Page 6...The Portland Observer...October 23,1991
Portland Observer
ENTERTAINMENT
City of Hope
Janice Scroggins and
Mario Depriest
by <&M
“ CITY OF HOPE” is a gripping
story about what it takes to get by or
what it takes to get over in the city. It
sets itself apart from many “ urban
survival” stories, because the ensemble
cast o f 36 characters all have an indi­
vidual story to tell. It challenges the
movie-goer to keep up.
This film is the most creatively
edited work in years. It will probably
be nominated for an Oscar in that cate­
gory. The editor was John Sayles. He
had to be the best person for the job.
Sayles also wrote and directed the film.
It would have been nearly impossible
to explain his vision of the finished
product to any other editor.
The cinematic style Sayles chose
visually reflects the myriad ways the
citizens are inescapably linked. Like a
roving eye, the camera follows the
trail of connections that make the city
run, stopping on one character for a
while; then following the next guy
who passes down the street. * ‘ I wanted
the feeling that these were parallel
stories that eventually converge,”
Sayles said. “ The film is like a knot.
Everyone is tied up together. I wanted
people to tell that there is no way these
people can avoid affecting each other,
even if they never met each other.”
You might remember John Sayles
from his 1984 film “ The Brother from
Another Planet.’ ’ Sayles also created
TV’s critical hit “ Shannon’s Deal.”
He even plays the part of Carl, a “ fixer’ ’
who operates a local garage as a front
for all his many illegal activities. The
fictional Hudson City , N.J. may look
familiar to you. It was shot in Cincin­
nati’s “ Over the Rhine” area. That is
where Sayles also shot “ Eight Men
Out” (1987).
“ City of Hope” brings exquisite
meaning to the phrase “ Art Imitating
Life.” With three dozen characters it
is almost guaranteed that you will find
at least one or two you recognize. You
will recognize many of the actors’
faces. More importantly, you will
recognize the similarity of someone
you have met in your own life. At the
very least, you will have read about
someone in the newspaper who re­
minds you of a cast member.
City of Hope is a vivid portrayal
of the stories behind the headlines of
any metropolitan city. Joe Morton
(chief prosecutor Michael James on
ABC’s “ Equal Justice” ) plays Wynn,
a city councilman working hard to
gain political power while trying to
hold on to his personal ethics. There
are so many subplots that it is impos­
sible to give you an outline. Corrup­
tion, political power games, obses­
sion, street games, compassion, anger,
love. I doubt if you will be talking to
your date much during this movie.
There is just too much movie to keep
track of.
THE MOTION PICTURE TRIUMPH OF THE YEAR!
"TWO ENTHUSIASTIC THUMBS UP!"
-Siskel & Ebert
" R IV E T IN G , K N O C K D O W N
E N T E R T A IN M E N T !"
-Peter Travers
RO lltj G STONE
-Jam i Bernard NEW YORK ROST
-Jack Garner GANNETT NEWS SERVICE
Pianist-composer Janice Scroggins,
originally from Oklahoma, has been a
part of Portland’s music community
for 12 years. She has played in various
bands performing a wide variety of
music ranging from classical to rock.
She has opened for Bill Cosby, Taj
Mahal, Ray Charles, B.B. King, Billy
Ekstein, Jon Henricks and Robert Cray.
Ms. Scroggins has also worked in
schools teaching music, giving work­
shops and performances to young audi­
ences.
Among other credits, Ms. Scrog­
gins has been involved in several North­
western theatre productions; recorded
albums with local artists, Esquires, Terry
Robb, Norman Sylvestor, and a solo
album, Janice Scroggins plays Scott
Joplin was nominated for a Grammy
Award in 1988. The Cascade Blues
Association has presented Ms. Scrog­
gins with three Muddy Waters Blues
Awards.
“ Kid N Play” To Visit
Portland, Oregon
"AN INVIGORATING
ACHIEVEMENT!"
-Vincent Canby THE NEW YORK TiMES
"PO W ERFUL JOLTING.
MESMERIZING.
UNFORGETTABLE!"
-Jay Scott. BOSTON GLOBE
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KOIN CENTER
STA R TS F R ID A Y
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For Best Results
Advertise in the Observer
S tarts W ednesday , O ctober 23 rd A t T hese T heatres !
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MALL 705
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Tony Washington, Promotions
Manager for The Portland Observer,
will be the host for the “ House Party
2 ” cast. They will be making personal
appearances, Monday, October 28,1991
at the following schools and businesses:
Jefferson High School, 5210 N Kerby;
House of Sound, 3634 N Williams.
For further information, please contact:
Tony Washington at 288-0020.
Kid N Play Stars Of The
Movie “House Party 2” In
Portland To
Host The Pajama Jammie
Jam, On October 28, The
House Party Of The Year
Kid N Play stars of the slammin’
hip-hop blow-the-roof-off-ncw-movie,
“ House Party 2,” will be in Portland,
to host the hottest * ‘house party ’ ’ of the
year!! The Pajama Jammie Jam, at
Portland State University’s Smith Ball­
room,Monday, O ctober28,1991 8-11
p.m.
So get out your fly, fresh pj’s, DJ
WHIZ (Party Machine and House Party
2) is in the house, and along with Kid N
Play will judge the Pajama Jammie
Jam Contest, with prizes for the best
pajamas.
Blue Moon Productions and PSU’s
Black Cultural Affairs presents, this
party of the year to benefit the United
Negro College Fund.
The first installment, "House
Party,” which starred Kid N Play, Martin
Lawrence, Full Force and the late Robin
Harris, made “ house party” a house­
hold term, grossing $27 million and
shipping over 150,000 vidéocassettes.
Produced and directed by Doug McH­
enry and George Jackson (New Jack
City), "House Party 2” follows the
madcap adventures of Kid N Play as
the boys cross the threshold from ado­
lescence to adulthood.
Donation : $10.00. Tickets arc on
sale at House Of Sound Records, 3634
N. Williams, 287-1960. For reserva­
tions Blue Moon Productions Office,
257-2700
I
'w, ♦ ■
-
Mario DePriest, a Los Angeles
native, burst into Portland’s jazz scene
at last years “ Music Explosion.” He
was also the voice of the plant ‘ * Audrey
II” in SRO Production smash hit musi­
cal “ Little Shop of Horrors” performed
at the Portland Civic Theatre last year.
Mario has performed with his fa­
ther, world renowed jazz drummer Akbar
DePriest along with other jazz legends
Andrew Hill, Dennis Springer, Gordan
Lee, Andre’ St. James and Mel Brown.
Mario is currently the featured vocalist
with the Janice Scroggins band with
whom he has performed at such major
events as the Mayor’s Ball, Rose Festi­
val, Taste of Beaverton, Roots of Rock
Festival, and the 1991 from All Walks
of Life pledge walk.
Mario’s voice has been described
as being smooth as velvet and rich as
dark chocolate. When you add his abilty
for creating great lyrics to standardds
“ Milestones” and “ Ornithology” to
the diversified piano style of Ms. Scrog­
gins, you can’t experience anything
that’s less than wonderful.
For information and bookings call
(503) 284-0871 or (503) 221-2451.
Los Angeles-born Cherrelle is no
stranger to success: the petite, soulful
vocalist has been a consistent chart-
maker since the release of her 1984
debut album Fragile, scoring a number
of R&B/pop hits including “ I Didn’t
Mean To Turn You O n” (later covered
by Robert Palmer), “ Saturday Love”
and “ Never Knew Love Like This”
(both duets with Alexander O ’Neal)
which were recorded on 1985’s High
Priority and 1988’s Affair, was written
and produced by master hitmakers
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
With the release of The Woman I
Am, Cherrelle is stepping out into new
territory as co-executive producer with
Tabu Records’ owner Clarence Avant,
an album that she says “ is a milestone
for me. I’m very thankful for what
Jimmy and Terry and the other produc­
ers at Flyte Time provided for me. It
wasn’t easy: I’d always had Jimmy and
Terry to turn to but with this album, it
was all about knowing who I am and
where I want to go musically.”
The Woman 1 Am expresses the
many vocal facets of this multi-tal­
ented performer, from the tenderness
of the title cut (which she co-wrote with
producers David Elliott, A1 Richardson
and Peter Scott) to the soul-filled “ Tears
Of Joy.”
The kind of excitement that Cher­
relle has generated through her work
onstage and in the studio had its genesis
in her early years growing up in Los
Angeles. “ I wanted to sing ever since I
was five-years old! ’ ’ she recalls, noting
that like so many other great vocalists,
she got her early training singing in
church. “ During my childhood, I sang
in musicals, stage shows, I took piano
lessons, vocal lessons - if it had to do
with music, I wanted to be involved.”
I couldn’t be more satisfied with
the work everybody did on The Woman
I Am. 1 look at it as the beginning of a
new phase in what I intended to be a
truly long-term career. I’ve still got a
long way to go and a lot more music to
share.”
T he T exas II
R estaurant and L ounge
1708 NE Alberta - 287-5145
A Rhythm and Blues Showcase!!
EVERY SUNDAY
in a relaxed environment!!
The Downhome Blues Jam Sessions
8:00 pm to 12:00 am
no cover charge
All Musicians are Invited
M U S IC
M IL L E N N IU M
Host Bands For October:
October 27
Myrtle Brown’s Destiny
\
November 3
32ND & E BURNSIDE
231-8926
The Norman Sylvester Band
>
Please bring your friends, and join the party!
A Boogie Cat Production
23RD & NW JOHNSON
248-0163
Conference Room Available!
for Public, Business or Social Club Meetings
Free -- Phone for Reservation
1714 NE Alberta St. 281-2136
OCTOBER
9pm - 12am
Jerry Hahn Trio
Tuesday 1 - 8 1 5
Delicious Downhome Cooking
29
Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner
Dan Balmer Trio
and
Tuesday 22
Mark Simon
Monday 7
14
21
Food to Go
28
Cam Newton
W ednesday 2
9
16
23
Friendly Service
Open 7 days a week
Two Convenient Locations
Texas I - 3530 N. Vancouver Ave.
30
Sunday Gospel Brunch
with Ken Barry's
TIMESOUND
Each Sunday 10am
2pm
Open 7:00 am - 2:30 am
R
I S
T
O
R
A
627 SW W ashington
N
T
Texas II -1714 NE Alberta St.
Open 24 hrs.
E
228 1515
I
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!