Saturday, May 28, 2011

RIP Gil Scott-Heron

I am so saddened to learn of the death of Gil Scott-Heron JUST NOW. In the 70’s when Gil was selling lots of records and inspiring and schooling a whole lot of people, I’d see him live time and time again and was always riveted not only by the brilliant and insightful lyrics but the great musicianship, showmanship, and just plain great concerts he did. They felt like events more so than mere shows. He used to play a lot of college campus gigs because he truly was a TEACHER.

I am jaded. I have seen “everyone.” But Gil Scott-Heron was a genius. And I don’t throw that word around loosely.
R.I.P. to someone who influenced so many.

www.legendsradio.net

 

 

Music Pioneer Scott-Heron Dies After European Trip

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: May 28, 2011
The musician Gil Scott-Heron, who helped lay the groundwork for rap by fusing minimalistic percussion, political expression and spoken-word poetry on songs like “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,” died Friday.
A friend, Doris C. Nolan, who answered the telephone listed for his Manhattan recording company, said Mr. Scott-Heron, 62, died in the afternoon at St. Luke’s Hospital after becoming sick upon returning from a European trip.
“We’re all sort of shattered,” she said.
Mr. Scott-Heron was sometimes referred to as the Godfather of Rap, a title he rejected.
“If there was any individual initiative that I was responsible for it might have been that there was music in certain poems of mine, with complete progression and repeating ‘hooks,’ which made them more like songs than just recitations with percussion,” he wrote in the introduction to his 1990 collection of poems, “Now and Then.”
He referred to his signature mix of percussion, politics and performed poetry as bluesology or Third World music. But then he said it was simply “black music or black American music.”
“Because Black Americans are now a tremendously diverse essence of all the places we’ve come from and the music and rhythms we brought with us,” he wrote.
Mr. Scott-Heron recorded the song that would make him famous, “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,” in the 1970s in Harlem. He followed up that recording with more than a dozen albums, initially collaborating with the musician Brian Jackson. His most recent album was “I’m New Here,” which he began recording in 2007. It was released in 2010.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Legends Radio - Greatest names in Arts/Pro Wrestling/MMA

Evan Ginzburg’s Legends Radio co-hosted by Dr. Mike Lano
Heard Wednesdays  7:30-9:30 PM EST on www.legendsradio.net  Archived 24/7
Featuring the biggest legends live on air in the Arts, music, and sports
Stars from the arts have included:
Jenny McCarthy
Pat Cooper
30 Rock’s Judah Friedlander
Heather McDonald (Chelsea Lately)
Sherwood Schwartz (Creator Brady Bunch)
Jackie “The Jokeman” Martling
Shelly Berman
F Troop’s Larry Storch
Robert Vaughn
Marilyn Michaels
Rona Barrett
Larry Flynt
Robert Shields of Shields and Yarnell
Jack LaLanne
Celebrity Chef Joey Altman (Food Network)
Will Durst
Hal Lipson
Chauncey Hayden
Marta Kristen (Lost in Space)
Barry Blaustein
Wally “Famous” Amos
Noel (Lois Lane) Neill
Nicole Bass
Dr. Victoria Zdrok
Seka
Roddy Piper
Chris Jericho
Chuck McCann
Beverly Washburn
King of the B Films- Conrad Brooks
Tony Burton (Apollo Creed’s cornerman)
Karen Lynn Gorney (Saturday Night Fever)
Roy Frumkes (The Substitute franchise)
Ed “Kookie” Byrnes  77 Sunset Strip
Sunset Thomas
Magician Joshua Jay
Al Guthertz- Hollywood Reporter/Variety
Pulitzer nominated playwright/Obie Award winner Kristoffer Diaz
Comedian Dobie Maxwell
Johnny Fairplay (Survivor)
And many more…

Musical guests have included:
Ray Manzarek of The Doors
Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins
Billy Paul
James Moody
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Grandmaster Melle Mel
Fred Wesley
Sugar Pie DeSanto
William Hart of the Delfonics
Wendell Sawyer of Blue Magic
Eban Brown- current lead singer of The Stylistics
Syl Johnson
Eddie Jobson of Roxy Music and King Crimson and U.K.
Mighty Sam McClain
Tower of Power’s Doc Kupka
Canned Heat’s Stanley Behrens
Ron Dante of the Archies
Handsome Dick Manitoba of the Dictators
Wendell Holmes of the Holmes Brothers
Fats Gallon- funk drummer
Music journalism great Ben Fong-Torres
JD Allen
Jazz great Connie Crothers
Loc from The Dramatics
Jazz Bassist Christopher Dean Sullivan
Smooth jazz star Eddie Benitez
Jazz great Azar Lawrence
Blues great Candye Kane
Wanda Vaughn (The Emotions)
Wayne Vaughn (Producer/Writer Earth, Wind & Fire)
Ron Carter of the Persuaders
Violent J of Insane Clown Posse
The Shirts
Malo
Carlton J. Smith
Ned Massey
Theresa Sareo
Ekayani and Tom Glide
L.A.W.
Michael McHugh
Black Rock Coaltion
Blues ace Felix Cabrera
And talent deserving wider recognition…


Stars of professional wrestling and MMA have included:
Bruno Sammartino
SuperStar Billy Graham
Pat Patterson
Ivan Putski
Dory Funk, Jr.
Harley Race
Stan Hansen
Superfly Snuka
Austin Aries
Honkytonk Man
Tyler Black
Jerry Lynn
Frank Shamrock
Awesome Kong
Mia St. John
Nigel McGuiness
Butcher Paul Vachon
Kamala
Sid Eudy
Sonny King
Nikolai Volkoff
Les Thornton
Gene Kiniski
Jimmy Valiant
Johnny Valiant
Kevin Sullivan
Colt Cabana
Bob Roop
Dawn Marie
Tito Santana
Brutus  Beefcake
Melissa Coates
Danny Hodge
Eric Bischoff
The Destroyer
Lanny Poffo
DDP
Afa
Bobby Heenan
Chris Masters
Ox Baker
Molly Holly
Baron Von Rashke
Greg Valentine
Magnum T.A.
Christie Hemme
Necro Butcher
Larry Zybysko
Tracie Brooks
Jake The Snake Roberts
Blackjack Mulligan
Mustapha Saed
Teddy Hart
RVD
Earl Maynard
Manny Fernandez
Baby Doll
Savio Vega
JJ Dillon
Dr. Death Steve Williams
Missy Hiatt
Mean Gene Okerlund
Jimmy Hart
Daniel Puder
Al Snow
Steve Corino
Kimberly Page
Bill Watts
D Lo Brown
Dutch Savage
Sonjay Dutt
Hillbilly Jim
Buddy Landell
Juventud Guerrero
Tommy Rich
ODB
Bryan Alvarez
Ted Dibiase
Percy Pringle (Paul Bearer)
Jim Cornette
Austin Idol
Chris Nowinski
Ivan Koloff
Ox Baker
Zach Gowen
Tony Atlas
Jerry Jarrett
And countless others…

Evan Ginzburg is a 20 plus year radio veteran formerly with 50,000 Watt WBAI-FM 99.5 NYC (Pacifica Radio). He is the Associate Producer and appears as himself in The Wrestler starring Mickey Rourke. He is a Producer on the upcoming documentaries Theresa Sareo-Alive Again (www.aliveagainmovie.com) and Tiger Khan- Fire in the Blood.
Dr. Mike Lano is a journalist and photographer since 1966 whose work has appeared in worldwide media including the U.S., Japan, Mexico and numerous books.
Legends Radio is produced and engineered by Rick Hendrickson who also appears on air as our in-house MMA expert.
Legends Radio is graciously sponsored by Scott Epstein’s P.M.S. Publicity Management Services- talent bookings/personal appearances/press releases- magazine & newspaper spot listings/TV & Radio appearances. Scott Epstein- Publicist/Journalist/Photographer- “The Double Exposure that Works!”

All interviews are done at the guest’s convenience via phone. Inexpensive sponsorship/advertising opportunities available- inquire at evan_ginzburg@yahoo.com. Reach thousands worldwide weekly with the most eclectic show on radio.


Sunday, May 22, 2011

Alive Again Movie- The First Screening- Thursday May 19th NYC

BLOG-
The First Screening- Thursday May 19th NYC
Three years.
Shoots in three states and “D.C.”.
Countless hours of editing.
Tweaking. Obsessing. Agonizing.
And now we were about to show Theresa Sareo- Alive Again for the first time. Our baby was about to finally be “born.”
How exciting. And how frightening.
NYU’s Hospital for Joint Diseases’ Loeb Auditorium is a lovely two hundred seater and the select audience of doctors, educators, and “cast members” greeted Theresa, director Rye Joseph and myself warmly as we entered. Graciously invited by Judy Goldberg at the facility,  introductions were made. Hands were shaken. It all felt good.
But still the actual showing of the film loomed just minutes in front of us.
“I’m Evan Ginzburg, Associate Producer of The Wrestler with Mickey Rourke,” I opened to polite applause. “I met Theresa when I was a radio host at WBAI-FM. I loved her music but didn’t know her story. And what a dramatic story it is. I thought to myself, ‘This would make a great movie.’”
They nodded in agreement.
“We’re not here for a pat on the back,” I continued. “We want to get your constructive criticisms on the film.”
Clutching the questionnaires we’d prepared in their hands, I knew they’d be kind enough to do just that.
Theresa followed me and charmed the crowd as always with a brief hello. Glamorous, gracious, and in her own way regal, the moment had finally arrived.
Lights dimmed. It was on.
I purposely sat behind the entire audience. Hell, I had seen the film enough times already. I wanted to watch the audience.
And I did just that.
It was deeply moving to me to see that all the hard work has paid off. They cried. Actually, some sobbed. And they laughed “in the right places.”
It all felt so warm. So good. That a film about a woman who lost her leg to an impaired driver and went on to entertain and console Wounded Warriors and trauma victims, could actually evoke laughter was a triumph of sorts for us. We just didn’t want to do grim.
When the film was finished, the audience applauded at the end. And it wasn’t “polite applause.” It was a spontaneous, enthusiastic outburst.
When was the last time I’d seen that in a theater? What a rush.
But we still had to face the audience in a Q&A. And hadn’t I asked them to be critical? We nervously braced ourselves for what lay ahead.
One scene clearly didn’t work for several audience members, and we saw the validity in their comments. There were also a few tweaks that needed to be done “here and there.” But person after person told us how inspired they had been by what they had just seen.
One viewer even said, “I want to go out and give more of myself in service.”
As we wrapped things up, the handshakes we’d gotten coming in from mostly strangers had now turned into goodbye hugs.
“Thank you for doing this,” one doctor told me.
 An audience had somehow become a team of supporters.
It was all beyond perfect.
Screening number two lay just two weeks ahead, and then we will let our “baby” out into the real world shortly after.

Visit www.aliveagainmovie.com for updated information on Theresa Sareo- Alive Again.

Come to Gizzi’s Café 16 West 8th St. NYC July 15 7-11PM for our first movie promotional event as Theresa performs live- NO COVER. Curtis Schmidt and Ethan Hartshorn from the movie also on the bill!
Hosted by Evan Ginzburg.

July 15 Theresa Sareo Alive Again Movie promotion
7PM Theresa Sareo Alive Again clips
8PM Theresa Sareo performance
10PM Curtis and the Dilettantes featuring Theresa Sareo








Sunday, May 15, 2011

NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING- LIVE NYC REVIEW

NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING- LIVE NYC REVIEW
5/14/11 Basketball City NYC
--By Evan Ginzburg
New Japan Pro Wrestling presents pro wrestling as “The King of Sports.” No silicone enhanced Divas. No lowbrow angles. No bad comedy. No stilted dialogue or obnoxious announcers made part of the show. Just athletes coming out and giving you their heart and soul.
Imagine that in 2011.
This was day two of a three day East Coast tour, and the only show I attended. In short, I was glad I did.
Kenny Omega vs. Josh Daniels was a fine opener emphasizing wrestling and great highspots. I probably won’t remember it ten years from now, but it was a solid and enjoyable start to the evening. This was followed by Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask and Dan Maff vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Jado and Gedo. Although I wouldn’t classify this as great, it was greatly entertaining and a thrill to see Liger live again. Also, in the three star range was the next bout in an IWGP Tag Team Championship match as Giant Bernard and Karl Anderson kept their titles vs. Satoshi Kojima and Hideo Saito. There were tremendous wrestling moves exhibited and Bernard has developed into quite the big man as he’s far from lumbering; the man can WRESTLE. This wasn’t a classic, but a classic example of what good tag team wrestling is all about as all worked well together. Ditto the next match as Rhino, Davey Richards and Homicide defeated Togi Makabe, Ryusuke Taguchi and Kazuchika Okada. It was a potpourri of great wrestling moves delighting this hardcore crowd.
Unfortunately, here’s where the card went awry. An intermission was called for and Tiger Mask and Liger posed for pictures together mid-ring. This led to an endless line of fans and a forty-five or so minute break which killed all momentum the card had built up. It just came off as bush league when it easily could have been done before or after the show. Fans got antsy, and mistake number two was that this interminable break was followed by what was by far the best match of the night in Low Ki vs. Prince Devitt. This was four stars easy and exactly what pro wrestling should be- two great athletes elevating wrestling to art. Move after move, fans “oohed and aahed” and finally a spontaneous chant of “This is awesome!” broke out. Devitt pinned Ki and both shook hands and got a deserved outpouring of love and respect from the crowd.
There was only one problem. There was nowhere to go but down after this. For whatever reason, NJPW had allowed their card to peak smack dab in the middle. So much for pacing.
Now there was nothing wrong with Toru Yano’s defeat of Yujiro Takahashi; it was a solid old school face vs. heel match. And I’ve certainly seen worse matches than MVP’s besting of Tesuya Naito, although it was clearly the weakest on this show. And the main-event of IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi over Charlie Haas was well-worth seeing and exhibited fine wrestling and even sportsmanship (loved the handshakes at the end), but in all honesty, none of these matches were in the same ballpark as Ki’s. And a promotion of this caliber should know that a show is supposed to build, not deflate towards the end which is exactly what happened.
Nonetheless, all in all I walked out happy having seen a legend like Liger and the tremendous crew with him. Just to see pro wrestling presented as a sport instead of a circus or “sports entertainment” makes this promotion worth supporting. Thanks to Jersey All Pro Wrestling for making this happen. I sincerely hope that NJPW will have great success in future US excursions.




Saturday, May 14, 2011

SINGER-SONGWRITERS MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!

 

SINGER-SONGWRITERS MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD! SHOW US YOUR TALENT AND WIN A FREE PROFESSIONALLY- PRODUCED RECORDING! JOIN THE FUN!  ALL STYLES AND GENRE WELCOME!

MAY 18 and 25, 6:30-9:30PM RECORDING ARTISTS DEVELOPMENT, INC., RAD, OPEN MIC SINGER SONGWRITER SINGING CONTEST!  FIRST PRIZE: FREE RECORDING, WITH RAD PRODUCER PHIL CARROLL IN THE STUDIO, OF ONE  ORIGINAL SONG! 
SECOND PRIZE: $50 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO GUITAR CENTER NYC.  MORE PRIZES AND GIVEAWAYS. GIZZIS CAFE, 16 WEST 8th STREET, BETWEEN 5TH AVENUE AND MACDOUGAL, GREENWICH VILLAGE. FOR MORE DETAILS GO TO WWW.RADART.ORG. EMAILphil@radart.org OR JUST COME TO GIZZIS  AND SING AN ORIGINAL OR COVER OF YOUR CHOICE, WITH OR WITHOUT ACCOMPANIMENT OR TRACKS.  RAD IS A 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT DEVOTED TO WORKING WITH SINGER SONGWRITERS TO RECORD THEIR ORIGINAL MUSIC. THE WINNER WILL ALSO BE INTERVIEWED BY EVAN GINZBURG ON  LEGENDSRADIO.NET.   THANK YOU GIZZIS FOR PROVIDING YOUR WONDERFUL STAGE TO THESE TALENTED ARTISTS! FRIENDS AND FANS ARE INVITED TO COME CHEER YOU ON! GIZZIS CAFE/BAR OFFERS GREAT FOOD AND DRINK!  
 WWW.GIZZISNYC.COMWWW.FACEBOOK.COM/GIZZISNYC. COME WIN A FREE RECORDING WITH RECORDING ARTISTS DEVELOPMENT AND ENJOY A FUN EVENING! 

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Great music on PBS

PBS has some great musical programming on, particularly late nights on weekends. Besides the old R&B, R&R and Doo-Wop shows, they get some interesting acts that wouldn’t get that much airtime on the regular channels.
Recently caught Trombone Shorty on PBS and this kid wails. New Orleans meets James Brown. And a showman. Very impressed to the point I’d buy a ticket to see him and that’s high praise indeed.
Speaking of New Orleans, I love Allen Toussaint with all my heart. PBS had a full hour with him.
One of the few rock/pop bands I’m crazy about is Squeeze. Brilliant pop songs and great musicianship. Can hear Tempted by the Fruit of Another, Black Coffee in Bed, and Pulling Mussels from a Shell a zillion times. Full hour presented of a show from NYC.
Also in the rock vein I love The Swell Season. Intelligent, sensitive, soulful music for adults. Imagine that.
Chicago/Earth, Wind & Fire also floating around late nights. How can you go wrong?
Sharon Jones, too, had a great 30 minute set on the station.
Cab Calloway documentary also on and seemingly under-promoted. Fascinating and entertaining.
I’m sure many of you caught the Love Train Philly R&B show with O’Jays, Bunny Siegler (stole the show), MFSB, Jean Carne, Intruders, and many others. Just great.
On the other hand, I know he’s got the “genius” label stamped on him, but listening to Mos Def rap/sing was just grating to me. I know I probably should have paid more attention and focused on the lyrics instead of the singing, but growing up on Al Green and Marvin Gaye, vocally it just felt like nails on a blackboard. I ultimately changed the channel. Now THAT’s unusual for me considering how much I generally enjoy their shows.

Evan Ginzburg