Author's posts
Soundtrack to the Struggle: Gladys Bentley
It’s Prohibition-era Harlem, and Gladys Bentley is at the piano at Harry Hansberry’s Clam House, one of the biggest gay speakeasies in New York. Dressed in her signature tuxedo and top hat, she sings bawdy lyrics to popular songs. Her voice is deep and growling, and she flirts with the women in the audience. Even …
Soundtrack to the Struggle: Eartha Kitt
Eartha Kitt was never afraid to use her distinctive voice. Born on a South Carolina cotton plantation, Eartha Mae Keith grew to record the standards, “Let’s Do It,” and “C’est Si Bon.” She was fluent in French, spoke four other languages, and sang in 11. She recorded, sang in nightclubs, and appeared in films, television, …
Soundtrack to the Struggle: Carl Van Vechten
It’s 1906 in Harlem. The first sparks of a cultural explosion have just ignited. Artists, writers, musicians, and composers are flocking to this city-in-a-city. One of them is Carl Van Vechten. Who could have predicted that the Harlem Renaissance’s greatest advocate and chronicler would be a young white man from Cedar Rapids, Iowa? Carl Van …
Culture Crawl 689 “Someone Screaming at You to Live Your Best Life”
Mirrorbox Theatre returns to in-person shows with a world premier, “Cycle Play,” Feb. 17-27 in Theatre Cedar Rapids’ Grandon Studio. Founder. Cavan Hallman is excited not just about this play, but about the recently completed capital campaign to fund a permanent space for the theatre, in Cedar Rapids’ Time Check neighborhood. Playwright Megan Tabaque and …
Corridor Jazz Project Concert March 8
CORRIDOR JAZZ PROJECT RETURNS TO THE PARAMOUNTThree new schools join for the progam’s 15th year Three new schools join The Corridor Jazz Project as the program celebrates its fifteenth year at a massive concert March 8th at the Paramount Theatre, Cedar Rapids. The concert will be presented in two “sessions,” to accommodate those who are not …
Culture Crawl 688 “Don’t Toss the Wine Bottles”
The Cedar Rapids Concert Chorale has two big events in the coming weeks. Their sole fundraiser of the year, the Mardi Gras Gala, will be at the Czech Museum Feb. 26, and the Chorale pays tribute to the many composers who call, or have called Cedar Rapids home, in their next concert, March 5 at …
Soundtrack to the Struggle: Cab and Minnie
Cab Calloway’s subtle but indelible influence on American culture began the moment he forgot the chorus to his own signature song. Picture the scene: The club is packed. Dancers fill the floor. Calloway steps to the mic and begins that new song he’s been dying to sing. He reaches the chorus. Something catches his eye. …
Soundtrack to the Struggle: “Big Jay and The Photo”
It’s 1951 Los Angeles, and photographer Bob Willoughby works in his darkroom, listening to the radio. The disc jockey promotes a jazz concert that night at the Olympic arena. The concert starts at midnight. Intrigued, Willoughby packs his camera and heads for the show. What he finds there, and what he captures on film, become …