SevenVenues Culture Club: April 2021
Welcome to April's SevenVenues Culture Club selections! While many of this month’s categories are self-explanatory, we thought we’d break down a few of the lesser-known holidays here:
- April 2 – Children’s Book Day
Many of the musicians that SevenVenues has presented over the past few decades have not only impressed adult audiences with their musical prowess but have managed to capture the hearts of their smallest fans through clever and charming children’s books. Check out our selections below - you may be surprised by some of the authors. - April 6 – National Tartan Day
Tartan Day is a North American celebration of Scottish heritage and is typically celebrated with parades of pipe bands, Highland dancing and other Scottish-themed events. In honor of the Virginia International Tattoo, Craig Ferguson and a few other SevenVenues tartan-inspired events, see our selections below. - April 13 – National Be Kind to Lawyers Day
In addition to the defending, prosecuting and litigating that consumes their days, many of the lawyers who have graced our stages have found time to write best-selling books. We’ve curated a list for you below. Even if the lawyer in your life isn’t an author, give them a break on April 13 and be nice! - April 20 – Chinese Language Day
Shen Yun, a premier classical Chinese dance and music company established in New York in 2006, performs annually at Chrysler Hall. These elite Chinese artists came together with a shared vision and passion to revive the lost world of traditional Chinese culture and share it with the world. While our local libraries don’t yet carry any videos featuring Shen Yun, in honor of Chinese Language Day, the videos below will help to expand your knowledge of Chinese dance and culture.
To learn more about the SevenVenues Culture Club, click here. Don't forget to join the SevenVenues Culture Club Facebook group to tell us what you think and to make suggestions. Remember, all the selections below are available for free at your local library.
Happy reading, listening and watching!
APRIL RECOMMENDATIONS
|
||
|---|---|---|
 |
Stand by Your Truth and then Run for Your Life! Rickey Smiley Stand-up comic. Single dad. Radio personality. TV star. Prankster. Producer. Community activist. Man of faith. Stand by Your Truth is part memoir, part testimonial, and part life guide, mixing Rickey's down-home humor with the values he learned from being raised by three generations of elders, steeped in the Baptist church, and mentored by some of the most celebrated comics in the entertainment industry today.    |
|
 |
What's So Funny?: My Hilarious Life Tim Conway In television history, few entertainers have captured as many hearts and made as many people laugh as Tim Conway. There's nothing in the world that Tim Conway would rather do than entertain—and in his first-ever memoir, What's So Funny?, that's exactly what he does. From his pranks in small Ohio classrooms to his performances on national television and movies, Tim has been cracking people up for more than seventy years. Long regarded as one of the funniest comedians around, Tim also boasts an inspiring rags-to-riches story.  |
|
 |
Selp-Helf Miranda Sings In this decidedly unhelpful, candid, hilarious "how-to" guide, YouTube personality Miranda Sings offers life lessons and tutorials with her signature sassy attitude. For the first time ever, Miranda is putting her advice to paper in this easy-to-follow guide, illustrated by Miranda herself. In it, you'll find instructions on everything: how to get a boyfriend (wear all black and carry a fishing net), to dressing for a date (sequins and an orange tutu), to performing magic ("Magic is Lying"), and much, much more!  |
|
 |
Earth (The Book): A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race Jon Stewart Jon Stewart and the writers of The Daily Show embark on a mission to write a book that sums up the human race: what we looked like; what we accomplished; our achievements in society, government, religion, science, and culture. Here is the definitive guide to our species—completely unburdened by objectivity, journalistic integrity, or even accuracy. |
|
 |
Cheech is Not My Real Name: But Don't Call Me Chong! Cheech Marin The long-awaited memoir from a counterculture legend. Cheech Marin came of age at an interesting time in America and became a self-made counterculture legend with his other half, Tommy Chong. This insightful memoir delves into how Cheech dodged the draft, formed one of the most successful comedy duos of all time, became the face of the recreational drug movement with the film Up in Smoke, forged a successful solo career with roles in The Lion King and, more recently, Jane the Virgin, and became the owner of the most renowned collection of Chicano art in the world. Written in Cheech's uniquely hilarious voice, this memoir will take you to new highs. |
|
BOOKS
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
 Three Blue Man Group    |
 The Best of Blue Collar Comedy |
||
 Funk It Martin Lawrence  |
 Upgraded Gary Owen |
||
MUSIC
|
||
|---|---|---|
 |
The Tenderloins truTV Impractical Jokers: Season 1 Four longtime friends compete in front of a hidden camera in a series of humiliating challenges and outrageous dares.
|
|
 |
David Blaine Selections |
|
 |
Victor Borge Victor Borge: Comedy in Music This Victor Borge television special features his funniest and most memorable skits. Included is rare archival footage from the Andy Williams Show and the Perry Como Show. Don't miss one of the funniest performers the world has ever known with his one-liners, falls, double takes, and outrageous stage antics. |
|
 |
Robin Williams Mrs. Doubtfire Daniel Hillard is no ordinary father, so when he learns his ex-wife needs a housekeeper, he applies for the job. With the perfect wig, a little makeup and a dress for all occasions, he becomes Mrs. Doubtfire, a devoted British housekeeper who is hired on the spot. Free to be the "woman" he never knew he could be, the disguised Daniel creates a whole new life with his entire family. |
|
VIDEO
|
||
|---|---|---|
 |
Man Gave Names to All the Animals Bob Dylan Whimsical and witty, Man Gave Names to All the Animals first appeared on Bob Dylan's album Slow Train Coming in 1979. With Dylan's blessing, illustrator Jim Arnosky has crafted a stunning picture book adaptation of the song that's a treat for both children and adults, with breathtaking images of more than 170 animals. The revered musical legend rarely allows his songs to be illustrated, and Arnosky has done the song proud with a parade of spectacular creatures ready to receive their names—until the surprise ending, when children get to name an animal all by themselves! |
|
 |
The Jolly Mon Jimmy Buffett A superb songwriter and storyteller, Jimmy Buffett has combined his knowledge of oceanic folklore with his own experiences while sailing with his daughter, Savannah Jane, from island to island throughout the Caribbean. The result is The Jolly Mon - an original tale where music and enchantment, pirates and trickery, friendship and the loyalty of a very special dolphin, create a timeless story of adventure. Dramatic paintings by Lambert Davis reflect the artist's continuing love of the sun, the surf, and the sea. Many of the visual elements in these illustrations were suggested to the artist by Jimmy Buffett, who related many details of his own experiences while living among the people of the Caribbean. |
|
 |
Coat of Many Colors Dolly Parton Coat of Many Colors is a children’s book written by Country legend Dolly Parton, based on her hit song of the same name. Winter is coming to Tennessee and there's no money to buy a new coat, so a little girl's mother sews one for her out of rags. The little girl wears it to school proudly, and when the other children laugh, she gives them a quick lesson about what it means to be rich. Judith Sutton's beautiful paintings bring one of Dolly Parton's best-loved songs to life. |
|
 |
Octopus’s Garden Ringo Starr Octopus's Garden is a children's book written by English musician Ringo Starr, a former member of the Beatles. The book is based on the Beatles' 1969 song of the same name from the album Abbey Road. Come sing and dance around in an octupus's garden in the shade. The classic Beatles song comes to life with colorful illustrations from bestselling illustrator Ben Cort. |
|
 |
Outlaw Pete Bruce Springsteen Outlaw Pete is a 2014 book by Bruce Springsteen, with artwork by Frank Caruso, based on the song of the same name from Springsteen's album, Working on a Dream. Outlaw Pete is about a bank-robbing baby whose exploits become a meditation on sin, fate and free will. |
|
 |
River Rose and the Magical Lullaby Kelly Clarkson River Rose and the Magical Lullaby is a children's picture book written by American singer Kelly Clarkson. The story centers on a little girl who was too ecstatic to fall asleep on the eve of her first trip to the zoo.
|
|
 |
Happy! Pharrell Williams Grammy Award winner Pharrell Williams brings his beloved song to the youngest of readers in photographs of children across cultures celebrating what it means to be happy. All the exuberance of the song pulses from these vibrant photographs of excited, happy kids. Happy! is a board book full of memorable, precious childhood moments that will move readers in the same way they were moved by the song.
|
|
 |
Gus & Me: The Story of My Granddad and My First Guitar Keith Richards Long before there was a band, there was a boy: a young Keith Richards, who was introduced to the joy of music through his beloved granddad, Theodore Augustus Dupree, affectionately known as "Gus.” Gus & Me offers a rare and intimate look into the childhood of the legendary Keith Richards through this poignant and inspiring story that is lovingly illustrated with exquisite pen-and-ink collages by Keith’s daughter, Theodora Richards. This unique autobiographical picture book honors the special bond between a grandfather and grandson and celebrates the artistic talents of the Richards family through the generations.
|
|
 |
Footloose Kenny Loggins Time to cut loose! Have a rockin' time introducing children to the fun of Footloose, rewritten for children by the one and only Kenny Loggins. As a zookeeper named Jack joins the zoo animals in an all-night dance party, this new original story from Loggins is sure to get your feet moving. Little ones will love the cast of characters, including the rockin' chimp Louise, Mister DJ Elephant, the lemur Marie, Milo the wombat, Luke the funkiest cat in the zoo, and so many more rocking, bopping, boogeying, tangoing, shaking, rattling and rolling animals!
|
|
 |
Nighty Night and Good Night Michael W. Smith Written by singer Michael W. Smith, Nighty Night and Good Night is the story of a stuffed animal band who are called upon to help their friend Ben try to fall to sleep. This cute and sleepy adventure leads Lamby, Bear and Sleepy Puppy to discover that a classic lullaby might just do the trick.
|
|
 |
Broadway Barks Bernadette Peters In a park in New York City lives a lonely little dog. He remembers when he used to get taken for walks, fed dinner every night, and told he was a good dog. Now, he's all alone and must fend for himself. But everything changes one day when he sees a lady reading in the park and decides to follow her—all the way to a place where he might become a star! Written by actress Bernadette Peters featuring mixed-media collage illustrations by Liz Murphy, Broadway Barks is a warm and appealing story of loss, reunion, and nurturing, complete with a happy ending.
|
|
|
||
|---|---|---|
 |
Where I Am Billy Graham While his earthly vision dims, the glory of heaven is illuminated as Billy Graham, the beloved evangelist, shares from his past, and his present, the reality of eternity. |
|
 |
Next Level Thinking Joel Osteen In Next Level Thinking, Joel Osteen writes that we weren't created to go through life weighed down by addictions, dysfunction, guilt, or the past. God created us to be free. Joel encourages readers to leave behind the negative mindsets, the scarcity mentality, and the limitations others have put on us, and shows us how to step into new levels of victory, new levels of favor. |
|
 |
Every Day I Pray Iyanla Vanzant The prayers in Everyday I Pray culled from Iyanla's own prayer journal, address a variety of topics and situations. It is Iyanla's hope that they will spark a light in the hearts of readers, and that others will come to know the peace of God's grace. With this intimate collection, she invites readers everywhere to join her in making the thoughts, words, and deeds of everyday life more reverent, honorable, and loving. |
|
 |
Mosaic: Pieces of My Life So Far Amy Grant Amy Grant weaves original lyrics and poetry into a narrative patchwork of timeless candor in Mosaic. The pieces of her life so far provide stunning inspiration for her beloved fans. Mixing lighthearted reminiscences of her Tennessee childhood, poignant scenes from her life as a wife and mother, and down-to-earth insight from her celebrity stardom, Amy invites you into her world and gently leads you to fresh insights about your own. |
|
 |
Us Against the World: Our Secrets to Love, Marriage, and Family David and Tamela Mann The Mann's have delighted and inspired audiences through music, a string of plays and movies, as well as several television series. They’ll share about their often hilarious and sometimes controversial interactions with each other, their blended family, and how these relationships enrich their lives. |
|
 |
Points of Power: Discover a Spirit-Filled Life of Joy and Purpose Yolanda Adams Over five million listeners tune in to hear Yolanda Adams's Points of Power, a segment in her daily radio show that inspires people by applying biblical truths to present-day realities. In her first book, Yolanda Adams transfers that winning segment into a reader's delight. In this highly accessible manual for daily living, she shares stories from her and other’s personal experiences, showing readers how to access God's love and grace in their modern world and troubles.
|
|
 |
The Blueprint: A Plan for Living Above Life's Storms Kirk Franklin In The Blueprint, Kirk Franklin will explain how by communicating with life's architect, God, he learned to see hardships as necessary life propellants and moved on to become the bestselling gospel musician in recent history, as well as a devoted husband and loving father.
|
|
 |
A Simple Blessing Michael W. Smith This beautiful work, written with writer Thomas Williams, will inspire readers to examine their hearts and learn to experience God's blessing as they seek to bless others, thus discovering the secret to drawing near to the heart of God.
|
|
 |
Between Heaven and the Real World Steven Curtis Chapman For decades, Steven Curtis Chapman's music and message have brought hope and inspiration to millions around the world. Now, for the first time, Steven openly shares the experiences that have shaped him, his faith, and his music in a life that has included incredible highs and faith-shaking lows.
|
|
 |
Jump Steve Harvey At the beginning of each broadcast of his morning radio show, Steve Harvey offers his millions of listeners a few moments of spiritual advice to inspire and guide them. Fans love Steve’s wisdom and often share his insightful messages with friends and family. In this essential book, Steve expands on those daily words of wisdom by providing fans—and anyone in need of spiritual support, comfort, or guidance—this heartfelt collection of spiritual devotions.
|
|
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
 Amy Grant Selections  |
 Yolanda Adams Selections |
||
 Kirk Franklin Selections |
 Michael W. Smith Selections |
||
 Steven Curtis Chapman Selections |
 Mary Mary Selections |
||
 Nicole C. Mullen Selections |
 James Cleveland Selections |
||
 Andraé Crouch Selections |
 Lauren Daigle Selections |
||
 Tobymac Selections |
 Newsboys Selections |
||
 Shirley Caesar Selections |
|||
|
||
|---|---|---|
 |
Billy Graham Selections
|
|
 |
James Cleveland, Walter Hawkins and the Hawkins Family, and Shirley Caesar Legends of Gospel in Concert |
|
|
||
|---|---|---|
 |
Mary, Queen of Scots Susan Watkins All the world lamented the execution of Mary Queen of Scots. "No man ever saw her without love or will read her history without pity". Whether it is this French Marie Stuart recorded by Brantome, the German Maria Stuart of Schiller's tragedy, the Italian Maria Stuart of Donizetti's opera, or the more recent queen of film played by Katharine Hepburn or Vanessa Redgrave, her story resonates over four centuries. The tale of the free-spirited and beautiful Queen of Scots, who refused to accept the constraints of her birth and position, still appeals to us today. |
|
 |
Travels with My Aunt Graham Greene Travels with My Aunt is a novel written by English author Graham Greene. The novel follows the travels of Henry Pulling, a retired bank manager, and his eccentric Aunt Augusta as they find their way across Europe, and eventually even further afield. |
|
 |
Among Friends: The Scots Guards 1936 – 1993 Murray Naylor The Scots Guards is Scotland’s Regiment of Foot Guards. The Regiment is an operational, deployable, first line Infantry Regiment of the British Army. This book provides a complete insight into the history of the Scots guards from 1956-1993. |
|
 |
American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot Craig Ferguson American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot is a memoir written by entertainer Craig Ferguson. Ferguson delivers a moving and achingly funny memoir of living the American dream as he journeys from the mean streets of Glasgow, Scotland, to the comedic promised land of Hollywood. Along the way he stumbles through several attempts to make his mark—as a punk rock musician, a construction worker, a bouncer, and, tragically, a modern dancer. |
|
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
 The London International Tattoo |
 The Best of The Band of the Scots Guards |
||
|
||
|---|---|---|
 |
Colin Hay Colin Hay: Waiting for My Real Life Waiting for my Real Life is the story of singer-songwriter Colin Hay, former front-man of the band Men At Work. The story follows Hay from his earliest days in Scotland, through his family's emigration to Australia, to the massive, worldwide success of his band, to the depths of addiction and failure, to a slow climb back up the ladder seeking relevance, artistic freedom and ultimately, transcendence.
|
|
 |
Travels with My Aunt Flamboyant, flame-haired 70-plus Augusta Bertram, played by Maggie Smith, has opened a package containing a finger that recently belonged to her years-ago lover. The victim's kidnappers continue mailing expendable body parts, and Augusta enlists the aid of her stuffy nephew, played by Alec McCowen, in a mad to-the-rescue adventure across Europe in pursuit of $100,000 in ransom money. The scramble to save a life just might also liberate the nephew's life-starved soul. |
|
 |
International Tattoo Selections |
|
 |
Mary, Queen of Scots Queen of France at 16 and widowed at 18, Mary Stuart, played by Saoirse Ronan, defies pressure to remarry. Instead, she returns to her native Scotland to reclaim her rightful throne. However, Scotland and England fall under the rule of the compelling Elizabeth I, played by Margot Robbie. Each young Queen beholds her sister in fear and fascination. Rivals in power and in love, and female regents in a masculine world, the two must decide how to play the game of marriage versus independence. |
|
 |
Craig Ferguson Selections |
|
|
||
|---|---|---|
 |
Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems Cesar Millan Learn what goes on inside your dog's mind and develop a positive, fulfilling relationship with your best friend. "Dog Whisperer" Cesar Millan is America's most sought-after dog-behavior expert, but he is not a trainer in the traditional sense—his expertise lies in his ability to comprehend dog psychology. Whether you're having issues with your dog or just want to make a good bond even stronger, this book will give you a deeper appreciation of how your dog sees the world, and it will help make your relationship with your beloved pet a richer and more rewarding one. |
|
|
||
|---|---|---|
 |
Cesar Millan Selections
|
|
 |
The Wizard of Oz |
|
 |
Annie |
|
|
||
|---|---|---|
 |
Saving Justice Robert Bork In June 1973, Judge Robert Bork was plucked from a quiet life of academia at Yale University and planted in the tumultuous soil of constitutional crisis by a Nixon administration barreling toward collapse. Saving Justice offers a firsthand, insider account of the whirlwind of events and provides a revelatory look into the inner workings of the Justice Department during some of the most consequential months of the Nixon administration. |
|
 |
Outrage: The Five Reasons Why O. J. Simpson Got Away with Murder Vincent Bugliosi Here is the account of the O. J. Simpson case that no one dared to write, that no one else could write. In this #1 New York Times bestseller, Vincent Bugliosi, the famed prosecutor of Charles Manson goes to the heart of the trial that divided the country and made a mockery of justice. He lays out the mountains of evidence; rebuts the defense; offers a thrilling summation; condemns the monumental blunders of the judge, the "Dream Team," and the media; and exposes, for the first time anywhere, the shocking incompetence of the prosecution. |
|
 |
The Man Who Ran Washington: The Life and Times of James A. Baker III Peter Baker For a quarter-century, no Republican won the presidency without his help or ran the White House without his advice. James Addison Baker III was the indispensable man for four presidents because he understood better than anyone how to make Washington work at a time when America was shaping events around the world. The Man Who Ran Washington is a page-turning portrait of a power broker who influenced America's destiny for generations. |
|
 |
One Soldier’s Story: A Memoir Bob Dole Before he became one of America's most respected statesmen, Bob Dole was an average citizen serving heroically for his country. The bravery he showed after suffering near-fatal injuries in the final days of World War II is the stuff of legend. Now, for the first time in his own words, Dole tells the moving story of his harrowing experience on and off the battlefield, and how it changed his life. |
|
 |
Contempt: A Memoir of the Clinton Investigation Ken Starr Twenty years after the Starr Report and the Clinton impeachment, former special prosecutor Ken Starr finally shares his definitive account of one of the most divisive periods in American history. |
|
 |
Rudy Giuliani Selections
|
|
 |
Ralph Nader Selections
|
|
 |
Ed Koch Selections
|
|
 |
Warren E. Burger Selections
|
|
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
 Legally Blonde the Musical: Original Broadway Cast Recording |
|||
|
||
|---|---|---|
 |
Legally Blonde
|
|
 |
Ed Koch Koch |
|
 |
Rudy Giuliani 9/11: A Day That Changed the World; 9/11, Stories in Fragments |
|
|
||
|---|---|---|
 |
The Signals are Talking Amy Webb With the methodology developed in The Signals Are Talking, we learn how to think like a futurist and answer vitally important questions: How will a technology-like artificial intelligence, machine learning, self-driving cars, biohacking, bots, and the Internet of Things-affect us personally? How will it impact our businesses and workplaces? How will it eventually change the way we live, work, play, and think-and how should we prepare for it now? |
|
 |
Learn to Earn Peter Lynch In Learn to Earn, Peter Lynch and John Rothchild explain in a style accessible to anyone who is high school age or older how to read a stock table in the daily newspaper, how to understand a company annual report, and why everyone should pay attention to the stock market. They explain not only how to invest, but also how to think like an investor. |
|
 |
One Up on Wall Street Peter Lynch Peter Lynch offers easy-to-follow advice for sorting out the long shots from the no-shots by reviewing a company’s financial statements and knowing which numbers really count. He offers guidelines for investing in cyclical, turnaround, and fast-growing companies. |
|
 |
Shark Tales Barbara Corcoran The inspiring true story of Shark Tank star Barbara Corcoran—and her best advice for anyone starting a business. After failing at twenty-two jobs, Barbara Corcoran borrowed $1,000 from a boyfriend, quit her job as a diner waitress, and started a tiny real estate office in New York City. Using the unconventional lessons she learned from her homemaker mom, she gradually built it into a $6 billion dollar business. |
|
 |
The First Billion Is the Hardest T. Boone Pickens Both a riveting account of a life spent pulling off improbable triumphs and a report back from the front of the global-energy and natural-resource wars, The First Billion Is the Hardest tells the story of the remarkable late-life comeback that brought the famed oilman and maverick back from bankruptcy and clinical depression. Along the way, the man often called the “Oracle of Oil” shares the insights that have made him a legend—and describes the billion-dollar bets he is now making in hopes of securing America’s energy independence. |
|
|
||
|---|---|---|
 |
The Point of it All: A Lifetime of Great Loves and Endeavors Charles Krauthammer For three decades, Charles Krauthammer elevated the op-ed column into a form of art. Whether holding forth on American politics or reflecting on more esoteric topics like baseball, chess and spaceflight, Krauthammer became known not only for his penetrating wit and insight, but for his ability to identify the hidden moral truths that animate our daily lives. This new collection, which Krauthammer was working on before he passed away, collects the columns, speeches, and unpublished writings that showcase Krauthammer's philosophy on politics and life, and the legacy that he left behind. |
|
 |
Strategic Vision: America and the Crisis of Global Power Zbigniew Brzezinski Speaking from decades of experience, Brzezinski considers the implications of the changing distribution of global power, ponders why America's global appeal is waning, speculates on the likely geopolitical consequences if America declines by 2025 (will China assume America's central role in world affairs?), and describes a vision of a resurgent America: responsive to challenges, strategically deliberate, and historically enlightened in its global engagement with the new East. |
|
 |
A Journey: My Political Life Tony Blair In this remarkably gripping memoir, one of the most dynamic and controversial leaders of modern times gives us a firsthand account of his years in office and beyond. Here, for the first time, Tony Blair recounts his role in shaping our recent history, from the aftermath of Princess Diana's death to the war on terror. A Journey is a must-read political memoir, providing an unprecedented glimpse into Tony Blair's experiences as Prime Minister, through his own eyes. |
|
 |
Rendez-vous with Art Philippe de Montebello Beginning with a fragment of yellow jasper—all that is left of the face of an Egyptian woman who lived 3,500 years ago—this book confronts the elusive questions: how, and why, do we look at art? Philippe de Montebello and Martin Gayford talked in art galleries or churches or their own homes, and this book is structured around their journeys. But whether they were in the Louvre or the Prado, the Mauritshuis of the Palazzo Pitti, they reveal the pleasures of truly looking. |
|
 |
My Country, My Life: Fighting for Israel, Searching for Peace Ehud Barak The definitive memoir of one of Israel's most influential soldier-statesmen and one-time Prime Minister, Ehud Barak, with insights into forging peace in the Middle East. My Country, My Life tells the unvarnished story of his—and his country's—first seven decades, of its major successes, but also its setbacks and misjudgments. He offers candid assessments of his fellow Israeli politicians, of the American administrations with which he worked, and of himself. |
|
 |
Infidel Ayaan Hirsi Ali In this profoundly affecting memoir from the internationally renowned author of The Caged Virgin, Ayaan Hirsi Ali tells her life story, from her traditional Muslim childhood in Somalia to her intellectual awakening in the Netherlands to her life under armed guard in the West.
|
|
 |
Margaret Thatcher: Power and Personality Jonathan Aitken A strong and sometimes divisive figure in British and world politics, Margaret Thatcher was the longest-serving British Prime Minister in the 20th century and the only woman to ever hold the office. At once positive and critical in its assessment of her governance, Margaret Thatcher: Power and Personality is crafted from the author's longtime personal relationship with his subject, his eyewitness account of public and private episodes in her life, and more than 100 interviews with the former Prime Minister's political colleagues and close personal friends. Penetrating and insightful, it chronicles one of the most remarkable political lives of our time.
|
|
|
||
|---|---|---|
 |
Birmingham Royal Ballet Photography by Bill Cooper |
|
 |
The King’s Consort: The Louise Rasmussen Story Book Debbie A. McClure Born the illegitimate daughter of a seamstress in Denmark's mid-1800s, Louise Rasmussen rises to become a noted ballerina with the Royal Danish ballet, but getting pregnant with her own illegitimate child dashes her every hope and dream, forcing her to start a new life. Falling in love with Crowned Prince Frederik of Denmark should have made her life easier, but fate is fickle. Despite severe opposition from the nobility, Frederik weds Louise, the newly titled Countess Danner, soon after he is crowned King. Deeply in love, the two must fight to find some semblance of happiness in an environment that refuses to bend, and amid pending war and social turmoil, Louise and Frederik discover what is most important. Many claim she was a gold-digger, yet toward the end of her life, she creates Danner House, a home for unwed mothers and orphans, which still exists today. |
|
|
||
|---|---|---|
 |
Birmingham Royal Ballet The Nutcracker
|
|
 |
Royal Winnipeg Ballet TuTuMuch |
|
|
||
|---|---|---|
 |
Stormy Weather: The Life of Lena Horne James Gavin At long last, the first serious biography of entertainment legend Lena Horne—the celebrated star of film, stage, and music who became one of the first African American icons. |
|
 |
Marsalis on Music Wynton Marsalis Using wonderfully appealing examples and analogies—likening the rhythmic structures of music to playing basketball or football, teaching sonata form through a story about chasing a pet hamster through a shopping mall, drawing unprecedented and revealing connections between classical music and jazz—Wynton Marsalis makes so-called "difficult" music vivid, immediately graspable, and most of all fun. The result is the perfect book for families and schools eager to give children a strong cultural foundation without boring them—no risk of that here—or for anyone who has ever felt interested in "serious" music only to be intimidated by its intricacies. |
|
 |
Herbie Hancock: Possibilities Herbie Hancock Herbie Hancock is a true icon of modern music: a jazz pianist and composer whose illustrious career has spanned seven decades and 14 Grammy Awards. Hancock's memoir examines his extraordinary career, from his beginnings as a child prodigy in Chicago to his work with artists including Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Stevie Wonder, Kathleen Battle, Joni Mitchell, Sting, Paul Simon, Carlos Santana, Annie Lennox, John Mayer, Christina Aguilera, and Tina Turner. He recalls learning to play the piano, changing the face of jazz, his marriage, and his discovery of Buddhism. |
|
 |
Pressed for All Time: Producing the Great Jazz Albums from Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday to Miles Davis and Diana Krall Michael Jarrett Packed with fascinating stories and fresh perspectives on over 200 albums and artists, including legends such as Louis Armstrong, John Coltrane, and Miles Davis, as well as contemporary artists such as Diana Krall and Norah Jones, Pressed for All Time tells the unknown stories of the men and women who helped to shape the quintessential American sound. |
|
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
 Dave Koz Selections |
 Esperanza Spalding Selections |
||
 Dave Brubeck Selections |
 Chick Corea Selections |
|
|
|
||
|---|---|---|
 |
Song of Lahore In 2004, Izzat Majeed founded Sachal Studios to create a space for traditional music in a nation that had rejected its musical roots. After convincing a number of master musicians to pick up their instruments again, they quietly released some classical and folk albums, but it was an experimental album fusing jazz and South Asian instruments that brought Sachal Studios worldwide acclaim. Their rendition of Dave Brubeck's "Take Five" became a sensation, and Wynton Marsalis invited them to New York to perform with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. After a week of rehearsals fusing the orchestras from Lahore and New York, the musicians took to the stage for a remarkable concert.
|
|
 |
A Tuba to Cuba The leader of New Orleans famed Preservation Hall Jazz Band seeks to fulfill his late father's dream of retracing their musical roots to the shores of Cuba in search of the indigenous music that gave birth to New Orleans jazz.
|
|
 |
Diana Krall Selections |
|
 |
Ken Burns: Jazz Documentary exploring the history of jazz from its beginnings through the 1990's, including the stories of many of its creators and performers. Includes archival video, still photographs, historical performances, and newly recorded interviews and musical performances. |
|
