Strange Fruit as done by Waberi and MuthaWit @ The FINALE of URB ALT NY '08
It has taken me a long time to process this.
It loomed so large in my head, this first-time trip to New York to perform this music. It was something I created for myself... in that I willed this to Be. I WANTED to go... to be INVITED to the UNDISPUTED East Coast capital of the music I love the most... JAZZ. The home of so much LEGEND, Talent, HIS and HER Story. My Big Bro JMD admonished me time and time again to get to NY, where I would experience what Jazz was all about, where I would be HEARD, and FELT and immersed in a wealth of tradition... something he knew I MUST have.
I arrived in New York with my eyes wide and my hands open.. like Abbey Lincoln's song. Having been invited by Boston Fielder of MuthaWit was a little daunting. Not because of who his is. We know each other by now. MuthaWit invaded Los Angeles in March of this year and we got our knowing on solidly. Me and Boston and Shena and Lou. We were buds by the time I arrived in NYC.
The MUSIC is what was a little daunting.
MuthaWit ROCKS. RAWKS as Mr. Festival would say.
Waberi is like a cool drink. Maybe ON the rocks. But RAWKS?
How will what I do FIT with what Mutha do...?
And Boston too, had to wonder a bit about the how's...
I am learning how elastic the language is.
It fit quite nicely.
Fit like a GLOVE.
And really, I should have known. From the jump-off, our meeting has been synchronistic:
From the first time I heard Shewo the Left Shoe.
When Boston heard my idea of Strange Fruit... he told me so.
Always had a feeling we would be able to make something really special together.
I could go on and on about other things too - things that are confirming.
Like the kindness of the WHOLE Fielder Family! (one can see the apples covering the ground around the tree...)
Like the CREATIVE GENIUS infused within the Fielder sinew...
(from the youth to the elders...)
Like Shanti Om.
From Atlanta.
Boston thought she could sing background for me. She was singing for MuthaWit too.
I have not performed this music with any background singers before.
Her impeccable ear. Her beautiful LIGHT. The empathy that lead her to sing these songs like she knew them. Like she KNEW them. Her VOICE! Made very clear when she sang her OWN Song "Loose Ends" @ the finale as well...
And if I hadn't stayed longer than I planned, and met Shanti's friend Stephanie... an ATL ex-pat living in New York... then I would not have received the added blessing of being reunited with Ragenia.
I knew I would see her again but...
I had not seen or heard from her since she was my roommate in Hawaii = 13 years ago.
And just the night before, I was telling Shanti about my Hawaii experience and had mentioned my roommate but did not say her name.
Like Shena Verrett.
Tenderhead.
Brilliant Black Neon Light.
Rocker QUEEN!
My Shero. Mah Gurl.
I'm BEing effusive. And trying to be quick about it too.
There is more, but for now:
It all culminated in a moment's Muse:
Strange Fruit as done by Waberi and MuthaWit.
Brooklyn Academy of Music
June 28, 2008
It loomed so large in my head, this first-time trip to New York to perform this music. It was something I created for myself... in that I willed this to Be. I WANTED to go... to be INVITED to the UNDISPUTED East Coast capital of the music I love the most... JAZZ. The home of so much LEGEND, Talent, HIS and HER Story. My Big Bro JMD admonished me time and time again to get to NY, where I would experience what Jazz was all about, where I would be HEARD, and FELT and immersed in a wealth of tradition... something he knew I MUST have.
I arrived in New York with my eyes wide and my hands open.. like Abbey Lincoln's song. Having been invited by Boston Fielder of MuthaWit was a little daunting. Not because of who his is. We know each other by now. MuthaWit invaded Los Angeles in March of this year and we got our knowing on solidly. Me and Boston and Shena and Lou. We were buds by the time I arrived in NYC.
The MUSIC is what was a little daunting.
MuthaWit ROCKS. RAWKS as Mr. Festival would say.
Waberi is like a cool drink. Maybe ON the rocks. But RAWKS?
How will what I do FIT with what Mutha do...?
And Boston too, had to wonder a bit about the how's...
I am learning how elastic the language is.
It fit quite nicely.
Fit like a GLOVE.
And really, I should have known. From the jump-off, our meeting has been synchronistic:
From the first time I heard Shewo the Left Shoe.
When Boston heard my idea of Strange Fruit... he told me so.
Always had a feeling we would be able to make something really special together.
I could go on and on about other things too - things that are confirming.
Like the kindness of the WHOLE Fielder Family! (one can see the apples covering the ground around the tree...)
Like the CREATIVE GENIUS infused within the Fielder sinew...
(from the youth to the elders...)
Like Shanti Om.
From Atlanta.
Boston thought she could sing background for me. She was singing for MuthaWit too.
I have not performed this music with any background singers before.
Her impeccable ear. Her beautiful LIGHT. The empathy that lead her to sing these songs like she knew them. Like she KNEW them. Her VOICE! Made very clear when she sang her OWN Song "Loose Ends" @ the finale as well...
And if I hadn't stayed longer than I planned, and met Shanti's friend Stephanie... an ATL ex-pat living in New York... then I would not have received the added blessing of being reunited with Ragenia.
I knew I would see her again but...
I had not seen or heard from her since she was my roommate in Hawaii = 13 years ago.
And just the night before, I was telling Shanti about my Hawaii experience and had mentioned my roommate but did not say her name.
Like Shena Verrett.
Tenderhead.
Brilliant Black Neon Light.
Rocker QUEEN!
My Shero. Mah Gurl.
I'm BEing effusive. And trying to be quick about it too.
There is more, but for now:
It all culminated in a moment's Muse:
Strange Fruit as done by Waberi and MuthaWit.
Brooklyn Academy of Music
June 28, 2008
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