Thursday, November 10, 2011

Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: Osborn Community Band

Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: Osborn Community Band: It has come to my attention, and the attention of the world that I live in one of the most dangerous zip codes in the United States - 4...

Osborn Community Band

     It has come to my attention, and the attention of the world that I live in one of the most dangerous zip codes in the United States - 48205. In case you don`t know 48205 is the Osborn Community of Detroit, MI. To say there are problems in my neighborhood is to state the obvious; look at the abandon houses, and sence of hopelessness. It is no secret Detroit has been hit hard during the economic downturn and sub-prime economic crisis. Crime and poverty is what we face daily, and it is easy to toss in the towel and say "that`s all she wrote", but many of us in the Osborn Community refuse to toss-in that towel, and understand easy is the mark of complacency and mediocrity. Community organizations such as MAN (Maintaining A Neighborhood), Detroit 300, and many other grass-roots organizations, non-profits, business, political leaders, and community activist work with the city and police to better our community. It is going to take the people in my neighborhood to improve things, and that is why I have organized the Osborn Community Band, in other words I want to serve where I live by providing music education to youth in the Osborn Community. The Osborn Community Band is my way of serving by promoting art, culture, and enlightenment to Osborn Community residence to help improve our city, and quality of life for those of us who live in the Osborn Community of Detroit.

     The Osborn Community Band is housed at Brenda Scott Academy for Theatre Arts, where we meet every Friday at 3:00pm. Community students in fourth and fifth grade participate in the beginning band program. The Osborn Community Band is not only me, but others who make it possible. Thanks to the Skillman Foundation and Prevention Network, Mr. Ronnie Sims and his staff at Brenda Scott Academy, and the parents of the participating band students.

     This project was funded by a grant provided by a collaboration between Prevention Network and The Skillman Foundation as a part of their Good Neighborhoods Initiative. A goal of the Good Neighborhoods Program is to increase the ability of residents to address critical needs in their neighborhoods and communities on behalf of children.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: Ever enjoyed a civet cup of coffee?

Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: Ever enjoyed a civet cup of coffee?: At $30 to $100 for a cup of civet coffee, this post-bop/avant-garde jazz saxophonist is sticking to his breakfast blend of dark-roast F...

Ever enjoyed a civet cup of coffee?

     At $30 to $100 for a cup of civet coffee, this post-bop/avant-garde jazz saxophonist is sticking to his breakfast blend of dark-roast Folgers. One of the world`s most expensive coffee, the civet coffee ( also known as Kopi Luwak ) is a low production coffee that can sell anywhere from $160 to $600 per pound.

     The civet coffee is made from the beans of coffee berries, which is eaten by a weasel called the Asian Palm Civet. These coffee berries pass through the weasel`s digestive tract, and produces proteolytic enzymes that seep into the beans. The beans pass through the weasel`s intestines, and are defecated, while maintaining the shape of the beans.

     Needless to say these beans are gathered, and thoroughly cleaned. After being cleaned the beans are sun dried, lightly roasted, and brewed. This process produces a coffee that is aromatic, and less bitter.

     Kopi Luwak is produced on the islands of Sumatra, Java, Bali, Sulawesi in Indoesia. Other civet coffee producing countries are the Philippines, East Timor, and Vietnam.

     Civet coffee is a rare luxury item, and gourmet food product that is out of my reach. Unless I sell a great number of CD`s I`ll have to stick with my Folgers dark roast, or coffee from my friends at Mc Donald`s on Gratiot and 7 Mile in Detroit. By the way, if you want to help me purchase a $30 cup of civet coffee, you can purchase my CD - Meaning, Truth, and Understanding online at http://www.keithgamblemusic.bandcamp.com/, but encourage you friend to buy my CD because that is one expensive cup of coffee.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: Two for Ryan: My opinions on two films starring Ry...

Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: Two for Ryan: My opinions on two films starring Ry...: If you are a Ryan Gosling fan this is your year. During the past month or so, with the Royal Oak Over- 40 Movie Group I have had the pl...

Two for Ryan: My opinions on two films starring Ryan Gosling

     If you are a Ryan Gosling fan this is your year. During the past month or so, with the Royal Oak Over- 40 Movie Group I have had the pleasure of seeing two films starring Ryan Gosling; The Ides Of March, and Drive.

     George Clooney directs and acts in The Ides of March, but Ryan Goslin is in the starring role as a campaign press secretary to Clooney`s character running for president, and in the last days of an Ohio presidential primary that is over-come by a sex scandal that threatens Governor Mike Morris bid for presidency. Of course a sex scandal can derail someones chances for the White House, but is Governor Mike Morris the bad guy, or a victim of disloyalty?

     We are introduced to Gosling`s character (Stephen Meyers) at the beginning of this film as a campaign press secretary, and underling to Paul Zara (Philip Seymour Hoffman). Stephen Meyers is a young press secretary who is very smart, but alittle green to the nasty world of politics. As the film goes on he becomes introduced to Ida Horowicz (Marisa Tomei), and before long the two are rolling in the hay. During their fling Stephen discovers Ida`s relations with Governor Morris. As the film develops Governor Morris understandably denies knowing Ida after she commits suicide, but how righteous is Stephen? Paul Zara`s diatribe and firing of Stephen Meyers was a great narrative on Stephen Meyers lack of loyalty, and calls into question all the actions of Stephen Meyers.

     Clooney does a great job as director in blurring the lines between right and wrong. It would be simple to paint Governor Morris as a sex craze, power hungry villian, and Stephen Meyers as a victim of circumstance, but Clooney doesn`t do that; he shows us complex multi-dimentional characters who have purpose, and stand for what they believe. By the end of Ides of March Stephen Meyers goes for being the films protagonist to the antagonist.

     Although I would never invite Stephen Meyers to my home for dinner,  Ryan Gosling  was great in this film by creating a non-sympathetic character. I enjoyed this film because it was a story of honesty and ethics, and asks who are we to judge. Needless to say there was also great acting by Paul Giamatti as Tom Duffy.

     Does The Ides of March make my list of favorite films, I have to say yes. This film was well written and directed, and with a stellar cast it should be apart of your list.

     Drive on the other hand was entertainment, especially if you are a car buff. In Drive, Ryan Gosling plays - well I don`t know who he plays, but he is not a nice guy. Drive keeps the Gosling character a mystery, but we do know he is a part-time stunt car driver - "It`s only part-time" as he likes to say. When the Gosling character is not rolling-over Chevys, Dodges, and Fords, he is a full-time get-a-way driver for outlaws in L.A.

     This movie was fun, especially the car chases. One car chase scene was memorable to the classic car chase scene in Bullet. Great to see the fast cars, but this movie is NOT near making my list.