Wanda's Picks

Dave Davidson, director, "A Place out of Time: The Bordentown School which premieres on PBS Mon., May 24, 2010, 10:00 PM local time; Carolyn Brandy, percussionist, composer, performer, and educator. Her most recent projects include: OJALÁ, which is a vocal and percussion creative ensemble that mixes Cuban and American song forms and the "BORN TO DRUM" Women’s Drum Camp July 4th weekend. Carolyn has been a drummer and student of Cuban folkloric music for over 40 years. She has been a practitioner of the Yoruba-based Cuban religion, Regla de Ocha, also known as Santeria, since 1977. She was initiated as a priest of the religion in Havana, Cuba by Amelia Pedroso in 2000. Genny Lim's "Where is Tibet," is featured at the "Kyegudo Earthquake Benefit," Thursday, June 3, 2010, @ the Berkeley Fellowship Universalists Unitarians, 1924 Cedar @ Bonita, Berkeley, CA, (510) 841-4824. Lim has recorded poetry/music collaborations have included jazz greats, Max Roach, Herbie Lewis, Francis Wong and Jon Jang. She’s perform

Today we celebrate the life and legacy of El Hajj Malik El Shabazz with musician Steve Wilson, activist and MOVE member Ramona Africa with poet/teacher, Malcolm Shabazz Hoover; filmmaker, writer, educator, Chike Nwoffiah; and professor, historican, Manu Ampim. We feature the music of Soulfege. The event honoring Judi Bari, that Ramona Africa speaks of in her interview is Sunday, May 23, 7 PM at La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705 USA. The event is hosted by Revolutionary Ecology Earth First! and Headwaters Coalition and is free though donations are accepted. It is in recognition of the 20th anniversary of the bomb atack on Earth First! activist Judi Bari with speakers, music & film. Sponsored by Earth First and Headwaters coalition. For more info: 510-548-3113.

We open the show with Dave Room and Jonathan Gramling speaking about "Take Back the Mic" kickoff at Ashkenaz Music and Dance Center, 1317 San Pablo Avenue(@ Gilman, in Berkeley, Thursday, May 20, 7:30 PM. Take Back the Mic is building the groundwork for the Bay Area eco-justice community to connect with mainstream media in a meaningful way. "Take Back the Mic Campaign" is a way to help communities tell their own stories and define themselves. Visit www.takebackthemic.com/ Duane Deterville is one of the artists participating in the exhibit, “Past Forward: African Spirituality in Contemporary Black Art,” through August 19, 2010 at the Sargent Johnson Gallery at the AAACC at 762 Fulton Street, in San Francisco. There is an artist talk, May 29, 2-4 PM at the AAACC. Both the talk and art exhibit are free. Duane is a visual artist, writer and scholar of visual culture. Our next guest is Marvin X, esteemed scholar, poet, playwright, teacher, is author of "Parables, Fables, Musings of Plato Negro," which has a debut

Regina Carter speaks about her latest CD, "Reverse Thread" and her SFJAZZ date Friday, May 28, 2010, at the Herbst Theatre. Visit www.reginacarter.com We close with a live interview with artist, activist, educator, Meklit Hadero whose first full length CD project "On a Day Like This ..." has its second San Francisco CD release party at BIMBO's 365 Club, Thursday, May 13, 2010. We also remember Lena Horne who made her transition May 9, 2010 with Mahalia Jackson's "Upper Room."

Celebrating Mother's Day Weekend with Ms. Faye Carol at the Rrazz Room at Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason Street, in San Francisco, (415) 394-1189, with her daughter, Sista Kee. This morning we'll be playing selections from "Faye Sings Lady Day" and from "The Essential Mahalia Jackson."

Guillet Salvador is the President of AMANO (Associations des Mairies du Nord- Ouest) (Association of the Mayors of the Northwest). Radio personality Lou translates from the Kreyol. We will air a prerecorded audience talk with director, Tanya Hamilton, whose film, "Night Catches Us," screens, 9 PM, Thursday, May 6, 2010, at Sundance Kabuki in San Francisco.

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 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.

We have two prerecorded interviews this morning, the first is with Melba Moore, who is bringing her one woman show, "Still Standing" to the Black Rep this weekend, April 30 to May 2, 2010. For information call: (925) 812-2787, (510) 652-2120 or www.BLACKREPERTORYGROUP.COM, and www.melbamoore.com. To see a promotional video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SATYk0FUXwQ The second interview is with Alameda Supervisor Keith Carson who hosts: "African American Organizations Making Connections" this weekend, Saturday, May 1, 2010, 8:15-2 PM at Merritt College at the Huey Newton-Bobby Seale Conference Room, 12500 Campus Dr., Oakland, CA. There is free parking. AC Transit stops right in front of the campus. Oh, there will be free light refreshments. For information call (510) 271-5151 or visit www.acgov.org/board/district5/makingconnections.htm

Sean Reynolds, author of the first Chan Parker, Henrietta Wild Cherry mystery: "Dying for a Change." William Crossman's "John Brown's Truth," an opera, is the topic next, with cast members: Raymond Nat Turner and Zigi Lowenberg. The opera is performed this Sunday, April 25, 4 PM at the San Francisco Community Music Center, 544 Capp Street. Tickets are: $15 at the door or at brownpapertickets.com Cast from Jesus Moonwalks ...the Mississippi at Cuttingball Theatre in San Francisco through April 25. Visit www.cuttingball.com We close with a prerecorded interview with Eddie Gale and Calvin Keys re: the Bay Musicians Healthcare Fundraiser April 23 & 24, 2010 at Zelma's, 2246 Jerrold Avenue, San Francisco, (415) 824-7646. Drum night opens at 7:30 PM and the following day, 4/24, there are music workshops for youth and health screenings from 11 AM to 5 PM. The show starts at 8 PM.

The 2nd Annual Jazz Fest: Bay Area Musicians Self-Help Healthcare Fundaraiser Friday-Saturday, April 23-24, 2010 at Velma's, 2246 Jerrold Avenue, San Francisco, (415) 824-7646. Friday's show kicks off at 7:30 PM and Saturday there are free workshops, 11 AM to 5 PM with Bobby Vega. The concert begins at 8 PM. Tickets are also available on brownpapertickets.com (search for Jazz Fest 2010)

"This is FREDA PAYNE" opens at The Rrazz Room at Hotel Nikko, Tue. - Sat. 4/20-24, 8:00 pm; Sun. 4/25, 7:00 pm $40-45. The Rrazz Room at Hotel Nikko is located at 222 Mason Street (between Ellis and O'Farrell), San Francisco, California 94102. Tickets: www.therrazzroom.com / The Rrazz Room, (415)394-1189 / TicketWeb (866)468-3399. Also visit www.fredapayne.com This is a prerecorded interview. We open with a commentary on Haiti by Mumia Abu Jamal whose birthday is April 24. Happy Birthday Mumia! Visit www.prisonradio.org Ms. Payne's interview is followed by an excerpt of an interview with Jean Ristil Jean Baptiste, Kole Zepol Pou Sove Ti Moun. Jean Ristil speaks in Kreyol and Jean Yvon Kernizan translates. We close the show with an interview with Tata OmeAkaEhekatl Erick Gonzalez - Erick is a Aj Q'ij- a Day Keeper, Mayan Spiritual Guide, Teacher, and Healer, initiated into Native sacred rites over a thirty period with direct participation, teachings, and guidance from various Native spiritual elders from Mex

Former students call into show to pay tribute to scholar, Dr. Albirda Rose, whose retirement concert is Saturday, April 17, 2010, 8 PM at San Francisco State University's McKenna Theatre; Camille T. Dungy, editor of BLACK NATURE: Four Centuries of African American Nature Poetry, joined in the studio with Joyce Jenkins, editor of Poetry Flash and one of the principle organizers of the Northern CA Bay Area Book Awards, this weekend, April 18, 1 PM at the SF Main Library's Koret Auditorium, 100 Larkin Street in San Francisco. Professor Dungy is receiving the Special Recognition Award. The event is free and all are welcome. Valerie Trout as been called one of the few modern young singers creating stylistic change in the Vocal Jazz Tradition. She concludes a two session workshop Saturday, April 17, 11 AM to 2 PM at the MoAD-SF. She also hosts an all women showcase on Third Fridays in Oakland called Shepeople's: A Rare Breed, at Divinity and Voice, 3609 Maple Avenue, Oakland, valvoice@gmail.com. We close the show w

Alan Laird, artist, activist; Dr. Jeanne M. Taylor, who went to Haiti as part of a medical team; The 6th Annual Cuba Caribe Festival April 16-May 2, 2010: Ramon Ramos Alayo, artistic director, "Alayo Dance Company," Adia Whitaker, artistic director, Ase Dance Company; Ausetta Amor Amenkum, artistic director and founder of Kumbuka African Drum & Dance Collective

Reggie Wilson, Fist and Heel Performance Company's The Good Dance, a collaboration between Wilson's company and that of Andréya Ouamba / Compagnie 1er Temps. The Good Dance-dakar/brooklyn premieres locally at the Novellus Theater at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theatre, in San Francisco, April 1-3, 8 PM in a prerecorded interview. Visit http://www.ybca.org/ Kendra Kimbrough-Barnes is presenting a new work, "Home Is That Way," at CounterPULSE, April 1-4, 8 PM. “Home is That Way?” Kendra Kimbrough Barnes creates an impassioned dance piece about a family dealing with incarceration. When a son/ a brother loses an idea of where home is (literally and figuratively) after being in the prison system, this leads to retracing steps. Told in four chapters, "Home is That Way?" is a dance drama that that recalls the innocence, genius, tragedy, and rebirth of an imaginative boy. Visit http://counterpulse.org/ Ron Jones, best known for an incident in his classroom in Palo Alto, CA, "The Wave, The Musical," captures in cu

Tisha Kenny, Executive Director Health & Human Resource Education Center, Project Director, Health through Art Signs of Recover, whose current billboard campaign,just launched, "STOP RAPING AND BREAKING HEART," is in 23 bus stops for 1 month (March 24-April 24, 2010). Visit www.healththroughart.org Ms. Kenny is joined by Ramona Jones, who will speak about Victory Outreach Church of Oakland's "2010 I Love My City Crusade" and its kick-off event: Hear My Cry: Exposing Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Candlelight Vigil in downtown Oakland, 5-7 PM, Friday, April 2, at City Hall, 1 Frank Ogawa Plaza. Call (510) 385-4794, (510) 677-6364, (510) 434-1951. We close with a conversation with Ms. Dowoti Desir and Bryan Wiley, two artists featured in "African Continuum: Sacred Ceremonies and Rituals" at the Museum of the African Disapora through August 28, 2010. Visit moadsf.org or call (415) 358-7200. MoAD is located at 685 Mission Street (at Third Street), in San Francisco. Saturday, March 27, 2010, Mr. Wile

Angela Caroll, director, "Radical Pedagogy"; continuing our conversation with Sarah Crowell, Destiny Arts whose home season continues, March 26-28 with "Asylum" at the Laney College theatre, 900 Fallon Street in Oakland, CA. Friday, March 26 @ 7:30pm Saturday, March 27 @ 2pm and 7:30pm Laney College Theater 900 Fallon Street Oakland, CA Tickets Adults: $13-$25 sliding scale Youth 18 and under: $6 Group rates available-email tickets@destinyarts.org for information wheel chair accessible-call 510-597-1619 x119 for special instructions To purchase tickets call 800-838-3006 or go to: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/9999 The Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company (DAYPC) is a multicultural group of teens that create original performance art pieces, in collaboration with professional artists, that combine hip-hop, modern, and aerial dance, theater, martial arts, song and rap. The productions are a dynamic, creative forum for the young people to express their fears, hopes and strategies for confronting

Today on the 7th anniversary of the War in Iraq and the changing guard of seasons, Winter into Spring, we reflect transcendentally on how art heightens and expands conversations about life & death & life after death. Last week we spoke to director, Freida Lee Mock about Lt. Ehren Watada, the subject in her latest film. He was court marshaled for refusing to deploy to Iraq. Today we speak to a woman, Mrs. Mildred Dill'Ard who at 92 has lived through many wars and even more history as this young nation finds its true personality and rises to the greatness it is capable of. Mrs. Dill'Ard opens the show with cast and director of The Delany Sisters: First 100 Days: Monica Justice & Macia Branisel, alternating roles as "Bessie Delany," & director, Sean Vaughn Scott. Visit http://blackrepertorygroup.com/ Susie Butler depicts jazz legend, Ms. Sarah Vaughn, at her 86th Birthday Tribute, March 28, 2010, at the Jazz Heritage Center, located in the Yoshi’s Jazz Complex, 1330 Fillmore, in San Francisco, at

We open with a prerecorded interview with Bassekou Koyate, Ngoni Ba, re: "I Speak Fula," and his performance Thursday, March 18, 2010, 8 PM at Slims in San Francisco. DJ Said, Fat Souls opens. The interview is in French. (Yuna N'gal is the translator.) Sister Mona is in the studio live speaking about her business: http://ndotouzima.com/home. She is having an opening celebration Saturday, March 20, 2010, 3116 Adeline #111, Oakland, CA. RSVP (510) 547- 4829 for appointments. Hours are 10 AM to 10 PM. The reception is free. Contact her at: ndotouzima@yahoo.com We close with an interview with Sarah Crowell, Destiny Arts upcoming season, March 19-27 with the debut of "Asylum," at Laney College Theatre in Oakland. Visit http://www.destinyarts.org/index.html Sarah Crowell has been at Destiny Arts Center since 1990 as a dance teacher, artistic director, workshop facilitator and program development director, and served as the organization’s executive director from 2002-2007. Sarah has been a dancer and an arts educato

Today we will feature the director and cast from Chinaka Hodge's world premiere of "Mirrors in Every Corner," currently at Intersection for the Arts through Sunday, March 28, 2010.

Maureen Gosling, co-director with Maxine Downs, BAMAKO CHIC:WOMEN CLOTH DYERS OR MALI. There is a fundraiser Thursday, March 18, 7:30 PM at the Berkeley Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar @ Arch, (510) 843-8724. Ise Lyfe is up next, his "Pistols and Prayers," speakoutnow.org event, March 19, 2010, 8 PM at the Berkeley Rep Theatre, Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison Street. Also visit www.iselfye.com The 28th Annual Asian American Film Festival, March 11-21, 2010, directors Freida Lee Mock, "Lt. Watada," "Sing China!" and co-director, Mike Cheng, "Aoki." Visit www.asianemericanmedia.org Rhodessa Jones, Medea Project, Cultural Odyssey which is celebrating its 30th Anniversary, currently closing its season at the Burial Clay Theatre, 762 Fulton Street in San Francisco. "Dancing with the Clown of Love" closes this very successful home season. Catch this wonderful show tonight, Friday, March 12 & Sat., March 13, 2010, 8 PM and Sunday, March 14, 3 PM. Visit culturalodyssey.org We the show with the music of Rokia Traore "Dounia,