“Queer Heat” Review
By: Theresa “Ms. Reign” Taylor
This past weekend, the legendary Stonewall Inn played host to three of Philadelphia’s brightest stars: LBGTQ activist and poet, J Mase III, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, Keisha Slaughter, and singer-songwriter Ashley Phillips (featured image).
From the moment the trio stepped on stage an air of electric energy seemed to connect each performer to the crowd. The night started off with a hip-hop tinged call and response poem led by J Mase. Whose experimentation with music and lyricism would continue throughout the night and include a cover of Jill Scott’s “A Long Walk” and a remix of Michelle Ndegeocello’s “The Way”.
As J Mase III and Keisha Slaughter teamed up on stage for a live collaboration of their song “Brighter Days”, it was as if fireworks had gone off in the room. Their act transported me into a mindset of the closing scene of Gridlock’d when Thandie Newton and Tupac Shakur got together for a vocal harmony that combined rap, poetry, neo-soul and jazz. I was immediately aware that something larger than three friends coming together to put on a concert was happening. As the two traded lyrics back and forth I couldn’t help but feel as if I were watching the next generation of John Legend and Jill Scott.
Having witnessed Mase’s poetic antics a time or two before, I was surprised by his eagerness to step outside of his comfort zone. Mase credited his performance to being inspired by the talents of Ashley and Keisha, saying, “having friends that are creative that way, makes you want to do something outside of your comfort zone”. While the poetic-rap style may make another appearance at a future show, Mase ensures me that the next time he decides to sing his way through the night all members of tonight’s ensemble will be present. He doesn’t consider himself to be “The Frank Ocean of this bunch”.
By far the biggest treat of the night came when the soft-spoken flutist, Keisha Slaughter, approached the mic to belt out a few of her own original tracks. From the moment she opened her mouth I found myself drawn in. Each song was an in-depth look into the spirit of this woman. Her tracks told stories of relationships, struggles with her sexuality and celebrated life as it is. Her 30-minute presentation of character and warmth most certainly made me a fan.
While Ashley spent most of the night providing rhythmic accompaniment via her Cajon, her solo performance had a few standout moments of its own. Including a back-to-back duet with guest singer, Tiffany James. Together they changed the pace of the evening. Closing out the show with two up-tempo pieces that left the audience craving more.
As I watched these three female-bodied queers celebrate their creative talents and abilities, I couldn’t help but think to myself, why doesn’t this happen more often? It’s not uncommon to find creative minds coming together for a jam session. However, it is rare to see a group of queers rally this type of support for their creative collaboration. “Queer Heat’s” producer, J Mase III, said the that the idea for the show came out of his own desire to throw down with other fierce performers collectively rather than joining forces individually.
What’s next for poet, event producer and activist J Mase III? In between performing at U.K.’s Black Pride in London this summer and taking a trip to South Africa in the fall, Mase hopes to continue helping young adults realize their potential through the writing workshops that he teaches throughout the U.S. There are also plans for a second coming of “Queer Heat”. I for one am most certainly looking forward to seeing more creative collaborations in this same vain, sooner rather than later. It was amazing to watch three queers team up to give the LBGTQ community something to cheer about. And man, did we cheer.
Interested in learning more about these artists? Their music? Poetry? And upcoming performances? Find them at the websites listed below.
J Mase III – www.jmaseiii.com
Keisha Slaughter – http://www.reverbnation.com/keishaslaughter
Ashley Phillips – www.apsoul.com
*Side Note: While Ashley Phillips and Keisha Slaughter both identify as queer, J Mase III identifies as trans-masculine and prefers to be referred to as “he”.
Follow Ms. Reign on Twitter: @reignproduction
