Wanda's Picks

Today we will rebroadcast an interview taped Feb. 6, 2010, with Ronald K. Brown, Evidence Dance Company, whose work is a part of Alvin Ailey Dance Company's tour currently at UC Berkeley's Cal Performances Tuesday, March 9 through Sunday, March 14, 2010. We start with a poem by Marilyn Buck from her Revolutionary Petunias. The show closes with an interview with directors of "Hold the Sun," one of the feature films at the San Francisco International Asian Film Festival, March 11-21 in venues throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

"Edward 'Kidd' Jordan is probably the single most under-documented jazz musician of his generation, a fact that is even more remarkable when you consider that he is also one of the busiest musicians in the world. The list of bands and artists Jordan has performed with reads like a 40-year Grammy program, from Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder to Aretha Franklin and the Supremes. And the list of jazz musicians he has performed with is even longer, from Ed Blackwell and Ellis Marsalis to Ornette Coleman, Cannonball Adderley and Cecil Taylor. This fact has not been lost on his appreciative European audiences, as Jordan was recognized by the French government with a knighthood for his contribution to the European performing arts. In addition to his live performances, Kidd Jordan has long been associated with music education due to his position at Southern University at New Orleans, 1974-2006. The honesty in Kidd Jordan’s playing is only matched by a tone that has rarely been heard in the history of his instrument. Wh

We open the show with a conversation with Amy Muller, director of Marcus Gardley's …AND JESUS MOONWALKS THE MISSISSIPPI at The Cutting Ball Theater in residence at EXIT on Taylor,277 Taylor St., San Francisco. For tickets ($15-30) visit www.cuttingball.com or call 800-838-3006; discounts are available for students and seniors. Lorraine Hansberry Theatre's inaugural season, "Mahalia: A Gospel Musical," by Tom Stolz, directed by Stanley E. Williams, features our guests: Jeanie Tracy as Mahalia Jackson, Charlene Moore, accompanist, and John "Jambi" Borens as Cousin Fred, Blind Francis, Thomas Dorsey, Martin Luther King Jr. and others. LHT is now located at 450 Post Street @ Union Square in downtown San Francisco. Visit www.LHTSF.org or call (415) 474-8800. Closing weekend, Friday, March 5, 8 PM, Saturday, March 6, 2 PM matinee is a Target Family Matinee, all seats are $20. There is a free hot meal served afterwards. There is also an 8 PM performance March 6. Sunday, March 7, 4 PM closes this run. This interview

Today we'll play a prerecorded interview with Regine Zamor, who describes herself as a Haitian-American, Program Manager, Film Producer, Writer, turned Relief Effort Coordinator. When I spoke to her Tuesday evening it was 11 PM when we finished speaking. She was packing for her trip to Haiti the next day, where she is relocating to continue to help facilitate the rebuilding of her country one person at a time. Follow her at: http://twitter.com/regineparicia, visit the film site http://www.strangethingsmovie.com/ which connects one with the blog http://bagaydwol.wordpress.com/ which features Regine's posts, film footage and links to other reputable information on Haiti. We will speak to Ti Georges about a foundation he has established to plant fruit trees in his native Haiti. The chef has a restaurant in Los Angeles, Ti Georges' Chicken "Haitian Cuisine," www.tigeorgeschicken.com

Albirda Rose, Ph.D., talks about her "Journey of Love," new work in the SFSU faculty and guest showcase: Monumental Movement, March 4-6, 2010; call (415) 338-2467. Next we are joined by "An Idea Called Tomorrow at the California African American Museum: Sonia Manjon, John Halaka, Karen Seneferu and Asul Kwahuumba. Next up are poets featured in "Ayibobo! Amen for Haiti:" Al Young, Jack Hirschman, devorah major, Bodibo; Love of Art: Show and Sale, artists part 2: Jimi Evins, Ted Pontiflet, Ronnie, Prosser, and James Reid at Studio 750A in Oakland

We will speak to Ramona Africa about Mumia Abu Jamal, MOVE, and revolution. Visit http://www.onamove.com/contact/, http://www.freemumia.com/ and http://www.prisonradio.org The show closes with a conversation with Osagie Enabulele,who motivated by the need to bridge the gap between people of the world founded Education Development Opportunities (EDO). He will talk about EDO Inc.'s annual fundraiser, this year: "The State of Diaspora - A Vision of Opportunities," Celebrating Black History Month, Glaucoma Month and the PAN-African Community: A Discussion for a more Unified Africa and World. Special Guest and Key note Speaker, Nigerian Author & Activist, Professor Wole Soyinka, Nobel Laureate 1986, the first African to win a Nobel Prize in Literature and Honorary Adviser to EDO, INC. 4:30 PM - 11:30 PM, Saturday, February 27, 2010 at the Jack London Aquatic Center, 115 Embarcadero East, Oakland, CA 94606-5138. The dinner, reception, and fundraiser awareness on glaucoma and Ake Scholarship Drive. Tickets are $

Jovelyn Richards's "Come Home" at La Pena Cultural Center, Friday, Feb. 26, 2010, 8 PM. Visit www.lapena.org; Wanda Ravernell, Omnira Projects present, "Roots of Faith: Roots of Faith, Roots of Freedom," Sunday, Feb.21, 2010, 2 PM, at the SF Main Library, 100 Larkin Street @ Grant, (510) 436-0658or omniraprojects@yahoo.com; "Love of Art" features artists: Jimi Evans, Ted Pontiflet, Ronnie Prosser, James Reid, at Studio 750A 14th Street @Brush in Oakland, (510)853-2122, every Sat/Sun 12 noon to 5 PM through March 21, 2010. We close with a conversation with Scott Braley and Mickey Ellinger, a photographer/writer team from Oakland who worked with Mrs. Alice Royal to produce the book: Allensworth the Freedom Colony, about a small African American Township founded in 1908 near Bakersfield. They went with Global Exchange to Cuba and will share with us the Cuban plan for sustainable development. Alicia Jrapko also joins us. Alicia is the National Coordinator in the US of the International Committee for the Freedom o

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the writing, visual and performing arts of African people in the Diaspora. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work filled with raw and unfettered passion. They are our true heroes. periodically we will rebroadcast shows, what we call, "From the Archives." In our first year, Wanda's Picks has had in its studio guests who have illuminated the airwaves.

Today's show is a rebroadcast of Feb. 11, 2010 featuring Rev. Dr. Harold Orr and composer, musician, Robin Duhe. Don't forget this is the start of a month long focused healing for Haiti and the African Diaspora. At 1:43 Pacific Time take 2 minutes for a "Prayer for Haiti" (ABPsi).

Today we speak to Rev. Dr. Harold Orr about his recent trip to Haiti on the eve of the International Day of Prayer for Haiti, Friday, Feb. 12, 2010, 4:53 PM, Eastern Standard Time (two minutes of silence--a month of healing activities through March 12, 2010 per the Association of Black Psychologists Disaster Relief Task Force). We close the show with a very special interview with musician, composer and cancer survivor, Robin Duhe. Happy Birthday Robin! We hope you have many many more! This show will be rebroadcast Friday, Feb. 12, 2010 at 8 AM

Alla Kovgan (filmmaker), whose film “Nora” screens this evening at the Pacific Film Archive, tonight, Feb. 10, 7 PM., at UC Berkeley Film Archive, 2575 Bancroft Ave., (510) 642-5249, www.bampfa.berekley.edu/filmseries, is followed by an earlier film collaboration with Alla, Movement (R)Evolution Africa (2007). Alla is a Boston-based filmmaker, born in Moscow (Russia). Her films and films that she co-directed have been presented worldwide including at the Sundance, Rotterdam, Toronto, Melbourne, Durban, Oberhausen, Clemont-Ferrand, MOMA, Louvre, Centre Pompidou, PBS (US), ZDF (Germany) and numerous others. Alla's most recent film NORA (2008), her collaboration with the British filmmaker David Hinton, is an art film – a poetic biography of the Zimbabwean choreographer Nora Chipaumire. Carolyn Russell A Safe Place speaks about a new film: Teen Dating Violence, which premieres Thursday, Febraury 11, 3-5 PM at Elihu M. Harris State Building Auditorium, 1515 Clay Street, Oakland. CA. Sandra Hooper Mayfield fel

Today I will have on the air, Tom Pankratz, director of LIMBO LOUNGE. He is one of the directors featured in this year's San Francisco Independent Film Festival which began this week, Feb. 4 and continues through Feb. 18 at the Roxie Theater, 3117 16th Street in San Francisco. For tickets or more information, telephone (415) 820-3907 or click on www.sfindie.com. Future "Local Color" Baker, poet, joins us next. She is a featured poet in the 20th Annual African American Celebration through Poetry, 1-4 PM at the West Oakland Branch Library, 1801 Adeline Street, Oakland, CA 94607, (510) 238-7352. We feature the music of Tosin Aribasala: "What's on Your Mind."

Peter Barshay, bassist and member of "Happy Hour" which is hosting a concert with friends, to support Haitian relief efforts at the Jazzschool, 2087 Addison Street, in Berkeley, CA, this Friday, February 5, 8:00 PM. Visit http//www.peterbarshay.com Laura Elaine Ellis and Kendra Kimbrough Barnes join us along with featured choreographers: Delina Brooks (Next Wave), Adia Whitaker, at the 6th Annual Black Choreographers Here and Now, beginning with a master class, Sat., Feb. 6, 2010 at the Malonga Center for the Arts. Visit www.bchereandnow.org The Festival continues through Feb. 28, 2010. The show closes with a special interview with national recording legend, Jeanie Tracy and fundraiser producer, Ken Handerson, about "All You Need is Love, Richmond/EMET AIDS Foundation, Monday, Feb. 8, 2010 at the Marine's Memorial Theatre in San Francisco on Sutter Street. For information visit www.helpisontheway.org Ms. Jeanie is opening Lorraine Hansberry's 2010 season Lorraine Hansberry Theatre at their new theatre home, 4

Guests directors, Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith, their Grammy nominated film: The Most Dangerous Man In America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers. We feature the music of Thaddeus Edwards, "Peace Not War." It opened in New York Feb. 2, 2010 and opens in the San Francisco Bay Area, Feb. 19. Visit http://www.mostdangerousman.org/

Today we salute John Handy, whose birthday is today. He is one of our local treasures. Happy Birthday John!

Nancy Duranteau, artist; Deborah Burger, California Nurses Association, Send a Nurse to Haiti Fundraiser; Pastor Greggory L. Brown, Martin King event; Avotcja, Pat Parker Event

Haiti Update: Week two after the devastating earthquake we speak to Jean Yvon Kernizan and Selena Rhine who were on the ground in Haiti in that crucial time. They set up a medical clinic at Yvon's home in Port-au-Prince. There is a fundraiser in New York, Thursday, Jan. 28, 6 PM to 4 AM, at the White Rabbit, with DJs Red Lox & DJ Cozi, 145 Houston Street. Visit http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=267429459546 and http://pousoleyleve.glogster.com/haiti-fundraising-mixer/ Maria Labossiere, Haiti Action Committee, join the conversation next. Visit www.haitiaction.net (Haiti Emergency Relief Fund). The fundariser in the Berkeley for Haiti Relief is Thurs., Jan. 28, 8:30 at Ashkenaz Music and Dance Center on San Pablo @ Gilman in Berkeley. Tickets are $10 min. docnation. We close with a conversation with two members of Equator Faith Church in Oakland. Bishop Fritzner Galiothe and his wife, Paulette Fritzner, speak about the many missions the church supports there such as orphanages, schools, etc. Donations c

Today after a few technical problems (got kicked off the air a few times) we spoke to Sidney Coulter, culture worker and activist, and Tacuma King, musician/teacher/organizer, about their visit to Haiti a few months ago. We were joined next by Sophis, lead vocals, and JT, keyboards, of Kalbass Kreyol, who are performing next week in a series of fundraising events for Haiti, Jan. 28, at Ashkenaz the next big one featuring lead organizer, Kalbass Kreyol and many others like: poets Avotcja & Jacques Wilkens, Naima Shalhoub; Val Serrant & Pan Ase, Pellejo Seco, AfriCombo. Visit www.myspace.com/kalbasskreyol Donald Lacy closes his run with Colorstruck at the Burial Clay Memorial Theatre at the African American Art & Culture Complex, 762 Fulton Street, San Francisco. Visit www.colorstruct.net, call (510) 663-5683. Partial proceeds benefit: www.lovelifefoundation.org Fear & Fancy closes the show. The hip hop ensemble performs this evening at Harmony House at Stanford University, 418 Santa Teresa Stre

Today we will spend the first hour discussing Haiti with Walter Riley, civil rights attorney, chair of Haiti Emergency Relief Fund, Pierre Labossoire, co-founder, Haiti Action Committee:http://www.haitiaction.net/About/HERF/1_12_10.html>; The second segment will feature Raissa Simpson, PUSH Dance Company and other members of the creative team for Great Integration: A Hip Hop Opera, Masquerade Fundraising Party @ OTIS in Union Square, 25 Maiden Lane (at Kearny/ Powell Station), Thursday, Jan 21. 2010. Doors/Mingle: 10:00pm-2:00am (this is a great after work party) Special Happy Hour- 5-10 PM at Harlet, 46 Minna Street, San Francisco. DJ Whooligan (soul/vibe) starts spinning 10 PM-2 AM, free masks for the first 50 people. Suggested Donation: $10 helps benefit dancers, musicians, and the production. Donate Online: www.motionfest.org We close with a prerecorded interview with Kenny Garrett, who will be in town this weekend, January 22-24, at Yoshi's San Franciscohttp://beta.asoundstrategy.com/kennygarrett/.

Best of Picks 2009