Arts & Lifestyle
Of Interest ...
Film "Crash" will be series *
NEW YORK (AP) - The Oscar-winning "Crash"
is coming to TV as a drama series this year.
The 13-episode, one-hour series will air on cable's
Starz as its first original drama series, the network
announced recently.
Key members of the feature's production team
will be back for the series, including its director, co
writer and producer, Paul Haggis; co-writer and pro
ducer Bobby Moresco; producer Bob Yari; producer
Don Cheadle; producer Mark R. Harris and executive
producer Tom Nunan. / ^
In addition to best picture, tW2004 film also won
Oscars for best original screenplay and for editing. An
examination of the complexities of racial tolerance set
in Los Angeles, it starred Cheadle, Sandra Bullock,
Matt Dillon, Jennifer Esposito, Brendan Fraser,
Terrence Howard, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Thandie
Newton and Ryan Philippe.
No casting decisions have been announced for the
series, which is scheduled to begin production this
spring. - . .
Primarily a movie channel, Starz last week pre
miered its first two original half-hour comedy series,
"Head Case" and "Hollywood Residential."
With 30 million subscribers, Starz is one of 16 pre
mium channels owned by Starz Entertainment, LLC.
Chris Botti to perform
Called the sexiest trumpet player this side of Chet
Baker, Grammy Award winner Chris Botti will soon
come blow his horn for audiences at the historic
Carolina Theatre in downtown Greensboro.
The performance,
part of The University
of North Carolina at
Greensboro's
University Concert &
Lecture Series, begins
at 7 p.m. on
Wednesday, Feb. 13.
Botti's lush
melodies and thought
ful improvisations
have captured audi
ences worldwide. He
has recorded with dis
tinguished musicians
such as Sting, Paul
Simon ahd Joni
Mitchell.
Botti
1 lckets are
S>30.50, $25.50 and $20.50. Seniors, children under
Il2 and students will receive a $2 discount. All tick
ets are subject to a $1.50 Carolina Theatre restora
tion fee.
For ticket information, call (336) 334-4849.
Tickets are also available through the University Box
Office web site at www.uncg.edu/euc/boxoffice and
through the Carolina Theatre box office by calling
(336) 333-2605.
Jazz event coming to
Reynolds House Feb. 8
Reynolda House Museum of American Art will
present a jazz concert on Friday, Feb. 8 at 8 p.m., fea
turing bassist Matt Kendrick, pianist Keith Byrd, per
cussionist John Wilson and guitarist Charles Bums.
In a concert titled, "East to West " their perform
ances are fueled by improvisations built around clas
sics and original themes inspired by the works in the
Museum's current exhibition, "Ancestry &
Innovation: African American Art from the American
Folk Art Museum."
Recently the Winston-Salem Arts Council funded
a project envisioned by bassist Kepdrick to bridge the
divide through producing concerts and recordings by
musicians who were raised on either side. According
to Kendrick, "Jazz is a gi? from God created by
African Americans through the melding of African
and European cultures. Jazz brings us together in an
informed and intellectual setting."
Admission is $ 1 2 for the general public and $8 for
members and students. For information and to pur
chase tickets, please call 336-758-5150 or visit
reynoldahouse .org .
t
San Jose Taiko drummers
coming to A&T Feb. 15
The San Jose Taiko drummers will perform at
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State
University 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15, in Harrison
Auditorium. This event is free and open to the pub
lic. It is part of the university's Lyceum Program.
For three decades SJT has mesmerized audi
ences and critics with the powerful spell bounding
and propulsive sounds of the taiko drums. The
group was founded in 1973 by young Asian
Americans searching for an artistic and musical out
let to convey their unique experiences as third gen
eration Japanese Americans, or Sansei. They
looked to Japan for inspiration and selected the sym
bolic taiko or drum as their instrument of expres
sion.
SJT has taken the essence and voice of the tradi
tional taiko and infused it with the vitality and fresh
ness of their American spirit, creating a dynamic
and compelling new Asian American art form.
They use the power and^beauty of taiko to transcend
cultural barriers and foster a greater understanding
of the Japanese American culture, j
SJT has conducted tours throughout the United
States and Japan . In addition to concerts and exten
sive residencies on college/university and perform
ing arts centers, they "have performed at Reno's
Nugget Casino, on the Jerry Lewis Muscular
Dystrophy Telethon and at Carnegie Hall.
City to
welcome
Guy Davis
CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT ;
Acclaimed bluesman Guy Davis will be
performing in Winston-Salem next week.
He will make several appearances Feb. 13
15 at events hosted by the Blessings Project
Foundation.
The son of Ruby Dee and the late Ossie
Davis, Guy Davis was raised in New York
City but grew up hearing accounts of life in
the rural south from his parents and grand
parents. A self-taught guitarist, he learned
his craft by
listening to
and watching
other musi
cians.
"Early in
my career,
before agents
and man
agers. I
played for
kids and will
always do
that," Davis,
55, told "My
Black
Hollywood"
magazine in
fcn interview
last year. "I
play for kids
in hospitals, I
go to the churches ana tne prisons.
Davis can't think of anything he'd
rather be doing. It's his passion.
"I guess I am going to play until I drop
dead," he told the magazine. "I love doing
this and the more I do. the more good visits
me. I couldn't imagine not taking the blues
into these places and beyond.'* -
Throughout his career, he has dedicated
himself to reviving the traditions of
American blues through the influence of
great blues masters such as Robert
Johnson, Buddy Guy, Taj Mahal, John
Adam Estes, Huddie Ledbetter, Nehemiah
James and Lightnin' Hopkins.
His seventh album. Legacy, released in
2004, was chosen by National Public Radio
as one of the best albums of the year. His
latest album, "Skunkmello," was released
in 2006.
In 1993, he performed Off-Broadway as
legendary bluesman Robert Johnson in
"Robert Johnson: Trick the Devil." He
received rave reviews and won the Blues
Foundation's W.C. Handy "-Keeping the
Blues Alive" Award.
Davis will perform at 8 p.m. at the
.Blessings Project Foundation headquarters,
823 Reynolda Rd., in collaboration with
the Fiddle and Bow Society. Tickets are
$15.
He will also make appearances at local
schools, introducing the deep traditions of
American blues music and African
American folklore students. While per
forming at the schools, Davis will bring to
life the music of great blues masters,
African-American folklore stories and his
own original songs and stories.
Blessings Project Foundation aims to
foster individual enrichment and to
empower a sense of respect and responsi
bility in the worldwide community.
Guy Davis
Teams from across the region took part in the competition.
Carver High wins A&T competition
Special to the chronicle
Carver High School's acclaimed JROTC
program blew away the competition recently
to take first place in the 29th Annual Air Force
Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC)
Blue and Gold Invitational Drill Competition
that was recently held at North Carolina A&T
State University. 9
Goldsboro High School placed second, and
T.C. Williams High School of Alexandria, Va.
placed third.
The event was planned and organized by
the cadets of AFROTC Detachment 605 and
consisted of standard drill, exhibition drill, and
color guard procedures. This annual event
gave the cadets an opportunity to implement
the processes and put into practice the plan
ning and organizing theories they learned in J
their AFROTC classes.
The drill competition was very successful
with more than 150 Junior ROTC students
competing. A&T's Air Force and Army cadets
judged the competition.
New Lawrence film to open tomorrow
Cast also includes James Earl Jones, Mo 'Nique and Cedric the Entertainer
CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT ,
In "Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins." funnyman Martin Lawrence1 leads an all-star cast in a film
about a talk-show phenomenon (Lawrence) that has left behind his modest Southern upbringing and
family name to transform himself into a
self-help guru.
The film, which opens tomorrow, is
written and directed by Malcolm D. Lee,
whose directing credits also include "The
Best Man" and "Roll Bounce."
In the film, Dr. RJ Stevens, who was
bom Roscoe Jenkins, returns home to
Georgia for his parents' 50th wedding
anniversary. Also in tow are his 10-year
old son and diva bride-to-be. It does not
take long beforehis crazy, lovable family
calls RJ on his big-city attitude and chal
lenges him at every turn. RJ discovers that
he may be a superstar in L.A., but he's just
one of the guys in Dry Springs, Ga.
"[For RJ], it's about me. Do for your
self. You can't do for others unless you
can do for yourself," Lawrence said of the
character he plays.
The cast also includes a trio of hilari
ous comics - Mo'Nique, Cedric the
Entertainer and Mike Epps. And a trio of
three Oscar nominees - James Earl Jones,
Michael Clarke Duncan and Margaret
Avery. Beauties Joy Bryant and Nicole
Ari Parker also star.
Writer/director Lee wanted to explore
the idea that, as individuals, we cannot
and should not function in the world by
ourselves. But for many, he knew this
might be a lesson learned the hard way.
Says Lee, "RJ thinks he love in
the outside world from the fans and from uoiwMi Picture Ph?o
the press. In reality, the love came from ^ar'ln Lawrence stars as "Roscoe Jenkins."
his family, but in the form of tough love.
He has to return home to make that realization."
Lawrence will next star in Walt Disney Pictures '-College Road Trip, a comedy opening March 7
about an overproteclive cop who takes his daughter on the search for her perfect school.
Arts Council kicks
off ' 08 campaign
CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT
"Where the Arts Come Alive" is the theme of the Arts Council
of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County 2008 annual fundraising
campaign.
The fund drive kicked off yesterday (Feb."6) during a ceremo
ny at the Sawtooth Building.
The Arts Council s goal for this year is
$ 2,750,000. The drive will strive to
match the 2007 campaign, which exceed
ed its $2.5 million goal. The Arts Council
made $1.6 in grants to artists and arts
organizations - an increase of almost 33
percent - with funds raised in 2007.
The husband and wife team of Erna
and Bill Womble, Jr., both attorneys at the
Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice law
firm, are the co-chairs of the 2008
fundraising campaign. The cabinet ofahe
fund drive is comprised of Jerry and '
Marge Silber (community gifts); Bob
Whaling (city and county government);
Dr. William Applegatc and Steve Snelgrove (health services);
Chris Fox and Emily Boone (workplace); Hilary Kosloske and J.
Smith (business); Ursula Henninger and Tonya Deem (profession
al); and Rudy Anderson and Murray Greason (education).
Several musicians, including bluesman Ron Hunter, performed
at downtown restaurants and other venues while Wednesday's .
kick-off event was taking place. The public performances were
designed to draw attention to th? annual campaign.
See Art* Council on All
Rudy Anderson
Submitted Phmo
Blues guitarist Ron Hunter took part in Wednesday's kick off.