Photo Exhibition
February 14 – April 30
First Floor Catalog Lobby

Library Hours
Mon 12-8; Tues 10-8; Wed-Sat 10-6;
Sun 1-5

Artist’s Reception
Saturday February 26 2PM
Catalog Lobby, 1st Floor

I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Wanda Sabir for BlogTalkRadio. We talked about my current jazz photography exhibit, Jazz Moments, at the Berkeley Public Library through April 30. We also talked about photography and the Bay Area jazz scene. The interview is about 36 minutes so get a warm cup of cocoa and enjoy.

Joe Sample – acoustic piano
Lalah Hathaway – vocals
Nick Sample – acoustic bass
Xavier Breaker – drums

Where were you in October 1999 when Joe Sample and Lalah Hathaway appeared together at Yoshi’s Oakland performing song from their The Song Lives On album?

I was there in the crowded audience sitting really close to the stage. It was an excellent concert. Fast forward 10 years to November 2009 and Joe and Lalah were back again bringing their magic.

Joe opened the set with “The Freedom Sound” which he originally recorded with the Jazz Crusaders in 1961. He followed with the title track from his 1988 Spellbound album. Joe tells such great stories about the music. He told us how “Gee Baby Ain’t I Good To You” was a classic blues versus a rural blues where you moan your troubles away. The rendition he played was inspired by Nat King Cole’s 1940 rendition of this gem. It was riveting. The rhythm section included Nick Sample on bass and Xavier Breaker on drums. Lalah joined the trio and swung on “It’s A Sin To Tell A Lie” and she did some wonderful runs on “Fever.” They slowed the world down on “When Your Life Was Low” and “For All We Know” and warmed our souls with “Street Life.” Lalah playfully reminded us that name of the song was “Street Life” not “Street Lights.” They closed out their set with “When The World Turns Blue” with Joe on solo piano and Lalah laying down beautiful vocals. This was a special night that was definitely worth the wait. We just hope we do not have to wait another 10 years to see them together again.

A few days after their concert, I got to interview Lalah. We talked about music, her Grammy nomination, new projects, and even Shirley Horn. Please listen.

Concert photos by James Knox. Additional photos can be seen here.

I had the pleasure of chatting with award winning actress/singer Loretta Devine who will be appearing at The Rrazz Room in the Hotel Nikko in San Francisco November 27-29. Her shows will be at 8pm on Friday and Saturday and 7pm on Sunday. Tickets are available at www.therrazzroom.com.

We talked her upcoming shows this weekend, her current film projects, and her beginnings in acting and theater. It was a very fun and Loretta was gracious and lovely. I definitely look forward to seeing Loretta in concert this weekend. See you there!

Please listen to my interview with Loretta Devine.

A Conversation with Loretta Devine [15:50m]: Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download

LORETTA DEVINE-Biography

Equally at home on stage or on screen, award-winning actress Loretta Devine has created some of the most memorable roles in theatre, film and television. Devine first captured national attention in the role of Lorrell, one of the three original “Dreamgirls” in Michael Bennett’s classic award-winning Broadway musical of the same name. She followed that performance with a fiery portrayal of Lillian in Bob Fosse’s critically acclaimed stage production“Big Deal.” Subsequent work in George C. Wolfe’s “Colored Museum” and “Lady Day at Emerson Bar and Grill,” cemented Devine’s status as one of the most talented and versatile stage actresses.

Film roles soon followed including a poignant turn as a single mother opposite Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett and Gregory Hines in “Waiting to Exhale” which earned her a NAACP Image Award for Best Supporting Actress. Devine also won an NAACP Image Award for Best Supporting Actress for her work in Penny Marshall’s “The Preacher’s Wife.” Devine also received an IFP “Spirit” Award nomination for Best Actress for her work in “Women Thou Art Loosed.” Devine was featured in the Academy Award-winning film “Crash” and the hit movie of “Dreamgirls.” Additional film credits include appearances in the successful “Urban Legend” franchise, “I Am Sam” opposite Michelle Pfeiffer and Sean Pean, “Kingdom Come,” “What Women Want,” “Punks,” “Hoodlums,” “Down in the Delta” and “Stanley and Iris.” Devine also appeared in “Sticky Fingers,” “Amos and Andrew,” “The Breaks,” “The Price of Kissing,” “Lover Girl,” “Class Act,” “Living Large,” “Caged Fear” and “Little Nikita” and “Dirty Laundry” Most recently Devine co-starred in “This Christmas” and “First Sunday” both of which opened Number 1 at the box office. Ms. Devine voiced the character of Delta the chocolate brown toy poodle in “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” for Disney starring Drew Barrymore. Look for the upcoming 2010 release of Sony Screen Gems remake of “Death At A Funeral” with Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence and Danny Glover.

On television, Devine most recently was seen on the ABC series “Eli Stone” as well as her recurring role as Adele on the hit medical drama series “Grey’s Anatomy.” She received three NAACP Image Awards for her role on David E. Kelly’s Fox series “Boston Public.” Additional credits include series roles in “A Different World” and Lifetime Television’s “Wild Card.” Devine also provided the voice of Muriel Stubbs on the beloved animated series, “The PJ’s.”

Devine graduated from the University of Houston and later received a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts from Brandeis University. She currently resides in Los Angeles.

Now available on podcast.

Now available on podcast.