Douglasville resident a true 'Champion'
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Douglasville resident Paula Champion belts out a tune during Atlanta's popular talent showcase, "Atlanta's Next Best" at Buckhead's Sambuca jazz café. Champion sang with passion, range and control as she defeated dozens of performers who took part in the eight-week talent showcase. Photo Credit: Travell Williams |
And for eight straight weeks during Atlanta's popular talent showcase, "Atlanta's Next Best," Paula Champion did just that.
The Douglasville resident sang with passion, range, resonance and control as she defeated dozens of performers who took part in an eight-week talent showcase at Buckhead's Sambuca jazz café.
A proud stay-at-home mom with a husband and two sons, Champion's victory over four other finalists earned her two opportunities to advance the singing career she put on hold to raise a family.
First, she'll make an opening act appearance at trumpeter Joey Sommerville's "Living Legends" concert, featuring Ronnie Laws, Phil Perry and Jeff Lorber on July 31 at the Mable House Barnes Amphitheater in Mableton.
After that, she'll jet to the North Sea Jazz Festival on the island of Curacao, with the chance to appear on the same stage as legendary artists, Lionel Richie, John Legend, Natalie Cole, George Benson and Stevie Wonder.
For her crowd-stirring singing efforts that blended gospel, jazz and blues, Champion also won a hefty crystal trophy.
But what mattered most to her was the quality time she'll get to spend with her husband, the aspiring singer/composer Jason Champion.
"My husband and I never had a honeymoon.," said Champion, whose sons (ages 15 and 10) sat with their proud father to witness the victory. "So this will be it."
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Runner-up Denise D'Neter (left) and third-place finisher Stephanie Parker (center) congratulate Paula Champion for taking first-place honors in the Atlanta's Next Best competition at Sambuca jazz café in Buckhead. Photo Credit: |
Each performer sang two songs in a round-robin format. Champion sang the up-tempo ballad "Cloud Nine" by the idiosyncratic Atlanta vocalist, Donnie, in her first round, and followed it up with a breath-taking rendition of Donny Hathaway's "A Song For You."
Last week's grand finale drew a standing-room-only audience – as have most other weeks – and the opinions of audience members were not always in harmony with that of the judges.
Many who attended the grand finale begged to differ – vocally – with the judges' choice of Champion as the victor. Unanimously, though, attendees agreed that they'd been fully entertained by the performers who took part.
Karen Carter, a recent transplant from Los Angeles to Marietta said: "A co-worker of mine… convinced me to come out the first one, and I've enjoyed every one since."
Joneboro's Ralph Austin said he'd attended most of the preliminaries, so he couldn't miss the finals.
"I've been here for pretty much all the sessions, so I had to come see the finale," Austin said. "I could've picked a different winner, but that's a matter of opinion."
Besides wishing she'd been hired to wardrobe the five finalists, Cynthia Craig of Atlanta said she was impressed with the talent displayed during the finals. "I think they all should be on national TV," Craig said.
Faye Raye, an acoustic guitarist whose "Atlanta's Next Best" run screeched to a halt in the semi-finals, called herself a willing "spectator" at the finale.
"I'm still into the show. It's not just about me. I'd be interested whether I was a contestant or not," she said.
"There's nothing that crosses generations like this," Raye added. "You had that 16-year-old singer last week, and the 12-year-old, and then me, the AARP member."
The contest's runner-up – a transplant from Indianapolis named Denise D'Neter, who packs all the combined vocal power of Martha Wash, Chaka Khan and Jennifer Hudson into a 98-pound frame – was gracious in defeat:
"All of us did our best. As far as the outcome: It is what it is," she said. "I just thank God for all the energy I received from the crowd. It was a nice exchange."
Judges said picking just one winner among such versatile talent was tough.
"Basically, you had to judge one act based on the last one," said pop hit producer Kennard Garrett, "and one after another, they were phenomenal."
Silk vocalist/songwriter Gary "Lil' G" Jenkins" – the most animated of all the judges while offering critiques – said: "It was really hard writing a number down to rate how someone performed because they were all so good."
Local big band leader Joe Gransden, whose latest CD, "Close to My Heart" was produced by Kenny G, said the best competitors generally win.
"The cream always rises," Gransden said. "Paula (Champion) really deserved it because she has everything it takes to become a superstar."
Rene Miller, the creator of "Atlanta's Next Best," said she's pleased with how quickly the talent showcase has taken off in Atlanta.
"I just knew that Atlanta had more exceptional artists than we get to see around town," said Miller, host of the popular "Sunday Jazz Brunch" program on WCLK-FM (91.9) and longtime announcer of the nightly Georgia Lottery numbers.
"So I dug up under the rocks and pulled back the curtains to find these people who go to work every day but aren't really following their true passions," she added. "We've found some artists that no one has seen before, but everybody looks forward to seeing again."
She assures avid fans of the series, which started with a similar contest at Sambuca last spring, that "version 3.0 is coming soon."
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New exhibit on slave trade
'A force to be reckoned with'
By STAN WASHINGTON
Senior Writer
BUCKHEAD – Mixed media artist Stephen Hayes’ curiosity as a child led to the creation of one of the most powerful art exhibitions ever to be displayed during the National Black Arts Festival.
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It took SCAD graduate art student Stephen Hayes (with a little help) five months to finish his powerful art thesis on the Trans Atlantic slave trade. Each of the 15 statues represent one million Africans who were transported to the Americas from the 1500s to the 1800s. The exhibition at the Mason Murer Gallery in Buckhead will be on display until Aug. 10. (SW) |
When Hayes was in elementary school in Durham, N.C., he and his classmates learned about slavery in America and about slave labor, but they were never taught about how slaves got to America’s shores, Hayes said.
That question wasn’t answered until later, when Hayes did his own research.
“I came across the Brooks plan on how to transport slaves, which was how many slaves to put on every square inch of a boat,” he said.
During his research, Hayes says he was astounded to discover that about 15 million Africans were transported to the Americas from 1540 to 1850.
The images and information about the slave trade stayed in his mind throughout the years, and from the curiosity of a child, the exhibition “Cash Crop” was born.
“I made 15 statues each representing 1 million slaves,” the graduate student at the Savannah College of Art & Design told The Atlanta Voice about his doctoral thesis.
Hayes’ compelling statue exhibition commemorating the Transatlantic Slave Trade will be on display at the Mason Murer Gallery in Buckhead until Aug. 10.
Hayes said he wanted the display to represent today’s outsourcing and sweatshop labor. “That’s where the palette comes from because everything shipped over here from Third World countries came on a palette.”
“The slave ships have mutated into the sweatshops in Third World countries,” he added.
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The compelling statue exhibition commemorating the Transatlantic Slave Trade will be on display at the Mason Murer Gallery in Buckhead until Aug. 10. |
Art collector Joy Peters said she’s seen her fair share of art as the curator of the NBAF Artists’ Market since its inception in 1988. When she saw Hayes work, Peters said she knew it had longevity.
“When I first saw it, I said to myself that this is a force to be reckoned with,” Peters said. “I was pleased at the time and effort he put into the pieces. He could have used one mold for each figure but he did 15 different figures.”
If there was a National Black Arts Festival Hall of Fame, Peters said, Hayes’ Cash Crop definitely would be in it.
A graduated of North Carolina Central University, Hayes used family members and friends to first make a plaster mold of the slaves and then later poured in concrete. The back of the statues is plywood, which represents the slave ships. Each one has a carving of the Brooks diagram that he discovered years ago.
Hayes finished Cash Crop in an astonishing five months. His exhibition is the first by a student to get the primo space at Mason Murer.
The reviews by the art critics have been glowing.
www.masonmurer.com
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By Adrienne Leon
Contributing Writer
The 22nd annual National Black Arts Festival kicks off this week at Centennial Park with more than 100 featured artisans and entertainers from around the world showcasing the best in fine arts, fashion and entertainment.
A wide range of talent is lined-up for this year’s festival, which opens July 14 and ends Sunday, July 18.
Besides the usual array of fashion, arts, music and dance, organizers have planned several special events they say will make this year’s festival especially memorable. Those highlights include a:
Musical salute to legendary R&B singer/composer Curtis Mayfield
Tribute to Nigerian musician Fela Kuti with the sounds of Roy Ayers
Salute to 40 years of excellence in dance with PHILADANCO, a dance troupe rooted in African-American cultural traditions
Tribute to pioneer black filmmaker Oscar Micheaux, accompanied live by Wycliffe Gordon
Organizers say they also anticipate a positive response to a new component of this year’s festival, which celebrates the cultural contributions of Brazil – South America’s largest country – through the voice of Latin Grammy Award-winning composer, Ivan Lins.
“This year, NBAF is highlighting Brazil, a partnership with the Consulate General of Brazil in Atlanta, as we present Brazil Fest,” said NBAF spokesperson Margaret Kargo. “It’s a celebration and showcase of Brazilian arts and cultural contributions to the global landscape on July 15th at Centennial Olympic Park.”
The cultural extravaganza begins with the world famous Afro-Brazilian percussion group Olodum, scheduled to bring spirited music and dance to the stage July 15.
This year’s Legends Celebration will honor the music and legacy of Curtis Mayfield with a dynamic performance entitled “To Curtis with Love” on July 16th at Atlanta Symphony Hall.
As always, the festival’s Children’s Education Village will allow children and their families to explore the history and culture of Africa and the African Diaspora. Visitors can participate in an exhibit called, “More Than Words” - a variety of interactive experiences based on the 12 core themes derived from the speeches and writings of and about Dr. Martin Luther King. The themes are peace, justice, freedom, civil rights, nonviolence, love, courage, equality, truth, protest, growth and dream.
The village also includes a variety of live performances.
Guests also are invited to walk the red carpet as NBAF presents the 2010 Gala: A Gathering of Colors Saturday July 17 at “Stormy’s Supper Club” in the Grand Atrium of the newly renovated 200 Peachtree. This year’s gala invites guests to return to the 1930s and 1940s – a time when, when, as organizers say, “women were glamorous , men were cool cats and the music was stompin’.”
The gala features performances by Joe Gransden and his 16-piece Big Band, Jasmine Guy and Avery Sharpe, with special guest host and honorary gala chair, Lynn Whitfield. The annual fundraiser helps NBAF raise money for year-round programming and operations.
Visitors also can check out various artwork and other items available to purchase at Centennial Park. An array of vendors will be on hand, including Adam Eccleastic Universal Love Jewelry, a wholesale manufacturer of handmade jewelry.
Unlike in previous years, organizers had to trim the traditional 10-day schedule by half – a move that was prompted to save money and to spend less in tough economic times. For a complete schedule of events, visit online at www.nbaf.org . Ticketed event purchases can be made online or by calling the Woodruff Arts Center box office at 404-733-5000.
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Gospel icon still spreading the Good News
By CHEVEL JOHNSON
Associated Press Writer
NEW ORLEANS – There’s not a time in her life when gospel artist Karen Clark Sheard can remember not singing.
And now that gospel music increasingly is finding its way onto urban radio and into homes through TV talent shows like BET’s “Sunday’s Best” and the Gospel Music Channel’s “Gospel Dream,” the Grammy Award-winning vocalist says there’s never been a better time than now to bring such good news to the masses.
“This is a great day for gospel music,” said Sheard, who has enthralled audiences with her multi-octave voice for decades and shows no sign of stopping.
“There were days when it was not played on the radio. Now, it’s being accepted on R&B stations, allowing us to deliver the message of my God to everyone.”
Sheard, 49, said she views her singing as a ministry.
“I could not have done this without knowing the person we sing about,” she said. “I definitely can look back on my life and my struggles and say, ‘God can bring you out and give you favor when doors have been shut.’ That’s what motivates me to believe.”
Sheard said her mother, Mattie Moss Clark, instilled such teachings in her when she was a child and, each time she takes a microphone, she hopes those teachings shine through.
“It’s in my upbringing,” she said. “I was taught that you’re not just out there singing, but you’re using your gift to help people know that there’s hope in the world.”
And doing that is nothing new for Sheard.
As a member of the iconic gospel group, The Clark Sisters, Sheard and her sisters are credited with helping to bring contemporary Christian music to mainstream listeners. And that mission continued Sunday when they performed in New Orleans – the final day of the Essence Music Festival’s annual “party with a purpose.”
“It’s been years since we were last at the festival and to be asked to return, I think, encourages us to know that we haven’t been forgotten, she said.
The group is participating in a tribute to gospel music legend, Pastor Shirley Caesar.
“To be a part of an event put on by Essence, which has been such a force in so many women’s lives, with such women of power and women of great character, is amazing for me,” she said.
Sheard said as she moves into another phase of her life she realizes that being of help and impacting other people’s lives is key.
“You must be a blessing to others and this is absolutely an extension of and a part of what we do,” she said.
“Being able to tap into audiences that may not have heard of The Clark Sisters or that may not listen to gospel music is just great.
“God always has divine timing when there’s a purpose that must be fulfilled,” she added. “And this is our time to bless somebody’s life.”
Sheard said she always enjoys singing with her sisters and expects Sunday’s performance to reflect that.
“It’s comfortable there, surrounded by my sisters,” she said, laughing. “All the weight of the performance is not on me. As a solo artist, there’s a lot of mental stress you have to deal with. Not so when I’m with my family.”
And though her latest release, “All in One,” is a solo effort, Sheard said she doesn’t feel like she’s alone.
The record, released in April, was produced with her husband, J. Drew Sheard, on their own label – Kar Records – and features stellar vocals from her daughter Kierra “Kiki” Sheard, son J. Drew Sheard II, sister Dorinda Clark Cole, niece Angel Chisholm and cousin J. Moss.
“This album definitely gives you a glimpse of who I really am,” she said. “I’m an artist but I’m also a mother, a wife, a sister. And I’m very adamant about spending quality time with family. This album reflects that.”
This year, Sheard won over some new fans as she broke into musical theater. Cast in the stage play, “Church Girl,” Sheard said the role is yet another way to spread messages of survival and triumph.
“This is another way for me to deliver what I do to people who don’t go to church,” Sheard said.
“When I was asked to play the part of the church girl’s aunt, I immediately thought of my nieces and nephews, some of whom have strayed and every now and then I have to go after them.”
Sheard said more acting also is in her future.
“I have an upcoming role in a movie about Aretha Franklin’s life. It was an honor to be asked,” she said, declining give details.
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‘I Dream’ has world premiere in Atlanta
Jasmine Guy directs musical about
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
By Stan Washington
To compose a major musical for the stage is a daunting task in itself. To compose and stage a musical about one of the most famous people in history in his hometown is nothing short of courageous.
Despite the many obstacles that laid before him, Douglas Tappin found himself compelled to take on that challenge and he will see the final results of his efforts on July 9 when “I Dream – The Story of a Preacher from Atlanta” has its world premiere at the Alliance Theater in Atlanta.
The production is being directed by multi-talented Jasmine Guy and featuring Broadway veteran Quentin Darrington as Martin Luther King Jr., Demetria McKinney as Coretta Scott King and Ben Polite as Ralph David Abernathy. Portraying the role of Grandma is the dynamic singer and independent artist Avery Sunshine of Atlanta.
Tappin has crafted a story from King’s childhood until just after his assassination in 1968.
“Douglas’ story of King is different than what we’ve seen,” Guy said before rehearsals at Spelman College recently. “And he deliberately wants to tell it from a different perspective.”
Guy says she is pleased with her cast of 40 which is comprised of some very talented performers. Finding Darrington to play King has added so much to the production, she said. “What he has brought to the cast is amazing. They have really become a family because of him,” Guy said.
Tappin had a few personal mountaintops of his own to reach before this major production came into being. Mountaintops like writing musicals even though he didn’t care to go to the theater and then getting them produced; uprooting his family from London, England and moving them to Atlanta and having the audacity to write a musical about one of Atlanta’s most favorite sons and one of the world’s most historical figures; plus, trying to break into the black bourgeois inner circle of Atlanta–without an introduction–to get support for his ambitious project.
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‘I DREAM’ TEAM: Writer, producer Doug Tappin, director |
A trained entertainment lawyer, Tappin said he felt compelled to write musicals after seeing the long-running musical Les Miserables in London in the 1980s.
“I remember when I left that production and walking out with the definite sense that my life was meant to do something like that,” Tappin said. “I had no idea what the story was going to be at that stage and really didn’t think seriously that I could do something like that.”
Tappin, of Jamaican descent but born in London, fell under the spell of Atlanta the so-called “Black Mecca” during a trip here with his family for the 1996 Summer Olympics. Atlanta was one of the first cities outside England, he had a sense they could live in.
After settling in, Tappin said he was looking to produce his play about King David in Atlanta, titled “King.” Little did he know there is only room for one King in Atlanta.
“People started responding to the title ‘King’ by saying, ‘You can’t produce a play called ‘King’ in this city,’” Tappin recalled. “And I said ‘Why not?’ About the third time someone told me that I started thinking that there was history here far greater than I understood.”
Tappin said he was aware of the civil rights movement but didn’t know its details.
“By 2006, I had this acute awareness of who Martin Luther King Jr. was, what he had done and how significant he was,” he said. “And suddenly… came this sense of maybe the reason that I moved from London to here was this might be the piece I was supposed to write.”
But he wondered, “Can I really write about Martin Luther King Jr.?”
After taking two months to put the initial draft to paper, Tappin set out to interview people who knew the civil rights leader or knew about him. From there, several revisions ensued. Once he was prepared to present it, Tappin said he found no welcoming doors until he engaged the assistance of former mayor Shirley Franklin and Bureau of Cultural Affairs Director Camille Love.
With their assistance, doors started to open, Tappin said, and he was able to present the work to members of the King family. According to Tappin and Guy, their input was invaluable.
In one song that features the character of Coretta, Tappin said that Bernice King, responded, “My mother was stronger than what you’ve written her to be.” Her input changed the song, he said.
Guy found the stories about Martin and Coretta insightful. “As a child they called him M.L. They never called him Martin,” she said. “So we changed that in the story when we have him as a child. Things like that make it more organic and more truthful.”
(See an interview with Douglas Tappin and Jasmine Guy at theatlantavoice.com and on our Facebook page.) www.idreaminatlanta.com
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New exhibit on slave trade National Black Arts Festival set to wow Atlanta |
