Keenen Ivory Wayans (center) with fellow attendees Bill Duke, Robert Townsend, Jeff Friday and Mekhi Phifer at the American Black Film Festival. (Storms Media Group)

Someone asked me yesterday if while I was attending the American Black Film Festival this weekend I saw independent movies or “real movies.”

That just goes to show how ignorant so many of us are when it comes to the movie business.

It’s just that – a business.

Just because a film never makes it to the big screen, doesn’t mean it’s not a “real” movie. It doesn’t mean the director, the producer, the cinematographer, or the actors aren’t “real” crafts people. It just means they haven’t made it to the big screen – yet.

I’ve seen many films at the American Black Film Festival that do what many big screen films don’t – make me think and make me feel. Often, the quality of the independent films far surpass some of the junk that Hollywood green lights. Many great flicks never make it to a theater near you simply because the decision makers in Hollywood don’t believe it will make money. That certainly doesn’t mean the movie isn’t good or that it isn’t “real.”
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Erika Gluck (right) stars as Trinity Goodheart, and Eric Benet plays her father, Jeremy.

If the film industry is intent on casting pop stars in movies, they at least should find ones who can act. Unfortunately, Eric Benet isn’t one of them. That’s the sad part about GMC’s Trinity Goodheart, the story of a 12-year-old girl on a mission to find her long lost mother.

The good part is Erica Gluck, the actress who portrays Trinity. The heart and soul of the film, she makes it worth watching, despite Benet’s lackluster performance. The film made its worldwide debut Saturday at the American Black Film Festival in Miami Beach.

Trinity is the mixed-race daughter of Jeremy Goodheart, portrayed by Benet, and a white mother whose father disapproved of her parents’ relationship. Her mother left the family because she couldn’t handle the dissension.

When Trinity gets a visit from an angel who gives her a pendant that belonged to her mother, she assumes that her mother is in danger and needs help. She sets out to bring her estranged family together to find her.
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Jonathan McDaniel stars in Robert Townsend's 'In The Hive' as a teenager down to his last chance.

Director Robert Townsend says his latest movie, In the Hive, reflects the balance that is sorely needed in the entertainment industry where the majority of films featuring a predominately black cast depict either buffoonery or ghetto violence.

The movie, which deftly combines comedy and drama, is based on the real life story of Vivian Saunders, a cook at the Hive Academy, a North Carolina alternative school with a focus on technology. Vivian takes on the responsibility of educating boys that no one else will – gangbangers and others with violent behavior or criminal pasts.

“I love when anybody is making a difference and Viv Saunders — the real woman that this film is based on — she’s really making a difference in these boys’ lives in North Carolina,” Townsend told a packed Colony Theater audience last week at the film’s screening during the American Black Film Festival in Miami Beach. “It’s all about these who kids who are lost and at risk. For me as a filmmaker to be able to tell this story is right on time.”

The original title for the film was The Discarded Boys.

Townsend said in an interview that he believes troubled children are looking for another way. “I think a film like this will examine what’s going on,” he said, “and cause good discussion.”
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Lauryn Hill performs at Jazz in the Gardens at SunLife Stadium. (Photo by Sheldon Tucker)

Photos: Jazz in the Gardens

She should have been the opening act.

As the headliner for the Sixth Annual Jazz in the Gardens, Lauryn Hill was a big disappointment. It was bad enough that fans had to wait an hour while the production crew worked out technical difficulties before she took the stage. Then the five-time Grammy winner turned out not to be worth the wait.

She looked a hot mess and didn’t sound much better. If she was going for the anti-sexy look, she definitely accomplished it with a black floor length skirt from the Gone With the Wind wardrobe closet topped with a red leather jacket and New York Yankees baseball cap. Several notes on “The Sweetest Thing”, a personal favorite of mine from the Love Jones soundtrack, were sour. And though she tried to hype up the crowd, it was clear her own energy level was lacking.

The crowd came alive at the sound of some of their favorites, such as “Everything is Everything”, and clearly enjoyed Hill’s rapping. Still, it seemed as if their appreciation was more for Hill’s effort – and the fact they were seeing her live after such a long hiatus from the music industry – than for her execution.
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Heads of State: Johnny Gill, Bobby Brown and Ralph Tresvant make up the new R&B trio. (Photo by Ronnie Wright)

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When Ralph Tresvant left New Edition for a solo career, it was always his intention that the group would do another project together. He wants fans to know that intent remains.

“Although we work on individual projects, we always have in mind the day that we would be able to come back as a six-man group, as New Edition, and do something as a team,” Tresvant said in a recent interview. “I know our fans kind of get mixed signals.”

That’s because what started as an R&B quintet which rose to fame in the 1980s with such hits as “Candy Girl” and “Cool it Now” and paved the way for other boy groups such as In Sync and Boyz II Men, has morphed into two distinct trios.

Tresvant will perform as a member of one of those trios, Heads of State, at this weekend’s Sixth Annual Jazz in the Gardens at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens.
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Ron Isley will lead the Isley Brothers at Jazz in the Gardens this weekend in Miami Gardens. (Moses Robinson / Getty Images)

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Retirement is not an option for Ron "Mr. Biggs" Isley.

The 69-year-old lead singer of the Isley Brothers will be in South Florida this weekend performing with his brother Ernie at the annual Jazz in the Gardens concert at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens.

Fans can expect to hear “Shout”, the Isley Brothers’ first big hit from 1959 along with more recent hits such as “Contagious”, which Isley recorded with R. Kelly.

How has Isley managed to stay relevant after more than 50 years in the industry? "By loving this music business so much and by God’s blessing," he says. "I’m just doing what I was born to do and I will continue as long as I can."

Age certainly hasn’t been a factor in his personal life; no reason it should be one in his professional life. In 2005, Isley married Kandy Johnson, a former back-up singer 35 years his junior. The two have a 4-year-old son.

"He’s my everything," Isley said of Ron Jr. "He travels with me everywhere. He knows all the songs. He knows everything." Ron Jr. will be joining his dad in Miami where "he’ll be front and center."

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Teena Marie

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The world has lost a legend.

Teena “Lady T” Marie has died at the age of 54.

I saw Teena perform two months ago during the Capital Jazz Supercruise. She was by far the best act of the entire week hands down.

Teena’s was the first album I ever played back to back, over and over. I was in middle school when I first heard “Portuguese Love” and Square Biz.” I’ve been hooked ever since.

When I interviewed Teena earlier this year before her appearance at the Jazz in the Gardens show I just assumed that she would be blessing her audiences for years to come. Read that interview here: R&B queens Mary J. Blige, Teena Marie light up Jazz at the Gardens

We talked about her relationship with Rick James. He was her mentor, her friend, and her lover. Only she refused to put up with the fact that she wasn’t his only lover. Their tumultuous relationship would last until his untimely death in 2004.

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Mary J. Blige and Teena Marie showed why they're R&B royalty over the weekend. (Photos by Rhonda Swan)

Photos: Photos from Jazz in the Gardens

Ivory Queen of Soul Teena Marie and Hip Hop Queen Mary J. Blige were in excellent voice and gave high-energy, crowd-pleasing performances at the Jazz in the Gardens concert this weekend.

Meanwhile, R&B crooner Robin Thicke had better vocals than I thought and sounds just as good when he sings in earth tones than when his voice is in the clouds.

Teena opened her show with “I’m Just a Sucker for Your Love”, the duet with Rick James that earned Teena her first top 10 R&B hit 30 years ago.

“I’m not representing me no more,” she said. “I’m representing Rick James.”

She certainly did her mentor and former romantic partner proud.
During an interview before the show, Teena told me that she loves to perform. No wonder. It clearly comes naturally. She is so at ease on stage, playing the guitar, singing and grooving to the beat at the same time. And that voice! She hit notes in the stratosphere. And she’s pretty agile for 54.

As pictures of Rick James flashed on the jumbotron, Teena sang his hit “You and I” and “Fire and Desire”, the duet she is most famous for signing with James.

As a fan of Teena’s classics, I couldn’t have been more pleased with her song selection, which included some of my favorites such as “Déjà Vu”, “Portuguese Love” and “Square Biz”.

On “Déjà Vu (I’ve Been Here Before)”, she connected with the song in a way that let you know she really doesn’t want to come back this way again.

Thicke, who is more than easy on the eyes, knows how to work a crowd. After a shaky opening due to technical difficulties, he wowed his throng of female fans with “Magic”, “Shaking it for Daddy” and “Lost Without U”. His performance was shorter than expected but worth every minute.

The headliner, Mary J. Blige, commanded the stage with her trademark hip-hop moves as she belted out the tunes that made her a household name: “Be Happy”, “Real Love”, “Love No Limit”, her remakes of the Emotions’ “SweetThing” and Rose Royce’s “I’m Going Down”.

Among the newer hits she sang was “I Am” from her latest album Stronger With Each Tear.

Mary’s confidence and vocal prowess was evident with each note and her fans responded with loud approval.

Prior to her stellar performance on stage, however, Mary snubbed the media for all intents and purposes, showing up in the media tent for two minutes to allow photos only — no questions. She posed on the platform like a beauty pageant contestant, waving like Miss America.

She clearly made this diva move to avoid questions about the alleged altercation with her husband at a release party for her latest CD. I completely understand her desire to not answer questions about her personal life, however, some people really are interested in what she has to say about her music. Taking the Tiger Woods way out is not a good look.

R&B singer/guitarist Teena Marie has been putting together quality music for 30 years.

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The Ivory Queen of Soul, Teena Marie, will grace the stage this Saturday at Miami’s Fifth annual Jazz in the Gardens concert at Sun Life Stadium.

Recently I caught up with the legendary R&B soulstress who gave us such hits as “It Must Be Magic”, “Square Biz”, “Portuguese Love”, “I Need Your Lovin’” and “Fire and Desire”, the classic duet with funk icon Rick James. Here’s what she had to say about her longevity in the music business, the “color question,” James, her mentor and one-time romantic partner, and the state of music today.

Last year you celebrated your 30th year in the music business with the release of your 13th CD, Congo Square. You took a hiatus to raise your daughter but your comeback has been successful. What is the secret to your longevity?

TM: I’m still really passionate about the music. It’s kind of like breathing for me. It’s still very exciting to me. I still love to perform. I still feel like I have a lot to say. I just live it and I try to be truthful and honest about who I am. Everything I feel is the same thing you feel, the same thing everyone feels. I just have an amazing gift that I’m able to put it into song. God blessed with a beautiful instrument and I cherish that every day of my life. Read the full story

Mary Christine Brockert is an unlikely name for an R&B music diva.

That’s probably why most people have never heard of the Ivory Queen of Soul by her birth name.

She’s better known as Teena Marie or, more simply, Lady T.

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