tirije Cljarlotte ^os(t THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1996 1BIARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Motown Talent Search finals Saturday

By Winfred B. Cross over THE CHARLOTTE POST

nother Charlottean could be heading for the big-time over A Saturday. They will at least be heading for Washington, D.C., "How Stella Got Her Groove Back" after Saturday. That person will be the winner of the BET/Motown Terry McMillan Talent Search semi-final being held 8 p.m. Saturday in The Locker Viking Books Room at Independence Arena. $23.95 Ten finalist will compete for the right to represent Charlotte at the finals, which will be televised on BET later this year.The win­ By Jeri Young ner gets a free flight to the finals. THE CHARLOTTE POST The 10 semi-finalist were chosen from an open mic contest held April 16 at The Fountain, 300 E. Stonewall St. On April 29 Terry McMillan will “Over 200 people came out for the contest,” said Roxanne Parra, finally exhale. promotions assistant for Motown. “There was quite a bit of talent.” "How Stella Got Her Groove Parra said semi-finals are being held in at least 22 cities. Each Back" provides McMillan with a has 10 contestants - solo acts, vocal groups and bands - with the forum from which she can candidly discuss many of the issues winners advancing to the finals. that plague black women. Viewers will pick the overall winner, who will receive a Motown In her new novel, which coincidentally is also available on recording contract. Artist and Repertoire representatives will pick audiotape and has been sold to a mayor studio, McMillan out­ the semi-finalists. does herself When 42-year-old Stella’s son, Quincy, goes away Lewis Tillman, vice president of A&R for Motown, will help judge on an extended fishing trip, she decides to take a much-needed Saturday’s contest. Tillman is a Myers Park High School graduate. vacation to Jamaica, where she meets 21-year-old chief-in-train- He was responsible for bringing Charlotte native Horace Brown to ing Winston Shakespeare. Young Shakespeare makes Stella feel former Uptown Entertainment president Andre Harrell’s atten­ things she hasn’t felt in years. And turns Stella’s life upside tion. Brown is currently signed to Motown. His first single for the down. label, “One For The Money,” is rising on Billboard’s Soul Chart. Her burgeoning happiness over the new relationship is marred The contest is Harrell's brainchild. Harrell by her own insecurities a'' 'ut the 20-year gap between she and Winston as well as negative sentiments expressed by her buppie sister Angela. Stella also returns to California to find herself the Jackson presses hollywood for more diversity victim of a corporate downsizing that has phased out her posi­ Hollywood, Jackson met with Guild, the American hire, promote and honor tion. By Dinos Lambropoulos labor and other 'groups Federation of Television and minorities. Stella lets none of this get her down for long. She goes on in Monday. Radio Artists and the National typical Sister McMillan fashion and makes the best out of an ASSOCIATED PRESS As part of his argument, awkward situation. "Our mission is not to close Association for the Jackson pointed out that few She decides to take some time away from work to develop her the industry down but to open LOS ANGELES - The Rev. Advancement of Colored minorities were up for awards other talents and against her own judgement takes another Jesse Jackson has renewed his it up," Jackson said. "It may People. Later, he met with this year. One out of the 166 extended trip to Jamaica, which puts her face-to-face once again call for the entertainment involve litigation or demon­ Leslie Moonves, CBS presi­ nominees was black. with young Winston. industry to hire more minori­ stration or confrontation, but dent of entertainment. Jackson said the low number McMillan chooses to use few marks of puncuation, which ties and women for the deci­ it really should involve negoti­ Jackson's criticism of the of women and minorities in makes "How Stella Got Her Groove Back" read quickly and feel sion-making positions that ation." industry began during the decision-making positions like a conversation with your best girlfriend. McMillan also shape film and television pro­ Jackson met with some 40 weeks leading up to last leads to the production of introduces characters that everyone can identify with, from grams. representatives from groups month's Academy Awards cere­ movies and TV programs that Stella wrestling with issues of age and career, to motherhood Touting what he called a new including the Writers Guild of mony. He urged nationwide reinforce stereotypes. and relationships to Winston, who at 21 is trying to find his "Rainbow Covenant" for wider America, the Directors Guild protests against the Academy, gender and ethnic diversity in of America, the Screen Actors saying Hollywood failed to See DIVERSITY Page 2B See Review Page 2B Jesse Powell fine debut CD

ment. Powell can use it subtly, nothing flashy. J’son delivers as he does qn ‘You,” or he can and then some. be sledgehgiqpier blunt, as on This is basically kiddie pop- the power ballad “I Like It.” soul —r: good clean lyrics with Either way he’s supremely inviting beats. Adults won’t be effective. blown away, but the pre-teen Powell puts his range to the set should eat this up. By Winfred B. Cross test on “The Enchantment There are times when J'son Jesse Powell Medley: Gloria/It’s You That I gets past the kiddie formula. I Jesse Powell Need.” His tenor passes with His reading of Hall and Oates’ Tone, Laney Stewart, flying colors as he nearly “I Can’t Go For That” is pretty Daryl Simmons, Michael matches the original version's lively. But most of his stuff is Stokes, Buster and note for note. Michael Powell simple songs about lost love, Shavoni, Keri “KL” Lewis, produces this version, as he falling in love and wanting to be Stokley and Carl Roland did the original. Actually, in love. Not bad. Not bad at all. MCA Records Jesse Powell may be singing to a sample of the original. That TAc Substitute % VV ☆☆☆ 1/2 sure sounds like Enchantment Various artists singing in the background. Various producers y Male r&b vocalists seem There are plenty of Priority Records to be a dime a dozen these other good original days, but good ones are scarce. songs as well. The first sin­ ☆ 1/2 Jesse Powell is a new one and gle, “All I Need,” features tight a good one. His self-titled vocals strung over a hypnotical This soundtrack represents debut is full of good songs and pulsing beat. It’s a tasty pre­ what’s wrong with a lot of hip- even better singing. lude to “Spend The Night,” hop and rap — too much vio­ Powell is a tenor with excep­ which features a sample of lence, cussin’ and'sexual banter. tional clarity and range. It Isaac Hayes’ “Do Your Thing.” Yeah, I know, ; this is the Jesse Powell has the poten­ soundtrack for a film that deals seems he can keep climbing no “Money, Power & Women” are at the box office. matter where he starts on the tial to have a long career. If he with all those topics. Still, cre­ mildly interesting, but not keeps getting material like ativity 1' a wonderful thing. scale. much more. Ratings: His skills go deeper than the­ this he could easily do that. This soundtrack has none, so it I hope the film’s better. If < am t wonderful. Mack lO’s “Hoo atrics, however. He’s in full not, look for a very short run ☆☆☆☆☆ Classic; ☆☆☆☆ J’son Bangin” and G-Spot-Geez’s control of his special instru- Excellent; ☆☆☆ Good; ☆☆ J’son Fair; ☆ Why?; No Stars Red Hot Lover Tone, Poke, Given - Please, Spare Us. Steve Diamond, Rudy Perez, Tony and Julio G, Ralph Hawkins; Vachik Agnaniantz, Kenneth Blue, R.T.S.K. Johnny ‘J,’ John Meyers, Vincent Berry and Jeff Carruther Hollywood Records

☆☆ 1/2

J’son will inevitably be com­

-.4 pared to Michael Jackson, Tevin Campbell, Jason Weaver and every other male singer who started as a boy soprano. J’son’s voice has elements of all those folks, but he's closest vocally to Campbell. J’son’s voice is nearly as strong as Campbell’s but doesn’t pos­ sesses his range. At least he *mm Si doesn’t display it on this out­ ing. It’s not really needed. The material calls for solid singing. Jesse Powell The Substitute

-OX.