بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

As-Salaamu ‘Alaikum Ma Beloved And Beautiful Asiatic Black Bebies!!!

As-Salaam ‘Alaikum! How are you? I pray you all had a wonderful and fun, eventful weekend, as I had and pray the week and the coming month, the end of the year and the rest of your life are just as wonderful and fun, and eventful!

Well, you know I’m a journalist, so let’s get to the juice!

THE CENTRAL AVENUE JAZZ FESTIVAL

By far, the best performance of the entire festival (and I went both days) was Brother Kyle from Living Single – T.C. Carson.

I was a little skeptical because I had seen him perform on the show and I wasn’t impressed. But a truly gifted performer always shines when they perform LIVE and this Brother outshined them all.

He came out and immediately caught my attention. The first few numbers were uptempo and I wasn’t too shy to snap my fingers and dance in my seat. He was on point.

Then he slowed it down and finished his set with ballads. Which I enjoyed, albeit not as much as the uptempo numbers.

The crowd loved “My Funny Valentine” but my favorite was his cover of John Coltrane’s, “Naima.”

https://youtu.be/9OuD9VqpgNc

Which, I wasn’t even aware had lyrics, unless he penned them himself. They really spoke to my soul. Something like, “She is the mother of creation, keeper of the home and wife to her husband so he never has to roam.” And I really dug it.

However, when the solos came, he only had a rhythm section (piano, bass and drums) and it really sounded like it was missing something. And it hit me that he needed a saxophone! I mean, it was Coltrane’s song and the lack of a saxophone was tangible.

So, after the set, I mentioned to him that I really enjoyed his performance and he should get a tenor for Naima.

“I don’t want a tenor. I like it the way I did it.” Now granted this was the second time I mentioned it to him. (The first time I wasn’t sure if he had heard me.) But dang, why you gotta get all in your feelings? It was just a suggestion to try and better your show.

“But it sounds like it’s missing something…”

“To you!”

“Well, can I help it if I’m a jazz afficionado?” LOL

Anyway, Kyle… Boy Bye.

*******

You know, I just happened to come to the enlightenment that when someone gives you constructive criticism, it is a great act of maturity to accept the criticism, whether you welcome it or not, with humility, forbearance, and at least a show of gratitude.

Granted, some people just hate and want to make you feel less than, but my intentions and I’m sure most people’s, are genuinely trying to help you. So whether you agree with the suggestion or not, be humble! Don’t show negative emotions.

He really hurt my feelings. All because of his arrogance. I guess it’s because he’s a celebrity and and has grown accustomed to obsequious fawning that his head is too big to accept CONSTRUCTIVE criticism.

I mean, it’s JOHN’S song! The least you could do is pay homage to him for letting you get paid off of it!

But he’s old and feeble and looked like he would fall over if you breathed on him too hard. So, I guess there’s the justice.

*******

The festival overall was pretty good as far as festivals go.

I mean, I’m a little biased because I’ve been to New Orleans and Jazz just isn’t the same once you’ve been there.

I mean there was the cutest little trombone player and I saw him before he hit the stage. I was looking forward to hearing this band called “The West Coast Get Down.” I mean they had to be good with a name like that, right?

So, showtime was nearing and I see a Brother with a trombone case and you know I’m in love with the trombone. So, I’m like, (I was sitting right by the stage) “Is that a trombone?” And he’s like, “Yeah” And I’m like, “Can you play Brass Band?” And he’s like, “Yeah.”

So then I get all excited thinking I might hear some Brass Band.

Later, I see him walking around with his trombone and it’s this funky, orange and black airbrushed paint job on the trombone. So fly.

So, then the announcer gets up on stage and announces the Band, “Ryan Porter and the West Coast Get Down.”

Then the announces comes off the stage and I ask him what instrument does Ryan Porter play? And he says, “Trombone.”

And I’m to myself like “What? That was the leader?” LOL Who knew?

So Kamasi Washington is in the group and some other local young cats and I’ve heard Kamasi’s c.d. and kinda dug it. I mean it wasn’t on heavy rotation but I dug it.

I’m sorry but I think I’m kind of prejudiced toward him because he’s overweight and yesterday, he seemed to be copying Pharaoh Sanders or Lonnie Liston Smith’s style. I think. Or some eclectic type of Bohemian style that I went through in the nineties and just rather think it’s kind of dirty now. So, I don’t mean to be judgmental but cheah.

Anyway, their music was too avant garde for my taste. I was thinking, maybe I’m just too old or maybe I’m just too New Orleans. Because when I think of trombones I think of Corey Henry and Delfeayo Marsalis and out here (in L.A.) they think Phil Ranelin and this other brother I saw yesterday, who Ryan mentioned was one of his mentors and his name is right on the tip of my tongue but I’m not familiar with his music so it escapes me at the moment. Let me see if I can G it. BRB

Can’t find it.

I’m sorry because I saw him right there with his trombone. He played yesterday too.

But New Orleans has spoiled me.

Everybody was up and dancing and talking about how out-of-this-world the closing was. And I was just sitting there wishing I was in New Orleans.

This was the first jazz fest I’ve been to since I’ve been back in L.A. and it was fun, I have to admit. I’m glad I went. I’m grateful for Central Avenue and it’s rich musical history and the part it has played in the development of Jazz and my development but I can’t wait to go back to The Big Easy.

*******

I saw the extremely talented visual artist EnkOne. He was doing a live painting of the phenomenal Angeleno, Brother Eric Dolphy.

https://youtu.be/PfwryAe0k-w

And I just realized the instrument he’s holding in the picture is a bass clarinet. I thought it was a soprano saxophone. The first day me and Enk got into it about who came first, man or woman? I said Man, of course. He said, woman. So, I asked him “Where did the first woman come from?” And he said what all men say, “Not from no man!” LOL They never say where she came from. Just where she didn’t come from. LOL Which could be anywhere and nowhere. It was so funny. Black Men are so cute. 🙂

The next day, we talked about how long we’ve known each other and how he thought my firstborn’s name was Roxanne because of this piece I did when she played the daughter in this family, “The Emcees” and her name was, “Roxanne-Roxanne.” LOL

That was cool because I didn’t even know he had seen that.

Then it was cool because this other artist was playing music and this song came on and I almost couldn’t believe it.

I HATE when that happens.

I find out a song I think is an original is a cover or a sample. But Brother Enk said he knew. Which only frustrated me more. But what can you do? LOL

*******

There was a booth from Jefferson High School which is right in the area and they were pointing out all of the famous alumni. Here is a list.

There was also a booth about the history of Central Avenue and I got to talk to some elders about the old street car lines and Dolphin’s of Hollywood.

I made a button of our Holy Flag and heard some really good live music. Brother Terrence and the Latin Jazz were the best in my opinion. Brother Ryan sat in with The Latin Jazz All-Stars and he played better with them IMO than on his own set as leader.

Or, I’m just old.

*******

I went to Leimert both days as well. There were events all over the city for Black People this weekend. The Jazz Fest. There was a Samba event and the Artwalk in Leimert and Inglewood had something I would have liked to go to to had it been another weekend. They had “A Taste of Inglewood,” a spinoff of “A Taste of Soul.” KJLH was a major sponsor but bad timing.

I missed the Samba event on Saturday but I saw Baba Ben and I decided not to trip because he still calls me Cheryce.

I told my cousin whom I hadn’t seen in like twenty years, that only he (Baba Ben) and Beaux can call me Cheryce. Everybody else LOVE.

I met a Brother named Love at The Club. But his name is Love Jones. LOL Blackmen are so cute.

Sometimes, the really sexy ones just parade in front of me like, “You Want Some?” And I’m like

ROFL (You peep his “Ol’ Hell” shirt? WTF?)

I have to call them “The Temps” to keep from approaching them. (That’s what hip people call “The Temptations”) Seriously though, Blackmen are like my “crack.” But I can’t… ❤ Beaux!!! ❤

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I met a Black Publisher at the Jazz Fest, who was selling his books and we talked about putting this into print.

I told him I would send him something by Friday. But the thought of actually doing the work is not appealing to me AT ALL.

All I want to do is WRITE.

But I feel a responsibility to Black People to provide some upliftment and exhortion to Truth, Patience, Righteousness and Mercy and not all Black People are on the Internet and sometimes the Internet Gods trip so, In sha Allah, I’ll be able to get it done and we’ll have a HMFTBW book for you soon.

Other than that, oh yeah. I was at my spot on the pier yesterday morning and this family came and stood near me and I don’t look but I hear them talking in a foreign language. I listen and it sounds like Portuguese. So I look over at the family and they are snow white. I know there are snow white people in Brazil but they just didn’t strike me as Brazilian.

So, I asked the mother where they were from and she replied, “EE-taly.”

I thought that was pretty cool. I’d never met anybody from Italy before. People come to L.A. from all over the world.

I continued to listen to them talk and I picked up “Venice” and I know there’s a Venice in Italy, but I’m pretty sure they were talking about Venice Beach. And, it occurred to me that although Santa Monica and Venice are both beaches in L.A. and they are right next to each other, they are vastly different.

I never thought about that before. You can’t just visit one and think you’ve seen them all…

*******

I’m so lucky to be able to visit the beach every day. I went this morning and it was so different than any other morning.

The tide was in and the waves were MONSTROUS! It was so EXCITING!!! I felt a thrill with every crash and they kept coming – one after the other!

The surfers didn’t seem to notice though. They were just sitting out there like they always do. It seemed like it should have been more or something. But I didn’t want to leave.

But the Christians… The devil sent a pawn to come disturb my peace and that made leaving much easier. 🙂

I passed three nights in peace, woke up to picturesque surroundings and what more could I ask for? I am humbled by my life experiences and grateful to be able to share them with you.

May Allah Bless You All and Thank-you for reading!!!

As-Salaamu ‘Alaikum!

❤ Love Allah ❤

***** LATER *****

This was the first time I’ve been to the Drum Circle in about two years, I think and it is on it’s last leg. There were about one-quarter of the vendors that used to be there. And it was The Artwalk!

There were noticeably fewer people at The JazzFest as well. But I loved it like that.

I’m wondering where everybody went…

I was thrilled to see Brother Sameer giving FREE haircuts with sterilizer and everything and my Brother Ramsess giving pugilistic workouts with the youth. It made me proud. Keep up the good work, Brothers!

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤