the 32nd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Concert

A Message from
Brooklyn Borough President
Eric L. Adams
Welcome to the 32nd annual Martin Luther
King Jr. Concert Series!
ast November, Brooklynites from Greenpoint to Gravesend, from Clinton
Hill to Canarsie, bestowed upon me the ultimate honor: the opportunity to
serve as your Borough President. Now, I have the distinct pleasure of hosting my first summer of concerts here at Wingate Field, an expression of my passion for the arts as well as of my commitment to uniting our borough in a spirit
of celebration.
I see the incredible potential that Brooklyn holds. We are the epitome of cool
and hip, the center of the universe (sorry, Galileo!), the place where any dream
can come true. Our borough can boast some of the city’s most beautiful parks,
vibrant entertainment and two professional sports franchises in our beloved
Cyclones and Nets; next year, the Islanders will make it three! “Made in
Brooklyn” has become an in-demand brand, sending local products across the
country and even the globe. And, through all of the great development we have
seen, Brooklyn still maintains the beauty of its brownstones and the charm of
its people.
With all that we have accomplished as Brooklynites thus far, we have more to
do to ensure every corner of this borough enjoys our shared success. During my
time at Brooklyn Borough Hall, I will focus less on building structures and more
on building people. That means empowering our neighbors with the tools they
need to raise healthy children and families.
Through it all, we have taken ample time to celebrate our many cultures and
customs. Where else but Brooklyn can you enjoy the sounds of soca music in
East Flatbush, the melodies of mariachi in Sunset Park and the chords of klezmer
in Williamsburg? It is time to introduce Brooklyn to Brooklynites, for everyone
to learn and embrace the things that make us unique and the things that bind us.
I look forward to all the incredible things we will achieve together. Brooklyn
Borough Hall is always open to you, be it to host an event, to solve a community
concern or to propose a way to move our borough forward. Thank you, and let’s
keep moving forward as One Brooklyn.
L
1
MARTIN
LUTHER
KING JR.
CONCERT SERIES
PATRON SPONSORS
FOR CONCERT INFO
CALL 718.222.0600
www.brooklynconcerts.com
All shows will be held at Wingate field.
In the event of rain there will be a rain
date on Tuesday evening.
Listen to WBLS 107.5FM for updates
or call the number above after 3PM.
BANDSHELL MAGAZINE - The outdoor magazine is
published by BANDSHELL PRODUCTIONS AND PUBLICATIONS, INC., 2014 ---. Reproduction in whole or in
part without written permission from the publisher is
strictly forbidden.
ADVERTISING SALES - 718-222-0600
General Rules: NO cameras, NO Audio or Video Recording,
NO alcohol, NO pets, NO bottles, NO smoking. All persons
and packages are subject to search prior to entry.
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SUMMER2014
ALL PERFORMANCES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE
Limited seating available. Concertgoers are urged to
bring chairs. In case of rain, all shows are rescheduled
for the following Tuesday night. Call the concert hotline
at 718.222.0600 after 3pm for updates or listen to 107.5
WBLS-FM. Smoking is strictly forbidden on the field. Rest
rooms are located at both ends of the field. Reserved
seating is for sponsors and guests only. Emergency services available. Please do not litter. There will be no holding seats. all general seating is on a first come first
served basis. Strollers, portable chairs, etc. cannot be
brought into the general seating area. We must keep the
rows free of any obstacles. Concert management is not
responsible for personal items left unattended.
Thank you for your cooperation.
anthony
hamilton
july
21
Bandshell Features
page 23
Around the World in BKNY
PAGE 6
Our Global Borough
tBa
for updates on
this show, please visit
Brooklynconcerts.com
old school night
roxanne shanté
Biz markie
roB Base
kool moe dee
july
28
reggae night
gyptian
special guest
maxi priest
Discoveries For Locals
PAGE 34
Free Your Mind For Free!
page 25
Learn Something New Today!
aug
Bandshell Magazine Staff
4
page 27
vp records presents
PAGE 12
Brooklyn Like a Tourist
aug
11
Editor-In-Chief. . . . . . . . . . . Nancie S. Martin
Art Director/Production. . . . . . . . Matt Jeans
Contributing Writers. . . . . . . . . . . . . Jim Allen
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Paula Carino
Printing
Grandstand Design, Inc.
page 29
annual gospel night
tamela mann
christian cultural
center choir
aug
18
page 31
3
If you love the Martin Luther King Jr.
Concert Series as much as we do, let
us know... and get a great T-shirt!
In support of these wonderful free concerts
I have enclosed a tax-deductible contribution to one or both of
the following organizations:
Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for
Non-Violent Social Change
450 Auburn Avenue N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30312
Make checks payable to:
Martin Luther King, Jr. Center
When you make a contribution to one of these
organizations, send us this form and a copy of your
cancelled check to get a free MLK, Jr. concert t-shirt
Name _________________
Address_______________
Camp Brooklyn
32 Court Street, Suite 607
Brooklyn, NY 11201
______________________
Make checks payable to:
Camp Brooklyn Fund, Inc.
City___________________
State______Zip__________
Mail copied check and form to:
32 Court Street, Suite 607, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Concert Production Staff
Executive Producer.............................Debra Garcia
Lighting. . . . . . . . . . . . Rich Saccoliti/Event Systems
Office Manager...................................Tracy Russek
Video. . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Fion, Pro Sho Productions
Production Manager.....Josh Bradford, John Finen
Sound. . Frank Provenzano, Pro Sho Productions
Assistant Production Manager. . . . . . . . . Matt Miller
. . . . . . . . . . . . Angelo Spinello, Perfection Productions
Staging Supervisor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Frank Ravis
. . . . . Kevin Jamison, Audio/ Video Systems Manager
Assistant Staging Supervisor. . . . . . . Loam Disher
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joe Cardillo, FOH Engineer
Stage Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tom Selsey, Jr.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike Hairston, Monitor Engineer
Production Assistants. . . . . . . . . . Tommy Cammisa,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Caleb Kittle, Monitor Engineer
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jasmin Chang, Laura Freed,
IATSE Local #4 Crew Chief- Jonathan Bracken
. . . . . . . . . . . Alejandro Marulanda, Helen O’Rourke
Staging Labor provided by IATSE Local #4
Security..........Ali Karim / Circumspect Security
4
SUMMER2014
Around the World in Brooklyn
Travel the globe without leaving the borough
by Jim Allen
Huitzilli brings Brooklyn the best from independent Mexican artisans.
art of Brooklyn’s unique identity
is that each of the threads in
Brooklyn’s bold tapestry represents a different culture, with its own
customs, crafts, cuisine, and special feeling. Together they create a dizzying
dance of sights, smells, sounds, and
tastes that make living here a constant
surge of sensory stimulation. Here’s just
a small sampling from the huge range of
cultures you’ll encounter just strolling
down the streets of any neighborhood
from Little Odessa to Fort Greene.
Keur Djembe
Founder Ibrahima Diokhane came to
New York from Senegal more than 25 years
ago. His shop in Gowanus, which specializes in African drums and art, offers classes,
workshops, and repairs, and reflects his
musical heritage as well as his long-established Brooklyn roots. 568 Union St. (Third
Ave.); (917) 796-5794; www.keurdjembe.com
P
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SUMMER2014
Huitzilli Mexican Handcraft
“Huitzilli” is the Aztec word for hummingbird, and anyone enamored of true
craftsmanship should feel appropriately airborne upon discovering this source for
Mexican clothing, jewelry, and art. From
folk art to capes and ponchos, Huitzilli
brings Brooklyn the best from independent
Mexican artisans, so you don’t have to book
a trip south of the border to find it. 624
Metropolitan Ave. (Leonard St.); (718) 7013195; www.huitzilli.myshopify.com
Buff Patty
Since 1997, husband-and-wife team
Patrick and Sophia have been catering to
the tastebuds of Brooklynites with a passion for Caribbean cuisine. When Buff
Patty started serving up its oxtails, jerk
chicken, curried goat, and the lip-smacking patties that are the place’s namesake,
Fort Greene became an even more appetizing area. No wonder they opened up
an annex in in Elmont, NY. 376 Myrtle
Ave. (Clermont Ave.); (718) 855-3266;
www.buffpattynyc.com
Cubana Cafe
Those wandering up and down
Smith St. or Sixth Ave. searching for a
classic Cuban sandwich, a palomilla
plate, a little yuca with mojo, or maybe
just a sweet spot of flan, have had their
prayers answered by Cubana Café’s two
locations, where the tantalizing tastes of
Cuba have their Kings County heyday.
272 Smith St. (Sackett St.), (718) 858-3980;
80 Sixth Ave. (St. Mark’s Ave.), (718) 3989818; www.cubanacafenyc.com
Balmir Latin Dance Studio
If you notice a particular sway in the
step of someone strolling through
Flatbush, it may be because of Eric
Balmir’s efforts to bring the legacy of
Latin dance to Brooklyn. Salsa,
merengue, bachata, cha-cha -- it’s all
part of the curriculum, in classes for
both adults and kids. And that’s not
even mentioning Balmir Studio’s sponsorship of three Latin dance teams who
appear at international events. 959
Flatbush Ave. (Snyder Ave.); (718) 462-1501;
www.balmir.com
Purple Yam
Romy Dorotan and Amy Besa first
brought Filipino cuisine to New York
City at their Soho restaurant Cendrillon.
After that venture ended, the pair opening the Purple Yam in Ditmas Park.
While Filipino specialties like tocino (a
sugar-cured pork dish) and sisig (pig with
lime and chilies) are a given, the menu
can take a pleasingly pan-Asian turn as
well. 1314 Cortelyou Rd. (Rugby Rd.); (718)
940-8188; www.purpleyamnyc.com
Puerto Viejo
If you have difficulty discerning mondongo from mofongo, don’t sweat it. The
folks at Puerto Viejo have got Dominican
food down to a science -- well, a cross
between a science and an art. But even
the most discerning devotee of
Dominican fare will find something to
shout about in the way Puerto Viejo presents everything from pernil to pollo
guisado. And their use of recycled furniture and materials shows they keep the
community in mind with more than their
menu. 564 Grand Ave. (Dean St.); (718) 3983758; www.puertoviejony.com
Sahadi’s
You know a Brooklyn business is an
institution when even tourists know about
it, and people from all corners of the globe
seem to flock to this emporium of Middle
Eastern delicacies. Since 1948 they’ve been
coming to Sahadi’s for the hummus and
baba ghanoush, the sumac and the Syrian
cheese. Nuts, spices, sweets, baked goods - if it’s delectable and it comes from the
Mideast, odds are Sahadi’s has it. 187
Atlantic Ave. (Clinton St.); (718) 624-4550;
www.sahadis.com
Restaurant Kavkaz
A culture doesn’t have to be ubiquitous
to be well represented in Brooklyn. Many
Brooklynites probably can’t pronounce
Azerbaijan, much less find it on a map.
(Hint: take a peek between Armenia and
the Caspian Sea.) But whether or not you
were familiar with parcha bozbash or
lamb-and-sturgeon kebabs before entering
this sweet spot in Flatbush, you’ll be
addicted to Azerbaijani eats by the time
you exit. 943 Coney Island Ave. (Webster Ave.)
(718) 940-9454 www.kavkazfood.com´
7
See Brooklyn Like A Tourist
Even if you live here, there’s a lot to discover
Using Revolutionary War weapons to re-enact the Battle of Brooklyn.
guided tour of Brooklyn is a
wonderful introduction to the
borough for tourists, but finding
one that suits the taste - and available
time - of someone who already lives
here is much trickier. Several tours cover
the borough’s rich history, distinct character, thriving ethnicity, and vibrant
pulse. For more Brooklyn tour ideas,
visit the new Explore Brooklyn website
from the Brooklyn Chamber of
Commerce at explorebk.com
The Old Stone House: The Battle Of
Brooklyn And Battle Week
Located in a reconstructed 1699 Dutch
farmhouse in Park Slope’s Washington
Park that was central to the Battle of
Brooklyn, the first and largest battle of the
American Revolution and the first official
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SUMMER2014
battle fought by the United States Army in
1776, the Old Stone House explores the
American Revolution, colonial life and
Brooklyn. John Turturro, a Brooklyn
native, narrates the AV tour.
Every August, a Battle Week of historic
celebrations retraces the steps of patriots,
including General George Washington, as
they faced off against a far better equipped
British army in the early stages of the
Revolutionary War. Washington Park was
also the original home of one of
Brooklyn’s first baseball teams, the
Atlantics. The Old Stone House is open
Saturdays, Sundays, and by appointment. For
more information, visit theoldstonehouse.org
Get Up and Ride Tours of Brooklyn
“This is the ‘take-your-friends-out’ tour
of Brooklyn,” says tour guide James
Quinlan, and if you find yourself playing
host to out-of-town or out-of-borough
friends who enjoy cycling, this is an ideal
first-hand introduction.
These multi-site, walkie-talkie headsetguided, small-group bike tours are a great
way to take in the Brooklyn of modern
times. The youthful guides are musicians,
actors and filmnakers who know and love
Brooklyn-by-bike, and are the sources of
the running commentary as you glide
from Williamsburg to Greenpoint to
Bushwick, to the waterfront in Dumbo to
the promenade in Brooklyn Heights, from
Adam Yauch Park and Transmitter Park to
the spectacular views of the Brooklyn
Grange at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
The tour company provides a fleet of
Public bikes for tour-takers. Groups of 312 can pedal from a few miles to 40 along
the waterfront. For schedules and prices, visit
getupandride.com/tours.
MoCADA – Exploring The Art
of the African Diaspora
MoCADA,
the
Museum
of
Contemporary African Diasporan Arts in
the BAM Cultural District, serves both
adults and youth with an emphasis on
underserved communities of color,
through exhibitions, education and community programs.
Providing guided interactive tours of its
exhibitions for all ages is at the core of the
museum’s educational mission to create a
greater understanding of the arts and cultures of the African Diaspora. Tours are
adapted based on the changing exhibitions, which this summer include “Are You
You?” This site-specific installation exploring change, flow and identity is artist
Shantell Martin’s first solo museum exhi-
In August, Battle Week
at The Old Stone House
celebrates Revolutionary
War patriots.
bition.To learn more about MoCADA tours,
visit mocada.org/education/tours
Brooklyn Army Terminal Walking Tour
No building in Brooklyn has been hiding in plain sight longer than the Brooklyn
Army Terminal. The massive concrete
warehouse complex in Sunset Park is easily identifiable from the Belt Parkway, but
few people have any idea what it is. Built in
1919, it was once used as the staging area
for troops and supplies during both World
Wars; in between, it was used to stash confiscated liquor during Prohibition. In 1958
it was the staging area where Private Elvis
Presley shipped out to Germany. Finally, it
was decommissioned in 1975.
About a year ago, Turnstile Tours
struck a deal with the BAT’s current owners (the city), and for two hours every
other Saturday morning at 11 a.m., what is
otherwise a secure industrial park that has
remained mostly under wraps for close to
a century, with an interior designed by the
architect of the Woolworth Building, can
now be seen by the public.
Public tours are offered one or two
weekend days per month from 11 a.m. to
1 p.m. Starting this August, there will be
special photography-focused tours, minitours of the atrium, and open studio tour
of the more than 90 artists who maintain
workspaces there. For tour dates, visit turnstiletours.com/tours/brooklyn-army-terminaltours.
13
Green-Wood Cemetery Trolley Tour
Though Halloween might be a great
time to visit, any time of year, especially if
the day is overcast, is appropriate to tour of
one of Brooklyn’s oldest and most beautiful landmarks — and one in which you’re
unlikely to meet a living neighbor. After
the tour, get a map and stroll the grounds
to look for famous graves, which include
composer and conductor Leonard
Bernstein, artist Jean-Michel Basquiat,
abolitionist Henry Ward Beecher, DeWitt
Clinton, the seventh and ninth Governor
of New York, Brooklyn Dodgers owner
Charles Ebbets, sewing machine inventor
Elias Howe, singer and songwriter Paul
Jabara, and many more. Visit www.greenwood.com for more information.
Learn about Brooklyn’s anti-slavery
movement without leaving home
You can see The Brooklyn
Abolitionists/In Pursuit of Freedom
exhibit at the Brooklyn Historical Society
in Downtown Brooklyn, or you can take a
self-guided tour online that explores the
unsung heroes of Brooklyn’s anti-slavery
movement - ordinary residents, black and
white -- who shaped their neighborhoods,
city and nation with a revolutionary vision
of freedom and equality. The exhibit is
part of the groundbreaking In Pursuit of
Freedom public history project that features new research on Brooklyn’s abolition movement, in partnership with
Weeksville Heritage Center, a multidimensional museum dedicated to preserving the history of the 19th century African
American community of Weeksville,
Brooklyn (weeksvillehc.tumblr.com), and
Irondale Ensemble Project.
You’ll explore Brooklyn’s anti-slavery
movement from the end of the
American Revolution to the early days
of Reconstruction through photographs, census records, anti-slavery and
local newspapers, maps and more. Go
back in time at www.pursuitoffreedom.org
´
Students learn about the art of the African Diaspora at MoCADA.
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SUMMER2014
Horace Silver
1928‐2014
Remembering a Musical Legend
ver the past fifty years, Horace has written
some of the most enduring jazz music,
playing the piano with a distinctive, personal style. He has been described as one of the
most influential musicians in the history of jazz.
He was born in Norwalk, Connecticut on
September 2, 1928. His father was an immigrant
from Cape Verde -- and that island nation’s AfroPortuguese influences would play a major part in
his own music, later on.
As a teenager, he began playing both the piano
and saxophone, absorbing everything from boogie-woogie and blues, to the artistry of jazz greats
such as Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk. His
piano trio was working in Hartford, Connecticut
in 1950, when the group garnered the attention of
saxophonist Stan Getz. The famed saxophonist
brought the band on the road with him, and
recorded three of Silver’s compositions.
In 1951, he moved to New York City where he
accompanied saxophonists Coleman Hawkins,
Lester Young, and Lou Donaldson, on the piano.
The following year, he met the executives at Blue
Note Records while working as a sideman for
Donaldson. This meeting led to Silver signing
with the label, where he would remain until 1980.
He also collaborated with Art Blakey in forming
the Jazz Messengers during the early 1950’s.
During his Blue Note years (1952-1980), he
helped create the rhythmically forceful branch of
jazz known as “hard bop”.
He imbued much of his compositions with
blues and gospel progressions – with those influences on prominent display in “The Preacher”,
one of his biggest hits.
Along with his own work, his band often showcased rising jazz stars such as saxophonists Junior
Cook and Hank Mobley, trumpeter Blue Mitchell,
and drummer Louis Hayes.
Some of his key albums from this period
include “Horace Silver Trio” (1953), “Horace Silver
and the Jazz Messengers” (1955), “Six Pieces of Silver”
O
(1956) and “Blowin’ The Blues Away” (1959), which
includes the popular cut, “Sister Sadie”. He also
combined jazz with a sassy take on pop in his 1961
hit, “Filthy McNasty”.
But it was a few years later that he would
record one of his most famous songs, the title
track to his 1964 album, “Song For My Father”.
That piece combined his dad’s take on Cape
Verdean folk music (with a hint of Brazilian
Carnival rhythms) into an enduring F-minor jazz
composition. Over the years, it has become an
American musical standard, covered by scores of
instrumentalists and well-known singers, including the inimitable James Brown.
As social and cultural upheavals shook the
nation during the late 1960s and early 1970s, he
responded to these changes through his music.
He commented directly on the new scene, with a
trio of records titled “United States of Mind”, that
featured the spirited vocals of Andy Bey. As a composer he delved deeper into cosmic philosophy
with his group, Silver ‘N Strings, recording “Silver
‘N Strings Play The Music of the Spheres”.
After Silver’s long tenure with Blue Note
ended, his musical creativity found inspiration in
new and vital ways. In the 1980s his hard work and
tenacity propelled him to start his own record
label, Emerald Records and created a production
company, Silveto Productions. They served as a
conduit to channel, musically, his on-going metaphysical expressions.
And in the late 1990s, he re-visited the hard bop
sound he helped create, giving fresh relevance to
a classic groove.
He has received wide recognition as a venerable
jazz icon, and is considered one of the most influential musicians of the genre. In 2005, the National
Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
(NARAS) gave him its President’s Merit Award. In
2006 he authored his life story “Let’s Get To The
Nitty Gritty” (University of California Press).
Horace made his transition on June 18, 2014.
21
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR CONCERT SERIES
JULY21
ANTHONY
HAMILTON
Grammy Award winner Anthony Hamilton recently spent four weeks at No. 1 on
Billboard’s Urban Adult Contemporary chart with his soul-stirring single “Pray For Me.” The
Babyface-produced track is the second single from his fourth studio album, Back to Love.
Hamilton’s “Pray For Me” and his Back To Love album were both nominated for Grammy
Awards (Best R&B Song and Best R&B Album). Back To Love is the follow-up to his 2008 goldcertified, No. 1-debuting album, The Point of It All (So So Def/Zomba Label Group). Recently
achieving platinum status in South Africa, the Back To Love album signals the eagerly anticipated next chapter in the multi-talented singer/songwriter’s evolving career.
Leading up to Back To Love’s release, Hamilton provided the perfect accompaniment to Jill Scott’s
earthy vocals on the captivating duet “So in Love.” Their dynamic pairing also set a record: 18
weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Urban Adult Contemporary chart. Back to Love showcases
Hamilton’s distinctive, multi-faceted voice. “There are different tones in my voice that people
have fallen in love with; I can sing hard or real soft,” says the singer. “I pay attention to that.”
Fans began paying attention to Hamilton in 2002, when he sang the infectious hook on the
Nappy Roots’ “Po’ Folks.” That performance netted the singer the first of 12 Grammy nominations for best rap/sung collaboration. After signing with So So Def, Hamilton scored a platinum
debut with Coming From Where I’m From in 2003, featuring the chart-topping hit “Charlene.” Two
years later, he returned with gold-certified sophomore set Ain’t Nobody Worryin’, which spun off
the No.1 hit “Can’t Let Go.” Then in 2008 came The Point of It All, which elicited USA Today’s
declaration that Hamilton is “one of the genre’s rare singers.” Hamilton won his first Grammy
Award in 2009 for his collaboration on Al Green’s “You Got the Love I Need.”
Hamilton’s natural talent— rich, soul-steeped vocals breathing sonorous life into emotionpacked lyrics—has earned him a reputation as an “artist’s artist.” Between his own album sales
and collaborations on a diverse roster of projects from Dr. Dre, Tupac, and Young Jeezy, as well
as Josh Turner, Santana and John Rich (Big & Rich), Hamilton has sold more than 20 million
albums.Says Hamilton, “The immense reception to “So in Love”, “Pray For Me”, and now
“Best Of Me” (his latest single)—shows that “R&B is about to be the new mainstream. Real
music is coming back.” And who better to deliver that message than Anthony Hamilton?
23
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR CONCERT SERIES
JULY28
TBA
FOR UPDATES ON THIS SHOW
PLEASE VISIT
BROOKLYNCONCERTS.COM
25
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR CONCERT SERIES
AUGUST4
OLD SCHOOL NIGHT
ROXANNE SHANTÉ
BIZ MARKIE
ROB BASE, KOOL MOE DEE
Roxanne Shanté (born Lolita Gooden) is best known for her hit “Roxanne’s Revenge,” an
answer to U.T.F.O.’s “Roxanne, Roxanne” produced by Marley Marl. The song spawned 102
additional answer records. She also shared a #1 R&B and Top Ten pop hit with Rick James in
1986, “Loosey’s Rap.” Shanté retired at 25 to focus on obtaining a higher education. She went
on to receive a Ph.D. in psychology, eventually running her own practice and building a family
in New York. She has stayed involved with the entertainment industry by mentoring young
female rappers and appearing in Sprite commercials that highlighted freestyling hip-hop artists.
At the age of 14, Marcel Hall, originally from Harlem, dazzled his neighborhood under the
alias of Biz Markie. His music scene debut began in 1985 as a beat box for Roxanne Shanté.
Now 26 years older and immensely wiser, Biz continues to be universally praised by the everfickle hip-hop industry. Biz has managed to remain one of the most notable artists and DJs
in the industry. You can find him spinning and performing at such mega-events as The
Grammys’ after-parties, The Pre-Oscar Party, Will Smith movie premiere events, The
Essence Festival, the Super Bowl, NBA All-Star Weekend, and many more. Biz Markie currently DJs and performs in club and concert venues all over the world. He has appeared on
The Jimmy Kimmel Show and The Jimmy Fallon Show.
Rob Base, from Harlem (born Robert Ginyard) first began performing while in fifth grade.
The title track single from his debut album on Profile Records, “It Takes Two,” became a
street sensation upon its release in 1988. Massive club airplay enhanced its impact. Both the
single and the album eventually went multi-platinum, and Rob Base gained Single of the Year
honors in Spin and The Village Voice. The second single, “Get on the Dance Floor,’” continued
Rob’s dance appeal. But Rob Base wasn’t done yet, because he soon shocked the rap world
with another monster smash, “Joy and Pain,” which to this day plays all over the world.
A member of one of the original hip-hop crews, Treacherous Three, Kool Moe Dee (born
Mohandas Dewese) later became a solo star in his own right in 1986 by teaming with a
teenaged Teddy Riley (later famed as the king of new jack swing) on the crossover hit “Go
See the Doctor.” The single earned him a contract with Jive Records, for which he recorded
three successful late-’80s albums, dominated by his skillful speed-raps.. Kool Moe Dee’s selftitled debut album appeared in 1986. 1987’s How Ya Like Me Now went platinum, and was followed two years later by the gold-certified Knowledge Is King, for which Dee became the first
rapper to perform at the Grammy Awards ceremonies.
27
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR CONCERT SERIES
AUGUST11
VP RECORDS PRESENTS
REGGAE NIGHT
GYPTIAN
SPECIAL GUEST MAXI PRIEST
In 2005, Gyptian rose to international acclaim when his debut single, “Serious Times,” hit the
top of the local and overseas reggae charts, and defeated even Junior Gongs’ Top Ten
Billboard hit “Welcome to Jamrock,” to be declared Jamaica’s Most Important Song of 2005.
Nominated for Best New Entertainer at the 2006 International Reggae and World Music
Awards, the twenty-three year old velvet-voiced singer has dominated the charts with a slew
of hit singles, including “Is There a Place, Beautiful Lady” and the chart-topping ballad
“Mama, Don’t Cry.” Born Windel Beneto Edwards in the King Weston District of St. Andrew,
Jamaica, to a Seventh Day Adventist mother and Rastafarian father, Gyptian received his
musical calling at the age of seven, when he began singing in the church. Under the guidance
of Mr. Wong, a producer from Portmore in St. Catherine,Jamaica, and Earl “Chinna” Smith,
Gyptian honed his unique sound. Nicknamed from his habit of tying a shirt around his head
and twisting his chin hair like an Egyptian pharaoh, the young, gifted, and conscious singer
is very protective of keeping his sound 100% Gyptian. “You have to think about what people
think and how they feel, the real things that people see. Any track at all you hear from
Gyptian, right by my fingers out of my head.”
Only a handful of singers succeed in transcending their genre without
losing the essence of who they are. Maxi Priest is an artist whose
unique vision has led him to international success as the first reggae
artist to have a No. 1 hit worldwide, including the US Billboard charts.
His newest album Easy To Love is as fine a representation of lovers’
rock as you could possibly wish for, and his effortless blend of reggae,
R&B and dancehall has universal appeal. Lead single “Easy To Love”
was a No. 1 smash hit in the reggae charts. It features legendary
Jamaican drum and bass duo Sly & Robbie, who’ve worked with Dennis Brown, Gregory
Isaacs, The Rolling Stones, UB40 and Bob Dylan. Sly & Robbie have also played on some of
Maxi’s biggest hits: “Wild World,” “Some Guys Have All The Luck,” “Every Little Thing,”
“Close To You,” and “Housecall” (featuring Shabba Ranks). “Without A Woman” features
Beres Hammond. Maxi and Beres further a partnership that began with the crossover hit
“How Can We Ease The Pain.” New and long-term fans alike will relish hearing tracks like
“Loving You Is Easy,” “Holiday,” and “Still In Love.” Maxi’s been tugging on girls’ heartstrings since the mid-’80s, when he dominated the UK reggae charts with hits like “Should
I” and “Strollin’ On.” Now, with over 15 million albums sold worldwide, he is the most successful solo act in British reggae history.
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MARTIN LUTHER KING JR CONCERT SERIES
AUGUST18
ANNUAL GOSPEL NIGHT
TAMELA MANN
CHRISTIAN CULTURAL CENTER CHOIR
The golden-voiced actress Tamela Mann has impressively ascended into one of today’s most
accomplished and sought after talents. Tamela was born the youngest of 14 children in Forth
Worth, Texas. At the age of eight, Tamela began mimicking the singing talents of her mother. By the time she was 12 years old, Tamela and her electrifying octave were promoted to
the church’s adult choir. Such musical preparation served to advance the beginning of what
would become an incredible music career, in which Tamela was privileged to join up with
multi-Grammy award winning and double-platinum gospel phenomenon Kirk Franklin and
The Family. In 1996, Tamela joined the gospel musical cast of three-time NAACP Image
Award recipient, screenwriter and producer David E. Talbert as he directed the stage play
comedy He Say…She Say…But What Does God Say? Shortly thereafter, Tamela was discovered
by Tyler Perry, and Tamela began her acting career. By the year 2000, her debut was set as
she was cast in Perry’s hilarious stage play hit I Can Do Bad All By Myself, where she played
the character of Cora—Madea’s spiritual but giggly daughter and the lovable wife of “Mr.
Brown.” In 2001, Tamela played in Perry’s musical drama/comedy Diary of a Mad Black
Woman. She played the character of Myrtle—a feisty, preachy woman who was never short
on words. Tamela’s exemplary performances paved the way for Cora to become a principal
character in Perry’s successful stage comedies Madea’s Family Reunion and Madea’s Class
Reunion.
Brooklyn’s Christian Cultural Center Choir is part of the CCC’s Performing Arts
Department and is at home in the Church’s very own state of the art theater/concert venue.
It has hosted numerous gospel artists, such as Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, Israel
Houghton, Yolanda Adams, Jonathan Butler, Martha Munizzi, Dino Kartsonakis, Charles
Billingsley, Mary Mary, Richard Smallwood and BeBe & CeCe Winans.and has also accompanied mainstream entertainers including Stevie Wonder, Patti LaBelle, Michael McDonald
and Kirk Whalum Manhattan Pops Orchestra.Its musical presentations have graced the
stages of legendary concert halls such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and Nassau
Coliseum, and dynamic showplaces like Radio City Music Hall and The Theater at Madison
Square Garden. Whether performing at functions for the Mayor of the City of New York,
the New York Police Department, or the students of the New York Department of
Education, are using every opportunity to represent Christ in culture. From old hymns of
the faith and down home gospel to contemporary Christian music, classical, jazz, Christian
rap and spoken word, CCC’s performing arts department delivers passion, polish and style.
31
Free Your Mind… For Free!
School may be out for summer, but Brooklynites
can still learn something new every day!
by Paula Carino
Learning woodworking at Brooklyn Workforce Innovations.
rooklyn residents don’t have to take
out student loans to enjoy life-long
learning. In fact, Brooklynites can
continue to learn and grow without spending a dime, with free classes and training
programs this summer and all year ‘round.
Don’t hesitate…create!
Budding artists--both adults and children--can practice their brushstrokes outdoors at Leeana Benson’s Art in the Park
classes. Benson, a Bushwick-based graphic
artist, has been running her free art class on
Saturdays at Maria Hernandez Park since
2011. A Spanish interpreter is on-site.
Prefer your art-making indoors? Seniors
can take advantage of a free pastels work-
B
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SUMMER2014
shop on Mondays in August at the Brooklyn
Public Library’s New Utrecht branch, 1743
86th St, Bath Beach; (718) 236-4086.
For a more digital approach, BRIC,
which sponsors an inspiring line-up of
media and arts programs, is offering free
classes for adult beginners this summer.
Classes include Digital Storytelling, Oral
History and Digital Archiving, Stopmotion Animation, and more. BRIC also
offers very low-cost classes in audio and
video editing, graphic design, and journalistic interviewing skills. Classes take place
at BRIC headquarters at 647 Fulton St;
Downtown Brooklyn; (718) 855-7882;
www.bricar tsmedia.org/community-
media/bric-media-education. Classes also at
Kings Highway Library, 2115 Ocean Ave.
(near Kings Highway), (718) 375-3037;
New Lots Library, 665 New Lots Ave. at
Barbey St, (718) 649-0311; Coney Island
Library, 1901 Mermaid Ave. (near W.19th
St.); (718) 265-3220.
Home Ec 101
Interested in urban homesteading? The
Wyckoff House Museum, Brooklyn’s oldest landmark building, dating from the precolonial era, teaches such down-home
skills as natural dyeing, preserving food,
and sewing by hand--all for free. Check
their website for an updated schedule. 5816
Clarendon Rd., [email protected]
This summer, Sustainable Flatbush--a
non-profit organization promoting green
solutions and “zero waste” in one of the
borough’s most diverse neighborhoods--is
partnering with Brooklyn’s Indian cooking school Mukti’s Kitchen to provide
free Indian cooking classes. Master herbalist Karen Rose, from Flatbush’s Sacred
Vibes Apothecary, will lead several free
workshops about herbal remedies for the
body and soul on Wednesday evenings
and Saturday mornings at Sustainable
Flatbush’s lush Healing Herb Garden. 890
Flatbush Avenue; (718) 629-5400;
www.sustainableflatbush.org
Get a Job!
Brooklyn Workforce Innovations
offers free training programs for the
career-minded. The Brooklyn Woods
program trains participants in cabinetmaking and woodworking, as well as in
how to use power tools. Brooklyn
Networks is a 6-week training program for
people interested in becoming cable technicians. The “Made in NY” Production
Assistant Training program provides
learning for low-income New Yorkers
looking to break into film and television
production. (This popular program has a
competitive application process.) Job
placement assistance is available for all
three programs, and BWI’s New York
Drives course provides driver’s education
for those participants who don’t yet have
their licenses. Brooklyn Workforce
Innovations: 621 Degraw Street, (718) 2372017; Brooklyn Woods: (718) 389-3636;
Brooklyn Networks: (718) 237-2017 x149;
The “Made in NY” Production Assistant
Training Program: (718) 237-2017 x145;
New York Drives: (718) 237-2017 x143
The Brooklyn Job Corps helps young
adults (16-24) prepare for careers as medical assistants, computer techs, network
specialists, and chefs, as well as providing
free academic courses and GED test preparation. They also have free English classes
and Driver’s Ed classes. For older adults,
Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow
gives regular workshops and classes on jobreadiness, interviewing skills, resumebuilding, as well as GED test prep, in a variety of locations from Bushwick to Sunset
Park. 585 Dekalb Ave, (718) 623-4000;
Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow:
(917) 530-1495; [email protected]
Many jobs require a GED, and test prep
classes abound in our borough, but the
best ones happen to be free. Thanks to the
The Brooklyn Job
Corps helps young
adults prepare
for careers.
35
A student in BWI’s commercial driver training program.
CUNY Literacy Programs, the city college’s four Brooklyn campuses offer ESOL,
Basic Education, and GED classes for free,
and feature an immersive and practical
approach that gets students involved with
the community as they learn. Other free
GED programs for adults include The
HOPE Program, One Smith Street, 4th Fl,
Downtown Brooklyn, (718) 852-9307;
Downtown Brooklyn Access, 69
Schermerhorn St., (718) 935-9457, goodshepherds.org; East New York Learning
Center, 1958 Fulton St., 2nd Fl., nylearningcenter.org (offers classes in both Spanish and
English); and CUNY Literacy Programs,
www.literacy.cuny.edu/instruction
Keep it Moving!
Shape Up NYC is the city’s gift to
couch potatoes, those for whom a gym
membership is financially out of reach, or
anyone who wants to connect with other
people and learn a new exercise program
(such as Zumba, yoga, or Latin cardio)
without risk or commitment. Classes are
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SUMMER2014
held all over the five boroughs, with over
40 Brooklyn locations, from Bed-Stuy to
Bay Ridge. There is no pre-registration or
membership required--just show up and
sweat! Or try Shape Up’s sister program,
Walk NYC, for a mellower exercise experience. www.nycgovparks.org/programs/recreation/shape-up-nyc
Prefer to dance your way to fitness?
Every Wednesday this summer, the
Brooklyn Public Library’s Central branch
hosts its popular Plaza Swing Series with
a variety of professional big-band and
swing orchestras providing the music. At
6:30, free swing dance lessons prepare
Brooklynites to dance the night away.
For more ideas, check out Brooklynbased MeetUp groups (brooklyn.meetup.com)
in your areas of interest. Don’t let a limited
budget keep you from learning something
new! ´
Paula Carino is a writer, yoga teacher, and
psychotherapist who lives in Windsor Terrace.
SPECIAL THANKS
Special thanks to Mayor Bill de Blasio and Director of Legislative Affairs Jon Paul Lupo.
Enthusiastic thanks to NYC City Council speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and the Deputy Chief of
Staff Jeff Rodus. Thanks to the Brooklyn Delegation of the NYC Councilmembers Inez Barron,
Robert Cornegy, Chaim Deutsch, Rafael Espinal, Matthew Eugene, Vincent Gentile, David
Greenfield, Brad Lander, Stephen Levin, Alan Maisel, Darlene Mealy, Carlos Menchaca, Antonio
Reynoso, Mark Treyger and especially Councilmembers Jumanee Williams and Laurie Cumbo.
Chief Owen Monaghan, Commanding Officer Patrol Borough Brooklyn South, Asst. Chief Jeffrey
Maddrey, Asst Chief Kenny Corey, Deputy Inspector George Fitzgibbon, Captain Thomas Burke,
Lt. Luis Machado, Sgt. Alford Kelley, Det. Vincent Martinos, PO Larry Taylor, PO Frank Bulzoni.
Sam Duvoor, Financial Advisor, Donovan Murray, CPA, Independent Auditor, Toby Ludwig and
everyone at 21st Century Artists, Bill Holiber - President and CEO; John Campi, Brian Adams and
Griselda Garcia at the New York Daily News. Matt Jeans for designing Bandshell, Nancie S.
Martin for editing Bandshell, Mike Levine for Website Design. A special thank you to Mimi
Hunphrey and all of our volunteers. Scott Pedowitz and everyone at Jack Pedowitz Machinery
Movers. And a very special thank you to Marty and Jamie Markowitz.
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. CONCERTS SERIES, INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Joetta Colquitt, Pastor Harvey Jamison, Robert Matthews and Camille Socci.
NYC PARKS - Mitchell Silver NYC Commissioner
Liam Kavanagh, First Deputy Commissioner
Kevin Jeffrey, Brooklyn Parks Borough Commissioner
Martin Maher, Brooklyn Parks Chief of Staff
Ron Taylor, Parks & Recreation Manager
Eddie Vargas, Brooklyn Parks Director of Public Services
Nancy Melissas, Brooklyn Parks Deputy Director of Public Services
Anthony Sama, NYC Parks Director of Citywide Special Events
Venus Melo, NYC Parks Citywide Special Events Coordinator
39
PATRONS
SPONSORS &
CONTRIBUTORS
PATRONS
APPLEBEE’S | BARCLAYS CENTER BROOKYN | BROOKLYN NETS
FOREST CITY RATNER COMPANIES | THE HORACE SILVER FOUNDATION
MCU MUNICIPAL CREDIT UNION | NATIONAL GRID | WBLS, HOT97, WLIB
SPONSORS
ASTORIA BANK | BOAR’S HEAD | CHRISTIAN CULTURAL CENTER | CON EDISON
HEALTHFIRST | MACY’S | MAIMONIDES MEDICAL CENTER
UNITED FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
CONTRIBUTORS
IATSE#4
Thank you to Con Edison for providing seating and senior center buses.
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SUMMER2014