Looking for new music? Look no further than your local Queens Library!
Every month, our expert staff will bring you the best of what's new in our physical and digital collections.
Check out our music recommendations for August 2016!
Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Getaway
Few rock groups of the '80s broke down as many musical barriers and were as original as the Red Hot Chili Peppers. They created an intoxicating new musical style by combining funk and punk rock together (with an explosive stage show to boot). In 2016, the Red Hot Chili Peppers released their 11th studio album, The Getaway. In an attempt to escape the creative quagmire evident on their last several LPs, the band recruited Brian “Danger Mouse” Burton, who produced the record and co-wrote five of its tracks. Unsurprisingly, The Getaway easily stands as the Peppers’ lushest album to date. Watch the video for the song “Dark Necessities."
Craig Morgan, A Whole Lot More to Me
A Whole Lot More to Me is the ninth studio album by American country music artist Craig Morgan. He co-wrote nearly half of the album's 12 tracks and for the first time co-produced the set with recording wiz Byron Gallimore (who worked with Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and Lee Ann Womack). The album's uplifting first single, "When I'm Gone"—rather incongruously—finds inspiration in mortality. Some of the topics in other songs suggest Morgan's sense of adventure: sushi, caviar, champagne, a Versace suit, and silk ties. Like the title, Morgan proves what an open-minded guy he can be. You can stream the whole album on Freegal.
Brad Mehldau Trio, Blues and Ballads
Jazz pianist Brad Mehldau has recorded and performed extensively since the early 1990s. His trio’s latest album could be considered jazz for the average guy, in contrast to his typical classical music influences and deep technical virtuosity. For example, the trio explores the splendid simplicity of The Beatles "And I Love Her," goes on to Cole Porter's "I Concentrate On You" and Charlie Parker's "Cheryl," and finally closes out with a version of Paul McCartney's "My Valentine." It's a deceptively sweet-sounding set which is absolutely absorbing. Perhaps only a musician of Mehldau’s extraordinary powers of invention can do this consistently and to such intense effect, but it works. Listen to “And I Love Her."
Kevin Gates, Islah
Since releasing his first mixtape in 2007, Baton Rouge rapper Kevin Gates' rise to success has been organic. Following his release from prison in 2011, he doubled down and delivered a steady stream of output. Gates' debut studio album was inspired by his daughter, named Islah, which means “to make better." The album was released with few pushbacks and (even more astonishingly) almost no big-name guest spots or features, suggesting that his no-holds-barred candor is working for him. His best music is rooted strongly in the 2Pac tradition of blunt-force honesty, which gives us every good, bad, and ugly thing he has. Watch Gates perform "2 Phones" and share his story on The Wendy Williams Show.
Paul Simon, Stranger to Stranger
Raised in Queens to first-generation Hungarian-Jewish immigrants, Paul Simon copyrighted his first song, “The Girl for Me,” with Art Garfunkel when he was 14. He has since soared to musical heights with the release of his groundbreaking Graceland album and has worked with musicians all over the world. He was even selected as one of the "100 People Who Shaped the World" by Time magazine in 2006. His latest CD, Stranger to Stranger, is a record that nearly draws together the man’s entire accrued vernacular. It's as inviting, immaculately produced, jokey, and unsettled a record as any he has ever made. Just some stuff in the head of a 74-year-old New Yorker, spun casually into art in that sagely, choirboy, and everyman voice. Watch the video for the first single, “Wristband."
case/lang/veirs, case/lang/veirs
case/lang/veirs is a Canadian-American super-group consisting of k.d. lang, Neko Case, and Laura Veirs. Rather than bring finished songs to the studio, they honored the spirit of collaboration. The result is an album of rare beauty and intelligence, rendered in imaginative arrangements containing sometimes startling harmonies. The most moving moment of an almost faultless album, though, is lang's contribution, “Why Do We Fight?”, where piano, glockenspiel, and a low hum of strings reinforce strummed guitar. While the hooks are mostly vocal-led, producer Tucker Martine and the small band of players color them perfectly. While a collaborative record like this probably won’t yield a follow-up, it’d be a gift if it did. Listen to the track “Atomic Number."
Mike Posner, At Night, Alone.
Until recently, Mike Posner was a bit of a bridesmaid figure of major-label pop, co-writing for Justin Bieber and Maroon 5, but less successful when it came to recording under his own name. But then came “I Took a Pill in Ibiza." Those looking for the same sort of bouncy clubland anthem will not find it on his second album. Instead, it’s an album exclusively optimized for solitude spent immersed in deep thought. The good news is that Posner has one of the most distinctive male voices in pop, and it’s in full force here. Fortunately, the production lets it shine. Watch Posner's acoustic performance of "Be As You Are" for PerezTV.
Neil Young, Earth
Neil Young earned fame both as a member of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and as a solo artist. Young has always been a strong advocate for environmental issues, which is the basis for Earth, recorded live last year. The 13 songs, culled from earlier material on the subject, are overdubbed with “choral gleam, extra guitar drama, and noisy approval by a peanut gallery of livestock, turkeys, insects, and crows.” But Earth is not really a “live” album at all. For a collection of songs about food awareness, there is very little organic or even natural about it. Credit goes to the thematic consistency of Young’s songwriting, but also to Promise of the Real, his current backing band featuring Willie Nelson’s sons Lukas and Mika. He's made an album worth spending some time with. Watch a video for the opening track “Seed Justice.”
Musiq Soulchild, Life on Earth
The Philadelphia-born Taalib Johnson (aka Musiq Soulchild) grew up in a household that provided him with an education in '70s soul and the likes of D'Angelo and Lauryn Hill. After six albums for Def Soul and Atlantic, in which he refined his style to produce a string of gold and platinum albums, he is now signed to My Block, the boutique label run by Grammy-winning producer Warryn Campbell. Life on Earth is Johnson's first proper album in five years, and his first outside the major-label system. There are no wacky personas, no sharp left turns. It’s simply the soulful R&B that has become the hallmark of his career. Life on Earth doesn’t rewrite Musiq’s playbook and it wasn’t meant to. It’s simply a back-to-basics album from an artist who has been away from home much too long. Watch the video for the track “I Do.”
American Authors, What We Live For
The American Authors formed while at school in Boston in 2006, but dropped out and relocated to Brooklyn in 2010. On their sophomore album, they play a variety of characters throughout their tracks. They travel with gypsies by way of thick folk vibes (complete with plenty of tambourine action), and paint pictures of desert campfires. They take the stage in a swanky jazz lounge, and then a stage made of crates with a two-stepping crowd. The title track, written by Captain Cuts, sets the tone with the first of many singalong choruses, a solid pick for fans of passionate, radio-ready, summertime spirit. Watch the video.
“Dreams Start Here” is the theme of our upcoming 2016 Autumn Gala, and I welcome you to join us and help support the Queens Library programs and services that encourage our children and teens to achieve their dreams.
For many of our customers, the dream of a better life begins at Queens Library. This is especially true for the youngest members of our community. Whether it’s early childhood programs like Universal Pre-K and our Toddler Learning Centers, daily science and technology activities at our Children’s Library and Discovery Center, or the help provided at our STACKS afterschool programs and Teen Spaces, our community libraries help thousands of young people realize their dreams every day.
As President and CEO, I’ve decided to get the ball rolling for this year’s Gala. I’ve personally purchased the first table’s worth of tickets. I believe that it’s as important for me to give back to the Library as it is to ask our community for their support. We can all do our part to help build the life-changing programs that Queens Library provides.
The Autumn Gala will kick off our fall fundraising season. We’re very privileged to be recognizing the Honorable David N. Dinkins, the 106th Mayor of New York; Husam Ahmad, Chairman and CEO of HAKS; and Plaxall as our Gala honorees.
Of course, not everyone needs to buy tickets to a special event to help the Library. Every level of support is welcome and appreciated. When we join together to donate to Queens Library and to help fund the programs that fulfill the dreams of our children and young people, we make a lifelong impact on the future of our community.
You can learn more about the 2016 Autumn Gala and other ways you can give to Queens Library by visiting queenslibrarygala.org. I thank you for your support.
Dennis
We’re very happy to welcome the multi-talented Alton Fitzgerald White to Queens Library! A versatile singer, actor, and dancer, Alton has starred in several Broadway hits, including The Lion King, The Color Purple, Ragtime, Miss Saigon, and more. He has performed in concerts around the world and will sing selections from his critically acclaimed album, Disney: My Way!, at his sold-out Central Library show on July 25. Alton will also autograph CDs after his performance. (There will be a standby line for free seats in case of no-shows.)
Alton was kind enough to answer some questions for us about his historic run on Broadway, his many artistic interests, and more.
What role have libraries played in your life?
The library was the most important place to me growing up. I would go to my local library as a child to see the special shows and cartoons playing there, and I’ve always loved to read. Before computers and the internet, libraries were everything; they were the best way to access information and knowledge.
Last year, you ended your legendary run as Mufasa in The Lion King after 4,308 performances! That’s an incredible accomplishment! How did you keep the character new and exciting for you while performing it so many times?
The number one way was gratitude—gratitude for being a working actor! Being in such a successful show and playing such a great character gave me plenty of motivation. But as an actor, whether it’s community theater, regional theater, or the absolute pinnacle of Broadway, it all comes back to being able to work and having gratitude for that.
On Disney: My Way!, you perform a collection of classic Disney songs. What inspired that project?
I was at the point in my career where I wanted to do a theatrical CD, and I didn’t want to use the same songs everyone else does. Around that time, Disney asked me to perform on one of their cruises, and put together a lineup of songs for me from their Broadway shows. It was a wonderful experience, especially singing songs that were originally written for women performers. I had a grown man come up to me with tears in his eyes because he never imagined that a man could sing “Feed the Birds” from Mary Poppins! So I decided that I really wanted to do a CD of Disney songs, and I contacted Thomas Schumacher, the president of Disney Theatrical Group, who gave me access to their entire catalog. I put my own money into the CD, and paid the licensing rights for the songs I chose. It’s the project in my career that I’m most proud of, and I’m honored that Disney let me put their name on it!
You’ve had a very full career, appearing on Broadway, on television, and in film, singing all over the world, and even doing voiceover work. Is there one kind of performing that you enjoy the most? And are there any other kinds of artistic work you want to try in the future?
I enjoy singing as myself. After playing so many strong characters during my career, singing songs as myself, without any bells and whistles, in an intimate setting like a cabaret or a nightclub, is very liberating. I’m finishing my first book at the moment, and I’m really looking forward to releasing it! I’d like to expand my film and television career. I’m also developing musical theater master classes, creative workshops, and speaking engagements. I’m most interested in sharing my voice, talents, advice, and motivation, in every medium.
What can our customers expect at your sold-out concert at Central Library?
A lot of fun! I hope they’ll sit back, relax, and enjoy the songs. I’m excited about the Q & A part of the show, where I can share stories about the songs I’m performing, answer questions from the audience, and satisfy curiosities.
What career advice do you have for aspiring Broadway actors?
The most important thing is to work on your personal discipline. You can have all the looks in the world, all the talent, but without the right attitude, you won’t be able to sustain the opportunities that come your way.
What are some of your favorite books and authors? And what are you reading at the moment?
Anything by Malcolm Gladwell—Outliers is a phenomenal book. I’m currently re-reading The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck. I really enjoy motivational books, because no matter how far you go, you need to be reminded of what you’ve learned. Life is constantly changing, and motivational books can help you maintain your personal foundation of hope, gratitude, faith, and trust.
Since July celebrates the birth of our nation, we decided that it’s the best time to showcase our New Americans Program!
NAP offers help with immigration issues and provides financial and legal advice, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes, and cultural events to help those that have recently chosen to live in the United States. We will be highlighting these workshops and special events all month on social media with #NewAmericansMonth.
NAP works closely with Queens Library's Adult Learner Program, the Job and Business Academy, and all our community libraries to assess the needs of new Americans.
Every person who comes to Queens Library looking for help embarking on a new life is extremely important to us, and we’re proud of them all!
We’d like to share with you some success stories from our ESOL adult learners.
Aura Vasquez is a hardworking individual with an inquiring mind who came to the U.S. from Colombia one year ago. She attended intermediate-level ESOL classes at the Bayside Community Library on Saturdays. Despite her considerable responsibilities as a young mother, she succeeded spectacularly, not only improving her English, but getting into a college preparation program.
Shermin Akther started beginning classes at the Sunnyside Community Library in fall 2015. At the end of the fall semester, testing revealed that her English skills had increased to the intermediate level. She came back for the intermediate-level ESOL class in the spring 2016 semester. While attending classes, she found a job as a cashier. By the end of the spring semester, she tested at the advanced English level.
Aida Proanio is a very hardworking student—she has a full-time job and attended intermediate ESOL classes at the Woodhaven Community Library, all while preparing for her citizenship test! She passed the test in early May and became a new American citizen. It was a great accomplishment for her and for her entire class.
Raquel Veyta took beginning classes at the Lefrak City Community Library during the fall 2015 semester. When she started, she had a lot of difficulty speaking and pronouncing English words. She also had a lot of trouble understanding and following directions. After being in class for half a semester, she gained a good amount of English knowledge. She is now able to help her sons with their homework. She is also able to shop at the supermarket, where she practices her English more and more.
If you’ve used our New Americans Program services and resources, and would like to share your story with us, contact us at socialmedia@queenslibrary.org.
Photo: Adult learners at a recent ESOL class at Central Library.
We had a packed house on July 14 at Queens College’s Colden Auditorium for our 2nd Annual Battle of the Bands!
“These bands represent the best of the best,” said Queens Library President and CEO Dennis Walcott at the start of our show. “We’re going to have a great competition.”
Our contestants put on a wonderful show for our excited audience. In between sets, our host, Queens Library Hip Hop Coordinator Ralph McDaniels, tried to stump people in the crowd with musical trivia. The lucky winners from the audience received their own commemorative t-shirt!
All the bands did a fantastic job, and soon it was time for our judges to choose the winners:
- Our third-place winners, Global Warming, may still be in high school, but they definitely have the talent to hang with the pros. Their cover of Adele’s “Hello” was a standout performance.
- Noni Rene and The Village received second place honors. Noni let the audience know that even though she’s originally from Philly, she was excited to play in front of her new hometown crowd in Queens. And the crowd definitely enjoyed their funk rock sound.
- Our grand prize winners were Chiv Culture, whose "head-nod" jazz and hip hop rhymes made the audience clap in unison to songs like “Epiphany” and their hit “Cupid.” “I feel outstanding,” said frontman Akinyemi as the band accepted their award and thanked everyone from the judges to their fans.
You can learn more about the winning bands and the rest of our contestants by reading our band profiles.
You can also see live videos from the Battle of the Bands (including the announcement of our winners) by visiting our Facebook page and using the hashtag #QLrocks2016.
Thank you to everyone who joined us and to all this year’s musicians. You truly rock!
Photos: first-place winners Chiv Culture (top); second-place winners Noni Rene and The Village (left) and third-place winners Global Warming (right).
We’re very excited to welcome Candice Hoyes to Queens Library! Her recent independently-released debut album, On a Turquoise Cloud, climbed to #10 on the American jazz charts and was selected as “one of the best albums of 2015” by SoulTrain.com.
A classically-trained vocalist and Harvard graduate, Hoyes has performed in six languages as a soloist at international festivals as well as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. She was one of the featured vocalists in WNYC’s live broadcast, Sinatra at 100. Candice was also recently honored to perform for Secretary Hillary Clinton on the trail of her 2016 presidential campaign.
Her free concert on Saturday, July 16 of rediscovered songs by the jazz great Duke Ellington is sold out, but there will be a stand-by line in case of no-shows. In the meantime, Candice was gracious enough to answer some of our questions about her music, interests, and more.
What role did libraries play in developing your love of learning and music?
I found my first classical recording one afternoon in the library when I was about 13, and it was the album Baroque Duet, by Kathleen Battle and Wynton Marsalis. I'm always blown away by the amount of music you can discover in a library, and now that I'm a New Yorker, it's even greater.
Your album On a Turquoise Cloud is a collection of Duke Ellington songs that you researched and rediscovered. What drew you to these songs, and why did you decide to take on such an intensive project?
The beautiful and innovative quality of the songs just captured my imagination the first time I heard them. I then started reading about the artists who inspired the songs, namely vocalist Kay Davis, and I felt even more passionate about interpreting them. They bear historical importance, and they are incredibly relevant in 2016.
You wrote new lyrics for two of the Ellington songs. Was that a new experience for you?
A new experience is almost an understatement! It was really thrilling. I love writing lyrics, and I love writing melodies. I wanted to make sure that for those two songs, I just poured myself into them. "Single Petal of a Rose" (which has never had lyrics) expresses my restlessness—I'm such a nocturnal person, and I feel like the night gives me a clarity of thought. “Creole Love Call” has a sense of humor to it, and a bite that is also very me. The only reason to sing Ellington songs is if you are willing to pour yourself into them and make them yours.
Most people think of jazz and opera as two very different genres, yet you excel at both. Do they have more in common than it seems?
Thank you. I know that I love singing both, and other kinds of music as well—soul, bossa nova, many kinds of music. I don't know if other people would find commonality or authenticity in both. I am still discovering so much for myself that I just focus on how I feel it. For me, I don't focus on the genre, I focus on expression and making good music that touches people.
You’ve performed songs in six languages. Which language is your favorite to sing in?
My favorite language to sing in is English, because the songs I write right now are in English. I also love that sensation of discovering the musicality of other languages; Spanish, Portuguese, and French are so much fun to explore through song.
What can our customers expect at your sold-out concert at Central Library on July 16?
You can expect to escape for an afternoon with me. You can expect an incredible band, with pianist Steven Feifke, bassist Tamir Shmerling, and drummer Joe Peri. I know it's going to be great fun.
What career advice do you have for aspiring singers?
I advise them to follow their gut instinct, to listen to their favorites and listen to a wider range of musicians, and to travel, read, love, fight for their beliefs, and do the things in life that give a singer an interesting point of view. That's what makes a musician unique, sometimes moreso than vocal training.
What book are you reading at the moment? And which ones are your all-time favorites?
My favorite books are Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye, and On Beauty by Zadie Smith. As a child, my favorites were A Wrinkle in Time and The Awakening. I just read that Ava DuVernay will make a movie of A Wrinkle in Time, which is the best news ever. Right now, I'm reading Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine, and it's incredibly powerful.
And last, but certainly not least: meet Summer Haze, the final contestants in the 2nd Annual Battle of the Bands. Summer Haze finds inspiration in the punk and hard rock legends that changed the musical landscape forever. A four-piece band with eardrum-busting powers and a knack for getting even the most stubborn wallflowers to dance, Summer Haze pride themselves on being versatile rock menaces. Their output reflects this diverse thinking, too, covering everything from club bangers to war hero tributes in the space of minutes.
Based out of Long Island, the band is a dedicated project from lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter Jack “The Yak” Turner, lead guitarist Clark “The Pope” Adomaitis, lead bass guitarist “Skim” Tim Cartmell, and lead drummer/percussionist Evan “The Rapper” Declemente.
Summer Haze: welcome to the competition—we can’t wait to see you go for glory this Thursday!
Get your free tickets to the 2nd Annual Battle of the Bands today!
Show us some love on social media! #QLrocks2016
For the 2nd Annual Battle of the Bands, we’re welcoming back last year’s crowd favorites, Global Warming. Global Warming started out in 2012 at Grover Cleveland High School in Ridgewood, Queens. Though it began as a fun side project, they were soon overwhelmed by demand for their energetic performances. Global Warming also has the distinction of having the largest group at this year’s Battle of the Bands, with ten members in a constantly evolving lineup taking the stage.
And each member is a personality in their own right: taking to the stage next Thursday is the Fantastic Fredrick McGrane and the Spectacular Samantha Rosario on guitar, the Amazin’ Alexander Altanian and Jumpin’ Jonathan Orduno on drums, the Mesmerizing Matias Campello playing the saxophone, the Dynamic Derek Paul on bass guitar, and the Legendary Eric Ballard on keyboard and piano. They’ll be fronted by the Captivatingly Charismatic Karol Krynski on guitar and lead vocals, and the Incredible Ijyana Ballard, also on lead vocals. Finally, the Bombastic Mr. Brett Green will be dabbling in just about everything on their vast stage.
All members are in high school, and proudly represent a range of different ethnicities. Despite being a young band, they have a history of playing hallowed venues, including Greenwich Village’s The Bitter End, known for launching the careers of several musicians and entertainers, including Joni Mitchell, Jon Stewart, Joan Baez, Richard Pryor, and many more. We can’t wait to see what Global Warming has in store for us on July 14!
Get your free tickets to the 2nd Annual Battle of the Bands here!
Show us some love on social media! #QLrocks2016
Ladies and gents, it’s time to turn your attention to Noni Rene and The Village. Originally from the City of Brotherly Love, Noni has now made herself at home right here in Queens, where she’ll put her impressive pipes to work at the 2nd Annual Battle of the Bands.
This multi-tasking talent (she’s a singer, songwriter, composer, producer, and the founder of her own production company, TheVillageKid Productions) is inspired by legends Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder, as well as the contemporary sounds of N.E.R.D., Res, and Van Hunt. Noni’s also equally comfortable with several genres, having worked as a singer, composer, and producer on rock, R&B, electronic, and jazz tracks.
Other career highlights include being featured on the tracks "Love Joint II" by NishoSoul and "Live It Up" by Greg G. Her own single, "Good Vibes," was released in 2015, and she’s now in the process of developing a full album. Noni has also graced the stages at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Lincoln Center, and the STooPS festival in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Plus, she’s opened for Big Daddy Kane and Rakim at the ODUNDE festival in Philadelphia, and reached the semi-final stage of the acclaimed AfroPunk Battle of the Bands. We know we’re not the only ones who are excited to see what she does next. Noni will be joined by band members Joseph on bass, Habib on drums, and Louis on guitar.
Get your FREE tickets for the Battle of the Bands to see Noni Rene and The Village in action!
Show us some love on social media! #QLrocks2016
It seems like the news is filled with more and more stories about automated customer service. Virtual assistants, apps that answer your questions, chatbots that designers swear act and sound like humans—there’s a large premium being put on building artificial intelligence that can answer questions, and mimic the experience of talking to a real person.
Queens Library has a better solution: real people who are helpful, understanding, welcoming, speak multiple languages, and know how to find the answers to almost anything. Queens Library didn't invent it, but we probably perfected the art.
From my desk on the first floor of Central Library and during my frequent visits to community libraries, I talk to library users about why they are visiting the library. They readily share what they are looking for. It can be anything from getting help using computers, to finding information about a serious medical diagnosis for a loved one, to looking for information about gnats for a child's school science project, to getting reading recommendations.
Queens Library's staff is brilliant at zeroing in on just what is needed, and helping the customer access it, whether it is an online resource or in a book. In a survey we conducted recently, staff assistance ranked as one of the most important reasons that people come to the library. Queens Library's staff truly love working with the community, and it shows. They even answer questions you are not sure how to ask: “My daughter read all the Harry Potter books. Now she wants to read something that’s like Harry Potter, but not exactly like it, with less magic. Know what I mean?”
Our talented staff answered three million questions from library customers last year. All you need to do is walk in the door. Even when you can’t, you can ask questions via text, chat, email, and phone. Go to www.queenslibrary.org/ask-a-librarian anytime or dial 718-990-0714. Reference service is available in Spanish and Chinese through the webpage, too.
And if the subject of computer-assisted research versus human research interests you, borrow the classic film Desk Set, with Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy, available from Queens Library. You’ll love it.
Dennis