** e Î he P ortland O bserver • J anuary 3, 1996 JJortlanb ©bserucr TAiriMEPiT Gene Harris Quartet Plays Portland For the already converted, the re­ lease of a new Gene Harris recording serves as a renewal of the faith. For the uninitiated, a fresh disco from Mr. Harris is an almost spiritual as well as musical awakening. On his latest Concord Jazz release Brother­ hood, Gene Harris, joined by his skilled accomplices - Ron Eschete’, Luther Hughes and Paul Humphrey - - perform a baptism awash in the deepest of blues, delivering their unique brand of funky, incessantly swinging jazz to the grateful masses. This album spans the breadth of the quartet’s considerable expertise. On The Brotherhood O f Man, from which the recording’stitle isderived, Gene and the boys preach their ser­ mon with the fiery passion and intu­ ition that can only come from years of inspired camaraderie. When You Wish Upon A Star shows the band in a different light, creating a delicate, shimmering mood which draws the listener into a world where dreams may very well come true. The traditional gospel flavor of This Little Light Of Mine is enough to soothe the weary souls of even the most hard-boiled of cynics. Every one of the disc’s nine stellar cuts fully utilizes Mr. H arris’ impec­ cable sense of dynamics as well as his associates’ ability to turn it up from a simmer to a boil within a m om ent’s notice. So turn on the music. Let it fill your heart Be a part of the "Brother­ hood." The Gene Harris Q uartet with Gene Harris on piano, Ron Eschete, guitar, Luther Hughes, bass and Pual Humphrey on drums will be in Port­ land to perform at Club Max, Red Lion/D ow ntow n Friday, Jan. 12, andSaturday, Jan. 13, at 8 pm. The quartet with Dennis Springer, Marc Fendel and Nola Bogle will perform in the Mayfair Room, Benson Hotel, Sunday, Jan 14,2-6 pm .Tickets for the Friday & Saturday shows $ 15 advance, $17 at door. Sunday prices are $20 advance, $22 at door. (JSO 10% discount with membership card) Call Fastixx: 224-TIXX. The American Experience Winter Spring 1996 Line-Up The Battle ever Citizen Kane -Jan. 29 at 9pm, 120 minutes Freedom on My Mind Monday, Jan. 15 at 9 pm, 120 minutes Daley, the Last Boss Jan. 22 at 9pm, 1 2 0 minutes Gene Harris Spotlight On African Heritage Reflections Bookstore, Coffee & MeetingPlace Presents Series A series of three Saturday morn­ ing Presentations and Discussions will be offered to the public from l():00to 11:30 AM, on January 13th, 20th, and 27th at Reflections Book­ store, Coffee, & Meeting Place, 446 N.E. Killingsworth at Martin Luther King in the Walnut Park Shopping Center (behind Videoland). The series will highlight African American history issues and topics - that’s Portland’s African American History — and focus on the relevance of that history in life Today. The series will open on Saturday, January 13th in an Overview O f Portland’s African American His­ tory. The opener will feature Kim­ berly Moreland, author of “The His­ tory of Portland’s African American Community - 1805 to the Present”, and Cathy Galbraith, Director of the B osco-M illigan Foundation and P ro je c t C o o rd in a to r fo r the F oundation’s recent publication, “Cornerstones of Community: The Buildings o f P ortland’s A frican American History”. A slide show of people and places significant to both publications will be featured and both publications are available at Reflec­ tions Bookstore. The Saturday, January 20th ses­ sion will focus on African American Businesses & Economics. The ses­ sion will be moderated by O.B. Hill, Chairman of the Black Dollar Days Task Force, and Reflections Book­ store owner. Panel participants will include Floyd Booker, founder of Courtesy Janitorial, Willie Harris, o w ner o f H ouse o f S o u n d , Sportsman’s Barbershop, and the Williams Avenue, Going Street, and 15th Street markets, along with other long-time African American busi­ ness founders who paved the way for today’s businesses. The Saturday, January 27th ses­ sion will focus on Political Empow­ erment In The African American Community. The session will be moderated by Lurlenc Shamsud-Din, and panel participants will include present and earlier African Ameri­ can elected officials. The general public is invited to attend any or all of the three sessions, and a $3.00 donation is suggested to support the program. Coffee and pastry will be available for purchase at Reflections Coffee & Espresso and the public is welcome to browse in Reflections Bookstore, and visit other Walnut Park businesses. | After the holidays, after all the I parties, after all the dinners, after all I the snacks, one look into the mirror I screams, “ What did I do to myself?” I “That is not me.” “Is that me?” “ Where I is my former self?” Or is it, “ What I happened to my physique? “My fig- I ure’s been altered.” “ Why or how did I I let this occur?” “This was not in the I plans.” J Remember last years’ new year’s I resolution. Wasn’t the first thing on I your list a reminder to watch your I weight a little closer, to eat right, to I eat less, to eat three balanced meals a I day, to count calories, to eat slower, I to count my food chews and to stop I eating before I became so full I I couldn’t hardly shallow another bite. Ah, the pleasures o f eating deli­ cious, decadent, succulent, appetiz­ ing, delightful smelling and tasting food. The consequences and fears of stepping up on the scales can dilute the mentality o f “I didn’t know,” “ I can’t believe it,” or “ Is this scale | working properly?” We just have to be forgiving of oneself and advance to the most log­ ical next step. Pul 1 out the New Year’s resolution check list for 1996, make a commitment to start at the top and remain true to your belief system. Apply the “I can do it attitude,” go complete decorating service for it, but simply just do it. butter. Stick to it and see what Are you eating from 1996 has to offer. McDonald’s and Burger What is the most effec- King’s or from the local tive m eans o f losing delicatessen and mall weight? How much did food fares? Or is it the you gain over the past Bistro'sand Asian foods, year? or did the unmen­ the ice creams and des­ tionable begin around serts? Whatever it is, be­ Thanksgiving and remain gin the fight with one-a- in that vein until now? day vitamins, lots of wa­ By Cora Smith Weigh in daily to see the ter and unadorned food. truth or just maybe to For assisted exercise, watch the scales go the opposite direc­ try Jazzercize, Gold’s Gym, the neigh­ tion to your favor. borhood favorite spa “Resort to Fit­ Whether it is walks, jogging, per­ ness” or maybe try Jane Fonda’s ex­ sonal stretches of 5 to 30 minutes or a ercise video or the flamboyant Rich­ one hourexercise programs, developa ard Simmons on TV or his personal daily routine and pattern the workout video, but preferably purchase Port­ to implement your weigh lost goals land’s own Victoria Johnson’s train­ and stay focused. Studies show that ing videotapes. between the combination o f exercise Y ou can bring your own spa and and d iet, exercise only or diet only, that fitness home (the lucky ones have a the most sensible approach and effec­ spa center at home) purchase a tread- tive method is to “push away from the mill, bike, climber, home gyms, free table.” Another concept is to fill your weights and exercise benches - the plate to capacity, then humbly divide most popular brands consist o f Nor­ your portion in half, share it or save it dic T rack, Precor, Tunturi, Para Body for another meal. and Schwinn. But for some, it’s the Remember to eliminate the fatty like’s o f the Princeton, Raleigh Hills foods, heavy cheeses, rich buttery sauc­ Racquet and Health Club, YWCA- es, greasy fried foods, highly seasoned Willamette and then the over popu­ and too spicy foods, along with foods lated Multnomah Athletic Club. Any over adorned and saturated with rich way you can do it, just do it. LOOKING FOR A WAY TO CELEBR/ THE NEW YEAR? COME ON IN TO c7