October 20, 1988, Portland Observer, Page 5
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ •
A Celebration Of Love
. - J A I lW S
lECHJMD
ICIEIPCICT
by Garland Lee Thompson
“ BIRD” FLYS INTO TOWN
Charlie "Yardbird” Parker living
on through his m usic, now
reaches us, his fans and de
votees, via Clint “ Make my day”
Eastwood’s highly sensitive film
adaptation, “ Bird,” now playing at
the Lloyd Cinema, which I saw
opening night. If you are a “ bird-
lover," you can now be a "Bird
watcher” and witness, for the first
time on film, the struggle, pain
and pleasure of 23 of “ Bird’s” ac
tual recorded numbers, “ played”
electronically under music direc
tor, Lennie Niehaus, by actor,
Forest Whitaker as Charlie “ Bird”
Parker.
Chan Parker, “ Bird’s” widow
(played pow erfully by Diane
Venora), was a key consultant on
the two hours and 45 minute film
that traces “ Bird’s” short 34 years
of bitter-sweet life until his death
in March, 1955. One rarely thinks
of "B ird” at home with the wife,
kids, sitting in front of the TV, or
on the road playing in L.A. and
one-nighters. This take us off the
dusty record labels and album
jackets and introduces the per
son, who showed the “ Othello-
type flaws” and true character of
the man, as it must have been
while he was busy, permanently
changing the sound of our mod
ern jazz music and personally
self-destructing inside and out.
America’s “ only indigenous art
form,” jazz and “ Bird” is now pro
perly documented for history and
the world market.
If, like myself, you wondered
what it must have been like to be
a Black revolutionary jazz music
artist in "W hite America” during
the forties and fifties; this is a
smokey, murkey, boozey and
drug-haunted rendition of the
man himself and his music that
"everybody” now in the jazz
music world, is playing and
emulating. His solos are stand
ards now, clubs, like Birdland’s
on West fifty second Street in
New York were named after him
and everybody’s waiting for his
next “ incarnation” or successor
to appear.
Now here comes actor turned
director, Eastwood, and scenarist
Joel Oliansky, taking a big
chance, evoking the memory of
this great “ Bird.” And what I
found fascinating about the film,
they portrayed living people, such
as Jazz greats, Dizzy Gillisepe, as
they must have been in those
fateful days in the gin joints and
cafe society "watering holes" of
America and Europe.
I remember a few years ago,
standing in front the Village
Vanguard, seeing Dizzy getting
out of a car and greeting me
warmly before going inside the
club for his gig. So, I wonder how
he must feel, seeing a young
Black actor playing “ him ” as a
struggling Black musician and
band leader trying to stay alive,
make a living and play his music.
It might be a good case for "the
Society to Remove Jazz from the
Saloon” mentality, but for the
film, “ Bird,” everything’s “ coming
up roses” right here in the City of
Roses. At one point in the film,
this audience suddenly started
throwing roses at Charlie Parker
on stage. He caught one, kissed it
and held it high! Check it out, Jazz
lovers. “ Write on, Bird!”
newest star in its “ stable,” on
new pictures (“ Coming To Amer
ica” ) and plans for Arsenio’s own
all new late-night hour talk show.
Now remember, screen fans,
Eddie Murphy is "the super hot”
property of Paramount. It is with
Murphy, his friend and “ hand-
buddy,” that he co-stars with in
“ Coming To America,” a summer
'88 box office hit. I met Arsenio at
the first press screening and par
ty of “ Coming To America,” with
Eddie Murphy. This enable me to
be one of the first of the press in
town to write “ a scoop” article
(June 22nd, 1988) about this new
film team of Murphy, Arsenio Hall
and Shari Headley.
And now Hall says he’s “ in big
trouble, people will expect so
much this time. With ‘The Late
Show,’ nobody cared or counted
on me to do very much. I was the
underdog then. They let me do
anything I wanted, and that’s why
it worked.” “ Write on, Arsenio!”
A STAR IN ARSENIO HALL
Arsenio Hall was the eventua
replacement for Joan Rivers on
Fox Broadcasting’s “ Late Show.
I almost turned off my TV, but he
said something, did something or
talked to someone “ hot,” like Ed
die Murphy or gorgeous, mtelli-
aent women and look good doing
it, so I gave him a “ shot’ and
watch his show.
A temporary gig made him a ris
ing new star. Hall was suppose to
just hold down the late-night
show while Fox prepared, "The
Wilton North Report.” A thirteen
week non-renewal contract and
Hall started to rise in the ratings.
Fox blew it! They tried to make a
new deal, but Paramount had
beaten them “ to the punch” and
signed him to a two-year contract.
This preventing his return to do
the "Late Show." Paramount is
starting to make full use of its
“ PAUL ROBESON’* RETURNS TO
BROADWAY
STARRING AVERY BROOKS
Actor Avery Brooks stars on
Broadway in Phillip Hayes Dean’s
“ Paul Robeson," a play with
music based on the life of Paul
Robeson. It also stars Ernie Scott
and if directed by Harold Scott, at
the Golden Theatre, on West 45th
Street, in New York. This is a six
week return to Broadway for
“ Paul Robeson,” that originally
opened on Broadway in a produc
tion that I saw, featured James
Earl Jones. Avery Brooks, who
has been see in hit TV series and
film , has received favorable
reviews in New York for his per
formance of “ the great black oak
tree.”
AN UNPRODUCED PLAY BY
LANGSTON HUGHES AND
ZORA NEALE HURSTON
New York’s Lincoln Center
Theatre is close to concluding
negotiations for the rights to a
never-performed play from the
1930’s by Langston Hughes and
Zora Neale Hurston, “ Mule
Bone.” This play was intended to
be the first comedy about Blacks
that did not rely on stereotypes.
The third act has been published,
but not the entire play, according
to Geogory Mosher, director. It
could open sometime in the win
ter at the Newhouse at Lincoln
Center or the Lyceum Theatre.
Only real theatre bluffs would
know Langston Hughes also
teamed up with German com
poser, Kurt Weill, and wrote an
opera, entitled. "Street Scene,”
that was produced in New York
years ago. If you got that right,
you know your theatre history,
“ Write on, theatre buppies!”
S k
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fa c h io ti
W in te r W ra p U p t
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A d d ic te d To
R e je c tio n
Eddie Murphy
n - i. m
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by Sylvia McDaniel
“ I DON’T NEED YOU BLACK
MAN,” “ I DON’T NEED YOU
BLACK WOMAN,” ANYMORE...
eloncon’s “ Diary” has come
and gone but, the controver
Unfortunately, we cannot un
sy still exists. The age old conflict
due what has already taken place.
between Black men and Black
It is up to the Black community as
women is flourishing.
a whole to solve the problem be
HOW DO YOU LOVE A BLACK
fore it totally explodes into de
WOMAN? HOW DO YOU LOVE A
structive combat. Many agree that
a resolution is crucial for the sur
BLACK MAN?
Thai is the question today. A
vival of a unique culture, Black
humankind; Black men and Black
dilemma that has proven to be a
women breed Black babies, Black
valid issue in the Black communi
ty for the past several years. A
leaders.
To avoid further controversy,
topic of discussion for which
many books, articles, plays and
however, Black men and Black
community forums have examin
women should begin by apologiz
ed in hopes of understanding the
ing to each other for the negative
vivid controversy. Such noted
attitudes they’ve shared. Regard
plays on this issue are ‘The Diary
less of the road Black people
of Black Men and For Colored
choose as individuals, the univer
sal love shared within the Black
Girls Only.”
male and Black female ex
Looking beyond the facts and
perience must be acknowledged
into the Black experience, the
consensus of “ I heard i t ”
and never forgotten.
throughout the Black community
Therefore, for those who want
is that both Black men and Black
to carry on with Black love, don’t
women have invented various ex
be afraid to fight for what may
cuses for their love, hate relation
have been lost. Re-ignite the
ship. The growing number of sin
sparks by opening your hearts
gle Black women, single Black
and utilizing trust. And, don’t
mothers and interracial affairs
forget the most valuable law of
all, communication. Importantly,
(I’ve seen mixed affairs especially
among Black men in Portland,
take care of those Black babies
Oregon) are all results of the
you birth especially you, Black
senseless combat.
men.
SHAME ON YOU BLACK MAN!
On the other hand, for those
SHAME ON YOU BLACK WOMEN!
who wish to exercise their free
Have you forgotten that the
dom of choice, loving outside of
the realm, I say more power to
Black male and Black female ex
you! Everyone has the right to
perience was the foundation and
spend their time with whom they
the survival of the Black race?
Yet, through beginning Africa,
darn well please. I am hoping
though that Blacks who have in
slavery, and civil rights, some
volved themselves in interracial
thing went wrong. The bond be
relationships have done so out of
tween two special soul mates, the
sincerity, and not because of
Black male and the Black female-
the warrior and the warriorette —
remorse felt towards their own
seem to hold less importance in
Black kind. I for one can whole
heartedly understand the neces
the 1980’s. Although, history has
sity of a loving relationship, and
shown that the root of the conflict
refuse to sit at home alone on a
developed many years ago, we
Saturday night waiting — but you
cannot overlook the fact that the
are still number one in my book,
negative attitudes and differ
Black man! However, our in
ences expressed between Black
dividual choices should not stop
men and Black women have
us the next time we pass each
become more visible since in
other on the street, from saying
tegration.
HELLO, brother or sister, in
The love, hate excuses con
acknowledgement of the valuable
tinue to fester now more than
experience we've shared!
ever.
We invite those of you who
BLACK MEN DON’T LIKE BLACK
WOMEN BECAUSE ... BLACK
wish to take part in the celebra
tion of Black love, to respond in
WOMEN DON’T LIKE BLACK MEN
writing to the Portland Observer, in
BECAUSE ...
answer to the question of the
I wonder what is on the minds
of Black men and Black women
’80s.
HOW DO YOU LOVE A BLACK
across the country after the re
WOMAN? HOW DO YOU LOVE A
cent break-up of Mike Tyson and
BLACK MAN?
Robin Givens?
Your written cooperation will
Are Black men saying, “ That’s
hopefully be the beginning of re
how Black women are. All they want
newed relationships between
is to take a Nig— money! ’ ’
Black men and Black women in
Are Black women saying,
Portland, Oregon. Write: Portland
“ That’s how Black men are. All
Observer, c/o Sylvia McDaniel, 525
they want to do is kick your A - ’’
N.E. Killingsworth, Portland, OR
What will happen next? Will
Michael and Robin continue on
97211.
M
.,
Melba Moore Has A Sweet Obsession
Superstar Melba Moore who has achieved fame in every aspect
of entertainment and opened doors for artists such as Freddie
Jackson, has proven again that she has a golden ear with a new
qroup — ‘Sweet Obsession’.
Melba saw the talented sisters (Keena, Klmmala, and Michel e
Green) from Detroit while hosting the Ohio Valley Music Awards. .
After seeing their sizzling performance, Melba invited them to meet I
with the high power Hush Productions management firm in New s
York. Although the music awards was suppose to be the girls last
venture in the music business, they jumped at the chance to meet
with the management firm that molded Melba Moore as we as
Freddie Jackson’s career.
v
„
Sweet Obsession’s first single, “ I’m Gonna Get Over You,
from their self-titled debut album is rapidly rising up the music
charts. Their impending success has garnered them a song in Iri-
star picture’s winter release “ Iron Eagle II” starring Lou Gossett Jr
as well as joining Freddie Jackson’s USA tour as the opening act.
One Stop Records
and Tapes
A V A IL A B L E
R & B, RAP, JAZZ, BLUES AND GOSPEL
PLUS SNAKE SKIN BELTS, GUCCI HATS,
POSTERS OF YOUR FAVORITY ARTIST AND
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ONE STOP
1615 N.E. Killingsworth
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DAZZLING
S fff Ä .
Million Dollar Man Eddie
Murphy In The November
‘Ebony Man’
'9
Success
with another Black mate, sharing
Black love? Or will they use this
as an excuse to hate Black men,
to hate Black women? In the near
future Barbara “ Wa Wa” will prob
ably be the first to expose their
new relationships. I’m betting
Michael and Robin’s new mates
will be.
Yet and still, do both Black men
and Black women really have
valid complaints for disliking
each other? Or, are both parties in
a round about way trying to say:
u r a
Multi-million dollar man Eddie Murphy searches
for love and happiness, plus "Overcoming Barriers
To Great Sex,” getting out of "Claustrophobic Rela
tionships” and “ What Men Look For In A Woman
are featured in the November EM.
Murphy, America’s number one box-office star
with his current hit, "Coming To America,” tells how
his real life frustrations in finding a mate parallel
those of his movie character, Akeem. “ I ve had so
many instances when I thought I'd found the ideal
woman and it turned out not to be," says Murphy.
Ready for fatherhood, he says, “ I want kids real bad.
I'm ready to commit to a child, but I’m not ready to
commit to a marriage. With a wife,you can’t just
•Hey baby, I need a week alone. And I m still at the
point where I need a week by myself alot.
Also in the November EM: Some practical meth
ods to use in “ Overcoming Barriers To Great Sex,
and advice on getting out of “ Claustrophobic Rela
tionships" is offered, while several brothers speak
out on “What Men Look For In A Woman. Plus, EM
examines ’Why Men Fall In Love,” shows how to
keep a lid on your spending habits and tells why
finding the right fragrance makes good scents.
-V
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