JOIN ME! Tues May 12th for LAST NIGHT AT THE FIVE SPOT

Reelblack Unveils “Last Night At The Five Spot,” A Feature Length Concert Film Featuring Philly’s Hottest Soul Musical Acts At International House on May 12.





Philadelphia, PA April 27, 2009 – Award-winning filmmaker Mike D. has established a reputation for documenting the music and cultural lives of Philly artists through projects like Jazzyfatnastees: In Process and Ursula Rucker: Poet. On Tuesday May 12, 2009, he will offer the public a chance to experience a special work-in-progress screening of LAST NIGHT AT THE FIVE SPOT, a feature length concert film featuring Kindred The Family Soul, Jazzyfatnastees, Lady Alma, Carol Riddick, Jazmine Sullivan, Floetry, Jeff Bradshaw, Curt Chambers and D. Ryva Parker. This one night only screening will take place at International House’s recently renovated Ibrahim Theater, 3701 Chestnut Street in University City on Tuesday May 12, 2009 at 7pm. Tickets are just $10 andmay be purchased in advance through www.ihousephilly.org. For more info visit www.reelblack.com



Most of the musicians showcased in the film first gained notice through The Black Lily, a weekly live music series that took place at The Five Spot in Old City from 2000 to 2005. Founded by Mercedes Martinez and Tracey Moore of the Jazzyfatnastees, The Black Lily had officially ended and many of its artists reached nationwide fame when Aja and Fatin Dantzler of Philly’s Kindred The Family Soul put out a call for all “Black Lily All-Stars” to perform at the venue once more in celebration of their 8 year wedding anniversary on September 19, 2006. The result was an once-in-a-lifetime gathering of this generation’s brightest Philly Soul artists. Mike D and his partner, Daryl DeBrest (of Reelblack / Captured Soul) assembled a five person camera crew and professional sound team to capture the night’s event.



From these recordings, a feature-length concert film has been assembled. A rough cut will screen on May 12, 2009 at 7pm. Based on crowd response and viewer feedback, the footage will be re-edited and augmented with interviews to provide the foundation for a full-length as-yet-untitled oral history on the history of Philly Soul circa 1997-2007 that will premiere at major film festivals beginning in 2010.

Ernie Barnes by Raymond Tyler

Ernie Barnes the artists who painted brilliant and art changing pieces for Marvin Gaye and the TV Show Good Times has passed according to BlackAmericaweb.com.

I remember sitting and watching these images Mr. Barnes created of Black people living these super animated lives on canvass as I watched Good Times. I myself was already drawing. However, when I saw "JJ" holding up a piece of Mr. Barne's work, it changed me and my approach.

From then on I was less concerned with making everything in my drawings "look real."

I was more concerned now with telling stories with my pictures and conveying emotion.

When I piered at Mr. Barnes'painting even through TV (which in 1976 was decades away from HD and sometimes in Black and White...)I could see the story of kids playing ball on a hot day and feel the heat,hear the ball, experience the rush of bodies passing by to score. Every one of Mr.Barne's paintings that I have seen has spoken to me, the people and sometimes even the objects like bences and signs tell me a story.

That my friends is art.

For those of you who keep stats. Ernie Barnes was born in Durham, NC in July of 1938. He was a professional football player for The NY Titans, (My) San Diego Chargers and The Denver Broncos. His career continued on with out stop after Good Times and he was the Official Artists of The 1984 Summer Olympics (the first Olympic Games I followed.) In 2004 he was named The Sport Artist of the year. Also in 2004 he painted a commisioned piece for Kanye West called A Life Restored that was based on the accident which nearly killed West before Kanye's rise to fame.

Those are the stats. However you can never quantify any real man's life with a assortment of words and paragraph's no matter how skilled they are put together.

I will always dread this day because I was dreaming of the day when I would meet Mr. Barnes. I could show him something I created and he would politely wait until I was gone to laugh at me. That meeting will never happen in what we now know as life.

Still on a sunny day when I see kids at the park running and jumping...I will think of the long arm in the famous Barne's painting of the kid dunking. I will remember that life and art sometimes dance together for a short time. When that occurs people are blessed.

Mr. Barnes has been a true blessing in the dance that is my life.

God Bless Us All!

BOY II MEN At Resorts June 27th! Listen to The Breakfast Club and attend events for your chance to win tickets!

Only one radio show is giving tickets away and that is The Alternative Soul Breakfast Club! Shout out to Oscar who won tickets by attending the grand opening of North Side Catering!

Your next chance to win is Monday April 27th at The Planet Rose Lounge in The Tropicana! Join us for Alternative Soul Live from Atlantic City from 7pm to 10pm.
Aside from BIIM tickets we'll be giving away CD's by Barbara Sheree, $30 gift cards for Mechi's Boutique For Men and other surprises.

At approximating 9:30pm we're giving away tickets to BOYZ II MEN! You must be present to win.

Raymond Tyler
In the meantime. Click the link below to read my AC Weekly Interview with Wanya Morris from Boyz II Men from a few years ago!

http://www.acweekly.com/view.php?id=2654&issue_id=84

Welcome To The New Blog For The Alternative Soul Breakfast Club

Every Sunday Morning from 7am to 8am South Jersey has Breakfast with me.
You can too by tuning into 96.1 WTTH FM or by logging on to www.961wtth.com and hitting the listen live button.

We bring you classic soul like Stevie Wonder, Aretha franklin. Gladys Knight and sam Cooke.

We also have celebrity interviews! Ticket give-a-ways and other great prizes just for listening. And we have the Alternative Soul Live Events.

Keep checking back here for more info, pics, updates and so on.

Raymond Tyler