A Little Harlem found in Big Jacksonville
By Kifimbo Parnell
 

No, we weren't in Harlem, but there was definitely a renaissance going on. Soul Release's feature of live music, accompanied by strong towered voices that bellowed the sultry lyrics of Jill Scott was the first of its kind for Soul Release.  Usually, Soul Release is an every other Saturday night event where poets can stimulate the minds of their listeners.  But this night, a rebirth of both the spoken and sung word was witnessed; and of course the rebirth of Jill Scott as she presented her newest CD entitled "Beautifully Human."  The night was definitely dedicated to her as Soul Release premiered Soul Release Live with a listening party for Jill Scott's newest tunes.  

"Beautifully Human" appears to represent the same old Scott.  With soulful, jazzy cords, fused with Hip-Hop and a tint of the Blues following her voice, Scott becomes a modern-day griot, intimately beckoning those far and wide to hear her stories.  Even though we are well familiar with the storyteller who debuted "Who is Jill Scott?" in 2000, her conjuration of nostalgia in black pride, appreciation of love and culture just makes her stories worth hearing more and more.  As her latest CD has debuted on the shelves of record stores on August 30th, one would be foolish not to grab hers. 

One might have felt foolish if they passed on the opportunity to check out Soul Release Live on August 28th.   An eclectic crowd of artists both past and present packed the trendy setting of the Boomtown Theatre in downtown Jacksonville.  This time, instead of gracing center stage, the ghosts of a legendary past took their seats among mere mortals as they watched respectfully as a new generation of lyricists engage the world.  When a poet from Atlanta shouted into the microphone "I'm just one metaphor away from shocking the world," it was like you could just see the head of Amiri Baraka nod with approval and the most sincerest of comprehension.  As a local singer and saxophone player pulled off their own scat to Scott's "He Loves Me," from a distance, Ella Fitzgerald took off her glasses just to get a closer glimpse at history in the remaking.  No matter if you were sipping your second glass of Chardonnay, or enjoying the complimentary refill of a fountain drink, you just couldn't ignore the presence of Billie Holiday, Herbie Hancock, Ntozake Shange, Miles Davis, Mahalia Jackson, James Weldon Johnson; they were all there, and many more present. 

Founders Emmanuel Washington and Tiffany Duhart really do have something spectacular in the works.  A few poets who have been reciting at their venue spoke favorably of the times when they were expressing within the humble spaces of Nefertiti's Bookstore. The crowd has definitely grown and remained dedicated and assorted.  The crowd of art lovers came beautifully individualized in the young, old, black, white, and everything in between. 

What better place to contain this assorted bunch than in the Boomtown Theatre?  With the abstract paintings, the splashes of color on the walls, the vintage furniture that occupy each corner of the room, it becomes the only museum befitting to house such a variety of priceless people and their talent. Washington and Duhart by all means recognize the need to keep this museum open to the public.  Smartly enough, they have added two additional nights to Soul Release.   So instead of the first and third Saturday of the month, eager listeners can hear added live music and singing every second and fourth of the month as well.  Thus making every Saturday night a night worth looking forward to.  What a privilege and a pleasure this will be. Check it out for yourself one Saturday and you'll see what exactly I mean.

For more information about Soul Release log onto www.nokturnalescape.com

Kifimbo Parnell is a contributing writer for Blacksonville.com. If you have questions or comments please email her at kparnell@blacksonville.com