Harlem Arts Alliance Presents: On the “A” w/Souleo
Luke James is used to being vulnerable in his music which is why he’s not afraid to address his own faults on his forthcoming debut album this summer, Made to Love. Thematically, James says the record will focus on lessons learned in love including the value of honesty in relationships. “In love I’ve been a deceiver. I realized being honest is so much easier than lying and being deceitful,” he reveals. “Just be true all the way through and people can’t do anything but respect you for it.”
After the album, the crooner promises to show a new side of himself in the forthcoming film adaption of the Langston Hughes musical, Black Nativity. The film is to release on November 27th. It will star, Angela Basset, Forest Whitaker and Jennifer Hudson. James plays the character Jojo, a homeless man expecting a child. “I unlocked some things I probably never would have unlocked if not for this film,” he says. “It helped me to be vulnerable in my movement. The movie has tap dancing and breakdancing. Learning those things and being comfortable doing it was a trying but awesome experience.”
The rhythm of movement and music is also found in the artwork of Preston Sampson. The celebrated artist recently held an opening reception for his latest exhibition, New Directions at Harlem’s new hot spot, The Sol Studio. During the event he shared that much of the visual energy in his work—from musicians in action to the captivating faces of strangers—is inspired by the everyday life of Harlem. “My work is about the observation of people and in it is the spirit of Harlem from the Apollo Theater to images of families going to church,” he says. “It encompasses the whole of our experience as Harlemites.”
The appeal of Harlem is felt all over Symphony Space’s third annual multi-disciplinary spring festival, Harlem Resonance. This year includes a plethora of diverse programs and performances from the Ailey and Dance Theatre of Harlem Schools, jazz artist Gregory Generet, actor/singer Tamara Tunie, actor BD Wong, a performance from the acclaimed play Renaissance in the Belly of a Killer Whale and more. Artistic director, Laura Kaminsky notes that balancing programming to focus on high-profile names and unsung talent is crucial to Harlem Resonance’s ability to both entertain and enlighten. “The festival is sprinkled with an equal portion of star power names and lesser known names such as composer, Margaret Bonds and author Ann Petry. You have to be able give an audience something they respond to and then you surprise them with other stuff they may not know.”
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