Latest news with #PepperdineUniversity
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Column: Jazz singer Elaine Dame takes a new road with ‘Reminiscing'
The singer Elaine Dame has had an interesting life, so far. She was telling me about its latest chapter earlier this month. It was a few days before her performance at Winter's Jazz Club and she said, 'There will be songs that I have performed for years, but also a great deal of material from my new CD. It's called 'Reminiscing' and, well, it's something different.' Before we get to that, know that Dame grew up in Stevensville, Michigan, where she was introduced to music by her parents, especially her mother, who was a flutist and singer. Her grandparents were also influential, with one grandmother often taking her to concerts and plays and a grandfather who was a Protestant minister. She took piano and flute lessons and was so talented that she earned a scholarship to Pepperdine University in California, where she studied classical flute, singing and theater. She moved to nearby California State University to participate in the school's inaugural theater repertory program and then spent nearly a decade attempting to craft a life and career in theater in Los Angeles, which, I've heard, doesn't have much of a theater scene. And so she came home in 1992. The Chicago theater scene proved kinder and livelier than that of LA but after a few years she began feeling unfulfilled. And then she read a book titled 'The Artist's Way' by Julia Cameron, who was once married to film director Martin Scorsese but also once wrote articles for the Tribune, before the unlikely success of her book — first distributed as photocopies in stores before selling millions in book form — took her to self-help superstardom. Some of the book's lessons and advice on 'recovering your creative self' and unleashing 'your own inner artist' convinced Dame it was music and not theater that was her calling. 'Her book is very powerful and put me in such a positive mood,' Dame says. She dove boldly into music again and the local scene, finding, she says, 'A very nurturing place and one filled with understanding people. The members of the jazz community support one another because we know how hard it is out there.' She started working with a pianist, refining her skills and, in time, success began at a steady pace. She performed at jazz festivals, at New York City's Rainbow Room and Michael Feinstein's 54 Below, at most of the city's clubs and others across the country. She recorded two acclaimed CDs, 'Comes Love' (2005) and 'You're My Thrill' (2014). Like many artists, notably musicians, she also taught, in her case classical flute, piano and singing at her home in the East Lakeview neighborhood, saying, 'There are some students who have been with me for more than 10 years and they have run in age from 7 to 72.' One of the advantages of the internet is that it enables one to view and listen to performers, though I feel it is always preferable to see them in person. You can hear some of her music at and also read what critics have had to say. Few have written more about Dame than local critic Neil Tesser. He has written the liner notes for all of Dame's CDs, and here is a bit of what he has written in the past: 'The Dame stands straight up at a microphone, like she owns it — or rather, like she co-owns it with her onstage collaborators. She sings with confidence and craft, letting her upper register swell open with a cocky confidence, but she doesn't overdo it; same thing with that vibrato, now slight, now thrilling, perched between jazz and Broadway — between Ella Fitzgerald and Ethel Merman.' And now, comes Dame's new chapter, featuring 'Reminiscing.' It took some time to get here, tragically delayed by the death of her parents and the pains of the pandemic. But, released in February, it is a flat-out delight. 'It was not just my desire to do something new but, as much as my first two CDs are devoted to the American Songbook tradition, I love '70s music and this is it,' she said. It is a gathering of nine songs, arranged by Dame and saxophonist Chris Madsen. Here's Tesser again: 'On 'Reminiscing,' Elaine does more than just cover her teenage soundtrack; with a blend of nostalgia and adventure, she claims these songs as her own and adds them to the ever-expanding American Songbook. She isn't the first to do this, but on Reminiscing, she shows she's among the best. And she comes at them with the perspective of a woman artist in an era of change.' It is now, then, time for you to have a listen. rkogan@ 7 p.m. May 30 at CityGate Grille, 2020 Calamos Court, Naperville; Then 6 p.m. June 5 at The Chicago Firehouse, 1401 S. Michigan Ave.;
Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Column: Jazz singer Elaine Dame takes a new road with ‘Reminiscing'
The singer Elaine Dame has had an interesting life, so far. She was telling me about its latest chapter earlier this month. It was a few days before her performance at Winter's Jazz Club and she said, 'There will be songs that I have performed for years, but also a great deal of material from my new CD. It's called 'Reminiscing' and, well, it's something different.' Before we get to that, know that Dame grew up in Stevensville, Michigan, where she was introduced to music by her parents, especially her mother, who was a flutist and singer. Her grandparents were also influential, with one grandmother often taking her to concerts and plays and a grandfather who was a Protestant minister. She took piano and flute lessons and was so talented that she earned a scholarship to Pepperdine University in California, where she studied classical flute, singing and theater. She moved to nearby California State University to participate in the school's inaugural theater repertory program and then spent nearly a decade attempting to craft a life and career in theater in Los Angeles, which, I've heard, doesn't have much of a theater scene. And so she came home in 1992. The Chicago theater scene proved kinder and livelier than that of LA but after a few years she began feeling unfulfilled. And then she read a book titled 'The Artist's Way' by Julia Cameron, who was once married to film director Martin Scorsese but also once wrote articles for the Tribune, before the unlikely success of her book — first distributed as photocopies in stores before selling millions in book form — took her to self-help superstardom. Some of the book's lessons and advice on 'recovering your creative self' and unleashing 'your own inner artist' convinced Dame it was music and not theater that was her calling. 'Her book is very powerful and put me in such a positive mood,' Dame says. She dove boldly into music again and the local scene, finding, she says, 'A very nurturing place and one filled with understanding people. The members of the jazz community support one another because we know how hard it is out there.' She started working with a pianist, refining her skills and, in time, success began at a steady pace. She performed at jazz festivals, at New York City's Rainbow Room and Michael Feinstein's 54 Below, at most of the city's clubs and others across the country. She recorded two acclaimed CDs, 'Comes Love' (2005) and 'You're My Thrill' (2014). Like many artists, notably musicians, she also taught, in her case classical flute, piano and singing at her home in the East Lakeview neighborhood, saying, 'There are some students who have been with me for more than 10 years and they have run in age from 7 to 72.' One of the advantages of the internet is that it enables one to view and listen to performers, though I feel it is always preferable to see them in person. You can hear some of her music at and also read what critics have had to say. Few have written more about Dame than local critic Neil Tesser. He has written the liner notes for all of Dame's CDs, and here is a bit of what he has written in the past: 'The Dame stands straight up at a microphone, like she owns it — or rather, like she co-owns it with her onstage collaborators. She sings with confidence and craft, letting her upper register swell open with a cocky confidence, but she doesn't overdo it; same thing with that vibrato, now slight, now thrilling, perched between jazz and Broadway — between Ella Fitzgerald and Ethel Merman.' And now, comes Dame's new chapter, featuring 'Reminiscing.' It took some time to get here, tragically delayed by the death of her parents and the pains of the pandemic. But, released in February, it is a flat-out delight. 'It was not just my desire to do something new but, as much as my first two CDs are devoted to the American Songbook tradition, I love '70s music and this is it,' she said. It is a gathering of nine songs, arranged by Dame and saxophonist Chris Madsen. Here's Tesser again: 'On 'Reminiscing,' Elaine does more than just cover her teenage soundtrack; with a blend of nostalgia and adventure, she claims these songs as her own and adds them to the ever-expanding American Songbook. She isn't the first to do this, but on Reminiscing, she shows she's among the best. And she comes at them with the perspective of a woman artist in an era of change.' It is now, then, time for you to have a listen.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Who is Rev. Jeff Hood? Spiritual adviser who witnessed 9 death row executions nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
A man who has witnessed as many as nine death row executions has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Rev. Jeff Hood was reportedly nominated for the distinguished award by David Lemley, a professor of religion at Southern California's Pepperdine University. "He's putting himself in a position to love 'the least of these,'" Lemley told USA TODAY. "It is peace for peace's sake. It's good for good's sake. I think that's worth awarding," Lemley added, explaining that Hood's nomination is based more on his personal definition of peace, and not on what is commonly associated with the award. The US Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that if inmates wanted, spiritual advisers would be allowed inside execution chambers. Hood, an Arkansas native, has since made it his mission to be present in the final moments of inmates. Hood previously told USA TODAY that it validates him in his work in being there for "his guys" at the end of their lives. "The greater honor for me is the opportunity to witness God's love flow in and out of the lives of those we marginalize and oppress here in the land of the living," said Hood, whose official job is to befriend the death row inmates in the final days of their lives. "My job is to come into their lives when they have six to three months left to live and become their best friend," Hood added. "I become their best friend in order to be their best friend when they die." Hood, a death penalty activist, is a theologian educated at Auburn University, the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, according to After Violence Archive. 'His primary interest has always been the power of spirituality to bring about liberation,' Patheos says on Hood. 'In addition to his formal studies, Dr. Hood completed multiple units of Clinical Pastoral Education at a Level I trauma center in Fort Worth, Texas.' Hood was ordained to the ministry at the Rock Baptist Church in Rex, Georgia, back in 2006. He was incardinated into the priesthood of the Catholic Church (Old Catholic) at Saint Miriam Parish and Friary in Flourtown, Pennsylvania, in 2022. He has written more than 100 books, including the famous book titled The Courage to Be Queer, which was named the third-best religion book of 2016 at the Independent Publishers Book Awards. He has notably served in the governing leadership of various organizations, including the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty and Fellowship of Reconciliation USA. Lemley wrote in the nominating letter, "I believe Dr. Hood's person and work are worthy of the committee's consideration as an example of bringing both the peace that flows from honoring the dignity of disenfranchised people, and the peace that flows through the channel of one human spirit to another.' Noa Dubois, the wife of former Texas death row inmate Steven Nelson, told the outlet that Hood's guidance was instrumental in her husband's last days. "When you know you know your time and date of (execution), you start to ask all those questions you know in your mind," Dubois said. "Am I a good person? How can I achieve redemption? Is there hell? Is there heaven?' Jeff was really able to answer all those questions or at least guide Steven through those times of uncertainty.' Hood and Dubois are believed to have remained close even after the execution. "It's proof of understanding and humanity to have the connection with spirituality to put aside people's actions and just still love them and be present for them and help them navigate one of the worst horrible things that this country is doing," Dubois said. Hood will find out in October if he wins the prestigious award.
Indianapolis Star
6 days ago
- Indianapolis Star
Death row spiritual adviser, a witness to 9 executions, nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
When the Rev. Jeff Hood walked into Oklahoma's execution chamber, he found his friend Emmanuel Littlejohn already strapped to a gurney, moments away from death. When Hood pulled out some anointing oil to bless Littlejohn one last time, the condemned man offered a brief moment of levity in the grim environment. "Oh Jeff, did you bring me a blunt?" Littlejohn told the spiritual adviser – according to his mother, Ceily Mason, who was a witness to her son's execution. Turning serious, Littlejohn told his mother and daughter he loved them and reassured them: "I'm OK, everything is going to be OK." Then, Hood asked Littlejohn for forgiveness: "I'm so sorry I wasn't able to stop this." Then the man condemned to death for the 1992 killing of Oklahoma City shopkeeper Kenneth Meers − for which he maintained innocence until the end − offered absolution to the priest that helped win him hope for clemency. "Jeff, the only reason we made it this far is because of you," Littlejohn told Hood. In Littlejohn's final moments, Hood told him: "Go to the love." Hood has witnessed the execution of nine of "his guys," including the first nitrogen gas execution carried out in the U.S., that of Kenneth Smith in January 2024. "My job is to come into their lives when they have six to three months left to live and become their best friend," Hood previously told USA TODAY after David Hosier's execution in 2024. "I become their best friend in order to be their best friend when they die." For his work with death row inmates, Hood has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by David Lemley, a professor of religion at Southern California's Pepperdine University. "He's putting himself in a position to love 'the least of these,'" Lemley told USA TODAY. "It is peace for peace's sake. It's good for good sake. I think that that's worth awarding." The Nobel Foundation says 338 candidates have been nominated for the 2025 prize, though the list of nominees won't be made public for 50 years. Lemley told USA TODAY that his nomination asks the Nobel committee to consider a more personal definition of peace than what is commonly associated with the award, such as the nuclear disarmament work of 2024 prize winner Nihon Hidankyo or the efforts of 2016 winner Columbian President Juan Manuel Santos to end the country's civil war. "I believe Dr. Hood's person and work are worthy of the committee's consideration as an example of bringing both the peace that flows from honoring the dignity of disenfranchised people, and the peace that flows through the channel of one human spirit to another," Lemley wrote in the nominating letter, obtained by USA TODAY. Hood told USA TODAY that he finds his validation in being there for "his guys" at the end of their lives. "The greater honor for me is the opportunity to witness God's love flow in and out of the lives of those we marginalize and oppress here in the land of the living," Hood said. The winner of the prize will be announced in October. In 2022, the Supreme Court ruled that spiritual advisers must be allowed into execution chambers if death row inmates want them. Since then, the 41-year-old Hood − who is based in Little Rock, Arkansas, with his wife and five children − has made it one of his missions to comfort the condemned in their final weeks, hours and minutes. Two of his guys are scheduled for execution on June 10: Gregory Hunt in Alabama and Anthony Wainwright in Florida. "These are people who Jeff is serving to the end of their life. He can't offer them rehabilitation, he can't offer them restoration to society," Lemley said. "But you can be the presence of peace to them in their final moments, which often, as we've seen, are really terrifying moments." Noa Dubois, the wife of former Texas death row inmate Steven Nelson, said that Hood's guidance was instrumental in her husband's final days. "When you know you know your time and date of (execution), you start to ask all those questions you know in your in your mind," Dubois told USA TODAY. "'Am I a good person? How can I achieve redemption? Is there hell? Is there heaven?' Jeff was really able to answer all those questions or at least guide Steven through those times of uncertainty." Nelson was executed earlier this year for the for the 2011 murder of a beloved young pastor, the Rev. Clint Dobson, though he maintained his innocence. Following the execution Dubois and Hood remained close. She said witnessing his outreach work helped restore her faith in humanity. "It's proof of understanding and humanity to have the connection with spirituality to put aside people's actions and just still love them and be present for them and help them navigate one of the worst horrible things that this country is doing," Dubois said. As she watched the execution of her son in Oklahoma, Ceily Mason witnessed the toll losing Littlejohn took on Hood. "I watched Jeff and Jeff bawled. Most ministers, they done been there so much it don't bother them," Mason told USA TODAY. "But I watched Jeff and Jeff bawled, he couldn't take it." Mason said that Jeff has become part of her family and presided over Littlejohn's celebration of life. "I tell him all the time: 'God gave you something that you got to deal with, Jeff'" she said. "I don't know if I could do it, but each man gets a chance in Jeff's heart. it doesn't matter if they guilty or innocent, and he knows they (are) innocent or he knows they (are) guilty, he still loves on them." Both Mason and Dubois spoke to Hood remaining in their lives following their loved ones' executions. "I think I needed as much help (after Nelson's execution) as he needed and we were both able to provide for each other, which strengthened the bond," Dubois said. "We needed to process this together." Lemley told USA TODAY that Hood's willingness to work with the condemned should be recognized by the Nobel committee as a starting point for building true peace. "If you can stand with someone who is clearly guilty of something in their final moments and offer them peace, that really says something to those of us who are hoping that people will look up and see the human cost of war, the human cost of immigration policies, the human cost of economic policies and the human cost of the rhetoric behind those things that would suggest that anybody is less than human," Lemley said. Lemley noted that some of those considered for the Peace Prize are chosen after coming to prominence and that Hood's nomination serves as a counterpoint to them.
USA Today
6 days ago
- USA Today
Death row spiritual adviser, a witness to 9 executions, nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
The Rev. Jeff Hood, a noted anti-death penalty activist and death row spiritual advisor based in Arkansas, has witnessed nine executions in various states. As part of his duties as spiritual advisor, Hood can join inmates in the execution chamber during their last moments on Earth. The California religion professor who nominated Hood says that Hood's duties are 'a suffering kind of work' that deserve recognition. When the Rev. Jeff Hood walked into Oklahoma's execution chamber, he found his friend Emmanuel Littlejohn already strapped to a gurney, moments away from death. When Hood pulled out some anointing oil to bless Littlejohn one last time, the condemned man offered a brief moment of levity in the grim environment. "Oh Jeff, did you bring me a blunt?" Littlejohn told the spiritual adviser – according to his mother, Ceily Mason, who was a witness to her son's execution. Turning serious, Littlejohn told his mother and daughter he loved them and reassured them: "I'm OK, everything is going to be OK." Then, Hood asked Littlejohn for forgiveness: "I'm so sorry I wasn't able to stop this." Then the man condemned to death for the 1992 killing of Oklahoma City shopkeeper Kenneth Meers − for which he maintained innocence until the end − offered absolution to the priest that helped win him hope for clemency. "Jeff, the only reason we made it this far is because of you," Littlejohn told Hood. In Littlejohn's final moments, Hood told him: "Go to the love." Hood has witnessed the execution of nine of "his guys," including the first nitrogen gas execution carried out in the U.S., that of Kenneth Smith in January 2024. "My job is to come into their lives when they have six to three months left to live and become their best friend," Hood previously told USA TODAY after David Hosier's execution in 2024. "I become their best friend in order to be their best friend when they die." For his work with death row inmates, Hood has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by David Lemley, a professor of religion at Southern California's Pepperdine University. "He's putting himself in a position to love 'the least of these,'" Lemley told USA TODAY. "It is peace for peace's sake. It's good for good sake. I think that that's worth awarding." Death row pastor finds honor in loving condemned The Nobel Foundation says 338 candidates have been nominated for the 2025 prize, though the list of nominees won't be made public for 50 years. Lemley told USA TODAY that his nomination asks the Nobel committee to consider a more personal definition of peace than what is commonly associated with the award, such as the nuclear disarmament work of 2024 prize winner Nihon Hidankyo or the efforts of 2016 winner Columbian President Juan Manuel Santos to end the country's civil war. "I believe Dr. Hood's person and work are worthy of the committee's consideration as an example of bringing both the peace that flows from honoring the dignity of disenfranchised people, and the peace that flows through the channel of one human spirit to another," Lemley wrote in the nominating letter, obtained by USA TODAY. Hood told USA TODAY that he finds his validation in being there for "his guys" at the end of their lives. "The greater honor for me is the opportunity to witness God's love flow in and out of the lives of those we marginalize and oppress here in the land of the living," Hood said. The winner of the prize will be announced in October. Nobel nominee becomes death row inmates' 'best friend' In 2022, the Supreme Court ruled that spiritual advisers must be allowed into execution chambers if death row inmates want them. Since then, the 41-year-old Hood − who is based in Little Rock, Arkansas, with his wife and five children − has made it one of his missions to comfort the condemned in their final weeks, hours and minutes. Two of his guys are scheduled for execution on June 10: Gregory Hunt in Alabama and Anthony Wainwright in Florida. "These are people who Jeff is serving to the end of their life. He can't offer them rehabilitation, he can't offer them restoration to society," Lemley said. "But you can be the presence of peace to them in their final moments, which often, as we've seen, are really terrifying moments." Noa Dubois, the wife of former Texas death row inmate Steven Nelson, said that Hood's guidance was instrumental in her husband's final days. "When you know you know your time and date of (execution), you start to ask all those questions you know in your in your mind," Dubois told USA TODAY. "'Am I a good person? How can I achieve redemption? Is there hell? Is there heaven?' Jeff was really able to answer all those questions or at least guide Steven through those times of uncertainty." Nelson was executed earlier this year for the for the 2011 murder of a beloved young pastor, the Rev. Clint Dobson, though he maintained his innocence. Following the execution Dubois and Hood remained close. She said witnessing his outreach work helped restore her faith in humanity. "It's proof of understanding and humanity to have the connection with spirituality to put aside people's actions and just still love them and be present for them and help them navigate one of the worst horrible things that this country is doing," Dubois said. Families say Hood's presence key in healing As she watched the execution of her son in Oklahoma, Ceily Mason witnessed the toll losing Littlejohn took on Hood. "I watched Jeff and Jeff bawled. Most ministers, they done been there so much it don't bother them," Mason told USA TODAY. "But I watched Jeff and Jeff bawled, he couldn't take it." Mason said that Jeff has become part of her family and presided over Littlejohn's celebration of life. "I tell him all the time: 'God gave you something that you got to deal with, Jeff'" she said. "I don't know if I could do it, but each man gets a chance in Jeff's heart. it doesn't matter if they guilty or innocent, and he knows they (are) innocent or he knows they (are) guilty, he still loves on them." Both Mason and Dubois spoke to Hood remaining in their lives following their loved ones' executions. "I think I needed as much help (after Nelson's execution) as he needed and we were both able to provide for each other, which strengthened the bond," Dubois said. "We needed to process this together." Nomination asks to recognize "suffering work" Lemley told USA TODAY that Hood's willingness to work with the condemned should be recognized by the Nobel committee as a starting point for building true peace. "If you can stand with someone who is clearly guilty of something in their final moments and offer them peace, that really says something to those of us who are hoping that people will look up and see the human cost of war, the human cost of immigration policies, the human cost of economic policies and the human cost of the rhetoric behind those things that would suggest that anybody is less than human," Lemley said. Lemley noted that some of those considered for the Peace Prize are chosen after coming to prominence and that Hood's nomination serves as a counterpoint to them. "Jeff is not living a fabulous celebrity life because of the public work that he does," he said. "It's a suffering kind of work."
