Lots of things in the works right now.

So heres what you’ve missed

got some one on one time with The Ettes before their show  @ The Drunken Unicorn, in atlanta

www.theettes.com

the NBAF ( www.nbaf.org)  put on a benefit for Haiti after the earthquake. The benefit was a sucess not only in raising funds but for the patrons. 15$ min donation got you a concert feat :Vinx, Dionne Farris, Joi, Common Ground, Luis Carrera, Avery Sunshine and countless others

Fadia Kader  & SMKA hosted their Artist Showcase Perfect attendance. The Jan volume  being ladies night with the likes of iYana, Richelle Brown , The Dolldaze, Stahhr on point and a surprise performance from Brittany Bosco

the doll daze…

FEB would bring us. Brittany Bosco and the 54 tearing down 529 in an amazing  concert

and  BOSCO!!!

Heston leaves the stage and the lights dim.  A few adjustments and several guys walk onto stage carrying brass and woodwind instruments.  A stocky guy slides behind the key board and begins to tap the melody to  Funky Good Time by the Godfather himself James Brown. A progression of  instruments follow, trumpet, saxophone, electric bass, and so on and so on. The crowd inches closer the stage but its not unbearable. I like when I  can shoot and not feel elbows in my back!

 The crowd is moving in time. The piano man asks us if we’re ready.  Yes We are! It felt like the Godfather himself was going to grace us. Two ladies in black dresses with matching gladiator heels and red leather belts walked on to stage a with a sprinkle of chimes there she was. Leighan and I had lamented on whether her  hair would be pressed or au natural.  The Lord definitely smiled us on with the rain today and there she was. Leela James with a crown of natural curls that were to be envied and revered. Her hair could definitley break a comb. And I was proud to be rockin my afro!!!!

I remember commenting that there was no set list. You know i like to get a photo of the set list. Although i can remember most of what she sang. I can’t really tell you more than she opened with James and closed with “A change is gonna come”. In between The rolling stones were nestled next to Phyllis Hyman and snuggled up with  Bootsy Collins. Something about women singing “I’d rather be with you”. When Joi aka Tennessee Slim does it hairs prickle. When Leela growls it. I am transported to that somewhat bittersweet place in relationships when you just cant sync up due to timeconstraints. She pulled you in . And she pulled you up at one point the stage was full of people as LJ Chicago stepped to Phyllis Hyman and Salsa’d to “Music” from her previous effort. 

yea y blackeah yea yeah....

Well its been more than 7 days since you  heard from. I have to admit its hard correction CHALLENGING ( as mom would say) keeping up a facebook, flickr. nbafning and a web page. Its a learning process. I blog for myself but also for nbaf.org and while I aspire to keep them equally unique its difficult not to become repetitive. I am use to letting my photos do the talking. SO THATS WHAT I INTEND TO DO HERE from now on. Every now and again I’m sure I will let words spill from my head to the web. I’ll do my very best to have subject verb agreement but really. Its about the music. How I see what I hear.

Two Saturdays in a row I’ve began my evening at SugarHill @ underground. Last week I felt like a grandma in a prom dress  among the younguns who consider 80’s vintage. Now mind you I was a child not a teen but a child during the 80’s I have a hard time considering it vintage. But I guess if you were born in that decade  hair like Kwame and looking like an extra in a Go-Go’s or  Shalamar video is well hip. 3 years ago  J*davey came to town and I chose to stay home and sleep because 6am comes early when you work 12’s ( the length of my shift at the grind) So i stayed home and CC went and copped a cd for me. I have been kicking myself ever since. So there was no way I was missing their triumphant return to ATLANTA. Why triumphant ? We all know anyone can be anything on myspace but its rare to be noticed let alone get signed. Brook and the pirate Jack have done just that. Anyway– with anticipation  Ladybird and I braved the  next generation to hear the sounds of the Ampfest hosted by consummate hype man Dres the beatnik and Mo Rielly from 95.5 the beat.

Blah blah blah i bore myself. so photos

I come from the city of Nowhere

Brittany Bosco

J*Davey

the pirate and the thundacat

Ok now scroll to 21 March 09. All month I’ve been chomping at the bit for tonight’s show. I was aware of Julie Dexter in passing. I mean I hear her on WCLK , I like the tone of her voice but well I wasn’t on her. Then suddenly last summer. ha ha ha Hey Mrs Johnson  I was paying attention to your lecture. DIGRESS. Suddenly last summer I was tapped to photo blog for NBAF and saw her live at  Centennial Olympic Park.  Lets just say this. I own many renditions of My Favorite Things…. people will tell you i sing http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcordell/3317665656/  it in the darkroom. Until last summer nothing could top Coltrane’s version. Then I heard Julie skat her way thru “Blue satin sashes and snowflakes on my nose and eyelashes…” I WAS HOOKED. Well once again… I’m out of words. So I’ll let my pictures do the talking.

after the show...

Want to see more… finish the story

http://www.nbaf.org/blog/index.cfm?Fuseaction=blog

every friday…. 

gudrun

See what She heard….

gudrun

models about town

Sheryl Lee Ralph is taken back by the recognition,another model in the turn acceptance speech