Busy as bees

So much going on these days, just had to take a bloggy break as it won't all fit into a tweet! Busy as bees trying to get stuff done before school ends and the kids take over. Daph has officially launched a business Greener U doing energy auditing, green lifestyle education and consulting with her 3 partners. This video highlighting energy auditing is currently in regular rotation on Mind TV, channel 35.1 in Philadelphia or can be found online at www.mindtv.org.

Lots of great new jazz videos are up at the Philly Jazz site and our subscriber base is growing daily. Had the blessed opportunity to film Pat Martino again for Jazz Bridge, check the clip here. Also produced this great 30 second PSA for Jazz Bridge, and we find out soon if it will be aired on cable channel Ovation. Currently working on the latest Jazz Bridge event, the Student Showcase, which featured an amazing array of seriously talented local kids, one of whom, jazz violinist Ben Sutin, has invited Fife to play bass in the backing band for his college audition CD.

The coming days and weeks are packed - Slife Productions is producing the first of hopefully many radio documentaries for WRTI, partnering with DJ Bob Perkins to record local luminaries Tony Williams, Don Wilson, Craig McIver and Mike Boone at their weekly La Rose jam session for a half-hour radio broadcast on Bob Perkins early evening radio show. Stay close as they say, for airdates!

Some more recent work also airing on Mind TV includes an excerpt from the upcoming jazz documentary film "Harmonizing Art and Life: A Philadelphia Education in Jazz." Matt Davis and Odean Pope are featured in this 5min clip "A Mentorship in Jazz" with a broadcast premier Weds May 26th at 8pm during Mind TV's special hour of member submitted programs. Earlier that same night the piece will air on the big screen at the Piazza at Schmidt's in Northern Liberties at 6pm, check it out if you're in the neighborhood.

Slife just filmed the rock bands Dive and Automatic Fire at the annual MMRBQ at the Susquehenna Bank Center and we are awaiting permissions to hit the grand opening of the New Meadowlands this Weds. to produce a mini-documentary for Dive, who will be the historic first to play the new venue, opening for Bon Jovi.

In our own music news, Fife is currently working in several bands, including the newgrass/alt. folk group Urban Drawl and our limited edition 5 song EP sold out at the Chestnut Hill Garden Festival. And pianist David Dzubinski is featured in a new jazz group inspired by bands like Medeski Martin and Wood, Galactic and the Bad Plus. Our debut performance is Tuesday, June 1st at the Tavern on the Hill in Chestnut Hill. Look for recordings from that group, Mischa Machez, real soon...

This weekend we are taping the return of the Miss Black America Pageant, being held in Philly after nearly a 30 year hiatus. Something tells me the highlight reel from that event will garner some views...

And looking ahead, we are once again psyched to be working with OARC and Lifeline Music to produce video for the West Oak Lane Jazz Festival this year, featuring an all jazz line up with Al Jarreau, Diane Reeves, Joey DeFrancesco and more. Check out the 30 second Festival TV Spot Slife produced below. Warren and Graziella, musical directors of the Festival, will be featured on an upcoming newscast we are co-producing with our partners Hill on the Avenue.



Thanks for reading, stop in soon, and say hey online or on the Avenue.