400th Post: Performance Opportunity for Singers & Actresses for 2012 Black History Month Event

Liberated Muse is partnering with the DC Public Library system for a series of events intended to educate and entertain. Artists selected to perform will be included in media promoting the events. Here is a call for singers & actresses for the first upcoming event:



In Her Words Series
The In Her Words Series will kick off on Sat., Feb. 4 and will be a 2-hour multi-disciplinary performance showcasing the art and lives of Billie Holiday, Zora Neale Hurston, Lena Horne, Nina Simone, and Lucille Clifton.

Seeking actresses & singers to portray the great women listed above. Also seeking an actor (male or female) to serve as the narrator/guide during the performance. The narrator/guide is a large acting/speaking role.

Auditions will be held on Saturday, October 22, 2011. Email your interest and headshot by October 16th to liberatedmuseproductions@gmail.com for an audition time and to learn of the audition location. Auditions begin at 2pm.

If you are interested in co-sponsoring or helping to produce this event, email us as well.

A Groupie Retelling: The Last Leg of the Sade US Tour

This past Monday, I traveled to Norfolk, VA to witness her majesty Sade in concert for the last performance of her US tour. As you should know, Sade blesses with a concert every decade or so, so seeing her live is a rare treat that anyone who has the opportunity tries to do as quickly as possibly. My spouse got tickets on Groupon and, despite the four hour drive to Norfolk, we were on an amped high as we anticipated her approaching concert.

For starters, the concert started on time.

John Legend Didn't Suck

In this day and age, that is saying A LOT. John Legend, the opening act, came on stage when he was supposed to and opened with an Adele tune (forgot the name, sorry) and an energetic band. While I'm not privy to Legend's song catalog as I am of the legendary Sade, I danced along with everyone else to Legend's closing numbers which included "Cloud 9" and "Green Light". I was hoping he would perform the song he sang on Sergio Mendes' classic CD Timeless, but, alas, no go.

I will say that Legend sounds great live and is quite a cutie. While his stage show wasn't as expertly or excitedly executed as Sade's (no lighting show or clothes change or dramatic entrance or transitions), he held his own and brought quite a lot of passion to the stage.

When Legend exited, the crowd was thoroughly energized and awaiting Queen Sade.

Her Highness Set the Bar

How Sade took center stage was epic; we were not disappointed. She came onstage in a belted black number with her bad-ass band and held us in awe. The entrance was noteworthy. Rising from below on three platforms, the band appeared as if from nowhere and as they emerged from below, a beam of light shone from below, and up walked Sade. The large screen that showcased the stage was operated by first-class videographers who captured the action on stage as if producing a music video. I won't be surprised if the entire tour is packaged and sold because the stage shots were flawless. The entire light show, stage set and transitions were award-worthy.

The Sade concert illustrated why we are so in awe of the band Sade and its lead singer. First, she exudes a type of class that is found NO WHERE else in the music scene today. Her cool, laid-back and elegant aura is magnetic and aside from her unique voice, you are drawn to her royal demeanor. Matching her style is her band, with their ruggedly clean and masculine musical support. The entire concert set was executed in a way to convey this aura of elegance-- from the red drapes and gossamer back screen, to the basic black lighting penetrated by simple white strobe. The  set decor matched with perfection the theme and energy of each song.

And, speaking of songs, the order and song choice was impeccable. While I am a Sade fan who has been following her since the late 80's, some of her new music hasn't become part of my groupie playlist just yet. While I've reviewed her music that came out last year, my heart has not attached so readily to the recent songs as they have with old classics like "Smooth Operator", "Kiss of Life" and basically every song pre-Soldier of Love album. What she did during her concert, was play a classic every other song or twice before inserting a new song from the new album, keeping us old-head fans content and always on the age of our seat screaming singing along in groupie fandom.

 All Endings Are Not the Same

The concert ended in a way that I had never experienced before. Maybe it was because it was the last US date or perhaps its her way, I'm not sure. But, it was endearing and only made my spouse and I feel more siced that we had made the concert. When she introduced her band, there was no music and the band members all walked from behind their instruments. She introduced them one by one, recalling a personal memory of how she met them and why they are special to her. After introducing them all, she wrapped her arms around them and said, "this is us."

Of course, we got the obligatory encore performance out of her, but at that point, we were already thrilled with what we had experienced. Sade is a consummate performer, an exemplary professional and very worthy of her legendary status of one of the greatest artists during our lifetime. I will gladly wait another ten years to see her again, but, if this, in fact her last tour to ever happen, I am grateful to have witnessed it as I did.

All hail the Queen!

New Retreat For DC Area Writers

This week, Maritza Rivera joined LiberatedMuse.com and posted an event for an upcoming writer's retreat that she is producing. Maritza Rivera is a Puerto Rican poet who has lived in Rockville, MD since 1994. She has been writing poetry for over 30 years and is founder of the weekly Mariposa Poetry Series, which ran from September 1999 to October 2002 in College Park, MD. She has been an associate poetry editor for WordWrights Magazine in Washington, DC, a judge for poetry competitions and is the author of “About You”, a collection of poetry “for women and the men they love”. Her latest book of poetry, A Mother’s War, was written during her son’s two tours in Iraq to help make the intensity of war a reality for everyone.

Her writer's retreat is called the 2011 Mariposa Poets and Writers Retreat and takes place October 14-16 at the Capital Retreat Center in Pennsylvania.

The retreat agenda looks fabulous. The retreat will feature workshops in poetry and bookmaking, as well as readings by faculty and retreat participants. The faculty includes poets Kwame Alexander, Naomi Ayala, Monica Hand, Reuben Jackson, and Joseph Ross. Tuition is $250, which includes lodging and meals. Registration is first come, first served. Submit a writing sample with a nonrefundable $50 registration fee by September 1. Call 301-881-8012 for more information.

DC-Based Jazz Vocal Group Afro Blue to Appear on 'The Sing-Off'

Jazz vocal ensemble Afro Blue were announced as contestants in the upcoming season of ''The Sing-Off''. The Howard University-based singing group was started on the campus in 2002 and this year's members have had an impressive showing, appearing onstage with phenom Bobby McPherrin at the Kennedy Center earlier this summer. Read more about the upcoming season of "The Sing-Off".

Who is the REAL King of Hip-Hop?

Some fans of hip-hop are up in arms over on the MTV site at the recent news that Rolling Stone magazine has named rapper Eminem as the "King of Hip Hop". While Eminem is a high commercial seller when compared to some hip-hop acts, there are other hip-hop acts that garner high profits from their work as well, most notably Jay-Z and Kanye West who have sold more that half a million downloads of their single "Otis" that was released less than a week ago.

Do you think Eminem should be bequeathed the title of "King of Hip-Hop"? Probably more relevant a question would be, "Does record sales always mean a performer is a superior artist?"

Share your thoughts.

Liberated Muse Featured on NPR

If you missed Friday's NPR interview about LiberatedMuse.com on the show Metro Connection, visit the website HERE or listen below. Special shout-out to Liberated Muse member Colie Williams who participated in the interview. In the interview, rap artist Kokayi is mentioned and a snippet of his music is played. He participated in the 2010 Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest and inspired Maceo Thomas to want to partner to put on the festival after seeing Kokayi in concert and realizing that there was such rich talent in the Nation's Capital.

In the extended interview below (all was not aired due to time restraints), Liberated Muse member, singer Quineice is featured singing an excerpt from the song "I Wanna Be You" from the play Running: AMOK.

Special thanks to reporter Jessica Palombo for her interest in covering us. She was on assignment here in the Washington DC area and I am most appreciative of her interest in my story and the story of LiberatedMuse.com.

Being Part of Liberated Muse

If you are already a member or considering becoming a member, my hope is that you join the site and use it to promote yourself as an artist and meet other like-minded people. Hundreds of people have met one another on the site or at our events, with dozens of artistic collaborations coming out of their meetings. I update members through email blasts on opportunities with Liberated Muse and throughout the DC area. In 2012, I will be transforming Liberated Muse into a 501 (c) nonprofit organization and currently seeking Board Members. You can learn more about us HERE.

-Moon



Listen to the full broadcast on NPR Station WAMU 88.5