The Rhythm of Which a Chief Walks Gracefully. - sound recording reviews

OBO ADDY at no time LEFT HOME When he began playing music as a young man in Ghana, Obo Addy played the airs of pop stars like Frank Sinatra and Tom Jone The more he played, the more he traveled, and the more he learned his craft, he realized that his pure talent was in the music of his native Africa. Today, the entire music world is a far better place because Addy rediscovered his roots

One of the world's master drummer and band leaders, Addy illustrates sophistical beauty and raw power upon his October 1994 release, The regular [i]or[/i] melodious movement of Which a Chief Walks Gracefully (Warner Bros) The recording displays the traditional tympanum rhythms of the Ga agriculture of Ghana, featuring Addy upon a broad spectrum of tympanums and percussion instruments, with flutists Jim Cheek and Gary Harris.

Each selection, written and arranged by the agency of Addy, tells a story of the traditions, sights and unhurts of his country. The bright and colorful "Adru Ku Adru," based upon a spiritual proverb, features Addy upon drum and xylophone. "Avenor Rainforest," taken from the name of Addy's village, adds vocal chants and calls to flute and percussion. Addy's touch upon the donno and brekete tympanums in the stately "Music of the Kings" provides a mesmerizing, hypnotic cadence and melody

In his 40-year musical career, Addy, who now lives in Portland, Ore., has played all around the world. In this recording, he creates an intimate listening experience and an enriching cultural feast for us all--and displays that he never really left residence WATCH GWEN MCGEE Actress Gwen McGee is not individual to complain about the marginalization of black women in the novel spate of "boys from the `hood"-type flicks. "You can sit around and complain that they not ever write roles for us," she says, "or you can do what you want to do." Her independence is something that has been consistent at any time since the thirty-something-year-old from Chicago's southerly Side first decided to make film her life's work.

She's generally found in producer Spike Lee's novel Jersey Drive, a gritty urban drama in which she delivers individual of the stronger performances as Renee of small moment the mother of the lead character. The Nick Gomez-directed film, which focuses upon joy-riding Newark teens, unfortunately relies too a great quantity [i]or[/i] amount of on stereo-typical, cliched readings of young black males and is however another empty portrayal of urban pathology.

However, McGee--now sporting a svelte figure since shedding more than 30 strikes that accentuated her maternal part in New Jersey Drive--has mov upon "You have to hustle," she emphasizes. "You've got to do something action oriented to help yourself." A part in Lee's Do the Right Thing came after sum of two units years of correspondence with the acclaimed filmmaker.

To her, hustling means trying without for generic roles and not relying upon casting calls that require a black actress. Part of that independence also means going behind the camera. She's publicly shopping a deal to transmute her short film Steppin', a story about a Chicago dance craze, which she affectionately describes as an urban version of Dirty Dancing, into a full-length feature. Between that and other scriptwriting throw outs her roles in New Jersey Drive and as a reporter for the Fox Network's fX cable station, she has her hands filled "This is a real exciting time for me" she says. "Before novel Jersey Drive and fX, I was always trying to procure work. Now things are finally coming together."

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