THE PROFESSOR'S CRITIQUE (Final )‪#‎THEWIZLIVE‬.
Some of these comments are a repeat so bear with me:

The direction of the show seemed to be in a narrow space. I love would have loved to see them expand the actor's staging areas. True, it was for television and they used the old placement techniques although they used multi cameras.

I hope Shanice Williams' career begins to blossom. She is now this decade's Dorothy. Will she be immortalized like Stephanie Mills?
Who knows, but I can say she did a great job and she reintroduced this show to millions who hadn't seen this before.

Elijah Kelley had a lot of guts attempting a role eternalized by Michael Jackson. You know what? His efforts were great. His acting is better than his singing but he sings well indeed! His future is great! I would have loved to hear him sing that in a lower key

FIRE THE MD!!! Since this was live for TV, they could have changed these keys to fit the musicians. Heck, classical singers even do it. Obviously, someone didn't have sense enough to suggest that or make that happen. Queen Latifah's songs were WAY too low for her. Brand New Day was WAY too high for everyone and Crazy Eye's song was too high for her also.

I was not a fan of those arrangements. Modernizing it doesn't mean take out the counter melodies. Drum Machine???? BOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! If this is live, why is the music prerecorded?!?!?!? shameful

NE-YO is the MVP in my opinion. His seasoned performance chops showed when the camera was on him. he could have easily stoled the show.

Amber Riley: YOU'RE AWESOME!!!

Biggest Surprise: Mary J Blige. She turned out to be a good Evilene.

The "Started Slow but did better eventually Award" goes to Queen Latifah. The tessitura for her to sing in was terrible. Oops I'm sorry, ABYSMAL. FIRE THE VOCAL COACH!!! With that being said, once Latifah's character changed, her acting came out. Heck, I though it was Khadijah James for a minute. She seemed more comfortable in that than she she was as the Wizard.

Much props to my CT brother David Alan Grier for once again putting CT and Detroit in the limelight! he's a heck of an actor.

The makeup artists were on POINT!!!!!

Suggestion: Although I would say this was a successful production, I believe it would have been even better had been in front of a live audience. The energy from being in front of people would have been irreplaceable.

OTHER

Cast: B+
Backdrops: A+
Makeup: A+
Costumes: B (Note: the Poppies were immaculate!!!)
Direction: B- (WAY too tight of spacing)
Musical Arrangements: D
Choreography: B (Poppies amazing, Ne-Yo: AMAZING; Emerald City : sweet turned suspect)
Energy: B- (Not the cast's fault)
Overall: B

As I conclude, let it be known that I enjoyed watching black greatness on television! I hope this revival allows more African American Musicals to be a part of the canon!

Marcus Belgrave

I've been trying to hold back from saying something but I can't. I've been fighting tears. Marcus Belgrave was so meaningful in my life. One day he gave me and Omar Lateef the biggest whooping ever on the blues at Cass, it lasted with me my whole life. I have many more stories to share. I'll share this other one. He came over to my house and recorded two songs for me with Damon Warmack. He was always helping me out. It's hard for me to listen to this now without being sad. I'll miss you forever Mr. Belgrave.



https://youtu.be/fWsr4gH9Ec

Michael Jackson: The Quincy Years

Michael Jackson: The Quincy Years
My brother Brad asked me,"What was MJ's best album?" This is a hard question and almost impossible to answer. My cousin Teshenia says I need to answer things better; however, this is still a trick question. WHY? All three Q-produced albums invoke a special flavor in musical history and importance. So here's my break down:

Off the Wall
This is MJ's most SOULFUL album. Powered by Louis Johnson (bassist, and of the Brothers Johnson), John Robinson on Drums (from Chaka Khan and Rufus), Greg Phillinganes (MJ's Musical Director, Stevie Wonder, Toto, Amp's Cousin, and a DETROITER!!!), Larry Carlton, Marlo Henderson, and David Williams on guitars, Paulinho Da Costa on Percussion, that money making horn section of Jerry Hey, Gary Grant, William Reichenbach, Larry Williams, and Kim Hutchcroft, and many others, THIS ALBUMS HAS FLAVOR!!!!!!!!!!!

Why it Could be called the GREATEST: Don't Stop, Working, Rock with You, Off the Wall...man. This songs will inspire anybody to write music and PRACTICE. Try solo in B major on "Don't Stop." Heck, arrange Off the Wall..Eb minor! SMh..too much funk!

One MAJOR note about this album. It is the only one out of the three to have Strings and Full Horn Section on a song. This orchestral sound is not found on Bad or Thriller.

Why it can't be call the GREATEST: two reasons, "It's the Falling in Love" and "Burn this Disco Out." If that wasn't enough, even Michael said he needed to make an album that would be talked about after he was disappointed at the American Music Awards


Thriller
OK OK OK!!!! It's hard to talk about arguably the greatest album ever produced. But does this make it his BEST album? More Keyboard effects here via Greg Phillinganes and David Paich to give it the new defined "pop" sound instead of "soul." Let's get to the point. The only flaw, and I mean, THE ONLY flaw with this album (from an instrumentalist point of view) is that it makes you want to produce on a higher level. This album doesn't send you to the practice room. It makes you want to get an SM57 mic for your snare drum and a NEVE console to record on, but doesn't make you practice your horn. However, it does make you think about when you make an album, is it sonically flawless? Best PRODUCED album EVER!

Why it Could be called the GREATEST: best produced album ever. 

Why it can't be call the GREATEST: .....well...........just nitpicking, but doesn't make me practice (only diehard instrumentalists will get a kick out of that point!). 


Bad
Here's the deal with Bad. You get deeper in MJ's mind. With him writing more songs on this one, you get to hear his creativity. Creativity that was stirring in his mind for years that he couldn't unless at Motown. yeah, he was young at motown, but that doesn't mean he didn't have idea's. The Jackson Five had no artistic control, the Jacksons had a lil more, but on BAD, MJ had total control whereas Q made sure it was tight!

Why it Could be called the GREATEST: MJ's most creative. Some might argue, Dangerous, but....nope. Seven No. 1's!?!? This album also changed the game with subsequent video releases. AWESOME!!!

Why it can't be call the GREATEST: Musically not as invigorating as "Off the Wall." More entertaining (and some darn good videos, even though, "Leave Me Alone" was a lil' esoteric.)



So that is my take! I just thought I'd write some mind-stirring stuff!

Most Musical

 Best produced MJ album
 
His most self-artistic, strategically-planned album Let's Dialogue!!!

As I go to sleep, I can't help about the coming of this project....I feel blessed.  I think I found my event planner for the release party.  Meanwhile, in a week, I go to Indianapolis to do research for my dissertation.    I'm excited.  I've never been to Indiana University and I hear that their library is fantastic.

Wow, It's been a minute.  Much has changed.
I'll blog more. I promise!!! Plus, on June 3rd, I'm going to have a major, major, URSA MAJOR announcement!!!!