Her storied career began with some mentoring by gospel legend Mahalia Jackson.  Now DELLA REESE is giving back to young performers herself.  The singer/actress, who was the first black woman to host her own syndicated talk show and guest host The Tonight Show, says her career and those of artists like Tony Bennett, were nurtured for longevity, but today it's that 15 minutes of success that rules.  "It's about how much money can I make and how quickly can I make [it]," she told Tasty Clips.  "If you're not hot, you're nothing.  And that's not true."  So the star of the 9 season long CBS series Touched By An Angel was inspired to present a show featuring popular 90's acts Sisters With Voices, Jon B, Tommy Davidson, and introducing Noel on June 20 at The Wilshire Theatre in Beverly Hills.  "Talent lasts longer than a record," she explained.  "It lasts longer than a particular job."
 
You successfully switched from gospel into jazz.  Today's singers are criticized when they do that.  "Well, I got criticized.  The people in my church said I had given my soul to the devil and God was gonna get me.  I don't know what kind of God they served, but I have the right to music that everybody else has.  Because I'm singing a popular love song does not mean that my relationship with God is no longer existent."   You knew Billie Holiday well.  Did the movie really capture her essence?  "Billie had a lot of trouble.  She had a great deal of talent but was unable to propel that.  Let me go about it this way, Bill.  When you're traveling on the road, the people that you would like to meet have respect for you and they say, 'Well I won't bother her.  She's working hard.'  And the people that you do meet out of loneliness bring things that you don't need in your life.  You're lonesome.  You're alone.  Unless you have some kind of spiritual connection, you're left out and you're tempted to do things that are not in your best interest. Billie was caught in that trap."  
 
Now you know your part in Harlem Nights is most memorable. Did the church give you a hard time about your language in that?  "Oh they wanted my license back. (laughs)  People have to categorize you, unfortunately.  They could not accept that God has given me the talent to be a singer and an actress and that he made it possible for me to teach and be a minister.  That could not fit in the same bag.  So if I could do that role so that you would believe it, that must be who I am.  They could not accept that I was able to perform as that character and be who I am."  Obviously you were very close with your co-star Redd Foxx.  "He was my friend for forty years."  Do you feel the IRS sort of did him wrong?  "They did all of us wrong. We were not well versed on how to manage money.  When we first started out we were making such a little amount of money nobody said anything to us about taxes.  We were trying to eat everyday.  Pay our rent.  We did not know we were going to be as successful as we were because it was not really allowed.  We broke a lot of barriers.  They didn't have to treat Redd the way they treated him because he was an honest man.  And if they had presented it to him, he would've paid his taxes.  So in a lot of ways they did a lot of things that were unnecessary to do to him."  I think they did it to Sammy Davis, Jr.  "They did it to all of us.  They did it to me.  They told me at one time that I owed them $487,000.  I didn't even know anybody who knew anybody who made [that].  In fact, when I went to a tax attorney he said, 'How is this possible?  You haven't made enough to owe this kind of money.'"  So once you got in the public light you had to watch your back.  "And your front too."   
 
Tell us about your parish at The UP Church:  "We are a bible based new thought church studying the words of Jesus Christ and the principles that God has left for us so that we can have life and that more abundantly which is what Jesus said he came to bring us.  I teach the principles of God and I teach about living.  Jesus said the only time is now.  So I teach about living not about dying." There appears to be a racial divide when it comes to worshipping together. Why do you think that is?  "Well, we've always had racial barriers.  It's not only in our time.  In all times there have been racial barriers.  When Jesus was here it was the Romans against the Pharisees against the Sadducees against the Greeks.  It seems to me that man has to have somebody to look down on and something to look up to.  I don't know why, but it seems that that's always been the case.  Richard Pryor said one time that he went to a foreign country and was feeling so good about being there - that people were not treating him the way that he was treated at home here.  He was feeling really good about it.  One of the natives of the place where he was came and asked him, How do you like it here.  He said, I like it fine and I'm enjoying myself.  The person from the country said, You don't have the discrimination that you have at home cause we don't do that.  We accept everybody for being the way they are...except for the Laps because they move in your neighborhood they kill the grass. (laughs) You don't want one of them to marry your sister. (laughs)  Richard said, It was like being back home." 
 
On Chris Brown and Rihanna: "I don't know them, but I know if he would whup her once he'd whup her again.  There's something wrong with a person that goes to that extreme, you see.  I hope she will be able to get herself together and know that there's a better life for her.  And I hope he gets himself together to know that he's able to get his point across without trying to kill somebody.  I was a person who was brutalized in my youth.  And when a man has beaten you that way and then he tells you he will kill you, you believe him.  You believe that he will do that because look at what he has already done.  You have the bruises to show that he has no problem attacking you."  
 
On Madonna's difficulties adopting African children:  "If she wants to adopt children, there are children all over the world.  But she didn't have to go that far.  Probably two blocks from where she lives.  It would lead one to wonder why you have to go so far.  What makes you go that far away when you really are in love with children and you want to help children.  What about the ones that you can reach out and touch right here?" For more from DELLA on The Great Depression, President Obama and Rev. Wright, visit Poli-Sigh! here.

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Using his instincts as one of the better character actors of his generation helped pave the way for GIANCARLO ESPOSITO to tackle the tiring, stressful job of directing his first film: Gospel Hill.  He got so involved in this dream project that he also produced, co-wrote, scored, and pitched in with the editing of this civil rights drama. 
 
Yet, despite its all-star cast the Rock Hill, SC shot film couldn't find a major distribution deal causing the resilient Esposito to take it on the film festival circuit.  "Hollywood is looking more to films that entertain on a different level," he explained to Tasty Clips' Victor Bains Marshall.  "I think Hollywood's been responsible for dumbing down a lot of our American public because we buy tickets to films that serve explicit messages of sex and violence and light fare that they've been convinced that that's what will put the butts in the seats and make money.  Independent film is more importantly telling [diverse multi-cultural] stories that Hollywood does not tell.  We have to look to independent directors and producers who are more committed to the word."
 
Esposito believes his passion and understanding of the material were essentials in gathering his A-List cast:  "Julia Styles said to me, 'I don't want to be the white girl in a black movie.'  And I said, 'Well this movie is in line with your politics.'  I researched her politics.  I said, 'You want the country to change.  You want people to look at each other differently.  Well you have to be in this movie.'"  
 
"Danny Glover had a whole other reason for saying no.  He didn't understand completely the character of John Malcolm.  Now people see this movie and they say they've never seen Danny better.  They've seen him in Honeydripper and they say, 'Wow he's much better in this than he was in that.'  I hate to compare people in one role to another, but certainly keeping him silent and keeping such a wonderful actor with what he says with his eyes and his physicality meant more than me putting more words in his mouth.  I knew that that's what I wanted." 
 
"Samuel L. Jackson you know is about money.  He's doing big blockbuster films and he wants to golf.  He's over it.  I wanted to be able ply a performance out of him again that the people would like to see, because they know he can be a dynamic and wonderful and incredible actor.  But we also know he can be lazy and just be phoning it in.  These kinds of situations are very important for me, because you have to give people a reason to be with you."  
 
"You also have to remind people that they like you, so when they think about it they want to work with you.  Like Angela Bassett.  Not only do I like her and she likes me, but she's incredibly respectful of the choices I've made in my career.  So here's a good example.  If you lay down a good career and you've made some integral choices, people will look at that before they jump in the bed with you cause they want to know that you have integrity.  So all these things helped me to realize the cast I have."  Check Giancarlo on his assassin role in Malcolm X, and his observations of President Obama at Poli-Sigh! here. 

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"Who gave you the lyrics, though? I've seen some really strange rewrites of my stuff. I've seen one time they said the lyrics to When Doves Cry was "Dig, if you will, the picture of me, Marvin Gaye, and the kids." (Laughter)  And then there was another one. This person will go unnamed. She didn't speak the English language too good. She had a really cute daughter, so that's why we was acquaintances. (Laughter) But she swore up and down Little Red Corvette was "Pay the rent collect." - PRINCE to Tavis Smiley

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TC CDs: CHARLIE WILSON - Uncle Charlie (Zomba/Jive) Gap Band lead vocalist returns with a second straight solid solo outing with appeal to old schoolers and young bucks.  There Goes My Baby gets mad airplay, but soon to follow are Let It Out feat. his "nephew" Snoop Dogg & Supa Sexxy feat. T-Pain & Jamie Foxx.  JAMES TAYLOR - Covers/Other Covers (Hear Music/Concord) Folksy FM mainstay offers up these discs of his favorite tunes.  Absolutely loved his takes on Oh, What A Beautiful Morning; On Broadway & The Spinners' Sadie - a song no one dares do because of the late Philippe Wynne's indelible vocal.  WYNTON MARSALIS - He and She (Blue Note) The music is classic and so is the prose.  The man not only has a way with his horn but with words as well.  "Oh yes!  a man and a woman's a dangerous thing.  a train, a banjo, and a chcken wing."  MARION MEADOWS - Secrets (Heads Up) Sax symbol returns with one of his best offerings.  Check out Charlie Karp's vocal on You Lift My Heart & guitarist Freddie Fox (Evelyn "Champagne" King's hubby) on some of the standout tracks.  SEX MOB - Meets Medeski - Live in Willisau (Thirsty Ear) Steven Bernstein’s acid jazz band presents this recording featuring the keyboard wizardry of John Medeski (of Medeski, Martin & Wood).  Big surprises come in the form of covers honoring composers like James Bond score master John Barry (You Only Live Twice) & Prince (Sign of the Times, Darling Nikki).  TONEX - Unspoken (Battery) This is not your momma's gospel music.  This contemporary Stellar Award winner drops Beyonce type beats, funk, R&B and rock in the name of praise.  Singles Blend and Joy are gems.  BOBBY SANABRIA - Kenya Revisited - Live (Jazzheads) In 1957, Machito & the Afro-Cubans under the direction of Mario Bauza, recorded a classic album with young phenoms Julian "Cannonball" Adderley & Joe Newman marking a first time fusion with West African sounds.  This live recreation spotlights the Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra & Candido.  One of the most enjoyable listens of the year!

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"I like constructive criticism from smart people. I'm thankful enough to - or blessed enough to be able to say that Miles Davis was a friend when he was alive, and he was a wonderful mentor and really, really funny. And he could critique something you've done by humor and out of love rather than just call you a punk and just dismiss you. (Laughter) He wasn't like that, because people he cared about he tried to help. When people criticize my work and attack my personality, it doesn't help me; I can't do anything with it. I don't know what they want." - PRINCE to Tavis Smiley

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Switzerland's 43rd annual Montreux Jazz Festival will feature an eclectic lineup including B.B. King, Jeff Beck, Herbie Hancock, Black Eyed Peas, Lauryn Hill, Dave Matthews Band, Steely Dan and Susan Tedeschi, among many, many others. This year's edition promises a "360 degree musical panorama" in the Swiss lakeside town from July 3 to 18. There will be a three-night tribute to Chris Blackwell, who founded Island Records in Jamaica 50 years ago, and the festival will end on a disco note with Donna Summer.

 
George Wein's Jazz Festival 55 (Aug. 7-9) is on continuing a legacy started in its Newport R.I. home.    Acts set include Etta James; The Roots; Mos Def; Branford Marsalis; Tony Bennett; The Dave Brubeck Quartet; Joshua Redman; Christian McBride; Esperanza Spalding; Michel Camilo; Joe Lovano; Ernest Ranglin; The Bad Plus feat. Wendy Lewis; Brian Blade; Joey Calderazzo; Miguel Zenon Quartet; Claudia Acuna; The Cedar Walton All-Stars feat. Lew Tabackin & Curtis Fuller; The Roy Haynes Fountain of Youth Band; and many others.  For more info, visit:  www.jazzfestival55.com.  

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TC DINING:  CANDICE KUMAI, the San Diego surf girl who burst on the scene in the first season of Top Chef, contends you can eat and lose weight in the new Lifetime series Cook Yourself Thin.  "I live the lifestyle of our show," declared The Stiletto Chef who co-hosts with fellow culinary experts Harry Eastwood and Allison Fishman to Tasty Clips.  "I believe you can have your full fat food you just need to do that in moderation.  You should never deprive yourself of your favorite foods.  There's no reason to be eating celery, and lettuce and rice cakes all day, when you can have the same foods that you love.  You just need to learn how to make them the correct way."  Chicken and bean burrittos, stuffed portobello mushrooms, pot pies and even brownies all get lean flavorful makeovers.

Kumai is a huge fan of good food in New York.  "Honestly, the restaurants in L.A. just don't come to their level," she told us.  "There's a place called Freeman Alley (212-420-0012).  The Spotted Pig is really good.  A place called Casa serves great Brazilian food."  As for wines, she loves those from the Napa Valley, but for something new suggests an Argentinean Malbec.

The self described "jack of all trades," counts among her signature dishes a great crab ravioli and a savory herb roasted chicken.  She would love to meet a man who could make a terrific skirt steak with a port wine reduction and roasted vegs but wouldn't mind pitching in.  "That really does bring two people together," said Kumai.  "Being able to cook for another person and sharing food together is an amazing thing.  How could you not smile if somebody sat down and made you a great big bowl of mac n cheese and red velvet cupcakes?  What could be better to come home to that?"  Be on the lookout for her exciting new Stiletto Chef apron line this fall.

In other TV news: The Next Food Network Star returns for a fifth season with Bobby Flay as host beginning June 7; and Bravo will launch the spin-off Top Chef Masters on June 10.

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PROPS TO: Writer DAVID MILLS, who is shuttering his outstanding Undercover Black Man blog to co-produce the upcoming HBO New Orleans based drama Treme which will reunite him with some of his mates from The Wire and The Corner: David Simon, Wendell Pierce, Khandi Alexander & Clarke Peters....Balladeer WILL DOWNING for his recovery from a two-year life threatening illness to return to touring with a new release Classique due in stores on June 16.  In addition to the 7 self-penned tunes, there are his renditions of hits made famous by David Ruffin, Barry White & The Originals....Pastor SHIRLEY CAESAR for being feted during the week of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction as the first Rock My Soul honoree.  

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TC SPORTS: "We had a breakthrough right away," says JAMES TOBACK, about his relationship with former boxing champion Mike Tyson, the subject of his new documentary called Tyson.  "Sometimes you meet someone and you know within 5 minutes that you have a connection.  It carried through the years.  There are loads of similarities [between us].  Nobody can understand the mind of an extremist who isn't one."   
 
The two had such an intimate history that when Tyson got out of prison, he would visit the set of Toback's film Black & White and was given a part as himself.  He was now open to doing more with the maverick writer/director of films like The Pick-Up Artist, only this time no holds barred.  Toback recalls a moment when the former boxing champ slipped back into his prison persona at a press conference.  "At that moment, I felt this movie is really going to get there because I could see that even subconsciously he wasn't guarding anything.  I think that his overall experiences are such that there's so much rage, even now, although he got rid of a lot of it."
 
Tasty Clips' Victor Bains Marshall asked Toback about the rumors that Jamie Foxx is vying to get the rights to the story for a biopic he would star in.  "I don't think anyone else would be any better," he said.  " Jamie has been obsessed with Mike.  He can do an imitation of Mike.  He's so eager to do it.  I always think anytime you get someone who's tremendously talented, who's doing what he wants to do, it usually works out well.  My own idea of things is when you have the person alive then that's the thing.  To me to do Tyson, he's here, so you use Tyson.  If the guy's dead that's another story.  Obviously Jamie Foxx is a great actor.  So it might be something very interesting.  I know Mike wants to get it done.  And also its a good way of making money."  Toback's take on Tyson with his former brother-in-law now GOP chairman Michael Steele is at Poli-Sigh! here. 

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SPECIAL THANKS:  Wish Music Productions; Corporate Photo Services; Coty Cosmetics; Shanachie Entertainment; Grand Central Publishing; Heads Up International; EMI; Harper Collins; Random House; ABC; BeKissable.com; Carolyn McClair Public Relations; The Bloom Effect; Regal Sandhills Cinema; J.A.M.S. Promotions 

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WANT MORE?  Ciara, Kim Kardassian, Swizz Beats & Jabberwockeez at the Hennesey Black Launch in New York City; Lalah Hathaway, Eric Roberson & DJ Frances Jaye on the My Black Is Beautiful Tour; Warren Hill & Nick Colionne at Atlanta's Smooth Jazz Lounge; Patti LaBelle & Colin Powell at the Newark Bears Home Opener; Charlotte's Taste of the Nation; and a Mother's Day Biker Rally you have to see to believe at the blog: Tasty Clips Today!  Click here to get started.

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