Comments on: DIONNE WARWICK / “Alfie” http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2007/07/22/dionne-warwick-%e2%80%9calfie%e2%80%9d/ a conversation about black music Fri, 19 Mar 2010 01:56:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5 by: rich http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2007/07/22/dionne-warwick-%e2%80%9calfie%e2%80%9d/#comment-26535 Sun, 22 Jul 2007 02:07:10 -0500 http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2007/07/22/dionne-warwick-%e2%80%9calfie%e2%80%9d/#comment-26535 Commiserations, man - sounds like you could do with some tunes that are a little gentle, relfective and affirming - all the best Commiserations, man - sounds like you could do with some tunes that are a little gentle, relfective and affirming - all the best

]]> by: Stephanie Renee http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2007/07/22/dionne-warwick-%e2%80%9calfie%e2%80%9d/#comment-26586 Sun, 22 Jul 2007 11:03:52 -0500 http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2007/07/22/dionne-warwick-%e2%80%9calfie%e2%80%9d/#comment-26586 First, brother Kalamu, I cannot know your grief but I do understand it. Sekou was an amazing creative light, as I'm sure your friend Doug was as well. May your grieving process be rich and brief, so that the smiles outshine the tears. And as for Dionne, I'm sorry that you can't relate Mtume. My mom was a 60s music nut, and I spent HOURS of my youth in my basement with her Warwick and Streisand albums. Now that I'm recording music myself, those ladies' respective repertoires have given me a whole new appreciation for my "big belt" and non-gospel roots. They still help me to appreciate the subtleties of a song. First, brother Kalamu, I cannot know your grief but I do understand it. Sekou was an amazing creative light, as I’m sure your friend Doug was as well. May your grieving process be rich and brief, so that the smiles outshine the tears.

And as for Dionne, I’m sorry that you can’t relate Mtume. My mom was a 60s music nut, and I spent HOURS of my youth in my basement with her Warwick and Streisand albums. Now that I’m recording music myself, those ladies’ respective repertoires have given me a whole new appreciation for my “big belt” and non-gospel roots. They still help me to appreciate the subtleties of a song.

]]> by: Jericho http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2007/07/22/dionne-warwick-%e2%80%9calfie%e2%80%9d/#comment-26592 Sun, 22 Jul 2007 12:21:07 -0500 http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2007/07/22/dionne-warwick-%e2%80%9calfie%e2%80%9d/#comment-26592 Sup Kalamu, I don't know if you remember, but I've always been a diva lover, which, of course, is quite different from being any kind of aficianado when it comes to music. At any rate, I just put Dionne in my car a couple of days ago because I had to hear "Message to Michael"--every note of it so subtle, sometimes it's as if some of the words are still swirling around in her mouth and I just happen to overhear them. Vandross worshipped Warwick (and a couple other divas too). The duet he did with her in the 80s brought out gestures in her voice that I think even she had forgotten about. That song, "How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye," is the sweetest form of competition I've ever heard, each of them seeing who could make the most by doing the least, Dionne singing in a soprano she hadn't bothered with since her recording of "Anyone Who Had a Heart." Sometimes I think that man could make a brick sing. I never knew Sundiata, but I'm so glad he walked the earth long enough to make The Blue Oneness of Dreams and longstoryshort. Both helped teach me to listen at a time in my life when I was all talked out. You're the best, Kalamu! I'm so proud of you. Yours, Jericho Brown Sup Kalamu,

I don’t know if you remember, but I’ve always been a diva lover, which, of course, is quite different from being any kind of aficianado when it comes to music. At any rate, I just put Dionne in my car a couple of days ago because I had to hear “Message to Michael”–every note of it so subtle, sometimes it’s as if some of the words are still swirling around in her mouth and I just happen to overhear them.

Vandross worshipped Warwick (and a couple other divas too). The duet he did with her in the 80s brought out gestures in her voice that I think even she had forgotten about. That song, “How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye,” is the sweetest form of competition I’ve ever heard, each of them seeing who could make the most by doing the least, Dionne singing in a soprano she hadn’t bothered with since her recording of “Anyone Who Had a Heart.” Sometimes I think that man could make a brick sing.

I never knew Sundiata, but I’m so glad he walked the earth long enough to make The Blue Oneness of Dreams and longstoryshort. Both helped teach me to listen at a time in my life when I was all talked out.

You’re the best, Kalamu! I’m so proud of you.

Yours,
Jericho Brown

]]> by: Marian http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2007/07/22/dionne-warwick-%e2%80%9calfie%e2%80%9d/#comment-26633 Sun, 22 Jul 2007 16:10:56 -0500 http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2007/07/22/dionne-warwick-%e2%80%9calfie%e2%80%9d/#comment-26633 First, Kalamu: I am sorry for your loss. I have sat beside at least 2 beds –parents in the ICU. And visited a friend dying of cancer. Every time, it tore me apart. To be able to do that over and over again takes a special kind of strength. And Dionne: That’s my sixth and seventh grade. Hours spent listening to her records and matching her precise phrasing. Every time some one in synagogue taps me on the shoulder and complements my singing, I know who my teacher was. “A House is Not a Home” is still HER song as far as I am concerned. First, Kalamu: I am sorry for your loss. I have sat beside at least 2 beds –parents in the ICU. And visited a friend dying of cancer. Every time, it tore me apart. To be able to do that over and over again takes a special kind of strength.

And Dionne: That’s my sixth and seventh grade. Hours spent listening to her records and matching her precise phrasing. Every time some one in synagogue taps me on the shoulder and complements my singing, I know who my teacher was. “A House is Not a Home” is still HER song as far as I am concerned.

]]> by: sue ross http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2007/07/22/dionne-warwick-%e2%80%9calfie%e2%80%9d/#comment-26748 Mon, 23 Jul 2007 07:14:31 -0500 http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2007/07/22/dionne-warwick-%e2%80%9calfie%e2%80%9d/#comment-26748 Kalamu, my heart is with you. This is a heavy year for loss in our community. Brother Sekou was to have been with us this week in Atlanta at the National Black Arts Festival. we mourn his passing as we celebrate his life and contributions. There is a beautiful tribute to him at www.nbaf.org Your Dionne Warwick selections remind me of a magical evening at the 92 or 94 NBAF, when Wynton Marsalis headlined a midnight jazz jam at the Rennaissance and Dionne Warwick was in the audience. She joined him on stage for a duet on a few of her numbers, and showcased what Dionne could do with her songs when placed in the context of a jazz environment. Kalamu, my heart is with you. This is a heavy year for loss in our community. Brother Sekou was to have been with us this week in Atlanta at the National Black Arts Festival. we mourn his passing as we celebrate his life and contributions. There is a beautiful tribute to him at www.nbaf.org

Your Dionne Warwick selections remind me of a magical evening at the 92 or 94 NBAF, when Wynton Marsalis headlined a midnight jazz jam at the Rennaissance and Dionne Warwick was in the audience. She joined him on stage for a duet on a few of her numbers, and showcased what Dionne could do with her songs when placed in the context of a jazz environment.

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