Wanda's Picks

Today we will feature an interview with Randy Weston recorded earlier this year. Weston is performing at the 11th Annual Healdsburg Jazz Festival, June 6. This prerecorded interview will be followed by a live conversation with Tony Wade, Vernon "Ice" Black, and Aaron Young a.k.a. "Baby Luther Vandross" re: ARCHWAY RECOVERY SERVICES presents “A Celebration of Recovery” A CONCERT/ART SHOW CELEBRATING RECOVERY FROM ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE, Saturday, May 30th at the Fairfield Center for the Creative Arts. Archway Recovery Services, a licensed and certified residential drug and alcohol treatment program for men, is hosting its first ever concert and art show. The concert will feature powerhouse vocalist Lydia Pense of classic Bay Area band Cold Blood. Opening the show will be Sacramento Old School and R & B radio station V101.FM’s Artist of the Year Aaron Young (nicknamed “Baby Luther Vandross” for his smooth vocals). The musical director is guitarist Vernon “Ice” Black who has recorded and toured with Stevie W

Today we feature the music of Sila & the AfroFunk Experience and Tosin Aribasala "The Hallalujah Jazz Project." Guests are: Josef Norris, founder and director of Kid Serve, an organization that creates mosaic murals in San Francisco Bay Area communities, one school or neighborhood at a time. Visit http://www.kidserve.com/. There is an unveiling Friday, May 29, 12 noon at Ida B. Wells High School, 1099 Hayes St., on the Fell St. side in San Francisco. Kid Serve with the Oakland Mosaic Project offers adult classes June 27-28 in Oakland. Visit Kid Serve's website for details. Josef is followed by a wonderful conversation with Eric Green who appears as "Jake, the fisherman," who is married to "Clara" (soprano, Angel Blue)in Porgy and Bess, at San Francisco Opera in a few weeks. Eric has been with the production since its inception in Washington, DC, and has performed "Jake" along the tour at the Lyric Opera Chicago, Baltimore Opera and the Grand Théâtre Luxembourg. Visit http://sfopera.com/press/porgyandbess/

The show today is a rebroadcast of the Wednesday, May 20, 2009 show featuring: Don Reed, Halifu Osumare, Andrew Woods and Ana Tirmar, San Francisco International Arts Festival 2009, and Khalil Shaheed, Oaktown Jazz Workshops' Birth of Cool for Miles. We'll be back Tuesday, May 26, 8 AM for a special broadcast featuring Sila and the AfroFunk Experience.

We are joined by Don Reed, whose "East 14th: True Tales of a Reluctant Player," at the Marsh Theatre, 1062 Valencia Street @ 22nd Street in San Francisco. Visit www.themarsh.org. Halifu Osumare,Ph.D., whose seminal work "The Africanist Aesthetic in Global Hip-Hop: Power Moves, she is sharing at Barnes and Nobles in Jack London Sq., in Oakland, Friday, May 23, 7 p.m. Ana Mitra and Andrew Woods, San Francisco International Arts Festival 2009; we close with a conversation with Khalil Shaheed, composer, musician, educator, about the Miles Davis Birthday BASH: Birth of the Cool, May 25, at Yoshi's Jack London Square, in Oakland. For information call (510) 206-4509 or oaktwnjazz@aol.com

Today is Malcolm X or El Hajj Malik El Shabazz's birthday (1925-1965). It is also the birthday of his friend and activist, Yuri Kochiyama (May 19, 1921), who met Malcolm X in the 1960s when she invited him to her apartment to meet Atom bomb victims who were touring the US. The meeting in her small apartment went well and this was the beginning of a friendship which lasted until his fatal shooting in the Audubon Ballroom, April 21, 1965. We are also joined by two artists, Tosin Aribasala from Lagos and Jean Pierre Simon from Cameroon. We'll play music, talk about Malcolm, black power and yes, the African roots of Argentinian tango.

Destiny Muhammad and Frederick Harris, speak about the "Love Tour," and celebration of EW Wainwright, African Roots of Jazz founder, Sunday, May 17, at Anna's Jazz Island. It is also EW's 70th Birthday. This conversation is followed by one with activists: Jack Bryson,Father of 2 young men who were with Oscar Grant at the Fruitvale BART on 1/1/09. He is has been involved since that date in community organizing for justice for Oscar Grant, and Rachel Jackson, organizer and coordinator of New Years Movement for Justice a community organization which is working towards getting the BART police officer convicted and sentenced for murdering Oscar Grant. There are several important actions taking place this weekend: May 15,16, and 17. How to Lock Up A Cop for the Murder of Oscar Grant This workshop, Sunday, May 17, 1-4 p.m., at the Humanist Hall, 390-27th Street, Oakland, (between Broadway & Telegraph) will educate and empower our communities to wage a sophisticated legal and political campaign that turns the tr

We are joined by Ben Guillory, director of Robey Theatre Company, at the New Los Angeles Theatre Center. Its current production is "Bronzeville." He is joined by playwright, Tim Toyama. We close the show with the Mother's Day Radio Project: founder Shaunelle Curry and collaborators: Kelley Nicole and Jimetta Rose. In 2003, Shaunelle published her first book, "Shairi’s Journey Through Darkness Into Light," a women’s self-development toolkit that she uses in her Victim to Victor™ workshops.

Today we are speaking to Raissa Simpson, Artistic Director of Push Dance Company about its latest project: "Mixed Messages," a seven month study of mixed race, specifically in multi-racial San Francisco; Chike C. Nwoffiah, director, "Sabar," a new film; Geoffrey Grier, director of San Francisco Recovery Theatre,along with playwright, Larry Americ Allen, and cast members, Eric Ward and Nicole Harley. Americ's psycho drama, "Paradise Revisted," is a centerpiece of the program, with teaser, excerpts from "The Spot" Geoffrey Grier's wonderful play. The play closes this weekend: May 8, 8 p.m., with special 4:00 matinee May 9 at The NMTL/CBD Community Center 134 Golden Gate San Francisco, $20 at the door or discount reservations at www.sfrecoverytheatre.org or call (650) 438-3964. We close with a conversation about black mental health with: Kelly Armstrong, LaVaughn King, Wanda Materre and the organization: www.nami.org

Today we are rebroadcasting a show, first aired May 5, 2009.

Today we will open the show with a conversation with another director: Marci Jarmel, Speaking in Tongues, which screens at the SFIFF Thursday, May 7, 2009, at Sundance Kabuki Cinemas at 2:30 p.m. Again visit www.sfiff.org For children learning to be bilingual and bicultural raise questions about what it means to be American. We will then speak with Pamela Yates, director of "Reckoning," which screens at the San Francisco International Film Festival Tuesday, May 5, 6 p.m. at Pacific Film Archive in at UC Berkeley, and Wednesday, May 6, 6:15 at Sundance Kabuki in San Francisco. Visit www.sfiff.org The documentary looks at the early days of the International Criminal Court, a body formed by the United Nations to prosecute high-profile national criminals in places like Uganda, Congo, Sudan, and Columbia. The film focuses on Luis Moreno-Ocampo, a charismatic lawyer hoping to bring those wrongdoers to justice. One wonders, once again why the United States is exempt from prosecution for its criminal decisions, su

Today we were going to go on the air two hours early, but the trip to the women's prison was canceled so we will air at our regular time, 8-10 AM, a rebroadcast of the Tuesday, April 28 show which features: director, Tim Disney, and subject, Regina N. Kelly, of the new film, "American Violet," which opens in the San Francisco Bay Area, Friday, May 1, 2009 in San Francisco Bay Area theatres. Our next guest is Jean Marie Teno, director of the new film, "Sacred Places," which looks at African Cinema and the FESPACO film festival on its 40th anniversary and questions its goals and objectives. The film screened several times at the San Francisco International Film Festival. Visit www.sfiff.org. We close with an extended interview with Ra Un Nefer Amen I, Hon. D.D., spiritual leader and founder of the Ausar Auset community, and author of the new novel: Heru: The Resurrection. He will be in Oakland, CA, May 8 at OPC, 1616 Franklin Street, 7-9 p.m., speaking about meditation and Saturday, May 9, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Today we will speak to Ramona Africa about the MOVE 9. Visit www.onamove.com; writer, Keith Adkins SAFE HOUSE, a commission from the Alliance Theater in honor of August Wilson, has won a spot at New Professional Theatre's 2009 Writers Festival. On Monday, May 4, 2009 Keith Josef Adkin's "SAFE HOUSE," will be presented in a special reading. Clinton Turner Davis will direct. For further information: http://www.newprofessionaltheatre.org/festival.html; Straight Out Scribes: Sananaa and Stajaabu. Visit myspace.com/sananaa for events. Stajaabu performs tonight, Wednesday, April 29, 5-6:30p.m. at the Cultural Awareness Center, Sacramento City College – Room 105 - 3835 Freeport Avenue, (916)558-2575. Victoria Henderson will host. Later tonight, the two will perform at the spoken word jam session: "Mahogany," from 9:30-11:30 p.m. at "Queen of Sheba Restaurant," also in Sacramento. The donation is $5. Perhaps close with a conversation with Malik Rahim, re: Common Ground Relief and COINTELPRO in New Orleans.

Black Arts and Culture: Where Art Meets Politics Today's show features: director, Tim Disney and subject, Regina N. Kelly, of the new film, "American Violet," which opens in the San Francisco Bay Area, Friday, May 1, 2009. There is a free screening Tuesday, April 28, 7 p.m. at the Metreon (4th and Mission Streets, San Francisco, 3rd level). Our next guest is Jean Marie Teno, director of the new film, "Sacred Places," which looks at African Cinema and the FESPACO film festival on its 40th anniversary and questions its goals and objectives. The film screens several times at the San Francisco International Film Festival. We close with an extended interview with Ra Un Nefer Amen 1, Hon. D.D., spiritual leader and founder of the Ausar Auset community, and author of the new novel: Heru: The Resurrection. He will be in the San Francisco Bay Area, Friday, May 8-Saturday, May 9. Call (510) 536-5934 for information.

Today we are celebrating Mumia Abu Jamal's Birthday and his new book: Jailhouse Lawyers with an Introduction by Angela Davis (www.CityLightsBooks.com). On the air are: Linda Evans, Robert King and Tiny. There is an event tonight at the Humanist Hall, 390 27th Street,in Oakland, beginning at 6:30 p.m.; the second interview honors the memory of Rev. Diama Clark, whose life is being celebrated April 25, 2009 at Beth Eden Baptist Church, 1183 Tenth Street,in Oakland, 2:30-5:30. Following this we are joined by Kaylah Marin, singer, song writer, whose new CD is "Loving Life." She also produces, "Soul Green Connection" on Fridays, beginning tonight Friday, April 24, 2009, 7:00 p.m.to 10:00 p.m., at BollyHood, 3372 19th Street between Mission and Capp, San Francisco. The event is a fundraiser for Grind for the Green. Hugh Masekela who is appearing in San Francisco this evening was not able to make it, so we close with Avotcja, who will continue the Happy Birthday Mumia celebration in words and poetry begin earli

Happy Earth Day: Shyaam Shabaka, EcoVillage Founder and Executive Director; David Roach, Founder and Director, Mo'Better Foods; Mama Ayanna Mashama MS; Filmmakers Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan: Parks & Diversity Conference--Earth Day, April 22, 9 AM to 1 PM, in San Francisco @ the Cowell Theatre, Ft. Mason Center. Outings and discussions follow the event. Visit www.fortmason.org/directions

Today are speaking to T.J. Windham & cast of "On Both Sides of the Wall: The Two Way Struggle" on stage at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek tonight, April 17 & tomorrow, April 18; Margo Hall, director, and members of the cast: Dwight Huntsman, Halili Knox, & Craig Marker of The Story currently at SF Playhouse through April 25; Jacinta Vlach, choreographer and director of Liberation Dance Theater, who's "Animal Farm" is debuting next week at ODC Theater in San Francisco, April 24-25; closing with an interview with Algenis Perez Soto, star in directors Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden's film, "Sugar," currently in theatres everywhere.

The show starts out in silence after the introduction. I tried something new again which didn't work. I thought the audience could hear a Youtube broadcast, but it was only audible to me. I can't edit the archived show because it is live, so just stay with me and after 7 minutes of silence, Jonathan calls in and we start. For reference, the link is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBpLKm8vw4M We'll be speaking to New Orleans native, Jonathan Batiste, (pianist), who is the musical director of Stanford Lively Art's "Miles Davis/50 Years of KIND OF BLUE," this Saturday, April 18, a project headed by National Jazz Museum in Harlem, Loren Schoenberg, ED. He'll be joined by Darryl Green on drums; David Ewell on bass; Dayna Stephens on saxophone; Dominick Farinacci on trumpet, and Vasko Dukovski, clarinet. Okpara Danjuma, Unity Concepts, Inc., and Val Serrant join us next to talk about the first of many fundraisers called "Bridge to Bridge: A Gift from the Bay Area to the Youth of Katrina." The project is designed ar

Guests: Rhodessa Jones and Idris Ackamoor: "The Love Project," plus their Medea Project: Theatre for Incarcerated Women in the Diaspora--South Africa...; "Mrs. Streeter" playwright, Merrill D. Jones, and members of cast: Kimberly Smith as "Mrs. Streeter," Jeffery Tyler Moon as "Jeffery Streeter," and Clint Cartridge as "Charles Streeter"; Buford Powers, singer/composer, and India Cooke, musician, educator at Mills College featuring artists in her 10th year of the “PATTERNS: MUSIC AND RELATED ARTS IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN TRADITION” Apr. 14, 16 & 21. The lectures are at 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. in the Music Building Ensemble Room, on the Mills College Campus, 5000 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland. Oh, it's free too. Two of the artists are with her today in the studio: Eddie Gale, Trumpeter, and San José’s Ambassador of Jazz (4/14), Brenda Schuman-Post, Oboist, documentarian (4/21)--not in that order. Folks should get up to Juvenile Hall this morning to support David who has an arraignment at 8:30 this morning. He is

Today we will celebrate the legacy of Paul Robeson, born April 9, 1898. He was the youngest son of five children born to Presbyterian minister Reverend William Drew Robeson (1845-1918) and former schoolteacher Maria Louisa Bustill Robeson (1853-1904). He was the grandson of slaves and the son of a minister who escaped slavery and became one of Rutgers University's most famous and accomplished alumni. He is probably best known as an orator and baritone singer, actor and champion for justice, whether that was labor rights or just laws(http://prcc.rutgers.edu/Robeson/biography.htm) For siding with the poor and disenfranchised workers and for his activism Robeson was stripped of his passport during the McCarthy Era (1950s) and was unable to travel abroad. This limited his ability to work, especially his acting career, but the US government sanction did not stop or stifle his ability and willingness to speak out for justice for his people, for all people. We will featured a few selections from "Words Like Freedom

Ajuan Mance, Associate Professor, English Aurelia Henry Reinhardt Chair, at Mills College, author and visual artist. African American literature, 19th-century American literature, U.S. popular culture, the oral tradition in U.S. literature, Black feminist thought, African American art, Black on Campus. She, James Gayles & Karen Seneferu are a part of an exhibit at the Women's Cancer Resource Center,“Body & Soul.” The exhibit located at 5741 Telegraph Avenue,Oakland, CA 94609, (510) 420-7900 x 111, and curated by Margo Mercedes Rivera-Weiss, opens April 17, 7-9 p.m. and continues through May 6. Jetaun Maxwell, founder of Dance Theatre of the Gospel, has a new work, "Invisible Womb," on stage April 3-4, 7 p.m. and Sunday, 3 p.m. Saturday there is an artist panel and Sunday is an audience talk back with the Jetaun Maxwell. The show runs an hour, without intermission at Bay Area Christian Connection, 810 Clay Street in Old Oakland. For information call and visit: (510)350-8327 and www.phoenixaudiovisual