Gil Scott-Heron in Brooklyn March 26 for BLACK WRITERS CONFERENCE & Pharoah Sanders to open the CENTRAL BROOKLYN JAZZ FESTIVAL on Saturday, March 27

by Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Hello All:

This week end if you are not prepared, you could miss some real classic artists. So I'm trying to get this to the blog now so you'll be prepared.

When I heard that Pharoah Sanders was performing in Brooklyn, it took me back a minute. The last time I saw him in concert was in Harlem in the 80's. Wow! So I'm sending this out over the blog in case you're one of the few New Yorkers who hasn't gotten the news:

Pharoah Sanders is going to open the 11th Annual CENTRAL BROOKLYN JAZZ FESTIVAL on Saturday, March 27th.
Tenor Saxophone legend, Pharoah Sanders, who has made over 39 recordings as a leader, and has accompanied 87 other recordings during his 42 year career, is coming to Brooklyn.

Anyone familiar with the Central Brooklyn Jazz Festival knows that it's one of the finest gathering of jazz artists -- nuanced and traditional -- from around the world. We are fortunate that Brother Jitu Weusi and Bob Sanders have worked diligently to continue this labor of love for the past eleven years. They are to be commended.

The 11th Annual Central Brooklyn Jazz Festival takes place in the auditorium of Boys and Girls High School, 1700 Fulton Street (A/C train to Utica or the B25 Bus to Ralph Ave.)

The Festival Gala is co-sponsored by Central Brooklyn Jazz Consortium and the International African Arts Festival. The Pharoah Sanders Sextet will perform, featuring, William Henderson-Piano, Alex Blake-Bassist, Greg Bandy- Drums, Neil Clarke- Percussion and Abdus Sabor on Congas. Other Gala performers are: Omi Yesa, a Yoruba Folkloric group that recently preformed at the Obama White House, and Louis Reyes-Rivera, author of Scattered Scriptures.

Saturday’s Gala tix :718-638-6700 or 718-773-2252, or by visiting the web site: www.cbjcjazz.org (for credit card sales).

The CENTRAL BROOKLYN JAZZ CONSORTIUM FESTIVAL runs from March 27th, 2010 through April 30th, 2010. Over 35 Brooklyn Venues will participate. As Donald Trump says: "This is going to be huge!"

For a full schedule of the 11th Annual Central Brooklyn Jazz Festival events visit the website at www.cbjcjazz.org or call 718-773-2252 for a free schedule to be mailed to you.
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AND ON ANOTHER IMPORTANT NOTE:

THE NATIONAL BLACK WRITERS CONFERENCE presents GIL SCOTT-HERON, TALIB KWELI, and GARY BARTZ. That’s what I said!!! Gil Scott-Heron, Talib Kweli and Gary Bartz will be appearing at Littlefield in Brooklyn!!! On Friday, March 26, 2010 from 622 Degraw history will be made in Brooklyn, New York!!

This event is sponsored by Medgar Evers College Black Writer's Workshop, which opens on Thursday, March 25 at Medgar Evers College (1650 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn), this is the first ever concert of its kind. You won't want to miss our personal revolutionary poet laureate extraordinaire, Gil Scott-Heron as he drops some very insightful lyrics on you. He is Black writing at its finest.

Not only will all you aspiring, inspiring, conspiring Black Writers participate in the 10th annual BLACK WRITER'S CONFERENCE AT MEDGAR EVERS COLLEGE (1650 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY.), but by attending the concert you’ll be assisting in the longevity of the institutionalization of Black writing.

Join Gil Scott-Heron, Talib Kweli, and Gary Bartz for this historic concert in celebration of the Tenth National Black Writers Conference at Medgar Evers College, CUNY.

Gil Scott-Heron is a poet, musician and activist, and is primarily known for his work in the late 1960s and 1970s as a "spoken word" performer. In some circles, he is known as a griot. And while there are those who want to type cast him as a prelude to hip hop, I beg to differ strenuously, since the brother primarily spoke positively about Blackness as a quality, did not disparage Black women, or families.

Gil, who I am proud to say was a classmate at Lincoln University (and was smart enough to leave and pursue a calling from his soul) combines poetry with rhythm and blues, jazz, and funk and raises critical political and social issues, has received much recognition and acclaim for one of his most well-known compositions "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised." His contemporary body of work is even more compelling as he bears witness to the fact that history has proven the truth of his words. The griot in him comes out as anecdote after anecdote about the inspirations behind his pieces are shared with the audience. He reveals his unique humor and insight into the powerful dynamics spirit has on life as we know it.

Collaborating with the politically and socially conscious hip hop artist Talib Kweli, who brings a sense of spirituality and moral balance to hip hop, is a natural alliance and collaboration for this electrifying team of artists activists. And when you bring in award-winning jazz saxophonist, Gary Bartz, this intergenerational collaboration signifies an historic moment in time. Gary Bartz sums up the stance of this intergenerational group of musician writers when he states, "After all music doesn't belong to any one person. It belongs to the people, to everybody." The music of Gil Scott-Heron, Talib Kweli and Gary Bartz embody these words, for these artists create music that belongs to the global village and that speaks to the soul, heart and spirit of people.

So, on FRIDAY MARCH 26, 2010 at Littlefields, 622 Degraw Street (bet. 3rd & 4th Avenues) in Brooklyn, NY 11217. Doors at 8:30 pm • Concert at 9:30 pm. $25 advance • $30 at the door • 21 and over >>> purchase your ADVANCE tickets now <<<
www.littlefieldnyc.com, www.littlefieldnyc.com, or visit www.ticketfly.com.

**It is appropriate that this concert occur in conjunction with the Tenth National Black Writers' Conference (NBWC) at Medgar Evers College. The Conference, a program of the Center for Black Literature, will be held from March 25 to 28, 2010 at the College. Celebrating more than 25 years of history since its inception in 1986 under the visionary leadership of John Oliver Killens, the Conference assembles some of the brightest minds and finest pens in literature. Its theme, “And Then We Heard the Thunder: Black Writers Reconstructing Memories and Lighting the Way,” is symbolic of both the work and life of Toni Morrison and of the collaboration between Gil Scott-Heron, Talib Kweli and Gary Bartz. Gil, Talib, and Gary draw from the past and bring symbolize a dynamic group of artists who are charting trends and shaping the future of music and the spoken word. **(I think Dr. Brenda Green said this, I pulled it from the press release, but it sounded really good, so I left it in.)

There will be more than 80 Black writers, literary agents, and editors from throughout America, the Caribbean, Europe and Africa at the Conference. Writers and conference participants will examine the historical representation of the literature of Black writers and the representation of new and future directions for contemporary and emerging literary voices.

With Toni Morrison as the Honorary Chair, the National Black Writers' Conference will also honor Amiri Baraka, Kamau Brathwaite, and Dr. Edison O. Jackson.

Conference participants from the NBWC have included a stellar list of participants and honorees, including Cornel West, Susan L. Taylor, Randall Robinson, Marita Golden, Sonia Sanchez, and Terry McMillan. This year's conference attendees can again look forward to panels, readings, and workshops with highly regarded authors Chris Abani, Herb Boyd, L. A. Banks, Carol Boyce Davies, Kamau Brathwaite, Staceyann Chin, Breena Clarke, Edwidge Danticat, Bernice McFadden, Tayari Jones, Willie Perdomo, Dolen Perkins-Valdez, Kevin Powell, Sonia Sanchez, Colson Whitehead, Frank Wilderson III, and Jewel Parker Rhodes among others.

Tenth National Black Writers' Conference
Toni Morrison, Nobel Prize Winning Author as Honorary Chair
Thursday, March 25, 2010 - Sunday, March 28, 2010 www.nationalblackwritersconference.org

For more information, contact the Center for Black Literature
at 718.804.8884 or via email at nbwc@mec.cuny.edu
mec.cuny.edu/blacklitcenter • nationalblackwritersconference.org

Tune into "Writers on Writing"
Sundays, 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm
WNYE Radio 91.5 FM

That ought to keep you busy at least for a minute. But seriously, Brothers and Sisters, we really do have to support our Black writers, regardless of the genre. We are being inundated by propaganda, yellow journalism, and garbage now more than ever before. We have to make it our business to support each other, read each other, and become familiar with some of the more salient theories that our brothers and sisters are beginning to develop that may well be the beginning or regeneration of our own self liberation.

That said,
Hope to see you there.

Stay blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK,
Gloria Dulan-Wilson