Issue 21  |  August 2010

Vote For Catch a Vibe!

Catch a Vibe is competing for the title of Best International Blog at the Black Weblog Awards!

Show your support and vote for us!
Please follow the instructions carefully or else your vote will not be counted. The whole process takes less than 2 minutes.

•    Go to http://www.blackweblogawards.com/
•    Click on “Enter Today”
•    Check the button “Yes” to the “rules for the Black Weblog Awards”
•    Click next until you are on Page 4
•    On Page 4, you should see the category Best International Blog (near the top)
•    Enter http://www.catchavibe.co.uk in the field Best International Blog
•    Click next until you are on the last page
•    You will be prompted to enter your name and email address. Please use your real name and genuine email address or else your vote will be discarded.

Good Hair Funny Bit

One thing that we all agree on, whether our hair is relaxed or natural, is that Good Hair is funny as hell. Kudos to Chris Rock for making a lighthearted documentary from a subject that’s still quite sensitive in the community.

The British Urban Film Festival 2010 – Call For Submission

Buff Enterprises has launched its’ biggest ever call for submissions for British Urban Film Festival 2010 – bringing together independent filmmakers from across the nation, to submit their own films. Buff Enterprises launched in July 2005 with the aim of providing a healthy alternative to the showcasing of urban independent cinema in the UK. Since then there has been a concerted effort by the UK film industry to address this imbalance in the cinema landscape both on and off screen. As a result of its’ key pledge to screen films free of charge, Buff has played its’ part in developing  and attracting audiences who have shown a keen interest in being part of this movement. The annual British Urban Film Festival is the only festival of its’ kind in the UK and has become a trusted source for film fans keen to tap into one of the fastest growing creative sectors in the UK.

A DVD screener, EPK, plus a non-refundable entry fee of £25 is the requirement for filmmakers, production companies and voluntary organisations wishing to submit a short film, documentary or feature length movie. All cheques should be made payable to ‘Buff Enterprises Ltd’. Please send all materials plus a cover letter to British Urban Film Festival 2010, Buff Enterprises c/o 4front Films, 27 Ithica House, Romford Road, London E15 4LJ. More details can be found at www.britishurbanfilmfestival.co.uk

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Eric Roberson Tackles Nine Questions in Nine Minutes

A few hours before he hit the stage to perform and host the live music event Groove Gumbo at The Pigalle Club in London, Eric Roberson gave an impromptu interview to Catch a Vibe. The singer/songwriter had a lot to say about his visit to London, his music and a few of his favourite things.

Eric Roberson will host Tribute to Prince at the Jazz Cafe on May 29th at 7pm

BET Awards Emerging Film Makers

Do you have a short film you’d like to share with the world? Here’s your chance. BET is back with their challenge Lens on Talent – a Film Maker’s Challenge hosted by Blair Underwood. This is a short film contest, in which, the winner receives $100,000. In addition to the HUGE amount of cash, the winner gets the opportunity to produce a short film to air on the BET network. Sound good? If so, start preparing because the deadline is June 30, 2010.

For submission details visit: BET – Lens on Talent

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble at London Scala

The Chicago-based Hypnotic Brass Ensemble (HBE) certainly did not need to resort to hypnosis to move London Scala’s crowd on Monday 26th April. Their energy is so infectious, that it took me an enormous amount of concentration and wilpower to write notes during the show and resist the overwhelming desire to join in the dancing of the delirious audience.

HBE are the eight sons of jazz trumpeter Phil Cohran, joined by a drummer.  They play trumpet, trombone, baritone horn and the very impressive sousaphone –“the one that goes round the player’s body and sits on his shoulder”.

The most striking feature of HBE’s music is that they know exactly how to blend their hip hop and jazz roots into a unique and versatile sound. It is sharp, powerful, exciting and raw.Although the very first opening act was rather forgettable, HBE’s set was preceded by an extraordinary performance from Canadian afrobeat 6-piece band Souljazz Orchestra, which ended in a special feature tribute to Fela Kuti.
HBE started with a super punchy urban track, with ultra-fast no-messin’ rapped vocals, which was followed by 8 tracks from their vast repertoire, each one delivered flawlessly. That is unless the occasional explicit lyrics are considered a flaw.

The excellent Smoov #%&@ from the album The Brothas was absolutely magnificent.  Icing on the cake, these guys really know how to shake it. For their encore they invited members of the public –mainly female– to join them on stage to dance, seemingly possessed, whilst they kept on playing a soca style piece. One can legitimately question the absence from the set of some of the splendid tracks from HBE’s last album The Brothas such as Planet Gibbous or Toussaint.
The band features on the new Gorillaz album Plastic Beach, and may even support them on their forthcoming London show at Camden Roundhouse.
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is truly phenomenal.
Next UK show:
31 July 2010
Field Day
Victoria Park

Next album release:
April 2010
The Heritage

Courttia Newland’s Writers Group The Collective

Courttia Newland, author of the novels The Scholar and Snakeskin, is starting a series of writing classes specifically aimed at Black writers called The Collective. These classes aim to provide creative writing exercises, group tutorials and the reading and dissemination of published work, in order to help hone your writing craft and provide the support needed to finish that all important novel, short story collection, script or play.

Writers of all backgrounds and all levels are more than welcome, however the focus of these classes will be connecting Black British writers with a wider creative aesthetic, as well as writing from the African diaspora. Any genre is acceptable, though the classes are primarily focused on dramatic prose.

Classes will take place on the the third Saturday of every month and will begin from the 15th May through to the 17th July. This is a fee paying workshop and so fees for all three workshops must be paid at the first class. Payments accepted in cash only.

For more details or enquiries please contact Courttia at urbanfactor@gmail.com
.

VENUE: 16mm, D’Arblay St, London W1F 8ED. Closest tube Tottenham Court
Road/Oxford Circus

DATES: 15th May, 19th June, 17th July

TIME: 10.30am-1:30pm

FEE: 90/70 Concs (please bring proof of low income).

Call for Film Submissions

The FD4W International Film Festival is calling for entries from women film directors.

The FD4W International Film Festival (FD4WIFF) will take place in London, UK from 9th-12th September 2010.

Submissions will be accepted from women film directors in the following four categories:
· Features
· Shorts
· Documentary shorts
· Documentary features
Prizes will be awarded for:
· Best Feature
· Best Short
· Best Documentary
· Most Promising New Director
· Audience Award
· Best Student

The deadlines for entries are:
· Early bird deadline – Friday 30th April 2010
· Regular deadline – Friday 28th May 2010
· Late deadline – Friday 25th June 2010

FD4WIFF will accept films made between June 2005 and May 2010. Highlights from the festival programme will be announced at a press launch in July.

Further information
Fd4w founder Ruth Torjussen began teaching confidence building, women-only film directing courses in September 2009 with the aim of contributing to the worldwide movement that will see a huge rise in the number of films being directed by women. (Currently only 6% of film directors are women. Source: BEV 2009). Such was the success of the courses that in just a short time Filmdirecting4women has become a grassroots community of women film directors with many more courses, monthly networking/screening events, an ever-growing online members support network and now their own international festival.

The inaugural FD4W International Film Festival will be a creative space where women directors will be inspired and encouraged.

All enquiries to:
Pauline Walker
Festival Manager
FD4W International Film Festival
Mobile: 07896 413575 / Email: pauline@filmdirecting4women.com
Website: filmdirecting4women.co.uk/film-festival and filmdirecting4women.co.uk

Complex Simplicity

Untold returned on 22 February 2010 with their sixth fashion show delivering another season of rising designers.  Structured jackets from Gevorgian, innovative menswear designs by Ma:LE and Desiderata, lingerie by Pia Love, beautiful dresses by Lana Luk,  bright coloured separates from Chrissiefizz Designs and a few gems made from ethically sourced, reclaimed and eco friendly fabrics by Mononoko .

My favourite pieces are from Bestow Elan and Chichia London. The former offers pieces that are effortless and chic, while the later showcases warm colours and prints that pay homage to East Africa.

I really liked the opener for Bestow Elan, a blue jersey dress I can only describe as complex-simplicity.  The overall effect of the cut-out detailing across the chest and left shoulder with the draping at the hem, allowed the dress to move comfortably against the model’s body, while subtly accentuating her shoulders and legs. Also, the blue tailored trousers with a cream (or was it a very pale yellow) blouse and the white tailored trousers with a black top made me want to reach for my purse.  Designer Erzumah Ackerson’s takes great care in framing the neck, collar bone and back creating a focal point worthy of a double-take.

Christine Mhando of Chichia London won me over with her use of vibrant colours and prints. Her signature blend of Khanga, a traditional East African printed cotton fabric, and modern shapes fall in line with catwalk trends for Spring/Summer ’10. The eye-catching beige and chocolate print dress with unexpected pops of blue, green and pink piping was fun and flirty. The closing look is a great example of mixing prints and colours effectively. At first glance one might be confused by the pairing, but somehow it works.  A word of caution, attempt to recreate this combination at your own risk; there’s a science to it!

Jamie Cullum covers Rihanna

Jazz-pop singer Jamie Cullum releases Rhianna cover “Don’t Stop The Music” from his album “The Pursuit.” Instantly recognizable, but with the Cullum touch, the new single will be available as a download only on January 25th.

Talking about the track, Jamie says: “There’s a real science to choosing covers.”

“I did Rihanna’s ‘Umbrella’ the day after it was released but soon enough, everyone was doing it. With ‘Don’t Stop The Music’ it was the lyric that grabbed me. It is such a sexy lyric. And I was able to transform the song into something totally new sounding.”

via Clickliverpool

Jose James’ BLACKMAGIC online advert

KSwiss online advert that uses Jose James’ Blackmagic. The album drops in February.

Our list of hot albums released this year

Music video: Ninthe & Zuluboy – The World is Yours

South African hip hop artist Zuluboy with Ninthe, a singer from Holland on a cautionary taleabout HIV.

Fally Ipupa + Olivia of G-Unit

An unlikely collaboration: Fally Ipupa, rising star of African music with Olivia of G-Unit. Titled “Chaise Electrique” (Electric Chair), the song is a certified hit!

Alicia Key’s The Element of Freedom – Reviews round-up

– The Guardian —
According to Alicia Keys, who was battling depression following the loss of a family member, her fourth album was a struggle to conceive. But, as befits the thrust of her songwriting, she overcame adversity to make a confident, well-crafted modern soul record that engages and rewards without doing anything groundbreaking. Almost every track deals with the ups and downs of love and proceeds at a stately pace. The restraint works powerfully on “Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart”, but the punchier moments towards the end – the Beyoncé duet and a return to Jay-Z’s exuberant “Empire State of Mind” – come as something of a relief.
Killian Fox – The Guardian

Read more reviews from the BBC, The Independent, Spin Magazine and more after the jump!

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Review: the Black Tie Comedy Awards

We knew the organisers of the Black Tie Comedy Awards were in for a difficult night after a fire in the black wall tunnel caused all sorts of transport problems for nominees and the audience. After having to cancel the Award show earlier in the year this was another unneeded setback. The Show did eventually kick off an hour late with a lot of empty seats still unfilled and number of special guests still to arrive. The Awards host Kojo the comedian did his best to paper over the cracks and charmed the crowd when he pointed out that there ‘had to be a problem with the Blackwall tunnel on a black event!’ His co-host was model Rachel Ritfield.

Chris Rock was awarded the Best International Comedian gong but unsurprisingly was not in attendance. Young white comic Kevin J was recognised as Best Newcomer and also performed. He killed the audience with laughter about his tales of being a white boy growing up with Nigerians.

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