If you are in NYC this coming weekend. I suggest to head to Brooklyn and take part in the40th Annual International African Arts Festival!

July 1 – July 4, 2011
Commodore Barry Park
Downtown Brooklyn, NY

This four-day annual arts and crafts festival, a Brooklyn summer institution since 1971 (and formerly held at Boys and Girls High School), includes an African Marketplace, dance and music performances, and fashion shows.

The festival takes place at Commodore Barry Park (Navy Street, between Park and Flushing Avenues, on the border between Downtown Brooklyn and Fort Greene) rain or shine, July 1-4, 10AM-9PM

Schedule:
FRIDAY, JULY 1
Ancestral opening with Shanto
James Fleet/Drake Colley Quintet
Ngoma-Tribute to Billy Bang
Greg Stamper
Colonel Abrams Dance Party
Asase Ya

SATURDAY, JULY 2
Tribute to Chief Bey, Nana Dinizulu and Baba Ishangi
Ifetayo Youth Ensemble
Omi Yesa
Dimizulu African Dancers, Drummers and Singers
Ishangi family Dancers
Bill Mc Cloud, Urban Ju-Jitsu

SUNDAY, JULY 3
Gospel
Graveshift
Amma Watt
Phyllis Yvonne Stickney MC
The Black Alley players featuring Ebony Jo-Ann (B.O.N.E. Ent. Artist with artist Stix Bones and Johnny Turco)
Tribute to Gil Scott Heron feat. The Last Poets and the Midnight Band
International Day of the Drum Celebrating and Observance
Akom

MONDAY, JULY 4
Rome Neal’s Women In Jazz
Orquesta Tipica 73 (Salsa music)
Phyllis Yvonne Stickney MC
Norman Conners and the Starship Orchestra
Forces of Nature
International Day of the Drum Celebrating and Observance

For information on the Children’s Program (including the Fashion Show, the Afrikan Poetry Theater Poetry Slam, and the Natural Hair Show) and other details, call 718.638.3700 or send an email to infoatIAAFestival.org

Hope to see you there!!!

Keep Jammin!

Hey Folks:

Recently Stix Bones asked a question on his facebook fan page.

Does having the ability to create music on garage band, logic, protools, etc qualify you as a musician? If so how?
His fans had plenty to say…

Derrick N Ashong said Good question. I think regardless of your instrument, the act of making music makes you a musician. The quality of the music you make determines if you’re a good one…

Hey Folks:

Did you miss the first Jazz night in late January? If so, you missed a treat.
The boiler at the Paradise Theater wasn’t working so the room was initially rather chilly but when Marcus Anderson played his sax and Matt Marshak fired up his guitar the warmed place up nicely! By the time Stix Bones and the B.O.N.E. Squad got on stage and folks were nicely liquored up the place was TOASTY!!!!

Here is a cool picture of Stix Bones and the audience “Brooklyn Style”

Hope you make Jazz Night 2 with David Stevens!

Keep Jammin!

If you are in the NY Tri-State area and you love Smooth Jazz I’m sure you miss CD 109.9 as much as I do.

Start 2011 off on a good foot please join us for a fun night of Smooth Jazz with Stix Bones and Friends -

When: January 29, 2011

Where: The Paradise Theater 2413 Grand Concourse • Bronx, NY 10468

Performances by: Matt Marshak, DJ Rafe Gomez, Marcus Anderson & Stix Bones

Tickets: $20.00

Doors Open: 8 pm

Sorry I haven’t posted in a while but I’ve been busy enjoying some good music with Stix Bones!

Today’s post is about the Paradise Theater in Bronx, NY. Stix Bones and the BONE Squad are currently the opening musicians at the Paradise playing for concert goers as they wait for the theater doors to open. A very ingenious idea developed by the folks with On The Rocks Entertainment.

The BONE Squad has performed for the fans of Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Kelly Price, Deborah Cox and Tamia with the Queen Project, Jaheim, The O’Jays, Keith Sweat and Ron Isley just to name a few. In the coming weeks Stix and the BONE squad will hold court for the fans of Cedric the Entertainer. Pretty nice gig don’t you think?

I share this information because the Paradise Theater is beautiful and if ever you are in NYC you should add a concert there to your itinerary.

Here is a bit about the Paradise Theater:

The Paradise theater originally opened on September 7, 1929 with Warner Oland in The Mysterious Dr. Fun Manchu on the screen.  The 23rd largest movie theater ever to be built in the USA was one of the last ‘Atmospheric’ style theaters built.  This breathtaking theater features Greco-Roman statuary and marble columns line gilded walls crowded with murals of winged cherubs and cloud-bound figures reminiscent of the Sistine Chapel. A wide marble staircase worthy of a luxury hotel curves up to the balcony and chandeliers twinkle over the lobby. The ambiance is beyond the imagination!  We have a crown jewel right here in the Bronx!

The Paradise Theater is 80 years old and seats 3,785 is a registered landmark building for both the façade and interior is under new ownership and is managed by Derrick Sanders and Shelby Joyner of On the Rocks Entertainment, Inc.   Mr. Sanders and Mr. Joyner have over 13 years of experience in the entertainment industry, and will breathe new life to this historic landmark, while committing to the preservation of the magnificent art décor that dwells within the theater.   While enjoying an event at the Paradise Theater, each person will have the ultimate guest experience, with an array of diversified events that will exceed their overall expectations when they come to the theater. There will be events at the Paradise Theater that will reflect the diversity of not only the Bronx, but all of New York. The Paradise Theater reopening will help with the economic revitalization of the community by providing jobs to residents.  It is the goal of the new management team to partner with the residents and community leaders.

Until next time…

Keep Jammin!

I was listening to “Funky Drummer” by James Brown (R.I.P.) the other day and got to wondering… exactly who is this funky drummer? So onto the net and found some goodies!

Here is my first Artist Spotlight: Mr. Clyde Stubblefield

The cat on Funky Drummer is Clyde Stubblefield from Chattanooga, TN. Mr. Stubblefield was also the drummer on James Brown’s “Cold Sweat, “I Got a Feelin”, “Say it Loud-I’m Black and I’m Proud” and countless others by the Godfather of Soul.

According to Wikipedia, Mr. Stubblefield is the most widely sampled musician in the world! As a matter of fact, “Funky Drummer” is believed to be the worlds most sampled record! Ain’t that something?

Currently Mr. Stubblefield resides in Madison, Wisconsin where he is suffering from kidney failure and undergoes dialysis treatment and is on the transplant list. Regardless of his illness Mr. Stubblefield plays a weekly gig at the Frequency in downtown Madison. He has collaborated with John “Jabo” Starks, another James Brown drummer and formed Funkmasters. As a team Stubblefield and Jabo have worked with Fred Wesley and Bootsy Collins just to name a couple. They also have appeared in instructional drumming videos.

I checked youtube and found a really cool clip of the Funky Drummer being well… funky.

So here is some trivia for you.

Comment on this post with three songs that have used the “Funky Drummer” sample for a chance to win a copy of Stix Bones “Groove Like This” after all he is our FUNKY DRUMMER! The winners and answers will be posted on next weeks Artist Spotlight.

Until next time…
Keep Jammin

My husband is a musician, business owner and “SAHD” What’s a SAHD,  MrsDeveter you might ask? We’ll folks it’s a Stay at Home Dad!

Before we became parents I noticed that my talented husband who worked hard for his BA of Fine Arts in Jazz from Purchase College was miserable and seriously unhappy in corporate America, so I told him to quit his job and focus on his music. Two albums, countless tours and now three children later my husband is happy, content and producing more music then ever as a SAHD.

Since the economic downturn in the US many men are now working from home or taking on the responsibility of the primary care give for their children, while their wives work outside of the home (someone has to have insurance!) There have been many books, movies and most recently blogs written about or by stay at home dads.

I am very proud of my husband; his achievements in music and most importantly his care for our children which to me, is much better then what any nanny or day care center could provide!

B.O.N.E Entertainment is proud to support some of the greatest Musical Dads in the world. These are men who have dedicated their lives to working for themselves as musicians and taking care of their children during the day.

Over the next few weeks I would like to spotlight a few of these incredible dads with posts dedicated to them.

Today I think it’s fitting to showcase my hubby CEO of B.O.N.E. Entertainment Stix BONES.

MrsDeveter: Can you give us an example of a typical day for you?

Stix: My day is basically a 16hr day, starting at 10 a.m. thru 4 a.m. sometimes there is overtime of 2 hours. During the first 6 hours I take care of my set of 2 year old fraternal twins. Sprinkled within that job I’m answering/making business calls and working as much as I can online. Each day varies because some days the twins would like more attention than usual. This causes my business ventures to be placed on hold. At 3 p.m. my 5 year old gets out of school, then I have all three until my wife gets home from work at 7:30 p.m. Somewhere between 5 and 7 p.m. I try to get a little nap because after 8 p.m. that’s when I actually head to the studio for rehearsal for an upcoming event, or working on the things I didn’t get accomplished earlier in the day.

MrsDeveter: Phew I’m tired just hearing about your day! How do you balance all the hats you wear? Dad, Husband, Musician, CEO, Son etc.?

Stix: It is difficult but setting little tasks and trying to get them done as quickly as possible and arranging my schedule a few days ahead of time works for me. For example if I can get the emails or phone calls I have to take care of, out of the way before 3 p.m. I can have more time with the kids. If there is just something that has to get done in the afternoon I’ll prepare the kids to go with me or make arrangements for someone to watch them.

MrsDeveter: What is the most difficult thing about being a Musical Dad?

Stix: Not being as musical as I’d like to be. If I could practice my instrument at least an hour a day, it’ll keep me on my toes so to speak. If I could focus more on playing and creating I probably wouldn’t feel so drained. The business part of music take a huge toll on my time and energy.

MrsDeveter: What is the best thing about being a Musical Dad?

Stix: The best part about being a musical dad is watching my children jam to my music,  it’s pretty amazing! My life is busy but fulfilling;  I am doing what I love, around the people I love.

If you haven’t picked it up yet, be sure to get your copy of  Groove Like This,  Stix BONES debut album.

Stop by next Monday and read about another awesome Musical Dad!

Until next time…
Keep jammin!

What’s Up Folks:

It’s been a while since I’ve posted and I do apologize! But things have been jamming here at BONE Entertainment.

Most recently Stix had the opportunity to broadcast live from Park City, UT on Oprah’s XM radio station on The Derrick Ashong Experience!

Click here to view the beginning of the show on Ustream.tv! Pretty darn cool.

Check for the comments from MrsDeveter cause I was certainly in the HOUSE!

Soulfege also performed live at the Sundance Film Festival, Check them out here. The drummer is our VERY own Stix BONES!!!!

Here is some information on Derrick and the show.

Derrick N. Ashong, or DNA as he is sometimes known, is a Ghana, West Africa, native and has dedicated his life to building bridges between the fields of business, media, technology, youth culture, pop culture and politics. Derrick has lectured on five continents on the use of media as a tool for human development, including recent talks at the London School of Economics, King’s College (Cambridge), the Reconciliation Forum in Washington, D.C., the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and before UK Parliament on the subject of “The Obama Generation.” He is a member of the internationally recognized Next Generation Leadership Forum and a participant in the Arts & Entertainment task force of the U.S.-Islamic World Forum. Derrick is a Harvard graduate and resides in Los Angeles, where he is the leader of the band, Soulfège.

About Derrick’s Show

Taking social media to the next level, the The Derrick Ashong Experience is socially meaningful media designed to entertain, inform and elevate the national dialogue. Experience a multiplatform, globally plugged-in community with interests spanning the arts, society, business and politics and with the passion to seek the truth and to empower seekers to make a true difference.

Keep on Jammin!