ZUCCHERO 'SUGAR' FORNACIARI'S LA SESION CUBANA

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THE GLORIOUS CORNER

Story By: G. H. HARDING
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Zucchero “Sugar” Fornaciari




HELLO ALICE --- Eagle Rock Entertainment, in association with Banger Films, are proud to announce the world premiere of Super Duper Alice Cooper at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival, where it will screen as part of their Spotlight section. Taking us through his life and career, ALICE presents his story in the first ever “doc opera” film - a dizzying blend of documentary archive footage, animation, and rock opera.


Super Duper Alice Cooper is the twisted tale of a teenage Dr. Jekyll whose rock n’ roll Mr. Hyde almost kills him. It is the story of Vincent Furnier, a preacher’s son who struck fear into the hearts of parents as Alice Cooper, the ultimate rock star of the bizarre. From the advent of Alice as front man for a group of Phoenix freaks in the 60’s to the hazy decadence of celebrity in the 70’s to his triumphant comeback as 80’s glam metal godfather, we will watch as Alice and Vincent battle for each other's souls. Alice’s story is told not only by the man himself, but through exclusive interviews with members of the original Alice Cooper band, Elton John, Iggy Pop, John Lydon, and Dee Snider, from Twisted Sister.


Super Duper Alice Cooper is the creation of Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn at Banger Films, producers of Iron Maiden: Flight 666 (2009 SXSW Audience Choice Winner) and Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage (2010 Grammy-nominated and Tribeca Audience Choice Winner), and much-lauded filmmaker Reginald Harkema, winner of the TIFF Special Jury Prize for his film Monkey Warfare.


The 13th edition of the Tribeca Film Festival takes place from April 16 to April 27 at locations around New York City.



NIGHT TRIPPING --- Truly original, definitely iconic, the legendary Dr. John is to be honored with a Special Tribute in New Orleans on May 3. Titled The Musical Mojo of Dr. John: A Celebration of Mac & His Music will include performances by Gregg Allman, Ryan Bingham, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Chief Monk Boudreaux, Bill Kreutzmann, Chuck Leavell, Mavis Staples, and, Alan Toussaint.


Don Was, will be musical director for the evening, said "Dr. John transcends genres with a truly distinctive sound that embodies the rich musical heritage of New Orleans and has tremendously influenced the course of music history."


Dr. John (aka Malcolm John "Mac" Rebennack, Jr.) is expected to take the stage with many of the performers over the course of the evening. Additional special guests will be announced in the future. We loved the good doctor’s last album of original music, Ice Age. A stone-cold classic for sure.



SUGAR ANYONE --- Zucchero “Sugar” Fornaciari, the Grammy-nominated Italian blues-rock singer, and one of Europe’s best-selling artists, will release his latest album, La Sesión Cubana, on February 18th via Manhattan Records. Known as a musical wanderer, Zucchero achieves a long-held dream of recording in Cuba with the best native musicians in Havana, and exploring the roots of American music along the way.



“My music comes from blues, from soul, and from gospel,” Zucchero says. “This project is a trip from New Orleans to Cuba via Mexicali. Latin, Cuban, and Tex-Mex sounds and rhythms melt together dancing. Hasta l’asta siempre.”


Produced by Zucchero and Don Was, La Sesión Cubana features seven brand-new songs, as well as six newly arranged versions of Zucchero’s European hits: “Baila,” “Un Kilo,” “Così Celeste,” “Cuba Libre,” ”Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime,” and “L’Urlo.” The new recordings consist “Guantanamera (Guajira),” original compositions “Love Is All Around” and “Sabor a ti,” and the covers “Never Is a Moment,” “Nena,” “Pana” (a duet with Spanish singer Bebe), and “Ave Maria No Morro” — a duet with Brazilian star Djavan. Each song was recorded virtually live in the studio to ensure the thrill of improvisation.



In addition to the studio album, Manhattan is releasing a deluxe CD/DVD version with the La Sesión Cubana studio CD with a two hour Live in Havana DVD. A one hour version of The Live in Havana concert program will be featured in March, 2014 by Public Television stations as part of their pledge programs. The program is being presented by WLIW.



“Zucchero called and said that he wanted to go to Havana and record new versions of his songs with ‘Cuban rhythms and Tex-Mex guitars,’" says Don Was. “I had no idea what he was talking about but it sounded like high adventure. After recording two other albums with him over the last decade [2006’s Fly and 2010’s Chocabeck], I'd learned that Zu is a magnificent and visionary artist and that his instincts are golden. So we headed to Havana on blind faith and, sure enough, his unique brand of Popular Italian Soul Music blended seamlessly with the incredible band of Cuban All-Stars who'd gathered in the studio to cut tracks with us. In the end, great music always transcends cultural boundaries and the record turned out brilliantly. Zu's cover of Malo's hit, “Nena,” is one of my favorites. I've loaded it into my alarm clock because it makes me wake up feeling good every morning.”



CLOSING NOTES --- Without question one of the best things I’ve seen on TV in years is HBO’s True Detective, with Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. Oscar-winner McConaughey is having some kind of year. As good as he was in Dallas Buyer’s Club, he’s sensational here; the best thing I’ve ever seen him in. Harrelson is great too, certainly the best thing he’s been in too. The thing with this 8-episode series is writer Nic Pizzolatto and director Cary Fukunaga (Sin Nombre) vision of focus. Pizzolatto wrote all the episodes, preferring to keep his voice intact throughout and the music by T. Bone Burnett is utterly riveting. The finale just aired and so many people watched it online, that the HBO site crashed. We'll discuss this more, but just spot-on sensational. Watcvh for this one to win every single award for Emmy-season …


How about Robert Redford in the new Captain America: The winter Solider film? He looks superb as some sort of super-spy. With Michael Douglas signing on for the forthcoming Ant Man movie, I guess Hollywood’s elder-class has decided that these comic-books movies do work. Speaking of elder-class, Warren Beatty’s long-gestating movie on Howard Hughes is finally in forward motion. Signed so far is: Lily Collins (yep, Phil’s daughter) and Martin Sheen. Also rumored is Jack Nicholson. so far ... so good ...


Just picked up a copy of the music industry's bible Billboard; which we haven't seen for some ages. A thorough re-working with Roy Trakin at the helm; it looked like a cross between the Hollywood Reporter (their sister issue) and Vanity Fair. I loved it ...


Photo Courtesy Of: 42 West PR

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