“Two Time Author, Dr. Martin-Stewart Returns With Miraculous Moments”

Some people just dream and make it through life on a whelm of excitement and charisma, while others take life serious, dotting every I and crossing every T. For some, miracles do come true, while others work a lifetime with no real success visible in anyway, shape or form. In short, we all have a distinctive path designed for us to grow, prosper and mature, and the greatest challenge in that is identifying with who we are, what we are and where we belong. Dr. Valerie Martin- Stewart, a gifted and encouraging activist of individualism and value driver principles, shares her talents and increased awareness of self by empowering others to fly higher, while rising above her own demons of rejection, self worth and criticism. In the past, many have witnessed Dr. Martin- Stewart as she’s electrified audiences at the Library of Congress, The Department of Treasury and in countless other venues. Without a doubt, her strength of experience has been her anthem for success, while painful issues, which have torn at the core of her existence, keep her grounded and ready for any new opportunity.

Dr. Valerie Martin-Stewart’s latest literary offering is entitled “Miraculous Moments: Living In The Super Natural’, which according to nation press is a very powerful book that all people, from all walks of life must read. And further says “Dr. Stewart has seen visions and dreams in the night for many years. More than just seeing them, she has witnessed most of them come to past”. “I love writing, ” says Dr. Stewart, “And when I retire my goal is to be a writer and motivational speaker full time. The materials that I write are motivational and self help, empowerment books. These books allow readers to look within themselves to see who they really are, the real sources of their own pain. Since I was 12 years old, I’ve had this vision, dreams over and over. A friend from Alabama told me that I had supernatural experiences and they would make a great book. So people who are churchgoers as well people who are not all enjoy reading these books. I like to also include on the back cover parables for truth.”

Dr. Stewart is a native of Mississippi. She over came people making fun of her slow speech by becoming one of the best in Women’s Basketball. She’s played in Peru, Italy, and Australia, where she received the coveted MVP Award and Defensive Player of the Year Award. “Sports has always been that outlet for me’” she explains. “ Growing up I was very shy and not really a people person. My friends would poke fun at me for any little thing. So playing basketball allowed me to find myself and develop something that I could be good at. It allowed me to shine”. Once she wrapped up her professional basketball career, she began working for the Australian Government, which eventually helped her find her way back to America. Once back in the states, she was hired by the Unites States Government, to later use her Doctorate Degree from Andersonville Theological Seminary to be come a successful Electrical Engineer. “Out of all the places that I’ve lived, Australia was probably my favorite. You would have thought that people were kind of racist there, but I found none of that. Instead I found people who were very open and encouraging, very outstanding. I was embraced while living there. In Italy there was the language barrier that I had to overcome, and the people were not all that friendly, but the food was really good. I had to have an interpreter in Peru, the language barrier was a major problem for me there as well. It was truly like culture shock for me. There were people on the streets who were homeless, poor, begging and lame. Again this was something that I never thought I would see there.”

Beyond her careers as an Electrical Engineer and Author, Dr. Stewart is also a licensed minister. She’s ministered in several countries, including Peru and Jamaica. “I’ve been running from my calling to be a ordained minister since I was in the 11^th grade, “ as she continues. “ Growing up in a Baptist Church, I was always told that a woman should not preach. Then in 1997, the feeling was just too great. I had to step up and do what God called me to do. This has given me an opportunity to do mission trips and talk to a lot of your women as well. Because I’ve been through so much, I feel as if I have something I can share with other women. I know that I’m not the only one who has felt rejected, been depressed, attempted suicide or thought about it. So my books, when it comes to others, are about how do I over come all of the pain that I’ve suffered throughout my life. My younger sister is inspired because she says that I’ve lived a dream life. I’m hesitant about some things I write about because I always look to be judged or put in a particular category”.

Dr. Stewart’s additional books include her first book- “Out Of Pain Came Poetry”, which was written as a pallet of poetic passages that she began writing at age 12. Many of her poems were written when she was very depressed, experiencing feelings of rejection and low self esteem. Over the years, people around the world have been inspired and moved to tears as they read and connected with each poem, discovering their own pain. Her second book- “Rise Above Rejection: Exposing the Little Girl in Me” is an earth-moving, true story about how she had a divine revelation of her past pain and suicidal thoughts moments after she was being tempted to end her life by pulling out in front of an 18-wheeler in 2003. Dr. Stewart has struggled most of her life with many emotions despite achieving many of her goals. She has painfully recorded her story with hope that all readers and listeners will be healed from their own rejection. “Rise Above Rejection: Exposing the Little Girl in Me” is slated to become a movie. Her fourth book, yet to be published is entitled “Do It Afraid”, which was taken from a seminar she conducted in 2006. All of her books are available in hardback, paperback and e-book versions.

For those interested in her live seminars, you can catch her at one of the following locations. On May 14, she will be Keynote Speaker for the Judah Praise Conference Segment called "Living Well" at Calvary Tabernacle in Long Island, NY. She will also participate in an Interview for the "New York Christian Times Magazine" in Long Island. Then an Interview on the National TV Show "Speak Lord" in Long Island. Next an Interview for the "Encore Generation Now" Magazine in Long Island. On May 21, she’s doing an Interview on the Radio Show WLVJ "Spiritual Downloads" in Miami, FL. On May 27, she’s doing an Interview on the Total Christian Television Network program entitled "I'm Just Sayin'" in Detroit, MI. On May 29, she’s doing an Interview on the Radio Show "What's the 411" WFSK in Nashville, TN. On June 4, she’ll be with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. (VA chapter) has selected her as one of six authors to be honored and featured at their event entitled "Rolling out the RED Carpet for Rising Authors" in Manassas, VA. And finally on Aug 3^rd, Dr. Stewart will be Keynote Speaker at the Dept. of Treasury 21st Financial Management Conference. For more information, please visit http://www.valeriemstewart.com/

Mark Adams/Pianist- Preserving Jazz At Any Cost

Since the early 1990’s, the piano sounds of Mark Adams have flooded the airways with artists such as Bell, Biv, Devoe, Mary J. Blige, Eyrah Badu, Savion Glover and many others. His unique studio tones have a way of ripening everything in their path. Although Hip-Hop paved the way, opening doors that welcomed in his stellar talent for entertaining, it’s his passion for Jazz that will keep you excited about all he has to offer. His latest is “Embellishments”, a collection of smooth Jazz idioms that feature a piano player at his best. The album is crafted with the delight of real instrumentation and not watered down tones that just any old musician can belt out. This album gives Adams’ the opportunity to enjoy delivering his craft with passion and confidence and for sure you will be delighted to welcome any project that bears his name.

Piano players are a dime a dozen, some good and some not so good, but Mark Adams is spectacular at what he does, and his music continues to compliment that. “ I studied Classical growing up, “says Adams. “I was influenced by Dennis Moorman, Ron Carter, and my idol and inspiration, Roy Ayers. This is what I call good Jazz Music. The musicians of my time, I consider good Jazz musicians, who were not only creative, but leaders in their crafts”. In efforts to continue what legends such as Moorman started, Adams has taken his skill and ability to the classroom. He’s currently on staff at York College (CUNY), where he teaches music theory, piano, jazz style and techniques, jazz improvisation and keyboard harmony. “I want to give our youth some of the opportunities that I had, and it’s getting harder and harder because of the budget cuts and all of that. So outside of my day-to-day job, I teach two times a week, giving kids private lessons, and instruction for free. President Obama sees the importance of preserving music in our schools, and a lot of people do, then there are a lot of people who do not. So there is really no real music anymore. And it’s not the kid’s fault; this is just the times in which they live. Also our Black schools get very few instruments because of budget cuts. So in providing classes for free, this is something that I like to do to kind of give back.”

When it comes to the music recorded for his latest, “Embellishment”, Adams’ explains, “Again, we don’t have a lot of that (real Jazz) right now, and I’m trying to keep it alive. One great thing about my career is that I’ve been able to play with many of the greats, including Roy Ayers. This album for me is well rounded. It gave me an opportunity to play what I felt and do it the way that I wanted to do it. Music and entertainment is about balance. That is important for young people to know. Music is like human nature. You don’t have to read music before you can play it. It’s a feeling, an emotion and that’s what I like to do with music”. Singles on the album include “Lady in My Life”, ‘Round Midnight”, “ All The Things That You Are”, “ Dedicated To You”, the lead single, “ Embellishments”, “If I Ruled The World”, “ Marleigh”, which features Jonathan Quash and Roy Ayers. Other singles are “ Mona Lisa”, “ Virtuous Patience”, “ Flamingo”, “ Angels Sing”, “ Final Answer” and “Stellar By Starlight”, which round out a very interesting set. “ My listeners are 18 years of age and up. Jazz Music is getting less and less airplay, and I’m very grateful for platforms like the Internet. People who have never heard of me before are discovering my music on the Internet. And it has it’s good and bad points, but it allows the world to see and hear you immediately. This will be the thing that keeps the new artists going. I know there are still real Jazz lovers out there who want an alternative, and that’s what I provide with Jazz music”.

In the past many followers of Adams have recognized his work on such productions as the Savion Glover produced and directed, “5 Guys Named Moe”, and “Hoofin and Bangin”, which have become Off Broadway Classics. Adams’ has also been seen playing piano in films such as “The Prince of Central Park”. But it’s his current work that has him excited,” . “Yes, it’s been real nice to be part of Roberts Music Group, which was formed by Barry Roberts. The label has a few new artists other than myself developing, and we’re getting ready to do some big things. I know we have a new record for 2012, with a new DJ Jazz project with a few Hip-Hop artists. Our goal is to bring some of the younger minds back to Jazz. Jazz started as Dance music and has evolved over the years into a variety of styles. And because Jazz is loosing its’ prominence of the past, I’m taking it upon myself to keep it alive. Again music is all about being grounded, and it’s sorry to say, but because a lot of the music programs in the schools are being cut, our African American kids are suffering the most. The cuts to the arts are so drastic that our kids don’t have a chance”.

Recently Adams participated in the Berks Jazz Festival in Reading, PA., along with such legendary artists as Joe Sample, Welton Felder and Wayne Henderson. To learn more about Pianist Mark Adams, visit, http://www.smooth-jazz.de/Artists4/Adams_Mark.htm or http://www.myspace.com/markadamssje