Ready for Freddie at The Arena Theater

For all of us,sophisticated, urbane, hip, grown folks that love good R&B music, soulful sounds, love songs about love not simply the love making act, and have found something lacking in today's music scene...weep no more. Your silent prayers have been answered. The good news is simply this, it is time for us all to get "Ready for Freddie". Freddie Jackson is BACK, and as he said recently..."I never left". This was most apparent at the October 3rd show at the Arena Theater in Houston, TX.

Now, for all those who will claim they already know Freddie - let me warn you, you may not be in the mood to learn, what you THINK you already know. This is NOT just another "old school" vocalists trying to pay his bills and ride the wave of sentimentality on the current R&B tour schedule. Freddie Jackson is the real deal. Twenty plus years of music industry knowledge and pure GOD given talent have not been forsaken nor wasted...this balladeer has, like fine wine gotten better with time. Freddie Jackson, his background singers and band took the stage at Houston's Arena Theater and gave the faithful all they were looking for and then some.

Entering the intimate circle in the round theater to an appreciative crowd, dressed in immaculate white on white, looking like time stood still and even better - stripped of his trademark "baby fat" roundness of the past, Freddie who has shed about a good 70 pounds strode on stage lean, mean and in full control of his scene.

This was music truly for lovers only...good music lovers that is. Freddie Jackson is fully aware of his legacy and his role in the canon of R&B music. With so many recent loses in the world of soul music, Luther Vandross and Michael Jackson at the top of the list, the question has been asked by many in the industry who will step up, show us what we been missing and the word came back..."Get Ready for Freddie".

Others have put their bid in, names like Charlie Wilson, Howard Hewitt, Peabo Bryson, Aaron Hall, Johnny Gill, Ralph Tresvant and of course "BOBBY!!!" But from I witnessed on stage at the Arena Theater on October 3rd, 2009 - Freddie has the class and style to put not just his voice on display but the whole genre of R&B music in the proper perspective.

It is said that there is no bigger shame to have talent and to waste it, Freddie Jackson spoke to the audience not just about his journey but the journey we all have been on, wanting, needing something we can feel, respect and treasure. He talked about his early beginnings not as a songwriter learning the craft of the well placed lyric in front of the perfect melody. He spoke about the industry and it's pitfalls, an industry that tried to create the illusion of a rift between him and his friend Luther Vandross. Freddie Jackson gave personal insights on life lessons he got from Patti LaBelle, McFadden and Whitehead and others, and like the wise elder statesmen he has become, offered pearls of wisdom to the young "wanna be's" out there reminding them that - "it's good to be able to go to the bank, but it is better to possess riches that the bank cannot take away". That is true wealth.

Oh yes, and there was the MUSIC....with 9 number one hits and many more chart toppers the evening was full of great music and even better memories. Creating musical magic with the likes of "Rock Me Tonight", "You Are My Lady", "Have You Ever Loved Somebody", "Tasty Love", "Love Me Down" and the rocking "Jam Tonight"...it was Freddie not Howard Hewett (with whom Freddie Jackson shared the bill as opening act) that made this a "Night To Remember". Mr. Jackson is on full tilt with his "For Old Times Sake " Tour and believe me when he comes to your town...just "Be Ready" 'cause Freddie sho' nuff is!

DVD Night...

Looking for something juicy to add to your DVD night? Let's face it, since the bulk of what is released for major motion picture status is way to predictable and lame to pass for good art.. I try to find things on DVD that are interesting and thought provoking...and I recently found a gem.

"Five Fingers" starring Laurence Fishburne (producer) & Ryan Phillippe. Released in 2006 it is a timely critique of the 3 "T's" - torture, terrorists and toloration of differences. The film also brings into question who is the bad guy vs who we "think" is the good guy.

A very well written and well acted film it has the look and feel of a play with one main setting in which the characters and the situation grow more intense as opposed to more and more cinematic gimmicks. It is a thriller and you must stay till the very end to get it's full impact - but it is so well done...you won't even think of picking up the remote.

The synopsis is this: A politically conscience young Dutch Jazz pianist named Martjin (Ryan Phillippe) leaves for Morocco to help start a Food Bank for Starving children, once he and his guide arrive they are kidnapped by a group of Muslims.To survive his ordeal Martjin must match wits with the brutal terrorist Ahmed (Laurence Fishburne) over a series of Chess Games...lose a game lose a....well watch and see.

I highly recommend Five Fingers...check...your move.

Brian Phoenix

Jazz Is dead...Really?

This post is a response to a recent article in The Chronicle on the decline of Jazz. Below is a link to the original article.

Here is my take...

Same Old Story...ding dong "Jazz is Dead"...to my knowledge as American Musical Art forms go...Jazz is one of the oldest and certainly one of the strongest.

Since the turn of the century @ 1900...the Jazz/Blues culture has been growing and evolving. The problem is current American Media has a short attention span and feels no obligation to censor the crap it promotes as viable. They feed junk food to our youth 24-7 and wonder why juvenile diabetes is on the rise, they promote violent art forms in movies, cartoons, video games and music and wonder why children solve their conflicts violently. I know I am mixing metaphors, but the reality is the responsibility - like Eugene, said lies in the industries that benefit from our media choices.

People are sheep...( the Bible tells me so..) lead them to Jazz and they will follow!! Offer a thirsty man a glass of clean water vs a glass of muddy spew and let him decide. However, in today's marketplace he has few choices. Exposure and marketing is the problem...sure some Jazz music is "exotic" but the bulk of the music the Young Cats are blowin' currently is very accessible and crosses many "popular" genres.

Mainstream tastes will always lag behind the artists vision...luckily I have lived long enough to see technology open up a whole new distribution vehicle that the masses young and old are keyed into...the internet. Those of us that spend time on forums like this one need to fight for Jazz. As I have said many times..."Spread the good news...Jazz is not dead...the pot is on the stove and can't ya smell what the FUNK is Cookin?"

Long Live Jazz Music!!

- Brian Phoenix


Here is the link:

http://chronicle.com/blogPost/The-Unpopularity-of-Jazz/7631/

Jazz Education 101

Once again Houston we have a problem…

A less than sold out show featuring Jazz artists, again I say – “Houston Is Not a Jazz Town”. This past weekend was the cause for the 19^th annual Houston International Jazz Festival sponsored by Houston’s Jazz Education Inc. and featuring for the Sunday show headliner Rachelle Ferrell, but more on the show in a second.

For those in the H-Town that aren’t aware - Jazz Education Inc. (JEI) was founded by Jazz artist Bubba Thomas, who saw a need to fill a void where music education and youth were concerned. With a grant from The National Endowment for the Arts, he started an 8-week "Summer Program for Youthful Musicians" at St. James Episcopal Church. Seventy students attended the first FREE session. Since then, JEI has grown from a part-time-one-program project to a daily operation with full and part-time employees. The Jazz Education Inc. organization stays busy sponsoring three main programs The Jazz & Poetry Series, Summer Jazz Workshop, The Houston International Jazz Festival and several special projects. Jazz & Poetry is an educational/enrichment program helping elementary school children develop an early appreciation for music. The Summer Jazz Workshop produces many of America's top young music talents through a combination of master classes, lectures, small and large ensembles, video presentations, and demonstrations. The Houston International Jazz Festival; which features international, national, regional, and local Jazz musicians, enhances Houston's reputation as an arts center and attracts Jazz aficionados worldwide.

Okay now that you got the scoop…here is the poop! I attended the Sunday show and much to my surprise the GODS convened and blessed Houston with unseasonably cool evening with gentle breezes and..get this low humidity (low by the Bayou City standards)! The featured acts did not disappoint. Hiroshima the Asian-American Jazz Fusion group that most thought fell off the map (thanks Black radio) showed they are still full of creative energy and after 30 plus years in the music business not afraid to take creative chances and stretch the audiences ear. They hit their favs of course…”Roomful Of Mirrors” , “Long Walks” and the ever popular “One Wish” from their first Gold album “Another Place” (1985) – but they also showed what they are about today hitting home with a fitting tribute to New Orleans on the funky “Red Beans & Rice”. Overall a great performance by veteran artists.

The crown jewel for the 2-Day event was of course vocalist Rachelle Ferrell. Now if you want to know what divine power is and true vocalization means…don’t look any further. Rachelle is by all standards the ultimate singing machine. Power, range sensitivity, articulation and spirituality let me tell ya - the girl will take you there! After one intense vocal scat run by Rachelle an audience member shouted out “I’m exhausted!”…that is testimony to the type of connection Ms. Ferrell can establish with her audience – she makes the listener exercise their emotions to the point of exhaustion. Yet like all great performers she gives her audience…more. Soloing on the piano or accompanied by her top notch band Rachelle sang it all, “I’m Special”, Til You Come Back To Me”, “Sister”, “Nothing Has Ever Felt Like This” she also broke it down on “My Funny Valentine”, praised the lord and keep the audience as her song says…”So Satisfied” !

So why am I so disappointed…only that Houston did not “turn out”. In a city of over 2 million, the fourth largest city in America, which also boasts the largest Asian population in the State of Texas (Hiroshima fans anyone?)…where was y’all at? A beautiful moonlight night…Ticket cost of $20…hosted in the city’s newly developed “green space” – Discovery Green and the lawn was only half full. I have said it before - “Houston Is Not A Jazz Town”…but if I have anything to do with it I’m gonna help Houston make that change. I encourage all “Young Jazz Lovers” to check out Jazz Education, Inc. volunteer your time and energy and support Jazz events when and where they occur…this Jazz stuff is too good to lose, so choose. More info about Jazz Education, Inc. can be found at their website www.jazzeducation.org and as always…”Keep Jazz In Your Life, Not Strife And Everything Will Be All Right”™

Brian Phoenix is the Host & Producer of “Jazzism (a katzpheno mix)” a weekly Jazz music podcast log onto www.hardjazz.podomatic.com to listen.