Wanda's Picks

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!

1. Creating a Black Cultural Zone in Oakland with Kahil El Zabar, the New Ethnic Heritage Ensemble and Elena Serrano, EastSide Arts Alliance (MX Jazz Arts Festival--Kamau Amen Ra

2. SF Indie Fest 2018 at 20 Years Feb. 1

Jeff Ross — Festival Founder, Director and Producer,  Jeff has produced events for over twenty years, ranging from nightclub shows, art openings, music, performing arts and film festivals. Previously he was Administrative Manager and Assistant to the Director of Operations at the San Francisco International Film Festival. He founded SF IndieFest in 1998 and serves as director of the organization.

3. From the Archives (rebroadcast 1/24/2018 show)

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!

1. We rebroadcast the Jan. 18, 2018 show. Since our interview, there are Women's Marches in Oakland at Lake Merritt Ampitheatre. Rally at 10 AM then march to Frank Ogawa Plaza; Napa, Alameda City and of course San Francisco (begins at 11:30 a.m.) and San Jose at City Hall at (11:00).

2. We also speak to cast for Star Finch's "Bondage" through Saturday at AlterTheatre at ACT Costume Shop. We also spoke with playwright, Larissa FastHorse and director, Jeanette Harrison about FastHorse's Cowpie BINGO up at ACT Costume Shop through Sunday, Jan. 21, the up in San Rafael Jan. 26-Feb. 18.

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!

1. Organizers and Participants, Women's March 2018 join us. Joy Elán and Anna Lukibanova.

2. Kim Shuck, San Francisco Poet Laureatte  (tenative)

3. Cast from Star Finch's "Bondage" at AlterTheatre (at ACT Costume Shop, 1117 Market) through 1/18-1/20 with a matinee 1/20 at 2 p.m. Visit altertheatre.org

4. Larissa FastHorse, playwright's "Cowpie BINGO" at AlterTheatre at ACT Costume Shop in SF through 1/21 and in San Rafael Storefront (TBA) 1/26-2/18. Director Jeanette Harrison joins us.                          &

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!

1. Opera Parallèle’s Harriet’s Spiritwith Tiffany Austin as Harriet Tubman on Jan. 18, at 6 pm, Jan. 20, at 10 am and 1 pm at the Buriel Clay Theater of the African American Art and Culture Complex, 762 Fulton Street in San Francisco. Suggested donation for tix: $5-$15. Make Reservations at: https://opharrietsspirit.bpt.me

Tiffany Austin (Harriet Tubman): One of the West Coast’s fastest rising jazz vocalists, Tiffany Austin is a classically trained singer who delivers a fiery blend of blues and classic swing. A graduate of UC Berkeley’s Boalt School of Law who has lived and performed on three continents, Austin decided to forgo a career as a lawyer to focus on music, her true passion.  Her 2015 debut album Nothing But Soul earned positive reviews, including four stars from Downbeat Magazine and an NPR Fresh Air radio feature. Austin is currently working on her second album, Unbroken, scheduled for release in early 2018.

2. W. Kamau Bell, radio and TV host, comedian, joins us to talk about his Playlist at OEB Symphony this Friday, Jan. 19.

3. From the Archives: Destiny Muhammad plays Alice Coltrane (aired Aug. 9, 2017).

1. Diane Barnes, playwright and actor, joins us to talk about her solo performance: "My Stroke of Luck" at the Marsh in SF through Feb. 3: Thursdays @8PM, Saturdays @ 5 PM

January 21 and 28th @ 2PM Tickets:  https://themarsh.org/my_stroke_of_luck/diane-barnes/

2. Theologian, Cultural Worker, Singer-Songwriter, Francisco Herrera brings together different styles of music to promote human rights and Social Justice His latest album Honor Migrante crosses physical and musical borders.

3. Stacey Hoffman, Living Jazz hosts “The 16th Annual In the Name of Love” tribute, Oakland’s only non-denominational musical tribute to Dr. King, Sunday, Jan. 14, 7-9:30 at the Oakland Scottish Rite Center.  Living Jazz also honors Wendy Jackson, this year’s recipient of the Oakland Citizen Humanitarian Award. 2018 Oakland Citizen Humanitarian awardee: Wendy Jackson is the Executive Director of the East Oakland Community Project (EOCP), a community-based, nonprofit organization that provides emergency housing for homeless individuals, families and people living with HIV/AIDS.

The theme of this year’s tribute is “Songs of Change” highlighting 5 outstanding vocalists, an exciting backup band, the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir; the 200-voice Living Jazz Children’s Project backed up by the Oakland School for the Arts Ensemble. Dana King, formerly with CBS, will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies.

4. Kim Nalley joins us to talk about MLK Jr.'s legacy and what she plans to sing at the Tribute. http://www.kimnalley.net

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!

1. Guests this morning are participating in the inaugural PlayGround Solo Performance Festival January 11-28 at Potrero Stage - 1695 18th Street, San Francisco. Visit http://playground-sf.org/solofest/ for the entire schedule each day.

Lisa Evans: YOU REALLY SHOULD SIT LIKE A LADY (OR HOW I GOT TO FEMME)

Jan 12-7PM / Jan 13-6PM / Jan 21-3PM / Jan 27-2PM

Malcolm Grissom:ME, MY SONG AND I

Jan 13-8PM / Jan 18-7PM / Jan 20-2PM / Jan 26-8:30PM / Jan 28-5PM

Thomas Robert Simpson: COURAGE UNDER FIRE: THE STORY OF ELROY

Jan 14-7PM / Jan 20-4PM / Jan 25-7PM

2. From the Archives: Interview with OKA director, Lavinia Currier (2011).

Music: Zion Trinity's "Opening Prayer for Legba"; Climbing Poetree's "She Lives."

We close with a rebroadcast of an interview with director of the film OKA (2010).

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!

1. Guests this morning are participating in the inaugural PlayGround Solo Performance Festival January 11-28 at Potrero Stage - 1695 18th Street, San Francisco. Visit http://playground-sf.org/solofest/ for the entire schedule each day.

Lisa Evans: YOU REALLY SHOULD SIT LIKE A LADY (OR HOW I GOT TO FEMME)

Jan 12-7PM / Jan 13-6PM / Jan 21-3PM / Jan 27-2PM

Malcolm Grissom:ME, MY SONG AND I

Jan 13-8PM / Jan 18-7PM / Jan 20-2PM / Jan 26-8:30PM / Jan 28-5PM

Thomas Robert Simpson: COURAGE UNDER FIRE: THE STORY OF ELROY

Jan 14-7PM / Jan 20-4PM / Jan 25-7PM

2. From the Archives: Interview with OKA director, Lavinia Currier (2011).

Music: Zion Trinity's "Opening Prayer for Legba"; Climbing Poetree's "She Lives."

1. Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD is the founding producing director ofThe Lower Bottom Playaz, Oakland's premiere North American African Theater Company, going into its 20th year of production. Nzinga was inducted into the Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame in 2017, recognized by  the Alameda County County Arts Commission for Excellence in Arts Leadership in 2016, Theater Bay Area for being one of the 40 faces to change the face of theater in the Bay Area, and the Helen Crocker Russell Art Award (SFF 2017). Dr. Nzinga is the only director or producer to mount and direct the entire August Wilson Century Cycle in chronological order.  Her new book, The Horse Eaters  an origin tale is on sale at Nomadic Press. Her latest work, Lifer, closes a season of original works, dedicated to exploring incarceration with this story based on the life and times of Lifer at Large, Glenn Bailey who also joins us this morning.

Glenn Bailey is A Lifer at Large ©, having spent a total of 52 years incarcerated in the California Penal System. Mr. Bailey is an experiential expert on the prison industrial complex who uses his experiences as an inmate to offer insight to youth, so that they can benefit from his accumulated experiences without being imprisoned.

2. Rebroadcast: Cheryl Fabio, director, West Oakland Blues Legacy, free screening at EastSide Arts alliance, 7 p.m. Dec. 29, tonight.

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!

1. Adrian Williams, Founder, The Village Project, joins us to talk about KWANZAA 2017 in San Francisco, Dec. 26-Jan. 1.

2. From the Archives: Kwanzaa Special 2012.