The world seems to be ablaze as far as many Black people in America are concerned. Everyone seems to be at our collective throats for one reason or another. Sometimes it makes you just want to shut off the television, get off the social media and isolate oneself from your fellow man. Or, you can join ImageNation, Reel Harlem Film Festival and SummerStage to party the night away for free.
Thats right. No better time can be had for a million bucks than was had at the Marcus Garvey Park last weekend. The reason for the season was the 4th Annual Soul Train Tribute Make It Funky: Dance Party and performance tribute dedicated to the music, style and funkiness of the late James Brown. The audience was packed into the Richard Rogers Amphitheater last weekend and no greater display of beautiful negritude could be found for miles as Music Director Chris Rob sang and danced the hits of Mr. Dynamite himself. He was joined by Lorenda Robinson (of Brown Baby Girl), Sabrina Clery (Red Sahara), Qua Lamar and Charisa the Violin Diva.
This was followed by a Soul Train tribute dance line that was spurred on by the music styling of DJ Esxence and DJ Stormin Norman on the ones and twos, followed by a screening of the HBO documentary Mr. Dynamite-which gave an honest and unvarnished look into the life of James Brown.
Check out the video below to get a gist of how great a time was had as well as in depth interviews with Music Director Chris Rob and Marko Robles of Injoy Enterprises.
Heres the itinerary for the rest of the summer. If youre in the greater New York metropolitan area and looking for a low cost good time, youll find that theres no greater time for your dime.
August 9th
Film: Our Latin Thing;
Music: Felix Hernandez Rhythm Revue
*SummerStage, East River Park
August 15th
The Harder They Come
Music: 103.9 FM
*Harlem Week, St. Nicholas Park
August 22nd
Film: Finding Fela
Music: 103.9 FM
*Harlem Week, St. Nicholas Park
All films are free and open to the public. Performances begin at 7:00pm and films start at 8:00pm or sundown. For detailed film descriptions visit www.imagenation.us.
