Had to share before bed, working on my new album, settling into a new show, writing a book, mad ambitious right???? what do we do each day if not what we were called to do. i write, and i sing, even if no ones watching: new musicians striving and moving pushing have inspired me. Miguel is one of them. Candles in the Sun is, to me, simple & complex. I dig it.
“Kaleidoscope Dream” is the business Its been on repeat on my Muve app
Marty Thomas Presents: Diva, is one of those nightclub shows you have to see to believe. His talent is phenomenal and then he surrounds himself with more of the most talented theatre performers and recording artists in NYC. Marty and I were in Wicked on Broadway together and his warm spirit is one that I continue to see every time I see him. He really is the quintessential showman complete with musicality, costumes, and great talk to make your night our worth it! I’ve been on the bill with him on many occasions and every time he gave a show stopping performance. Ya just gotta love him so I’m pleased to tell you guys about this show!
Finally his newest record release is coming for a One Night Only Concert release on March 4th, 8PM, at New World Stages along with an encore performance and after party and show that features the one and only Eden Espinosa who recently released her new album. Marty Thomas along with Kelly King, Marissa Rosen, and Alexa Green will be on the new Diva recording!
Finally, finally, I can officially say that I am performing the role of Martha Reeves in Motown the Musical. Martha and the Vandellas are a superstar girl group of the Motown era. You may not know it but every time you sing “Heatwave” or “Dancing in the Streets” you are singing a Vandellas tune. This Atlanta girl, this College Park, Georgia native is pleased to represent Miss Reeves! I met her years ago in Detroit and look forward to meeting her again. We all have big shoes to fill playing these real life music heroes in Motown the Musical and speaking for myself I definitely don’t take this lightly. We had an invited rehearsal in the studio for press and reporters to come in and check out our process and see a few scenes from the show. I really can’t wait for the audience to see our show!
Watching the Grammy Awards tonight has been a sweet pleasure. Its been quite a week and there’s nothing like music to heal the soul. Enjoying all this Grammy Music has me flashing back to this summer when I performed at a Tribute to Don Cornelius at Joe’s Pub with Maurice Murphy. There was a last minute cancellation and the show’s producer Amy Birnbaum asked Maurice and I to sing the Jackson 5 songs for the evening, we went over it once in sound check and hit the ground rolling. We had a ball singing the Jackson’s music and the music of Chaka Khan and Rufus too. Maurice Murphy is one of the most electrifying additions to the Motown Musical as Dennis Edwards of the Temptations, he is also one of the Broadway Boys. I hope the fans will be pleased. I know I was certainly pleased tonight to hear of the Temptations being honorees in the Grammy Hall of Fame. Check out these videos of Maurice and I singing together, crank your volume up and enjoy!
Maurice Murphy & Saycon Sengbloh sing “Jackson 5” in Tribute to Don Cornelius
Maurice Murphy & Saycon Sengbloh sing “Rufus featuring Chaka Khan” in Tribute to Don Cornelius
Hey ya’ll as you may have noticed I wear my hair in a lot of different ways from natural to straight to weaved to wigged. So I’ve decided to do a series on hair on the SayconTalks blog as well. I’m sort of an interesting chick because I have an appreciation for ALL hair types and colors. I rock with the natural folks and will turn a weave out as well so its sort of a conundrum for those who like to separate themselves based on our hair, real, fake or otherwise. I watch a few hair gurus on Youtube, one of my favorites does not call herself a guru at all, Peakmill. But she’s great, Peakmill demos wig making and weaves and also emphasizes caring for your real hair underneath and she does makeup tips as well as OOTD (Outfit of the Day) videos and she has an African flair which I love. I recently learned about the Glamtwinz334 when I met their cousin at Southern Hospitality (Justin Timberlakes restaurant in NYC), they are adorable southern twins with great tips and oddly enough they often say the same words at the same time. And just today I discovered Ivie011, I’m still learning about her videos but I just had to post the one describing her hair journey. She displays her hair growth over a year and its great to see because she has the 4C natural hair pattern, a texture , like mine, that some associate as being difficult., She an example of fast growing 4C hair. It’s great to see beautiful healthy natural hair on a gorgeous girl.
As far as my own hair goes, I like to try some different styles myself. It really depends on how much time I have, I always joke that when I get Beyonce money I’ll get my hair done all the time but for now I do it myself most of the time. My hair in the interview below is sort of a ‘natural combo’ I used 4 tracks of curly hair in the top to integrate into my hair and I braided my hair upwards in the back. It was a fun protective style that I enjoyed for about a week. I later enhanced it adding more hair to the top for opening night. This is an old interview from a show I did by Katori Hall but it was me be experimental in the hair department, venturing away from wearing the same style over and over again. Don’t ask about my earring LOL.
Hurt Village Interview (natural combo updo hairstyle)
Check out links to all the video bloggers I mentioned above:
A labor of love coming to a film festival near you. I’m looking forward to it. Details to come but for now peep this trailer.
“Love and Squalor” a daring new short film directed by Mikal Din featuring Saycon Sengbloh , Neill Springle, Ray Christiano Irving and Aminah Wazeerud-din.
On New Years Day I ran into my friend Chester at an after hours breakfast party. We got to talking about music and gigs as we always do: good conversation, good times, potatoes were sizzlin’ on the griddle. Chester keeps the music going. So I couldn’t wait to tell you guys about his upcoming show at 54 Below on February 4th. Even at 5 in the morning, he was buzzing about his collaboration with director Da’Vine Joy Randolph, musical director Rob Lewis and his co-writer Crystal Lucas-Perry! Chester Gregory is arguably one of the most gifted vocalists in the NYC, so I urge you to check him out if you never seen him live before. Many may have seen him recently in Broadway’s Sister Act or in one of my favorite roles, as Jimmy Early in Dreamgirls with Syesha Mercado, but his live show is definitely something to behold. With a solid and dedicated fan base, he’s got the look, he’s knows music, and has his own brand of R&B soul . I see him as a sort of kindred spirit in music, like my friend Christine Horn too, always striving with an independent and entrepreneurial spirit. Doing the acting thing yet always being called back by the music. Delightfully we also get to see the fabulous Lillias White in a special turn as “LaVerne Baker”. I heard about the Jackie Wilson show he did a while back and never had a chance to see it so I’m looking forward to witnessing this new look at the legend. Fashion styled and costumed by the fashion master himself, Carl Ulysses I’m excited to see the look and learn more about Jackie Wilson. Ironically, on the Motown front, Jackie Wilson was one of the first artists Berry Gordy wrote songs for in his early years in the music industry. “Too Be Loved” written by Berry Gordy is one of Jackie Wilson’s classics.
SayconTalks readers and those with this link can get a discount on on ticket purchases. Using the code: Chester5
Check it out!
Chester Gregory (Sister Act, Hairspray) reprises his award winning interpretation of Jackie Wilson in the world premiere of his one man show , “The Eve of Jackie” at 54 Below on February 4th at 9:30PM.
Gregory portrays Jackie Wilson, live in concert during his final days, revealing another side to the man “who truly gave his all and left it on the stage.”
THE EVE OF JACKIE WILSON:
Starring Chester Gregory as Jackie Wilson, with special guest Lillias White as LaVern Baker
Directed by Da’Vine Joy Randolph Musically Directed by Rob Lewis Written by Crystal Lucas-Perry & Chester Gregory
Angela Bassett attends Morgan James Concert at 54 Below
photo by: Frederick Johnson used by permission
I’m way too excited about the new Lifetime movie “Betty & Coretta”… I only heard about it today. On a break from Motown rehearsal I went up the block to run errands was struck by the haunting photo of Miss. Basset and Miss. Blige staring into the ethers like beautiful black eagles. I was like dayum Angela Bassett and Mary J. Blige in a movie, together! Now, I pride myself on being in the know with these sorts of things but this one completely slipped my radar.
I mean even the other night I was at Morgan James show chatting my mouth away with the Angela Bassett, talkin’ bout Motown this and Motown that, and this fabulous diva has a new movie coming out?! We know we blactresses and blactors cannot get enough of her ever since she turned it out in her Oscar nominated role as Tina Turner in “What’s Love Got to Do With It.” And there I am in her face, not knowing this film was underway and soon to be aired on television! I can’t be slippin’ yall! I certainly could have gotten some info about that film that night. Anyway check out this trailer for the new movie. I’m really excited to see friend, Malik Yoba in the movie as Rev. Martin Luther King. (Shout out to cousin Qua ;)Folks are doing big things! 2013 ya’ll LET’S GET IT!
Really digging in lately. Music inspiring me especially the blues. I came across this video on Youtube as I was googling great blues legends. I needed to find out more about Buddy Guy. So greatful to see Kennedy Center honors, truly, happy to see this video and share with you. Brings tears to my eyes to see a blues great be honored for his art for his talent for making history. If you only listen to pop top 40 lately take a moment, well around 15 minutes actually and massage your ears with something different for a change. For those of you who already knew, bear with me, I’m learning, lawd, I’m learning…