By Bill Vaughan
Entertainment Writer
At long last, after Jon Batiste’s “We Are” won the Grammy for Album of the Year, leading to his stepping down as bandleader for “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” the singer, keyboardist and composer is back with an anticipated new recording.
On “World Music Radio,” Batiste delves into the profound question: Isn’t all music, in essence, world music? Drawing inspiration from the New Orleans native’s mission to create community with the power of music, this album serves as a sonic passport for listeners’ ears, inviting them on a transformative musical journey meant for everyone.
With a variety of guests, including Lil Wayne, Kenny G, Lana Del Rey, Fireboy DML, J.I.D, Camilo and more, he attempts to reach new artistic heights.
“I created this album with a feeling of liberation in my life and a renewed sense of exploration of my personhood, my craft and of the world around me unlike anything I had ever felt before,” says Batiste of the Verve Records release.
In support of his passion project, the multi-Grammy and Oscar winner will arrive in L.A. for a signing event at Amoeba Hollywood at 4:30 p.m. Aug. 23 to be followed by a live concert later that evening at the Fonda Theatre.
CAUSE WORTHY: The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures announced that its third annual gala, to be held Oct. 14, will honor Academy Award-nominated actress and producer, author and global media leader Oprah Winfrey, three-time Academy Award-winner and 21-time Academy Award-nominated actor Meryl Streep, award-winning actor, producer and director Michael B. Jordan, and Academy Award-winning and three-time Academy Award-nominated filmmaker and actor Sofia Coppola.
As a fundraiser, the event co-chaired by director Ava DuVernay, actress Halle Berry, producer Ryan Murphy and Academy Museum Trustee Dr. Eric Esrailian with support by Rolex, has been greenlit to move forward by WGA and SAG-AFTRA.
The evening will help raise vital funds to support museum exhibitions, education initiatives and public programming, including screenings, K-12 programs and access initiatives in service of the general public and the local community of Los Angeles.
MUSING ON MOTOWN: The Grammy Museum hosts Let’s Get It On: Celebrating Motown ’73 at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 23 with Smokey Robinson, Jimmy Jam, Marvin Gaye biographer David Ritz (“Divided Soul”), and moderator Harry Weinger of UMe, who has produced a new deluxe edition of Gaye’s landmark album with never before released tracks.
The evening of conversation will recognize Motown Records’ first full year in L.A.: the year of Stevie Wonder‘s “Innervisions,” Smokey’s solo debut, the Temptations‘ “Masterpiece,” the Jackson 5’s “Get It Together,” Eddie Kendricks at No. 1 with “Keep On Truckin’,” Diana Ross’ “Touch Me in the Morning” and much more.
CLIPPETTES: Global superstar Karol G brings her six-city Mañana Será Bonito stadium tour to the Rose Bowl Aug. 18; as jazz fusion group Spyro Gyra plays The Coach House …
Additionally, Isaiah Rashad is at The Bellwether; Lady Blackbird graces The Sun Rose; and Soul Slam — The Original Prince & Michael Jackson Party curated by DJ Spinna — is happening at Echoplex from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. …
Gregory Porter sings Aug. 19 at Marina del Rey’s Burton Chace Park; on a day that also finds Prince Freelon at the Getty Center’s Concert for Kids, Boz Scaggs at the Cerritos Center and Madeleine Peyroux at The Coach House …
Also, Gina Yashere: The Woman King of Comedy is at the Regent Theater, Jerry Seinfeld jokes at Pechanga Casino; Earl Sweatshirt with Domo Genesis is at The Novo; Stone Mecca leads the bill at The Mint; and electronic jazz pioneer and pianist Mark de Clive-Lowe presents Jazz in the House at Grand Performances …
Michael Franti & Spearhead play the Greek Theatre on Aug. 20 …
Drake’s It’s All A Blur Tour adds another night at Crypto.com Arena on Aug. 21, as Poncho Sanchez jams at Spaghettini’s Italian Grill & Jazz Club, and Foreigner’s Farewell Tour comes to Fivepoint Amphitheatre …
On Aug. 22, Coco Jones’ What I Didn’t Tell You Tour hits the Fonda Theatre (also The Observatory Aug. 23) as Jeff “Skunk” Baxter of Doobie Brothers fame plays the Troubadour: and the Grammy Museum hosts A Conversation with Idina Menzel …
Herbie Hancock Celebrates Wayne Shorter at the Hollywood Bowl on Aug. 23 with special guests Kamasi Washington, Carlos Santana, Brian Blade, Terrence Blanchard, Ron Carter, Teri Lynn Carrington, Marcus Miller, Esperanza Spaulding, Jack DeJohnette, Chris Potter and more at his side …
In addition, Darius Rucker performs at the Greek Theatre; while Chloe Bailey and DJ Rosegold are at Anaheim’s House of Blues; and Nabil Ayers discusses his memoir “My Life in the Sunshine” with Traci Thomas at Reparations Club …
Also, “Golda,” starring Helen Mirren as legendary Israeli Prime Minister, Golda Meir and Liev Schreiber as Henry Kissinger, is screening in advance of its nationwide opening in select theaters to be followed by a taped Q&A session with the film’s director, Guy Nattiv and star. Visit FathomEvents.com for more info …
T.I., Rick Ross & 2 Chainz unite for an Aug. 24 show at Toyota Arena; as Living Colour and Extreme play the House of Blues; pianist Cory Henry performs at Hollywood Forever Cemetery; Pete Escovedo’s Latin Jazz Orchestra heats up Vibrato Grill & Jazz; and Grammy-nominated Brooklyn Afrobeat ensemble Antibalas top a free show at Skirball Cultural Center…
Due to the industry strikes, the 75th Emmy Awards will now take place on Martin Luther King Jr. Day — Jan. 15, 2024. The event honoring achievements in television will take place at the Peacock Theater at LA Live and will broadcast live on Fox.
TC ON TV: Aug. 18 – “Time of Essence” (OWN): The five-part, one-hour series is a celebration of the trailblazing magazine that for over 50 years has informed and reflected Black culture in America while reaching a global community of more than 20 million Black women. Long-time Editor-in-Chief Susan L. Taylor, Whoopi Goldberg, Regina Hall, Taraji P. Henson, Gabrielle Union-Wade, Vanessa Williams, Sunny Hostin and many more give their insights. “Love, Sex & 30 Candles” (Netflix): Stephina Zwane directs this heartfelt South African drama about four best friends navigating relationships, heartbreak and a shocking situation that threatens to tear them apart. “Artist To Icon” (Ovation): “Whitney Houston”
Aug. 19 – “Ready Jet Cook” (Food): Jet Tila takes the mystery out of Asian cuisine and teaches his viewers how to shop for and make some of his favorite dishes. “Stand Up To Cancer” (ABC/CBS/Fox/NBC): Don Cheadle, Danai Gurira, Jimmy Smits, Ken Jeong and Justin Timberlake and more share the screen to salute the game-changing work of scientists and researchers and raise awareness about the continued need for research to save lives now. “Hip Hop Treasures” (A&E): Ice T + Coolio
Aug. 20 – “Celebrity Family Feud” (ABC): Stephen A. Smith vs. Tamron Hall “761st Tank Battalion: The Original Black Panthers” (History): Executive produced by Morgan Freeman, this is the true story of the first Black tank unit to serve in combat during World War II, and explores in-depth the major battles they faced both overseas while in combat and back home in the U.S. “Running Wild with Bear Grylls” (NGC): “Daveed Diggs in the Great Basin Desert” “San Francisco Sounds” (MGM+): A two-part docuseries celebrating the musical and artistic renaissance that exploded in the Bay Area from the mid-60s into the mid-70s featuring the music of Sly & The Family Stone, Santana, Janis Joplin, the Grateful Dead and many more.
Aug. 21 – “The Bachelorette” (ABC): Charity Lawson makes her final pick for love.
Aug. 23 – “Star Wars: Ahsoka” (Disney+): Rosario Dawson reprises her role of the former Jedi Knight from “The Book of Boba Fett” for this fall’s most anticipated series premiering with two back-to-back episodes. “Trap Jazz” (Hulu): Atlanta musicians behind some of the biggest names in music embark on an uncertain journey into the spotlight with a new genre of music that fuses trap music with jazz. “Superfan” (CBS): Gloria Estefan
Aug. 24 – “The Hustle of @617MikeBiv” (AllBlk): Explores the life of Michael Bivins of New Edition and Bell Biv Devoe fame. “Zatima” (BET+): The third season premiere of this spinoff of “Tyler Perry‘s Sistas.” “Toya & Reginae” (WE/AllBlk): An all-new reality series following the ups and downs of Atlanta’s dynamic mother daughter duo, Toya Johnson-Rushing and Reginae Carter.
END QUOTE: “CLARENCE AVANT was a revolutionary. When people in the entertainment world were delegated to a near master/slave relationship, he broke through that wall of exploitation and made us respected businesspeople. I can’t count the enormous amount of situations that he negotiated and moves he made happen that I was personally involved in. He was indeed the Black Godfather! RIP, Clarence. We’ll never forget you and won’t let the world forget you either.” – REV. AL SHARPTON
As featured in the Los Angeles Wave and Independent, Tasty Clips is one of the leading entertainment columns in the nation, serving nearly one million weekly readers. Bill Vaughan may be reached at tastyclips@yahoo.com, via Twitter @tastyclips, or Instagram @tasty_clips.
