Ahhh! IT WAS A GOOD WEEK!

I never thought driving into work on a Monday morning could be pleasurable, but it was when I put Kem's third album in my CD player. "Intimacy" Album III is  nothing new to most of the women I've polled they all had already downloaded it and play it several times a day. So, this review is for my brothers... if you know or like a lady, you'd better catch up and keep Kem in your rotation. The album starts with two mid-tempo burners that could go into any progressive radio stations playlist (but probably won't until they are made singles). "When I'm Loving You" and "Can You Feel It" set up the sexy, mature nature of the Nashville born, Detroit raised Kem Owen's coolness. Kem doesn't go right after the love jugular until the third song "Love Never Fails" where the ex-wedding band singer takes his time and dishes lyrics and a little talking (Question ladies; How do those little guys have those deep voices?) that bleeds right into "Share My Life", the latest single currently heard on radio. I could go through each song on this CD because they are ALL good and the way it is sequenced the songs flow right from one to another. I do want to point out another hidden gem called "A Mother's Love." How can this song fail? It starts slow and dreamy with just some light piano then halfway through picks up with the whole band joining in. It's perfect for anyone who has fond memories of their mother, surely to become a heavy play around Mother's Day!
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I was blessed in another musical way this week by getting an invite to Anita Baker's personal party for 5,000 of her friends at Virginia's Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts. Anita comes to town about as often as Leap Year so when she does make an appearance it is special and this one was no different. In the beginning she belted out "Sweet Love" which still sounds so great even though you can't understand all the words to the song, it's nothing different than when she performed it twenty-four years ago. I went ready to count the number of times Anita would stop and complain about the sound system but, even though it sounded pretty tinny to my ears, she kept on singing only to give slight directions during her 90 minute set. Her voice, still smokey and sexy was accompanied by a six piece band (with old friend Gerald Albright on sax) and three background singers. You could tell that as much as we missed her, Anita Baker missed us, as she did a good portion of the set with the house lights up so she could take in the crowd. Speaking of the crowd, they were as energetic to the music as Anita was playful with them and by the time she performed "Same Ol' Love," everybody was out of their seats swaying to the music. She also graced us with a song from her upcoming album titled "21st Century Love" do out either later this year or early 2011.

BACKSTAGE WITH
ANITA BAKER

After the concert was over Anita welcomed about thirty of us backstage where you could tell she really felt at home. There all types of folks ranging from news anchors to financiers and of course your radio and record company types. Everybody was mingling but right in the middle of it all was little 5 foot Anita Baker, playing hostess making sure that everyone was comfortable and had enough to eat! The Wolf Trap staff tried to shut the party down but Anita wasn't having it. She let them know that she was conducting business and that she just put over five-thousand butts into the seats of their venue. She let me know that her sound check earlier in the day took two hours because the sound mixer had trouble shaping the music to her liking. I asked her about singing directions to the sound man and she said "Yes, because I have to have it right because people pay their money for a good show. I used to think that she was just being... cranky on stage but that put it in a new light! She walked us to the door at around midnight but for Ms. Baker the party is not slowing down. 

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I think the best winner of American Idol was Fantasia Barrino (funny, she doesn't look Italian) and that is something I will always stand by. I also think she was/is a little sexy too but that's besides the point. Fantasia's voice is so strong in her studio recording and she backs it when I've seen her live in a few showcases and in The Color Purple where she didn't disappoint and by the way one of her moving songs from the play "I'm Here" co-written by the legendary Brenda Russell, closes out this album. She has expression, knows where her range is and plays up and down in it. With all that being said, sadly her new album "Back To Me" didn't turn me on. I'm not sure if it's that I listened to it in the same week I listened to Kem's CD or is it that the writing just isn't that strong. Her first radio was "Bittersweet" which could be a future classic tune. Another cut that is pretty good is "Collard Greens & Cornbread," now I know you're laughing and it sounds like something Jill Scott would be singing about (she fits food into a lot of her lyrics) but don't let the name put you off! Collard Greens & Cornbread borrows Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell's "Your Precious Love" track and adds some modern woman's situation to music. It's about at this song where the album wakes up. A reggae tinged song called "Teach Me" the young love tale "Trust Him" and a funky thing called "The Thrill Is Gone" (not a remake of B.B. King's classic) featuring Cee-Lo, which could turn into a real good song with some exposure. There are some good songs on this album but you will have to jump around to find them. Here's a cool place for a segue and more on Fantasia!


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BEST FRIED CHICKEN
CARRIE'S CUISINE

I ended this week at the Steve Harvey Morning Show's 8th Annual Hoodie Awards, celebrating the every day people in ur neighborhoods. Okay, I know "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" but I think some things are good to share. This was my second year attending the Hoodies and it seemed to get bigger and better! My weekend kicked off with the "White Party" and it was just that. A large room with lots of sponsor booths with three stages and a sea of party people clad in white from head-to-toe. Doug E. Fresh performed with Charlie Wilson closing it out with almost two hours worth of hits from his solo projects and Gap Band songs. After the party was over everyone who didn't take off their shoes from too much dancing headed to the late night comedy show hosted by Nephew Tommy. Special guests of J Records were invited to a party for Fantasia that was jammed packed, so much so that I took advantage of the excuse to go to my room catch-up on my sleep.

BEST CHURCH

Saturday at the Hoodies started with a fashion show featuring a new line of designer jeans by the before mentioned Thomas Miles (Nephew Tommy). These jeans are cut for the larger than average woman and are called "Big Love." Tommy filled the hall with over 1,000 Thick Chicks that were all trying to get nephews attention. Tommy's favorite phrase is that he like them  "16 and Up with a Short Hair Cut and a Whole Lot of Butt"! The jeans were average to good but the big models were workin' their big back pockets! That evening was the Awards Show which rivals any award program you can imagine. The stars were out like Sherri Shepared, Joe, Holly Robinson Peete, LisaRaye, Michael Clarke Duncan and more. There were musical performances by The O'Jay's, Angie Stone and Fantasia. The performances were all good but pretty long which helped to stretch the show to five hours! If this is ever to make it to television the only thing needing correction would be the length. I had great floor seats but gave them up to stay in the media room which turned into the celeberty lounge after they left the stage. There was a lot of mingling and picture taking going on. My favorite was LisaRaye showing off her beautiful ASSet and Omerosa giving us all a thrill with her hot orange gown and pretty smilie!... Oh yeah, let me remember my Pastor John K. Jenkins of First Baptist of Glenarden was backstage too with the churches First Lady (we won in the Best Church category). DC (and my former employer WHUR) brought home 4 Hoodies in all. Best Church, Best Teacher, Best Fried Chicken and Best Nail Salon. As Steve said "If DC didn't lose, somebody was gonna start kicking some ass!" We did win three straight to jump-start the awards!

The weekend ended up with a Celebrity Golf Tournament and a Beach Party. Unfortunately, I had to miss them to get back to my "Money Maker" (No, it's not what your dirty little mind is thinking). Instead of watching women in bikini's at the beach party with a drink in my hand, I was on a cramped airplane next to some hairy dude that kept falling asleep on my shoulder and coughing for five hours... oh well, the week started good!