There is no way I could post about this year’s Afro Punk Festival without posting photos of Janelle Monáe’s electrifying performance on the red stage Sunday night! She opened with her usual high energy, big voice, and tight vocals, and she kept up the momentum for an hour straight.
Janelle loves her fans…
…and her fans love her.
Yes, she went crowd-surfing at the end of her set.
My ears and lens love that woman. It’s no wonder she is the newest face of Cover Girl.
The first time I saw her perform I had only my 24-105mm lens at hand. This time I was armed with my 70-300mm lens and two additional years of experience in my arsenal. (Hello, shutter priority! How nice of you to stop the action.) All of my shots were taken either with my camera held over my head at arm’s length, or in the slice of moving space between people’s heads, since hundreds of fans separated me from the stage. I am quite pleased with myself.
For the past two years I have spent a lot of time listening to Preparty Radio while I work and play. Over time I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know some of the DJs who regularly play there. As luck would have it, a lot of them are based in NYC. DJ Ace House Nation a.k.a. Cookie Monster is one of them.
I like his house music mixes, because they appeal to both the singer and dancer in me. His podcasts stay on rotation on my iPod. He’ll throw in some Latin to spice things up, spin classic vinyl so we don’t forget our roots, and weave newer releases into the mix to keep things fresh. He’s also a funny, warm person I genuinely enjoy running into. As a matter of fact, I am waiting (im)patiently for a new podcast from him (not at all subtle hint), so I can continue to bless my neighbors ears with his music.
He apparently liked this photo when I uploaded it to his Facebook page; he is using it as his cover photo. I’m flattered.
I spent 21 April at The Riverside Church of New York observing and photographing rehearsal for their 34th annual English Handbell Festival. Four handbell choirs, including host choir Riverside Ringers (seen in the second row from the front), spent the day rehearsing together under the direction of guest director Kathleen Ebling Shaw. I enjoyed watching and listening. It has given me something to work towards, since I started playing with Riverside’s Nova Handbell Ensemble last December. Perhaps by next year I’ll be skilled enough to participate in the festival.
The concert was 22 April and was wonderful. I am very glad for the experience and commend everyone for their performance.
Riverside Ringers Director Bonnie Laub (left) and Guest Director Kathleen Ebling Shaw
Bass Guitarist for Amel Larrieux Taken at Sounds of Brazil (SOBs) 27 October 2010
If you see this post, it is because I am out of town shooting my first wedding and having a grand time doing it. (From my fingers to the universe!) Enjoy this shot while I am gone. I rediscovered it while reorganizing my Fotki albums.
Children listen intently to Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra at the Brooklyn Museum (NY) during their Target First Saturday performance. 2 April 2011
Tonight will be the opening gala for the NY Philharmonic’s 2010-2011 season at Lincoln Center. This year’s performance will feature the American premier of a piece by musician, composer, and conductor Wynton Marsalis. Each year they have a free, open dress rehearsal for the general public at 9:45 AM; all you have to do is arrive early enough to get one of the 2000 available tickets they begin giving out at 8 AM.
“Another day/I take your pain away.” At the sound of these lyrics, I turned around and was greeted with the sight of two guys who are obviously Janelle Monáe fans.
Fellow Thrivals Frank and Mike
Frank and Mike (also known as Androids #57822 and #57823, respectively) had flown up from Ft. Lauderdale to attend both the Friday and Saturday night shows. They naturally garnered quite a bit of attention, due to the Monáe-esque wigs they wore. Even better, they are friendly and have wonderful senses of humor. We chatted before the show, jammed together during Ms. Monáe’s set, and cooled down together on the roof deck after her set. Meeting them made the night more fun than it had already promised to be.
Come with me, now, to the floor of Terminal 5, and spend a few seconds tipping on the tightrope with us. You can even get a taste of Frank’s marvelous vocal skills for a few lines.
