Warming up with Music

Feeling good at the Brooklyn Museum First Saturday

Doing m' Thing

Bass player Clark Dark jamming

Love is so sweet...

So sweet...

John F Adams on Keys, Swiss Chris on drums, Marcelo Cardozo on guitar

Singers Ishmael Jeffers, Cameron Bernard Jones, David Williams live with Nhojj

Caught up in the rapture

Feeling the power of Love

Feeling it deep down inside...

Grooving to He & Him

Rocking Out to Adam & Steve

Guest Rapper Bone Intell - Warrior for Love

My Brothers - sean360x and Sam

Swiss Chris blessing the drums

Singers Ishmael, Cameron and David raising some Peace & Blessings

Peace & Blessings to you...

A big Thank you to the Brooklyn Museum and my band:
Marcelo Cardozo – Guitar
John F. Adams – Keys
Clark Dark – Bass
Swiss Chris – Drums
David Williams – Background Vocals
Ishmael Jeffers – Background Vocals
Cameron Bernard Jones – Background Vocals
~
Bone Intell – Guest Rapper
sean360x – Guest Poet
Sam Martinborough – Guest vocalist (my brother:)
Robert-Allan Arno – Actor/voice coaching and concert direction

]]> http://www.nhojj.com/2012/01/28/brooklyn-museum-first-saturday-photos/feed/ 2 http://www.nhojj.com/2012/01/03/nhojj-out-and-proud-at-brooklyn-museum/ http://www.nhojj.com/2012/01/03/nhojj-out-and-proud-at-brooklyn-museum/#comments Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:12:37 +0000 Nhojj http://www.nhojj.com/?p=8291 Award winning Caribbean alternative soul singer Nhojj will appear at Brooklyn Museum’s Target First Saturdays on January 7, 2012, as part of a celebration honoring the LGBT community.  Among the songs he will perform are LGBT favorites “Adam & Steve” and “He & Him.”

Known for his musical artistry and LGBT affirming lyrics, award winning Caribbean soul artist Nhojj will kick off the festivities at a special “Out and Proud” Target First Saturdays at the Brooklyn Museum on January 7, 2012.  Seating is limited, and people are advised to arrive 30 minutes early for Nhojj’s 5 p.m. show.

Thousands of visitors enjoy free programs of art and entertainment each month from 5 to 11 p.m. at Brooklyn Museum’s Target First Saturdays.

Along with Nhojj other featured performers, artists, and writers will include drag queen Peppermint,  OMA winner Ariel Aparicio,  artist Lyle Ashton Harris, folk rock singer-songwriter Melissa Ferrick, Hide/Seek curator Jonathan Katz, DJ Tikka Masala, author Charles Rice-Gonzalez, and Experimental punk band Three Teens Kill Four.

The Nhojj “Out and Proud” performance coincides with HIDE/SEEK: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture, the first major museum exhibition to explore how gender and sexual identity have shaped the creation of American portraiture.  The special exhibition will be on display at the museum through February 12, 2012.  During his performance, Nhojj will perform his latest singles ”Adam & Steve” and “He & Him.”

“I’m really excited about being apart of this historic Brooklyn Museum Out & Proud First Saturday, we’ve got excellent musicians, a great set, and a few surprises… I can’t wait to share it”

“I’m really excited about being apart of this historic Brooklyn Museum Out & Proud First Saturday, we’ve got excellent musicians, a great set, and a few surprises… I can’t wait to share it” Nhojj explains. His band will include John Legend drummer – Swiss Chris, Keith Sweat keyboardist John F Adams, Clark Dark on Bass, and longtime guitarist Marcelo Cardozo. 3 background singers will complete Nhojj’s band for the show.

Nhojj made OUTMusic Awards history in 2009 when his ballad “Love” was voted Outstanding R&B/Soul Song of the Year by the Alliance of LGBT Recording Artists & Performers.  It marked the first time an African American male had won an OMA.  In 2010 Nhojj broke yet another barrier when his “Love” music video climbed to the #1 position on MTV Music – the first time a gay music video topped the mainstream MTV Music chart.

Son of a church minister, Nhojj grew up in Guyana.  When he was 5 he began singing in his father’s church with his older sister accompanying him on piano.  In an effort to share God’s unconditional love for all, last Easter Nhojj released the groundbreaking Marriage Equality “Amazing Grace.” It portrays a male inter-racial couple exchanging wedding vows and living in a committed loving relationship.

Both “Love” and “Amazing Grace” music videos have been selected for screening at the 1^st Annual Out in the Desert International LGBT Film Festival to be held in February, 2012 in Tucson, Arizona.

“I’m so proud of Brooklyn Museum for honoring these artists and acknowledging the importance their work.  Art whatever form it takes is speaks to who we are and we all affect and influence this world.”

I’m excited about kicking off the evening with a 50 minute set of your favorites and some surprises. So if you are in NYC, come on over and enjoy some live music. I go on at 5 pm – seating is limited, so get there early. I’ve rounded up a super band:

Marcelo Cardozo – Guitar
John F. Adams – Keys (played with Keith Sweat)
Clark Dark – Bass
Swiss Chris – Drums (played with John Legend)

Ishmael Jeffers, Cameron Bernard Jones, David Williams – Background Vocals

Come the Brooklyn Museum on January 7 at 4:30 pm and bring your friends… Its FREE and I intend to be fabulous:)

I was going through my youtube videos and came across this one, its one of my favorites – one of those magical performances when everything aligns just right. Watch and enjoy…

Remember how we used to touch…
Remember how we used to kiss…
Before we fell this far apart…

Earlier, I walked the red carpet, doing interviews, smiling for photos, and hoping nothing was out-of-place, judging from the QTalk and GBM News videos, I did alright – (I’m about 20 minutes in QTalk and 11 minuest in GBM News).

Comedian Tammy Peay hosted this year’s awards and kept us laughing, as she introduced presenters and performers. I loved the variety of acts on stage, I think there was something for everyone – Folk-R&B-Soul-Pop and everything in between. I got a sense that everyone was just as excited as I was – it wasn’t about winning and losing as much as it was about celebrating how far we’ve come.

Celebrating how far we’ve come…

Some of my favorite performances were BSlade‘s space age Disco tribute to Icon Sylvester, Tona Brown and Aida Strings classical piece, Athena Reich nerdy cocoon to sexy butterfly number, Deepa Soul funky rock anthem, American Idol contestant William Scott‘s Uganda tribute, Raye6 grand circus finale, and the Hip Hop segment which featured baron, Infinite, Foxxjazel, Shorty Roc, Last O, Empress Milan, DJ Mary Mac and The 5 Star Music Nation.

Photo by Andrew Werner

The OMA for R&B/Soul song of the year was in the 2nd half of the show. I was sitting with my good friend Bob Schaffer (we filmed Amazing Grace at his NYC apartment) and rapper Bone Intell. Da Doo Dirty Show host DJ Baker and artist Lovari presented the Award. Marck Angel was sitting in the row behind me, Jesse O couldn’t be there, but I’d promised to text him if he won, I’d talked with Kalup Linzy briefly at last year’s Awards, and even though I didn’t get to meet Tyrangem, I follow him on Facebook. Anyone of us could have won.

I remember thinking Wow!

I stared at the floor while they read the nominees and I remember thinking “wow” when I heard my name and all the applause. I got to the stage, gave DJ Baker a big hug, and completely forgot all the people I needed to thank… lol. All I could think of was The Gay Warrior Song and its importance, and why I wrote it. This song has been with me for 7 years, growing and getting stronger, and it is dedicated to all women, men, and transexuals around the world who are fighting for Love – hold on! Truth will prevail.

Thank you to all my friends, fans, followers…

I do want to say a big thank you to my manager Ron for all the love, I’ve said it before, and I will say it again – I would not be here without you. Another big thank you to the bloggers for all your support, independent and internet radio, (especially DJ Baker) for all the spins and mentions, Diedra Merideth and everyone at LARA for working to keep the OUTMusic Awards alive. Finally I want to thank you – my friends, fans, followers, subscribers, and supporters. You’re presence means the world to me… thank you sooooooo much for being in my life and taking this journey with me.

Photo by Andrew Werner

PS
Everything was filmed and when it airs I will let you know:)

I’m excited about performing at the NuWine Press Book Release Party for Raw: A Poetry Journey – a book of Christian LGBT poetry. On Friday, June 17 at 7 pm in the Learner Auditorium at the LGBT Center, we’ll gather for poetry, inspiration, and musical performances by your’s truly and Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Jennifer Knapp. Admission is FREE!

Love & Light
Nhojj