BILL VAUGHAN’S TASTY CLIPS: "Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami" Bares All
The iconic Grace Jones will participate in a rare question-and-answer on April 20 at the NuArt Theater for the opening of a new documentary exploring her public and private worlds.
She will be accompanied by director and editor Sophie Fiennes for the L.A premiere of “Grace Jones: Bloodlight And Bami,” following its highly regarded debut at the 2017 Toronto Film Festival.
Recorded over the course of several years, Fiennes profiles the performer, fashion icon and symbol as a lover, daughter, mother, sister and grandmother in her day-to-day life.
Fiennes — whose first feature documentary, “Hoover Street Revival,” shadowed the singer’s brother Bishop Noel Jones and his sermons at City of Refuge Church — uses live shots of Jones performing her iconic hits “Slave To The Rhythm” and “Pull Up To The Bumper.”
The film also includes more recent, introspective tracks like “Williams’ Blood,” “This Is” and “Hurricane,” alongside intimate footage of time with her son Paulo and niece Chantal in her native Jamaica. The film also investigates the full breadth of Jones’ life from childhood to now, as she continues to perform worldwide.
Make no mistake, the fearless Jones literally bares all in this fascinating portrait where we learn that “La Vie En Rose” was not supposed to be a disco hit — but she’s glad it was.
“In the dark, I can still hold an audience,” she says unabashedly during a theater’s power outage. Just one of many truths revealed in this winner of a film.
RECORD STORE DAY 2018: Get thee to your favorite participating locations on April 21 for first dibs on over 500 new vinyl releases including the debut of the lost Miles Davis sessions from 1985 titled “Rubberband.” His aborted venture into funk and soul was to include Al Jarreau and Chaka Khan. Now it has been lovingly remixed with additional vocals provided by Ledisi.
Among the other gems are “Chuck Berry’s Greatest Hits,” Living Colour – “Live at CBGB’s 12.19.89,” four Sun Ra albums, Johnny Guitar Watson – “Giant,” Run the Jewels – “Stay Gold Collector’s Edition” and more.
JOINT RECOGNITION: Comedy legends Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong were given keys to the city of West Hollywood in a dope ceremony hosted by comedian and actor George Lopez. A commemorative graphic now eternally graces the sidewalk outside the Sunset Strip’s famed nightclub The Roxy. The event coincided with the 40th anniversary of Cheech & Chong’s cannabis culture epic “Up in Smoke,” now available in a deluxe edition combo DVD from Paramount Home Media Distribution.
A TIME FOR FIRSTS: Tickets for “Henry IV” starring Joe Morton (“Scandal”) in the title role and featuring Tom Hanks making his L.A. stage debut will be available beginning April 23 for patrons pre-registering at www.shakespearecenter.org/henryiv for the performances running from June 5 to July 1 at the Japanese Garden.
Remaining tickets for the shows will be sold to the general public on April 27 with thousands of complimentary ones set aside for veterans and active military members who enter information at the site.
CLIPPETTES: J. Cole announced on Twitter that his fifth album, “KOD,” will be released on April 20; which will also find top keyboardist Patrice Rushen at The World Stage; and the Dance Theatre of Harlem at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica …
There is plenty of live music on tap for April 21 as Loose Ends, featuring Jane Eugene and Rose Royce, headline the city of Inglewood’s Earth Day Jazz Festival; Barbara Morrison, Lao Tizer and Karen Briggs top the second annual Chino Hills Jazz Fest at Big League Dreams Sports Park; Kenneth Whalum and Nia Andrews perform at the free Jazz Appreciation Month celebration at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Center Court; and Krush Groove returns to the Forum with Ice Cube, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Warren G, DJ Quik, Kurupt, Method Man and Redman …
Spend “An Afternoon with Questlove” on April 22 at the Aratani Theatre as he leads a talk and signing of his latest book “Creative Quest.” That evening, Sandra Booker’s tribute to Sarah Vaughan is presented at Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Jazz Grill …
Star gazers may want to head on over to the El Capitan Theatre on April 23 for the premiere of “The Avengers: Infinity War.” Expect to see Robert Downey Jr., Chadwick Boseman, Angela Bassett, Vin Diesel, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson and many more …
RZA: Live From the 36th Chamber features the iconic producer and founder of the Wu-Tang Clan re-scoring the Shaolin martial arts classic film in front of an audience on April 24 at the Palace Theater …
Big Sean’s Unfriendly Reminder Tour with Playboi Cardi stops at the Greek Theatre on April 25 …
Disco and EDM giant Giorgio Moroder celebrates his 77th birthday on April 26 at the Globe Theatre with a full DJ set, special performance from Roy Ayers and more; while Levar Burton Reads Live! at The Theatre at Ace Hotel for his hit podcast; and reggae group Morgan Heritage performs at the Fonda Theatre.
TASTY QUIP: “I’ve been the one chip in the cookie long enough. I don’t want to be the magical Negro. I don’t feel extra special when the white gaze is upon me. I don’t feel invincible.” – GABRIELLE UNION, who will be signing copies of “We’re Going to Need More Wine” at the LA Festival of Books (April 21-22), to Ebony
TC ON TV: April 20 – “Pass Over” (Amazon): Spike Lee filmed this timely play, written by newcomer Antoinette Nwandu, about two young black men talking smack, passing the time and dreaming of the promised land. “Dude” (Netflix): Alexandra Shipp co-stars in this movie following four best friends during their last two weeks of high school. “It Happened Here” (Reelz): Marvin Gaye “The Graham Norton Show” (BBCA): Dwayne Johnson, Naomie Harris. “Great Performances” (PBS): “Will.I.Am – Landmarks Live In Concert” “The Tonight Show” (NBC): Anthony Mackie, Kiry Shabazz.
April 22 – “Westworld” (HBO): Season two of the sci-fi reboot starring Thandie Newton, Evan Rachel Wood, Jeffrey Wright and Tessa Thompson finds the robot theme park uprising in process. “Into The Badlands” (AMC): It’s a third season of this series featuring the best martial arts action on TV. “Timeless” (NBC): Black time travelers Rufus (Malcolm Barrett) and Connor (Paterson Joseph) visit the smoky juke joints of the Depression-era South to interact with legendary blues people Robert Johnson and Bessie Smith. “Uncensored” (TV1): Snoop Dogg “Drop The Mic” (TBS): Shawn Mendes vs. Odell Beckham Jr.
April 23 – “The Late Late Show Carpool Karaoke Primetime Special 2018” (CBS): Christina Aquilera hops in the car with host James Cordon and bandleader Reggie Watts pays tribute to Bruno Mars.
April 25 – “The Handmaid’s Tale” (Hulu): The award-winning hit drama series starring Elisabeth Moss and Samira Wiley returns for season two with two new episodes, and the remaining 11 episodes released every Wednesday. “Empire” (Fox): Alfre Woodard as Cookie’s mom gets some shine. “Star” (Fox): Meagan Good guest stars as a regional promoter.
TASTY QUIP: “If I would’ve got locked up just for sitting in Starbucks by mistake and got a technical violation, legally, a judge would be able to sentence me for two-to-four years, three to six years, five to 10 years just for having police contact. I don’t think nobody should lose their freedom for not even committing a crime. I was found guilty of a crime I didn’t even commit in 2008 or 9. I’m in a state penitentiary right now, still because of that case.” – MEEK MILL to Don Lemon of CNN
As featured in the Los Angeles Wave and Independent, Tasty Clips is one of the leading entertainment newspaper columns on the West Coast, serving nearly one million weekly readers. To reach Bill Vaughan, send email to [email protected] or via Twitter @tastyclips.