By Bill Vaughan
Entertainment Writer
Grammy-winning, multi-platinum selling guitar guru Norman Brown is back with his 14th release to “speak to the invisible part of us that moves the physical part of us.”
“It Hits Different,” on Shanachie Entertainment, is a collection of 11 invigorating originals that transport you on a fantastic voyage that seamlessly unite the best elements of jazz, R&B, pop, blues and beyond.
Among the highlights are the lead single and opening track “Anything,” and the hypnotic “Asur,” driven by the funky undercurrent of Lil’ John Roberts’ drum grooves.
An integral part of Brown’s artistry is his devotion to his faith and the principals of Maat, the ancient Egyptian concept of truth, balance, order, harmony, morality and justice. He explains that “‘Ausur,’ is the first law of God which is God on Earth, man’s highest form spiritually.”
Other tracks include “Strollin’,” featuring legendary Spyro Gyra keyboardist Tom Schuman; the sultry “To Forever” with vocals by James Champion; and the funky, horn-laden “Chicken Shack.”
Aside from making quality music for music’s sake, Brown says his greatest goal is to bring people together. He concludes the goal is to achieve, “A life united in harmony in the state of a joyful peace.”
Catch him live June 1 at the 2024 Newport Beach Jazz Festival with Babyface, Avery Sunshine, Jazz Funk Soul, and Jarrod Lawson.
TICKET WATCH: Maxwell will be heading out on what he is calling The Serenade Tour with special guests Jazmine Sullivan and October London beginning Sept. 14 in Hollywood, Florida. Tickets for the 26-city jaunt, with an Oct. 27 date at The Forum, go on sale March 29 at 10 a.m. via musze.com.
The legendary groups Xscape and SWV have reunited for The Queens of R&B Tour with support from Mya, Total, and 702. It will kick off on June 27 at Concord’s Toyota Pavilion and continue across the country before ending at The Forum on Aug. 18. Tickets will be available starting March 29, at 10 a.m. on Ticketmaster.com.
PICTURE PERFECT: Antoine Fuqua’s upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, “Michael” is ramping up its cast with Larenz Tate (“Love Jones”) portraying Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, Kat Graham (“Vampire Diaries”) as Diana Ross and Kendrick Sampson (“Insecure”) as Quincy Jones. They join the previously announced Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Laura Harrier, and star Jaafar Jackson (Michael’s nephew). It arrives April 18, 2025.
FULL SLATE: Ryan Coogler (“Black Panther,” “Creed,” “Fruitvale Station”) was in the news last week with the announcement that his fifth film with Michael B. Jordan (said to be a vampire story) would be ready for the theaters March 7, 2025. This week comes word that the filmmaker is now working on a jukebox musical using the songs of Prince. Makes one wonder how he has time for that reboot of “The X-Files.”
ATLANTA BOUND: Cynopsis reports that Rockmond Dunbar, fired from Fox’s “9-1-1” for not complying with the studio’s vaccine mandate, is returning to acting in Kevin Hart’s Peacock series “The Million Dollar Heist” with Samuel L. Jackson, Taraji P. Henson, Don Cheadle and Terrence Howard. Dunbar, whose request for medical and religious exemptions for the vaccine was denied, filed a $1 million lawsuit against Disney in a case expected to go to trial.
HER TRUTH: “I’ve experienced, you know, difficulties being a Black woman when you stand out, especially in the corps de ballet when it’s supposed to look uniform, and everyone kind of in the same tones wearing pink tights, which represent the color of your skin. And that wasn’t always the case. There were times that I was not cast in certain roles because I would stand out too much and kind of ruin the aesthetic, especially if it was a performance that was being filmed. — MISTY COPELAND on “Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace?”
HAPPS: Will Downing sings selections from his new release “Soul Rising” and more for an evening of sophisticated soul with Maysa at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center on March 29 …
Also that night, DJ Suga Shay has a free show at Resident, Boogaloo Assassins play The Venice West, and Offset sets it off at the Palladium (also on April 1 at House of Blues) …
The Love Hard Tour with Keyshia Cole, Trey Songz, Jaheim, and K. Michelle comes to Peacock Theater on March 30; while Klymaxx is at The Wilshire Ebell, Sa-Roc and others are at Firewater Bar, and Phoebe Robinson (“2 Dope Queens”) tapes a live special at Dynasty Typewriter …
Tiffany Haddish promises a music and comedy extravaganza April 2 at Vibrato Grill, as Writers Bloc Presents: Stacey Abrams at The Ebell …
Roots reggae star Alborosie brings his Destiny US Tour with F.Y.A.H. & Jwadi to the Regent Theater on April 3. Meanwhile, Yo-Yo Ma & Kathryn Stott are at Walt Disney Concert Hall and Ken Page takes the stage of Catalina Jazz Club …
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band come to The Forum on April 4, as Trenyce Cobbins tributes Diana Ross & Whitney Houston at Catalina Jazz Club, and Kandace Springs holds an album release party at The Sun Rose.
TASTY QUIP: “I felt ashamed. … I contributed to the conversation. And I want to apologize to Princess Kate personally on my behalf. … I want her to forgive me, because I am ashamed of myself and I’m a grown woman, and I should have had a little bit more discretion.” — SHERYL UNDERWOOD on CBS’ “The Talk” after the curiously M.I.A. Kate’s announcement of battling cancer
TC ON TV: March 29 – “Madu” (Disney+): Follows 12-year-old Anthony Madu as he leaves his family and community in Nigeria to study at one of the most prestigious ballet schools in the world in England. “Steve: A Documentary In 2 Pieces” (AppleTV+): Explores the iconic life and career of writer, producer, director, actor and comedian Steve Martin. “Heart of the Hunter” (Netflix): A South African action flick starring Bonko Khoza as a retired assassin pulled back into service to aid a friend. “The Beautiful Game” (Netflix): Michael Ward (“Top Boy,” “The Book of Clarence”) and Bill Nighy (“Love Actually”) lead the cast of this drama about efforts to fight homelessness through a series of soccer matches. “Ready To Love” (OWN): “The Finale” “Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show” (HBO): Described as a darkly funny documentary series about Jerrod’s tumultuous quest for love, sex and truth. “The Tonight Show” (NBC): Dev Patel, Jackie Fabolous, Sarah Paulson
March 30 – “Saturday Night Live” (NBC): Ramy Youssef, Travis Scott
March 31 – “Parish” (AMC): An action-packed, six-episode drama starring and executive produced by Giancarlo Esposito (“Breaking Bad,” “Better Call Saul,” “The Mandalorian”) as Gracian “Gray” Parish, a family man and proud owner of a luxury car service in New Orleans. After his son is violently murdered and his business collapses, an encounter with an old friend from his days as a wheelman resurfaces old habits, sending Gray on a high-stakes collision course with a violent criminal syndicate. “The Equalizer” (CBS): Gloria Reuben returns as Trish. “Naked & Afraid” (Disc): An African-American woman is part of a duo of superfan critics attempting to use their armchair survival knowledge to try to endure fourteen days in the jungles of Colombia. “The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live” (AMC): Last week’s shocking return leads into this season finale. “Unsung” (TV1): Donald Lawrence “Uncensored” (TV1): Tamela Mann
April 1 – “2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards” (Fox): Ludacris hosts this live event from the Dolby Theatre honoring Beyoncé and Cher with performances by Justin Timberlake, TLC, Green Day, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson and more. “All American” (CW): Season six of the high school drama begins. “AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange” (World): The 16th season opens with Nailah Jefferson’s “Commuted” telling the story of Danielle Metz after she was released from prison through President Obama’s Clemency Initiative.
April 2 – “Finding Your Roots” (PBS): Henry Louis Gates Jr. explores the roots of actor Michael Douglas and writer-director Lena Dunham. Both are the children of famous artists, but their family trees contain a cast of fascinating characters whose lives were forgotten — until now.
April 3 – “Wish” (Disney+): Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose (“West Side Story”), Chris Pine (“Wonder Woman”) and Alan Tudyk (“Resident Alien”) give voice to this animated movie about a sharp-witted idealist who makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force — a little ball of boundless energy called Star.
April 4 – “Música” (Prime): A coming-of-age love story that follows an aspiring creator with synesthesia, who must come to terms with an uncertain future, while navigating the pressures of love, family and his Brazilian culture in Newark, New Jersey. With writer, and director Rudy Mancuso, Camila Mendes, and J.B. Smoove. “Star Trek: Discovery” (Paramount+): The fifth and final season of the spinoff starring Sonequa Martin-Green as Captain Burnham drops with two episodes.
END QUOTE: “Do not fear mistakes, there are none.” — MILES DAVIS
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 attastyclips@yahoo.com, via Twitter @tastyclips, or Instagram @tasty_clips.
