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JAZZ SINGER-SONGWRITER ORI DAGAN TAKES ON THE DIGITAL ZEITGEIST ON HIS FOURTH STUDIO ALBUM CLICK RIGHT HERE
Is life online in the 21st century a blessing or a curse? One could make a case either way, but if you’re Toronto-based vocalist and songwriter Ori Dagan (@oridaganjazz), one thing is certain: there’s a great material to be mined for a lyric, something Dagan always delivers with a wry and agile sense of swing. Click Right Here, praised by John Devenish of JAZZ.FM91 as “fun, provocative, fancy-free and spirited,” and by journalist and author Jeanne Beker as “the perfect balance between modernity and nostalgia,” is Dagan’s first album of original material. It offers a joyful escape from, and timely reflection upon, a world spinning out of control. Themes include online dating, social media, technological troubles, and the quest for freedom and equality in a divided world.
Dagan’s right-hand man on Click Right Here, his fourth studio effort, is a guitarist and musical director Nathan Hiltz, whose crackling arrangements and brilliant solos bring the songs to life. Hiltz fronts a versatile eight-piece band comprised of some of Canada’s finest: pianist Attila Fias, bassist Alex Bellegarde, drummer Ben Wittman, tenor saxophonist Colleen Allen, alto saxophonist Alison Young, trombonist William Carn, and trumpeter Andrew McAnsh. They are featured to brilliant effect on the potent band vehicle “21st-Century Blues.” In addition to being Dagan’s first recording with horns, Click Right Here also includes his first male duet, a romp of a minor-key tune called “Going That Counts,” featuring Toronto rising-star vocalist Donovan Locke. Rapper Erik Flow cowrote the blistering opener “Viruses,” built around a prominent omitted expletive that lends the song a distinct rhythmic hiccup.
Five-time JUNO Award winner and three-time GRAMMY nominee Jane Bunnett, of Spirits of Havana fame, contributes scintillating flute on “Hashtag World” and soprano sax on “Viruses.” Four-time JUNO winner Simone Denny (Love Inc.) appears on a bonus cover: a relaxed and incisive interpretation of The Buggles’ 1979 smash hit “Video Killed the Radio Star,” the definitive earworm of earliest MTV. Rebecca Hennessy serves as guest arranger on the Buggles cover as well as an updated take on Dagan’s 2012 single “Googleable,” replete with virtuosic scat breaks and arch references (“Google Apps are the best, skeptics eventually clue in / who might have guessed, other than Marshall McLuhan”). The album was recorded by GRAMMY-nominated engineer Jeremy Darby at Canterbury Music Company and co-produced by Macedonian multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, and producer Davor Jordanovski.
Dagan’s previous recordings, S’Cat Got My Tongue (2009) and Less Than Three <3 (2012), solidified his forward-thinking artistic voice. In 2017, with the support of over 200 crowdfunding contributors, he created the visual album Nathaniel: A Tribute to Nat King Cole, a first of its kind in the jazz genre — a collection of 12 music videos that won critical acclaim and recognition at film festivals worldwide, as well as an official showcase at SXSW.
Dagan’s rich bass-baritone is unmistakable; his irreverent songcraft speaks to the lineage of Nat Cole novelty numbers and the impeccably swinging humor of the late Bob Dorough and Dave Frishberg. His scat singing has the natural, fluid, bop-inflected feel of the best in that idiom. Click Right Here, his most ambitious project to date, is sure to take him to new destinations, onstage and online.
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Megan Thee Stallion Shares Her Resilience and Grief In A New Documentary, “In Her Words”
Megan Thee Stallion, celebrated for her fierce confidence and electrifying performances, recently opens up in a new documentary that delves deep into the intimate struggles behind her public persona. In “In Her Words,” streaming now on Prime Video, the Houston rapper and superstar bravely recounts one of her life’s most devastating moments: the heartbreak surrounding the death of her mother, Holly Thomas, in 2019. Megan’s experience of resilience and vulnerability shines as she shares the heartbreaking decision to take her mother off life support and how this tragic event of loss immensely impacted her life.
Throughout the documentary, Megan reveals how her mother’s health deteriorated rapidly due to back-to-back seizures, ultimately leaving her unresponsive and eventually brain-dead. Holly Thomas was more than just family; not only her mother but also her manager, mentor, and most prominent supporter. She had always been Megan’s guiding force, the foundation of her artistry, instrumental in shaping her career. With honesty and tenderness, Megan describes spending each day by her mother’s side, hoping for a miracle. But as time went on, watching her mother’s condition remain unchanged, Megan knew what her mother would want, facing the heart-wrenching realization that her mother would not come back to let her go.
“They had to put her under, and she was just brain dead,” Megan recounts. “I stayed up there every day… just praying that she could shake back from it,” she said. “But once I realized she wasn’t coming back, I knew I couldn’t keep her like this.” She made the decision, and her mother passed the following day.
The documentary highlights the depth of their relationship and the irreplaceable loss Megan faced. With her mother gone, she felt an unfamiliar emptiness. “When my mama passed away,” she shares, “I think I really forgot who I was. I lost a lot of confidence because I was so used to my mama telling me what to do.” The absence of her mother’s guidance hit Megan personally and professionally, leaving Megan adrift, grappling to rediscover herself alone amid her grief.
“In Her Words” showcases Megan Thee Stallion’s incredible strength and resilience, offering fans a closer glimpse at her life and a reminder that even icons who seem confident and robust have vulnerable moments and hidden battles to face. In this documentary, Megan’s unfiltered honesty truly shines, paying tribute to the enduring bond that even death cannot sever. It exudes a powerful portrait of a young woman navigating loss, fame, and healing.
Entertainment
Megan Thee Stallion Brings Texas-Sized Energy with a New Twerk Session Video
When Megan Thee Stallion proudly declares, “Everything’s bigger in Texas,” she truly embodies that spirit with her incredible dance moves. Recently, the Houston rapper energized her fans with a lively twerk session set to her new song, combining the charm of Southern culture with her remarkable dancing. The video showcases her talent and pays homage to her Texan roots, reflecting her pride and joy.
While some people criticize Megan for her bold performances, calling them excessive, she sees her dancing as a joyful and confident expression of herself. It’s significant for her during these challenging times in her life. In her new documentary, “In Her Words,” she opens up about the heart-wrenching experience of losing her mother and the difficult choice she had to make about her mother’s care. This loss deeply affected Megan, leading her to feel lost and uncertain about herself. “When my mama passed away, I think I really forgot who I was,” she shares. “I lost a lot of confidence because I was so used to my mama telling me what to do.”
Megan’s story reveals a woman who carries much weight on her shoulders but still finds ways to spread joy to her fans. A recent fun clip from her Halloween party with fellow rapper Dreezy shows them dancing in fantastic costumes, celebrating life, and shaking off their worries for a fun night.
Despite facing ongoing legal challenges and public scrutiny related to the shooting case involving Tory Lanez, Megan remains solid and trustworthy. No matter what others think, her resilience and ability to enjoy the bright moments in life reflect her Texas-sized strength. For Megan, celebrating life and everything bold and big will always be essential to her adventure.
