CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME

My morning started out wonderfully.  I made the perfect pot of coffee, grabbed a Nat Sherman, and sat out on the deck for my ritual a. m. cup of Joe and a  smoke (yes I smoke).  I don’t know what made me do it, but, I checked out CNN news on my BlackBerry.  Why did I do that!  Below is an except of what I saw:

-Washington (CNN) -- The United States is giving an additional $150 million in direct assistance to the Palestinian Authority, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced Wednesday.

The funds will help the Palestinians close a huge budget gap, Clinton said.-

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• NEW: The money is being advanced from 2011 funds approved by Congress
• The U.S. government will give another $150 million to the Palestinian Authority
• The aid will help close a major budget shortfall
• Clinton: Aid shows America's "determination" to "stand with our Palestinian friends"

Our country is giving an “additional” 150 million dollars away!   Again!  It doesn’t matter to “who”, what matters is, that it’s not to us, the American people!  My momma always told us that “charity begins at home”.   I’m sure the Palestinians could really use the cash, but so can we! 

Let me make myself clear;  don’t have a problem with the Palestinians, or any one else, I do have a problem with our employees (and that’s what our so called “leaders” are, EMPLOYEES!) giving away money need by Americans and leading us straight down the path of  severe poverty and, eventually, oblivion!

Foreclosures filings passed the 3 million dollar point at the end of 2008.  (I don’t want to know about last year.) 

Almost 10.7 million U.S. mortgages were "underwater" as of September, 2009, there are more Americans homeless now since the “Great Depression”.  And what about our children? 

When you went to bed last night (those of us who still have a bed) did you know that approximately 1.5 million American children went to bed homeless?  A homeless child in America is twice as likely to go to bed hungry than one who is not homeless.  America prides itself on being the richest country in the world, yet we have children who are homeless and hungry.  What’s wrong with this picture? 

Back in the day, in my old neighborhood, there was always a family who did things “ass backwards”.  You’d see the mother and or father leave the house, looking cleaner than a “broke dick dog”.  But upon close examination, the house was  raggedy, the children dirty,  and the fridge was empty.  Yet to the world, they seemed to be doing “real good”.   So it is with America today.  Our “employees” need to understand that before you can help anyone else, for what ever reason, you have to help yourself first.  Charity begins at home.  It is our job to “remind” them. 

    

Talk to you later.

AND ALL THAT JAZZ!

Sacramento, CA
June 6, 2010 is a date that I will long remember, for two reasons; I attended my first Black Music Awards show and I fell in love with jazz.

The 8th annual “Sounds of Soul” Music Awards, held at the Crest Theater in Sacramento, CA, was a thrilling event, to say the least. Musicians, vocalist, and groups from all over the country vied spectacularly . Some faces were familiar and some were not, but each and everyone gave the audience an award winning performance. From Gospel to Rap, R & B to Jazz, it was truly a melting a pot for “Soul”, an exciting whirlwind of entertainment.

It was during the performance of Larry Ellis Jr, one of the west coast’s most spectacular jazz musicians and best kept secret, that I discovered a long dormant “love” for jazz. Thank you Larry Ellis Jr. Don’t misunderstand, I have always liked jazz, respected jazz, listened to jazz, but love it? I don’t think so. But now, I know I can love it with the same passion that I’ve always applied to R&B.

Listening to the interpretations of “Ode to Billy Joe”,”Nuthin’ But a G Thing” from his latest CD “Your Favorites My Way” Ellis and his band Southwind, gave me a new out look on the soul of jazz. For the first time I felt the spirit of jazz flow from the soles of my feet to the crown of my head and it was then I knew, that from that point on, jazz and I would be lovers! It took an extraordinary master of music to bring this die hard R&B fan into the house of jazz. No wonder he won two, not one,but two, Sounds of Soul awards. Larry Ellis Jr won the Soul award for ”Best Jazz Band” and “Best Jazz Musician”. No Surprise there!

There is so much more to say about this jazz impresario, but talk is cheap, listening is better.

Get to know and enjoy Larry Ellis Jr.  He’s not hard to find.  Just follow the music.

http://www.jazzplaya.com/

http://myspace.com/larryellisjr

http://reverbnation/larryellisjr

http://itunes.com/larryellisjr

http://rhapsody/larryellisjr

And A Good Time Was Had By All...

It was about an hour past sundown when Jonesy (my

husband) and I walked into a nice little neighborhood establishment known as “ A Touch A’ Class”.  Famous in Sacramento for its barbeque, southern cuisine and good times. We decided it would be a good place to pick up dinner for Pop (my father-in-law) since I was on “strike” (that’s another story). 

When we walked through the door, we were welcomed by the sound of hot R&B, friendly faces, and aromas like the ones  I used to smell in my grandma Hannah’s kitchen.  Talk about comfort level.  At any rate, we placed our order, found a table, took a seat, and began to really enjoy  the “old school” atmosphere.

As I waited  for our order, a slow smile moved across my lips as I began to reminisce. 

In the early 80’s, when the numbers runner was still a mainstay in the hood (pre lottery), and the jheri curl was the coiffure of choice, there was an after hours spot in my old neighborhood that was the Black version of “Cheers”. It was located in the basement of a private home, and on any given  Friday or Saturday night, everybody, and I do mean everybody, could be found there.  The backstreet hustler and the working stiff, gathered there for a brief respite from the daily dramas of life and have a little fun.   The lights were low and the bar was well stocked.  Whatever your poison you could find it there.   Dancing in the front room, gambling in the back, and in between, a bar that stretched from one end of the room to the other.   At # 6 (that’s what it was called) deals were made, philosophies were developed, politics was discussed, stress was released, and lifelong relationships either  began or ended. And while it was more evolved than the “nip joints” in my parents day, it too would fade into the past.

In the history of America, the “nip joint”, “juke joint”, “speakeasy”, “blind pig”, “after hours spot”, which ever moniker you wish to apply, can most times be found as  a footnote listed under “illegal blight”.  While that may be a factual  view from the top, there is no denying that  such establishments served a purpose.  In the past,  juke joints in the black community, aside from being  a secular source of entertainment and social interaction, provided a showcase for local talent and a home away from home for many black musicians who traveled the “chitlin circuit”.  They were a theater, restaurant, bar, and dance hall all rolled in to one. 

I finally drifted back from my reverie of  days gone by.  Jonesy paid for Pop’s dinner  and, promising to return, we  made our exit.  As we headed home,  couldn’t help but think about how the curtains had closed #6 and other such shadow land establishments, clearing the stage for its more sophisticated, and certainly more, legitimate decedents.

So, if fabulous food is what you seek, one and a half blocks away from the long defunct #6, you can find it at the “Croaker Spot” restaurant, one of the finest soul food restaurants in the nation (ask Bobby Flay!) Wonderful food and an atmosphere that says “you’re welcomed here”.  And if you need a shot of hot music and dancing the night away, you can find your niche anywhere across this country without knocking on the “Green Door”.  If you’re ever on the west coast check out the Avalon night club in Sacramento. Fabulous  environment,  and the bar, well let’s just say that the old “#6” never looked like that!

I guess the moral of this story (if there is one) would be that time passes and circumstances change but the need for human social interaction and comfort does not, we will always look for  places to meet and greet.  Whatever your style may be, just look around, a good time maybe right around the corner.

 http://avalonsacramento.com/

http://www.croakersspot.com/

 

The Sound of Black Liquid

Join this artist live on radio station WCLM 1450 am on "Speaking from the Heart" talk show with host Gloria Taylor-Edwards.

When: Wednesday, October 28th

Time: 6:00 pm, edt and 3:00 pm, pdt

Where: WCLM 1450 am in Richmond, VA

On the internet:
http://www.inter-tainment.com/radio/wclm.asx
(Windows Media Player Required)

Call in #: Richmond - (804) 231-7685

outside of Richmond - 1(800) 806-6723

Richmond, Virginia, my hometown; it's not Motown, but it has made several unforgettable contributions to the "sounds of soul". Tommy Edwards (All in the Game), The Jarmels (A Little Bit of Soap), Major Harris (Love Won't Let Me Wait), and D’Angelo (How Does It Feel?) Ooh, remember the video to that number? You know the one I'm talking about! All of the affore mentioned recording artist have called Richmond home. I am sure that in the near future, a new name, BLACK LIQUID, will be added to the list.

A combination of Gil Scott Heron, Brother J of the X-Clan, Arrested Development, and a dash of The Last Poets, BLACK LIQUID brings back the spirit of “story telling” to the rap and hip hop genre. You won't find the bling bling, or thug life style expressions in his lyrical approach; his words are those of a young man who expressions are truly "it is what it is". Black Liquid is a strong reminder that not all "tales from the hood" are superficiality, powered by greed, but most are subjective truth and individual reality. A day in any body's life is a "tale from the hood".

I asked him how he began his journey down the hip hop path, and without hesitation he replied, “I never thought music would be my thing”, said the, 27 year old Richmonder, “the music business is seriously materialistic and self aggrandizing; people have a tendency to define themselves by what they lack, and consequently, have lost the value of their values".

If BLACK LIQUID seems “deep” it’s because he is, and his music follows suit with rhythm. When asked him about the name “BLACK LIQUID” he stated, “you have to dig deep into the depths of the earth to find its black liquid, and you have to dig deep within yourself to find your black liquid, your “truth”. Deep. How deep? Check this out; with his fifth CD due for release on October 30th, BLACK LIQUID has yet to charge a dime for his music. “Music should be free.” And free it is. And in case you are thinking, “you get what you pay for”, let me assure you, that old adage does not apply in this instance. While all of the cuts great, "7:30", "Hurricane", and "What It Do" have quickly become my favorites.
Look for BLACK LIQUID and his music on facebook.com/blackliq, twitter.com/blackliq, and myspace.com/blackliq. And while you're at it, check out his videos. Yes, he has several; my favorite is "What It Do" (second time I've mentioned that, I know!). Youtube is his distribution media of choice, for now: youtube.com/blacliqwoftd. He would love to hear from you and will answer all emails:

BLACK LIQUID, a talented and insightful Griot for the 21st century who can make you think and get your grove on at the same time. That's talent. So sit back, listen to his music, get to know him, after all, the only thing it will cost you is time. I promise you, it will be time spent wisely. 
Oh yes, when you email him, ask him about "WOFTD"!