Mark Anthony Neal's Blog, page 369

The Sound of NYC’s Underground Vogue Scene

'Some are familiar with New York’s underground ballroom scene through Madonna’s Vogue or films like Paris is Burning. This subculture has been recognized for creating the inventive dance style voguing, but they’ve also created a music genre that’s all their own. Nahre and LA traveled to New York to meet MikeQ, the founder of the first ballroom record label: Qween Beat. MikeQ invited us to House of Vogue, Qween Beat’s monthly ball, to meet the musicians and dancer’s of the ballroom scene and find out what makes their music so captivating.' -- Sound Field

Theatre Corner: Interview with Playwright Dr. Lisa B. Thompson

'Dr. Lisa B. Thompson is a celebrated playwright who is currently teaching at University of Texas at Austin. Her latest production, The Mamalogues, plays at the Vortex Rep beginning August 23, 2019.' -- theatre corner

The Racial Divide of Breastfeeding in the U.S.

'In 2011, the United States Breastfeeding Committee declared August National Breastfeeding Month, as a way to promote and support breastfeeding. But the decision to breastfeed, and access to resources around it, can vary a lot depending on your race. In the U.S., white, educated women are more likely to breastfeed and for longer periods, and some reasons for that are deeply rooted in our nation’s history. Kimberly Seals Allers, strategist for maternal and infant health and author of The Big Letdown: How Medicine, Big Business, and Feminism Undermine Breastfeeding, and Andrea Freeman, associate professor of law at the University of Hawaii and author of Skimmed: Breastfeeding, Race and Injustice, join The Takeaway to talk about racial disparities in breastfeeding in the U.S.' 

On 'Pose,' Janet Mock Tells The Stories She Craved As A Young Trans Person

'Janet Mock remembers when she saw the documentary Paris is Burning for the first time. She was in 10th grade, living in Hawaii, and had already socially transitioned her gender identity. She was about to embark on her medical transition. That same ball culture she saw in Paris is Burning would come up again in her career, decades later. After launching a career in journalism, writing two memoirs and becoming a trans activist, Mock made history as the first trans woman of color to write and direct an episode of TV when she joined the production of Ryan Murphy's series Pose.' -- Fresh Air

'The Black Messiah' And The Legacy Of Cannonball Adderley

'Cannonball Adderley was a mere 46 when he died, of a brain hemorrhage, in 1975. An alto saxophonist of robust intellect and irrefutable soul, he left a monumental legacy during his two decades in the spotlight — as a member of the Miles Davis Sextet, an exemplar of 1960s soul jazz and the leading avatar of a brand of post-bop modernism with popular appeal. This episode of Jazz Night In America takes a fond look at that legacy, illuminating it from multiple angles. Guided by our host, self-avowed Cannonball fanatic Christian McBride, we'll hear from some of Adderley's former bandmates, like drummer Roy McCurdy and tenor saxophonist Ernie Watts. And we'll pull the curtain back on The Black Messiah, a 1971 album that has come to be seen as a classic.'

Mapping Pop Music’s Falsetto Obsession

'It’s nearly impossible to turn on the radio and not hear a male artist singing really high. This isn’t a trend — it has been the status quo for decades. Using the data diving know-how of The Pudding, and drawing on the expertise of Anthony Roth Costanzo, a professional opera singer, Vox digs into the world of the high male vocal range by tracking how pervasive it really is across the decades.'

10 Years of MASCHINE: 9th Wonder

'Step into the studio with 9th Wonder (Patrick Douthit), the legendary producer behind Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Erykah Badu, Mary J. Blige, and more. Find out what makes him one of the most energetic, inspiring, and influential producers in the game – and see how he creates his signature soulful sound with MASCHINE.'-- Native Instruments

Electric Miles: Behind The 'Brew'

'Electric Miles. Few word pairings in the jazz lexicon are apt to inspire so much contention and challenge and ferment. What the phrase refers to, of course, is a period in the career of trumpeter Miles Davis , spanning the last third of his life. And while there are other important antecedents, the big bang of this period is an album recorded 50 years ago by the name of Bitches Brew. This episode of Jazz Night in America takes us behind the furious mystique of that album, illuminating the musical and cultural forces Miles was metabolizing at the time. We'll hear from an array of authorities on the subject — notably his second wife, funk heroine and fashion icon Betty Davis, who inspired his outrageous transformation in the Age of Aquarius. ("Whatever I would wear, he would wear," says Betty with a laugh, in this rare, can't-miss interview.)' -- Jazz Night in America

Bassey Ikpi On 'I'm Telling The Truth, But I'm Lying'

'NPR's Scott Simon speaks with author and spoken-word artist Bassey Ikpi about I'm Telling The Truth, But I'm Lying, her new collection of essays about growing up and dealing with mental illness.' -- Weekend Edition Saturday

Black Woodstock 50

' Neal Ludevig , curator and co-producer of the Black Woodstock 50th Anniversary concert,  Freddie Stone , co-founder and lead guitarist of Sly and the Family Stone, and jazz musician and trumpet player Keyon Harrold join to talk about the legacy of Black Woodstock and how it's been largely forgotten by history. Freddie Stone performed with Sly and the Family Stone at the original Black Woodstock and is featured at this year's concert. Keyon Harrold is also performing at the Black Woodstock 50th Anniversary concert.' -- All Of It