J Events – ayminor

J Photo: [Vocal Brunch + Navigation] with YahZarah

August 9, 2016February 2, 2024ayminor

Creative-nomads-Vocal-Brunch-with-YahZarah — Did you know there are certain brands of water that are better for vocalists than others? On Saturday, July 9, I attended a brunch with singer-songwriter YahZarah to talk all things vocals with an intimate group of music enthusiasts. Check out thecreativenomads.org to learn more about the events and resources Creative Nomads provides for arts professionals in the DMV area. You can find YahZarah on tour with Lenny Kravitz! Photo by Nocturnal Charm.

J Events: WEEN Awards 2015 [PHOTOS]

November 26, 2015February 2, 2024ayminor

On November 18, 2015 WEEN hosted their 5th annual WEEN Awards in honor of outstanding individuals with a proven commitment to the empowerment of women worldwide. Despite the four-hour trip, I couldn’t pass up an evening of networking with my peers and leaders in the media and entertainment industry. Attendees included honorees Cari Champion, Rocsi Diaz, Marilyn Mosby, Tiffany Smith Anoa’i, Naturi Naughton, Regina Hall, and Faith Evans, as well as Kevin Liles, Judy Smith, Charlamagne Tha God, Angela Yee and Ja Rule. The event was held at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, N.Y.

Find out how you can get involved with WEEN here.

Read about the 2014 WEEN Awards here.

J Events: Enter Today to Win Free Tickets to the Landmark Music Festival

May 26, 2015February 1, 2024ayminor

Back from the Chi! Good thing I finally got around to checking my emails from last week.

The hosts of the inaugural Landmark Music Festival will be giving away 500 pairs of free festival tickets in a lottery to be held on Thursday, May 28. You have one day to apply — the lottery closes at 5:00p tomorrow! Find more information about the Landmark Music Festival here and full details about the lottery below.

Feeling lucky? Today, the Trust for the National Mall kicks off a public lottery for 500 pairs of free GA tickets to the fest!

You have from 9:00 a.m. EDT on May 21 until 5:00 p.m. EDT on May 27 to be entered to win a spot at the inaugural Landmark! That evening, 500 winning names will be randomly drawn and all entrants will be notified of the results by email the following day.

In partnership with the Trust for the National Mall, Landmark Music Festival will be the first event held to support the Trust’s Landmark Campaign for the National Mall, which will establish various events and promotions to raise awareness, participation and fundraising to restore the most visited national park in America, the National Mall. The grounds, which were built to honor America’s brightest leaders and bravest heroes, is suffering from a growing amount of deferred maintenance and needed upgrades to the infrastructure of the park, which has not seen a major renovation in 40 years. (landmarkfestival.org)

J Music: UR Experience Tour at Mohegan Sun Arena

November 16, 2014February 1, 2024ayminor

Usher was my first love. Before the Famous Jett Jackson, before Sammie, before J Boog — there was Usher Raymond IV. You name a record off My Way, 8701, or Confessions and my mind instantly goes to a cherished memory from my childhood. Growing up, Confessions defined for me what success was in the industry — diamond album, sold-out tour, movies, timeless music. Until he went and messed around with Tameka, Usher was the standard.

Some argued after Confessions he had nowhere else to go but down — I had always believed he would be considered one of, if not the best entertainer of our time. Nonetheless, it’s been years since I’ve attached Usher’s career with unmatched excellence. In his stead, Beyonce and Justin Timberlake have risen in the ranks, dominating the industry and record sales.

He has the star power, voice, technical skill, and over 20 years in the business — what is the missing element? It’s a question I have asked myself a thousands times. After attending the UR Experience tour at Mohegan Sun arena in Uncasville, CT, I think I can finally articulate my answer.

I’ll fast-forward through DJ Cassidy (mostly because I missed his set — CP Time), and August Alsina (who sounded much less like a goat than anticipated).

I’ll tell you this, the problem with the concert is not Usher and it’s not the music. For two hours straight Usher performed all of his greatest hits with near perfect precision. He was accompanied by world-class dancers who performed a very high-energy set without hint of fatigue, three background singers, and a full-piece band. His charisma shined as he weaved in personal anecdotes throughout the night, keeping the crowd entertained.

The answer then — lack of innovation. The production value was nowhere near where it should be for a star of his caliber. Let’s start with the staging — a small, triangular stage flanked by two short ramps. There was no second stage. There would be no “flying” around the arena. Fans that weren’t in the front, lower level of the arena had little to no interaction with the star beyond a few shoutouts. There was scattered smoke and pyro throughout the performance, but nothing out of the ordinary for your average concert. There would be no stunning visual elements, no spectacular costume designs, and no storyline or cohesion to the songs performed. I counted one video (the intro), some filtered camera shots, 2 jacket changes, 1 shirt change and 1 hat.

I forgot, I think he changed his sneakers too.

Now I believe had the tour gone as planned, as a promotional tool for the now indefinitely delayed UR, the show would’ve been more along the lines of what I had envisioned. I understand they most likely had to cut back on the scale of the production as a result, but at 36, Usher doesn’t have time to waste on mediocre presentations. He needs something BIG to shake up the industry and remind us who has the #1 spot, and I.M.O. it’s now or never. From the album rollout, to the award show performances, to his tour production — everything needs an infusion of innovation.

Steps down off soapbox.

I know I just went in, butttt purely as a fan, I would still encourage you to attend the tour if it stops in your city. I had a great time, I sang, I danced, and when he flashed those pearly whites….swoon.

The rest of the tour dates are below: