Igmar Thomas’ Revive Big Band honors rap and jazz innovators J.Dilla and Thelonius Monk with “Thelonius,” featuring Talib Kweli.  The two-part suite is a reimagining of Dilla’s instrumental “Thelonius” from Common’s Like Water For Chocolate and Monk’s bebop standard “Thelonius.” Summerstage commissioned Thomas in 2016 for A Journey Through The Legacy Of Black Culture, and he debuted “Thelonius” at Rumsey Field in Central Park. Thomas, who is the music director of Lauryn Hill’s touring band, guides the Revive Big Band and Talib Kweli through a lazy swinging beat and a commanding brass section on the second single from the band’s forthcoming album. Thomas explained “Thelonius” in a press release:

“‘Thelonius’ demonstrates exactly how closely related jazz and hip-hop are and how they can once again easily evolve into one another. It brings together the best of two musical worlds… To take the energy even further, I composed an original final section of the song that explodes into a high-octane hip-hop Big Band shout chorus.”

“Thelonius” will appear on Igmar Thomas’ Revive Big Band’s Like A Tree It Grows album, due to drop on October 25th. The album is a tribute to Megan Stabile, the founder of the Revive Music Group, whose vision of connecting younger rap fans and traditional jazz snobs helped create the Revive Big Band. 

The Broad Art Museum in Los Angeles has announced a new season of programs for the Mickalene Thomas: All About Love special exhibition. The show opened on May 25, 2024, and will travel to the Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia, and the Hayward Gallery, London. The show’s title is taken from late feminist icon bell hooks and the exhibition is a celebration of Black feminist creativity, critiques, communal care, and thinking about new ways to love. Tickets are on sale now at thebroad.org. 

There will be Live music, workshops, comedy and a night of films by LGBTQIA+ directors. The Broad is making Black and queer voices prominent within the context of Thomas’s exhibition which comprises 20 years of work. The concert series includes a night dedicated to J.Dilla led by Moodymann on July 19th. Rapper Flo Milli will do a show with singers Fousheé and METTE on July 20th. The shows are for all ages and the tickets include access to all galleries including Mickalene Thomas: All About Love.

                                                                     Program Schedule 

Summer Concerts at The Broad: Dilla’s House
Friday, July 19, 2024 | 8-11 pm
Tickets: $65
Event Location: East West Bank Plaza at The Broad, First Floor Galleries

It’s the summer of J Dilla in Los Angeles, and The Broad joins the festivities by honoring the revered artist who would have been 50 this year. On the heels of Dilla Jazz at The Ford, Dilla’s House at The Broad features artists who knew and worked with Dilla, who have been inspired by his pioneering methods, and who exemplify a spirit of cross-pollination that Dilla and other artists cultivated, including the dearly loved and recently departed Amp Fiddler. With a special focus on the uplifting and soulful side of house and dance music through the lens of Dilla’s legacy, the event will have guests dancing under the stars on the museum’s outdoor plaza.

An ensemble performance helmed by Detroit’s Moodymann will feature fellow Motor City icons Dames Brown on vocals, Dez Andrés on the ones and twos and percussion, and Mark de Clive-Lowe on keys and beat machines. The evening will warm up fast with LA’s ownDJ Ashley Younniä; local music maven DJ Rashida will keep the energy levels up to close out the night. The evening will be hosted by The Yancey Boys AKA Illa J + Frank Nitt and is co-curated by Mahogani Music and Fusicology.

Summer Concerts at The Broad: Flo Milli + Fousheé + METTE
Saturday, July 20, 2024 | 8-11 pm
Tickets: $75
Event Location: East West Bank Plaza at The Broad

Continuing the celebration of Black creativity in music and art, The Broad and RCA Records partner on a special night featuring Flo Milli, Fousheé, and METTE. Tonight, with music we celebrate The Broad’s Special Exhibition: Mickalene Thomas: All About Love.The artists performing embody powerful, positive depictions of Black women that can also be found in the Mickalene Thomas’s exhibition.

 Enjoy intimate yet electrifying live sets by these talented Black artists on the East West Bank Plaza, headlined by multi-platinum rapperFlo Milli. Hailing from Alabama, Flo rose from viral TikTok sensation in 2018 to garnering a #1 at Urban Radio and making Billboard’s Hot 100 chart for her hit “Never Lose Me,” which is a testimony to both her talent and tenacity. Flo dropped her latest album Fine Ho, Stay in March of this year and she’s currently a special guest on Gunna’s The Bittersweet Tour. Also on the bill for this special evening under the stars is Grammy-nominated songwriter Fousheé, whose genre-bending repertoire melds alt-rock and soul, and METTE, a boundless artist unrestricted by the need to align with one genre, whose creativity has already earned her an Ivor-Novello nomination for her song, “Mama’s Eyes.”

RCA shared this statement about partnering with The Broad: “We’re thrilled to work with The Broad on this special artist event in celebration of the incredible work of Mickalene Thomas. We believe deeply in the intersection of art and music and our participating artists, Flo Milli, Fousheé and METTE are true creatives, visionaries, songwriters, and performers. We look forward to a continued partnership with the fantastic team of curators at The Broad as we work together to bring art & music to life in new and innovative ways.”

For more information regarding programming and L.A. Intersections, please visit TheBroad.org

Is the Billboard list of the current 10 Hottest Female Rappers accurate? 

Slum Village is scheduled to perform at the Michigan Central Station concert in Detroit on Thursday, June 6, 2024. The event is a celebration concert for re-opening the train station that had been dormant since 1988. The Ford Motor Company purchased the abandoned structure that was completed in 2013 and started servicing rail passengers in 1914,  in 2018, and spent millions of dollars restoring it.  The same architects that designed it were responsible for New York City’s Grand Central Terminal which looks almost identical. Since its closing in 1988, it became a symbol of Detroit’s past industrial glory and a place of marvel for those fascinated with Detroit’s architecture. William Ford, chairman of Ford and great-grandson of founder Henry Ford told the New York Times that the decision to purchase the station was because, 

“Our industry is about to change radically, and that change ought to be invented here,” Mr. Ford said. “It clicked for me that was the perfect purpose for Michigan Central Station. We want Detroit to once again be a destination where the future is invented, and preserve its title as the Motor City for generations to come.”

Big Sean who performed at the the first celebration for the station in 2018 is on the lineup for Thursday night which includes Jack White, Diana Ross, The Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Illa Ja, Melissa Etheridge, Common, Theo Parrish, Fantasia, Jelly Roll, Sky Jetta, Kierra Sheard and more. Eminem and his manager Paul Rosenberg are the executive producers of the event. The rapper also filmed his video for “Beautiful” at the location in 2009.  Those interested can watch the outdoor stream exclusively on Peacock. Locals can watch via Local 4 on television on the Local 4+ app or at ClickOnDetroit.com and app.  Slum Village just released their 10th studio album F.U.N.