Get Out! GAY Magazine – Issue 428 July 24, 2019

691 Tenth Avenue Off West 47 th Street NYC
Across from Hell’s Kitchen Park
WWW.NANOBARNYC.COM

BY EILEEN SHAPIRO
CELEBRITY CORRESPONDENT
RICHARD CORTEZ
A Queer Perspective
PHOTO CREDIT DA PING LUO
Richard Cortez is entertaining New
York’s nightlife in an original way.
He is vocally interpreting songs
from The Great American Songbook
and adding a queer twist to them,
accompanied by a five-piece band.
The Richard Cortez Quartet performs
at REBAR on Thursdays, in Brooklyn at
Metropolitan Fridays and every third
Tuesday at Club Cumming.
I spoke to Cortez regarding his career,
music and inspirations. He has a very
inspiring history and a very promising
future.
INTERVIEW
Richard, what are you
currently doing as far
as performing?
I’ve been working on
visiting material from
The Great American
Songbook with a fivepiece
band and giving
it a queer perspective.
I’m picking songs, not
changing any pronouns,
and singing works that
were never given the
opportunity to have a
gay identity.

Can you give me a small
example?
Sure! For instance, there’s
a song called “Lover
Man” that was originally
written for and performed
by Billie Holiday. In the
song, there’s a lyric that
says, “I don’t know why,
but I’m feeling so sad. I
long to try something I’ve
never had. Never had no
kissin’, oh what I’ve been
missin’. Lover man, oh
where can you be?” In
its original conception,
sung by a woman about
a man, the story
is pretty straight
forward—however,
when it is sung by a
gay man about a man,
it can be nuanced
in so many different
ways that stray from
its initial direction. For
example, is it about
the journey of having
sexual desires while
being closeted? Is
it about lusting for
a straight man? Is it
about the very unique
(and often times
confusing) experience
of trying to date in
the gay world? There
are just so many
opportunities to take
a lyric from that era,
which was very focused
on gender roles and very
misogynistic in a lot of
ways, break it apart and
see how the story evolves
when told from that
perspective of a queer
person.
That’s cool. You are
showcasing that at
Rebar, correct?
Rebar in Chelsea on
Thursdays, from 7 to 9
p.m. Metropolitan Bar in
Brooklyn on Fridays from
7 to 9 p.m. And every
third Tuesday performing
a more curated/arranged
show at Club Cumming in
Alphabet City.
What inspired this idea
for you?
When I was 16, I taught
myself to play the acoustic
guitar. Before I even knew
any chords, I was writing
songs. At 18, I moved
to New York. I used to
record demos in my dorm
room in college. I would
play songs in little bars
in the Village and give
out my demos for free
PHOTO CREDIT ROBERT CLYDE GRIMA
after shows to anyone
who would take one. A
production company got
their hands on one, and
they brought me into their
office for a meeting. They
told me that I had a lot
of potential and offered
me a development deal.
However, there was
a catch: In exchange
for a band, making
appearances and
going on tour with an
opportunity to record
music, I would have to
change the pronouns
in my songs so that I
presented as a straight
man. They even went as
far as offering to send
me to speech therapy
to “sound less gay” and
arrange a fake girlfriend
to make appearances with
me.
How long ago was this?
2003. I, understandably,
turned them down and
started releasing my
music independently. I
started a small record
label that I’ve had ever
since and for the last 15
years I’ve been writing,
recording and releasing
original music sung from
a queer perspective. I’ve
since toured the country,
played with some really
cool folks and had some
amazing experiences,
all done the grassroots
way—being my own
manager, booking agent
and PR team. The last
record that I put out,
which was featured in
“OUT,” was called “The
Welder & The Lark.”
That material specifically
hit a little too close to
home, and I struggled to
perform it live. I would get
on stage, sing the songs
and struggle through
tears to deliver them. It
really started to take a
toll on me. I felt like if I
was going to become
a healthier person, my
relationship with my own
music was going to have
to change. So, I took a
break. During this time, I
had also fallen completely
in love with vocal jazz.
It was all I listened to.
Last summer, I met a jazz
guitarist named Alex
Mejia at a party on the
Fourth of July. I invited
him to come with me, to
play a show with me that I
already had scheduled.

PHOTOS BY ROBERT CLYDE GRIMA
That show was supposed
to be of my original work,
but instead we performed
songs from The Great
American Songbook.
This felt right. After that
show, I soon after booked
us a monthly residency
at Club Cumming, and
then before I knew it, a
year later now, there are
upwards of five people on
stage every night we play.
It’s all grown so fast.
That’s wonderful. How
do you feel now?
I feel really good about
where I’m at now
creatively. I’ve even gotten
back to performing my
original songs. I will say
it’s a completely different
experience stepping
out from behind the
guitar and focusing more
of my energy on lyric
interpretation. When
writing my own songs,
I was always trying to
definitively find a way to
communicate the level of
emotional intensity that
I was feeling throughout
my life that spoke to my
experience as a young
queer person. There
was no music that I
could listen to that
really told my story. So,
I thought I would just
write the music myself.
However, when I found
The Great American
Songbook, I realized there
was a lot of incredible
material that I could
MAKE my own, and going
a step even further, give
a queer perspective that
challenged the original
take on these works.
Instagram handle
@RICHARDCORTEZ
For more information,
visit WOLLENBERGRE-
CORDS.COM
The band appears live on
Thursdays at REBAR (7-9 p.m.),
Fridays at Metropolitan Bar
(7-9 p.m.) and every third
Tuesday at Club Cumming.

M
5 0 0 W 4 8 T H S T .
N Y , N Y 1 0 0 3 6
Cover: Chris Jones
Photo by Billy Hess
ISSUE 428 - JULY 24 2019
MJT /GOOTH
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interview / GET OUT! MAGAZINE >> GETOUTMAG.COM
CHRIS JONES
BY EILEEN SHAPIRO
CELEBRITY CORRESPONDENT
Strong
Trax Records sensation Christian Jones, also known as Chris Jones—and, yes,
the brother of the iconic superstar Grace Jones—has recently unveiled his
new album, "Strong 2." An artist in his own right, Jones is a singer-songwriter,
model, producer, fashion connoisseur, DJ and classically trained pianist.
Born in Jamaica, Jones moved to New York at a young age where he began
modeling for Wilhelmina Models, which eventually led him to Paris, where
he worked with Elite Models for the next six years. He recorded his first
single in Israel and was signed to Sony Records in London. He received media
promotion and performed in clubs in the New York nightlife scene. A world
traveler now living in Europe, but frequently winding up in New York, Jones
has proven himself a special force to be reckoned with.
Super sincere, honest and humble, Jones is also the face and ambassador for
the Winners Foundation, an organization supporting children and adults with
handicaps in Belgrade, Serbia. He and his family have also been performing
benefits and donating to amFAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, for
years as well.
Jones’ single "Strong" is mixed by Eric Kupper with promotions by Brad
Lebeau (promolift.com). The song will also be part of a Trax Records
compilation album to be released in August in celebration of the label’s 35th
anniversary.
I spoke to Jones, coming off of supporting his sister at Pride Island for
WorldPride, which is always a joy as he happens to be one of the sweetest
men on the planet.
Chris, I’ve
never seen
your sister
in concert,
and I’ve got to say
it’s one of the best
performances I’ve
ever experienced.
OMG, I’m glad to hear
that. She would love
to hear that. It’s too
bad that she had a
broken toe, and she
was really in pain. But
anyway, I just finished
some backing
vocals on her new
album, [recorded]
at Alligator Head.
Alligator Head is
owned by Francesca
von Habsburg, whose
husband was the
prime minister or
the head of Vienna.
We recorded in
Jamaica with Ivor
Quest, who produced
“Hurricane,” and he’s
a genius. From him I
met Princess Diana’s
brother Charles. I
did a lot of backing
vocals with Grace,
but, you know, we
used to sing together
in church, so we
worked it!

Do you know with the
weather in Jamaica, we
didn’t want to work.
We had to! Then we
flew into WorldPride.
Dyou have fun?
Yes. I was working the
costumes.
I have never seen any
performer change
costumes for each and
every song like Grace
did.
Well, you have to
remember, she’s a
fashionista. My mother
taught us how to
sew when we were
children, because
my mother was a
designer. She was a
wedding designer. In
our basement we had
seven or eight sewing
machines. I would
come home from work
and make a pair of
pants and wear them
out the same night.
So, you’re almost a
royal, you have an
album out and you’re
a fashion designer.
I was the first black
guy to work with
Elizabeth Arden in the
80s. I was a hair cutter.
So that was very
interesting.
Let’s talk about
your new album.
It’s really
interesting,
my album,
because there
is one particular
song that is 30
years old that I
produced with
Mark Kamins
called “I Wonder
Why.” This track
was under my
bed for the last 30
years. It actually
inspired me to
really go out and
start finishing
PHOTO BY DANY MARKIEWICZ & ARTWORK BY WKD AXE
my work. I had this
track that was done
so many years ago
and never released,
and unfortunately
Mark is dead, and I
thought that I would
do this track as a
tribute to him. We
did that one in New
York, and that is one
of my favorites. It’s
about wondering
why things happen,
and that we always
have to get down
to get up. It’s about
the balance of life.
I wrote “Strong”
because of the music
industry. “Strong” is
about young artists
who are struggling
to make it, and they
don’t really realize
how difficult it is. You
have this dream, and
you just have to keep
going. The strength
that you have to have
and the drive—it’s so
important.

That’s a great theme.
The thing about it is,
this industry is not
as easy as people
think. Some people
look at me as if they
are jealous; however,
it took years. I am
not an overnight
success. Even if you
have siblings who
are famous, I think
it’s even harder to
become successful.
I agree with you. It
had to be tough for
you especially.
I think you need a
lot of determination.
I think that a man is
intimidated by an
aggressive woman. I
think that Grace has
that side, my father’s
side.
CHRIS JONES ARRIVING AT AED FILM STUDIOS IN BELGIUM
Actually, I think all
Jamaican women are
dominant. Most women,
like you and Rachel
(Screamin’ Rachael from
Trax Records), I mean, in
a man’s world it’s really
difficult unless you
really have the knowhow
to intimidate them.
One thing I admire
about you both is your
determination. You and
Rachael never give up. I
realize, like you, Rachael
is a businesswoman,
and she’s focused. She
sees exactly where you
are going, and I think
this is a power in itself.
To survive, especially in
the business, you have
to get respect. It’s not
even about fame; it’s
about respect.
Respect, that’s true.
People say to me,
“You’re famous.” I’m
not famous; I’m just like
everybody else. I have
to eat, shit and die. So
it’s all the bullshit that
goes with it and the
people that mislead
you. Some people get
stoned one night and
promise you the world,
and the next day they
forget, and you can’t
even reach them.
CHRIS JONES, GRACE JONES AND PRODUCER, ARRANGER, & MIXER MARTIN RYAN

For years I was misled.
I was a model and DJ
in Paris for many years,
and I worked with Elite.
I was one of the first
male models to start
with them. Paris gave
me my fashion image
and my image of music
and a certain culture.
That’s why I live in
Europe. I love New
York as well. It took
me nine years to put
this album together,
and it went through
many changes. I went
to Holland and Serbia
for the saxophonist,
and it’s a multicultural
album with musicians
from all over the
world. I did it naturally.
I have a musical
background, which
is classical. I played
piano and keyboard,
and I just don’t believe
in music that is done
on computer. I used
to play the organ
in my dad’s church.
Because I have a
musical background, I
just don’t get on and
do beats. I don’t really
like it. I put together
all my arrangements
with Martin Ryan, and
I put together all the
harmonies.
BACKUP VOCALIST ANITA ILLICIC AND EBBY DRENTHE
I used to direct the
choir at age 11 in my
dad’s church. My
mother was also a
musician as well.
So you are an entire
musical family.
Yeah. My mother
especially. I have a
lot of support from
people like Terry
Topcat and Allison
Russell. I have an
amazing team,
including my road
manager and friend
Vahe Simonian,
and he speaks six
languages as well.
So now I’m going to
tell you an amazing
story about Racheal
from Trax Records.
I came to New York,
and I did not have a
record deal.
After the album
was finished, with
my backing vocal
singers Ebby and
Anita, who are
very important to
me, I came to New
York to launch the
record, and I did not
have a record label.
So Racheal called
me. We were just
going to put it up
on iTunes and forget
about a label. Then
Racheal called me
and asked me if I
wanted to be on her
label. I hadn’t seen
Racheal in years.
We used to perform
together in the 80s.
I didn’t know that
she owned one of
the most prestigious
labels in the world.

Everyone now thinks
I am very lucky to be
on that label. At first
I backed off, because
everybody promises
the same things.
But I knew Racheal
for a long time, and
something told me
to do it as I know she
has a good heart. I
didn’t think she would
steer me wrong. She
insisted that she
wanted my music,
and finally I agreed.
In three weeks I had
the contract and the
publishing. Everything
was done while I was
in New York. How
lucky is that!? The
record is now listed,
and it’s getting a lot of
coverage in Europe.
VAHE SINSINIAN
ROAD MANAGER, MULTI LINGUIST INTERPRETER, ACTOR
DJs are playing it
to death. It’s a slow
starter, this record,
but the quality of it I
think is what’s going
to make it happen.
It’s the quality of the
music and the quality
of the songs
and the quality of the
people on the album.
The video was just
as incredible. We are
planning to sell hard
copies of the video
in Europe. My site is
chrisjonesmusic.uk.
In a few weeks there
will be a link. It’s
really picking up, and
once you hear it you
have to hear it again.

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THOMAS
TALKS
ABOUT: ADULT FILM
Two years ago, my
boyfriend and I opened
our relationship. One
of the big rules is we
always discuss it first
and make sure the
other person is cool
with it. Yesterday he
came home and told
me he met one of his
favorite porn stars
at a bar, and they
exchanged numbers.
They’ve been texting,
which I’m fine with, but
now the guy wants to
fuck him, and IDK how
I feel about it. Part of
me is afraid he’s going
to have feelings for
him, and I’m concerned
about STIs too. It just
feels different to me,
but I’m not sure why.
Should I just let him do
it? -Male, Gay, 28
You should apply the
same caution with
this sexual partner as
you would any other.
There is a chance your
boyfriend is infatuated
with him, but hopefully
he is smart enough
to realize whatever
his perception is of
this actor, it likely
isn’t accurate to who
he actually is. When
you have an open
relationship, the
possibility of catching
feelings is always there.
Do you have a plan for
if/when it happens?
In terms of STIs,
adult entertainers are
frequently tested, and
probably more than the
average guy on a phone
app. Your boyfriend
should use the same
precautions he would
with anyone else.
My partner and I are
very supportive of
each other and our
communication is top
notch. He has often
struggled with keeping
steady jobs, and there
have been many times
where I’ve had to pick
up his part of the rent.
I don’t mind; I love him.
A month ago, he did a
nude photoshoot for
fun, and now he says
he wants to start doing
porn. I love porn, but
this really freaks me
out. There is something
about being filmed and
out there forever that
terrifies me. I want to
continue to support
him and for him to
be happy, but I don’t
know if being with a
porn actor
STARS
is something I want
for my relationship.
Does that make me an
asshole? -Male, Gay, 31
It sounds like you
really care about him
and the relationship,
so you want to
protect it. Entering
the porn industry is
not something people
should do carelessly; it’s
a big decision and one
you can’t take back. It
would be great if people
could try it out and not
have it potentially follow
them forever, but that’s
how it is right now—it’s
still very stigmatized. I
think you should voice
your concerns to him,
discuss it, and then
support his decision,
whatever it is. However,
you don’t have to be
dating him to still be
supportive of him. I
don’t think you should
give him an ultimatum,
but if you don’t want to
be with someone who
does porn, that’s also
your choice. There’s
also the possibility that
perhaps it won’t bother
you when it actually
happens. One key to
healthy relationships
(romantic or otherwise)
is not holding each
other back from the
things they want.
Sex/Love/Relationship advice? Send your questions to: ThomasTalksAbout@gmail.com
@ThomasWhitfield84

BY IAN-MICHAEL BERGERON
@ianmichaelinwonderland
My favorite thing about summer
in New York City: how many outdoor
activities there are, a lot of them
being free!
This week’s free activity: Movie
Nights at Bryant Park. Every Monday
during the summer, Bryant Park puts
up a big screen, packs the lawn and
shows a movie. The movie I couldn’t
miss? “Carrie” (1976, the original,
naturally).
I’ve always been a big fan of scary
movies, especially from the 70s: My
first scary movie obsession was
1974’s “The Texas Chainsaw
Massacre,” and 1973’s “The Exorcist”
gives me nightmares to this day.
But “Carrie” holds a special place
in my heart: I think a lot of LGBTQ+
gravitate toward Carrie, because we
relate to her, we know what it’s like
to be different, to be made fun of,
and—most importantly for me—to not
feel comfortable going to the prom. (I
don’t think there was a single samesex
couple at my senior prom—I took
a female foreign exchange student.)
You want to arrive to Bryant Park
before 4:30, when everyone makes a
mad dash to claim their spot. “Carrie”
was sponsored by Netflix, and the
lawn was littered with gift bags: My
boyfriend grabbed one that had a
beautiful red notebook. We spread
out our blanket and waited for sunset,
when the movie begins.
Essential item to bring #1: a game
to play. We brought several decks
of cards, but (depending on how big
your picnic blanket is) you could also
bring any board game you wanted.
You have to come early if you want a
good spot, but then you have several
hours to pass the time before the
movie begins.
Dinner and a Movie
Essential item #2: snacks,
or even a full dinner. I stocked up
on Doritos (Spicy Sweet Chili, my
favorite), Goldfish crackers and the
like while my boyfriend brought deli
sandwiches and pasta salad.
Essential item #3: wine! I guess you
could bring any drink of choice, but if
you’re going to Bryant Park with me,
there’s going to be wine. If you forget,
or just don’t feel like trekking several
heavy bottles of wine all over the city,
there’s plenty of wine stores near the
park. Essential item #3.5: plastic cups,
no glass on the lawn!
Just before the sun set, Netflix’s
Brendan Scannell (“Bonding”) came
out in a bloodied prom dress to play
Carrie trivia. (I’m not saying I would
have won if I got to go up there,
but…) As soon as trivia was over, the
movie began.
We laughed when Carrie made the
bully on his bike fall, we watched in
silence as she was crowned and we
cheered when she flipped the car.
10/10 will be back to Bryant Park for
the rest of their movies!
Check out bryantpark.org/programs/movie-nights to see what’s playing!

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