Celebrating the Life of John Hicks

This just came in from the fine folks at Jazz Corner:

This is from John's sister Emma.

Viewing will be held Thursday, May 18, 2006 from 2-9pm at Saint Mark's United Methodist Church located at 55 Edgecombe Avenue, New York City.

Homegoing service for Mr. Hicks will be held on Friday May 19, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. at Saint Mark's United Methodist Church.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by John H. Joyce Funeral Directors located at 2332 Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd. New York, new York 10030 Phone 212-690-3500.

Following the funeral services for Mr. Hicks, the family will have his body shipped to Atlanta, Georgia to be buried at South View Cemetery in the family plot along with his parents, grandparents, and brother, Eldon. Flowers can be sent to the funeral home.

Thank you.
Peace
Lois Gilbert
jazzcorner.com

Remembering Bob Marley

Bob Marley, the king of reggae (duh) and one of the most significant and enduring artists of the rock era, died 25 years ago today.

NPR ran a nice feature today, on Marley's music and influence, and one terrific segment of the story focused on the evolution of the anthem "One Love." When the Wailing Wailers (Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny) debuted the tune, it was much faster and more ska-like than the final, slowed-down, hypnotic-grooving version of the tune.

Just out at the bookstore is Christopher John Farley's Before the Legend: The Rise of Bob Marley. I'm wondering if this bio will offer anything new, in the wake of the countless books already published on Marley.

Sure wish we had the time/$$ to go back to Jamaica once more, for this summer's version of Sunsplash or SumFest or whatever they're calling the summer fest in Montego Bay now.

Free Movie Tickets to Akeelah and the Bee for Teachers

This just in:

AMC ENTERTAINMENT AND LIONSGATE OFFER
“AKEELAH AND THE BEE” F-R-E-E TO U.S. TEACHERS

Kansas City, Mo. and Santa Monica, Calif. (May 10, 2006) – In an effort to reward teachers at the end of the school year for their hard work and encourage them to see the inspirational education-themed movie "Akeelah and the Bee,” AMC Entertainment and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) are taking the unprecedented step of offering every teacher in the United States one free ticket to the film Friday, May 12 through Sunday, May 14, 2006. The offer is valid exclusively at all theatres in the AMC system including: Loews Theatres, Star Theatres and Magic Johnson Theatres.

"Partnering with a theatre chain the caliber of AMC gives us the ability together to bring ‘Akeelah and the Bee’ to our country's most important resource - teachers," said Tom Ortenberg, President of Lionsgate Theatrical Films. "We were in concert with AMC from the moment we joined together on this terrific idea."

"We are honored to be able to treat teachers across the country to a free showing of ‘Akeelah and the Bee’ at one of our theatres,” said Peter Brown, Chairman and CEO, AMC Entertainment. “The film underscores the tremendously positive effect that educators can have on our children, and it is our hope that this small gesture lets teachers know how much we appreciate them.”

A motivating drama, “Akeelah and the Bee” is the story of Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer), a precocious eleven-year-old girl from south Los Angeles with a gift for words. Despite the objections of her mother Tanya (Angela Bassett), Akeelah enters various spelling contests, for which she is tutored by the forthright Dr. Larabee (Laurence Fishburne), her principal Mr. Welch (Curtis Armstrong) and the proud residents of her neighborhood. Akeelah's aptitude earns her an opportunity to compete for a spot in the Scripps National Spelling Bee and, in turn, unites her neighborhood who witness the courage and inspiration of one amazing little girl.

A Lionsgate, 2929 Entertainment and Starbucks Entertainment production, “Akeelah and the Bee” was written and directed by Doug Atchison. The film's producers are Sid Ganis, Nancy Hult Ganis, Michael Romersa, Danny Llewelyn and Laurence Fishburne; executive producers are Todd Wagner, Mark Cuban, Marc Butan and Helen Sugland.

Teachers need to present a valid school-issued identification card or pay-stub and photo identification card at the box office in order to receive a free admission to the film. Free admission to school teachers will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

Tom Petty Returns to Hogtown?; Peter Bogdanovich Documentary in the Works; Tampa Show, in '05, with the Black Crowes

Will Tom Petty do a 30th anniversary concert in Gainesville, where he started his rock and roll career in the Hogtown band Mudcrutch?

That's a rumor buried deep in Chris Morris's story (online at the Billboard site) about a forthcoming documentary on Petty. The film is now being shot by Peter Bogdanovich, the masterful film director (The Last Picture Show) and ultimate film buff.

The movie promises to be great, and I'd definitely get in the car and motor up to Gainesville, home of my alma mater, the University of Florida, if that show indeed takes place.

I have fond memories of dozens of Petty shows over the years, including one last June at The Ford Amphitheatre in Tampa, and another concert or two long ago at the old Bayfront Center in St. Petersburg.

Petty (thanks, Tom) includes my Billboard review of that '05 show on his official site. In addition to hearing great music at that concert, which featured the mighty Black Crowes as opening act, I got to take my son, then 9, to his first full-fledged rock and roll show. I wonder if he'll remember this when he grows up?

As far as that proposed Hogtown show -- The waiting is the hardest part.

The Onion Peels Open Poseidon

My new favorite Poseidon review quote is from the review in The Onion:

"Titanic" without the metaphors, the class-consciousness, the love story, or anything resembling a theme, Poseidon invests so little in its screenplay that it might as well be an episode of "The Love Boat" gone horribly awry."

Ella Taylor, in her review for LA Weekly, praises, you know, the special efx:

"The effects are terrific, from the two-and-a-half-minute opening sequence that tracks around the brilliantly lit liner from below, above and round about, to some amazing exterior shots of the groaning vessel rolling around in the churning sea like a giant, wounded whale."

Forecast ahead: Huge box-office takes at home and maybe even bigger loot abroad. With dialogue this pointless, there's no way anything will be lost in translation.