7/27/23 O&A NYC THROWBACK THURSDAY: Billie Holiday – God Bless The Child (film)- Presented by Chicago Blues Museum

Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan [April 7, 1915 — July 17, 1959) an American jazz singer and songwriter Nicknamed “Lady Day” by her friend and musical partner Lester Young. Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing. Her vocal style, strongly inspired by jazz instrumentalists, pioneered a new way of manipulating phrasing and tempo. Continue reading

6/18/23 O&A NYC GOSPEL SUNDAY: Tramaine Hawkins – Praise The Name of Jesus


Tramaine Hawkins sings Praise The Name of Jesus from the Tramaine Live Album (1990) Continue reading

6/14/23 O&A NYC WALESTYLEZ HIP HOP WEDNESDAY: Cardi B FULL HOT 97 Summer Jam Live Performance ft. Glorilla, Latto & 21 Savage – SUPERCUT

Cardi B’s full Summer Jam 2023 performance featuring surprise guests 21 Savage, Latto and  Glorilla. Continue reading

6/11/23 O&A NYC DANCE REVIEW: Ailey At BAM

By Walter Rutledge

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater presented a Brooklyn dance series June 6th thru 11th at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). The six-day seven performance series offered two well curated programs of new works and Ailey classics. The Saturday evening performance consisted of four works by four modern dance luminaries, Kyle Abraham, Robert Battle, Ron Brown and Paul Taylor. Continue reading

4/25/23 O&A NYC SONG OF THE DAY: Harry Belafonte – Day-O (The Banana Boat Song) (Live)


Harry Belafonte sings his most popular song Day-O, an excerpt from his television special Harry Belafonte in Concert (Japan, 1960)”. Recorded live at Sankei Hall, Tokyo, 18 July 1960. From the album Calypso” (1956) Continue reading

4/23/23 O&A NYC SUNDAY AFTERNOON JAZZ CONCERT: Art Blakey, Thelonious Monk, Kai Winding, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Stitt, live 1971 • World of Jazz

The Giants Of Jazz are: Art Blakey, Thelonious Monk, Kai Winding, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Stitt, with Al McKibbon on bass gave a live performance on the Newport Jazz Festival October 31, 1971 in De Doelen Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Continue reading

4/18/23 O&A NYC SONG OF THE DAY: Thelonius Monk Quartet _Monk au danemark

Thelonious Monk the greatest pianist, composer of Jazz of all time, At twenty-two he is the official pianist of Minton’s club in Harlem. During jam sessions with drummer Kenny Clark, trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, saxophonist Charlie Parker and guitarist Charlie Christian, among others, he developed a new style: Bebop. Continue reading

4/9/23 O&A NYC DANCE REVIEW: A.I.M. By Kyle Abraham

By Walter Rutledge

A.I.M. By Kyle Abraham presented their New York season from April 4th through April 9th at the Joyce Theater. The well curated program presented five works by three choreographers including three world premieres. All the works, which ranged from dance theatre/storytelling to pure dance, fit the A.I.M. By Abraham aesthetic surprisingly well, this successfully produced a visual cohesive, but uneven evening of dance. Continue reading

3/31/23 O&A NYC THROWBACK THURSDAY: Lady Marmalade- LaBelle – (1975)

Lady Marmalade, a song by black R&B/Rock girl group Labelle, was written about a prostitute from New Orleans, Louisiana. The song’s inspiration was from Bob Crewe’s observations of New Orleans. It was originally recorded by the group Eleventh Hour for their greatest hits album. Continue reading

12/15/22 O&A NYC THROWBACK THURSDAY: Diana Ross- Christmas in Washington (2012)

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Christmas in Washington is an annual Christmas television special that currently airs on the U.S. TNT network. The 2102 broadcast was hosted by Conan O’Brien and starred Diana Ross, Demi Lovato, Megan Hilty, Scotty McCreery, and Chris Mann.  Continue reading