Wanda's Picks Week of Nov. 7-12, 2011

WandasPicks with Jouvanca Jean-Baptiste; Susan Heyward 11/09 by Wandas Picks | Blog Talk Radio http://www.blogtalkradio.com/wandas-picks/2011/11/09/wandas-picks-radio-show#.Tr2QUlaelOg.email

During her second year as a member of the resident artist company, Jouvanca Jean-Baptiste performs the roles of Nedda (Pagliacci), Violetta (La traviata) and Marguerite (Faust.) The Haitian-born soprano joined OSJ’s resident company during the 2010 – 2011 season, debuting in the title roles of Anna Karenina and Tosca and as Mimì in La bohème.

Ms. Jean-Baptiste recently made her main stage debut with Florida Grand Opera in the role of The Abbess in Suor Angelica. Previously, she sang with West Bay Opera, understudying the role of Cio-cio-san in Madama Butterfly. Other roles in the soprano’s repertoire include Suor Angelica (Suor Angelica), Mother (Amahl and the Night Visitors) and Miss Rose (Lakmé).

Oneika Phillips (Sandra U/S, Ensemble) From Grenada, West Indies, Oneika holds dual degrees in Dance Performance and Business Management from Shenandoah University, Virginia. Formerly a featured member of Abdel Salaama’s Forces of Nature Dance Theatre, Oneika's theatre credits include the workshop, FELA! A New Musical, “Anita” in the 50th Anniversary International Tour of Jerome Robbins’s West Side Story, directed by Joey McKneely and nominated for The West End's Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival, winning the Theatergoer’s Choice Award in the same category. Oneika is thrilled to return home to the shrine with the FELA! family for her Broadway debut. Oneika couldn't join us this morning. We'll speak with her on Friday morning.

We play an encore interview with Susan Heyward, ACT SF's production of David Mamet's RACE through Nov. 13, 2011.


WandasPicksDavid Murray CubanEnsemble Plays Nat King Cole 11/10 by Wandas Picks | Blog Talk Radio http://www.blogtalkradio.com/wandas-picks/2011/11/11/wandas-picks-special-david-murray-cuban-ensemble-plays-na#.Tr2Om9cFjhI.email

For many enthusiasts, David Murray Cuban Ensemble "Plays Nat King Cole" is in town this week with this new ensemble, Friday-Sunday, Nov. 11-13, 2011 at Yoshi's San Francisco, CA. He is already a jazz legend, if we look at the number of albums he has recorded, of concerts he has performed and at the number of awards with which his career to date has already been crowned (Grammy Award, Guggenheim Fellowship, Bird Award, Danish Jazz Bar Prize, musician of the 80’s by the Village Voice…). However, just over a quarter of a century into his career, his music still expresses the verve and inspiration of youth, throughout a career which is prolific as much in terms of output as in terms of musical orientation (from the World Saxophone Quartet, of which he is one of the founders, to his octet, not forgetting his big band and the encounter with the Gwo Ka Masters of Guadeloupe, amongst many other groups and creations), all of it with the greatest musicians. David Murray goes down as a worthy successor for some of the biggest names in jazz, and he is now contributing to the rise of young talents such as Lafayette Gilchrist, a young pianist who has already been widely acclaimed by the critics. Music: "Cachito," "A Media Luz," "Black Nat" from En español!


Wandas Picks Theatre of War Kalakuta FELA Robey Theatre 11/11 by Wandas Picks | Blog Talk Radio http://www.blogtalkradio.com/wandas-picks/2011/11/11/wandas-picks#.Tr15X2Nt3V0.email

Timothy Hull, an A.C.T. Master of Fine Arts Program grad who has been deployed to Iraq, speaks about Theatre of War Productions in Collaboration with A.C.T., USF this weekend: Sunday, Nov.13-14, 2011, 7 PM both days at University of San Francisco's Presentation Theater, 2350 Turk Blvd., San Francisco, CA. Reservations are recommended: 415.749.2228 or act-sf.org

KALAKUTA @ Oasis Restaurant & Bar, Sat., Nov. 12, 2011 at 135 12th Street Oakland, CA from 9:00 PM - 2:00 AM, $10 before 11pm $15 after features: Wunmi World! afro-funk : afro-beat : house : soul : afro-couture: In the world of dance music, Wunmi is a one-off, an artist that effortlessly joins the dots between Nigeria’s Afrobeat heritage, New York’s house pedigree and London’s jazz, broken beat and classic street soul sounds.

After ten years of classic collaborations working with production heavyweights like Masters At Work, Osunlade, Seiji and Truby Trio; Wunmi is finally flying solo with her acclaimed debut album, entitled A.L.A Born in London, Wunmi aka Ibiwunmi Omotayo Olufunke Felicity Olaiya lived in Nigeria for 10 years, returning to the UK at age 14. http://www.wunmi.com/

Robey Theatre Director, Ben Guillory & Playwright, Kurt Dana Maxey whose Pity the Proud Ones continues Friday-Sunday, Nov. 11-13 at LA Theatre Center www.thelatc.org

We close with cast from FELA! Adesola Osakalumi (Fela Anikulapo-Kuti Alternate), Nicole Chantal de Weever(Ensemble) & Oneika Phillips(Sandra U/S, Ensemble) who open at the Curran Theatre Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011, 8 PM, continuing through Dec. 11, 2011, in San Francisco.