AMY Winehouse’s father will perform at a charity gig in her honour on Thursday, May 23.

Greenhithe resident Mitch Winehouse will join English and Irish entertainers such as Ray D’Arcy and Mick Flannery at London Irish Centre’s Big Night Out in Camden, in the same square where his daughter lived.

Profits from the black tie event, with three course meal and champagne reception, will be split evenly between the centre and LauraLynn Ireland’s Children’s Hospice.

Tickets cost £95 or £900 for a table of 10. Go to bignightout.eventbrite.co.uk or e-mail gerrycarty@londonirishcentre.org.

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Time to swing
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, the popular jazz and swing revivalist band, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, an event that will include a performance at North Central College’s Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville. The nine-piece band is well-known for its inventive and energetic live performances. Tickets start at $35. Go to finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. 8 p.m. Saturday, May 18

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Yesterday, the Garden of Dreams Foundation and the New York-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital unveiled the refurbishments in the Children’s Diagnostic Radiology Center made possible by a grant from Garden of Dreams. Celebrities including The Rockettes, John Starks, Rod Gilbert, Adam Graves, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels joined patients and Hospital staff for the ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate and unveil the new corridor. Scroll down for photos!

This represents the Garden of Dreams’ largest contribution for any refurbishing project to date and will create a more comfortable, family-friendly environment for the 11,500 children who receive treatment each year for everything from sports related injuries to life threatening illnesses. The area had not been renovated in over 25 years. Now, the hallway is lined with a 130-foot mural by renowned artist, James Kimak and includes new ceilings, lighting, wall protection, flooring and fresh paint.

The Garden of Dreams Foundation is nonprofit charitable organization that works with all areas of The Madison Square Garden Company, including the Knicks, the Rangers, the Liberty, MSG Entertainment, MSG Networks and Fuse, to make dreams come true for children facing obstacles.

Article Source: Broadwayworld.com

By George Varga

Singer-songwriter Rebecca Pidgeon performs here Saturday at Lestat’s in Normal Heights. Her singing is no act.

Since 1985, when he began producing albums by his now-former wife, Joni Mitchell, Larry Klein has been the go-to-guy for first-rate artists seeking an empathetic musical partner. In addition to six albums with Mitchell, he has produced memorable recordings by an array of diverse artists, winning a number of Grammy Awards in the process. They range Herbie Hancock, Shawn Colvin, Steely Dan’s Walter Becker, Madeleine Peyroux, Melody Gardot and Brazilian jazz singer Luciana Souza, Klein’s wife.

His credits also include producing three increasingly assured albums by veteran actress and singer-songwriter Rebecca Pidgeon, who performs here Saturday at Lestat’s in Normal Heights (a neighborhood whose name might inspire a smile — if not a new screenplay — by her celebrated husband, David Mamet). She’ll be accompanied here by guitarist Tim Young.

“Slingshot,” Pidgeon’s sixth and most recent album (and third with Klein) includes a lovely ballad, the country-meets-doo-wop-inflected “Baby Please Come Home Again,” that she and Mamet teamed up on. The couple also co-wrote five songs on her quietly fetching debut album, 1995’s “The Raven.”

One can detect various influences in Pidgeon’s songs, including some familiar ones, like Mitchell and some obscure ones, like Slapp Happy alum Dagmar Krause. (The latter is a left-field guess on my part, based on the manner in which Pidgeon — who has no hint of Krause’s German accent — sometimes approaches an ascending vocal line ).

For the most part, though, Pidgeon sounds more comfortable in her own musical skin than many better known troubadours. In Klein, who co-wrote songs with her for “Slingshot,” she has a muy simpatico artistic partner.

The English-born Pidgeon first gained musical notice in the second half of the 1980s for her work in the group Ruby Blue. Not surprisingly, her acting career, on stage and in films, has overshadowed her music. But for a part-time troubadour, she acquits herself admirably with a winning blend of folk, country, light swing and, on “Disintegration Man,” rootsy rock that takes careful aim at political opportunists, with tart lines like: He could act empathetic, but he really don’t feel / He’s as young as Prozac, he is as old as the wheel.
Stephen Kellogg, with Rebecca Pidgen

When: 9 p.m. Saturday, May 11

Where: Lestat’s, 3343 Adams Avenue, Normal Heights

Tickets: $18

Phone: (619) 282-0437

Online: lestats.com

© Copyright 2013 The San Diego Union-Tribune, LLC. An MLIM LLC Company. All rights reserved.

The family of Amy Winehouse is hoping to re-claim her as a typical north London Jewish girl in a new exhibition.
Older brother Alex Winehouse and his wife, Riva, are collaborating with the Jewish Museum in Camden and giving unprecedented access to Amy’s belongings including the guitar he taught her to play on, her record and books collection and a vintage bar from her former home.

The show, which comes in what would have been her 30th year, will also include family photographs such as her brother’s barmitzvah ceremony, Friday night dinners and grandmother Cynthia who was a major style influence on Amy and was the subject of the tattoo on her arm.

Alex Winehouse said: “Amy was someone who was incredibly proud of her Jewish-London roots. Whereas other families would go to the seaside on a sunny day, we’d always go down to the East End. That was who we were and what we were.
“We weren’t religious, but we were traditional. I hope, in this most fitting of places, that the world gets to see this other side not just to Amy, but to our typical Jewish family.”

Abigail Morris, the museum’s chief executive, said it was fitting they told her story. “Amy Winehouse was an immensely talented, iconic and inspirational singer and she was a Jewish girl from north London.”

The idea for the show was sparked when the family offered the museum one of Amy’s dresses and talks began.
Ms Morris said some of the loans were very moving, such as her uniform from the Sylvia Young Theatre School and a Jewish cookbook. “She was very keen on making chicken soup. She would make it for her security guards.”
Amy Winehouse: A Family Portrait will run from July 3 to September 15. Admission to the museum, including free entry to the show, is £7.50 for adults. www.jewishmuseum.org.uk/Amy

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You are about to read my interview with DMC, aka Darryl McDaniels, aka D, aka Darryl Mack, aka…hands down, one of the most influential Rappers of all time.
Being able to interview him was such a thrill as a long time listener. It was surreal to ask him, say, who he feels is a great MC. It felt like I was asking Picasso who his favorite painter was…
Few would argue that this man is Hip Hop royalty, and it was a privilege to be a part of this.
Enjoy the below.

CL: People have a tendency to only relate an artist’s personal tastes to
the music they themselves make…for example assuming all Metal artists only
like Metal, all Rappers only like Rap…I’m sure you have experienced this.
But I have read that your influences musically are all over the map. Who
are artists in various genres that you feel have always been inspirational
to you personally?

DMC: My influences are the artists that inspired me way before I even thought
of being a recording artist myself. AM radio played artists such as Harry
Chapin, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, The Beatles, The Doobie Brothers, Creedence
Clearwater Revival, Neil Young, Crosby Stills Nash…and Young, Elton John,
Janis Joplin…and a whole host of other rockers and folk rockers whose music
spoke to my soul! Their music was relevant then and even now to the social, political and
personal aspects of my life. Everything they sing about I live, feel and
experience.

CL: The first Rap vinyl I bought as a kid…in the sixth grade (!) was the
first Run DMC record, which of course I still have. When putting it out,
did you feel the world would catch on like it did at the time?

DMC: I had no idea the whole world would catch on! I just was hoping to have
a song on radio to play next to “The Message” and “Planet Rock” and to impress
my idols The Cold Crush Brothers.

CL: Songs like “Rock Box” and “King of Rock” fused Rock and Rap for the masses to levels never explored before. How would you say that idea developed back then?

DMC: Because all the pioneering deejays who started Hip Hop like Kool Herc,
Bambaataa, Flash, and Grandwizard Theodore for example, always had rock break
beats in the crates of records they would play for their emcees to rhyme
over, I always told Jay and Run we have to make the “Toys In The Attic” loop and
rhyme over it!

CL: You actually called it the “Toys in the Attic” loop?

DMC: I didn’t know it was called “Walk This Way!” Never heard the
lyrics! But deejays always had rock beats along with disco break beats and
ames Brown funky drummer breaks!

CL: Jam Master Jay was truly one of the first global superstar DJ’s and
still is. What would you say was your favorite quality that he had as a
person and a friend? If this is too personal I understand…

DMC: (emphatically) Jam Master Jay had the most motivating and inspiring qualities ever embodied in a person! He found potential and goodness in everything.

CL: How did you find yourself involved on the new Public Enemy “RLTK” Track?

DMC: DJ Johnny Juice of Public Enemy is also one of PE’s great producers, so
he always knew me and Chuck should make a song together, and when he came up
with an incredible 808 drum based song in need of some powerful visionary
lyrics, he knew this was one of the first songs we should record together.

CL: Speaking of collaborations, how did your single “Attention Please” with Pauley P come about?

DMC: The “Attention Please” song with Pauley Perrette came about when a friend
heard the chorus and knew it needed two people who are serious about doing
powerfully positive messages. It was a natural fit because Pauley is a great
singer and artist, she’s a real rocker!

CL: When I interviewed Chuck D last year, I asked him how being from Long
Island growing up affected his musical direction. How do you feel that
growing up in Hollis Queens helped shaped your musical style?

DMC: When you listen to “Christmas In Hollis” and “Sucker MCs” you can tell how much
growing up in Queens is a part of my music. Every rhyme from these songs to
“Son Of Byford” are true and actual facts of my life.

CL: A few years ago, I saw “DMC: My Adoption Journey” on television, which
was an extremely touching film. What made you decide to make such a strong
personal moment public?

DMC: I did the “My Adoption Journey” doc because I knew there are a lot of
People…young and old from all nations and religions…who are orphans, foster
kids, or adopted; and I want them to know they are not alone. Like the song I
did with Sarah McLachlan says “there’s a lot of people JUST LIKE ME! There’s
a whole lot JUST LIKE ME!!!”

CL: Who does DMC consider an example of an incredible rapper? From any time period?

DMC: Chuck D of Public Enemy is the best ever! Andre 3000 is a real close
runner up!

CL: Is there anything Eclectiblogs can help spread the word out on for you
at this time- a new record coming out?

DMC: I’m putting out new single and video ‘round my birthday May 31st called
“Noise Revolution” with Wayne Static (Static X) and droppin’ an album soon with
the lead single “She Gets Me High” featuring Mick Mars of Mötley Crüe, Sebastian Bach
from Skid Row and the incomparable Travis Barker from Blink 182!
Watch out yall I got an army of musician friends…
…and we are on a mission!!! Love!

*On a personal note, I find it very gratifying that many of those who I feel are innovators in the musical universe make themselves accessible to Eclectiblogs. They clearly don’t have to, but often they do. In the Public Enemy track “Everything” Chuck D says he’s “…got no problem if you approach me.” I personally can testify that he’s being truthful, as it was in the case with DMC.

Thank you all for your willingness and your time, as well as to your cooperative and professional representation…such as Tracey Miller & Associates…for making this possible. -cl

Article Source:eclectiblogs.webs.com

Robert Cray belts a note during his set on the first night of the Crossroads Guitar Festival.

Article Source: DailyNews.com