OPERA IS HOT AT THE FAISON FIREHOUSE THEATER 1st Weekend in December

The Faison Firehouse Theater located at 6 Hancock Place will present Opera Is HOT December 2^nd, with a 6pm opening night reception, followed by the 8pm performance; Saturday, December 3^rd, 3pm and 8pm and Sunday, December 4^th, 3pm, followed by reception. Tickets for the 8pm concerts (Friday and Saturday), $25 in advance and $30 on the day of the performance. Opening Night Reception and concert: Friday, December 2^nd $40 per person. 3pm concerts (Saturday and Sunday) $20 in advance, $30 on the day of the performance.

The closing matinee performance with reception on Sunday, December 4^th is $40 per person. Tickets on line: www.faisonfirehouse.org and for reservations call 212-665-7698, or e-mail at faisonfirehouse.org.

The series will present of four concerts featuring Harlem Opera Theater Vocal Competition Winners, Jasmine Thomas, soprano, Flora Mendoza, mezzo-soprano, Patrick Dailey, counter-tenor, and Barry L. Robinson, baritone. The program will also include guest performances by Robert Mack, tenor of the Metropolitan Opera, Phillip Boykin, the acclaimed Crown in the upcoming Broadway production of Porgy and Bess, Richard Bellazin, acclaimed bass, Victor Trent Cook and Roderick Dixon, celebrated tenors and original members of “Three Mo’ Tenors”. The series will present arias by Donizetti, Puccini, Mozart, Bizet and Gershwin.

In addition the repertoire will include Negro Spirituals and works by African American Composers Hal Johnson and Nathaniel Dett. As conceived and staged by George Faison, poetry form renowned African American writers will be interwoven throughout the program to recreate an era of self discovery and determination reminiscent of the Harlem Renaissance. Brian Whitted, Faison Firehouse Theater Musical Director will provide the piano accompaniment. The historical prospective will blend the talents of these gifted young stars of tomorrow into a new creative production that will serve as a preview of future presentations of up and coming opera singers. This artistic philanthropy is in keeping with the now eleven-year Faison Firehouse mission to “reclaim restore and rebuild our youth and our community through dance, music, art and theater.”

Concert: Maze featuring Frankie Beverly

By J9 of J9's MusicLife

On April 1, 2011, I attended my first ol skool concert in a longtime, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, DC.  I went with my friend C, sister, and cousin.  It was a different concert experience for me, especially because this time I was the minority attending a concert where the majority of attendees were older than me.  So I had to take out the nice slacks and dress extra nice because older grown folks go all out!

To start the show, comedian Sherman Golden opened.  He used to be on the original Def Comedy Jam with Martin Lawrence.  Most of his material I couldn't relate to maybe because of age but the crowd seemed to love him.  After he finished, saxophonist Aaron Bing played.  He was good but it made me sleepy.  It would've been better if he played when people were arriving. 

Then for the main opening act Raheem DeVaughn came on stage, who dedicated his performance to the late Marvin Gaye who's birthday was the next day.   

Raheem definitely knew his audience and tailored his set accordingly. . . that's a true performer.  Before he went into his material, he played some ol skools songs to get the crowd warmed up like Gonna Have a Funky Good Time by James Brown and Rock With You by MJ. 

Check out the link below of his performance of Women.  Towards the end of the clip, he did a call and response with the crowd using the song's lyrics, asking the men to say "you are appreciated" and the women to respond with "thank you."  Then the women and men switched lines.  Great way to bring some love and appreciation in the house.  For Guess Who Loves You More, his band mixed in the beat of Computer Love by Roger & Zapp.  I also really liked how his backup singers complimented Raheem.

Towards the end of his set, Raheem started a DJ vs. Band battle.  His DJ started out by playing Love and Happiness by Al Green.  His band countered with Let's Get it On by Marvin Gaye as Raheem suddenly walked through the audience on the main level and into the upstairs sections singing.  After singing B.O.B., his female backup singer responded with a great remix from a woman's perspective.  For those of you unaware, B.O.B. stands for, Battery Operated Boyfriend.  Of course Raheem ended his set with a little Go-Go and was accompanied on stage by Sugar Bear from EU to sing Da Butt.  Everybody got out of their seats for that one.

Setlist

1.  Bulletproof 2.  Woman 3.  Single 4.  Freakin' You (Jodeci cover) 5.  Believe in Me

6 & 7. You/Guess Who Loves You More 8.  B.O.B. 9.  Customer 10. Da Butt

Then for the main act. . .Maze featuring Frankie Beverly who entered playing Time is on My Side.  Frankie was wearing the same white cap, shirt, and pants that I remembered as a kid.  Unfortunately, no videotaping was allowed.  So pissed about that because I would've loved to have shown you guys their amazing performance.

Everyone stood up when they performed We Are One and the guy playing the organ did his thing!  You There was so much love and unity in place.  You could feel the energy.  People were dancing in the aisles and in their seats. 

When they sang one of my favs, Can't Get Over You, the vibe was so chill, you just wanted to close your eyes and soak up every moment.  It felt as if it was summer time and we were outside.  Boy, it was hot up in there.  I don't think I've ever been to a concert where I was getting hot.  We were grooving man!

During their performance of Golden Time of Day, the lead guitar had a solo.  He created a nice groove and killed it!!  For Joy and Pain, they had the disco balls going and everybody got up. . .it was a ol skool house party.


To read more and see photos, click here.