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American in Paris Plays Paris Before Broadway
Producers behind the Broadway-bound "An American in Paris" made a clever move to premiere the show in Paris and this American was lucky to be able to catch it over the Christmas holidays before ending...
View ArticleBirdman and Why Antonio Sanchez Deserves an Oscar Nomination
Antonio Sanchez is undoubtedly one of the world's best drummers. Although most recognized for his work with guitarist Pat Metheny, his fourth album as a leader, Three Times Three, will be released in...
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People, Not Gorillas, Are the Real Heroes of Virunga
It has taken me six months to get around to writing promised commentary on the documentary Virunga , now available to stream on Netflix. I got into this project by requesting a screener in June and...
View ArticleWhy Society Should Stop Sweating the Kardashians in 2015
Article originally published on Unwritten. We just rang in 2015 and alas, a new epic 365-day adventure begins. But for as new as it will be, it'll most likely stay very much the same: The Kardashians...
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Selma and Richard Valeriani: A Reporter's Story
Over the years I've developed a catchphrase for when I'm watching a movie and some poor heroic soul opens the door only to be met by a mob of shouting reporters and flashing cameras: "press as pack of...
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Serious Edutainment: Chatting With Music Webmoguls Dave Pensado and Herb Trawick
A Conversation with Herb Trawick & Dave Pensado Mike Ragogna: When did all this Pensado/Trawick bromance begin? Herb Trawick: Oh God, about twenty-five years ago in the lobby of a studio when we...
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Little Man Max Charles Tackles Big Roles in American Sniper and The Amazing...
Young performer MAX CHARLES has won over hearts with his portrayal of the young Peter Parker in "The Amazing Spider-Man" and its sequel. Currently, you can see Max as Bradley Cooper's son in American...
View ArticleTrapped in the Booth: The DJ Drunchies
This post was originally published on Cuepoint, a collection at Medium.com Disclaimer: This is a semi-fictionalized version of my all-too-real experiences working as a DJ in New York City. Many of the...
View ArticleA-Sides with Jon Chattman:: Good "Chemistry" with Plaid Brixx; Goapele "Moves...
Let's be honest pop junkies - anytime you hear the word "chemistry," you instantly think of cooking with White and Pinkman. PLAID BRIXX is about to change that in 2015 with the release of their EP and...
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The Common Kings
I have had the opportunity to interview some of island reggae's finest in J Boog and The Green recently. The opportunity given by the Yamada brothers (Seattle) of Da 808 Entertainment to interview the...
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Multi-Platinum Winning Songwriter and Poet IN-Q Talks Poetry and How to Break...
These questions originally appeared on Quora: The best answer to any question. Ask a question, get a great answer. Learn from experts and access insider knowledge. You can follow Quora on Twitter,...
View ArticleWhy Representation Matters: A Thank You Letter to Bryan Konietzko and Michael...
If you were to ask me on the street what my favorite childhood franchise was it would be difficult for me to answer you immediately. Harry Potter and seasons 1-5 of Pokémon would certainly be honorable...
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A New York State of Mind
A bounty of exemplary singer/songwriters have embraced their native New York as their core inspiration and a powerful component to their personal brands. Let's look at five top pop artists among the...
View ArticleNew York Film Critics Circle at Tao Downtown: First Awards in the New Year
The New York Film Critics Circle announce their film honors early, so you know just who you are going to see at their annual awards dinner: with Boyhood taking top honors, the team was a distinct...
View ArticleJazzing Things Up With 'Broadway at Birdland'
Times change. Tastes change. But look closely and you'll find proponents who keep tradition alive for the faithful, and with the foresight of knowing that what's old will someday be new once again....
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Mini-Pad Girl
Circa 1992 (yikes) I was meeting with record label executive and mentor of sorts Jay Landers in his office in New York. On a whim (which was not unusual for Jay) he called Albert Hammond (Sr.) and...
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Jessica Fellowes Goes Behind the Scenes of Downton Abbey
As Downton Abbey finally returns to PBS, I reached out to Jessica Fellowes, author of three juicy coffee table books about the award-winning series and niece to show creator Julian Fellowes, to get...
View ArticleMadonna -- A "Rebel" Criticized and Constrained?
"AS A matter of fact, the public, the public hates to 'recognize' what is familiar. It hates to be disturbed. It is shocked by surprises. The worst that can happen to a work of art is to have no fault...
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Meet Khaled Abol Naga, Egypt's International Treasure
Khaled Abol Naga photographed by Brigitte Lacombe, courtesy of Doha Film Institute I need a hero. It's the reason I watch films, looking for what politicians, warmongers, our so-called diplomats and...
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Farewell to Pino Daniele: A Lifelong Musical Journey to the Center of the Heart
In the lovely summer of 1981, while travelling through my beloved territories in Italy, my free compass after visiting the Umbria Jazz Festival took me to Sardegna. There, in a 'campeggio libero' at at...
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