Wanda's Picks

We are joined in the studio for a special broadcast this afternoon to speak to Jenna Kozel, consumer security advocate at Lookout, a security technology company located in San Francisco and Anbu Anbalagapandian, Senior Software Engineer at Lookout, to talk about  Charity:water is a non-profit organization that's been bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations since 2006. Lookout is a company of hackers who create software that protects people and their most sensitive data from mobile threats. Lookout believes in "Hacking for Good" and is committed to supporting charitable projects, like Charity:Water that use technology to have an impact on the world. On Wed., May 22 at 9:00PM, Lookout is hosting a benefit concert for Charity:Water featuring Meklit Hadero. All proceeds will go to a Charity:Water project in Ethiopia. About Melkit Hadero: Born in Ethiopia and raised in San Francisco, Meklit's music influences range wide — from the jazz and soul favorites she grew up on; to the hip-hop and art-rock she loves; to folk traditions from the Americas to East Africa. Named a 2012 TED Senior Fellow, Meklit has served as an artist-in-residence at De Young Museum, New York University and Red Poppy Art House. The event will feature a live set from Meklit and her band, along with a full bar.

We are joined in the studio for a special broadcast this afternoon to speak to Jenna Kozel, consumer security advocate at Lookout, a security technology company located in San Francisco and Anbu Anbalagapandian, Senior Software Engineer at Lookout, to talk about  Charity:water is a non-profit organization that's been bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations since 2006. Lookout is a company of hackers who create software that protects people and their most sensitive data from mobile threats. Lookout believes in "Hacking for Good" and is committed to supporting charitable projects, like Charity:Water that use technology to have an impact on the world. On Wed., May 22 at 9:00PM, Lookout is hosting a benefit concert for Charity:Water featuring Meklit Hadero. All proceeds will go to a Charity:Water project in Ethiopia. About Melkit Hadero: Born in Ethiopia and raised in San Francisco, Meklit's music influences range wide — from the jazz and soul favorites she grew up on; to the hip-hop and art-rock she loves; to folk traditions from the Americas to East Africa. Named a 2012 TED Senior Fellow, Meklit has served as an artist-in-residence at De Young Museum, New York University and Red Poppy Art House. The event will feature a live set from Meklit and her band, along with a full bar.

Quinn DeVeaux, from Gary, Indiana, has packed houses and astounded audiences in the bay area for years with his smooth and dirty spank you voice and cool melodic songwriting. First he started an early Chicago Blues band and then a New Orleans soul and gospel band. Both groups had audiences clamoring for more. Now he has combined it all in the Blue Beat Review a self-styled crossroads of his many musical roots.Next Marin Shakespeare Company's Lesley Schisgall Currier joins us to talk about inmates at San Quentin State Prison who will have the rare opportunity to see fifteen of their peers performing in Shakespeare's problematic comedy "The Merchant of Venice," a play about commerce, love, revenge, and mercy. Under the direction of Currier and Suraya Keating, the actors have been studying the play, creating characters, learning lines, practicing fight choreography, and preparing for the performance for the past 8 months. The lead role of Shylock will be undertaken by inmate Luke Padgett, who has appeared in previous S@SQ productions as Hamlet, Malvolio, Lysander, Mercutio, Don Pedro etc. Padgett is serving a life sentence for murder, arson and robbery. She is joined by former company member, Johnathan Wilson (JW) who speaks about the transformative power of art now that he is on the other side of the prison walls.  Music: Nina Simone, Leon Thomas, Meklit & Quinn.

Quinn DeVeaux, from Gary, Indiana, has packed houses and astounded audiences in the bay area for years with his smooth and dirty spank you voice and cool melodic songwriting. First he started an early Chicago Blues band and then a New Orleans soul and gospel band. Both groups had audiences clamoring for more. Now he has combined it all in the Blue Beat Review a self-styled crossroads of his many musical roots.Next Marin Shakespeare Company's Lesley Schisgall Currier joins us to talk about inmates at San Quentin State Prison who will have the rare opportunity to see fifteen of their peers performing in Shakespeare's problematic comedy "The Merchant of Venice," a play about commerce, love, revenge, and mercy. Under the direction of Currier and Suraya Keating, the actors have been studying the play, creating characters, learning lines, practicing fight choreography, and preparing for the performance for the past 8 months. The lead role of Shylock will be undertaken by inmate Luke Padgett, who has appeared in previous S@SQ productions as Hamlet, Malvolio, Lysander, Mercutio, Don Pedro etc. Padgett is serving a life sentence for murder, arson and robbery. She is joined by former company member, Johnathan Wilson (JW) who speaks about the transformative power of art now that he is on the other side of the prison walls.  Music: Nina Simone, Leon Thomas, Meklit & Quinn.

Today we celebrate the life and legacy ofEl Hajj Malik El Shabazz with muscian, 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 with music from Meklit & Quinn's Bring it Home to Me and Robert Glasper's Double Booked/Butterfly.

Today we celebrate the life and legacy ofEl Hajj Malik El Shabazz with muscian, 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 with music from Meklit & Quinn's Bring it Home to Me and Robert Glasper's Double Booked/Butterfly.

We open with Dr. Zenju Earthlyn Manuel, author, visual artist, drummer, and Zen Buddhist priest, lives in Oakland, CA where she teaches at The East Bay Meditation Center and leads a small practice group in her home. She was ordained by Blanche Hartman and her priest training is being guided by Abbess Kiku Christina Lehnherr. Her book Tell Me Something About Buddhism (Hampton Roads Publishing, 2011) includes a foreword written by Thich Nhat Hanh, with poetry and illustrations by Zenju Earthlyn. She is also the author of the Black Angels Cards. Monica Anderson,  the founder and owner of Sankofa Events Project Management. www.SankofaEvents.com joins us to celebrate the successful Oakland premiere of Shola Lynch's Free Angela Davis and All Political Prisoners, this past Tuesday. Our next guest Mia Pascal is a woman with many talents. She joins us to talk about her 30 minute solo piece,  "Heartbreak Velocity", in two group shows, one at DIVAFest in San Francisco, week 2, May 18, 8 p.m. at the Exit Theatre on Eddy, and the second performance, at The Marsh in Berkeley in its Tell It on Tuesdays solo performances, May 28, 7 (music, 7:30 (show). We close with Meklit Hadero is two parts, with Quinn DeVeaux. The two perform tonight at Davies After Hours Concert bringing an original take on Beethoven's Missa Solemis. Mina Girgis, Executive Dir. and co-founder with Meklit of The Nile Project, close the morning show. It is, as is said, all the way LIVE (smile). Visit thenileproject.org

We open with Dr. Zenju Earthlyn Manuel, author, visual artist, drummer, and Zen Buddhist priest, lives in Oakland, CA where she teaches at The East Bay Meditation Center and leads a small practice group in her home. She was ordained by Blanche Hartman and her priest training is being guided by Abbess Kiku Christina Lehnherr. Her book Tell Me Something About Buddhism (Hampton Roads Publishing, 2011) includes a foreword written by Thich Nhat Hanh, with poetry and illustrations by Zenju Earthlyn. She is also the author of the Black Angels Cards. Monica Anderson,  the founder and owner of Sankofa Events Project Management. www.SankofaEvents.com joins us to celebrate the successful Oakland premiere of Shola Lynch's Free Angela Davis and All Political Prisoners, this past Tuesday. Our next guest Mia Pascal is a woman with many talents. She joins us to talk about her 30 minute solo piece,  "Heartbreak Velocity", in two group shows, one at DIVAFest in San Francisco, week 2, May 18, 8 p.m. at the Exit Theatre on Eddy, and the second performance, at The Marsh in Berkeley in its Tell It on Tuesdays solo performances, May 28, 7 (music, 7:30 (show). We close with Meklit Hadero is two parts, with Quinn DeVeaux. The two perform tonight at Davies After Hours Concert bringing an original take on Beethoven's Missa Solemis. Mina Girgis, Executive Dir. and co-founder with Meklit of The Nile Project, close the morning show. It is, as is said, all the way LIVE (smile). Visit thenileproject.org

We rebroadcast an archival interview with Wadada Leo Smith speaking about 10 Freedom Summers, a musical survey of the Civil Rights Movement. At the time of the interview it wasn't available. Now it is. Rene Marie speaks about Voices of My Beautiful County from an interview broadcast taped on June 29, 2011.

Music: Wadada Leo Smith's "Spirtual Light," "Don't You Remember"; The Pyramids's "What the World Needs Now"; Robert Glasper's "Butterfly" from Double Booked; Rene Marie selections  from Voices of My Beautiful Country.

We rebroadcast an archival interview with Wadada Leo Smith speaking about 10 Freedom Summers, a musical survey of the Civil Rights Movement. At the time of the interview it wasn't available. Now it is. Rene Marie speaks about Voices of My Beautiful County from an interview broadcast taped on June 29, 2011.

Music: Wadada Leo Smith's "Spirtual Light," "Don't You Remember"; The Pyramids's "What the World Needs Now"; Robert Glasper's "Butterfly" from Double Booked; Rene Marie selections  from Voices of My Beautiful Country.