by the-
project, and her enthusiasm makes
for one of her most satisfying re
leases to date.
"The songs this time are some of
the best I've ever had," she says.
"W hat was missing on some of my
last few albums were strong ballads
— and we have several of them on
"Everlasting,"
which
certainly
makes me happy.
At the same
time, the uptempo material isn't
predicatable, musically or lyrically.
Often, the energy you put into a re
cording is covered up by over
arrangement and over-singing, until
something's lost. We didn't do that
this tim e."
Handling such a broad range of
material was a challenge, but Cole
enjoyed it. ' Pink Cadillac, for in
stance, was something of an artistic
stretch for her: "That song was a
real difficult direction for me, but
at the same time I felt real comfor
table with it and had fun. Dennis
Lambert made it sound contempo
rary as well as giving it a street
feel. It made the song something
special."
There's a lot to like on "Ever
lasting": solid songwriting, expert
production and, most of all, a dyna
mic vocalist fully involved in her
music. The LP serves notice that,
after a several-year recording hia
tus, Cole and her career are very
much on the move.
Aside from her music. Cole has
devoted time to raising her son Rob
bie (her husband, songwriter/pro
ducer, Marvin Yancy passed away
several years ago). Charity work
has also been important to her —
in 1980, she served as chairperson
for the American Cancer Society's
fundraising campaigns, including
the "Great American Smoke-Out.”
She has also performed in behalf of
N.O.W. (Neighbors of Watts, an
entertainment business charity that
raises funds for children's centers
in the Los Angeles ghetto) and
headlined the "Because We Care"
benefit for the Cambodian people.
"Everything is flowing w ell," Cole
says of her career at present.
I
can't wait to get out on the road
again!” Rejuvenated personally and
artistically, Natalie Cole is making
outstanding music once again.
SEA TOWN PRESENTS
VALENTINES CONCERT
WITH
NATALIE COLE
JXT THE CIVIC AUDITORIUM
FEB. 14th
Special Guests:
CHI-LITES*
Spike Lee Talks
'School Daze'
"W oza A lbert!" Rises and
Moves to Winningstad Theatre
by Garland Lee Thompson
to try it in the first place! They truly
show their "behind", letting it all
hang out using just a few hand-
props and very few costumes (to
none, at one point). The Armstrong
and Jones "d u o ", do African doo
wop" and acappella at the top of
the piece with dynamite "Hand
jive"! Through song and dance
with fast chaning scenes, our dyna
mic duo weave a strange "what-if
tale of the return of Christ (they call
Him "M orena") to, of all places.
South Africa!
"Woza me!"
"W oza’ means
"rise up" and "A lbert" is Albert
Luthuli, the Zulu Chief and one of
the founders of the African National
Congress. With cartoon noses, lots
of actor's mime (not pure mime)
Yes, "Woza Albert!" is on the
and making their own outrageous
move! I first saw the original cast
sound effects, we are lifted up from
production in New York, at the
just another "agit-prop politico
Roger Furman New Heritage Thea
series of vignettes, to a simply
tre in Harlem in 1985, presenting
powerful, satirical statement of the
one of the most powerful perfor
lunacy of one of the world s gross
mances of the season. The return
est abominations: apartheid!
to New York of the Obie Award-
This is "monster theatre" at its
Winning South African play had just
best!
A bare stage, two bodies,
completed a special two-week run at
something
to sit on, a prop hanger
the City College of New York's
and
"away
we go"; laying "brick-
Davis hall in January, and now it
by-brick
for
the white boss machin
opens here in the new Portland Per
ery," doing "tim e for being Black,"
forming Arts Center.
up in helicopters trying to "nuke
The Storefront Theatre has pick
the Jesus out of the Christ, while
ed up Rick Jones and Anthony P.
the "N az" is taking "a walk on the
Armstrong's production of "Woza
waters!" I loved the chopper scene,
Albert!" that first appeared at the
as the South African airforce's "A -
Key Largo Nightclub last month,
bomb run at J.C ." backfires and
and has just opened it in the W in
their Afrikaner-cans are blown away
ningstad Theatre, the smaller of the
into "the drink!" Jeff Forbes light
two newest theatre stages in the
ing on that scene is super good!
Pacific Northwest, and perhaps on
John Zagone and Rick Jones are
the entire West Coast.
both
wearing directors' hats, so my
This also marks the first time that
hat is off to them: Tony Armstrong;
"Woza Albert!" is being performed
Gary O'Brien, producer; and "the
by Africans of American decent.
Storefront gang". And, especially
Does it “ hold up"? Yes. What a
for getting "the real Black South
stretch it is for Jones and Arm
African playwright/actor, Selaelo
strong, who create and "paint a pic
Maredi, to consult on the music.
ture" clearly of a whole range of
Just
keep working of "the dialects
South African characters — Black,
with
Colin Jones, dialect consul
white and Afrikaner — slowly build
tant, and you'll be alright. Okay?
ing tempo and a steady pace. It's
Woza, y'all. You "got down and
not easy for American Black actors
it
for
up and on" and made me for
to grasp th energy and rhythm of
get
the
hunger aches and why we
Black South Africans, with Zulu
so
poor
in our "P.M ., or post Mar
background, and perform the shift
tin
"
(Morena)
period! So, "W oza"
ing, pounding pace with convincing
on down to the PCPA. It's just
power and credibility.
"cross de river'.
It is very brave for these Brothers
Film m aker Spike Lee talks w ith host Deborah Crable.
"She's Gotta Have It" filmmaker Spike Lee targets skin color conflicts
and the need for unity among Blacks in his latest film, "School Daze". Lee
plays a pledge in a fraternity whose motto is "dog or die'' in the musical
which centers around a Black college's homecoming. "Everything in the
film is the tru th ," states Lee, and he explains why he was banned from
shooting the movie at three Black colleges in Atlanta. Lee also discusses
the return of his "She's Gotta Have It" character for a commercial he s
directing that features basketball star Michael Jordan and tells why he knew
his award winning film, "She's Gotta Have It", would be a big hit, and
addresses the "universal" quality of Black films in the Ebony/Jet Showcase
the weekend of February 12-14th. Consult your local listing for date and
time.
A Celebration of Black
Artists Hosted by U.S. Bank
U.S. Bank announced that it is
hosting an art exhibit that includes
the work of eight Ideal Black artists,
February 1st through the 29th, in
the U.S. Bank Plaza Lobby. The
exhibit is set to honor Black History
Month in Oregon.
Works of Charolette Lewis, Ho
ward Pernell, Samuel Bryant, Sher-
rian Haggar, Kathy Pennington,
Tom Unthank, Mark Little, and
Mario Jackson will be shown. This
exhibit offers a diverse use of me
diums including watercolor, embos
sing, lithograph, pen and ink,
photography, oil on canvas, acrylic
on canvas, ceramic, and ink with
prismacolor.
U.S. Bank is proud to salute
these fine artists. They not only
represent Oregon's Black Artists but
the depth of artistry in the Pacific
Northwest. U.S. Bank invites the
public to come view "A Celebration
of Black Artists" during the month
of February. The U.S. Bank Plaza
building is located on the corner
of 5th and Oak.
Storefront Theatre
presents
T IC K F T S
THE 1 9 8 8 NATIONAL
BLACK TALENT DIRECTORY
at pcpa box office , galleria jean m a c h in e ,
m e c h o u s e OF SOUND. ONE STOP RECORDS
REGISTER NOW!
Wbongen: Noema
Percy Mtwa
Barney Simon
31 NW FIRST
If you perform in-front-of-the-camera
or make it happen behind-the-scenes,
Feb 5 - Feb 28
Winningstad Theatre
For Tickets Dhone
224-4001
!!?J322
NIGHTLY ENTERTAINMENT
VISA Mastercard
Actors/Actresses
Comedians
Models M /F
Singers/Groups
Children
• New Faoes category •
etc_
__
Tuesday, Feb. 16th
„V, Feb. 11th
CALVIN WALKER
Directors
Cinematographers
Writers
Mixers
Composers
Make-up Artists
etc—
Wednesday, Feb. 17th
S
nd. Feb. 12th & 13th
URTIS SALGADO
brothersof
the balaoi
Complete form and submit:
,v , Feb. 14th
• (1) 8x10 B&W glossy headshot
• $45 to appear in one category
FOR ONE FULL YEAR
A DA
lay, Feb. 15th
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