October 20, 1999
Focus
ÌTliv Fortiani» (©baeruer-----------------
Page 3
Olu brings his own experiences to music
< *
J J
_ . .
'_ 1
using his music to address social
issues confronting humanity. One
for The Portland Observer
Captivating. Inspiring. Insight example is the first single “Baby
ful. Soulful. These are among the Can’t Leave It Alone,” a soul-stir
multitude o f adjectives that come ring tune about a beautiful young
to mind when one experiences the girl going through the painful agony
sheer magic of25-year-old Harlem o f an addiction. Augmented by a
bom singer/songw riter/m usician crisp guitar lick and rich melody,
O lu ’s debut LP Soul Cathcher. “Baby C an’t Leave It Alone” has
Filled with songs o f introspection lyrics that are crafted to appeal to
and meditation on the totality of the anyone who has had a bout with a
human condition. Soul Catcher is a bad habit that they can’t seem to
stunning collection o f original ma shake - (“ I know it seems there’s
terial that weaves diverse musical no way out, but ask yourself a ques
elements such as jazz, r&b, blues, tion before you score. Will I raise a
hip-hop and world beat music into child who’s free from doubt, or will
a w onderful aural tapestry that I be resting forever more?”) - and
falls in the tradition o f soul master
touches the heart and soul.
O lu’s concerns with social issues Curtis Mayfield’s classics “Stone
grow out o f his deep-seated quest Junkie” or “Superfly.”
»for spiritual solace in a fast-pace, Olu was later selected as member
increasingly hi-tech world that has o f the world-renowned Boys Choir
- forgotten to be mindful o f the cre- o f Harlem, touring Japan and the
• ator. To remain mindful o f the spiri Far East. As a young adult, Olu has
tual path, Olu divides his time be played in several bands playing
tween his Harlem home and his everything from jazz to rock. A his
cabin in the Catskill Mountains, tory o f close calls with record deals
where he finds the spiritual insight all changed when a chance meet
to continue his journey through this ing at the gym where he studied
Lama Kung Fu led him to Stuart
phase called life.
But as humble and soft-spoken as Matthewman, a member o f the Sade
Olu
vyiu A
is,
L», l.w
he a is vz w
certainly not shy j about and Sweetback bands. After devel
contributed story
n n a m i ♦ a-à za a-« z 4 c V» a r \ X l Z l t r l t r i p
oping Z» a z a casual
friendship with the
co-w riter/producer o f both Max
well albums, Matthewman discov
ered that Olu was a musician and
took his tape to Gee Street’s presi
dent Jon Baker, landing him a deal.
Soul Catcher takes it name from the
healing instrument used by Native
American shamans to remove nega
tive spirits believed to cause illness
(both mental and physical) in a per
son. Likewise for Olu, whose fam
ily heritage includes Seminole as
well as African-American book, the
title Soul Catcher becomes a meta
phor for what he hopes his music
w ill do to his listeners and his
world. In many ways, Olu is a mod
em day healer soothing the aching
souls o f a society hooked on vio
lence, hate, and materialism. “ I
think that the world is sick and that
music can be used as a shaman’s
tool, because that’s originally what
it was. It was used ceremoni-
ously and for communicating
ideas to people who are right
there with you, and sometimes
to and from people who are
dead. If I can do my little part
to help make people feel bet
ter, then so be it.
N I C O L A S
C A G E
Natalie Cole releases new Christmas album
CONTTUBUTEP STORY __________________ ___________
for
T he P ortland O bserver
On The M a g ic o f C h ristm a s,
Natalie Cole brings a new elegance
to more Christmas favorites, with
the same brilliant orchestration that
made Holly And Ivy a perennial
Christmas best seller - this time
with the symphonic flair o f the
w orld-renow ned L ondon Sym-
.phony Orchestra.
Highlights include a breathtak-
-ing “ O T annenbaum ” , a sw eet
_ _ . « •
__
“C hristm as W altz’, a sw inging
“Twelve Days o f Christmas” and
the classic “The Christmas Song”
performed by Natalie with her fa
ther, Nat “ King” Cole.
Recognized for delivering a lyric
with uncom prom ising intensity,
Natalie grew up “ loving the classic
performances,” no matter the genre.
Her early appreciation for Ella
Fitzgerald, Sara Vaughn and all of
her father’s contemporaries soon
translated into a curiosity about art
■ z»V» z as
a»» the Beatles,
Li o o 11 a * c and
iinrl flic
ists such
the
Rolling Stones. That curiosity
continues today.
“I think Lauryn Hill is car
rying on that tradition of excel
lence,” she says, when asked to
remark on any new standard-
bearers.
“She always makes a point
in her concerts and interviews
to talk about what’s come be
fore and how important it is to
our entire musical legacy.”
UUQS*
f o r f fc e l o v e o f J a z - z
i u m i Helein m : i a •]
Public radio KNUD depends upon support Irom listeners like
you. Keep the lull spectrum oi fazz on your radio.
Contribute now!
Nall to: kmbd, Nt. Hood Community Couepe
26006 SB Stark, Gresham. OB 97030
AMOUNT
NAME
ADDRESS
PARAMOUNT PICTURES a « TOUCHSTONE PICTURES pe - s - nt A SCOTT RUDIN - CAP^A D EFIN A « c a r w
«M AR TIN SCORSESE » r a t NICOLAS CAGE “ BRINGING OUT THE DEAD” PATRIC'A ARQUETTE
IOHN GOODMAN VIN G R H AM ES TOM SIZEMORE
JOSEPH REIDv «v ERIC STEEL
4 S S A D A M SCHROEDER w BRUCE S. PUST1N “ « ELMER BERNSTEIN K " RITA RVACK
„ „ „ THELM A SCHOONMAKER, a ► " iS S : DANTE FERRETTl ¿ g g ROBERT RICHARDSON, «sc
Œ h Ï JOE CON NE L l V " " “ " T PAU l SCHRADER
SCOTT RUDIN sw BARBARA DE FI NA
- . r w st ad x w « t t 800«
MARTIN SCORSESE
l'
’ *
www b rin F ineoutthedea d com
| /
'/C 0 (W î< A T « O
VISA □ MASTERCARD □ CHECK P
IHX b / 2 2 5 - 5 M S . « 2 < I H X b
DZV/S/ONSÎ. 13 ¡ STARK STREET ¡
1 REGAL C IN E M A S f / REOAL C IN E M A S
/ 2 2 5 -5 55 S .4 6 0®
PHONC
CARD#
/
f,
EXP DATE
SIGNATURE
775-0000
STARTS FRIDAY, U w ’Æ-SÏ] 1 E A S T P O R T
CÎÎY/SÏÂ TEZZP
J
—ras
W .A
L
K
*XOSt»2NO>
16
L
SO UTHG ATE
REGAL C IN E M A S
■ /
2 2 5 -5 5 5 5 *4 8 2 8
I WASHINGTON S Q U A R E !
’ 1
REG AL C IN E M A S
f
■ I M L 9 7 1 R L M (3 .M | i H X b
225-5 S 5 S *4« 2 5 1HX L I 2 2 S -5 5 5 S ..S 2 3 IHX b / 2 2 S -S S S S .4 S U IHX
EVERGttENMAKWvf M O VIES O N TV ¡W IL S O N V IL L E 9
CITY CENTER 12 ¡
I I REGAL C IN E M A S
REGAL C IN E M A S
f / REGAL C IN E M A S f / REGAL C IN E M A S
I
J
CALL THEATRE FOR S H O W TIM E S
SPECIAL EHGAGEMEMT
HO PASSES
f
J