MikTu Naturals is a sponsor of Jazz In The Alley, a free jazz concert series held in Norcross, Georgia.  MikTu Naturals’ goal is provide meaningful self care & make you feel and look your best from the bottom up!

Excerpt from miktunaturals.com

Performing on 
     *June 11th - The Senators featuring Tony Tatum
     *July 16th- Dexter Tolson and Chaz Shepherd
     *August 13th - Michael Cruse and Cleveland P. Jones 
     *September 17th- FunkyardX

​Held in historic Norcross, Georgia, (Betty Mauldin Park), Jazz In the Alley has an upward attendance of 1,000.  did we mention that it's FREE?  That's RIGHT! Thanks to generous sponsors like the City of Norcross, Peachtree Awnings, MikTu Naturals, Krush By Jai, Elite Behavioral Medicine, and When We Speak TV, so bring your entire family.

All concerts begin at 7:30PM.

For more information and updates, follow Jazz In The Alley and When We Speak TV on all social media platforms.

​When We Speak TV cordially invites you to the City of Norcross, Georgia, for the 2022 Jazz In The Alley concert series.

Held in historic Norcross, Georgia, (Betty Mauldin Park), Jazz In the Alley has an upward attendance of 1,000. 
Did we mention that it's FREE? 
That's RIGHT!
Thanks to generous sponsors:  City of Norcross, Peachtree Awnings, MikTu Naturals, Krush by Jai, When We Speak TV, and Elite Behavioral Medicine.

For more information and updates, follow Jazz In The Alley and When We Speak TV on all social media platforms.

Black Women Film Network, celebrating 25 years of preserving the stories of Black women, is proud to announce the annual BWFN Short Film Festival will take place Saturday, February 12, 2022 in partnership with Kweli TV, a Black woman-owned streaming platform featuring hundreds of curated independent films, documentaries, web series, kids programming and more.
 
For 24 hours, festival ticketholders can stream the 2022 film selections at Kweli.tv or through streaming devices and smart TVs. Tickets to access the virtual festival can be purchased HERE.
 
The following shorts have been selected for the 2022 festival:

ABOUT NELSON RAMOS
​(from sonjazzy.com)​
I was born in Guayama, Puerto Rico, on the Caribbean side of the Island. I come from a family of distinguished musicians, to include my Grandfather who was a master luthier. My musical journey started by observing my uncle’s orchestra, and playing and studying percussion instruments since the age of 5, to include drums, congas, bongos and timbales. My first live performance was at the age 7 with My Uncle's Salsa Orchestra at the Fiestas Patronales de Guayama, Puerto Rico. In 1974 my Father moved us to Atlanta, GA where I continued to play drums and percussion instruments. In June 1979, I graduated High School in Atlanta from Sylvan Hills High School. In 1980 I joined the military and traveled to Europe, and returned back to Puerto Rico in 1983, where I started to study and play guitar and piano with local salsa bands. I left Puerto Rico in July 1985 and moved back to Atlanta, GA and started to study and learn jazz guitar and piano with musical instruction and mentors such as Bill Brannon, Felix Febles, Jazz Organist Joshua Seabrook, percussionist Skip Burney, and drummer Steve Ellington. I started to play regular jazz gigs with local jazz groups, attending jam sessions, studying, performing and collaborating with jazz musicians and groups in the Atlanta area. In July 1991, I organized, recorded South Side Trio, and performed in the 1992 Atlanta Jazz Festival at Grant Park. The Southside Trio was an organ, guitar and drum jazz trio, selected among many local groups to perform in the 1992 Atlanta Jazz Festival. We had the privilege and honor of performing on the same stage where Horace Silver, Carter Jefferson, and Freddie Hubbard performed.

In 1995, I went back in the service and studied piano at the U.S. School of Music at Little Creek Naval Installation in Virginia Beach, VA. I continued the John Mehegan Piano Jazz studies program (1) Jazz Improvisation Tonal and Rhythmic Principles, (2) Jazz Rhythm and the Improvised Line, (3) Swing and Early Progressive Piano Styles, (4) Contemporary Jazz Piano Styles. I was later stationed in Kobe Barracks, Panama, where I performed for local dignitaries, and performed for the Southern Command’s activities for General Wesley Clark. In addition, I performed for Panama’s premier female jazz vocalist Ms. Barbara Wilson. I played with members of Panamanian National Band, and performed weekly at Las Bovedas Restaurant in the French Quarters of Panama City, Ciudad Panama. In 1997 I moved to San Antonio, Texas where I played with: Luis Shati Orchestra, El Combo Rican Orchestra, Orchestra Tropicana, and Orchestra Esencia Latina, backing the best salsa singers such as El Cano Estremera, Luisito Carrion, Albita, Paquito Guzman, and many others. In June 2001 I moved back to Puerto Rico where I performed with my Uncle’s Orchestra, “Orquesta La Grande”. In June 2004, I moved to New Orleans, LA where I played with Blues singer Jimmy Hicks, Ashe Son, Freddie Omar, and many other local jazz and Latin Jazz groups. Performed weekly at Tippitinas’s, Harrah's Casino New Orleans, and Café Brazil in the French Quarter. Performed in the 2006 French Quarter Festival with Asheson, at the 2007 New Orleans Jazz Festival with Ashe Son Cuban Group, and Freddie Omar’s Salsa Band.

From June 2006 to June 2008, I moved to Baltimore, MD were I performed with local bands in Baltimore, and D.C., and performed piano at the Barrack Obama Mambo Inauguration "Mambo" party with Ted David and his Orquesta “La Leyenda” out of Washington, D.C. I recently performed at the 2015 French Quarter Festival with Fredy Omar Con Su Banda. I am currently living and working in Roswell, GA where I lead and direct Son Jazzy Orchestra and perform with other Jazz and Latin groups in the City of Atlanta, Georgia and Southeast United States. Son Jazzy has performed at several venues in the Atlanta Metro area to include Our Place Cafe & Bakery, Churchill Grounds, Loca Luna Restaurant, the Sweet Auburn Festivals, Johnny's Bistro and Pizza, and the Atlanta International Jazz Festival May 2012, New Orleans French Quarter Festival 2015, New Orleans Cervantes International Guitar Festival 2016, City of San Juan, Puerto Rico Adoquin Jazz nights, May 2016. I am also a United States Army Gulf and Iraq War Veteran. I served for over 25 years, and served in leadership positions for over 20 years. 

ABOUT PEACHTREE AWNINGS
Peachtree Awnings installs high quality awnings for both residential and commercial customers throughout the Atlanta region. They offer a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes to fit your home or business. Their friendly design staff is ready to help. Call today for a free estimate or go to peachtreeawnings.com

ABOUT SHAMEIA CRAWFORD
Classically trained singer, & creator, Shameia Crawford, has traveled the world sharing stages with some of the best in the music industry. She gives consistency in her delivery with all that she does. Bringing a uniqueness & connectivity that can be felt & heard.  Shameia Crawford may also look familiar to you because of her creative Tik Tok videos like, Anybody Else Addicted To Amazon?.  For more go to instagram.com/shameiamusic

We promised that we would share information about the movie, For The Love of Money, as we found out.  So........as we promised...... Woke up this morning to this piece of information!!!
Are you ready for the For The Love of Money movie premiere in Atlanta?

Things You Need to Know Before You Arrive at Screening
1. Black-Tie Affair: Dress Code will be strictly enforced
2. Bring a photo ID and a copy of whatever confirmation information you have won the tickets
3. Be prepared to walk the red carpet.
4. Cocktail hour 6:30
​5. Movie viewing 7:30

We've had a great 2021 Jazz In The Alley concert series.  Although the rain almost stopped one of the shows, thanks to Anonymous Da Band's willingness to continue and the faithful JITA fans we weathered the rain and the concert continued.

​Held in historic downtown Norcross, Georgia, (Betty Mauldin Park), Jazz In the Alley has an upward attendance of 1,000 and IT'S FREE,  thanks to generous sponsors like the City of Norcross, Peachtree Awnings, Elite Behavioral Medicine, and When We Speak TV so bring your entire family.

September 25, 2021
Concert begins at 7:30PM.

For more information and updates, follow Jazz In The Alley and When We Speak TV on all social media platforms.

On Sunday, September 5th, Atlanta's Piedmont Park will welcome the 9th Pure Heat Community Festival; also known as a free “day of unity.” The free cultural event is equipped with market and food vendors, live celebrity and local performers, entertainment, educational forums, prizes & giveaways - all designed to bring together the spirit of community, pride, and vision. In partnership with The Vision Community Foundation, a portion of proceeds from the weekend’s festivities are used to benefit homeless LGBTQ+ youth and those impacted from HIV/AIDS. ​

This year’s festival will honor veteran hip-hop artist and two-time GRAMMY Award-nominee, Da Brat, and her fiance Jesseca “Judy” Dupart, the multi-millionaire business owner and CEO of Kaleidoscope Hair Products. ​

Hosted by Bishop Oliver Clyde Allen III, Rashad Burgess, Melissa “DJ M” Scott and Julius "JuJu" James, the Pure Heat Community Festival is a front seat into a spectacular gathering of minority LGBTQ people and their allies in the heart of Atlanta. ​

Follow the festival on social media by using the handle: @PureHeatCommunityFestival. For more information on the Pure Heat Community Festival visit: pureheatcommunityfestival.com and for information on Atlanta Black Gay Pride weekend visit ATLGayPride.com.

When We Speak TV cordially invites you to historic downtown Norcross, Georgia, for the Jazz In The Alley concert series, highlighting elite and emerging jazz artists.

​Held in historic downtown Norcross, Georgia, (Betty Mauldin Park), Jazz In the Alley has an upward attendance of 1,000 and IT'S FREE,  thanks to generous sponsors like the City of Norcross and Peachtree Awnings, and Elite Behavioral Medicine, so bring your entire family.

Concert begins at 7:30PM