Did anyone see Belafonte and Glover on PBS Sat night?

[grasswire]

Wynton Marsalis organized a fundraiser for New Orleans musicians, held Saturday night at the Lincoln Center in NYC. Hundreds of celebs entertained with music and readings. It was broadcast on public television, hours and hours of it.

Danny Glover and Harry Belafonte appeared on the stage together, and gave the most stirring comments I've heard yet about New Orleans and the state of the nation's poverty and race issues. I wish I had a transcript -- it was most eloquent.

Paul Simon appeared with Buckwheat Zydeco. Bill Cosby appealed for reconstruction efforts to be aimed at the PEOPLE, not profits. Robin Williams razzed white folk and talked about his southern mother. Many dozens of jazz musicians played their hearts out, including one horn player known as the "cultural ambassador" of NOLA whose father is still missing in the storm's damage.

It was a grand evening.

[Team44Car]

1. yes, that was very good

Cosby seemed to want to say more but held back

[dancingme]

11. Cosby said the people who did NOT vote

allowed this to happen. Then he seemed to stop himself from saying anything about Bush but I got the impression he was going to say that people who failed to vote for Kerry allowed this to happen. He went on to stress the need to vote in local and state elections too. I too felt he wanted to say more about the federal response but held back and turned it into a call to get out and vote in every election. I would have loved to hear him talk about voting against your interest but I think he just wants to harness this anger into getting people out to vote.

[faithnotgreed]

2. an event from the heart - as it should be

and very often isnt
put on by people who have real connection to new orleans and lousiana and the south

thanks for posting this

[Frances]

3. What did Robin Williams say about his southern mother?

I'm a native southerner and our part of the country, for all its faults, did tolerate eccentrics pretty well. I can't imagine that Robin Williams' mother was a conforming, boring type.

[AnnInLa]

6. He had ALOT to say! It was terrific

He said his mom, like so many Southern Ladies, says about some other lady, "Bless her heart." He said that translates to, "that crazy bitch!"

[Wizard777]

4. Harry has become a profound public speaker. But I wish he would sing more.

Jump in the line rock your body in time. Okay I believe you! :)

[goclark]

5. I TIVO'd most of it! It was awesome, simply awesome!

How I wish I could see the entire program again.

The music was out of this world.

My Mom loved it as much as I did--- so much good jazz on one stage was a miracle.


Abby Lincoln (older but she gave it her all and the crowd loved her,)Marcus Roberts, Wynton and his talented family, Robin Williams, Herman Riley and other great,great musicians, Toni Morrison, Lawrence Fishburne, Paul Simon -fantastic, Nora Jones, Diane Kuell(sp.?)-wonderful ---

It was one of the best concerts I have ever seen on television!
PS/ I didn't get the name of the "cultural ambassador but he was out of this world, I must get his records.

[DURHAM D]

15. Diana Krull - she is Canadian and married to Elvis Costello. eom

[goclark]

16. Did not know they were married --such talent! nt

[AnnInLa]

7. It was wonderful! If you didn't get to see it

please watch a re-run. It was Live at Lincoln Center, produced by Wynton Marsalis. Altho the crawl at the bottom of the screen gave phone numbers of Red Cross and Salvation Army, they were trying to raise money for New Orleans musicians, known and unknown, to recoup after the hurricane. The project is "higher ground benefit relief" and they kept mentioning that particular project and its phone number.

Danny Glover and Harry Belafonte (and to a lesser extent, Elvis Costello) really blasted the bushco administration for outsourcing programs for the poor to the private sector, for being racist in their response to the situation in New Orleans, and for their private-sector reconstruction plans. When I say blasted, I mean bitch-slapped all over the place. I almost fell off my chair....and they got a wild applause.

They interviewed the Lt. Gov of LA, Mitch Landrieu, who praised GWB to high heaven with a shit-eatin' grin on his face...he was there in person, I guess. Or maybe not, maybe interviewed from LA.

The Cultural Ambassador for New Orleans is Curtis Mayfield. I have heard him play dozens of times, but NEVER like he did last night. His dad, Iven, is still missing in New Orleans, and that make the song one of the most emotional songs I have ever heard.

This is a must watch program, if just for the performances by Curtis Mayfield, Buckwheat Zydeco, Robin Williams...and for the comments by Harry Belafonte and Danny Glover.

[Zen Democrat]

8. That's Irvin Mayfield. Curtis Mayfield died in the 90's.

[AnnInLa]

9. Oh my gosh! I never knew he died!

Which ever Mayfield that was, he was great!

[tishaLA]

14. Yes. His "Nearer My God to Thee" was amazing

something that just shatters the world around you. Very impressive.

[grasswire]

12. thank you

I never heard a horn make noises like Irvin Mayfield's last night. And I have heard a LOT of trumpet/cornet players both in real life and recorded.

[AnnInLa]

10. CD

from http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Music/09/05/music.neworleans.reut/

Marsalis and special guests will highlight the Higher Ground Hurricane Relief Concert, to take place September 17 at Rose Theater in New York. The event will be recorded by Jazz at Lincoln Center. A CD from the event will be released by Blue Note Records with all profits going to relief funds. www.bluenote.com

[grasswire]

13. thanks....

I hope they will include Glover-Belafonte, but probably will only include music.