Thursday 7 Jazz jam CJ’s Restaurant & Lounge presents “The Roger Humphries & RH Factor Jazz Jam Session” at 8 p.m. at 2901-2911 Penn Ave., Strip District. There will be live jazz and fun every Thursday night. Must be 30 years or older and there is a dress code that will be enforced. No tennis shoes, sweats or athletic gear. For more information, call 412-642-2377.
Kuntu Repertory Theater will dedicate its 36th season to the local Pittsburgh writers who were influenced by prolific playwright Rob Penny. “We’ve done a three-year plan where we started by focusing on Rob Penny’s plays and then we did a year of the writers who influenced him and now we are finishing that plan by doing plays by writers who were influenced by him,” said Vernell A. Lillie, founder and director of Kuntu Repertory Theatre. “I thought Rob created great Black female and male characters and he looks at Black people in a lot of different areas and that’s what drew me to Rob.” VERNELL A. LILLIE
When the doctor said you needed a booster shot, it made you wince. You’re all grown up and you know that a vaccine is nothing but a poke, a sting, and lots of protection. No big deal. So why is there a little kid part of you that wants to wail when the needle approaches your arm (or worse)? Few people ask for shots, but if you’ve ever been treated for hemophilia, leukemia, the flu, Parkinson’s disease, an STD, lactose intolerance, appendicitis or dozens of other illnesses, you owe big thanks to one woman who never volunteered to help you. Read more in “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot.
(NNPA)—Dear Gwendolyn: Two years ago my husband was hurt in an auto accident and received a large financial settlement. After his recuperation he returned to work. However, shortly after that, his company closed. I wasn’t disturbed about it at that time. My husband and I had agreed for him to pay off our house mortgage with the settlement money.
by J.L. Martello Legendary jazz/R&B musician Roy Ayers had Pittsburgh on its feet when he performed at Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland, Sept. 17. Other acts were ’70s jazz giant Tom Brown, local comedian Mr. David “FROG” Bey, and the singing group, Artistry. ROY AYERS (Photos by J.L. Martello) As emcee, FROG kept the crowd laughing, cracking jokes as he introduced each act. Opening up the music was a local all-male singing group Artistry, who captivated the crowd with songs from the ’50s through today. Then came legendary jazz trumpeter Tom Brown, who mesmerized the audience with several electrifying sounds from his horn. Carnegie Music Hall was filled with enthusiasm as Roy took the stage.
Actress, singer, composer Holly Joy Gaines has come back home to Pittsburgh after being away for more than a decade acting, modeling and singing in New York City and Los Angeles. We caught up with her in between gigs. HOLLY JOY GAINES Some might remember Gaines from her days at CAPA or Penn Hills High School. Perhaps you saw her in the “Velveteen Rabbit” when she was in seventh grade. She’s all grown up and very busy. We had an opportunity to pose a dozen questions to Gaines about her life.
This week I visited the Black Beauty Lounge in the Hill District, The Sheraton Hotel in Station Square, Calvary Baptist Church in the Hill District, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Oakland and the Shadow Lounge in East Liberty. My first stop was the Black Beauty Lounge in the Hill District where the late Glenn Campbell was honored with a birthday celebration in his honor by family and friends. Everyone came out to honor the one and only Glenn Campbell. He is gone but not forgotten. I have to shout out Ronetta and Linda and everyone who came out to celebrate and have a great time. The models held it down at the Outrageous In Red event in Station Square at the Sheraton Hotel.
Philadelphia native Kevin Hart’s recent show was a sellout. He has sold out shows all over the globe which included the one he just performed at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial in Oakland, presented by Savvy Marketing, Inc. KEVIN HART “You have to have originality and find a lane that suits you. Being a comedian, there are so many of us that are funny. What keeps me relevant is honesty and I tell the truth and my jokes reach people in a different way. They can relate to what I’m saying and they laugh and they say to themselves that ‘I know this guy.’ Not only are they laughing, but they are relating at the same time. I think I will be around for a while,” Hart said.
It’s official! On Oct. 9, Pittsburgh rap duo Kipp-E & Klyental will add another milestone to their resume when they open for the legendary Bone Thugs-n-Harmony at the Mr. Smalls Theater in Millvale, Pa. While they have performed many times throughout Pittsburgh, opening the opportunity to open for their idols will make this a special night. KIPP-E & KLYENTAL “We have always been their (Bone Thugs-n-Harmony) greatest fans ever since we started doing music,” says Kipp-E, “for us this is a manifestation of our dreams becoming a reality, and we are very grateful for this opportunity to show our idols how the Kingz can hold it down.”
