Monday, July 03, 2006

My 4th Week in NYC

First of all....a huge thank you to everyone who sent me an email or left a voice message on my birthday. Yes, I'm 26 again! lol. But seriously....never before have I receive some many well wishes on my birthday.....it REALLY meant alot to me....you may never know just how much. :-)

Well….it is the end of week 4….and it is clear to me that somebody somewhere is praying for me….and for that…I am extremely grateful. No matter how much time I spend reviewing my score and practice material….I can never seem to satisfy my proof of memorization. My recall seems stagnate and incomplete. But when it came time for the staging rehearsals…..I called upon it…and it was there. You know….it is recorded in the holy writ that “the Holy Spirit will teach us all things…and will bring all things to our remembrance.” And I can bear witness that He has been doing just that for me with this opera. Thanks be to God!

On Monday we stage the Act 2 Finale, at that point it will be all about tightening, polishing and perfecting…..NOT learning and memorization. I hope to continue in your prayers and well-wishes.

A New York Minute
So...what is a New York minute? For this weeks entry, I have decided to strive for brevity and percission.

Kelly Temple Church of God in Christ
This is the view from the balcony of this historic 85-year old Harlem church.

The service could be described as traditional (from a Pentecostal standpoint), formulaic, liturgical and pompous, “complete" with a processional of the Bishop followed closely by his numerous (and well-clad) ministerial staff.





The photos on the Kelly Temple COGIC website seem to make the church look much bigger than it actually is. (And more lively too.)

The service also included: The all-arresting "march" of the choir….(yes the choir wore robes and marched down the middle aisle of the sanctuary); a choral prayer chant…(which I did appreciate), an opening hymn (that was poorly executed…by the second verse it was clear that no one knew the words….and the organist seemed to be more familiar with the “tune” and less with the standard…dare I say….correct harmonization of the melody); and of course there was some good Pentecostal shout music…..(New York style). I must say....to my great satisfaction.....I did feel the presence of the Lord during the spontaneous singing of the Yes Lord praise....which immediatley followed the crash-and-burn redition of the opening hymn.

The Segmented Choir Loft

I couldn’t imagine conducting a choir whose members are so disparate.











Is Not Anything Sacred?

Each year the City of New York (population 8.2 million and growing)…. entertains over a million tourist who hail from virtually every country in the world. Places like Kelly Temple, Abyssinia Baptist (and many others) have become favorite pit-stops for companies whose tourists want to connect with the soul of the City and by taking in some of the “Black experience”. 30 minutes before the start of the service….they off load by the bus loads….line the sidewalks (around the corners)…standing 2 by 2….5 minutes before the start of service they enter the sanctuary/auditorium and flood the balcony…(at which point the ushers remove the “Reserved” signs……they take in the spectacle, the pageantry, the singing and the shouting…and then just before the preacher mounts the platform to deliver the “sermon”….the tourist quickly and politely dismiss themselves and are whisked off to the next stop on the agenda.

Family of Choice

Jason, my fraternity Brother, came to New York to visit a friend and he decided to meet up with me at the church. (I decided not to post the photos of him nodding through the service.....well...I almost decided not to post it...lol)




Alpha Stuff

After the service we walked up 125th street in Harlem. A vendor was selling these Egyptian figurines. Unfortunately, neither of us had any money for souvenirs.








We then went for a bite to eat a Fatman Flavor (a Jamaican spot up on 145th between Amsterdam and Broadway). I had the brown-stew snapper, he had the jerked chicken, and we watch some of the Ike and Tina Turner story on the big screen.

We caught the train downtown and walked through the Chelsea district. That is were we stumbled upon Balducci’s. Lord, if I had money, how I would live in those type of places.










Jason said that the place reminds him of one of my other favorite places....that at this time in my life....I can ill-afford.....Whole Food Markets.











Took a few pics of Jason at Time Square…..doing thee touristy thing.
















Just me
































Independence Day 2006

High Bridge Park

The day was hot and humid. I got my headphones and my IPA note cards and went for a walk uptown.









High Bridge Pool

Hundreds find relief from the heat at the High Bridge Park Pool. The facility is huge. My pictures here do not do justice.























Dahneo White

Saw a shirt in a store window. I love the clean distinctive style.














Washington Heights - Around the way

I turned a corned and there it was….this amazing view.










Homelessness

I turn yet another corner and this was the image set before me. His legs were swollen beyond belief and he did not seem to be in his right mind. We really must do more to contribute the welfare of such as these. If we would but pray.







What ever happened to Rev. Ike?

I don’t know what happened to him….but I am sure he is doing just fine....here is a pic of his church. I snapped it while riding the bus back downtown.








Sidewalk BBQ

I am sure to have seen a hundred of these make-shift concrete picnic sites on the 4th. Big grills….small grills….big tables….little tables….chairs…radios….ribs….chicken….beer. In some instances people were lined up right next to one another….all along the sidewalk. It

was nothing like what I am used to in Michigan.




Once Upon a Time- Suffering for Sicilian

I went to down the Village for a slice of my favorite NY style pizza….the Sicilian at Ben’s Pizza.








Ben’s Pizza is located directly across from the world famous
Blue Note .










No Dogs Allowed

I was enjoying my pizza when in walks this woman with her four-legged, slobbering hound. And to top it all off…the guy perched behind the counter was looking at the beast like he was ready to take its order.







Homeless…Really?

This ‘homeless’ guy comes in…asking for alms. I was wearing the a baseball cap, sunglasses and my headphones….(part of my NYC “urban uniform”….I find that it helps to discourage solicitations……besides….…at the time I only had $5 in my pocket)






In any case….he boomed a dollar from some other guy….then he went and stood at a table and commenced to counting a big wad of money. I was like…..wow!










I also had a double take when I saw those clean spanking new sneakers he was wearing.












Birthday Outing - July 5

I caught the bus downtown and took this picture ofLincoln Center. I want to sing there one day soon.









This is a view from Columbus Circle.













Some more of that Alpha stuff

















Leporello

These are from my fitting. Charles Cain is the costume designer. He did over 20 years at the Metropolitan Opera. Need I say more?
































Make-up Master

It is widely known and accepted that stage make-up for African American singers can be a daunting challenge. Yesterday we had a master class on stage make-up by Steven Horak, another highly esteemed veteran in the business….with 13 years at San Francisco Opera and another bakers dozen at the Met.





NYC Street Vendors

Ladies….here are your purses!











Fruit and vegetable stands are EVERYWHERE…..and the prices are quite reasonable.











BMW’s and Urban Outfitters

I see so many standing/sitting idle on the corners and thoroughfares. I am always happy to see a Black man in a ‘corny’ uniform and working an honest job. I have seen this Subway several times. Apparently, his job is to stand on the busy corner of 86th and Lexington and pass out menus to the pedestrians.





This other guy is a real ‘urban outfitter’…..with his blue uniform, blue dumpster and broom…his awesome task is to keep the streets free of debris.










Where there is Smoke?

I woke up the other day to the oh too familiar sounds of horns and sirens. The alarm continued so I got up and looked out the window and this is what I saw…... about 3-4 blocks west….a pillar of smoke and a bunch of little red trucks with lights flashing.






“Done in by a Donut”

Hot and Crusty Why on earth did I have to stumble upon this place of decadent delight. I do my best to shun evil….(most of the time anyway…lol) This place has the most wonder bluberry scones.







I went in on another occasion and they didn’t have my scone…..and so….I can also vouch for their pineapple pecan sticky bun…..I return some days later….again seeking my blueberry scone…..and again…they didn’t have it….and so….uhhh…I settled for a ridiculously scrumptious raspberry pecan thing….I tell you….my face looks fatter….I don’t wanna take pictures…... They are trying to do me in I tell you!!!!




Park It

This is one of those typical NYC park benches….they are EVERYONE….to some…this is a merely a fixture of urban civilization…..to others….these wooden planks function has a bed…..or an impromptu triage. As for this one in particular….this is where I spend my mornings before the 10am rehearsal and my lunch break…..this is one of the places I study my music.



Haunting Headlines

Looks like something form the National Inquirer….but it is a true story….the guy was nearly hacked to death with a power saw while taking the train in the subway.








Out of Context
Before I deal with this....allow me to preface in saying......any one who really knows me would attest that I am one who keeps a low profile...and is not much on personal ego or public acknowledgments.

Now....I have been in New York City for exactly 30 days today. I have participated in hours of rehearsals with a talented international cast and staff who have all been most kind and collegial.

But why is it that when I step 20-yards outside of the doors of the Liederkranz....none of them seem to know you I am? I mean....really...I know NYC is a big place....filled with many strange and familiar faces. But I can easily recall at least a dozen instances were I was I was less than a block away from the rehearsal sight....and was apparently....completely unseen by program participants. Perhaps I was just... out of context?

Well....I guess that is all for now folx. Please be sure to post comments or shot me an email. I really enjoy and appreciate your responses. Be well. Darnell

posted by Darnell Ishmel @ 5:57 PM