The Forty-Ninth Walt Disney animation, The Princess and the Frog, is a musical masterpiece

By Eunice Moseley

The 75 year-old animation division of Walt Disney does it again with its 49th film, The Princess and the Frog. The Rated G movie hits theaters December 11, 2009.

The Princess and the Frog makes history with the first black Disney princess. It's an historical musical masterpiece for the whole family and generations to come to enjoy.

The animation takes place in New Orleans with its' music and storyline includes landmarks of the city's heritage, such as The French Quarters, The Garden District and The Bayou. The lead character Tiana dreams of owning a New Orleans restaurant but she ends up becoming a Princess. Tony Award winning Anika Noni Rose ("Dreamgirls") is the voice of Tiana and she does a remarkable job with that New Orleans accent.

"The first time I saw her in color...I saw my face," said Anika Noni about her animated character. "I just started to cry."

Personally I cried too, twice, throughout the film. In fact, I cry at some commercials so maybe that doesn't count.

Everyone's voice-over work was outstanding. Academy Award winning actor Keith David ("Platoon") is the devilish voice of Dr. Facilier who puts a voodoo spell on Prince Naveen (Bruno Campos) in an attempt to gain control of an eager to be married rich girl, Charlotte (Jennifer Cody/Law and Order). Charlotte has her eyes on the Prince and all his money. The spell of course turns poor Prince Naveen into a frog. So the journey begins to break the spell.

NAACP Image Award nominated actress Jenifer Lewis ("The Preacher's Wife") plays Mama Odie who finally saves the day with the magic needed to break the spell. You will fall in love with Ray, the firefly played by Daytime Emmy Award nominated voice-over actor Jim Cummings ("My Friends Tigger and Pooh"), whose light leads the way and Louis, played by Broadway actor Michael-Leon Wooley ("Dreamgirls"), the Jazz loving alligator the is the unofficial bodyguard.

Other supporting characters include Big Daddy, father of the marriage-seeking rich girl Charlotte, played by Golden Globe winning actor John Goodman ("Roseanne"), Oprah Winfrey is the voice of Tiana's mother Eudora, and Oscar winning actor Terrence Howard ("Crash") is James, Tiana's father.
"I thought I was fired," Howard laughed about the short process. "I did my part and waited, a month went by, nothing!" On a more serious note Terrence pointed out that, "It was the easiest role I have ever done because I was talking to my own girls (as the father of Tiana)."

Keith David said he sang all the songs that Dr, Facilier sang in the animation film. In fact, according to producer Peter Del Vecho, everyone sang their own songs. Bruno Campos ("Nip/Tuck"), who is the voice of Prince Naveen, said that that was his first time singing (professionally).

"I've never done anything like this before," Bruno Campos said about singing in the film. "I wasn't sure how this was going to come together."

Well it all came together just great. The soundtrack and score to the animation was under the direction of Academy and Grammy Award winning songwriter/producer Randy Newman ("Monsters, Inc.," "A Bug's Life"). The soundtrack, executive produced by Chris Montan, includes selections by Anika Noni Rose, Terrance Howard and Ne-Yo (Island Def Jam Music). Musicians Dr. John, Terence Blanchard and Terrance Simien brought their unique New Orleans sound.

Some of the sure-to-be-favorites in the score (and soundtrack) are "Friends on the Other Side," "When We're Human," "Dig a Little Deeper," and "Almost There."

For more on the characters of the Walt Disney film The Princess and the Frog log onto www.Disney.com/PrincessandtheFrog. To see the many different The Princess and the Frog merchandises that are now available log onto www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com/theprincessandthefrog.html.  

Jazz guitarist Jesse Cook's new CD project, ‘The Rumba Foundation,' has fans excited
Jazz guitarist Jesse Cook has his fans all excited about the new CD project "The Rumba Foundation" (E1 Entertainment) an album made to take him back to the Cuban roots of the Rumba. His style is a fusion of Jazz, Latin and world music, and on this project he does not disappoint his fans.

Through circumstances Cook ends up in Bogota, Columbia, not Cuba, with Latin Grammy Award winners Los Gauteros de San Jacinto (a traditional Vallenato group). As a result his ninth project started to change course with a fused together sound of a Vallenato and Rumba Flamenco mixture.

"I was born in France (raised in Canada)," Jesse Cook pointed out. "I had a toy guitar - got it in Spain."

Of course the rest is history because Cook never put down that guitar, he mastered it. Jesse's mother was in television so you could say he had entertainment in his blood. His skills on the guitar grew until now he makes his guitar sing Jazz with a Latin tone of voice. The first single, "Bogota' By Bus," is already playing frequently on Jazz radio stations across the country.

"We have been touring like crazy," Jesse said about his performance schedule in support of highly popular "The Rumba Foundation" CD.

Cook started touring in late September, 2009 and the tour continues this month visiting Omaha, Cleveland and New York. In January, 2010 he travels to Arizona, California, Texas, Alabama and Florida. The platinum selling Jazz guitarists' music was heard during the Olympic Figure Skating Games when a Russian team used Jesse Cooks' music. His compositions were also heard on Sex in the City, the movie.

My favorite cuts on "The Rumba Foundation" include "Rain Day" because of the sweet way he makes his guitar cry; "Homebound," "Improv1" for its Latin feel; "Tuesday's Child" because of the violins and its constant flow of strings, and "Gaita" which makes you want to get up and do the Rumba!

For more detailed information on the Juno Award winner's performance schedule log onto www.JesseCook.com. (Photo credit: David Wile)