BV Entertainment Newswire July 21

'Brand New' Groove

British soul band the Brand New Heavies and its beloved front-woman N'Dea Davenport recently reunited for the release of their critically acclaimed new album 'Get Used to It.'

"When I stepped away from everything," Davenport told Black Voices of her abrupt departure, "I needed to really get some perspective because I'm just not that kind of girl where I let business sort of dictate to me how I'm supposed to live my life."

"It was just getting a little bit out of hand, overall, with everyone involved and everyone pulling in a different direction and jumping from country to country and I needed to kind of step back from that for a while," she further elaborated on the split.

When the singer/songwriter departed from the renowned acid jazz group after the release of their 1994 album 'Brother Sister,' the Brand New Heavies experimented with a trio of female vocalists (Siedah Garrett, Carleen Anderson and Nicole Russo) with lackluster success. Davenport, an Atlanta native who is credited with jump-starting the neo-soul music genre, proved to be a tough act to follow.

"Well I don’t think they wanted me to ever leave," she reflected. "And that’s the thing; no one thought I would really leave. And I think it was very, very difficult for them when I did leave, you know, but it was one of those things that needed to be done because I couldn’t continue in the capacity of how things were going."

Amidst collaborating with a bevy of rappers, musicians and songwriters, she released a self-titled solo album in 1998.

"In retrospect, I felt bad about it for the fans and the people who really love our music, but at the same time, I can't allow my spirit to be drained or taken away. I've gotta do something."

The group still consists of founding members; drummer/keyboard player Jan Kincaid, bassist Andrew Love Levy and guitarist Simon Bartholomew. The Heavies just wrapped a 25 date- tour this week at Brooklyn's WARSAW at the Polish National Home, which had the multi-culti outfit playing to sold-out crowds in an array of venues, including Houston's Reliant Park for the Essence Music Festival.

Recorded and produced in New York and London, the 12-track 'Get Used to It' skillfully blends the classic live funk and soul sound that’s been their signature since they debuted 15 years ago, unleashing a string of radio-friendly grooves like "Never Stop," "Brother, Sister," and "Dream On Dreamer."

"Since it's been a long time, time has passed, and a lot of us have matured and certain people that were in the picture aren’t in the picture now, it seems like an appropriate time to take it on back," Davenport added. "Especially with so many things going on in the country and in the world today, it's nothing like having some good vibes out there and to try to spread something positive."

Read more about other 1990's hitmakers on the comeback trail here.

Crescent City 'Requiem'

Spike Lee's epic documentary 'When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts' will premiere its first two parts at the New Orleans Arena on Aug. 16.

Presented free of charge to a potential of audience of 10,000, the event takes place next to the Louisiana Superdome, which became known as ill-fated shelter for many residents during Hurricane Katrina.

"It is our hope that 'When the Levees Broke' gives the diverse people of New Orleans a platform for their voice," noted the 'Do The Right Thing' director.

'Requiem…' recounts the heartbreaking personal stories of those who lived to tell about the disaster and provides a detailed chronology of events - from the tragic failure of the levees, to the massive evacuation efforts, to the lack of action that followed.

No stranger to tackling controversial fare (as with his previous Academy Award nominated documentary '4 Little Girls'), Lee and his team selected nearly 100 people from diverse backgrounds, representing a wide range of opinions, to be featured in the film, including Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Harry Belafonte, Wynton Marsalis, Soledad O'Brien, Terence Blanchard, Rev. Al Sharpton, Wendell Pierce, Sean Penn, Kanye West, local media and other New Orleans residents.

The film also focuses on the triumphant spirit of New Orleaneans and their rich cultural legacy.

Supported by a major marketing and grassroots campaign, in conjunction with local community groups and Cox Cable Communications, as well as a variety of partnerships, tickets to the event will be distributed at the box office and via the Internet.

'Acts I' and 'II' will debut on HBO Aug. 21 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT, followed by 'Acts III' and 'IV' on Aug. 22 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. On Aug. 29, the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, all four acts will be shown in a four hour block starting at 8:00 p.m.

Read Black Voices' extensive coverage of New Orleans here.

Also, check out Black Voices' review of Spike Lee's latest movie, 'Inside Man,' here.

Ready To Burn

The Def Poet gets signed.

Black Ice (nee Lamar Manson), who earned respect as one of the premiere voices on Russell Simmons' 'Def Poetry Jam' series, will release his debut album, 'The Death of Willie Lynch,' via Koch Records on Sept. 5.

Presented by hip-hop pioneer DJ Jazzy Jeff, the 12-track set will feature collaborations with Musiq Soulchild, Natalie Stewart of Floetry, Vee and Chyna Black. Eric Greene, Jr., renowned for touring with the likes of Jill Scott, Floetry and Pharrell are producing 'Willie Lynch.'

Ice, who starred in the Tony Award winning 'Def Poetry On Broadway,' is currently criss-crossing the country as the opening act for Mary J. Blige's North American tour, "The Breakthrough Experience."

According to a rep, plans are underway to release a book of Ice's prayers, entitled 'Me & God,' which has been described as a five year chronicle of Black Ice's journal writings.

Read more about Mary J. Blige's tour here.

Carroll Has 'Grey's' Showing

Legendary entertainer Diahann Carroll is set to show up on the upcoming season of Shonda Rhimes' 11-time Emmy Award nominated drama series 'Grey's Anatomy.' During a set visit of ABC's critically heralded medical drama last night, Rhimes, 'Grey's' creator and executive producer, revealed to reporters that the 'Julia' star is confirmed but didn’t offer any other details.

Carroll, a Bronx, NY native, became the first African American actress, (who wasn’t playing domestic worker), to star in her own television sitcom 'Julia', in 1968. The Emmy Award winner has starred in countless films and TV shows over the past four decades, most notably 'Dynasty' and 'A Different World.' In 1974, she was nominated for an Academy Award for the title role in 'Claudine.'