1/15/24 O&A NYC DANCE REVIEW: Dallas Black Dance Theatre

By Walter Rutledge

The Black Dallas Dance Company (BDDC) began a two-day performance series at the Joyce theater on January 11th, 2024. The series was part of the Joyce Theater‘s eighth annual American Dance Platform. Jacob’s Pillow Associate Curator Melanie George presented a trilogy of performances and performers with a roster including Jazz at the Joyce (1/9 and 1/10) Soles of Duende (1/11 and 1/14) and Dallas Black Dance Theatre (1/12 and 1/13). Continue reading

1/14/24 O&A NYC O&A NYC SUNDAY AFTERNOON JAZZ CONCERT: Dizzy Gillespie Quintet – (Jazz 625) 1966

Humphrey Lyttelton and Neneh Cherry introduces a session by trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie accompanied by Rudy Collins, Christopher White, Kenny Barren and James Moody. Continue reading

1/7/23 O&A NYC GOSPEL SUNDAY: Nicole C Mullen- Redeemer- Live At The 32nd Dove Awards)


Michael W Smith introduces Nicole C Mullen and The Nashville Super Choir  in their rendition of Redeemer live from the 2001 GMA Dove Awards. Continue reading

1/6/23 O&A NYC SATURDAY MORNING CONCERT: Cynthia Erivo Live- The Royal Albert Hall London (August 2022)


Cynthia Erivo said she was “overwhelmed” by the audience’s ecstatic response during her 2022 concert at  Royal Albert Hall, London. “I’ve done the Hollywood Bowl, the Grammys, but this was the biggest, here in my home town,” Continue reading

12/31/23 O&A NYC SUNDAY AFTERNOON JAZZ: Miles Davis- We Three Kings


A special Miles Davis moment when he performed We Three Kings. Continue reading

12/15/23 O&A NYC SONG OF THE DAY: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Sheku Kanneh-Mason  is a British cellist who won the 2016 BBC Young Musician award. He was the first Black musician to win the competition since its launch in 1978. On May 19, 2018, at age 19, he played at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (under the direction of Chrisopher Warren-Green). As of 2021, Kanneh-Mason plays a Matteo Godfriller cello that was made in 1700. Continue reading

11/16/23 O&A NYC THROWBACK THURSDAY: Big Mama Thornton – Hound Dog and Down Home Shakedown (1965)

Willie Mae Thornton better known as Big Mama Thornton because of her height (nearly 6 feet), and weight (200 pounds), was an American singer and songwriter of the Blues and R&B.  Continue reading

10/1/23 O&A NYC DANCE REVIEW: Ballet X At The Joyce

By Walter Rutledge

Philadelphia based Ballet X returned to New York City’s Joyce Theater for a five-day six performance season. The expectations were high for this ethnically diverse contemporary ballet company and the talented dancers rose to the occasion. It was unfortunate that the choreography and the programming were not able to support the performers despite their valiant efforts. Continue reading

9/25/23 O&A NYC SONG OF THE DAY: Mariah Carey ft. Jadakiss,Style P – We Belong Together Remix: Global Citizen: NYC

Five-time Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Mariah Carey performs  We Belong Together a Desert Storm Remix with Jadakiss and Styles P at Global Citizen Festival: NYC in Central Park on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022. Continue reading

9/17/23 O&A NYC REVIEW: Is Heart of Brick A Black Queer Sex In The City?

By Walter Rutledge

The Joyce Theater’s fall 2023 season began September 15 with the interdisciplinary gay romance saga Heart of Brick. The theatrical production combined live vocal music, spoken narrations, voiceovers, dance, lighting and a clean, simple set design to recreate an evening at Langstons, New York City’s oldest Black gay bar. This is the first presentation in Director of Programming Danni Gee augural season, and in the truest downtown dance style she left the audience with something to talk about.   Continue reading