Taste Test Live

👏👏👏 New Podcast Episode Released! 👏

Tuesday night was jammed packed with fun and filled with the most interesting conversations! On this week’s episode, it’s the first time we had TWO PHOTOGRAPHERS on the mic!!!  Cre8Jax founder, Toni Smailagić joined us for an insightful full-length 1-hour interview. In addition, Blue Franswa kicked things off and stirred up all kinds of emotions with this week's "Put This In Your Mouth" segment that was solely about the genius of Yeezuz aka Kanye West.

Smailagić also discusses the new preorder campaign he launched to fund his first book of photography publishing. You can read more about the project and order a copy here.

Click play below to watch "Smailagić introduce Introducing Jacksonville to Jacksonville".

🌟NEW EPISODE!🌟

We've been away and are kicking off our second season with the first episode which happens to be released during Hispanic Heritage Month! Hear a Taste Test Live-exclusive interview with the Latina influencer, media maven and founder of YaYa Productions, Yanira Cardona. We're so excited to have an opportunity to have a fun, yet candid discussion about growing up in Puerto Rico, her family, time in music and media and FOOD!

 

Yanira Cardona Bio

Since the age of 17, Yanira Cardona has worked in radio. She's worked in AM and FM stations, from low power to commercial stations. Once she realized her love for radio, she decided to attend Full Sail University graduating as the Advance Achiever of her 2012 class; Receiving her AA in Recording Arts and Bachelor in Music Business. As soon as Yanira graduated, she already had an internship lined up with the record label, Universal Music Group Latino in their Marketing and Public Relations department. There she worked on a project of Alejandro Sanz, Luis Fonsi, Marco Antonio Solis, Juan Gabriel, Juanes and many more. While working with UMG Latino, she got offered a job as Junior Marketing Manager and Publicist for Acoustyle Marketing. They worked for Pina Records with artists such as Arcangel, Zion y Lenox, Plan B, Elvis Crespo, and many more. Although she was content with her job, she couldn’t resist an offer to work as the Marketing and Sales Accounts Manager for Norman Media Group in Jacksonville, Fl. There, Yanira organized 3 back to back festival called “Jacksonville Hot Summer Fiesta”, where over 10,000 people attended. Yanira was also the Manager for the first 24-hour Reggeaton radio station, Urbana FM in Orlando, Fl.

Yanira now lives in Jacksonville, FL where she started her own Marketing and Promotions company called “Yaya Productions” and is the Promotions Director for the Urban and Latin Stations for iHeart Media Jacksonville. She created a Hispanic Festival named Viva La Fiesta which celebrates the Hispanic Culture. She just won First Coast Hispanic Chambers of

Commerce 2019 Rising Star Award. Yanira loves to work with and for the community. Her dream is to see her city united no matter the race or financial status!

 

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#TasteTestLive podcast is now available wherever you listen to your podcast.💙

 

If you want to get behind-the-scenes action, more exclusive performances and see Damien Lamar work on his upcoming album with Neon Motherboard, become a patron here:http://patreon.com/tastetestlive

Put This In Your Mouth

Rihanna and Drake will not be doing a collab on her new album, she’s working on a new album that will be an all reggae album.

Ciara recently was accepted into the Ivy League school Harvard. (Essence Magazine)

Kim and Kanye finally announced the name of their baby, Psalm West.

MediaTakeout reported that Steve Harvey will likely be losing his job.

Grammy award-winning DJ Maseo of legendary Afrocentric rap group De La Soul, is teaming up with SSH Investments to build a budding pizza franchise. Pierre's Eatery is a unique culinary mix of French, Greek and Italian food all made fresh daily from top quality ingredients. Pierre's only serves meat from humanely treated animals – there is no pork on site – which results in delicious culinary twists such as an all-beef pepperoni pizza. Each franchise also features its sister store Three Layers Café, which brings a community coffee house feel and delicious treats such as the famous J Squared dessert – nicknamed "crack on a plate" by the Florida Times Union due to its obsessive following.DJ Maseo will be leading the opening of 54 stores nationwide in the coming year. For more information, visit www.pierreseatery.com.

About Jessica Leigh Walton:

Jessica Leigh Walton is an accomplished Jacksonville recording artist. As a singer-songwriter she's recorded two albums and opened for bands such as: Jethro Tull, Vonda Shepard, Dan Fogelberg, and Doyle Dykes to name a few. She even recorded and performed with Janis Joplin's band, Big Brother and the Holding Company. As a vocal graduate of Douglas Anderson and a student at North Carolina School of the Arts, she studied singing in the following various styles: Opera, Blues, Musical Theater, Jazz and World Music. Jessica Leigh continues to build her varied repertoire while songwriting and maintaining independent music studies. Currently, you can hear her doing backup vocals with Mama Blue as well as maintaining performances as a solo artist."

Guest Interview: Jessica Leigh Walton

The first step in her career was at 15 when she picked up a guitar. Her dad helped facilitate her interest in guitar. Her dad was actually the first person to record her in his studio.

Her dad who owned a guitar shop surprisingly didn’t play guitar.

Jessica has two kids, 18 & 19, who are both musicians as well.

She chose to find someone to teach her daughter guitar instead of being a dictatorial mother trying to teach her guitar.

Once she started managing herself she was exposed to so many more genres.

She idolized Janis Joplin, she was actually able to perform with Joplin’s band. One of the songs on her second album was a song that Joplin was actually supposed to sing.

She sings backup for Mama Blue. They’ve been friends since high school at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts where they both attended.

Welcome back to another episode of Taste Test Live, the tasty podcast For our episode 47, we sat down with emerging visual artist, Christopher Clark to discuss his work, writing a children's book for his daughter and creating as an artist.

Christopher Clark has written and illustrated a children’s book and is looking for publishers. He is also working on a second children’s book.

“The artist is just as important if not more important than the art.” He finds it important to share his life experiences. He’s very transparent about his art process.

Always loved African sculpture and finds inspiration by it.

He’s had installations in D.C and Miami for Art Basel.

He’s done everything from illustrating books to being a muralist. “Just do it.”

Right now he prefers acrylic painting.

Glonda’s Hair - a children’s book he wrote and illustrated inspired by his daughter and loving her natural self.

The Little Artist - another children’s book inspired by his daughter and her love for art, and creativity.

His first mural was on Main St in downtown Jacksonville, another on Church St was through Art Republic.

“The wall tells me what it wants and I do it freehand.”

He has a show currently up in Grand Rapids, Michigan and in the Jax Makerspace at the Main Library in Jacksonville.

Listen above and subscribe now to stay updated on all things tasty!

 

About Christopher Clark:

Christopher Clark is an emerging visual artist.  His body of work celebrates black identity and captures the roots of black culture and its beauty.  Clark uses various mediums such as acrylic and watercolor paints, ink, and mixed media. He has participated in group exhibits at Downtown Cigar Lounge and Delo Studios.

In 2015 Clark embarked on a project to write and illustrate a children's book.  The book's main character was inspired by his daughter, who at the time was 3 years old.  Clark's objective was clear as he started work on the book. He wanted to make a story where the main character looked like his daughter and other children in their community.

Clark finished writing and illustrating his debut children's book, titled "Glonda's Hair," in early 2017.  The narrative focuses on Glonda, a young African American girl and, as the title suggests, her hair. Clark uses the book as a teaching tool, encouraging young girls to embrace their natural looks and celebrate their individual beauty.

Clark received a proof copy of "Glonda's Hair" and is now working with a publishing company to secure distribution.  Clark has also begun working on his second book, titled "The Little Artist," which will be a children's book of poetry paying homage to the authors of Clark's youth, such as Dr. Suess and Shel Silverstein.  Like "Glonda's Hair," "The Little Artist" is inspired by his daughter.

Clark isn't just an artist and a father.  He is also an advocate for young black artists.  Clark invests in his community by serving as a mentor, providing guidance to black youth interested in the arts.

Put This In Your Mouth (Segment)

Janelle Monae & Lupita Nyong'o Rumoured To Be Dating After Met Gala.

Woodstock50 was cancelled.

Ayesha Curry gets backlash from Red Table Talk.

Los Angeles based musician, Flying Lotus, has new music coming out.

 

About Ty Williams Jr

 

Planning Bachelor Parties is a vision and talent that came from God. Ty Williams was in one wedding after another of friends or family. The only exciting part for him was the bachelor party. He would anticipate the excitement around the Bachelor Party.

Since the age of 17, Ty has been working funeral services with Sarah L Carter's Funeral Home. Where Ty Williams began to learn the importance of serving others along with planning, with his excitement for Bachelor Parties he decided to get in the wedding industry with Bachelor Party Brothers.

You have wedding planners, florist, bakers also transportation specialist all in the wedding industry. Why not a Bachelor Party Consultant? They plan to reform Bachelor Parties and get rid of the negative stigma's that goes along with it. To make every client's Last Single Night one to remember.

• Worked at a funeral home since 17 Sarah Carters Funeral Home (Jax)• Graduated from Wolfson High then to Morehouse College, and finally graduated from University of North Florida - Economics• Owner of a parking lot in downtown Atlanta, GA also 444 Film Group• Prides himself on service and branding.• Cigar Aficionado

Behind the Scenes of "Last Single Night"https://youtu.be/EDN8Ajzn12s

Welcome back to another episode of Taste Test Live, the tasty podcast For our forty-fifth episode, podcast hosts Damien Lamar & Blue Franswa chat with Art Life Studios founder, KD Sadler.

Listen above and subscribe now to stay updated on all things tasty!

In the recent past, World Arts Film Festival was held inside Main Library of Jacksonville. Students were having hands-on workshops regarding the film industry. Most of the students had learning disabilities. During the evening films from all over the world were played.

Experiencing the world through our senses. KD worked with the Florida School of the Deaf and Blind, experienced a photo that was taken by a blind student and stated that she could hear the photo.

KD found her drive to do her work because loves the artist inside of everyone.

The evolution of the arts community, as she sees children evolve she sees the arts evolve. It’s about the inner spirit of creativity.

Art Life Studios, focus is to create a space for the community. KD wanted to focus on the busy teachers, staff, volunteers etc. She wanted to focus on arts and involving the arts in school programming.

About KD Sadler

As an independent film professional in New York City for over 20 years, Karen Douglass Sadler produced hundreds of music videos with industry celebrities and worked in broadcast television commercials for Fortune 500 clients. KD Sadler also holds an MA in Cinema Studies from the Tisch School of the Arts, New York University, New York, NY and also holds a Visual Arts degree from Concordia University, Montreal, Canada. After moving to Jacksonville, Florida, her work focused on providing world-class multicultural arts programs for schools and communities with countless events, workshops and festivals through her organization Art Life Studios. Sadler continues to serve as a community volunteer and has produced four years of inclusive filmmaking camps with Hollywood film director Joey Travolta for children with autism.  Karen also started World Arts Film Festival which is the signature program of 501(c)3 nonprofit World Arts Education, an organization that supports diverse and inclusive arts and educational programs.

Sadler has also worked in collaboration with the Office of the President, College of Education, Department of Exceptional, Deaf and Interpreter Education, Student Union, Interfaith Center, and Center for Intercultural Peace at the University of North Florida. Her work has received program funding from community sponsors including the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, HEAL Foundation, MDI Holdings, PGA Tour, THE PLAYERS Championship, The Community Foundation, Women’s Giving Alliance, Girls Inc., Boys and Girls Club, CityKids Art Factory, YMCA, Police Athletic League, Duval County Public Schools, Exceptional Education Student Services, Episcopal High School, The Bolles School, City of Atlantic Beach, City of Jacksonville Beach, City of Jacksonville, and many more.

 

Links:

From touring with Franz Ferdinand,  Tegan and Sara, The Futureheads, Divine Comedy, Gomez, and Los Lonely Boys to having been featured on MTV, Paul Holmes is as dynamic of an artist as he is talented. Paul Holmes spent years collaborating with other artists and bands in Boston, New York, and London. Some of these collaborations have even made it to recognizable ads for Target and Macy’s.

Paul has recently side stepped from collaboration to develop his talents as an individual artist. He is certainly one of the most dedicated musicians out there to the point of releasing new songs every week for two solid consecutive years. His new album 'The Whinnys' showcases the stronger pop-rock/alternative side to Paul Holmes’ music, but don’t lump him in with a brand. 

Listen to the full-length interview and hear the leading single "Reaction", for the first time on Taste Test Live!

Put This in Your Mouth

Brandy and Monica may tour together soon.

Coachella was a big hit, Ariana Grande brought on Justin Bieber to perform, Childish Gambino put on a great show, Ella Mai, Jaden Smith brought out Will Smith and Tierra Whack floored the crowd.

Kanye West’s Sunday Service at Coachella - apparently had 50,000 people in attendance.

Beyoncé released Homecoming: The Live Album which was a dedication to HBCU’s.

Anderson .Paak released 'Ventura'.

Aretha Franklin became the first female artist to receive the Pulitzer Prize.

Guest Interview: Jaimz Mallett, also known as Jai.Mal performs music because he has no other option, he can’t do anything except music. He currently makes music to please the consumers, such as trap music compared to the music he used to make and doesn’t really listen to music. He is also inspired by math and science. He is heavily influenced by frequencies. “It’s all a science experiment.”

Most recent album,'Knowledge of Good and Evil', Jai.Mal believes that album is not for right now it’s for the future.

What’s next? Jai.Mal has about three albums, a live album, and part two of 'Knowledge of Good and Evil'. He’s unsure if he will ever release them, he stopped writing and now just goes in without a plan and freestyles using music as his art form.

 

About Jaimz Mallett

Born in the backwoods of Mississippi, Jaimz Mallett began his musical journey atop the aggravated cords of heavy and southern rock at a juvenile age. He spent most his teens in Memphis, TN where he was classically trained in a wide range of musical disciplines. With his bluesy surroundings and the life experiences of not many his age, Jaimz vastly developed into an organic artist whose outlook on life seeped through his writings and voice.  As a band member, Jaimz received vocal coaching from renowned industry vets, who gladly took him under their wing simply because of his undeniably raw talent. Jaimz truly found his style, after a stint in the army. He came out of the service with the soul of Jimi, the style of Lenny, and the beats of Three 6 Mafia. Jaimz Mallet, now widely known as Jai.Mal is at a point in his career where it has all come together personally, professionally and musically. Through the guidance of his mentors, whose years of experience has helped him turn this gift into a functioning business, Jai.Mal now has the ability to be a solo RnB star, a world-class guitarist and rocker,  and an industry beat maker with hits that won’t stop!

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/malletjaimz / YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jaimz030509/featured

Singer/songwriter/Sr. Pastor/Worship Leader of Amazing Life Church, Marc Dickerson shared his journey touring with R&B superstar Fantasia, his life in ministry and shares a Taste Test Live exclusive of his new single "King of My Heart" which is available worldwide in online digital stores and streaming services. Check out this exclusive interview to learn more about this amazing man of God.

About Marc Dickerson

Marc Dickerson is a singer, songwriter, and Lead Pastor of Amazing Life Church. His love and passion for music and its role in the church has deep roots in the Pentecostal denomination where he was raised, sang, and played the piano and drums for many years. Pastor Marc left the church and pursued a career as an R&B artist/songwriter in the early 2000’s. During which time he won several songwriting awards, landed a major recording deal with MCA records, and would later spend 5 years singing background for R&B Soul Singer Fantasia. 

 

Now as a Senior Pastor, his heart for God continues to increase as does his heart for the next generation of worship and arts leaders in the church. As God teaches him, he’s compelled to be one to reach back to help teach others some of the lessons he’s learned over the years. 

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Social Media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mizthewriter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marc.dickerson.98

This week, we had the privilege of interviewing award-winning poet, Founder, Artis(Tree) Live and The Artis(Tree) Youth Project and Co-founder of The Cypher Open Mic Poetry & Soul, Taryn C Wharwood, also known as @IAmLoveReigns who dropped by to discuss the upcoming Jax Poetry Fest: Party in the Park with Al Letson which will be held in Hemming Park later this month.

Then we witnessed jazz bassist Jonathan Baptiste perform a special rendition of the gospel-classic "Amazing Grace" and discuss his concert Jazz In The Gardens which will be held TONIGHT at Freedom Church Jacksonville, a jazz interpretation of Jesus’ last days in the Garden of Gethsemane and features vocals by Tori Peoples Tori L. Peoples @thetoripeoples ), poetry by Tilly and Jus Amanda Batts, and a live painting by Erin Kendrick of Erin is Creative

TARYN WHARWOOD - BIOBorn and raised in Miami, FL, Taryn “LoveReigns” Wharwood is a proud product of The Ebony Village School in Dania, FL. Curated by the Dr. Merita Green and late Dr. Josephine Ivey, The Ebony Village School would prove to be the purposeful foundation of LoveReigns career as a performing artist, a host, entrepreneur, community advocate, curator, mentor, and activist. Along with the direction of her mother, retired Teacher, Sharon Wharwood, Drs. Green and Ivey saw a spark in Taryn that would lead her to develop a deep love for poetry. LoveReigns’ passion for people and words has afforded her opportunities to perform and advocate on the hills of Washington, DC, Canada and educational institutions from elementary to university levels. LoveReigns is truly in a lane of her own and isn’t afraid to create another one if she has to.

JONATHAN BAPTISTE - BIOJonathan Baptiste is a bassist/composer, and native of Orlando, Florida. Raised in the church, his roots are predominantly in Gospel. He attended Polk State College's music program, where he received the Marie Ann Golden and the Polk County Cultural Arts Scholarships. Jonathan was the recipient of the American Music Scholarship and Weinstein Memorial Scholarship in Leadership at UNF. He received the Most Outstanding Musician of the Year award at the UNF School of Music. Jonathan is the 2018 Northeast Florida Jazz Association Jazz Scholarship Recipient. Jonathan is also a teacher at Jacksonville Arts and Music School. He is also a freelance musician, having played with the likes of 2x Grammy Award-winning Saxophonist Tivon Pennicott, Sofija Knezevic, Terry "Doc" Handy, Daniel D, Marcus Printup, Riza Printup, Nat Adderley, Jr., Jon Irabagon, Charenee Wade, Patrick Bartley, Jamison Ross, Fred Wesley, Alyson Williams, John Lumpkin and International Gospel Recording Artist, Lisa McClendon and others. Recently, Jonathan received the great honor of being chosen by the legendary jazz trombonist Teddy Adams, Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, as a “Future of Jazz” recipient and have been recognized for their work in Jazz. He and the other recipients were honored at the Savannah Heritage Festival (2017,2019). Jonathan has also played with his band, The Urban Intellectuals at the 2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival.

The Urban Intellectuals is built with the some of the finest musicians Florida has to offer. The phrase “Urban Intellectuals” derived from the phrase “Urban Renewal”, often criticized by the great James Baldwin, which was a tactic used in the 60s that relocated a majority of African Americans into what we now know as the projects. Those “urban” individuals that refused to just go with the flow and to enlighten their communities is what sparked the name: The Urban Intellectuals. Jonathan Baptiste and The Urban Intellectuals look to educate and inspire people through their music. The band endeavors to set a consistent example and be role models to inner city kids — showing them that they make music and be creative— no matter their skin color.

Music: https://soundcloud.com/jonathanbaptistemusichttps://www.jonathanbaptiste.com/media