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11,4'^Jnrtlanh (Dbseruer
July 14, 2010
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Jazz Violinist Jumps Boundaries
Musical influences
find way into new CD
so many uinerent styles ot music. Sometimes
(AP)—Classically trainedjazz violinist Regina
Carter wanted to go beyond the boundaries of
Western music, but couldn't find a record label
willing to partner up on the adventure.
Then came along the MacArthur Founda­
tion, which bestowed on her its prestigious
$500,(XX) fellowship, known as the "genius
grant." Carter spent some of the money taking
an introductory course on music therapy, and
then spent some following her intuition.
The unrestricted grant allowed her to spend
three years independently researching and re­
cording African folk songs, combining instru­
ments and melodies she only had a feeling might
coalesce into something substantive.
Kegma carter
"I took a chance putting these instruments
together for this project, not knowing if it was West African 21-stringed kora.
going to work," says Carter of the resulting 12
The Associated Press: It sounds like there
tracks on her recently released CD, "Reverse are all kinds of musical influences on this Afri­
Threads."
can-influenced CD.
Carter talked recently about the album, which
Carter: It's a huge continent first of all, Africa
features violin, accordion and the traditional is, and so there's so many different cultures and
would hear something and say, "Oh wow, tha
sounds like Irish music" ... I'd started to se<
within the research how much we influence —
you know from traveling— how much the plane
and how much we're all influenced through
music or art, and how much we're connected al
over the planet.
AP: As you were discovering these songs
and compositions, which story surprised you
the most?
Carter: I think the two tunes I recorded
"H iw um be
A w um ba"
and
"M w am
Talitambula." Reading that they were from the
Ugandan Jews and I had no idea that there were
Jewish people in Uganda ... It's pretty amazing
what I've started to learn just by researching
music, the history that sometimes goes along
with some of these pieces.
AP: What was most challenging thing about
making this album?
Carter: These melodies when you listen to
them, they sound very simple, but when you try
to play them, you find that sometimes the sim­
plest sounding things are the most difficult
things to play.
Kelis Aims for Dance Revolution
‘Milkshake’ girl zeros
in on the clubs
(AP) - Kelis wants to make you sweat.
The 30-year-old singer has had club hits
before, but with her latest CD, "Flesh Tone,"
she's zeroing in on the clubs, hoping to get
people moving on the dance floor. Even though
it seems like the pop world is engulfed in disco
fever, Kelis says people are too cool to groove.
"No one is sweating, no one is dancing," she
said. "People don't ever dance anymore."
"Flesh Tone" comes after a turbulent period
in her life. She split from rapper Nas, the father
of her infant son Knight, and the former couple
engaged in a high-profile battle over child sup­
port. She also tangled with the animal rights
American R&B singer-songwriter Kelis.
group PET A after she was photographed in fur.
The Harlem native talked about her music,
raising her son and her thoughts on People for
Ethical Treatment of Animals during a recent
interview.
The Associated Press: How did you go from
creating R&B hits like "Milkshake" to an all­
dance album?
Kelis: I hate to toot my horn, but if you look
at where music was as far females and what's
Top 40 radio and whatever, where it was before
"Milkshake," versus after, I mean you kind of
have to be retarded to deny that it literally
changed female vocalists.... So forme, it was just
about wanting to party again.
AP: It was reported you got a hefty divorce
settlement from your ex-husband.
Kelis: No matter what it is that I say, or don't
say, people are going to make up their opinion.
I have not said anything about my personal life
at a ll.... At the end of the day it has no bearing
on me or my kid.
Whoopi Goldberg
Broadway Gets
‘Sister A ct’
This coming season Broadway
will see a nun on the run as "Sister
Act" makes it way across the pond.
After enjoying record-breaking
success in London, producer
Whoopi Goldberg brings the di­
vine musical comedy to the New
York stage in the spring of 2011.
Based on the hit movie, "Sister
Act" features a new score by eight­
time Oscar winner Alan Menken.
His credits include "The Little
Mermaid," and "Beauty and the
Beast."
Goldberg starred in the movie
version and will appear with the
^ondon cast for a limited run be­
ginning Aug. 10. The show's pub-
icist isn't commenting on whether
Goldberg will appear in the Broad­
way version.
Happy Birthday!
Mr. Jimmie E. Trice Sr.
85 years old on July 4th
We Love You!
A dvcitistj
with diversity in
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