BILL VAUGHAN’S TASTY CLIPS: Lalah Hathaway to headline Dymally Festival April 29

By Bill Vaughan

Entertainment Writer

Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and producer Lalah Hathaway will headline the fourth annual Dymally International Jazz & Arts Festival April 29 at Carson’s Dignity Health Sports Park.

She joins an impressive lineup that includes renowned bassist Marcus Miller and groups Down to the Bone, The Family Stone and Jazz in Pink, featuring Gail JhonsonAlthea RenéMaria Antoinette and Karen Briggs. A second stage will feature other top international acts.

Additionally, award-winning journalist Roland Martin and comedian and actor Bill Bellamy have been announced as the event’s emcees.

Tickets for the day-long festival, which includes a curated Black marketplace, are available via AXS.com.

SHEROES: Ava DuVernayMeghan Markle (the Duchess of Sussex), radio’s Shelley Wade, “Abbott Elementary,” “Today,” and “48 Hours,” are among the winners announced for the 48th annual Gracie Awards to be held May 23 at the Beverly Wilshire.

“Extra” host Rachel Lindsay will again serve as social media ambassador for the ceremony named after comic actress Gracie Allen, which recognizes outstanding programming and individual achievement created by, for and about women in all facets of media in news and entertainment.

For a complete list of recipients for the “Storytelling”-themed event, visit allwomeninmedia.org.

VISIONARY: That striking addition to the downtown Los Angeles skyline, the 37-story, 727-bedroom Moxy & AC Hotels, will debut April 12, bringing the two brands side by side under one roof. Designed by Yabu Pushelberg, the tower is wrapped in a 15,000-square-foot, live LED screen — the largest 3D billboard on the West Coast — that transforms the corner of Figueroa Street and Pico Boulevard into an illuminated landmark.

The building will be adding 12 new dining and entertainment venues and 13,000 square feet of meeting and events space to the neighborhood.

OPENING THIS WEEK: Marcus Scribner (“black-ish,” “grown-ish”) and Jayme Lawson (“The Woman King,” “The Batman”) are featured in the ensemble cast of writer/director Daniel Goldhaber’s “How To Blow Up A Pipeline,” now playing in theaters only. The taut and timely thriller follows a crew of young environmental activists on a daring mission that is part high-stakes heist and part radical exploration of the climate crisis.

TRIBUTE: “Even if [his] name isn’t familiar, his influence on ANY artist you ever tested your b-boy b-girl poppin/lockin/breakdance/electric boogie sites HIM as their god.” – AHMIR “QUESTLOVE” THOMPSON on the passing of RYUICHI SAKAMOTO, Oscar-winning composer (“The Last Emperor”) and founder of Japan’s electro pop Yellow Magic Orchestra (“Computer Games”)

CLIPPETTES: Actor and comedian Kel Mitchell (“Good Burger,” “Kenan & Kel”) will be guest ringmaster for the UniverSoul Circus the morning of April 8 for a special-themed show based on his kids book, “Prank Day.” The big top is up at the L.A. Crystal Casino & Hotel Compton …

Later that night the New Edition: Legacy Tour with special guests Keith Sweat and Guy plays The Forum, The Pharcyde sits in at The Venice West, Colin Hay is at the Saban Theatre, and CaliforniaJazzFoundation.org pays tribute to legends Ernie Andrews and Barbara Morrison at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel …

Despite being nearly completed, producer/director Antoine Fuqua’s “King Shaka,” a retelling of the historic story of the warrior king of the Zulu Nation, has been dropped by Showtime and is now available to another buyer. In the meantime, Fuqua has moved to Italy to shoot “The Equalizer 3” with Denzel Washington …

“Jennifer’s Body” director Karyn Kusama leads an April 11 live read by iconic Hollywood actors at The Wallis via Film Independent. Meanwhile, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures screens “Portrait of Jason,” a 1967 documentary of cabaret performer Jason Holliday by director Shirley Clarke and her partner, actor Carl Lee

Disney’s live-action remake of 2016’s “Moana” will see Dwayne Johnson returning to the role he voiced, Maui. He’ll also help develop the film …

The Grammy Museum presents “An Evening with John Oates” April 12, while British singer/rapper/actress Little Simz is at The Roxy, and Cameroonian-American multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter Vagabon performs at Hollywood Forever Cemetery …

By popular demand, “Paul Rodriguez Presents: Latino Comics & Spanglish” returns to the Laugh Factory April 13, as Ozomatli jams at The Venice West, and Israel Vibration play their reggae hits at The Coach House.

TASTY QUIP: “It’s a network sitcom, like say, ‘Friends,’ except instead of being about a group of friends, it’s about a group of teachers, and instead of New York, it’s in Philadelphia, and instead of not having Black people, it does.” – QUINTA BRUNSON on “Saturday Night Live,” speaking of her ABC series “Abbott Elementary,” which features Taraji P. Henson as her character’s mom in the April 12 episode.

TC ON TV: April 7 – “Praise This” (Peacock): Chlöe Bailey, Anjelika Washington, Tristan Mack Wilds, Quavo, Birgundi Baker (Keisha from “The Chi”), Jekalyn Carr, and Koryn Hawthorne star in this musical comedy set in the world of Atlanta’s competitive gospel youth choir praise teams. “Gangs of Lagos” (Prime Video): The streamer’s first original African movie is this Nigerian action thriller. “A Lot of Nothing” (AllBlk): Writer/director Mo McRae’s dramedy thriller with Shamier Anderson (“John Wick: Chapter 4”) and Justin Hartley (“This Is Us”) arrives. “Chupa” (Netflix): Demián Bechir and Christian Slater are featured in a family geared to take on the legend of the Chupacabra. “Discovering Fashion – The Great Designers” (Ovation): Back-to-back episodes on Chanel, Tom Ford, Valentino, and Armani. “Ready To Love” (OWN): “The Finale” “The New York Times Presents” (FX/Hulu): “The Legacy of J Dilla” tells the story of James Dewitt Yancey, a Detroit kid who grew to become a visionary music producer, rapper and artist working with the likes of Erykah Badu, Busta Rhymes,A Tribe Called Quest and D’Angelo.

April 8 – “Pride: A Seven Deadly Sins Story” (Lifetime): Executive-produced by T.D. Jakes, Derrick Williams and Shaun Robinson, and inspired by actual events, the movie centers on the story of famous bakery owner and reality TV star Birdie Moore (Stephanie Mills), whose past secrets threaten the enormous success she has achieved. Thomas “Nephew Tommy” Miles and Erica Campbell are co-stars. “Gospel Superfest 2023 Easter Special” (BET/Bet Her): Pastor Donnie McClurkin, Deitrick Haddon, Le’Andria Johnson, J. Moss, Ricky Dillard & New G, and others assemble to celebrate the holiday. “Hunger” (Netflix): A talented, young street-food cook pushes herself to the limit after accepting an invitation to train under an infamous and ruthless chef in this Thai film.

April 9 – “Delicious Miss Brown” (Food): The eighth season opens on the “Lighter Side of Soul Food.” “A Grammy Salute to the Beach Boys” (CBS): With John Legend, Norah Jones, Michael McDonald, Take 6 and more. “Giving Hope: The Ni’Cola Mitchell Story” (Lifetime): Tatyana Ali (“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”) portrays a successful author who realizes at a book signing that her calling is to help disadvantaged girls. “Raven’s Home” (Disney): The long-running hit comedy series starring and executive-produced by Raven-Symoné returns for its sixth season. “Eva Longoria: Searching for Mexico” (CNN): Oaxaca. “Unsung: Best in Black” (TV1): “Athletes” “Uncensored” (TV1): Marques Houston  

April 10 – “The Neighborhood” (CBS): Series star and executive producer Cedric the Entertainer directed this milestone 100th episode with “The Talk” hosts Akbar Gbajabiamila, Amanda Kloots, Natalie Morales, Jerry O’Connell and Sheryl Underwood guest-starring as themselves.

April 12 – “34th Annual GLAAD Media Awards” (Hulu): Margaret Cho is host of the ceremony honoring media for fair, accurate and inclusive representations of LGBTQ people and issues. “Live with Kelly & Ryan” (ABC): Derek Luke (Disney+’s “The Crossover”), Michael Symon Jennifer Hudson” (Syn): Tisha Campbell “Dave” (FX): The tour continues in Atlanta where an encounter with Rick Ross causes a chain reaction that requires Dave and GaTa’s full attention.

April 13 – “Florida Man” (Netflix): Edgar Martinez, Clark Gregg and Lex Scott Davis (“Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart”) star in this offbeat crime dramedy. “If I Can’t Have You” (LMN): A stalker movie with Jackée Harry, Bailey Kai, Tracy Nelson, Michael Paré and Eric Roberts (the actor with the most credits – 700 – working in Hollywood today!) “The Best of All the Smoke” with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson” (Showtime): The fourth season premieres with Magic Johnson. 

END QUOTE: “We are all worthy of telling our stories and having them heard. We all need to be seen and honored in the same way that we all need to breathe.” – VIOLA DAVIS

As featured in the Los Angeles Wave and Independent, Tasty Clips is one of the leading entertainment columns in the nation, serving nearly 1 million weekly readers. Bill Vaughan may be reached at tastyclips@yahoo.com, via Twitter @tastyclips, or Instagram @tasty_clips.