Posted: C. Harrison/Dec 16, 2015/6:08 pm

HAVE A VP RECORDS CHRISTMAS

        Get all at your favorite  VP Records retail outlet for your Christmas Gift

MARK ANTHONY ABEL

‘THE ALBUM REVIEW’

photo credit: C. Harrison

By: C. Harrison/Dec 10, 2015/12:10PM

New York, NY…….Mark-Anthony Abel’s album is described as a soul/rock flare and all that has listened to it, will agree that this authentic style of music is an infusion to behold.  Mark-Anthony’s sultry voice, captivates intriguingly and make one want to find out more about the story behind the man. In England, he has opened for veteran acts like: Bano, Seal, and other big wigs.

We were invited to the Ripley Grier Studio at 520 8th Avenue in Manhattan, to a listening Party,  where we met and discovered for the first time, Mark Anthony Abel and his music. There, while we downed Cabernet reds, selections of Moscato wines and finger food, we listened to the London music maker and realized that he had something musically ingenious to offer.  Listening to him sing, his music was alluring, catchy and seriously refreshing. The infusion of his music was awesome and his lyrics sensual; the excitement for him and his sound magnified. In essence, we realized that he had an hit album on his hand.

  Accordingly, the album is called “Sunshine’s In My Head, ”  listening to  it was intense reviewing, every detail (music, tune, lyrics & beat) conjured the fact that, this fascinating and eclectic musician is a keeper.  The consensus is why on earth, hadn’t anyone (mgmt), snatched him up before now.  His voice is polished, smooth and quiet,  yet it exploded gently.  One could see him on stage with a band that could bring the house down.  Every song on the album spoke volume; you could feel the energy and hear the soulfulness in his voice—infusing with the commandeer of rock- symmetry, which was mesmerizing . The lyrics are flirtatious and wickedly stylish, very becoming.

“I believe in the soul and not just the soul in music,” articulated the music maven, who have much decorum.

Moreover,   you will find that there is no respite when you listen to the album and it will become an album of choice.  On a road trip, this CD would have to be a bring  along, it is that enticing. Mr. Abel, also effectively connects intrinsically to the young and is poised to corner that industry-wide market. On a wider spectrum, his album appeals to everyone.

This Virtuoso, will become a favorite artist to music lovers, and if you are a fan of Smokey Robinson, you will fall in love with this voice & music.  Again, his distinguished voice, will engulf and delight you. He is an original.  Mark-Anthony Abel, is described as fearless and as a straight-talker persona. His short interval with us revealed that he knows how to maneuver musically and will become someone to be reckoned with in the entertainment industry.

“I like what I have become. I also like the fact that I have learned from my mistakes and gained wisdom; and although I don’t always get the respect for my efforts, I strive on, as a testimony to the love I get from those closest to me,” divulged the passionate muti-talented artisan; who also wrote and created the videos for his album and is the designer for the album’s cover.

Respectively, I love the entire album and my favorites  are  “Angel of My Life,” “I believe,” and “Sunshine’s in My Head.” the same as the album’s title.  You will become hooked like this Journalist, I am so loving this album.

Mark Anthony  Abel, is a British born singer, songwriter and composer of Jamaican roots. He is in the process of finishing up his second album.  “Sunshine’s In My Head,” is available on ITune. or go to: www.markanthonyabel.com, to learn more about Mr. Abel.

All photographs taken by C. Harrison High Lights:

 Anthony Turner, Mark-Anthony’s Mgr. Karol Thwaites & Mark Anthony Abel

                           Kaja Jo   kaja Johnson & C. Harrison

Posted By C. Harrison/DEC 4, 2015

Posted By: C. Harrison/Dec 5, 2015/5:50PM

DID YOU MISSED ANY DANCE HALL EVENT RESENTLY? ESPECIALLY LAST WEEKS’ WITH RADIGAN AND BARRY G,

WELL, YOU ARE IN FOR A TREAT BECAUSE THIS WEEK AMAZURA WILL BE LIT-UP TOMORROW NIGHT DEC 5,

AN INTERNATIONAL LINE UP OF STARS TO BE PRESENTED INSIDE AMAZURA INCLUDING: MARICA GRIFFIN, FREDDIE MCGREGORE, KEN BOOTH, FRANKIE PAUL TERRY LYNIN AND MUCH MORE.  COME EARLY STAY LATE.

Posted By: C. Harrison/Dec 4, 2015/5:32 PM

REMEMBER YOU CAN STILL SIGN UP NOW-FOR OBAMACARE BEFORE THE DECEMBER 15, 2015 DEADLINE.

PROCRASTINATURES THERE IS TIME, TIME..

Posted  By: C. Harrison/Dec 4, 2015

ALL ARTIST CAN NOW SEND IN SUBMISSIONS

photo: via JCAL

•  Submissions Accepted Now Through March 1, 2016

•  Submit 3 arts samples with statement online at www.jcal.org

•  Selections Announcement April 5, 2016

•  Exhibition Opens June 15th and runs through August 2016

Contact JCAL for information at www.jcal.org or call 718-658-7400

Posted By: C. Harrison/Dec 4, 2015

EVER BEEN TO AN OPERA, HAVENN’T? WELL HERE IS YOUR TIME TO BE INCLUDED AND ITS RIGHT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD TAKE THE TRAIN OR BUS TO PARSON BLVD.

QUEENS CENTER’S BORO-LINC PRESENTS “METROPOLITAN OPERA GUILD: OPERA IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

TOMORROW, DECEMBER 5, @  2:00 P.M.

AT THE JAMAICA PERFORMAING ARTS CENTER

153-10 JAMAICA AVENUE IN JAMAICA

Posted By: C. Harrison/Dec 4, 2015/11:55am

Borough President Address The Citywide Policy Dilemma In An Opinion Piece Today

According to Queens Borough President, Melinda Katz, New York City is the international destination of choice for millions of visitors every year, and rightfully so. We are also however a city of communities, young and old, where over 8.5 million New Yorkers call home.

Mrs. Katz said, a big part of  that home includes public parkland, the jewels of the neighborhoods that make up this international City for residents and visitors alike. Parks are by  design, an oasis available to all from the bustle of urban life, no matter the corner of the world from which one hails.

“In particular, Queens-aka, “The World’s Borough,” has become a premier destination for entertainment, culture and tourism. So much so that several big-names for profit companies like AEG live, Madison Square Garden and others in recent weeks have filed applications with the City to shut down major portions of ours parks to the public next summer in order to accommodate large-scale, paid-admission, multi-day events.”

“It would to precedent-setting. These proposals to rent out parkland at the expense of public access are significant not only because of its size, but because its never been done before. In this particular case, It means that Flushing Meadows-Corona-Park, which hosts thousands daily in the summer for outdoor activities like soccer, softball, baseball, tennis, cricket, bicycling, family picnics, BBQs, Birthdays, weddings and other special events-would ostensibly be shut off to the public for up to two weeks at a time during the peak season of the summer months.”

“But the real question is a citywide dilemma, what is the policy for renting our parkland at the expense of public access? At the very least, city policy  ought not be decided upon by a single application policy and public vetting must come first. Lets put aside for a moment the strain that an additional 75,000 people-shelling out  upward $300 a ticket; and to be clear,  not to the City but to the for profit companies; would place, on our over capacity municipal transit system, roads and infrastructure.”

Borough President Katz further explained that the,  “logistical challenges of setting up a proposed and rather meager eight-foot opaque fence around the perimeter of the multi-stage event so as to block public access from taxpayer funded open spaces like the Unisphere, baseball and soccer fields and more.  “Or the struggle of getting thousands of locals in and out of Citi Field right next door for the New York Mets, already scheduled 2016 home games, with which the proposed festival  dates conflict.”

“The fact that the borough’s  not for profit culturals residing in the park-including the New York Hall of Science, the Queens theatres in the Park, the Queens Museum and the Queens Zoo-all would have to change their public programming calendars and effectively shutdown to transform into  “staging areas” as requested by the big name companies.”

“The damage inevitably imposed by an event of this magnitude on a park’s landscape which, once reopened to the public, would have to be tolerated by thousands of families for subsequent months until the City’s regularly scheduled maintenance in the fall. Or how and when limited resources inevitably expended for events of such scale would be returned to New York City, Queens and its families.  Or real community base support for the proposals from civic groups, community boards, representatives-has yet to arise.”

Borough President Katz, said putting all that aside, still leaves principals and that its not just about Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.

Katz,  pointed out that, the uproots is really over renting 200 acres of Parkland as never been done before, but not for the lack of trying. Countless not for profit organizations request have been denied in the past because of proposed dates conflicted with the Met, or because proposed event were not free to the public and because of a whole host of other sensible reasons.  The use of public Parks, especially like Flushing Meadows-Corona Park-must be considered and planned under a fair and consistent citywide policy. The absence of one renders the entire process arbitrary and unfair

The  recent proposals expose holes on a matter where there should be official guidelines.  Lending parklands at the expense of public access, should not start now, and fails to pass this test.

This above article was first published in  El Diario—sent to this Publication, via the Borough President office..

_______________________

Flushing Meadow-Corona Park, is one of Queens better Parks. It is the prized Park, of Queens. In recent years yes, Queens have seen a spike of international high end activities events- taking place at that particular Park, which is good for the county of Queens and also good for our communities and neighborhoods.

But, if the Mets, Tennis, baseball, softball, cultural events as well as other scheduled events are taking up most of the summer scheduling right now — if other event planners that are trying to come into the Park – cannot fit into these tight schedules at that Park–These new conglomerate corporations with proposals that are looking to get in, cannot. Simply put.

Posted By: C. Harrison/Dec 4, 2015/10:02AM

NBC 4 New York Meteorologist Dave Price to Emcee Charity Gala

photo via COJO: Veronica Campbell Brown

Olympian Veronica Campbell Brown, one of Jamaica’s most decorated female athletes will be honored by the New York based non-profit Children of Jamaica Outreach (COJO) Inc. The gala and awards will take place at the Hilton New York, JFK Airport on Saturday, December 5, 2015 with a cocktail reception at 7:30 pm to be followed by dinner and dance.

Campbell Brown, affectionately called VCB, is a seven-time Olympic medalist and the second woman in history to win two consecutive Olympic 200m events and only one of nine athletes to win world championship at the youth, junior and senior level of an athletic event.

According to Gary Williams, Chairman & Founder of COJO,  “VCB has consistently brought glory to Jamaica whether at World Championship in athletics, the IAAF World Indoor Championships or Olympic Games. We look forward to the honor she will again bring us in Rio.”

The Sprinter was lauded for her work as a UNESCO, Goodwill Ambassador to promote gender equity. “Her efforts to give back to her hometown in Trelawny. She is exemplary role model,” said Williams. He also declared that he would be pleased to present her with the COJO 2015 Humanitarian Award.

Dave Price, weekday Noon and 5:30P.M. weather anchor for NBC 4 New York and friends of the Caribbean will serve as emcee for the Twenty-first Annual Charity Ball organized by COJO.

Corporate Sponsors includes: JetBlue who have donated airline tickets as raffle prize with several Jamaican hotels providing accommodating. Tickets can be obtained by contacting the Children of Jamaica Outreach (COJO) office at 1 888-275-0121.

Children of Jamaica Outreach COJO Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization in New York, and is registered with the New York City Bureau of Charities. The brainchild of Jamaican-born American Gary Williams.  COJO’s mission is to help improve the health, education and general wellbeing of less fortunate children. Since its inception in 1994, COJO, has dedicated its resources, human and financial, to help make a difference in the lives of underserved children in Jamaica as well as the United States of America. For further information about COJO including sponsorship opportunities, visit: www.cojokids.org

By C. Harrison/Nov 26, 2015/1:34AM

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE

Today, not all of us are going to celebrate Thanksgiving: some of us have to work and there are those who will not even realize today is Thanksgiving because of blank minds–some due to natural causes others stoned out of their minds. So, for those of us who have sound minds let us give thanks and pray for those who don’t have.  Reach out to your fellowman, theses Holiday seasons.

For those of you that are going to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade later-on this morning, be careful out there. Those that have lost love ones we feel and care for you and we are sorry for your lost, enjoy or try to enjoy the holidays.

Blessed