CATCHY NEWS HEADLINES 

DIVAS OF JAZZ AND CABARET AS CATCHY COVER GIRLS by Arlette Lagrange and Myrna Hughes Cont'd from Front Page

Cover of Volume II of the World Who's Who in Jazz, Cabaret, Music and Entertainment. On the cover, international star Erika Luckett, Dame Marlene Verplanck, and rising star Canadian singer Randa Ghossoub.

How about those big names...people like Tony Bennett, Mark Murphy and Little Richard? You could consider them "different winds of world entertainment" as well? "I agree, said Carol Lexter, "but our cover girls, I mean those great ladies on the covers are more exciting, prettier, bubbly, intriguing... we want something exciting, not always the same old cliché." added Lexter.

WHO ARE THOSE BUBBLY DIVAS?

Germaine Poitiers, a senior contributor and member of the editorial board of the World Who's Who said: " those divas are the best of the best in the business. Some are a household name, legends in their own right, and  some are the rising stars of the new wave of jazz and cabaret. We were very selective...and we are happy with our selections. We got great people, Jill Corey, a living legend, Barb Jungr, first lady of cabaret in the UK, the one and only Peggy Judy, Judy is phenomenal...and Sarah James, a superb artist, composer, musician, philosopher and singer....we had those 4 great stars on the cover of Volume III. And on the back cover we have Rebecca Spencer, one of the best singers and performers in the civilized world, she is pure gold, also we have Teri Roiger, a sparkling and intelligent jazz and American standards composer-singer."

Canadian prima dona Carol Welsman on the cover of Volume I of the World Who's Who.

And on the other covers, I asked Poitiers. "Same formula, on the front cover of Volume I, we have Carol Welsman, winner of the best singer and pianist award by the Canadian Jazz Association, JUNO and so many other groups. On the back cover, we have Amy Banker, a world class singer who performed worldwide and  before heads of states, including President Bill Clinton. You can say the same thing for the cover of Volume II. There we had, Marlene Verplanck, America's first lady of American Standards and classical jazz, Erika Luckett who was chosen twice as best international singer by numerous organizations, including the World Art Celebrities Journal, and finally we had Randa Ghossoub, a rising star of contemporary jazz. We got everything here, la crème de la crème."

Diva Rebecca Spencer (left) and Teri Roiger (right) graced the back cover of Volume III.

WHO IS GOING TO APPEAR ON THE COVER OF VOLUME IV?

Amy Baker, an international singer appeared on the back cover of Volume I.  with this caption next to her photo: "International singer and entertainer, Amy Baker. From St. Petersburg, Russia, to a command performance for President Clinton."

That is the QUESTION! Lexter said: "We are still debating. Maybe this time, we will choose the opposite sex!! I don't know. Everything depends on the decision of Mr. Maximillien de Lafayette, the author and our editorial board." Poitiers added: " appearing on any cover is a big deal. It is in fact a statement, a recognition we give to artists who excelled in their fields and made their mark. Yes, we have a list of contenders and favorites, but again, we have to wait and see...I love to see Maureen McGovern, Placido Domingo, Petula Clark and Julio Iglesias on the cover of Volume IV...Oops, this is a premature wish!"

Legendary Maureen McGovern, a favorite candidate for the cover of Volume IV of the World Who's Who in Jazz, Cabaret, Music and Entertainment. However, Ms. McGovern is not the only candidate. Petula Clark, Julio Iglesia, Placido Domingo are highly considered.

Insiders told the International News Agency, Volume III is a hot tome, because it rates singers, performers and musicians. Cynical minds and unsatisfied cabaret singers claim that the chapter on "Legitimate Cabaret Singers in the United States" is insulting, because the author for incomprehensible reasons decided on his own "who is and who is not a legitimate cabaret entertainer."

The great Jill Corey graced the cover of Volume III of the World Who's Who in Jazz, Cabaret, Music and Entertainment. Ms. Corey is making a spectacular comeback. De Lafayette called her "The Ultimate Diva!" The New York Times wrote: "A performer of unusual depth and insight . . . Jill Corey has made one of the most spectacular comebacks in cabaret . . . Corey's return is more than welcome, it's downright exciting." 

Maximillien de Lafayette is not bothered at all with the complaints he received. Why should he? This is his 11th book on showbiz and he is doing just fine. In addition, he is currently working on the first "Universal Encyclopedia of Jazz, Music and the Performing Arts." However, we must admit, Lafayette is known for discovering talents and offering artists a wide and international exposure, regardless of their status and level of fame and fortune. The World Who's Who in Jazz, Cabaret, Music and Entertainment is a fascinating compendium and an outstanding achievement.

About the Author: International best-selling author, and world leading authority on Cabaret and performing arts, Maximillien de Lafayette wrote 105 books, 3 encyclopedias, 2 world premiere musicals (one play was produced at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., USA) and 10 volumes on divas, cabaret, jazz and entertainment. Fluent in 7 languages, playwright, director-producer, syndicated columnist and entertainment critic who has visited 46 countries, de Lafayette is in a privileged position to bring to us the known and hidden world of stars, divas, femmes fatales and ultimate musicians. His columns, articles and books are read by more than 20 million readers around the globe. His latest international best-seller is "Entertainment: Divas, Cabaret, Jazz Then and Now". It hits the top chart, the world 25 most popular items on the international market of Amazon. Uk.com on November 17, 2006. He currently lives in Paris and London.  Continues NEXT

AUTHOR'S CORNER

Chris Chalfant's Book of Unstandards: Anthology of Music

The book is a collection of 128 scores , Chris Chalfant wrote over the past thirty years. "Musicians, listeners and the music industry at-large tend to pigeon-hole artists into a narrow area of expression. I purposely have chosen music for this collection which represents all styles, genres and levels of complexity which allows the player to get a broader sense of my life’s work. When I write, I think more poetically, without limiting myself to the restrictions of western rhythms and pitch orientation. I find myself more and more being drawn to traditional world musics, where the concepts of rhythm, tonality, tuning and cadence don’t necessarily fit into the mold of the western music. Knowing these alternative systems gives me a much wider gamut of musical and philosophical possibilities." said author Chalfant. She adds: "I am particularly interested in the sense of “one” in African traditions. The “one” refers not only to the self, but also to the community. An individual, through their music, stays open to what the community has to offer, while maintaining a strong sense of self. I keep in mind this broad sense of “one” as the premise for my music. Also, the Japanese Buddhist philosophy of “living under the blade” -  meaning being present at any given moment, and that “this” moment may be our last - also guides me in my music. This moment-to-moment awareness is the essence of what true improvisation is about, especially when playing with others. Playing with musicians who also practice this mindfulness allows for an infinite possibility of sound. The music stays alive; it breathes each time it is performed. "

Chris Chalfant was born in Akron, Ohio and currently resides in New York. She began composing at age fourteen and has won four awards for her compositions. To date she has written over 400 pieces, including piano, vocal, jazz, classical, sound-movement poetry, multi-media, guitar, choir and others. In 2003 Czech Republic National Radio aired the compositions that she performed at the Prague Mezinárodní Festival Jazzového Piana. Her works have also been performed at the Leukerbad International Composers Conference, Vision Festival, and Femme de Piano Festival. In addition, her works have been performed and recorded by the Lifetime Visions Orchestra, Noah Howard, Bobby Few, Graham Haynes and others. Her books include “First Performances,” “Children’s Songs” and “Listening Along the Path.” Continues NEXT

STEAMY TALKS

Pop star Ricky Martin, who sang at George W Bush's 2001 inauguration ball, has defended making an obscene gesture while singing about the US president. At a recent concert in his native Puerto Rico, Martin stuck up his middle finger while singing the president's name in his song Asignatura Pendiente. He said his stance on peace went beyond "any government and political agenda". "As long as I have a voice on stage and off stage, I will always condemn war and those who promulgate it," he said. Martin received cheers from fans after making the gesture at the San Juan stadium. Like many other artists, Martin has been highly critical of the war in Iraq and President Bush. Best known to international audiences for his smash hit Livin' la Vida Loca, Martin is a huge star in Puerto Rico. With Charlotte Church, he led the celebrations on the opening concert of the Bush inauguration in January 2001.
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Pop star Madonna has said she "wants to be like Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and John Lennon".

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