Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: Black Arts & Cultural Center

Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: Black Arts & Cultural Center:      Kalamazoo, Michigan is a beautiful city in western Michigan. Kalamazoo is also home of Black Arts & Cultural Center, located at 359...

Black Arts & Cultural Center

     Kalamazoo, Michigan is a beautiful city in western Michigan. Kalamazoo is also home of Black Arts & Cultural Center, located at 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall Ste. 102, Kalamazoo, MI 49007.

     Black Arts & Cultural Center develops the potential and creativity of Black artist, while presenting an awareness of Black artistic ability, while preserving Black culture, heritage, and interactions with the Kalamazoo community. BACC exhibits art from local, regional, national, and international artist to youth and adults. BACC works to establish partnerships and collaborations with artist and arts organizations, for example, BACC collaboration with Orchestra Jammbo`laya. BACC does not offer music programming, but provide space for music students of Orchestra Jammbo`laya to rehearse one day per week during the school year. Other musical activities associated with BACC takes place during Kalamazoo`s Black Arts Festival.

     Each year BACC host a Black Arts Festival in Kalamazoo. This is a one day festival that features musical performances. In 1986, musical performances gave rise to Black Arts & Cultural Center which was officially established in 1990. The Black Arts 

Festival has featured musical groups such as the Velvelettes, Asamu Johnson and the Associates of the Blues, and various other musical performances through out the years. This years Black Arts Festival will be held on Saturday, July 8, 2023, at Bronson Park, in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

     If you are in Kalamazoo, MI, check out the art on display at Black Arts & Cultural Center. Make plans to visit Kalamazoo on July 8, 2023 to attend Kalamazoo`s Black Arts Festival. There are things to do in Kalamazoo, MI. If you have any questions, or want to plan a day at Black Arts & Cultural Center, contact them at (269)349-1035, or by email at info@blackartskalamazoo.org. Hope to see you in Kalamazoo.

Music, Entrepreneurship and Careers

      Are musicians entrepreneurs? The answer to that is Yes and No. Yes, we can create businesses, but we are members of a gig economy. That is interesting in-that musicians created the word meaning I have a job (gig) to play. As musicians many of us have learned to play our instruments with others. We form friendships, bonds, and collaborations with other like-minded musicians. In music we make life long friends, and are members of a community of musical artist.

     Musicians create music that is meaningful to us as artist, and through that process hopefully we are creating music that you will enjoy and love. As songwriters and composers we work to make our music meaningful, and sustain public interest to our music. That is our responsibility as musical artist, not entrepreneurs.

     Musicians are employed in industries that include entertainment, music business, and arts administration. Careers for musicians include art administrators, business owners, community arts advocates, performing musicians, and public, private or charter music teachers in our school systems. If someone is interested in a career in music you have choices. You can become an independent musician. As a musician you perform and create music. Music industry executive. This professional carries-out the vision of a music company, as well as securing financial backing for music projects. Artist manager. The artist manager has vision, or fulfills the vision of the artist`s career. Managers do everything from negotiating contracts, balancing checkbooks, overseeing tours, and scheduling recording sessions.

     Other opportunities in music include music marketing representative to help artist get their work out to a broader audience by radio, and other nontraditional ways. This professional leverages latest techniques that engages with musicians. Music industry consultant. This professional offers strategies required to elevate an artist`s career. There are other careers in music, just do your research.

Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: Drummer Nate Smith

Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: Drummer Nate Smith:       Drummer Nate Smith was born Ira Nathaniel Smith on December 14, 1974, in Chesapeake, VA. Nate Smith is a drummer, songwriter, producer...

Drummer Nate Smith

      Drummer Nate Smith was born Ira Nathaniel Smith on December 14, 1974, in Chesapeake, VA. Nate Smith is a drummer, songwriter, producer, and educator whose love for music began with his record collection, which included recordings of Quincy Jones and Herbie Hancock. While listening to these recordings Nate Smith would particularly listen to the drummers.

     Nate Smith began playing drums like many of us in K-12 education. He played in the Indian River High School band program in Chesapeake, Virginia, playing in concert band, marching band, and jazz band. Outside of school Nate Smith played in church. Nate grew-up in a quiet church community of parishioners, so he only played during special occasions. Gospel drumming was not a large part of his drumming foundation.

      Along with his siblings Nate Smith took piano lessons after his mom purchased a piano for the family home. Nate would loss interest in playing piano after a year of lessons, and returned to playing drums. Nate Smith would come back to the piano, but drums was his true passion.

     Nate Smith was greatly influenced by Art Blakely and the Jazz Messengers of the 1980`s. He was also influenced by Elvin Jones, but Smith would not learn about Elvin Jones until he was enrolled in college. During his college years Max Roach was also a discovery, but not merely as a drummer, but a conceptualist and composer. Nate Smith was quoted as saying "Elvin, Max and Art Blakely are the triumvirate for me as a drummer."

     For over 20 years Nate Smith has worked with some of the greatest names in jazz, R&B, rock, pop, and hip-hop as performer, composer, arranger, with Pat Metheny, Dave Holland, Chris Potter, Jose James, John Patitucci, Ravi Coltrane, Somi, and others. Nate Smith has two Grammy-nominated albums; Kinfolk: Postcards From Everywhere Project, and Kinfolk 2: See The Birds.

Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: Hippie Live 2022

Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: Hippie Live 2022:      Yes! American society is back! You see it with traffic jams going into downtown Detroit, and numerous musical performances. One venue i...

Hippie Live 2022

     Yes! American society is back! You see it with traffic jams going into downtown Detroit, and numerous musical performances. One venue is the Hippie Living Fair. Although not in Detroit, this is one of many festivals in the State of Michigan.

     The Hippie Living Fair is not a jazz festival, and I do not even know who is performing at the Hippie Living Fair, but that is not the point. The music community is back after three years of isolation. Yes, it is great to see musicians are working again. So, if you happen to be in the area of Berrien Springs, Michigan, go check-out the festival`s live performances.

     Dates for this years Hippie Living Fair is from July 1-3, 2022, in Berrien Springs, MI. This event has live performances reminiscent of the 1960s Hippie movement, featuring three days of music on three stages with jam bands from around the world. Also, experience Bohemian - themed markets at the Hippie Live 2022 festival.

     Check-out the Hippie Living Fair, at 9122 US Highway 31, Berrien Springs, MI 49103. For more information, call (269)625-0364, or email Info@HippieLivingFair.com. For additional information, just Google Hippie Living Fair. For those of you that attend, please respond by commenting on this blog your experiences at the Hippie Living Fair.