{"id":30358,"date":"2019-11-07T14:27:51","date_gmt":"2019-11-07T19:27:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/?p=30358"},"modified":"2019-11-07T14:28:01","modified_gmt":"2019-11-07T19:28:01","slug":"on-stage-celebrating-80-years-of-blue-note-records","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/?p=30358","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: Celebrating 80 years of Blue Note Records"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff<\/strong>, <\/span>Entertainment Editor, The Times<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Kandace Springs<\/p><\/div>\n

Area jazz fans are in for a triple treat on November 8 when The Grand Opera House (818 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-652-5577,www.thegrandwilmington.org<\/a>) hosts \u201cThe Blue Note 80th Anniversary Tour\u201d featuring Kandace Springs (Vocalist and keyboards \/ Trio), James Francies (Piano \/ Trio) & James Carter <\/a>(Saxophone \/ Trio).<\/span><\/p>\n

Blue Note Records is an American jazz record label that was established in 1939. It derives its name from the characteristic “blue notes” of jazz and the blues. Originally dedicated to recording traditional jazz and small group swing, from 1947 the label began to switch its attention to modern jazz including Thelonious Monk, Art Blakey, Fats Navarro and Bud Powell.<\/span><\/p>\n

Springs\u2019 refined mix of R&B, jazz, and pop has been displayed on her Blue Note albums \u201cSoul Eyes\u201d (2016) and \u201cIndigo\u201d (2018).<\/span><\/p>\n

Springs, who was born in Nashville, Tennessee, began piano lessons when she was still in elementary school. Her father Scat Springs was a session singer in Nashville, and she grew up listening to jazz and soul singers like Nina Simone.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI started taking piano lessons when I was 10,\u201d said Springs, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon from her home in Nashville.\u00a0 \u201cI didn\u2019t start singing until I was 13. I never really sang at home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2014, Springs released her self-titled debut EP on Blue Note Records. The EP was produced by Pop & Oak. \u201cLove Got in the Way\u201d was her first music video. She collaborated with Ghostface Killah on his 2014 single \u201cLove Don’t Live Here No More.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Another major event happened in 2014 when Prince<\/a> flew her to Minneapolis to perform at Paisley Park.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPrince reached out to me,\u201d said Springs. \u201cI got to close his 30th anniversary party at Paisley Park.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Prince became a mentor to the young singer and once described her as having \u201ca voice that could melt snow.\u201d
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy EP came out a little before I met Prince. It was a different side of me. I was trying to experiment more with hip hop. Prince and my dad told me that I needed to go back to jazz.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

After she made featured appearances on tracks by Ghostface Killah<\/a>, Aqualung<\/a>, and Black Violin<\/a>, Springs<\/a> completed her first full-length, \u201cSoul Eyes<\/a>.\u201d Released in June 2016 with production from Larry Klein<\/a>, the album mixed originals and covers and favored lean instrumentation.<\/span><\/p>\n

For her comparatively layered follow-up, Springs<\/a> worked extensively with Karriem Riggins<\/a> and maintained her connection with Rogers<\/a> and Sturken<\/a> as two of her primary co-writers. Issued in September 2018, \u201cIndigo<\/a>\u201d also featured interpretations of classic and contemporary songs, from Thom Bell<\/a> and Linda Creed<\/a>‘s \u201cPeople Make the World Go Round\u201d (popularized by the Stylistics<\/a>) to Gabriel Garz\u00f3n-Montano<\/a>\u2019s \u201c6 8.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy favorite stuff is my acoustic stuff. You can hear it on my \u2018Soul Eyes\u2019 album.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

That album served notice that there was a new torch bearer in the great tradition of jazz singers who draw upon the roots of blues, gospel and soul. Springs performed live on several TV shows, including the Late Show with David Letterman<\/a>, Jimmy Kimmel Live!<\/a>, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon<\/a> and Later… with Jools Holland<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Springs will release her third Blue Note album \u201cThe Women Who Raised Me\u201d in early 2020.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy new album will come out on March 6,\u201d said Springs. \u201cIt\u2019s about singers such as Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday and Roberta Flack.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just kind of giving back. They\u2019re the ones who influenced me. Thinking back, my first influence might have been Norah Jones\u2026or Nina Simone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Kandace Springs — https:\/\/youtu.be\/gwEontUNkZY<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at the Grand, which features Kandace Springs, James Francies and James Carter, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $39.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at the Grand are Gilberto Santa Rosa on November 7 and \u201cThe Rock Orchestra: INXS\u201d on November 9.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The New Pornographers<\/p><\/div>\n

Formed in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1997, The New Pornographers have continued to make interesting music, release critically acclaimed albums and build a constantly growing fan base.<\/span><\/p>\n

In September, the band released its eighth studio album, \u201cIn the Morse Code of Brake Lights,\u201d via Collected Works Records, the band\u2019s own imprint on Concord Records.<\/span><\/p>\n

The New Pornographers are now on tour in support of their new disc and will bring the tour to Philly on November 8 for a stop at Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, 215-232-2100, www.utphilly.com)<\/a>..<\/span><\/p>\n

The nucleus of the band is Neko Case (vocals), John Collins\u00a0(bass), Carl Newman (vocals, guitar), and Blaine Thurier\u00a0(keyboards, synthesizer.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe touring band has eight members,\u201d said Newman, during a phone interview last week from his home near Woodstock, New York. \u201cThere are four of us who go back to the very beginning \u2013 Neko, Blaine, John and me.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe key to our longevity is that we\u2019re friends and we love what we\u2019re doing. This is what I do, and I want to keep on doing it. It\u2019s essentially my brand but I try not to be controlling. The band is amorphous. And, we don\u2019t tour a lot. We don\u2019t have a 365 days-a-year obsession.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The New Pornographers have always valued quality over quantity.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI just want to keep writing,\u201d said Newman. \u201cI try to write all the time. Finishing doesn\u2019t come easy to me. To get the finished idea takes a lot of work.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEven today, I went in the studio and listened to a song I wrote yesterday. It\u2019s always an ongoing thing. I\u2019ll work on a song and it\u2019ll be good. Then, I\u2019ll start changing it and get back eventually to the original version. If I decide I want a record in eight months, setting a deadline helps immensely.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOn this record, we were nearly done at the end of January. I knew I\u2019d be tinkering on it for at least three months. Eventually, it wasn\u2019t done until the end of May.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Newman finally got all the ducks in a row for \u201cIn the Morse Code of Brake Lights.\u201d Now, the album and the band are motoring ahead nicely.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Newman, \u201c<\/span>Sometimes unintentional influences come in, and then after you start to notice them, you start consciously doing it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was about two-thirds of the way through the record when I began to notice that lyrically so much of it was pointing toward car songs. The opening track is \u2018You\u2019ll Need a Backseat Driver,\u2019 and that was a metaphor that seemed to be running through other songs, too.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNext to the love song, I feel like the car song is one of the most iconic kinds of songs in pop music, from Chuck Berry to the present. There was so much of that throughout it that I started thinking: \u2018Oh, no, there\u2019s too many references to cars on this record!\u2019 And then I thought, \u2018No, that’s good\u2014people might think it\u2019s a concept album.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn the Morse Code of Brake Lights\u201d is one more example of Newman\u2019s distinctive writing style.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Newman, \u201cThe longer I play music, I realize how much just defiance there is in all the music I\u2019ve always made. Not just against some societal injustice, but also just defying sadness, or defying your lot in life.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI want to use music to get to a better place, which is what I\u2019ve always done, I realize. It\u2019s a way to reach out of yourself.\u201d The album may not offer an escape from these sometimes-terrifying modern times, but it\u2019s a hell of a revivifying rest stop.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for New Pornographers \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/RyHg2kPY5xA\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The show at Union Transfer, which has Lady lamb as the opening act, will start at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $35.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at Union Transfer are Clairo on November 7, Big Thief and Palehound on November 9, Jeremy Zucker on November 10, Gus Dapperton on November 12, and MisterWives on November 13.<\/span><\/p>\n

Almost a year ago, Mayday Parade visited Philadelphia for a show. Last year on November 14, the band from Tallahassee, Florida headlined a show at the Fillmore. This year, Mayday Parade is back for a mid-November show. The band will put on a special show at the Theatre of the Living Arts (334 South Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1011,http:\/\/www.lnphilly.com<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Mayday Parade<\/p><\/div>\n

Mayday<\/span> Parade<\/span> — vocalist Derek Sanders, guitarists Brooks Betts and Alex Garcia, bassist Jeremy Lenzo and drummer Jake Bundrick — is on the road with another non-traditional unique tour this fall \u2013 \u201cForever Emo Tour 2019.\u201d Along with some original music, the band will bring a set of cover songs of their favorite pop punk and emo tunes for fans to sing along with.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a really interesting tour,\u201d said Sanders, during a phone interview last week from his home in Tallahassee. \u201cIt\u2019s a lot different.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the 10-year anniversary of our second album, \u2018Anywhere But Here,\u2019 so we\u2019re doing five anniversary shows. The rest of the shows are the \u2018Forever Emo\u2019 shows.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe set list will have a handful of Mayday Parade songs \u2013 maybe four or five with one new one and a few old ones. The rest of the set list has 12-13 covers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

At a recent show at the 40 Watt Club in Athens, Georgia, Mayday Parade sang several of their own gems such as <\/span>\u201cJamie All Over,\u201d \u201cOh Well, Oh Well\u201d and \u201cPiece of Your Heart.\u201d The majority of the show features pop and emo classics such as The Killers\u2019 \u201cMr. Brightside\u201d and My Chemical Romance\u2019s \u201cI\u2019m Not Okay (I Promise).\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor many years, we\u2019d do after parties and take a play list from Spotify,\u201d said Sanders. \u201cThey\u2019ve always been so much fun.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

These impromptu sessions have been fun for the band and a lot of fun for the audiences.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Sanders, \u201cI can\u2019t tell you how many times I\u2019ve had fun singing Jimmy Eat World songs with friends and strangers alike at after parties\/emo nights\/whatever you want to call them. We\u2019ve done many of them in many different places around the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes they make me feel like there was a part of me that was supposed to change but never did.\u00a0\u2018Forever Emo\u2019 this fall will be a concert featuring <\/span>Mayday<\/span> Parade performing songs live — mostly covers with a few originals as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve also partnered with local emo night DJs to add to the event in each city. There has been a lot of effort put into learning how to perform these songs well, and we\u2019re going play them loud, with heart and passion. Come sing along.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

The tour kicked off on November 1 with \u2018Forever Emo\u2019 shows in some cities and \u201c10 Year Celebration of Anywhere\u2019 shows in others. The concert at TLA will be the \u201cForever Emo\u201d show.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got 12-13 covers we can play, and we might learn a few more,\u201d said sanders. \u201cIt\u2019s definitely been a lot of effort by everyone to learn these songs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSome of the covers we do are songs by Fall Out Boy, Taking Back Sunday, Jimmy Eat Word, New Found Glory, Sum 41 and Dashboard Confessional. We do one song from each band. For the most part, they are big hits by these bands.<\/span><\/p>\n

In June 2018, Mayday Parade released its sixth album, \u201cSunnyland,\u201d on Rise Records. The album got its name from an abandoned hospital where they used to sneak in to explore as teenagers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mayday Parade\u2019s first five albums were released with amazing regularity \u2013 \u201cA Lesson in Romantics\u201d (2007), \u201cAnywhere But Here\u201d (2009), \u201cMayday Parade\u201d (2011), \u201cMonsters in the Closet\u201d (2013), and \u201cBlack Lines\u201d (2015). The two-year routine was broken when the band waited until 2018 to drop \u201cSunnyland.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got a lot of exciting things coming up,\u201d said Sanders. \u201cWe\u2019ve been in the studio and new songs are coming along.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Mayday Parade — https:\/\/youtu.be\/GqM3Dr7agjY<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at the TLA on November 8 will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40.<\/span><\/p>\n

Comethazine on November 7, The Legwarmers on November 9, Jay Critch on November 10, Danny Brown on November 11, The Devil Wears Prada on November 12 and The Hu on November 13.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Now through November 24, the Azuka Theatre is presenting the highly acclaimed drama \u201cSunset Baby\u201d at the Louis Bluver Theatre at The Drake (302 South Hicks Street, Philadelphia, http:\/\/www.azukatheatre.org\/sunset-baby<\/a>).
\n\u201cSunset Baby\u201d is a play by Dominique Morriseau that revolves around the reunion of a former Black revolutionary and political prisoner with his estranged daughter. The production is directed by Amina Robinson.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this play, Morisseau looks at the world of a well-known activist whose days of relevance and being in the headlines are things of the past. <\/span>Decades past his time when he was an important voice in the quest for social justice, Kenyatta still is somewhat of a revered figure.<\/span><\/p>\n

But there is no love or respect for him from his daughter Nina, who is all that is left of his family. Kenyatta abandoned Nina when she was a baby and left her mother, Ashanti X, to die of drug addiction \u2013 and a broken heart.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this production, Nina is played by Victoria Aaliyah Goins. Kenyatta is played by Steven Wight and Nina\u2019s boyfriend Damon is played by Eric Carter.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t know anything about this show before becoming a part of this production, but I was aware of Dominique Morriseau,\u201d said Goins, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from her home in South Philadelphia.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAmina Robinson asked me to audition for it. Immediately when I read the script, I knew it was a gig I needed to book. It\u2019s more than meets the eye.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Nina is a drug dealer who supplements her income with the occasional robbery.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe play tells us that she sells drugs and is a robber,\u201d said Goins. \u201cShe is a pretend hooker who robs people.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Nina has no time for the father she never knew. When Kenyatta shows up at her apartment, all hell breaks loose.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTo Nina\u2019s knowledge, she had never met her father when she was a child,\u201d said Goins. \u201cHe went to prison when she was very young.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou find out in the play what Kenyatta did to land in prison and where things went awry. He was a leader in a black liberation movement.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen he gets out of prison, he finds Nina by asking around the neighborhood. She was easy to find \u2013 especially with the line of work she\u2019s in.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

At the heart of the broken relationship between father and daughter are the now historically significant and valuable letters Nina\u2019s mother wrote to her father while he was in jail. Involved in a tug-of-war over these letters, Nina and Kenyatta have to confront their shared past.<\/span><\/p>\n

The story hinges on a pile of never-mailed love letters, written by Ashanti to Kenyatta, that are worth tens of thousands of dollars. They are also the sole link from Ashanti to Nina, who treasures them as a tangible connection to her late mother. They are also important to Nina for the potential financial windfall that could allow her to quit dealing and start anew.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI like Nina because of the similarities between her and me,\u201d said Goins, a Houston native who grew up in Burbank, California.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI get to play outside myself and that\u2019s a lot of fun. And, I get to explore Nina\u2019s humanity. They are the main reasons I really like this role.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Goins has starred in several national commercials and has appeared as a singer\/performer on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, America’s Got Talent, and The Voice. After moving to Philadelphia, she graduated with her B.A. in Strategic Communication from Temple University. <\/span><\/p>\n

Goins has been part of the Philadelphia theater community ever since she was an undergrad at Temple University. Previous roles include Squeak in \u201cThe Color Purple,\u201d Maria in \u201cMaria Marten, or, The Murder in the Red Barn,\u201d Zenna in \u201cLydie Breeze Trilogy,\u201d Lady in Yellow in \u201cFor Colored Girls,\u201d and Miss. Pat in \u201cThe Colored Museum.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She also works as a child and family educator for the Health Federation of Philadelphia\u2019s Early Head Start program.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Eric Gales<\/p><\/div>\n

Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295,\u00a0http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org<\/a>) will host Sonny Landreth with Cindy Cashdollar on November 8, and Eric Gales on November 12.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chaplin\u2019s (66 North Main Street, Spring City, 610-792-4110,\u00a0http:\/\/chaplinslive.com<\/a>) will present Paul Dake Band and Harry Walther Band on November 8 and Speak the Secret, Pulling Daisies and Dizzy Daisies on November 9.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610-649-8389,\u00a0www.ardmoremusic.com<\/a>) will have Cris Jacobs Band and Midnight North on November 7, Soulive on November 8 and 9, and Last in Line on November 10.<\/span><\/p>\n

Living Room (35 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, https:\/\/thelivingroomat35east.com<\/a>) will present Songwriters Night with Joy Ike, Michael G. Ronstadt, Katie Dahl and Aaron Nathans on November 7, Jim Boggia on November 8, and Deb Callahan Band on November 9.<\/span><\/p>\n

118 North (118 North Wayne Avenue, Wayne, www.118northwayne.com<\/a>) will host Pete Donnelly (of the Figgs and NRBQ)<\/a> on November 7,<\/span><\/p>\n

Superunknown (Chris Cornell tribute) + White Limo (Foo Fighters tribute)<\/a> on November 8, and Larry McKenna’s New Voices Cabaret<\/a> on November 12.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Locks at Sona (4417 Main Street, Manayunk, 484- 273-0481, sonapub.com<\/a>) will present Steven Dayvid McKellar of Civil Twilight on November 7, Amythyst Kiah with special guest Alexa Rose on November 9, The Merry Kinksters featuring Kinky Friedman along with Cleve Hattersley on November 10.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Keswick Theater (291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 215-572-7650,\u00a0www.keswicktheatre.com<\/a>) presents Nate Bargatze on November 8 and Justin Willman on November 9.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Area jazz fans are in for a triple treat on November 8 when The Grand Opera House (818 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-652-5577,www.thegrandwilmington.org) hosts \u201cThe Blue Note 80th Anniversary Tour\u201d featuring Kandace Springs (Vocalist and keyboards \/ Trio), James Francies (Piano \/ Trio) & James Carter (Saxophone […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30360,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7441],"tags":[11923,6269,11924,11047,11925,8921],"class_list":["post-30358","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-blue-note-records","tag-featured","tag-kandace-springs","tag-mayday-parade","tag-sunset-baby","tag-the-new-pornographers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30358","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=30358"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30358\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30359,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30358\/revisions\/30359"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/30360"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=30358"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=30358"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=30358"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}