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

6/11/23 O&A NYC GOSPEL SUNDAY: Ricky Dillard – All Of My Help (Live Performance)

Ricky Rydell Dillard is a gospel artist. He started his music career in 1987, as a Chicago House musician. His first Christian music album was Promise, by Muscle Shoals Records. Continue reading

6/11/23 O&A NYC SUNDAY AFTERNOON JAZZ CONCERT: Jazz Icons – Oscar Peterson – Live In ’63, ’64, ’65

This release contains sixteen songs performed by the legendary jazz pianist Oscar Peterson with the assistance of some stellar sidemen. Culled from three different live appearances, the setlist includes Reunion Blues, But Not For Me, It Ain’t Necessarily So Soon and Yours Is My Heart Alone. Continue reading

6/3/23 O&A NYC GOING BACK TO AFRICA WITH WALESTYLEZ: Olamide, Asake – New Religion

The CEO of YBNL, Olamide is also a formidable Hip Hop artist and song composer whose musical prowess is unmatched. Every music lover’s playlist should include this original bang hit song.This amazing piece of music is one you won’t want to miss. Continue reading

6/1/23 O&A NYC THROWBACK THURSDAY: Ludacris – Get Back

Get Back is by Ludacris from his album The Red Light District.It was released as the first single from the album and reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 2005. Continue reading

5/31/23 O&A NYC WALESTYLEZ HIP HOP WEDNESDAY: Yelawolf – Hillybilly Einstein

Michael Wayne Atha  better known by his stage name Yelawolf, is a Hip Hop artist. Born in Alabama and raised in Tennesse, he embarked on his career independently in 2005, releasing one EP and four mixtapes until 2010. Yelawolf signing a deal with Interscope Records.His first release on a major label was a reworking of Trunk Muzik. Continue reading

5/27/24 O&A NYC MEMORIAL DAY SONG OF THE DAY: Marvin Gaye- American National Anthem

Marvin Gaye, The Prince of Motown brought attention to the NBA and helped boost its image. Gaye pioneered singing the national anthem, the Star Spangled Banner, in own rendition during the 1983 NBA All-Star game Continue reading

2/14/24 O&A NYC ST. VALENTINE’S DAY DANCE: Dudley Williams- Alvin Ailey’s Love Songs

d90704264383da96da61f51bc870f967In 1972, Alvin Ailey created the elegiac solo Love Songs for dancer Dudley Williams. The  sixteen minute solo, composed in three sections includes A Song for You by Donny Hathaway; Poppies by Nina Simone; and He Ain’t Heavy, He’s my Brother by Donny Hathaway. Many  thought of the work as the male equivalent of the female solo Cry (1971). Continue reading

5/24/23 O&A NYC WALESTYLEZ HIP HOP WEDNESDAY: LL COOL J – 4,3,2,1 ft. Method Man, Redman, Canibus, DMX, Master P

4, 3, 2, 1 is a song by Queens Hip Hop artist LL Cool J featuring  Method Man, Redman, Canibus and DMX from LL Cool J’s seventh album Phenomenon as the second single. It was released onDecember 9, 1997 for Def Jam Recordings and was produced by LL Cool J and Erick Sermon.                          Continue reading

5/24/23 O&A NYC GOING BACK TO AFRICA WITH WALESTYLEZ: Blaqbonez ft. Ludacris – Cinderella Girl {Where You Dey}

Emeka Akumefule known professionally as Blaqbonez, is a Hip Hop artist signed to Chocolate City.Blaqbonez is popularly known for his distinct rap style as well as his creative ingenuity. In 2019, he was profiled by The New York Times as one of the new guards of Nigerian music. Continue reading