"Music is my only way to make sense of things,"
said saxophonist Sam Taylor about the release of his newest album "Let Go" (Cellar
Live) featuring trumpeter Terell Stafford, pianist Jeb Patton, bass player Neal Minor and drummer Willie Jones, III. "They
are all older than me. I wrote it as we were coming out of the quarantine phase of the pandemic. I recorded it in January
2022. I wanted to capture that point and time." Taylor said "let go" means for the musicians
to improvise and did they ever. The album is a sexy mixing pot of jazzy sounds. Sam and Cory Weeds produced the "Let
Go" project. Songwriters on the project, aside from Taylor, include Barry Harris, Hank Jones, Benny Golson, and Jule
Styne. "Terell is a childhood hero of mine. I was a wall flower trying to absorb his music," he
told me when asked. "I grew up in Philadelphia, I'm in New York now, and it's always been important to me to be... <Read the full November 22, 2022 column here...>
The Pulse of Entertainment: Mariea Antoinette Releases the Harp Version of ‘So Amazing' Luther Vandross
Cover
"I actually did my very first music video on this
song," said Urban/Jazz Harpist Mariea Antoinette about her newest single release "So Amazing," a Luther Vandross
cover song originally performed at her friends' million-dollar wedding. "A good friend of mine...said she wanted me to
do her wedding. A million-dollar wedding, I could do what I wanted. I looked at catalogs...Maxwell, Kem, Luther. I liked Luther's
catalog...'So Amazing' is nice. I did a demo for her...saved Luther for last. She said, ‘That's it'! Her daughter said,
‘That's the one'!" Mariea then teamed up with music producer Allan Phillips (keyboards) to come
up with a harpist's version of the hit song "So Amazing." Antoinette assembled basically an orchestra (violins,
cello, trumpet, saxophonist, flute, and trombone) to accompany her harp and Allan's keyboard, Evan Marks' guitar, Nathan Brown's
bass, and... <Read the full November
18, 2022 column here...>
NEWS
Tiarah Williams, Young Hi-Way, TariaJaybre Announced as Winners
of the 23rd Los Angeles ‘ULMII' Entertainment Conference's National Talent Competition
(Los Angeles, CA) -The winners of the 23rd annual Los Angeles "Uplifting
Minds II" Entertainment Conference's National Talent Competition was announced, which includes dancer Tiarah
Williams for "ULMII Best Dancer" (Washington, DC), rapper Young Hi-Way for "ULMII
Best Songwriter" (Texas), and Gospel vocalist TariaJaybre for "ULMII Best Singer" (Iowa).
The ULMII Entertainment Conference was held again this year via Zoom hosted by SAG/AFTRA actors/comedians Doresa Harvey (Battlestage
Plays) and Stamaur Mitchell (Fox Sport's Spencer vs Garcia) offering a Q&A session with the panelists, a professional
showcase of talent and its legendary national talent competition credited for launching the careers of Grammy winning Miguel
("Adorn"), actress Naturi Naughten (STARZ's drama "Power"), actor/dancer Roshon Feagan (Disney, "Dancing
with the Stars") and music producers/songwriters The Featherstones (Dru Hill, Chris Brown).
The panelists, who also judged the competition, included actress/professionally trained
dancer Marita de Lara (General Hospital, Hawaii Five-0); artist manager Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs (Anthony-Michael.com); opera
singer Cheryl Warfield (MoreOpera.com); singer/actor/model Calvin D. Tucker, Jr. (Wonder Woman 1984); multi-award-winning
actor/filmmaker Anthony Michael Hobbs (ImaginationLunchbox.com), and Reggae singer/songwriter/guitarist Hezron Clarke (Tad
Records). Tad Records, along with Soul Survivor Records, Dagga Records and VP Records sponsored the Professional Showcase.
The professional showcase offered performances by panelist Hezron Clarke from Jamaica (Reggae), Kalico di King from Canada
(Dancehall), Calvin D. Tucker, Jr. from Maryland (Inspirational), and King Cosmos from Trinidad (Calypso). VLF Media and Promotions
sponsored the National Talent Competition were Tiarah Williams won best dancer which includes a scholarship to the Debbie
Allen Dance Academy, 10-year-old rapper Young Hi-way (Jayden Everitt) won best songwriter for his performance of his single
"Slide", and Gospel singer TariaJaybre (Taria Mills) won best vocalist. Aside from the 2022 ULMII Award the winners
can take advantage of over $7,500 in products and services.
"Uplifting Minds II" Enter Conference - Nov 5th - (562)-424-3836
Life is like a waterfall, forever flowing
LIKE US!
SPOTLIGHT
of THE WEEK
"LL COOL J"
(Los Angeles, CA) - Hip-Hop
living legend LL Cool J to receive the Entertainment Icon Honor at the 5th Annual Urban One Honors, hosted
by Tank on Friday, December 2, 2022 in Atlanta. TV One Networks is the hub of black culture and entertainment with a broad
offering of original programming and classic series, serving both diverse audiences for TV One and CLEO TV. Launched in January
2004, TV One currently serves 43 million households and CLEO TV, launched in January 2019, is the sister network with a 41
million household reach. Each network has a unique audience that serves viewers with fan favorites from TV One such as Unsung,
Uncensored, Fatal Attraction, Payback, Tough Love: Atlanta, Never Would Have Made It: The Marvin Sapp Story and Urban One
Honors.
While CLEO TV, a lifestyle and entertainment
network targeting Millennial and Gen X women of color, delivers content that uplifts and inspires today's modern-day woman.
Viewers of CLEO TV can expect award-winning content both original and acquired series including Boss Girl's Guide, Culture
Kitchen, New Soul Kitchen, Just Eats with Chef JJ, Global Gourmet, Living By Design, Tia Mowry's Quick Fix and All Things
Adrienne House to Home. Both networks are solely owned by Urban One, Inc., formerly known as Radio One, Inc. [NASDAQ: UONE
and UONEK, www.urban1.com], the largest African-American owned and operated multi-media company.
