Wanda's Picks

Dr. Lance Webb, D.C., Board Certified Chiropractic Physician Practicing Holistic Health Maintenance,Homeopathy, Chinese Healing Techniques 24+ years of Clinical research-sports/environmental medicine, toxicology, children health concerns...etc. Owner of Optimum Wellness, Chicago, Ill. Dr. Webb will also be at the Be Still event in Oakland (Jack London Aquatic Center) on Saturday, Apr. 4, 2009 between 10 am-3 pm., 115 Embarcadero East, Oakland, CA 94606 (between Oak Street & 5th Ave.) For an appointment call(510) 536-5934. Visit http://www.tauienterprises.com/ We are also joined by Idris Hassan, director of Bay Area Cypher, is practitioner of Media Arts, skilled as Videographer, Digital Video Editor, and Visual Artist. Ms. Hasan received her BA degree in Mass Communications and Photojournalism from Cal State Hayward and a Certificate Degree in Digital Video Arts from Berkeley City College. She has worked as an entertainment journalist, an editorial assistant and has contributed writings various to publ

Today we are speaking to Deidre Wilson, who is participating in "Free Battered Women: Our Voices Within Internally Free, Celebrating the Freedom of Formerly Incarcerated Survivors of Domestic Violence& Honoring Those Who Remain Imprisoned, Sat., Mar. 28, 3:30 PM at the Women's Bldg.,3543 18 (betw.Mission & Guerrero) in SF, CA. Our next guest is Marguerite "Ezili Dantò" Laurent. She is the founder and President of Ezili's Haitian Lawyers Leadership Network. She is also an award winning playwright, a writer, performance poet and an entertainment attorney who has represented many top Hip Hop artist. We will speak about 5-years after the coup. Kim McMillon, producer, Claire Ortalda, playwright, and Carla Blank, director, are our next guests. They will speak about "4 by 4 Plays" closing night at Live Oak Theatre, 1301 Shattuck Ave.(at Berryman), Berkeley, 8-10 PM. Tickets are $7/$10. Visit www.penoakland.org or call (510) 681-5652. We close with a conversation with Melanie DeMore, singer, educator, compose

Legally Blynd has a concert at Yoshi's in Oakland, March 31, 8 & 10 p.m., and we have two of the band, Jubu and Eric, on the air. Should be a fun show. I'm talking radio show. We are also speaking to fine artist, Latisha Baker and director of Taking Root, Lisa Merton, and Members of SF Camera Works' First Exposure. First Exposure is having a closing reception and premiere release of First Exposures Adobe Youth Voices Multimedia Arts Project and Silent Auction @ 657 Mission St., 2nd Floor (next door almost to MoAD across from YBCA and around the corner from SFMOMA). Donation is a sliding scale $10-20. There will be DJs Spinning, hors d'oevres, and a silent auction. Visit www.sfcamerawork.org or call (415) 512-2020. Also tonight, in the East Bay is a Community Screening (free) of Lisa's film, "Taking Root," at the Oakland Museum of CA, James Moore Theatre, 1000 Oak, @ 10th Street. Jubu is at www.myspace.com/legallyblynd

Today we have on the air: Tovi Scruggs, M.ED. and Sharon Morrison Parker, Directors of ASA Academy, Opal Palmer Adisa, poet, writer, educator, Renata Gray, artist, and Angela Wellman, co-founder, and director of the Oakland Public Conservatory of Music. We might have a special guest joining us briefly, musician, griot, from Mali, Toumani Diabaté.

Eric Reed opens the morning program. He'll be in town March 23, for two shows at Yoshi's in Oakland, CA. Visit www.EricReed.net and MySpace.com/EricReedJazz. His latest,"Stand!" is a wonderful reflection on Ephesians 6:13--all original Reed music. We'll have to ask him what it all means. The CD features his trio: Reed on piano, Willie Jones III on drums and Rodney Whitaker on bass. The Oakland gig has a different line-up. Pippa Fleming, who describes herself as a Lesbian vocalist who lays her hands on her audience by putting their spirits at ease and conveying humanities truths. She says she is "ear witness to the diverse sounds of a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-generational collective of amazing musicians who are putting independent music back on the map, frontline vocalist for the group: "Deemed Defective." They have a gig March 20. Kind of rare, so Pippa fans need to catch her at the The Rocket Room, 406 Clement Street, San Francisco, 94118, 8:30 p.m. $4 if you reserve your tickets at www.basecampm

I am on a retreat this weekend, so we are going on the air 2 hours early, 6-8 a.m. with a rebroadcast from a special 031009 air date: We will speak to Kiilu Nyasha, former Black Panther Party member, activist, TV show host and artist. She is featured in an exhibit this Saturday, March 14, at the West Oakland Branch Library, 1801 Adeline Street, 1-3 p.m., in Oakland, along with two other artists: Tarika Matilaba Lewis and Gail Asali Dickson. Charlotte O'Neal's work is part of another exhibit at the Oakland Main Library Branch. The reception will feature all four women who will also talk about their work. Visit www.itsabouttimebpp.com This show will also feature Rev. Liza Rankow, OneLife Institute which is presenting “Transformative Visions,” a multimedia art show and spoken word/jazz concert with a message of peace and possibility, from 2:00 - 5:00 PM on Saturday, March 14, 2009, at Studio One, 365 - 45th St., in Oakland. Artists, Lorraine Bonner, TheArthur Wright and Destiny Muhammad, "Harpist from the Hood,"

We will speak to artist, Fan Lee Warren whose work is a part of an exhibit honoring women artists at the Joyce Gordon Gallery in Oakland. Kamal Al Mansour, follows at 6:30. His exhibit, "Truth and Consequences" is up at Nonesuch Space through March 28, Wednesdays-Fridays, 1-6 p.m. and by appointment. The gallery address is 2865 Broadway Street, in Oakland, on auto row, across from the Grocery Store Outlet. Visit paragon-media.org/nonesuchspace He is followed by Albert Mazibuko, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Grammy winners for their 2008, "Ilembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu," is the final confirmed guest. Ladysmith is at UC Berkeley's Zellerbach Auditorium 3/12 and at UC Davis, 3/16. Visit their website for the complete itinerary. We might have Tarika Lewis on for the closing segment, but it hasn't been confirmed. Her work is a part of an exhibit at the West Oakland Branch of the Oakland Public Library. There is an artist reception this Sat. March 14, 1-3 p.m. at 1801 Adeline Street, in Oakland, (510) 238-7352.

We will speak to Kiilu Nyasha, former Black Panther Party member, activist, TV show host and artist. She is featured in an exhibit this Saturday, March 14, at the West Oakland Branch Library, 1801 Adeline Street, 1-3 p.m., in Oakland, along with two other artists: Tarika Matilaba Lewis and Gail Asali Dickson. Charlotte O'Neal's work is part of another exhibit at the Oakland Main Library Branch. The reception will feature all four women who will also talk about their work. Visit www.itsabouttimebpp.com This show will also feature Rev. Liza Rankow, OneLife Institute which is presenting “Transformative Visions,” a multimedia art show and spoken word/jazz concert with a message of peace and possibility, from 2:00 - 5:00 PM on Saturday, March 14, 2009, at Studio One, 365 - 45th St., in Oakland. Artists, Lorraine Bonner, TheArthur Wright and Destiny Muhammad, "Harpist from the Hood," are a part of this program which is free and open to the public. Scheduled to coincide with the annual observance of A Season for Non

We'll be talking about women political prisoners with Pam Africa and Linda Evans, Marilyn Bucks' co-defendant, and Marilyn’s attorney, J. Soffiyah Elijah is the Deputy Director of the Criminal Justice Institute at Harvard Law School, at 8 AM. There is an event for Marilyn, who will be released next year, this Sunday, March 8. Author, Cheo Tyehimba follows. His new book is "Like Loving Backward." His official Bay Area book party is at MoAD 3/7. Director, Barry Jenkins is on at 9 AM. His Black San Francisco postcard: "Medicine for Melancholy," opens at the Embarcadero in San Francisco, and we close with Mama Naomi Diouf, Diamano Coura West African Dance Company host of the 14th annual “Collage des Cultures Africaines” Festival, March 12-15 in Oakland and Berkeley.

The morning will begin with an update on Albert Woodfox’s case. I heard things went well in court Tuesday, March 3. We’ll be speaking with exonerated Anglola 3 member Robert Hillary King and other supporters, Albert's brother, Michael Mable and Parnell Herbert, about the hearing. This conversation will be followed by a talk with Todd Evans, playwright. His play, “Battle Road,” a play about Black people’s involvement in the Revolutionary War, will be produced at the Barn Theater in Ross, March 6, 7 & 8. We will close the program with The Big Read in Oakland, sponsored by the Oakland Public Library, the Oakland Museum and Cal State University East Bay. The book this year is Ernest Gaines’ A Lesson Before Dying, and there are many events planned this month to celebrate this wonderful work: films, poetry writing workshops, dramatization and an interview with the author. All the events are free. Visit this website for information about Oakland's first ever Big Read program 03/04/2009 -

We are joined in the studio by Jeremiah Kpoh, Maisha Productions and Eskender Aseged, Radio Africa Kitchen, who have a show: AFRICA RISING at PROJECT, 1251 Rhode Island Avenue, Saturday, February 28th at 9 p.m. Tickets are $20 and INCLUDES FOOD; the next guests in the studio are members of the cast, playwright, William A. Parker and director, Buddy Butler, of "Waitin' 2 End Hell," at Lorraine Hansberry Theatre at the PGE Auditorium, 77 Beale Street (near Embarcadero BART), San Francisco, Feb. 27-28, 8 p.m., and 3/1 at 2 p.m. We close the show with a conversation with Carolyn Brandy, director of Ojala and Elouise Burrell, a member of both Ojala and Linda Tillery's Cultural Heritage Choir--both are in concert, along with special guests at La Peña Cultural Center 3105 Shattuck Avenue, in Berkeley, Sat., Feb. 28, 6:30 and 8:45 PM. Visit www.borntodrum.net, www.lapena.org for information and tickets: (510)849-2568. Tickets are $18 in advance and $20 at the door. I want to remind listeners that tonight is a poetr

Today during the first hour we will speak to Ntozake Shange, poet, playwright, writer, whose seminal work, "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf," is currently on stage at the Black Repertory Group in Berkeley, Friday-Sunday, Feb. 27-March 1. She is joined by the co-director, Cassandra A. Henderson. Visit www.keepersoftheculture.com For the second portion of our program guests are Dayna Stephens and Johannes Wallman , both musicians and educators. Prof. Wallman will speak about the upcoming scholarship fundraising concert, Tuesday, March 3, at Yoshi's in Oakland. Dayna is featured artist. Visit www.yoshis.com

We will be celebrating the life of El Hajj Malik El Shabazz this morning in music and words. 44 years ago, he was killed. Just 39 years old at the time, we miss his words and laughter and insight. We also miss his integrity and upright character. If listeners would like to share thoughts, please call into the station, (347) 237-4610 the first hour. The second portion of the program will be a celebration of Nina Simone's music. She was born today, Feb. 21, 76 years ago. In the San Francisco Bay Area there are a lot of Mardi Gras Parties, so we'll play Carnival music to get you in a festive mood. Robert Hillary King, of the International Coalition to Free the Angola 3 (really two, King's out now),is our special guest this morning. He'll update us on Albert Woodfox, whose birthday is this month. Maybe we'll sing happy birthday. We want to offer our condolences to his family, brother Michael Mable and sister-in-law, Adrienne, for the loss of their daughter a few days ago.

I am going to have to postpone the tribute for Lanier Pruitt, educator, musician, to April 2009. Stay tuned for the new date. The theme is Mardi Gras this weekend in the San Francisco Bay Area, especially on the East Bay side of things. I will have as my first guest Sophis Dorsainvil of Kalbass Kreyol, an Afro-Caribbean band and the sensational Brazilian Dance Group Samba Mora at Ashkenaz Music and Dance Center in Berkeley, 9:30 p.m. He will be followed by members of the cast of the Men's Story Project, now a film screening Sunday, Feb.22, Shatuck Theatre in Berkeley, as a part of SF Indie Festival www.mensstoryproject.org We will then be joined by members of the cast of "Tough Titty" at the Magic Theatre, through Feb. 22, 2009. Visit http://www.magictheatre.org/season0809/tough.shtml. We'll close the morning with Michelle Jacques who's band, Chelle! has a concert "Voodooville," Saturday evening at the Jazz School in Berkeley celebrating Mardi Gras www.jazzschool.inhousetickets.com. For the latest in what's g

We will feature Fred Harris, composer, pianist who has a recital --"Blastin' Barriers," next week, February 24, 8 p.m. at the Century Club Bldg., 1355 Franklin Street, at Sutter,in San Francisco. For tickets and information call (415) 672-5173 or visit www.fhperformances.org, We'll listen to his work and talk about his art in a special extended segment. If you aren't on Alcatraz to see Kevin Epps' latest film, The Black Rock, Tuesday, Feb. 17, a film, brought to you by the director of "Straight Outta Hunter's Point," his latest, a film which looks at the black people incarcerated on Alcatraz, I'll give you an update and information about the limited engagement at The Red Vic Movie House in San Francisco. I might have other special guests. We're working on it presently. We'll also be speaking to Director/Playwright James Brooks and Bryant Bolling, Musical Director, whose Celestial Celebration opens 2/20, 21, 27, 28, 3/1, 8 PM, Sunday at 3 PM, at Laney College, 900 Fallon Street, in Oakland, (510) 839-9192. Do

Today we feature Tony Spires, producer of the Bay Area Black Comedy Competition and Festival, Feb. 13-15, at Tommy T's in Pleasanton: www.BlackComedyCompetition.com; Isaura Oliveira, whose work is a part of Black Choreographers Here and Now, week 2 at Dance Mission, 3316 24th Street @ Mission: http://www.bcfhereandnow.com/; My Children, My Africa (by Athol Fugard) cast: L. Peter Callendar, Lloyd Roberson II, and Laura Morache. The play is currently on stage at the Marin Theatre Company, 397 Miller Ave., in Mill Valley through Sunday, Feb. 15, (415) 388-5208, www.marintheatre.org; some of the cast from "Gem of the Ocean" (by August Wilson) cast: C. Kelly Wright, Donald Lacy, Hosea L. Simmons, Hansford Prince. The Sacramento Theatre Company production is up through 2/15, and is located at 1419 H Street, SAc., (916) 443-6722.

We will be speaking with former Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney who is giving the keynote address this week, Feb. 13-15, at the 11th Annual Leadership Conference of The Black Caucus of California Student Association of Community Colleges (CalSACC). The conference theme for 2009 is: "Ujima: Utilizing the Power of Education for Collective Empowerment," and the working title is: "The Glass Ceiling has been Broken, The Inauguration Parties are Over, Now the Work Begins." It is hosted by the Black Caucus at Foothill College, Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills. Ms. McKinney will be joined on the air by Glen Ford, publisher of Black Agenda Report. We will have a 50 minute conversation, followed by a short talk with Black Caucus leadership about the conference this year. We will also talk to Guy Patrice Lumumba, son of the first Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, along with Lisa F. Jackson, director of the film, "The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo," and Muadi Muken

Happy Birthday Bob Marley! A Belated Happy Birthday Langston Hughes. Happy Birthday also to my brother Fred Batin and friends: Portia Anderson, Raymond Nat Turner, Jamal Ali and all other Aquarians. 8-8:30 AM: Laura Elaine Ellis and Kendra Kimbrough: Black Choreographers Here and Now, opening tonight at Laney College in Oakland and continuing in San Francisco at Dance Mission next weekend. 8:30-9 AM: Ayodele Nzinga and Geoffrey Grier re: The Tenderloin Theatre's Night at the Black Hawk: 2/5-7 & 2/12-14, at the NMTL/CBD Community Center, 134 Golden Gate St., in SF. They are joined by the cast of Ellis Berry’s Production of “MOSES,” a dramatic, inspiring and powerful stage play about the life of Harriet Tubman. Starring Yehmanja Houff as Moses, opening at the Malonga Casquelourd Theater 1428 Alice Street in Oakland, Friday, February 13 @ 8:00 p.m., continuing through the weekend, two 8 p.m. performances and a Sunday matinee. Tickets are $20.00 for age 18 and above and$10.00 for youths 17 and below. All

Today we will feature Zachary Norris, Esq. Dir., Books Not Bars, a program of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, 344 40th Street, in Oakland, (510) 428-3939. We will speak about Zachery's recent visit to Palestine, and his work around juvenile justice. There is a community meeting tonight at the Intertribal Friendship House, 523 International Blvd., in Oakland, Wed., Feb. 3, 2009, 6:30 p.m. The morning concludes with a conversation with Melody Powers, Director of Marketing with Workplace Campaigns, BABUF and Adrianne N. Gillyard, Leadership Excellence. They will speak about the African American Health Summit, this weekend, Friday-Saturday, Feb. 6-7, 2009. The Summit's theme this year is "Claiming Our Story of Health & Wellness: Our Past, Our Present, Our Future." It is free on 2/7, 9-6. The conference is at the Oakland Marriott City Center and Convention Center, 1001 Broadway St., downtown Oakland. Visit www.babuf.org.

Today we feature Randy Weston, phenomenal musician, composer, historian, humanitarian and scholar; this one hour special is followed by an interview with Soulive producer Nicole Hankton, and Chuck Lounge, with "Farenhyte 5150," which has a concert tomorrow, 1/31 at Club Anton in Oakland's Jack London Square, 428 3rd Street, (510) 924-2044 and www.chucklounge.net. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. If you mention Wanda's Picks, you get the $12 price! We close with a conversation with composer, scholar Anthony Brown and playwright, Philip Kan Gotanda, whose work "Yohen," debuted at the Durham Theatre at UCB, 1/29. It was his first bilingual Japanese/English reading of this play and featured excerpts with actors: David Moore and Ayako Nagamine. Featured music during this segment is from Anthony Brown's Asian American Orchestra's TEN, an album celebrating the band's 10th Anniversary last year. Visit www.anthonybrown.com