The Filtered Excellence: April 21, 2016
Bob Geldof once asked us, “Where is the filtered excellence!?” It’s right here. Once a week we take a break from comedy to bring you this weeks picks of the best things to watch, the most interesting things to do, great things to try, the best picks to read, our favorite things to listen to and more.
WATCH THIS:
United Shades Of America. In this new CNN original series, comedian W. Kamau Bell travels across the country to find the real America – and finds it everywhere. Whether its confronting the effects of gentrification in Portland, life in Alaska, partying in Daytona Beach, visiting inmates in San Quentin, riding patrols with police officers, discussing what’s life is like for Latinos in the U.S. or having a sit down with members of the KKK, Bell skillfully finds a way to have participants get their points of view across, yet mining common ground and humor with its subjects. With a wink, a smile and even some tears, this series is truly an eye opening look at 21st Century American life. Another great offering from W. Kamau Bell. United Shades Of America premieres April 24th at 9pm Eastern on CNN. You can also go to http://www.cnn.com/ for more information.
First Monday In May. In 2015, the worlds of fashion, entertainment and high art all came together as ‘China: Through The Looking Glass’ exhibit was launched at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. It featured Chinese-inspired Western fashions curated by Costume Institute curator Andrew Bolton and served as the focal point for the annual Met Gala, which is one of, if not, the biggest fashion events of the year. The exhibit became the Met’s most attended fashion exhibition in history, but it didn’t have it’s fair share of drama. Director Andrew Rossi was given unprecedented access to all of the behind the scenes action as Bolton, along with Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour, battle and bicker their way to an event of the ages. It also features some of the top names in fashion, music and film discussing an age old question: Should fashion be considered art? Rossi captures all of the preparation, scope and scale that goes into this type of production and how all of the principles have to deal with the pressures, egos and details involved with pulling it off. It’s an intriguing, often catty look at one of the biggest nights in fashion and art. First Monday In May is in theaters now.
LISTEN TO THIS
Santana IV by Santana. In 1971, Santana was one of the biggest groups in the world. An Earth shaking performance at Woodstock made them a top concert draw and the albums Abraxas and Santana III hit #1 on the Billboard Album Charts. But musical differences split the band into two camps: Guitarist Neil Schon and keyboardist/vocalist Gregg Rollie leaving to form Journey while Shrieve and Carlos Santana remained and pushed the band’s sound more into jazz-fusion (Mike Carabello also left the band at the time). 45 years later, the core members of those classic albums – Santana, Schon, Rollie, Shrive and Carabello – have reunited to record a new album, aptly, yet ironically called Santana IV. All of the Santana trademarks are there: pulsating Afro-Cuban rhythms, gospel-based keyboards, explosive drums and the fire and ice interplay between Schon and Santana. It’s also great to see Gregg Rollie – one of the most underappreciated vocalist/keyboardists/composers get a much deserved victory lap. Ronald Isley guest stars on two tracks, once again showing why he’s one of the best vocalists in R&B and rock history. One would hope that the Ron Isley/Santana album that is supposedly in the can, will see the light of day. Featuring songs that caters to fans of just about every genre, Santana has put together another classic album in their already remarkable canon. A must have and one of the year’s best. Santana IV is available now through Amazon, Itunes and all major music retailers. You can also go to http://www.santana.com/ for tour dates and more information.
Retrospectives by Bernie Worrell. When it was revealed late last year that Bernie Worrell was battling Stage 4 cancer, many assumed that the legendary keyboardist/producer/composer would shut things down to focus on treatment. It’s been quite the opposite: Worrell is still maintaining an active touring schedule and has just released his new album, Retrospectives. As the title implies, its a new look at some of the classic songs he composed with Parliament-Funkadelic and as a solo artist. Backed by a killer band, Worrell puts a new spin on such gems as ‘Joyful Process, ‘Aquaboogie’, GrooveAllegiance’ and the eternal ‘Flashlight’. Very few artists can claim that they actually created new sounds, but Worrell has done it several times over and does so again here. Fans have been asking for this album for years and Worrell, as he has done throughout his extensive career, delivered another masterpiece. Retrospectives is available now through Amazon, Itunes and all major music retailers. You can also go to http://www.bernieworrell.com/ for more information.
DO THIS
New York City: Aliens. Released in 1986, Aliens did something that was considered to be impossible: It lived up to, and some say, surpassed the original. It was a massive hit, grossing over 180 million dollars, and its star, Sigourney Weaver received an Oscar nomination for her performance as its heroine, Ellen Ripley. Aliens gave its director James Cameron the clout to make future blockbusters such as Terminator 2: Judgement Day, Titantic and Avatar. To coincide with ‘Alien Day’ – named after the planet LV-426 – Town Hall will host a 30th Anniversary screening of the sci-fi action classic. Weaver will be on hand to take part in a post screening conversation about her experiences making what is now considered one of the greatest sci-fi films of all time. Whether you saw it back in the day or never have seen it on a big screen, it’s promises to be an exceptional movie experiences. The Aliens screening and conversation will take place at Town Hall on April 26th. You can go to http://www.thetownhall.org/ for tickets and additional information.
New York City: Pen World Voices Festival Of International Literature. Over 150 writers representing 30 countries will be in New York City for the 12th Annual Pen World Voices Festival. Fran Lebowitz, Walter Mosely, Lyidia Cacho, Salman Rushdie, Michael Musto and Guillermo Gomez-Pena are just some of the writers that are scheduled to appear throughout the week-long event. In addition to the many panels and readings, the festival will celebrate Mexico’s literary culture and feature stories centering around migration, the border and national identity. A must see event for any lover of literature. The Pen World Voices Festival Of International Literature will take place from April 25th through May 1st. You can go to www.penwordvoices.org for a complete schedule of events, locations, and more information.
New York City: New Voices In Black Cinema. While the call for more diversity in films has renewed in the last 2 years, BAM’s New Voices In Black Cinema has been championing the cause for 6 years. This year’s festival will look at feature films, documentaries, and short film capture and redefine that Black experience here and abroad. Some of the films that will be spotlighted include Chapter & Verse, written and directed by former Black Panther Jamal Joseph; Imperial Dreams, the Mark Vitthal feature that won the Audience Award at this year’s Sundance Film Festival; Danny & The Human Zoo, British comedian Lenny Henry’s loosely autobiographical story of a Black entertainer navigating his way through a prominently white industry in the 1970s; and Tahir Jette’s How To Tell If You’re A Douchebag, which tells the story about a womanizing blogger and, well, douchebag, who has to eat a huge slice of humble pie when he falls for a fellow writer. There will be post screening Q&A’s, panels and speakers throughout the three day series, so catch them now before they blow up later. New Voices In Black Cinema will run April 21st through the 24th at The Brooklyn Academy of Music. You can also go to http://www.bam.org/ for tickets and more information.
Want more excellence? Read last week’s The Filtered Excellence and visit The Interrobang Recommmends
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