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2019 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival – A Melting Pot of the Finest Music

NNPA NEWSWIRE — The 2019 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival kicked off its 50th year anniversary with a bang. The annual two-weekend fest featured world-renown musicians, tempting food concession stands, a friendly crowd of music fans and a positive vibe that was even warmer than the sun.

Published

7 years ago

May 14, 2019

Oakland Post

By Dwight Brown, NNPA Newswire Film Critic

The 2019 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival kicked off its 50^th year anniversary with a bang. The annual two-weekend fest featured world-renown musicians, tempting food concession stands, a friendly crowd of music fans and a positive vibe that was even warmer than the sun.

Jazz Fest dates back to 1970, when Mahalia Jackson and Duke Ellington graced the stages for famed producer/impresario George Wein. Over the years that spirit has developed into a festival that embraces indigenous music, jazz, blues, soul, funk, Dixieland and Zydeco, rock, pop, country, Latin music, folk and other genres.

As you walk around the Fair Grounds where the fest takes place, on lush lawns or soft sand, you encounter various stages and gigantic white musical tents (jazz, blues, gospel). There’s a wide variety of food booths (ever hear of Alligator Pie?), arts and crafts tents and cultural centers too.

This year, the list of vibrant acts included artists like these:

Ziggy Marley: Legendary singer Bob Marley had 12 children. The most famous is Ziggy Marley, who heads the band Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers. His career has spanned 15 years and his latest album “Rebellion Rises,” which continues his father’s legacy of social awareness, formed the basis of his energetic performance on The Congo Square Stage, which is usually reserved for African Heritage music. Dancing to a reggae beat and swaying in unison with his backup singers, Ziggy’s optimistic vibe lit the crowd up. One of the biggest treats for his sundrenched fans was his classic, “True to Myself.” Bob had a once-in-a-lifetime voice. Ziggy has a verve all his own and he passes on his father’s spirit of peace and love.

Tom Jones: He’s been around since the ‘60s, currently appears on The Voice UK and Tom Jones’ set was on Gentilly Stage, second largest at NOJHF. Stripped down to just a guitar, a bass and drums, Jones’ band captured a strong beat as his baritone voice bellowed through the air. He performed like he was a young rocker in his prime, and not like a 79-year-old man. Screaming “Maybe there ain’t no heaven. Maybe there ain’t no hell,” the lyrics from his hit song “Burning Hell,” Jones held the audience in the palm of his hand. He was in fine voice, oblivious to the ravages of time and displaying enough British swagger to start a street fight. As his concert continued, with something old and something new, the crowd was amazed that this is the man who rose to fame in 1965 with “What’s New Pussycat.” That’s 55 years ago and counting!

Mavis Staples: As Mavis Staples approaches 80 years of age, she’s turned back the clock by working with younger producers (Ben Harper), exploring music that takes her out of her comfort zone of R&B, Blues, Soul and Gospel, and incorporating those sounds into whatever music she tackles. Innovation came to mind when she launched into The Talking Heads “Slippery People.” Backed by a top-notch band, she infused a funky gospel spirit into her arrangement: “What’s the matter with him? He’s alright. How do you know? The lord won’t mind. Don’t play no games, he’s alright
Love from the bottom to the top.” Emphasizing the syncopation, swirling around on stage, throwing her hands in the air, shuffling her shoulders and occasionally letting out her famous earthy growl, she slayed the crowd. It was a song that the Staple Singers had covered in the mid ‘80s, and Mavis, like she always does, made it her own. The crowd inside the Jazz Tent was so large it spilled outside. They all knew they were watching an icon create a moment that was going to be memorable for years to come. Staples was equally strong with the socially conscious Buffalo Springfield hit “For What It’s Worth.”

Chris Stapleton: Stapleton used to be known for writing hit songs for country music stars like Miranda Lambert, Kenny Chesney and Blake Shelton. That changed one night in 2015 on a broadcast of the Country Music Awards when he dueted with Justin Timberlake. They sang harmony together on “Tennessee Whiskey,” and Stapleton flaunted a supple, elastic voice that was far more flexible and soulful than that of most country western singers. As he took his place on Acura, the biggest stage at NOJHF, the audience had grown deep into the thousands and the Grammy-winner didn’t disappoint. Catchy songs like “Traveler” and “Broken Halos” played to country music fans. His performance of “Millionaire” was more reminiscent of a southern/soul/rock style, the kind that rock legends like Delaney & Bonnie or Leon Russell coined back in the 70s when they blended genres. With his gravelly voice, Stapleton led the listeners through his stable of songs, ending the night with the aforementioned “Tennessee Whiskey,” a sweet song even Patti LaBelle covers in her concerts.

Gary Clark Jr.: Out on a tour that will last at least until September, Clark did his usual opening song, “Bright Lights.” It’s the perfect song to use to begin a set, as he sings to the audience, “You gonna know my name by the end of the night.” This gifted lead guitarist is often mentioned in the same breath with Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Prince. He’s not as enigmatic as the Jimi, as melodious as Eric nor as dynamic on stage as Prince, but he lets his strumming do the talking. A modern, wide-brimmed hat along with his signature red Fender Stratocaster solidifies his brand. Classic songs like “When My Train Pulls In” and “Gotta Get Into Something” pushed the crowd into a fervor.

Rita Coolidge: Known as the first person to sing the song “Superstar,” and later credited for co-writing it, Rita Coolidge stepped on to the stage dressed in a white blouse and pants with white sneakers. Her set list started with the feminist song “Basic Lady:” “Basic lady doesn’t need a diamond ring…” She sashayed around the stage with great confidence as her country-sounding band played on. Her voice was not as rich and smooth as it has been (the 2005 jazz album “And So Is Love” features her smoothest vocals), but her star power was making up for it. Fans liked her most popular hits the best: “Higher and Higher” and “We’re All Alone.”

Gladys Knight: She’s got more hits than most, a stronger voice than many and her fans know the words to her songs as well as she. So, when Gladys Knight asked the crowd to sing along with her, she got a backup chorus that was in tune and well-rehearsed. Strutting around in a black jumpsuit with a white blouse, Knight commanded her band and crooned. After several residencies in Vegas, this show woman knows exactly how to make an audience happy. With a great sense of urgency, she sang: “I’ve got to use my imagination. To think of good reasons. To keep on keepin’ on (keep on keepin’ on)…” The Pips were missed but ably replaced by a gigantic crowd of well-wishers. “The Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me” was just one in a string of tunes to come that had the audience remembering how Gladys Knight has been such a unique talent for five decades.

Los Lobos: This rock band from East Los Angeles defies categories. Hints of Tex-Mex, zydeco, R&B, blues and other genres are the sounds that make their music distinctive. Their brand of brown-eyed soul has made them a vibrant presence on the music scene since the 1970s. Different members have come and gone over the years, but their affable vibe has remained the same. The band’s name means “The Wolves,” so when they broke into one of their most famous songs, “Will the Wolf Survive?” the audience was particularly happy. Also, of great interest was their rendition of “La Bamba:” the group’s leader, David Hidalgo, sang it, just like he did for the movie of the same name. Actor Lou Diamond Phillips played the lead character Richie Valens in that film, but when it was time to sing, he was miming to Hidalgo’s savory vocals.

These were but a few of the magical roster that had attracted artists from everywhere, who were performing all kinds of music: Diana Ross, Taj Mahal and the Phantom Blues Band, The Doobie Brothers, Santana, Gregory Porter, Katy Perry, Al Green and Bonnie Raitt were all a part of the festivities along with many others.

The 2019 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival was a big gumbo of music that gave NOLA audiences lots to savor.

Visit NNPA Newswire Film Critic Dwight Brown at DwightBrownInk.com and BlackPressUSA.com.

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2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring Review — Is This $136K EV Sedan Worth It?

AUTONETWORK ON BLACKPRESSUSA — Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, but it still feels elegant instead of trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

Published

3 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

Oakland Post

The 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring is the kind of luxury EV that makes people stop and ask a simple question: Is this really better than a Tesla Model S, Mercedes EQS, or BMW i7? At $136,150, it has to do more than look futuristic. It has to feel special every time you get in it.

Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, yet it still feels elegant rather than trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

Inside is where the Air Grand Touring really makes its case. The 34-inch Glass Cockpit Display and retractable Pilot Panel screen give the cabin a clean, modern look that still feels different from other EVs. The Tahoe Extended Leather and Lucid Black Alcantara headliner lifts the sense of occasion, and the front seats are a highlight. They are 20-way power-adjustable, heated, ventilated, and include massage. That matters because luxury buyers at this price expect comfort first.

Rear passengers are not ignored either. You get 5-zone heated rear seating, a rear center console display, and power rear and rear side window sunshades. Add in the Surreal Sound Pro system with 21 speakers, and the Air feels like a true long-distance luxury sedan.

Lucid also gives this car serious EV hardware. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, 900V+ charging architecture, and Wunderbox onboard charger are big talking points. Buyers in this segment care about range, charging speed, and everyday ease, not just raw performance. That is where the Lucid continues to stand out.

On the technology side, the Air Grand Touring includes DreamDrive Premium, with 3D Surround View Monitoring, Blind Spot Warning, Automatic Park In and Out, Automatic Emergency Braking, and a Driver Monitoring System with distracted and drowsy driver alerts. This one also has DreamDrive Pro, which adds future-capable ADAS hardware.

There are still some real-world annoyances. Based on your notes, the windshield wiper control is hard to find and use, and that matters more than people think in a high-tech car. When controls become less intuitive, even a beautiful interior can feel frustrating.

Still, the 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring succeeds where it matters most. It feels luxurious, advanced, comfortable, and thoughtfully engineered. For buyers who want an EV sedan that feels truly premium and less common than the usual choices, this Lucid makes a very strong case.

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Snoop Dogg Celebrates 10 Til’ Midnight at the Compound

LOS ANGELES SENTINEL — The album is paired with a film that stars Snoop Dogg, Hitta J3, G Perico, and Ray Vaughn, and one of the strongest elements of the whole project is that the production stayed rooted right here in Los Angeles.

Published

3 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

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Snoop Dogg celebrated the premiere of 10 Til’ Midnight at his Inglewood recording studio & multipurpose facility, The Compound, but the night felt like much more than an album release. It felt like Los Angeles. It felt like legacy. And it felt like another major move from one of the city’s greatest cultural architects as he continues to prove that he is not just dropping music — he is building moments, shaping narratives, and pushing the culture forward in real time.

What made the event so powerful was the clarity behind the vision. During a panel conversation with DJ Hed, Snoop opened up about the heart behind 10 Til’ Midnight, explaining that the project was created to help bridge older and younger generations while also speaking to the long-standing divisions between Bloods and Crips in a unique way through film. That alone gave the project a different kind of weight. This was not just about songs. This was about using creativity as a tool for connection. This was about taking a story rooted in Los Angeles and telling it in a way that could bring people together.

Snoop Congratulated By Rapper & Fellow 10 Til Midnight Cast Member G Perico (CreativeLB/KreativeKapturez)

The album is paired with a film that stars Snoop Dogg, Hitta J3, G Perico, and Ray Vaughn, and one of the strongest elements of the whole project is that the production stayed rooted right here in Los Angeles. The film was shot in the city, including at WePlay Studios in Inglewood, which gave the entire project an even deeper hometown feel. It was not just a West Coast story in content — it was a Los Angeles-made production from the ground up.

That matters because, in a city like this, authenticity still carries weight. Snoop understands how to make sure that what he creates does not just represent Los Angeles on the surface, but actually comes from it.

What also makes 10 Til’ Midnight significant is that it represents another major step in Snoop’s evolution as both an artist and executive. Public reporting around the project identifies it as his 22nd studio album, but the bigger story is what it represents in this season of his life. This is one of several consecutive moves he has made in his 50s that show he is still building, still expanding, and still finding new ways to reinvent what the next chapter looks like.

Snoop Dogg at the Premiere of 10 Til Midnight (CreativeLB/KreativeKapturez)

Now, as the head of Death Row Records and the newly aligned leader of Death Row Pictures, he is taking the brand into a new dimension. That is what made this moment feel bigger than music. Snoop is not just protecting the legacy of Death Row — he is stretching it. He is expanding it beyond records and into film, visual storytelling, and larger creative worlds that can continue carrying the label’s impact forward. Public reporting has noted that this project arrives as part of that broader cinematic push.

That is a major Los Angeles move because the city has always been built on the intersection of music, film, neighborhood identity, and cultural storytelling. With 10 Til’ Midnight, Snoop is leaning all the way into that intersection.

The room at The Compound reflected that. It felt like a private premiere, but it also felt like a statement — a reminder that Snoop Dogg’s staying power has never been based only on nostalgia. It comes from his ability to remain connected, remain visionary, and remain in tune with how to move the culture without losing the essence of who he is.

That is why this premiere mattered. It was not just about celebrating another album. It was about witnessing a Los Angeles legend continue to evolve, continue to unify, and continue to use art to tell stories that hit deeper than entertainment alone.

In that sense, 10 Til’ Midnight became more than a project launch. It became another example of how Snoop Dogg is still taking Los Angeles to the next level — using music, film, and legacy together to build something bigger than a moment.

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OP-ED: Small Businesses Need Minnesota to Act on Pass-Through Tax Policy

MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN RECORDER — A Twin Cities immigrant entrepreneur who built several businesses including grocery stores in underserved neighborhoods is calling on Minnesota lawmakers to extend the Pass-Through Entity tax option before it expires, warning that its loss would hit small businesses already recovering from Operation Metro Surge with higher federal tax bills.

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3 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

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A Twin Cities Small Business Owner Is Urging Minnesota to Extend a Tax Policy That Could Save Thousands of Businesses

By Daniel Hernandez | Minnesota Spokesman Recorder

I came to the United States as a teenager with a clear goal: to build something meaningful through hard work. I put in long days in construction, restaurants, and landscaping; doing whatever it took to learn, save, and eventually start my own business.

Over time, I built and ran several successful ventures, including an event photography company, a magazine, a tax and accounting firm, and now grocery stores serving neighborhoods across the Twin Cities where other retailers chose not to invest. I’ve created jobs, supported families, and committed to communities that deserve stability and opportunity.

That’s why I’m speaking out now.

Small business owners in Minneapolis and the communities we serve are recovering from serious disruptions, including the impacts of Operation Metro Surge. That event hit immigrant communities especially hard. In my own case, I lost nearly half of my 60 employees and saw revenue drop by about 85%. While I worked to provide competitive wages, health benefits, and paid time off, the real hardship fell on the people who lost their jobs and income.

Even as we rebuild, small businesses are facing another challenge. The Minnesota Legislature is considering letting an important tax policy expire: the Pass-Through Entity tax option.

Here’s what that means in plain terms.

Many small businesses, including mine, are pass-through businesses. That means the business itself doesn’t pay income tax. Instead, the owners report the income on their personal tax returns. But under current federal rules, there’s a limit on how much state tax we can deduct. That often leads to higher federal tax bills.

The Pass-Through Entity option fixes that. It allows the business to pay the state tax directly, which means the business can fully deduct those taxes on its federal return and lower the total amount of income taxed federally. The result is straightforward: small business owners pay less in federal taxes, without reducing what the state collects.

This policy is not new or controversial. Thirty-six states already offer it. It doesn’t cost Minnesota anything, it’s revenue neutral. And it benefits more than 66,000 businesses across the state.

In a state where the cost of doing business is already high, it’s hard to understand why we wouldn’t offer the same basic tax treatment as states like California and Illinois.

Small businesses have carried a heavy load in recent years, through a pandemic, rising costs and public safety disruptions. We’ve adapted, reinvested and stayed committed to our communities. What we need now are practical policies that support that work, not make it harder.

If the Minnesota House does not act soon, many businesses will face significantly higher federal tax bills. That’s money that could otherwise be used to hire workers, raise wages or reinvest in local neighborhoods.

I urge Gov. Tim Walz and members of the House Tax Committee to pass House File 3127 and extend the Pass-Through Entity election.

Small businesses are the backbone of our communities. We’ve proven our resilience. Now we need our state leaders to show the same commitment to us.

Daniel Hernandez is the owner of Colonial Market located at 2100 E. Lake St.

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