Jack Ingram

He’s SO cool, and I (seriously) think I might be in LOVE with Jack Ingram!  I’ve been listening to several of his songs these past 3 weeks, and I’m NOT getting tired of them.  Jack’s sound is country-rock, as in raspy and rebellious, but it’s NOT over-the-top.  This experienced singer/guitarist has many devoted fans in Texas, where he began his career in 1992.  Jack (now 39) finally reached Top 40 country charts in 2005.

Some music videos:   

Barefoot and Crazy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVIS5RhESvI

Lips of an Angel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyBFZrsA4eM

Maybe She’ll Get Lonely

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOysCD4HBFM

Measure of a Man 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIG7VKmOg7s

Wherever You Are

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOHIB9hLX6g

Jack toured w/ one of my faves, Mark Chesnutt, a Texan with a very unique/pure voice.  Sometimes GOOD things come to those who don’t only rely on flash!       

http://www.jackingram.net/

David Nail

This Missouri-born/raised country singer’s songs are deeply personal.  David Nail, who writes about his own particular failures and hopes, is an outside-the-box singer who will appeal to those who don’t usually listen to country.  His sound is somewhat melancholy and introspective; one of David’s influences is Vince Gill.       

I know what you think, here we go again
The same waste of potential that I’ve always been
I’ve been given chances and I’ve burned some bridges up
Had a million excuses why I’d self-destruct

But this time around
I’m a little more ready now
I’m a little bit older, a little more figured out
This time around
-This Time Around 

This is David’s second chance in Nashville; in 2002, his debut album was NOT released by Mecury.  He took a break to coach baseball, but kept on writing songs, waiting for another try.   

In every frame
Upon our wall
Lies a face
That’ts seen it all
Through ups and downs
And then more downs
We helped each other
Off of the ground
No one knows
What we’ve
Been through
Making it
Ain’t making it
Without you
-Lyrics from I’m About To Come Alive

Music Video: I’m About To Come Alive

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V_vxirlU0U

http://www.davidnail.com/

Danielle Peck

I just heard about this NC-born singer recently.  Danielle (31) was raised in Ohio by a Marine family w/ musical talents.  She formed her own band after high school, worked as a waitress in Nashville, and wrote songs for fellow country singers before making it big herself.  Danielle’s voice is big and brassy, a bit like that of Terri Clark.   

http://www.daniellepeck.com/

http://www.youtube.com/user/daniellepeckmusic

Mica Roberts

I’ve only heard a few of her songs, BUT Mica Roberts’ voice is quite impressive and unique among the big sea of country women you hear these days.  You MUST check out her song w/ Toby!   

Things a Mama Don’t Know (duet w/ Toby Keith)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0bRmSuQQ3Q

http://micaroberts.com/splashpage/

Josh Turner

This voice will melt butter, no doubt about it!  Josh Turner’s gorgeous baritone, not to mention his unassuming smile, will remind you of Randy Travis (with whom he’s performed before).  Randy has said that he’s “a big fan” of Josh.  Wow, now that’s an honor! 

http://joshturner.com/

This is a must-see indie film about NYC, immigrants, and (above all) the importance of connection.  It’s a small budget film that packs a big emotional punch!  His role as Walter Vale, a lonely/ widowed academic, earned veteran character actor Richard Jenkins a Best Actor Oscar nomination at age 62.   

The Visitor was written/directed by another character actor, Tom McCarthy.    

Walter (Richard Jenkins) travels from his suburban home in Connecticut to his NYC apartment to attend a seminar (about global development issues) at NYU.  The mild-mannered professor is shocked to discover that his apartment is already occupied by a young couple in their 20s- a Syrian drummer, Tarek Khalil (Haaz Sleiman), and his Senegalese girlfriend, Zainab (Danai Gurira), who makes/sells jewelry.  These young people are very embarrassed by the situation, but they have nowhere else to go, so Walter gives them permission to stay for as long as they need.  He is intrigued by Tarek and Zainab, two people a guy like him doesn’t meet every day.

Walter is also intrigued by the drum that Tarek, a joyous/big-hearted guy, plays in Central Park and little clubs around the city.  Tarek encourages the hesitant Walter (a classical music fan) to try the drum as well.  Soon, they are good friends, much to the chagrin of Zainab.  She often has a serious expression on her face, and we sense that she is nervous about something.  On the street, Zainab is wary of police.  One night, she admits to Walter that she and Tarek overstayed their visas (so are now of illegal status).   

One day, while getting on the subway, Tarek is stopped by two plainclothes NYPD officers.  “He did nothing wrong!” Walter exclaims with bewilderment.  Walter can’t believe his eyes when his new friend is quickly taken into police custody, and then to a detention center in Long Island City, Queens.  Even more shocking is the fact that over 300 people are in that center, including children! 

Walter consoles Zainab by explaining that he’s arranged for an immigration attorney to handle Tarek’s case.  ”He can’t stay in that place!” Zainab exclaims, feeling that being in such an environment will crush Tarek’s spirit.  Zainab can’t bring herself to visit the detention center, but Walter goes each day to check on Tarek.  Zainab is grateful for Walter’s help, yet deeply saddened by the turn of events.  Zainab leaves Walter’s apartment to stay with a cousin.

Tarek’s mother, Mouna (Hiam Abbas), arrives from Michigan when she doesn’t hear news from her son.  She’s surprised to learn that Tarek shared a place with Walter.  Sensing Mouna’s sadness and worry, he  insists that she stay in the apartment, too.  “You can use Tarek’s room,” Walter says.  He tries to make her feel comfortable during a very difficult time.  

Will Walter’s kindly efforts help Tarek stay in the US?  How will Zainab, Mouna, and Walter come to terms with the final decision?  Watch the film to find out!             

Movie Trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlFcmm1pq9g

More details:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0857191/

Today I saw a documentary film (along with few new friends of mine) at Busboys & Poets (5th & K sts branch).  This event was sponsored by Drishtipat DC, one branch of a non-profit organization that promotes Bangladeshi culture.  This docu (which will be part of a trilogy about Bangladesh) was very timely, informative, and thought-provoking. 

“Portrait of Jihad”, the latest documentary by renowned filmmaker, Shahriar Kabir, depicts the advent of Islamic militancy in secular Bangladesh. In this expose, he interviews members of Harkatul Jihad and other militant groups and unmasks their involvement with state machinaries.

Now, some of you may feel fundamentalism is not very common in Bangladesh.  That’s a big problem in Pakistan, you have heard.   But come on, the mainstream media rarely discusses Bangladesh!  Shahriar Kabir interviewed several young Bangladeshi men (in their 20s and 30s) who have travelled to places like Bosnia and Libya to train or carry out acts of terror.  A few allowed their faces to be seen; others’ faces were hidden under sunglasses, veils, or shadows. 

Over the past 10 years or so, I have heard many comments about Bangladesh becoming ”more conservative” and “less friendly” from former students, relatives, and friends.  These folks hail from different backgrounds and visited different regions within the country.  One of my old college friends (who was born/raised in BD) commented that when she went to her ancestral village (in 2002), the ladies in her family ”had to cover up more.”  Otherwise, they’d get “long/mean stares” from some locals.   Not everyone , she added, but some young men noticebaly disapproved.  On the crime front: one of my aunts nearly had her purse snatched out of her hands while riding a rickshaw with her hubby and two young daughters last year!  (Yes, criminals can spot an American a mile away!) 

After the film, the audience got to ask the director, Shahriar Kabir, questions related to the film.  Kabir, a  soft-spoken man in his 60s, has screened this film in several universities in the NY/NJ area, and will be traveling to Houston tomorrow.  Portrait of Jihad will be edited because some material needs to be cleared up and a few subtitles are not correct, Kabir said.    

There are some people (expatriots) who don’t want to admit anything is wrong with their country of origin/birth/youth.  They see “the old country” as a faraway dream-world where nothing changes.  Since many left decades ago, their vision of their homeland is not very realistic.   People are simple, pure/honest, and in freeze-frame.  This is not true, of course.

When our van got a flat tire on the way from Chittagong to Cox’s Bazaar, we got out to see the  scenery of a little village while an uncle and his driver went to buy a spare tire.  We met a young man and little boy (who looked less than 12 y.o.) selling tea and snacks by the road.  An aunt asked the boy (she can speak the Chittagong dialect) why he wasn’t in school.  He matter-of-factly said that he’d gone to school until the 5th grade, but now there was none for him to attend (except the local madrassa school).  His parents didn’t want him to go to that school (probably because they knew he wouldn’t learn anything useful there).  Or perhaps they feared negative religious influences?

In madrassas (as some of you may know), the focus is on reciting and memorizing the Koran.  This is not necessarily a negative thing, and all madrassas are not connected to fundamentalism, extremism, or terrorism.   But the kids who attend these schools are not learning a skill or trade to get a job in the real world.  The people who run these schools fail to see the plain truth- not all kids can become scholars!  Even in the US, it’s very difficult to become a scholar (get a PhD, become a full professor, publish articles, etc.)  A very small percentage of the boys in madrassas will be able to get scholarships for further study (college).  But what will happen to the others?  What will be their future?

From Wikipedia:

Shahriar Kabir is a Bangladeshi journalist, filmmaker and human rights activist. He is the author of more than 70 books focusing on human rights, communalism, fundamentalism, history, and the Bangladesh war of independence. He is the recipient of numerous awards for his contribution to Bengali literature. Shahriar Kabir has been imprisoned twice for protesting against government-sponsored minority persecution and was declared a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International.

http://www.secularvoiceofbangladesh.org/