This is a real jazz-lovers gem! The Bright Rose of Bronzeville

Arnett Howard, once again, sent in this amazing gem of Columbus jazz history. I always love looking at the old photographs, but that piece of original music recorded more than 70 years ago is killer, to say the least. Be sure and listen to the mp3 attached below. Just click on the link.

"My People, Thanks to Doug Tracy the mystery woman has been uncovered. He found this column in the pages of the Ohio Sentinel, a Black newspaper that I used to deliver as a child on the Westside. Doug, you are da' man! Bright moments, A

PS: The music files are from Jim Loeffler, whose father, Bill, recorded them on a homemade disc cutting maching in the 1930s. The photos are from the Cols. Call-Post newspaper."

The Bright Rose of Bronzeville
By Eddie J. Colston, The Ohio Sentinel, March 29, 1958 edition
Listen to this recording by Madame Rose Brown

Name any great Columbus entertainer in the past decade and the name Madam Rose Brown will ring a bell. Years ago, Madam was the town's top performer. Today she still has firm hold on her star studded crown by singing and swinging in the area's night clubs and plush cocktail lounges. The young clique will remember Madam more vividly from her weekly TV show a few years ago, over WTVN-TV, for a segment of "The Rose Brown Show" was devoted to introducing fresh talent. Born in Savanah, Georgia, Rose Brown came to Columbus to visit relatives.

Out on the town one night she did several guest numbers at a couple of popular night haunts. With soulful blues, sexy torch songs and energetic swing style, she had the town's nightlifers in the palm of her hand. Since then, this has been Rose Brown's town. Wasn't so long ago that Rose rose (and I'm not tongue tied) to the pinnacle of Broadway success, when she costarred with the late Bill Robinson as Katisha in Mike Todd's "The Hot Mikado." Her Broadway appearance was in a featured role in "My Dear Public," starring Willie Howard and a long list of today's top stars.
Rose has added other musical triumphs and flattering press notices to her scrapbook with top billings with The Page Cavanaugh Trio. Louis Jordan's Band, the Page One Ball, sponsored annually by the Columbus Chapter of the American Newspaper Guild and many others. Norman Nadel, Columbus Citizen's celebrated theatrical editor and big voice in show business recently penned a lengthy feature on Rose Brown. Nadel said, "I thought of shows I'd seen, singers I heard in Manhattan nightspots where the cover charge would buy food for a family of six. Once in a blue moon you might hear a singer like Rose. People from Columbus go to those New York clubs when they travel east. They could do as well or better, listening to this handsome dark-skinned woman singing in a little club on High Street."

Another thrill for Rose was her invitation to audition for the role of Bloody Mary in the original "South Pacific" cast. "Rogers and Hammerstein brought me to New York," he recalled happily, "and I sang the part for them. But when I saw Juanita Hall do it, I told them to go ahead and pick her, because she was perfect for the part. But I would have loved it."
Currently, Rose is slated to make a series of films or live appearances on WTVN-TV doing Negro spirituals.

Note: Rose Brown passed in 1960.

InnerartBlog - (replaces CharlieBits at innerart.com )

InnerartBlog - (replaces CharlieBits at innerart.com )


Ellen Shelburne sent me this amazing little bit.

THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE MASTERPIECE
Paris by Night.....Panoramic view........very cool

Once you have the picture, scroll the side bar down and then move the bottom scroll bar slowly for a wrap around view of Paris.


http://framboise781.free.fr/Paris.htm

The Art of Richard Duarte Brown & CAPACITY

If I Could Plant A Dream...
The Art of Richard Duarte Brown & CAPACITY, CAPA's Youth Arts Program
Through February 28

Opening Reception: Sunday, February 19, 4 -7 pm
Performance by Is Said 5:30 pm

at The William H. Thomas Gallery
1270 Bryden Rd.
Columbus, OH 43205

Click on www.capacity.org or call 614 372 1822 for more info

My Bad!

In the earlier blog entry "Steve Ben Israel performs with Baba and Yaho" I mispelled a name! I should have written "Yako" instead of Yaho. My appologies to Yako. If you look at the image of the postcard - that appears 2 entries below - you can see why I might have made such an error. -charlie

Remebering Dr. Bop, a Columbus legend of the early Rock 'n Roll days!

Arnett Howard, a well known Columbus musician and band leader, has long had a passion for collecting memorabilia and stories relating to the Black music experience in town. In honor of Black History Month, he sent us this little piece of (almost) forgotten radio history. Legendary DJ Dr. Bop introduced thousands of local teens, me included, to the joys of rock music in the late 50s. Thanks Arnett.


People, Among my first memories as a child growing up in West Columbus in the mid-1950s, was listening to WCOL-AM 1230 late at night on our family's Westinghouse transistor radio. From nine at night until the wee hours, WCOL-AM featured Doctor Bop and his introductory patter went, "This is Doctor Bop on the scene with a stack of shellac and my record machine. A little country boy from across the track, so down with it, baby, that I'll never go back." Doctor Bop's real name was Hoyt Locke and his family ran Bop Record Shop in 1956. When hot new rhythm and blues records came out, he would call the radio station and bug the disc jockeys to get with the musical program. In time, he talked his way onto the air and stayed on WCOL-AM for several years. Doctor Bop was the person who introduced the high energy music of Elvis, Little Richard and Chuck Berry to Columbus teenagers. The accompanying photo, taken by Kojo Kamau, shows the good doctor at a local dance. The band in the background is led by legendary jazz saxophonist Ronnie Kirk, also known as Rahsaan Roland Kirk. Bop eventually migrated to a Milwaukee radio station and he died there in 1984. But he was the announcer who brought rock and roll to Columbus audiences in the 1950s.
The sound file is about five minutes. Feedback is good. A

Steve Ben Israel performs with Baba and Yaho

On a trip to New York city a few years ago with my friend Stan (who was a past contributor to innerart and is a partner in Monkeys Retreat), he invited me to an all-night diner in the lower East side where I was introduced to a most interesting, eloquent character, who regaled us for hours over refilled coffee cups. Steve Ben Israel, an actor and general comentator on the human condition, had been involved with the legendary Living Theatre and has performed world-wide. He may also be remembered as an occasional guest comentator on NPR radio.
Stan showed me the postcard he received last week. Steve now performs along with his rapper son Baba and friend Yaho and you can catch their act, Continuity, if you are in New York, or plan to visit any time soon.
For more interesting details, check out openthoughtmusic.com and makor.org

CONCERT PREVIEW - COLUMBUS JAZZ ORCHESTRA PRESENTS BIRD & DIZ

This email release was contributed by Christin McCabe with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra

CONCERT PREVIEW -
By David Rickert
During Prohibition, Kansas City was the wildest place in America . “If you want to see sin, forget about Paris ,” said a reporter for the Omaha Herald, “go to Kansas City .” Boss Pendergast, the head of the city, had ties to organized crime and created a town filled with brothels, bars, and gambling dens the likes of which haven’t been seen since. Of course, all these joints created plenty of work for musicians, who came from all over the country to take advantage of the liberal atmosphere. Count Basie, Lester Young, and Ben Wesbter all developed their chops here, and it was in this city that Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie first crossed paths. There won’t be any brothels or gambling dens when the Columbus Jazz Orchestra performs Bird & Diz, but there will be plenty of hot big band jazz in the spirit of the two greats. Both Parker and Gillespie got their start in big bands: Parker with Jay McShann’s Orchestra and Gillespie with Cab Calloway’s outfit, but both soon yearned to push boundaries past the swing music they were currently playing. Once they got to New York , the rest, as they say, was history. But Gillespie still itched to perform with a big band, and after he and Parker parted ways, he introduced Afro-Cuban music with his orchestra in the forties. For the rest of his career, Gillespie frequently returned to the big band music he loved. For Bird & Diz the CJO will feature plenty of tunes from the Gillespie songbook, like the classics “Con Alma,” “Salt Peanuts,” and “Woody ‘n’You.” There will also be the usual well-known standards, all delivered in the terrific CJO style. Joining the CJO this time around will be Jeff Clayton, saxophonist and brother of frequent CJO collaborator John Clayton, and trumpeter Claudio Roditi. Both will be on hand to help recreate the spirited music of the Gillespie/Parker era. Also on stage will be the incredible pianist/singer Dena DeRose. We hope you can join us for a wonderful evening of great big band jazz.

Melinda Kay Rosenberg shows at OSU Faculty Club Gallery

Melinda Kay Rosenberg
Tangled Paths

January 5, 2005 through February 24, 2006

More info? Contact:
Marion Fisher, Art Coordinator
614 888 3856

Tulum watercolors by Eric Marlow

Last month, Eric Marlow and Gail Larned went to Tulum, Mexico for a well-deserved week-long vacation. While most folks want to bore you with their vacation slides, Eric brought back some of his wonderful watercolors. Enjoy!
Visit their website and see examples of Eric's jewelry and Gail's fiber sculpture. Click on larnedmarlow.com

Ohio Art League: Displaced

DISPLACED
February 4 - 25, 2006
Boryana Rusenova
curated by Andrew Ina
Ohio Art League Gallery
954 N. High St.
www.oal.org

Jazz Arts Group presents Bird & Diz

February 15 19
at the Southern Theatre

Bird & Diz starring Jeff Clayton, Claudio Roditi & Dena DeRose with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra
More info? check out http://www.jazzartsgroup.org/

Columbus Women’s Chorus and Howling at the Moon

The Columbus Women’s Chorus and Howling at the Moon will blend the unique talents of both groups for an unforgettable concert of music and monologues that promises to be humorous, touching and entertaining. The concert will be presented on March 4th at 7:30 and 5th at 3:00 at the Bowen Theater, OSU.

Howling at the Moon is a company of eight women over 60 who write and perform their lives. They bring a variety of cultures, artistic backgrounds and viewpoints to what it means to grow older. Their stories range from funny to deeply personal to inspirational. Dr. Joy Reilly, who is internationally known for her pioneering work in senior theatre, leads Howling at the Moon. They have performed at the 2004 Senior Theatre of America Festival in Las Vegas, Columbus Cultural Arts Center and the Port Clinton Arts Festival.

The Columbus Women’s Chorus is celebrating their eighteenth season of choral performance. The Columbus Women’s Chorus is led by artistic director, Dr. Patricia O’Toole. Dr. O’Toole has been recognized for making music more inclusive. The 75 voices of the Columbus Women’s Chorus offer audiences a choral experience that far exceeds the traditional vocal experience. Their Repertoire is diverse and inspiring as it celebrates ordinary women doing extraordinary things.

“We are truly excited about this collaboration,” said O’Toole. “The combinations of diverse and inspiring repertoire, along with the unique voices and style of the members of Howling at the Moon, will engage our audiences in a very intimate experience,” O’Toole added.

Tickets are available for $10 and can be purchased on-line at www.cwchorus.org.

ACME latest schedule info

from: Melesa Klosek 614.299.0296 mel@acmeartco.org

February 2006 at Acme Art Company
More details of the following performances may be obtained on the website at www.acmeartco.org or email office@acmeartco.org or dial at 614.299.0296.

TUES, 2/21 (10 PM): Black Tuesday featuring Drum –n– Bass DJ’s $3 suggested donation at door
WED, 2/22 (9 PM): POOMA!
FRI, 2/24 (9 PM): Cuong Vu (NYC) An Icebox Music Show $12 adults/$7 students
SAT, 2/25 (8 PM): A benefit for Acme Art/Metal In Your Ass Series with: CC Manded, Soul Split, Theft of Heart, and Humanincineration All Ages Welcome: $5 over 21/$7 under 21
SUN, 2/26 (8 PM—11 PM): New Works of Rocco DiPietro featuring Russell Link, Rebecca Henkel, Larry Marotta, Derek Zoladz, David Reed, Justin Isom, Hannah Corbin, Gerard Cox, and Jay Smith. All Ages Welcome: $5 over 21/$7 under 21
*Please note that POOMA’s schedule has changed and booked for the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays only (March: 3/8 and 3/22).
Acme Art Company is currently booking rehearsal space for performers
and musicians at its’ space.

CUONG FU at ACME Art Co.

CUONG VU TO APPEAR LIVE IN COLUMBUS
In support of his latest album, ‘It's Mostly Residual,’ Icebox Music Series proudly presents CUONG VU on Friday, FEBRUARY 24th at Acme Art Company. The trio will consist of CUONG VU (trumpet), Ted Poor (drums) and Stomu Takeishi (bass). Doors at: 8:30 PM and First Set at: 9:00 PM

For more information on CUONG VU, interview and promo requests, please contact Gerard Cox: 614.397.6185, email: gerardcox76@yahoo.com.