2011 Year-End Review - The Year of the Voice

Hey Everyone!

I can’t believe we are back here already at the Year-End Review. This year of the Goddess 2011 was quite a year. Looking back in my mind’s eye January seems like a lifetime ago, but here it is coming around again. I also realized that 2010 was so action packed that I never even finished giving you all the highlights! Well you don’t have to worry about that for 2011.

I sent out an email early in the fall about what was happening to me, but it seems that some people didn’t get the memo. So I am going to wrap this year with the written word and with a short video so that everyone is clear. I know how much you all like visuals and I also know attention spans have gotten shorter. But some of you, like me, still like to read so I’ll do both.

So here is my 2011 Year-End Review. Enjoy!

January
I was so excited about 2011. In November 2010 I was asked to join Burnt Sugar in Paris to do the James Brown songbook and Sugary take on Miles Davis’s Bitches Brew. My friend Ian Friday convinced me to extend my trip and take blaKbüshe back to London. That was the best idea ever! London and Paris are so close it was be silly of me not to head back and see my UK folks. I have missed them so much as I hadn’t been back since 2007. That alone was crazy, but it is what it is.

The month kicked off with the American Candy: The History of Sex show and all the while I was also rehearsing with the Sugars to get ready for the Paris trip.

January seemed like it was just a run up to all that I had going on in February, but January was amazing as well. That month I stared writing liner notes for Big Break Records (BBR) out of Scotland. Thanks to my good friend and amazing writer Christian John Wikane, my first BBR assignment was Dennis Edwards’ album Don’t Look Any Further. Getting this assignment first was kind of crazy because of my personal history with that song. It’s a long story, but the short of it is that I met the song and album’s producer Dennis Lambert during my radio days. I convinced him to let me and my friends sing on the remake of the song at that time and the rest is history that not too many people know about. Lol! Anyway, during January I interviewed Dennis Edwards, Siedah Garrett and Phillip Ingram who were all a part of the making of that album. Dennis Lambert would follow up the rear in February. I got to meet Siedah in person while she was in town for the farewell gala for former Alvin Ailey artistic director Judith Jamison.

January also dubbed blaKbüshe one of the Best Emerging Artists by Deli Magazine. I didn’t even know I was in the running. That’s how to kick things off for real.

February
The first thing I did in February, to the shock of many, was that cut my hair (See: Making a Change blog). I had been thinking and talking about it for quite a while. I though it would be great to debut my new look on the upcoming tour. I’m so glad I cut my hair! I don’t know if hair will ever make a big comeback in my life, but you might see a girl rockin’ a wig every now and then. LOL!

I have to mention again how glad I am to be a part of the Burnt Sugar crew. If not for them asking me to Paris then I may not have been able to go to London again this year. I came into the band on the James Brown tip, but now I have been indoctrinated. I’m officially an eccentric jazz chick and I love it!

Although my trip to Europe was only the first 10 or so days of the month it was much more to me. It was one of the best trips I’ve taken in my life. I already wrote all about it so you can check out the other blogs (See: The Gift of Paris blogs and Loose in London blogs) to recap that whole trip. But for this review I will just express my gratitude again for such an awesome time in Paris with Burnt Sugar and the joy I felt to have my family in the house and to see New York friends who had relocated to the “City of Light.” Walking the city with my mother (See: Walking Paris with My Mom blog) and bringing Miles & James to Paris in the Sugar way are three of the highlights of the year.

Mom and I at the Louvre in Paris

I made the journey to London by train. It was a shaky start, but Jeff and I did four great shows with the help of some awesome musicians in London. I am so thankful and humbled by all that those folks held Jeff and I down while in London. What an amazing blessed time and those friendships just keep going strong.

Jeff and I at the Morpheus Soul Show in London

When I returned to New York I hit the ground running. As some of you know, I play bass in my friend Keith’s Kirtan, and that happened the weekend after I got back to town. I also did a modified American Candy show at a Sr. Center in Brownsville and then it was time to get ready for the next big Burnt Sugar show at Lincoln Center. Music, theater, music! Yes!

Finally February marked the beginning of my production collaboration with Toshi Reagon. She came by rehearsal to meet with and hear the band up close and personal. That was a really amazing evening. We were all looking forward.

March
March kicked off with Burnt Sugar rockin’ David Bowie at Lincoln Center! That night was marked by great food by Chef Stef, fine apparel by the band (folks were looking sharp!) and great music. Mikel led the Bowie charge and we all fell in line. Magic happened in that room for sure. It was a rainy New York night, but that didn’t stop the people from coming out because the place was packed. The Lincoln Center Atrium is kind of the same vibe as BAM Café in Brooklyn. Great music FREE! Although that show was off the chain from top to bottom, the evening highlights for me were Mazz giving the most killing rendition of “Heros,” Lisala and I doing that damn thing on “Breaking Glass,” Mikel and Karma hittin’ “Moonage Daydream,” Micah working out “Suffragette City” along with Vernon’s excitement to be singing on it with us and not just holding down his usual spot on guitar, and finally the pièce de résistance, Lisala shredding “Rock and Roll Suicide!” All I can say is go to the tape to see what I’m talking about. [Lisala & I Singing “Broken Glass" and Lisala singing "Rock n’ Roll Suicide"]

There were so many goodies on the Bowie menu and honestly some songs I had never heard before. That show was a great education and a whole lot of fun.

V. Jeffrey Smith and I at Lincoln Center for the Burnt Sugar/David Bowie Show

This month was also the start of my Indiegogo campaign to raise money to make my next album and I was not along. This was the year of crowd funding for sure. I know so many people who had fundraisers this year. The Kickstarter volume was on 10 for better for worse. So it was in this wave that I started my charge.

March also saw the taping of the American Candy pilot, which took place at Streb in Williamsburg. That was a fun and exciting night. The American Candy folks are my other lost tribe. They are hands down some of the best people I know. That taping was free so the place was packed. People had a great time and we learned so much. Onward and upward American Candy!

Next I was assigned another BBR album and this time it was Kool & the Gang’s Open Sesame. Sometimes doing liner notes is easy, but Kool & the Gang was a whole other story. I never talked to any of the guys in the band, but their manager did get some quotes for me (clearly a controlled environment). So I went to my friends and music heads Greg Tate, V. Jeffery Smith and Darrell McNiell to give me their insight on the band. It was great to talk to these guys who I have known for years and place them on the world stage as experts in their field. Not that any of them really needed my help, but I really loved doing it.

Finally in March I attuned my first student to Reiki level I! I am so excited to have Prita as a student. She was the first of three people I attuned this year; the other two being Ayana and Elton. More to come in 2012!

Prita Lal, my first Reiki student and circle sister

April
This month saw more great liner notes interviews. This month I had the pleasure to talk to Deniece Williams and George Duke for their mega album Let’s Hear it for the Boy. That was really amazing. I had the pleasure of interviewing George Duke in 1997 at the Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival, but this time was much more intimate. He’s an amazing storyteller and the story of that song is just incredible. I’m going to see if I can post my liner notes somewhere soon so that you can read them for yourself. It was such an honor to talk to them both.

Late in the month the band started rehearsing for our Banjo Jim’s shows. One would be a fundraiser for Japan, which had just been ravaged by a Tsunami. We were also shedding some of the potentially new arrangements for the new album.

I also headed out to Hidden Chapel Studios on Long Island with Patranila, Hollie, Jeff and Sam of the American Candy crew to record “Fashion God,” “Baby Your My Cougar” and the mega hit (yes I said mega hit), “Get Some Black Friends.” I was glad to bring some business to my girl Abihita Austin.

Another big coup in April was scoring wood for the Brooklyn Sweat Lodge. I know you are probably wondering what this has to do with music, but all my work is healing work. So the music and the healing go together. Also if you are reading this and thinking, “there is a sweat lodge in Brooklyn?” Yes there is!

May
I jumped off this month with the Brooklyn Sweat Lodge. It was another amazing year. I know this blog is more about the music so I won’t stay here for long. I just need to mention it because it is a huge part of my life and I am so thankful for my Brooklyn Lodge sisters.

My Brooklyn Lodge Sisters

With that, the Burnt Sugar crew is back. This time we were asked to play the Ghetto Metal show at SOBs. That event has a huge following and although I have to admit that I wasn’t sure how we would be received there, but in the end it didn’t matter because we never hit the stage! The show as running crazily behind schedule and before we know it our time slot had come and gone. At this point Jared (one of our fearless leaders) stating telling folks that if they had to go or wanted to, they were free to do so. The night was a bit of a bust, but we would return to the Ghetto Metal show later in the year.

I also did a short hit at the Out Music Awards this year. My girl Deepa reached out to me to perform live on the show with her and the students that she works with. We recorded a song together for her album called “What it Takes.” This would be our first time performing it together live, and it went really well.

The Awards show was at Irving Plaza and it went well. I want to give Deepa a shout fall all the work she put into that event and also say that I was so blessed to share the stage with a host of other amazing artists including Militia, Tammy Peay, Baron the Artist and Terese Genecco.

A few days later I was on my way to see my boyfriend with a girlfriend. Who am I talking about? None other than Glen Hansard from the Swell Season! I have a little thing for the Irish boys. Maybe it’s the Bostonian in me. I don’t know, but I love me some Glen Hansard! I went to the MET with my girl Sara and all I can say is bless her for getting the tix and asking me to go. There was also a guitar exhibit going on at the same time. Perfect!

When we got to the museum we checked out the guitars on display and then got in line to head over to where the concert we being held. We followed the crowd to the Egyptian room. If you have never been to the MET there is a huge section of the museum that looks like an Egyptian temple. This is where Glen played! The museum were serving complimentary beer and wine and even though Sara and I got in the room a little late we damn near got a seat up front! Yes! So when Glen passed by to get to the stage he passed right by me. Yes I am a giddy 14 year-old right now! LOL!

It was just Glen, and his now famous guitar, singing his face off as usual. His writing is also amazing! He was joined by his friend and fellow musician Mark Geary for a song that I wish I could remember the title to. But what I do remember is that he ended with a classic Irish song called “Parting Glass.” He also sang this at Radio City with his band. Yes I’m a fan like that. Anyway, when the set was over he had to walk right by me and he shook my hand! AHHHH! Then I did my level best to get an autograph from him or just to chat to tell him he should be my husband, but right as I was about to get up there, his “people” whisked him away. Damn! Well maybe it’s for the best because who knows what I would have said to the man. LOL. All in all it was an amazing day. I have to thank my girl Sara once again. She is one of my partners if Hansard crime!

My not so secret boyfriend, Glen Hansard

As if May couldn’t get any better, it does. I was asked to do the liner notes for the reissue of Between the Sheets by the Isley Brothers! So you know what that means? It means I got to interview Chris Jasper of the Isley’s for the notes and my other boyfriend Ernie Isley wasn’t far behind. Yes, clearly I have a thing for guitar players, but don’t we all? I really learned a hell of a lot about the Isley’s in that interview and it was really just the beginning. Both these men are über talented and are truly the sound of the Isley’s from 1973-1983. Ronald maybe have been the voice, the Chris, Ernie and Marvin were the music and lyrics.

Somewhere in this month I managed to squeeze in a Songwriters Soul Kitchen run. Vinx, our fearless leader, left Georgia and has now landed in New Hampshire. So the Soul Kitchen was doing it northern style this year. It’s really beautiful up there and once again I met a lot of wonderful artists and got to see some of my old SK friends. It’s always a joy to be in that energy. Thank you Vinx and Jenn for continuing to create space for songwriters to expand their creativity.

I closed out the month with my second and last show at Banjo Jim’s (Clip from Banjo Jim's show). This was another great night. We were still trying out alternative arrangements for the songs and raising funds for the recording. On that night we didn’t have Matsu, but it was just as rockin’. Sometimes I really like blaKbüshe broken down. You will see more of that in the New Year.

June
June and I finally got to interview Ernie Isley. The crazy thing is that I first connected with him on Facebook! I didn’t know it really him, but when I mentioned the song “Between the Sheets”, he responded! I told him about the liner notes and how I was going to reach out to his people about that, but there he was. My conversation with Ernie was amazing!

This month marked the ending of my Indiegogo campaign. Although I didn’t raise my intended goal we still made a good dent in things. I am very proud of myself and YOU on that front. I am still raising funds, but I know that we are well on our way. If you wanted to donate, but weren’t able to at the time you can do it now at www.blakbushe.com.

American Candy returned in June with Hot Celebrity Mess, which was a lot of fun! I got to play Grace Jones, Oprah and God! Holla!

Burnt Sugar brought James Brown to the hood in June with the full show at Von King Park in Brooklyn. That’s what’s up! I was really excited about those shows because honestly, they were close to my house. Lol! Gotta love that. My girl Patricia McGreggor was at the helm once again and and Brandon brought James to life once again. It was an amazing two days. I also got to bust out my wigs for this show because last time we did the full show I had locks.

The first night at Von King was really amazing and special Charles Bradley a.k.a. Black Velvet, who is James Brown impersonator and an artist in his own right, was in the house. Now let me tell you. When I was standing on stage singing in the beginning of the show, I saw Black Velvet in the audience. This man looks so much like James Brown I was like, “Damn, this show is so good we brought James back from the dead!” Yo! It’s crazy how much he looks like him. It was a real treat when he came up at the end of the show and sang and danced “There Was a Time” with Brandon and Mikel.

Black Velvet doing his best James Brown

The second night was just a fun. The night before I wore my afro wig, but on day two I rocked the early Tina Turner/Beyoncé wig! Yes indeed! A good time was had by all.

"Hot Pants!" Indomitable James Brown @ Von King Park, Brooklyn

The following Monday the Sugar crew was back in action. The Summer Solstice also coincides with Make Music New York (MMNY). This year the organizers of MMNY decided to bring to music to the inmates on Rikers Island. So we went the Island and brought James Brown to the people. It was an amazing day, but hot as all get out! We go to perform for the women’s prison and there were also some young girls there as well from the juvenile facility. This wasn’t my first time performing in prison. I went to Arthur Kill on Staten Island back in my Black Lotus days. It’s never easy, but it’s always feels good afterward to have been able to bring a smile or a good time to folks for a short while.

The other show that was scheduled to happen in June was the Michael Jackson tribute at NJPAC. My friend George Littlejohn called me about performing on the set. He wanted me to sing “Dirty Diana” because of my rock background, but I threw him a bit of a curve ball when I asked if could sing “Forever Came Today” by the Jacksons along with or instead of “Dirty Diana.” George was a bit shocked that I brought up that song. He hadn’t thought of it in a while, but I think about it all the time. Why, because I’m a dancer. A club dancer that is and Ian used to play that song all the time. So it’s always on my radar. In the end he asked me to sing both songs for the tribute. Score!

When I went to rehearsal for the show, Les, the bandleader, told me in so many words that he didn’t like the song. His brother, who also happened to be the bassist in the band, had to disagree. He really loved it and why wouldn’t he because the bass line is crazy!

After rehearsing the two joints I think I had the band on board and suddenly they loved the song. Sadly the show was postponed due to rain and rescheduled for Sept. 1st. So until then…

The final June event that I am still amazed happened was my baby girl Ellehcem graduating from high school. I’m not amazed that she graduated; I just don’t know where the time went. Ellehcem is my niece, but I fell like she is my daughter. I am so proud of her! Congrats El! 

Ellehcem! Our high school grad!

July
Well July brought a bunch of things, but I’ll start with a small recording I did with V. Jeffry Smith called “Kelly Gets Off.” I gave the folks a sneak peak of the song during my fundraiser, but we finished the recording outright in July. Some folks have the joint, but if you are one of those who don’t, have no fear. It’s coming soon!

July also jumped off with the Sugar crew once again. We kicked off the month doing a jazz radio show at WRTI, Temple University, in Philly. That was my first road trip with the crew since Paris. I hadn’t been to Philly in such a long time, and that trip reminded me that blaKbüshe needs to go back. I’m sorry I’ve been away so long Philly. I’ll be back in 2012.

Back in New York, the Sugar crew went back to SOB’s to try our hand at the Ghetto Metal show once again. This time they put us on a decent hour and we were able to do our thing. All it all it was a good show. We had a lot of fun and the crowd was with us. Looks like the second time was the charm.

The final Burnt Sugar show of the month was at Lincoln Center once again. This time we were doing a Tribute to Black Women Songwriters. The ladies of the Sugar crew picked one of their original tunes to do and then a cover of a Black female songwriter. I chose to do one of my faves by Oleta Adams, “My Heart Won’t Lie.” People don’t really think about Oleta much these days, but she is a beast! I just love that lady. If you don’t know Oleta then go back and check her out. Her voice, songwriting, everything, will change your life.

This month I also did a few of my own shows a couple with friends. I was honored to play the Micia Mosley & Friends show with Micia Mosley of course. The show was at Dixon Place and Jeff came with me to play guitar. I did a couple of my own tunes and then I did “blaK Girls” with Aquanetta a.k.a. Micia, which was a whole lot of fun.

Then my friend, DJ and former roommate Selly had a housewarming party and asked if I would come warm the place. Of course I said yes. Her home is really beautiful and it was my honor to be there. Once again, Jeff and I went and rocked the house.

Finally, Jerome asked me to join him on his solo show at Bar on A. As it turned out it was more of a Jerome Jordan and friends show because I was just one of many folks to do a duet with Mr. Jordan. We did our old standby “Solid” by Ashford and Simpson. Sadly we did not know then the Nick Ashford would not be with us by the end of the year. That evening we were actually mourning the loss of Amy Winehouse. That was another loss that we were not expecting. Well there was always question about Amy’s overall health, but when someone passes it’s always a shock. All that said; we still had a great time at Jerome’s show. I hope he will be doing more in 2012. Hint, hint.

September 14, 1983-July 11, 2011

May 4, 1941-August 22, 2011

July also puts me a month away from Michfest! I can’t remember when I got the call that I was on festival, but I do remember getting it and not realizing right away that I was headlining. I was in a bit of shock to be honest because I learned I was headlining opening night. As many of you know I have been going to Michfest for the last few years. I won’t go through my whole festival history, but this year was my first year on night stage. So July began my festival rehearsals and from the first rehearsal I can say with much bias, I knew I was going to have the best band on the land. Yes!

Erine Isley and Chris Jasper were back in my life one more time. I had to interview them again for the liner notes for Go For Your Guns. Again I keep learning more and more about the Isley’s! Love it!

I closed out my month doing something that I never thought I would do again, auditioning for a reality show. The band did it in 2007 on the Next Great American Band show that was nothing short of a bust. Just to be clear, the show was a bust, but not the band. This time I decided to go audition for the Voice. I wasn’t sure if I was going to share this with you, but I will for a few reasons that will become clear.

A lot of things happened at that audition that I’m not going to talk about just because I have to save something for my book, but I will tell you this. Something was up with my voice that day. As I was preparing for that audition something really made me take stock in what I was feeling and hearing. After that day I knew then that I needed to get checked out, but I couldn’t do it right away. It had to wait until at least August.

August
We jumped off the month heading to Michfest! It was an exciting time. This year’s travelers included Achuziam, Toshi and I. You can check out the whole festival on my Michfest 2011 blogs.

If you read my blogs you will see that I lost my voice after my festival performance. I got it back enough to record with Burnt Sugar, but after that I went straight to the doctor to find out what was going on with me.

Burnt Sugar/David Bowie recording at the secret local in LES

Paula at Bunt Sugar/Bowie Recording. Hot!

I was advised to find an ENT who works with singers to look at my vocal chords. I was so thankful to find Dr. Le who also took my insurance. After she examined me, she told me that my vocal chords were really swollen and she put me on vocal rest for two weeks. That was going to take me right up to the rescheduled performance of the Michael Jackson tribute show at NJPAC. The way I was feeling at that time, even if she had cleared me I think I would have sadly passed on that show. Well it turns out I didn’t have to make that decision because two weeks later the doctor told me that my chords were not as swollen, but they were still not better. She also said that after looking at my chords I might have a polyp. She sent me to have a bunch of other strobes and tests to verify what was happening. At any rate, I was then put on vocal rest that would last until the end of October. That took me out of commission with the upcoming American Candy shows, Burnt Sugar shows and recording of my own project.

Since I wasn’t put on complete vocal rest I was able to continue doing my liner notes which required phone interviews. So in August I spoke to Ernie Isley and Chris Jasper once again for the album Harvest For the World. I wasn’t able to get Ron Isley for any of my notes so I supplemented the liner notes for both Go For Your Guns and Harvest For the World with interviews with DJ/producer Ian Friday and guitarist Vernon Reid.

I clearly wasn’t going to be doing any singing anytime soon so I went to see one of my favorite bands, Just a Band, who were in town from Kenya. Jeff was going to play the show with them, but couldn’t swing it. So he got David Pilgrim on board and also my girl LaFrae was playing drums. Great night! I couldn’t stay long because I wasn’t supposed to talk over loud noises, but I had a great time at the show.

September
There wasn’t a lot that happened musically during this month. As I stated above I couldn’t do the MJ NJPAC show. I was going to attend anyway to show my support, but I got a last minute call from Ganessa who said she had an extra ticket to see…wait for it…Stevie Nicks!!! What?? I immediately said yes and that was that! So thanks to my girl Sara, Ganessa, Chaney and I went to Jersey to see Stevie! It was a great night and a great show. It was just what I needed because I was feeling a little down about not being able to do the NJPAC show. I was really looking forward to singing “Dirty Diana” and “Forever Came Today,” but alas it was not meant to be that day. Ms. Nicks was a good consolation prize for sure.

This month I also couldn’t do the American Candy: Hot Chocolate show, which I was really bummed about, but I opted to bar tend so that I could hang with the crew.

Finally that month Burnt Sugar played at the Nova Bar. I couldn’t sing so I played a mean tambourine for the people, which still felt great.

October
For most of the month of October I was still on vocal rest. I also got my vocal strobe that month to get a clearer picture of what was going on with my chords.  So what did I do with my time?

I decided to start volunteering at my local yoga studio so that I can do to yoga for free. As some of you know I also started a blog called Downward Blog for all my yogis out there. I haven’t blogged there for a while, but that will also be making a comeback in the New Year. I have really enjoyed my adventures in yoga and they will continue.

I organized the fall lodge gathering. We didn’t have a sweat, but we did talk about next year’s lodge and sit outside by the fire. It was another magical night for us in Brooklyn.

This month my Reiki master was in town from New Mexico so I went to the practitioners gathering that she has every time she is in town. It was really great to see some of my Reiki sisters that I only see once or twice a year. I had sent an email to all of them asking to send me Reiki to help my vocal chords and to set up some personal healing time. At that gathering I got a few spiritual messages about my health, which I am so thankful for. I really needed that healing time with those ladies. I can’t wait to do it again.

At the end of the month I was taken off vocal rest and decided to sing with Burnt Sugar at the Jazz Foundation fundraiser. I knew I was going to come back slowly so I said I would sing one song. We were doing a James Brown/David Bowie mash-up at the show so I said I would sing “Breaking Glass” with Lisala and that was going to be it for me.

It was Halloween weekend and a strange one indeed because there was a snowstorm the night of the show. I couldn’t do the American Candy show this month because when they started rehearsing I was on vocal rest. So once again I opted to bar tend for the first day of the show and on the second night I did the Jazz Foundation show.

I won’t get into all the details of that show, but I will say that it started off with so much fire. Lisala and I killed “Breaking Glass” once again. We knew that we had to stop half way through the set so the foundation could honor a musician, but when the set came a halt, Lisala had left burn marks on the stage after singing “I Don’t Want Nobody to Give Me Nothing;” sort of a funny song to sing at a fundraiser. LOL!

Without getting into the long story of that night I’ll just say that we didn’t finish the set and ended up leaving the joint. I thought that would be the end of that, but then we were asked to come back and do our whole set at another Jazz Foundation event at Tammany Hall the following month. Sweet!

November
November and it’s another b’earthday for me. I did a little singing at the Burnt Sugar potluck back at Nova Bar. The music was great, but the real highlight for me was Bruce Mack’s grilled fish! It was amazing! Mr. Mack got a few propositions after folks ate that fish. I was so happy when he gave me a whole fish to take home! Yes!

This month was also the Burnt Sugar/Jazz Foundation redux at Tammany Hall. So the crew assembled and did the James Brown/David Bowie mash-up in full. It was a great show and I got to see Hamiet Bluiett for the first time. He is a bari sax player and he is amazing! That show as off the hook and afterward, Greg and I found a secret Thai spot in LES this was killin’! Sorry, I can’t tell you where it is because then it won’t be a secret anymore and as much as I love you, sometimes a girl needs a secret spot! Lol. After that show, the Sugars were asked to play at Tammany once a month. So you can see us there on a regular until further notice. I love a good residency.

Since I was still on the slow return to singing I did a few other cool things this month. I chopped wood for the first time in my life and I did Reiki at the November/Scorpio themed Zodiac Lounge. Then on the liner notes tip I interviewed Leon Sylvers III and Evelyn “Champagne” King for her album Face to Face. I was hoping to get André Cymone on the phone as he was the other producer of the album, but I had to settle for an email interview. Booo!!! *wink*

Finally this month I started speech therapy for the continued healing of my voice.  After getting the results of my strobe I found out that I have a polyp on my right vocal chord and a cyst on the tissue between my left vocal chord and my larynx.  So speech therapy will help the polyp, and I am doing to acupuncture to take care of the cyst.  I have a great speech therapist named Karen and although this information may alarm some of you as you read it, I actually feel really blessed about this whole healing journey. I am claiming my healing victory. When I go back to the doctor I expect to be free of all the things I just told you. It is done!

December
So here we are in December. I am hopefully, Goddess willing, on my last bus trip from Boston to New York. Of course I will do what I have to do in the future to see my family, but I really hope I’m doing it in a car, by train or even by plane in 2012. But before I get into all of that let’s take a look at the month that will shortly be leaving us.

I started off the month with the Sugars at Tammany Hall once again. It was our final Brown/Bowie mash-up, at least for a little while. We are going back to our Sugary ways. I’ll give you all that info so you can see us at the top of the year. It was another fun night of music and on this night I spent the evening eating at the secret Thai restaurant with Paula, Lafrae, Greg and Vernon. Fun!

I was asked to sing at a friend’s housewarming this month. I was a little nervous at first and wasn’t sure if I would accept the invite, but I did. I know that seems strange since I have been singing with Burnt Sugar, but as many of you singers out there know, it’s one thing to add some backgrounds or sing a duet and another thing to sing lead out right.

Jeff played for me that night and I decided to sing “In Your View,” which was new to most folks in the room, but the lyrics seems to be right on time. It’s always cool when you can touch people in that way.

I was not the only artist in the room by far. We had poets, dancers and vocalists of all kinds. There were many things that stood out for me, but the person who stood out most was my girl Beatrice who proceeded to get up and sing an aria! Now maybe it wouldn’t have been such a shocker if I had known the woman was a classically trained vocalist. Shows how much you really know about people. I actually learned a lot about people who are in my immediate circle who I see all the time, but had not taken the time to dig a little deeper with. That really made me take pause and think about how I interact with people or better yet how I DON’T interact with people. It’s making me think about how much time I really spend on Facebook and not in people’s faces. I am going to do more of that in the years to come. I’m going back to basics on the friend front. I’m gonna be in your face. Lol!

Anyway, Beatrice proceeded to bring down the house and when the performances were said and done we talked for a while. We talked about the voice and exchanged our stories and then she said she wanted to work with me. There was something in her story and something in her voice that told me this was the person I had been praying for to work with. Goddess is good! All the time! So I have a new vocal coach and I’m thrilled! I plan to be better than before. I really believe that next year is going to be amazing!

Back to the healing world, I decided to start volunteering as a Reiki practitioner at an organization called You Can Thrive that offers alternative healing treatments for women with cancer. They started out just working with women who had breast cancer, but has opened up to women with all kinds of cancers. So they offer acupuncture, reflexology, massage, essential oils, aromatherapy and Reiki to name a few things. So I will be lending my healing hands to these women and I’m really excited about that! I have been looking for more ways to give back and I think this is perfect. Treatments for the women are free or by donation so there is no stress to them on the cost. That is ideally what people need to heal. No Stress! Goddess bless.

Right before I headed home to see the family, I headed to the studio with Norman Conners. I wasn’t recording with him, but I have a feeling that will happen in the coming year. The story of how I came to meet Mr. Conners is a long and twisted one, but I’m glad I made it there. He was recording an amazing singer named Jennifer Freeman from Atlanta at Hammerstein Studios in the Manhattan Center. I have been to the Manhattan Center on many occasions and as you know I played there in the Grand Ballroom with Tamar-kali and Joi a few years ago, but I had never been up to the studios. Let me tell you that that place is amazing and the room sounds incredible. It would be a dream to record there, but I’m all about making dreams come true so we’ll see what happens.

The world is so funny. Right after I met Mr. Conners I was asked to write the liner notes for an album that he did with Pharoah Sanders that featured Phyllis Hyman. I really wish Phyllis were here to talk to. Sigh… Either way it’s still so amazing how the universe works.

After all that I headed home for the holidays. As I write this I am on the bus back to New York. I have been up and down this road so many times. I probably know it better than the bus drivers do. I always say that if I wasn’t a musician I could have been a truck driver or a city planner. LOL. I know it’s a far cry from what I’m doing, but there is something about a well-planned driving route and a well laid-out city plan that makes me happy. Maybe it is one of those past life things coming up.

As I head into 2012 I can feel the cosmic shift. It actually started early in 2011 with the uprising in Egypt and kept going until it hit our shores in earnest in the fall with the Occupy Movement. People in general and Americans in particular don’t like change, but people, the times they are a changing. As I look back on 2011 there are things that I didn’t get done that I thought I would, but clearly the Universe had other plans for me. There were clearly other things that I had to do. So I did not fight I just moved the way I was told to go. I followed my heart even when it hurt and there were many moments where I was totally unsure of what I was doing or how things would turn out, but I just jumped. Some of us get to certain points in our lives when we think we’re too old to jump, take a risk or take a giant leap to change or even save your life. But as long as you have breath you have a chance to start over again. Time is not running out. Time is on your side. You are always on time. You are always in time. What a beautiful thing.

I have no idea what next year is going to bring, but I plan to dust off this old girl that I know so well and let her shine once again. I plan to give her a chance to do what she was sent here to do for real. I charge her to be fearless and to run wild and free and do things that some people won’t like, understand or agree with. I am going to take her hand to live fully, and outside of every box and anyone tries to put her in. I am going to look her in the face and tell her I love her and wrap my arms around her. I am going to feed her well and take care of her body and be kind to her. I will speak highly of her all the time and forgive her daily.

2011 is over and the calendar will turn. If that’s what you need in order to make a change then use it as fuel. If you don’t start on January 1st or 2nd, then start on March 1st or 2nd. Every day that you have breath is a day you can make a change.

Thank you for sticking with me in 2011. I know I have been very quiet this last half of the year. I know. I needed the time to go in so I can come out again. Thank you to all of my friends and family who have supported and encouraged me during this time. I love you all so much. It came in so many ways. Ways that I didn’t even know were available to me. Wow!

Have a blessed New Year everyone! Hold yourself up to a higher standard. In the words of Junior, “Live Your Life!”

2011 Thank Yous!
I have to first thank my family, especially my Mom and Dad and my aunt Helen and Uncle Richard. Not only for being the best family, but for making the trip to Paris and London this year to see me perform. That really meant more to me than they know. I also have to publicly thank my Mom and Achuziam for helping me to start to transform my home life. I love you mom. My while family is the best! I know you don’t hear folks say that much about family, but I love mine so much. It was tough year and family helps in times like this.

Who else?
Abby Dobson, Abhita Austin, Achuziam Maha-Sanchez, Adam Rock, Alam Nathoo, Alex Nolan, Alixa, Andre Lasalle, Ayana Byrd, Beatrice Anderson, Ben Tyree, Brandon Victor Dixon, Bruce Mack, Bunny Bread, Candace Meredith, Carol Ann-Miles, Chippy Dubin, Chris Eddleton, Christian John Wikane, Desiree Mwalimu, Donna Sue Johnson, Elton Leonard, Ganessa James, Gina Breedlove, Greg Tate, Hanifah Walidah, Hannabiell Sanders, Heather Corbett Etchevers, Hollie Harper (& the whole American Candy Crew!), Ian Friday, Imani Uzuri, IndieGoGo Campaign funders and beyond, Jared Nickerson, Jason Dimatteo, Jeff Jeudy, Jenn Lambert, Jerome Jordan, Jim Russell, John Calvert, Julie Brown, Julie Wolf, Justin “Top Rock” McKenzie, Karma Mayet Johnson, Kat Francois, Keith Borden, Ki Ki Hawkins, LaFrae Sci, Latasha Diggs, Laura Vogel, Lisa Vogel, Lisala Beatty, LyricL, Matsu, Max Grunhard, Mazz Swift-Camlet, Micah Gaugh, Micah Lee, Michelle Escoffery, Michelle McKenzie, Micia Mosley, Mikel Banks, Myles Riley, Native Tongue, Nivea Castro, Nucomme Walker-Davis, Nye Taylor, Patranila Jefferson, Patricia McGreggor, Paula Henderson, Peggy Regis Robinson, Prita Lal, Pyeng Threadgil, Rachel Esquilin, Regina Brooks, Rob Covell, Robin Elon Dixon, Ryan Ansah, Samara Gaev, Sara Zuiderveen, Scott Baylis, Shalonda Ingram, Shawn Banks, Stefanie Kelly, Stephanie Maceiras, Temporary Residents (Ten Mill, DJ Johnny Rebel, Soulful Solly Brown, Lyrical), Terri Lynn Delk, Tim Rickard, Toshi Reagon, Ty Shaw, Ursula Tuca Milan, V. Jeffery Smith, Vernon Reid, Vicki Randle, Vinx, Will Martina, Yilis Suriel, Yvonne Sanders and ANYONE that I may have missed on this list. You are not forgotten. Thank you for your love, support, patience and understanding.

We're on Our Way Home : Day 8 [Part 13]

We're on Our Way Home: Leaving London

I can’t remember if Jeff took a short nap or what, but his cab was there to pick him up at about 4:30am. We made sure he had everything and we said farewell until we would meet again in New York later that night. Remember Jeff flew directly to London, but I had to go back to Paris and then back to New York.

I finished packing and took a short nap. Kevin and Michelle said they would take me to the train in the morning on their way to drop their daughter off at school. It was early enough that I would have plenty of time to get to the airport to catch my flight.

I can’t exactly remember which train station they took me to, but I had to take three trains to get to my Heathrow that day, but they took me a bit closer than if I had taken the Overground from where they were. I can’t remember if they took me to an Overground station or to a rail station. I can’t even really remember the rout I took to the airport. I was so tired that morning. All I know is that I ended up either at Hammermith or Earl’s Court to make a switch. I think it was Earl’s Court. Either way at that point I switched for the Piccadilly Line to Heathrow. Now remember there are a couple of trains that go to Heathrow. One train is for Terminal 1,2,3 & 4 and another for 1,2,3, & 5. I was so happy to see the later come when I was on the platform waiting to make the switch. I was dog tired. I mean just beat down, but I was almost there.

I got to Terminal 5 and prepared myself for whatever Heathrow might throw at me. If you remember I took the train in to London from Paris, but I decided to fly back for one major reason. I had to go back through Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris fly back home because that’s how I came in with Burnt Sugar. So on the return home I booked myself a flight on British Airways back to Paris, then I wouldn’t have to spend money to get form the center of Paris (if I had taken the train) to the airport. Now I just had to get to the proper terminal at Charles de Gaulle to catch my return flight that the Sugar crew booked me. Okay, now let’s see how Heathrow security is going to act on this day. When I got to British Airways check-in counter there was no line. I couldn’t believe this happened to me twice. First when I was flying into Paris from JFK at the Air France counter and now this. Wow. So I checked my bag, kept my bass on my back, plus my purse on my shoulder and I headed to the security line. First of all it wasn’t all that long, which was amazing, but I was checking out the security officer on the line I was in and I could tell she was tired and cranky. So I knew anything could happen with her. It wasn’t like I was carrying anything…oh wait…I had the damn screwdriver in my bass case. I forgot to take it out. Oh well, I was at the airport in plenty of time. If they took it I still would not miss my flight. So as the line is moving I notice that they take her off her post and replace her with someone else. Okay! So when I got to the front of the line I did as you do at the airport these days and everything was fine. No questions about anything. Not even the screwdriver, which I was surprised about because Heathrow can be crazy.

On the other side of security I put my shoes, coat, etc., on and headed downstairs to wait for my first flight. I was there so early that a gate hadn’t even been assigned to my flight. So I walked around and looked at the duty free stuff. It always amazed me how much of a mall that airport is. I got myself an overpriced souvenir because I needed to get rid of my Pound coins since I couldn’t exchange them back in the states. I got a pretty terrible sandwich at Pret a Manger, who by the way is taking over London. There are more Pret’s than Starbucks and you know that’s saying a lot! Then I found a place to chill until my gate showed up on the board.

If you are a smoker, it's your LUCKY day!

Sleepy in Heathrow.

Soon my flight popped up and I headed to the gate to sit there and wait until they called boarding. Again I have to mention how they board in Europe. It’s just so great. They call that the flight is ready for boarding and people get on. No calling of sections or things like that. Folks just get on the plane! LOL!  So I boarded my B.A. flight, put my bass in the overhead and it fit without any problem and settled in for this first leg.

Wing of my British Airways Flight

Flying form London to Paris is really fast. It might have been an hour maybe. So we were up and down quickly. I barely got a nap before we were landing. Since this was not a true connecting flight, I had to go pick up my luggage from baggage claim in Paris and then figure out how to get to Air France from where I was.

After getting my bag off the carousel, I found an information desk to ask how to get to terminal 2E. Since I was already in Terminal 2 I just had to take a long walk to 2E. I so glad I didn’t have to get on the airtrain to get to the terminal, which I totally thought I was going to have to do. I started walking and before I knew it I was at Air France check-in. Again there was barely a line. I knew I would be early for my flight, but I still didn’t expect that. I had already printed out my boarding pass so the woman at the counter checked my bag and I headed for Air France security.

The line wasn’t so bad, but I wasn’t sweating anything now that I was in Paris. I was almost home. When my turn came up I do the usual and walk through the metal detector, but this time they pulled my bass off the belt and asked if it was mine. “Yes, it’s mine.” They needed to look inside. Well, there goes my screwdriver. It made it from Brooklyn to Paris to London, but it wasn’t going to make it back to Brooklyn. Oh well. No worries. They took the contraband and gave me back my bass. Almost home.

I was mad early for that flight. I wasn’t scheduled to leave until about 7:30pm, and after going through security it was only about 4pm. So I had lots of time to kill. I didn’t have many Euros left. So I got a little snack, but I wasn’t worried because I knew they were going to feed us well on Air France and I’d have some wine!

Charles de Gaulle Airport Air France Terminal

Me & my bass on the last leg. Heading Home.

I sat in the terminal and thought about the days gone by. What a journey. From performing in Paris with Burnt Sugar and hanging out with my parents there; then off to London and the crazy housing situation, meeting up with Jeff, and playing some incredible shows; seeing London in a day and just having lots of laughs. I couldn’t help but look around and see the Burnt Sugar crew in my minds eye sitting with me in the Paris Airport. It made me smile. They were the reason I was there. I took a few pics of my tired self in the airport and before I knew it, it was time to board.

E 41 My Gate!

I didn’t get a window seat on the way back, but they did hold my bass for me again. This flight was challenging because it was so dry on the plane, but I later realized I was coming down with something. Honestly I think my body was just winding down so it was slowly trying to break down. The charge was over…for now. I drank so much water on that flight and could not get hydrated for anything. I was in and out of sleep the whole trip and when we were landing I thought my ears would explode. I hadn’t had that feeling in a long time.

When we landed and went through customs I could hardly hear the agent talking to me. That’s how clogged my ears were. It felt crazy. I felt like I was under water talking to people. It was strange to be home at least strange to come through customs in the U.S. Of the three places I had been (France, UK and America) only America was feeding nationalist propaganda at it’s visitors when they get off of plane. I mean as soon as you hit customs they might as well just hand you the lyrics to the National Anthem and make you sing it on the spot, with feeling! It was so crazy to see the TV screens with all the American “stuff” on it. I’m happy to be home as much as the next person, but it was all so much.

After I cleared customs and went to the ladies, I headed to baggage claim. I got my things and headed out to catch a cab when I see Jeff waiting for me with flowers! It was Valentine’s Day after all. Very sweet. We were back home. Back in New York and back to the everyday things of life, but what a time we had. What a time we had.

Thank You to everyone who came out to support us in London and all those who took the time to read this oversized blog. Love to Jeff who crossed the pond with me and represented the NY büshe. Love to LyricL who was my shining light in London. Love to Michelle & Kevin for opening their home at the 11th hour. Love to Adam and the Jazz Re:freshed crew for making their house mine. Love to the Morpheus Soul show for continuing to shout us out. Love to Up all Night Music and Native Tongue for saying yes and showing your love. Love to the UK blaKbüshe band. Love to the fox totems that kept showing up. It is my hope to get back to London soon after I release my next album this summer.

If you like what you read please be a part of making the album happen so we can go back to Europe and beyond. Check out my IndieGoGo campaign and be one of the hairs in the büshe. Thank you so much! Now on to the “Can a Girl Catch a Break? New Album Blog! Whoo Hoo!

London in a Day! Day 7 [Part 12]

London Day 7

Sunday Morning and it’s raining, but that wasn’t going to stop us. We had one day to see the City. Jeff spoke to his friend Ryan who suggested we hit a certain section so that we would catch a bunch of things at once and maximize our day. So we hit it and did much of it under the clouds, but it was great!

Ryan told Jeff that we should take the Tube to Charing Cross and walk around from there because it’s right near Piccadilly Circus and lots of other sites. So that’s what we did. I think that morning we walked to Anerley and took the Overground to Canada Water on the Jubilee Line. Then we took that to Waterloo and changed for the Northern Line to Charing Cross. When we got out we were right near the gate that leads to Buckingham Palace so we decided to start there. As we were walking down that long road that leads to the palace we could hear drumming. The next thing we know we see what looks like the royal marching band coming around the corner. Turns out we had just missed the changing of the guard. Damn! Oh well. We had no idea what time that was happening so I guess you can’t really miss something if you were never on your way to it.

Check the Clip of the Royal Band Marching

We kept walking toward the palace and of course there was a big crowd around it. If I were the Queen I wouldn’t want to spend too much time at that spot. Personally I would need people to get off my porch! That’s just too much. LOL.

We joined the crowd in taking photos and looking at the sculpture of Queen Victoria and the Roman soldiers that is right in front of the palace. This was the first time I really looked at the statue and all the other sculptures in the area. It really tells the history of London for better for worse. There are lots of references to Africa out there. I’m sure those are the things that people miss when visiting. Who want to think about that right? Well, it’s all there folks. Just look closely.

The Royal Homestead

Check out Medusa on the shield

The handsome Queen Victoria (lol)

After checking that out for a while we walked back up the road back toward where we came from, but decided to head toward Big Ben so we took a right and headed through a courtyard that turned out to be back of the Cavalry Museum. We didn’t go in, but we did have to walk under the museum archway to get back to main road where there were two men on horses “standing guard” in Cavalry gear. Okay, they were in uniform. There were lots of folks standing in front of the Mounties taking photos of their family and friends next to the horses. I will admit that I took a photo of the man on the horse as you can see below, but I couldn’t help thinking about the man and the horse while I was taking it. What a job!

I love the sign!

WWII Women's Memorial. I just loved that there was one for the women!

We walked down the street toward Big Ben and Westminster Abbey, when we realized we were right in front of 10 Downing Street, where the Prime Minster resides. Cool! We kept walking toward Ben and then there he was in our face. Jeff asked me to take a photo of him there. I think that was sort of his Eiffel Tower moment. From there we walked down the road to check out Parliament and then across the street to the Abbey. We couldn’t get in to either so we just took it in from the outside. That walked reminded me of when I did it the first time with Achuziam, Shawn, Lionel & Irv. It was just as good the second time around. Across from the Abbey there is a statue park of sorts. Along with a statue of Winston Churchill there was a statue of Nelson Mandela. There were other folks there too, but I can’t remember who they were. Really I was just trying to figure out how Mandela fit in to it all, but hey, I’ll talk take it!

Jeff & Ben

What are yo doing here Mr. Mandela?

After checking all that out Jeff wanted to go see the Tower Bridge, which was a train ride away. So we decided to find something to eat first and then jump on the train and head east to the Tower of London and the Bridge. We took a short walk and found ourselves by the Embankment Tube station. There were a few restaurants over there so we stopped, ate and then we were supposed to head to the Tower, but we decided to head toward Piccadilly first.

A rainy London day with Ben in the distance

London Eye

We start walking that way when, we were stopped in our tracks by the National Portrait Gallery and we have to go in! It’s only right and Paula would demand it. LOL.

So we went in and looked around for a bit. We decided to just do one floor because we could have been in there for hours and we didn’t have hours. Unlike the Lourve on the day I was in Paris, the folks at the Portrait Gallery were not having photos being taken at all. Jeff pulled out his phone and started to shoot a portrait of Paul McCartney and BAM, this woman popped up out of nowhere to shut him down! They were not having it. LOL. There is a really amazing portrait of Princess Diana in gallery among other great paintings, but that one really stood out for me. After being there for about 45 minutes we decided to head out. We walked toward Piccadilly and stopped at a store that Jeff saw a cool Marilyn Monroe picture in (I love Marilyn) to check it out. After seeing it and finding out it’s crazy price, we decided to skip Piccadilly and head back to the Tube and to the Tower Bridge. So we walked back to Charing Cross and got on the District or the Circle Line to Tower Hill. Now I don’t know which train we got on because there was all kinds of construction going on and we had to take one train because the other wasn’t running and it was a little hectic. Ah…just like New York!

We got to Tower Hill we checked out the Tower of London. Now I had been there before, but for the first time I think I was really starting to understand the history of the place and saw how intricate it is or was. We didn’t get to go on the tour, but next time I’ll make that happen. Jeff just wanted to see the bridge because it was his screen saver for the last few months so that he could manifest the trip. Well it worked and there we were.

Jeff at Tower Bridge

We hung out in the area for a while, but I was trying to catch some vintage gear or at least some cheap gear near a spot LyricL hipped me to. Let me break it down a bit in the clothes area. I didn’t really come to London to shop, but I came to London with a coat that I wanted to leave there. Yes, my plan was to get a new coat and leave my old one in London. You ever had a piece of clothing that you never want to see again? That’s how I felt about my coat. LyricL said we should head over the Liverpool Street as there was a huge outdoor market there on Sunday’s. That was great because we were meeting all the folks at the Vibe Bar on Brick Lane that night for LyricL’s show and that wasn’t too far from the Liverpool Street station.

Now this is where things get crazy. The plan should have been simple. Take the Circle Line from Tower Hill to Liverpool Street, but of course the trains were not acting right on that rainy Sunday. So what should have been a two-stop trip turned into many more and lots of walking. For some reason the Circle Line wasn’t going in our direction so we had to go back backwards. We took the Circle Line back on stop to Monument. Then we had to walk the long underground road from Monument to Bank. Now these stations connect, but it’s a like an over the river and through the woods connection. At Bank we took the Central line one stop to Liverpool Street. Now I know this doesn’t sound so bad on paper, but riding and walking it I knew that we were not going to make it to see be able to shop. It was all just taking too long.

Just for laughs

I just call it the Bullet *wink*

By the time we got off at Liverpool Street the sun and by the time we found the street market everyone had closed down. There were just a few vendors taking frames of their tents down. I was a kind of bummed about that, but there was nothing I could do. So we kept walking and asked someone how to get to Brick Lane and we were actually right down the street, which was good. So Jeff and I headed that way and decided to find something to eat since one of the many things that we were going to do was eat Indian food in London. Why was that on the list? Because the last time I was there Irv and I ate at this spot that changed my life! But that spot was near Hammersmith and on Brick Lane the Indian restaurants are on every corner and everywhere in between.

So we started walking down the street looking for a spot when we stumbled upon an indoor flea market that was still open and it was almost right next to the Vibe Bar, which was ultra convenient. Jeff and I went in and immediately I saw all of these things that I could potentially purchase, but I didn’t want to be to hasty. We looked at some things that the vendor right when you walk in had, but soon we kept it moving. There was some really cool stuff in there, but I was in search of a coat. Then I found it, but it was £185! Way out of my budget. But I took a picture of it because a girl can dream.

My Foxy Cleopatra dream coat!

After walking around for a while, we left, went one more spot and then decided to eat. Picking a restaurant almost turned out to be a real drama. Here in NY there is a street in the East Village called 6th Street. On 6th almost the entire block is Indian restaurants. So when you walk down the street, especially in the spring or summer, you can expect to be called to by various different folks to come into their restaurant. Well the same thing happened to us on Brick Lane and it was a little unnerving when you just want to sit down and eat. I won’t get into all that. I’ll just say that we found a spot, ate and then headed over to the Vibe Bar. Sadly that food wasn’t as amazing as the other spot I had been too, but I’m glad we did it. It was on the To Do list. Done!

We headed to the Vibe Bar and some folks were there already. LyricL was there, but I figured that since she was performing. Johnny was there, Bunny Bread was on the DJ set and a cat named F. Stokes from New York via Chicago, was rhyming when we came in and he was doing it! I was standing talking to LyricL when a Cyndi came up to greet us. Cyndi run a record store/clothing store in Brixon called United 80 and I was supposed to meet her earlier that day or the day before, but we never could get it together. She wanted to put my CDs in her record store. She was so sweet and gave LyricL and I both mustard scarves, which was really sweet. She is one half of the manVSwife DJ crew the Hands On Family. Yes it’s a husband and wife DJ team. Now that’s cool.

Bunny Bread on the set

LyricL & Chippy

Bunny is on Fire! (HA!)

After F. Stokes finished his set there was a bit of break in the action. At that point other folks started so show up. First Yvonne, then Hannabiell & Yilis, then Rob & Kat, then Kelli, Max and Ten Mill. Later on down the line was my friend Michael and then John showed up with one of his friends. Yeah! Much of the gang was all there.

Jeff & Kelli's High School Reunion!

John & Jeff

Me & Bunny

Yilis, Hannabiell & Max

We all chilled and talked and then it was time for LyricL to do her thing! She burned up that set. It was amazing! It was so nice to see her do her own show since she had been helping me out on vocals etc. all week. Power to her once again for all the love she showed me all week. After Lyric’s set Bunny spun for a while again and then it was time for Homeboy Sandman.

Love the Action in this shot

Now, I heard about this brotha since before I arrived in London because Johnny told about him. I listened to a couple of the Morpheus Soul podcasts with Homeboy on them and he was amazing on the show, but in person it was FIRE! Damn! I might have said this before, but I’ll say it again. Hip-Hop Lives! F. Stokes, LyricL and Homeboy Sandman proved that for sure. Bunny Bread too because he was killing the set!

Homeboy Sandman Killin' it!

After the show ended we all hung out for a while and took photos. Talked and laughed until it was time to say our farewells. It was hard to say goodbye, but I didn’t cry. It was too good a week to cry. John had given Jeff and I the time of the last trains heading to Anerley. Luckily we were right down the street from the Overground so it was a straight shot. I don’t remember what time he told us we could catch the train, but then I got a call from him saying that he thought he got the times wrong and that he was probably on the last train going to Crystal Palace, which would go by Anerley. So with that, we really said our goodbyes and headed to the train as fast as we could. If you remember, the last time we thought we wouldn’t make it all the way home we actually made it because another train came to take us further south. John told us to call him if we could only get so far and he would give me back the money I gave him to play the gig so we could catch at cab! [Angel 14] What?? He told me he wasn’t expecting to get paid so if we needed it he would give it back. Amazing.

Vibe Crew

So Jeff and I got to the Shoreditch High Station on the Overground and Jeff needed to top up his Oyster as the train was coming in the station and I think it was the last one. So one of the folks working at the station just let us through because otherwise we wouldn’t have made it. We ran up the steps and caught the train. Okay one leg down. We didn’t even know where it was stopping, but we had to get on. So we rode for a while and I was praying that the train would go at least as far as New Cross Gate, but alas it only went to New Cross. Not the same at all folks. So we got off and I called John. It just so happened he was at a pub right down the street from the station. I love it. So he came down and scooped us up and we walked back to the pub where he was hanging and called us a cab. He wanted us to hang and we would have, but Jeff had to leave for the airport at 5am so there was no time to hang. I was already close to or past Midnight.

It took the cab driver a minute to find us, but then he showed up. We said our final farewell to John and then headed back to Anerely.

Jeff still had a bit of packing to do and he was going to take a cab to the airport because his flight was too early in the morning to be messing with the train and it would have taken too long. He also realized that he needed to be at the airport earlier than he thought. So there was no need to go to sleep at all. So we stayed up and talked with Kevin and Michelle for a while. We didn’t even get to hang out with them much even though we were at their house. That’s just how these things sometimes go. Everybody is busy. They were great hosts though. I’m so thankful for them. Tomorrow...New York bound.

Kevin & Michelle