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May 30, 2017 by Malcolm Lewis Barnes

JAZZ is the Center Stage world premiere of Nobel Prize winning Toni Morrison’s middle piece of her BELOVED trilogy that chronicals a tragic Harlem love triangle that takes a violent turn.

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May 19, 2017 by Malcolm Lewis Barnes

Imagine a world two generations ago in the 1970s when the first wave of non-white immigrants struggled to carve out an existence in post-cold war Germany.

FEAR EATS THE SOUL examines a very personal story of an unlikely couple’s struggle to survive and find love in Germany. Helen Hayes Award winning … Read the rest

May 10, 2017 by Malcolm Lewis Barnes

At their annual Spring Gala that raised a cool $2 Million in support of arts in the community, the Kennedy Center chose A Celebration of John Lennon: COME TOGETHER as its theme. I was excited when I saw the best graphic backdrop I’ve ever seen at the KEN CEN, … Read the rest

May 4, 2017 by Malcolm Lewis Barnes

Something culturally relevant and revolutionary is taking place at the Shakespeare Theater Company with their “New Directors for the Classics” series. The current production of MACBETH is the best example of selecting a rising non-traditional star to re-tell an ancient classic in … Read the rest

April 21, 2017 by Malcolm Lewis Barnes

AN EMOTIONAL BJF TRIBUTE TO GEORGE DUKE Jazz musicians and performance have a reputation for wearing their emotions on their sleeve. And that was the case when Chante Moore, Phil Perry and Everette Harp paid tribute to their mentor and friend in a ‘Remembering George Duke’ performance at the Berks Jazz Fest earlier this month. Duke who passed away in 2013 of leukemia, produced three of Chante Moore’s first five albums between 1992

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April 9, 2017 by Malcolm Lewis Barnes

WEST COAST JAM TRIPLE THREAT OF BROWN, BRAUN & ELLIOT Led by Rick Braun, Richard Elliot and Norman Brown, the Berks got a triple dose of the cutting edge WEST COAST JAM sound as they took a cut from Elliot’s ‘Summer Madness’ CD, originally produced by Rick Braun to showcase the new experimental format. Norman Brown and his ‘West Coast Coolin’ sound was the perfect complement for the trumpet of Braun and the

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April 7, 2017 by Malcolm Lewis Barnes

In her annual sojourn to the Berks Jazz Festival, Angela Stribling of WHUR’s late night ‘Pillow Talk’ segment will be bringing busloads of loyal jazz fans from the DC area for their ‘Remembering George Duke’ performance at the Double Tree Hilton hotel on Saturday afternoon.

The memorial show will feature Chante Moore, Phil Perry, Brian Bromberg and Brian Simpson, who cast a spell on last year’s crowd. And then later that evening … Read the rest

April 3, 2017 by Malcolm Lewis Barnes

For those of us who came of age with GRAHAM CENTRAL STATION, the Saturday night show with the 70 year old Larry Graham was a much anticipated climax of the opening weekend of the Berks Jazz Fest. The buzz started when Larry emerged from the back of the ballroom with a white SUPERFLY outfit and a slow motion entrance that energized the packed ballroom.

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March 31, 2017 by Malcolm Lewis Barnes

The Music of Prince. was this year’s theme for the 9th annual DC-CAPital Stars that took place at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in the Eisenhower Theater followed by a gala reception and old fashion Throw Down Party in the Nations Gallery featuring ‘The Source’ band.

The event featured a Celebrity Judge Idol-Style Competition including Patti Austin, Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter; Hinton Battle, Tony Award-winning dancer, singer, … Read the rest

March 28, 2017 by Malcolm Lewis Barnes

Most people trying to avoid the traffic backups on the BWI Parkway barely notice the Publick Playhouse at the intersection of 202 and 450 Annapolis Road and blow by this unique theater with the Art Deco marquee and tons of free parking behind it.

I’ve seen Ruby Dee perform there, but last weekend I was invited to attend a ‘World Dance Showcase’ and was blown away by the colorful diversity and performance from … Read the rest