Monday, June 13, 2016
Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: Stepping? Step Afrika!
Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: Stepping? Step Afrika!: I step from my home to my car, and vice versa at the end of my day, and that`s pretty much it! This blog is not about me walking (stepp...
Stepping? Step Afrika!
I step from my home to my car, and vice versa at the end of my day, and that`s pretty much it! This blog is not about me walking (stepping) to my car and house, but about an art form called stepping, and one of the leading professional companies dedicated to stepping. Step Afrika! is ranked one of the top ten African American dance companies in the US.
Founded in 1994, Step Afrika! is organized as a charitable 501(c)(3) organization. Step Afrika! is the first profession company dedicated to stepping. Step Afrika! is devoted to promoting an appreciation for stepping. Based in Washington, DC, Step Afrika! offers workshops, residency programs, and a variety of K-12, and College arts education activities, international cultural exchange programs, and performances, such as in-school programs, youth ensembles, summer camps, and scholars program for arts education offerings.
Beginning as an exchange program with the Soweto Dance Theatre of Johannesburg, South Africa, Step Afrika! is a non-profit organization that tours nationally and internationally. Step Afrika! is a professional company that combines South African gumboot dance with African American Stepping.
Step Afrika! combines percussive dance styles practice by African American fraternities and sororities, traditional African dance, and a variety of other dance and art forms. Step Afrika! integrates dance with storytelling, songs, humor, and audience participation. Step Afrika! promotes stepping as an educational tool, focusing on teamwork, academic achievement, and cross-cultural understanding.
Step Afrika! also collaborates with other arts organizations. Step Afrika! has collaborated with Symphony In Step. This collaboration is a partnership between arts organizations, and combines stepping with classical music.
Founded in 1994, Step Afrika! is organized as a charitable 501(c)(3) organization. Step Afrika! is the first profession company dedicated to stepping. Step Afrika! is devoted to promoting an appreciation for stepping. Based in Washington, DC, Step Afrika! offers workshops, residency programs, and a variety of K-12, and College arts education activities, international cultural exchange programs, and performances, such as in-school programs, youth ensembles, summer camps, and scholars program for arts education offerings.
Beginning as an exchange program with the Soweto Dance Theatre of Johannesburg, South Africa, Step Afrika! is a non-profit organization that tours nationally and internationally. Step Afrika! is a professional company that combines South African gumboot dance with African American Stepping.
Step Afrika! combines percussive dance styles practice by African American fraternities and sororities, traditional African dance, and a variety of other dance and art forms. Step Afrika! integrates dance with storytelling, songs, humor, and audience participation. Step Afrika! promotes stepping as an educational tool, focusing on teamwork, academic achievement, and cross-cultural understanding.
Step Afrika! also collaborates with other arts organizations. Step Afrika! has collaborated with Symphony In Step. This collaboration is a partnership between arts organizations, and combines stepping with classical music.
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: Christian Talent Showcase In Fort Lauderdale, Flor...
Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: Christian Talent Showcase In Fort Lauderdale, Flor...: If you are in the Fort Lauderdale, FL area on Saturday, May 28, 2016, you may want to check-out the Christian Talent Showcase & Art...
Christian Talent Showcase In Fort Lauderdale, Florida
If you are in the Fort Lauderdale, FL area on Saturday, May 28, 2016, you may want to check-out the Christian Talent Showcase & Artist Awards. This event is reminiscent of my musical performance experience in talent shows. I got my start participating in an informal talent show in elementary school, before I began playing clarinet. We did this as a fun activity in our elementary classroom, and of course I did an instrumental music routine; without an instrument. In high school playing saxophone with the Unique Experience Band, we were the back-up band for various acts participating in our area high school talent show. I was also asked to participate in talent shows when I was a band director at the Cherry Hill School of Performing Arts, in Inkster, MI. For two years I participated in our staff talent show, and won both years; after all I was band director.
Talent shows are valuable for fellowship, and enjoyed by those who participate, and those who watch. For some, talent shows could discover talents of individuals that would never surface without such an event. Talent show discoveries do happen! A talent show could start an artistic or musical career, and be justification for making a career choice in arts and entertainment. Anyone with talent in music, dance, spoken word, comedy, storytelling, drama or acting, with a passion to entertain should consider entering a talent show. Not just individuals, but groups and ensembles may participate to gain experience.
Again, if you are in Fort Lauderdale, FL, I urge you to attend Christian Talent Showcase & Artist Awards, by Finally Famous Productions, on Saturday, May 28, 2016, from 5:00 - 10:00 pm, at Delevoe Hall, 2520 N.W. 6th St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311. Go to www.Skylacaldwell.net, or call (954)549-6065, or by email at Skylatalent@yahoo.com for further information.
Talent shows are valuable for fellowship, and enjoyed by those who participate, and those who watch. For some, talent shows could discover talents of individuals that would never surface without such an event. Talent show discoveries do happen! A talent show could start an artistic or musical career, and be justification for making a career choice in arts and entertainment. Anyone with talent in music, dance, spoken word, comedy, storytelling, drama or acting, with a passion to entertain should consider entering a talent show. Not just individuals, but groups and ensembles may participate to gain experience.
Again, if you are in Fort Lauderdale, FL, I urge you to attend Christian Talent Showcase & Artist Awards, by Finally Famous Productions, on Saturday, May 28, 2016, from 5:00 - 10:00 pm, at Delevoe Hall, 2520 N.W. 6th St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311. Go to www.Skylacaldwell.net, or call (954)549-6065, or by email at Skylatalent@yahoo.com for further information.
Friday, March 25, 2016
Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: My First Exposure To Jazz
Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: My First Exposure To Jazz: I was first exposed to jazz early in life as a child. I was five years old or younger when I consciously began listening to jazz. As a ...
My First Exposure To Jazz
I was first exposed to jazz early in life as a child. I was five years old or younger when I consciously began listening to jazz. As a child I remember listening to John Coltrane, and I loved it!
WCHD radio in Detroit, MI, was devoted to a jazz format before turning into WJZZ FM. Other radio stations with an African-American audience catered to R&B and soul music, but would occasionally play jazz. I remember the late 1960`s as my parents were preparing for work, I would hear "Love Theme From Spartacus", performed by Yusef Lateef on the radio every morning. I would purposely wake-up at 4:00 AM to hear Love Theme From Spartacus. I don`t think my parents knew I was awake and listening, but that music was the high-light of my day.
I also remember hearing Miles Davis and his quintet with Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Tony Williams, and Wayne Shorter. Also, I remember hearing Herbie Hancock and his recording of Speak Like A Child, and other fine jazz recordings.
What really motivated me was a New Years eve TV special in 1974 of 75 when my Mom and I saw Herbie Hancock, with Bennie Maupin and Headhunters. That was it! I was hooked on tenor saxophone.
Everyones discovery and introduction to jazz is different, and I am thankful to my parents and teachers for introducing me to the art and world of jazz. This music has become the fabric of my life, and continues to be my love and passion. Through the ups and downs of my life, jazz has been the one true constant, and sound track of my life.
WCHD radio in Detroit, MI, was devoted to a jazz format before turning into WJZZ FM. Other radio stations with an African-American audience catered to R&B and soul music, but would occasionally play jazz. I remember the late 1960`s as my parents were preparing for work, I would hear "Love Theme From Spartacus", performed by Yusef Lateef on the radio every morning. I would purposely wake-up at 4:00 AM to hear Love Theme From Spartacus. I don`t think my parents knew I was awake and listening, but that music was the high-light of my day.
I also remember hearing Miles Davis and his quintet with Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Tony Williams, and Wayne Shorter. Also, I remember hearing Herbie Hancock and his recording of Speak Like A Child, and other fine jazz recordings.
What really motivated me was a New Years eve TV special in 1974 of 75 when my Mom and I saw Herbie Hancock, with Bennie Maupin and Headhunters. That was it! I was hooked on tenor saxophone.
Everyones discovery and introduction to jazz is different, and I am thankful to my parents and teachers for introducing me to the art and world of jazz. This music has become the fabric of my life, and continues to be my love and passion. Through the ups and downs of my life, jazz has been the one true constant, and sound track of my life.
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: Going To Austin, TX?
Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: Going To Austin, TX?: New York, Los Angeles, and Nashville are established and recognized commercial music centers in the United States. If you are looking f...
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