Wanda's Picks Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Today we'll be speaking to Alicia Jrapko, the United States Coordinator of the International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban Five based in Oakland, CA. The artist and his four brothers are serving long sentences. He is serving a life sentences in Florence, Colorado. Visit www.thecuban5.org "Original paintings by Antonio Guerrero Exhibit opens Thursday, August 6, 2009, 7:30 PM at La Pena Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley. The keynote speaker is Alice Walker, novelist, poet and author of prologue to "Letter of Love and Hope, the Story of the Cuban Five. There will be remarks by Gayle McLaughlin, Mayor of Richmond, California, along with music, an excerpt from the video "Against the Silence." Donations at the door $10 - $20 sliding scale.

We are hoping to speak to Rea Dol, who is with a coalition of grassroots women’s organizations in Haiti and also director of a school in Port-au-Prince before she returns home this weekend. She was in the San Francisco Bay Area last week.

We close the show with an interview with one of my favorite artists, musicians, writers--Lewis Jordan, who has a string of events this week and spread throughout the month. He is also faculty at St. Mary's College in Moraga, CA. Lewis Jordan with "Music at Large... music/poetry... begins next week. Each evening he says guest can "expect passion, energy and feel "a healing force" beginning Thursday, August 13, 7:00, at Velma's Blues 'n' Jazz Club, 2246 Jerrold Ave., San Francisco, (415) 824-4606; continuing the next day, Friday, August 14, 8:00, $12 at the Oakland Public Conservatory of Music, 1616 Franklin St., Oakland (510) 836-4649, and then closing out the suite, Wednesday, August 26, 8:00, $10, at Anna's Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley, (510) 841-5299. You don't want to miss this anointing.

This was a great interview, they all were. I forgot to ask Lewis about his name. I remember when I first heard his name, I thought Lewis was that Louis Jordan(smile). He's too young, (LJ 1908-1975) although the men do share an instrument (alto saxophone).