2018 Year End Review: The Year of Giving Birth, Transitions and Gratitude

I Am American

We have come to the end of the road.  Well at least the road that the Roman calendar leads us down year after year.  The longer I live the more I realize how false that road is cuz the wheel keeps turning. There really is no end, until it’s over if you know what I mean, but even then do we really know that that’s the end? This year came with these huge questions. Big beginnings, tragic transitions, continuous continuations and ch-ch-ch-ch-changes.  Twenty-eighteen felt so long and yet here we are at the last day of December once again looking out onto what 2019 will hold.  Daily it felt like a Space Odyssey or better yet a Space Oddity as our brother Bowie made so plain.  Now here we are at the end so that's where I will start. 

In October I was in one of the biggest pushes of my life, giving birth to my album, I Am American. The birth did not quite go as planned, but the baby is healthy and everyone is alive!  The labor was long. There were Braxton Hicks contractions that started years ago. Lot's of rushing to the water only to be sent back home, but in August the labor started for real and in October the pushing began in earnest.  I was on a roll, labor was going well and then things started happening around me.

On October 24th, I lost another (the first two in March & May respectively) dear sister friend, Sally Hyppolite, to cancer. Then on the same day one of my mentors, guitar legend Wah Wah Watson, also passed.  I hadn’t spoken to him in a while and that left me as devastated as losing my sister who I had recently seen.  

Side Note: As far as how I know Wah Wah Watson, let's just say if I had the loot at the time we met, he would have come to London to play with me.  He never played with the band, but we did stay in touch, I did visit him at his home, and he was a mentor.  It's a long story, but one I will share one day.

I couldn’t stay in that sad space because I was in labor and the contractions were coming faster and with more strength. 

In the midst of labor I had to take a trip to San Francisco with my Burnt Sugar Arkestra fam to play at San Francisco State University and to do a talk at Stanford. On October 27th, the day before we left for the Bay, Ntozake Shange passed. I had only met her once, but I have known her in my heart and spirit all my life.  Every colored girl who has ever touched the stage or written a poem or searched for the deeper meaning of what is to be and feel the joy and pain of being a dark girl, knows Ntozake. She was our virtual auntie, tia, sista girlfriend, lover, mother, she was everything and all things and she had moved on right as I was heading to the Bay where it all began for her. 

I reached the west side doing my best not to let my shock reach the surface and then on the 30th we lost vocal powerhouse/songwriter Beverly McClellen to cancer.  I had also only met Beverly once when we performed together at Michfest in 2015, but I was so inspired by her when she competed on the first season of The Voice and ripped the house down in the blind auditions singing Janis Joplin’s “Piece of My Heart.” The bald, t-shirt, boots and jeans Amazon hit the stage with so much truth it was undeniable. When I saw that she was going to be playing at Fest I knew I had to sing with her and by some miracle we did.  We jammed out Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty’s classic “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around" and it was amazing! We had so much fun.  Big love hugs to my sister and drummer Jyn Yates who toured with Beverly and in losing her lost a best friend.  Beverly was a force! I stopped momentarily to breathe for Beverly, but I labored on.

We made it back from the Bay and then on Nov. 2nd I got my last bit of year end transition news; trumpeter, composer, Roy Hargrove had left the building.  I like so many others was not prepared for that.  Those who knew him, knew he struggled with health challenges and had been on dialysis for many years, but he was forever in our eyes that young lion who blasted on the scene in the 90's and took over the jazz world. Roy was a big part of my pre- and early- New York life.  

Side Note: How do I know Roy Hargrove? Well let's just say we first met in Columbus, OH when I was in college and then some years later he impromptu played piano (let that sink in) for me one night at Small's Jazz Club in the Village. I was shocked and humbled. I will share that story for you one day as well. Magic.

So all this was happening while I was in active labor. I couldn’t stop the momentum at that point and on Saturday, November 3rd I started crowning.  The little head started showing as we took the stage at the Brooklyn Museum for First Saturdays in celebration of the “Soul of Nation” exhibition.  The crowd was with us and it was a glorious night. I read from “For Colored Girls…” and called for “somebody/anybody, sing a black girls song.” So we sang a song for my sisters and we also premiered the music video for “Punanny Politixxx.” There was no stopping now. The labor continued.

November 4th, the head was out and the shoulders were trying to make their way though.  I held a listening gathering at Peace & Riot for a select few fam and friends. It was a wonderful time and I was so glad that more people got to hear my baby in the womb before she was all the way out.  We drank, ate, laughed and had an all-around good time.  It takes a village and give thanks that me and my baby have a huge community.  

November 5th, the shoulders were out so I made my way to Roulette to perform with Darius Jones and friends in “For the People,” an avant-garde, get out the vote performance.  It was beyond deep. Deeper than I even imagined it would be.  All the performers were given a set of cues that we had to musically interpret so to speak.  Sometimes I was called to make the sounds of a slave woman who was having her baby cut out of her  at she was tied upside down or...well... what else needs to be said after that?! I did two pieces with the latter being called “Law and Order.” After such a long labor this was the final push that I needed.

Finally, on November 6th at midnight my baby, I Am American, was born. Later that morning I got up from my laboring bed and took myself to vote.  I came home and rested for a bit because later that night I took myself to see Living Colour and Fishbone at Brooklyn Bowl. 

My brotha, producer, friend, Vernon Reid

November 7th, was my b’earthday. The baby was out and I was exhausted. My mom came to town and treated me to old lady dinner. I call it “old lady” cuz we ate at 4pm. It was the early, early bird special.  We went for dessert at what should have been dinner time, did some quick and I mean quick shopping cuz I was beat and then went home and talked and chilled for the rest of the night. It was a quiet b’earthday, but just what I needed after all of that.

The next day my mom went home and then I started to notice my body.  Not only was I exhausted, but I was having numbness or dull tingling in my left finger, shoulder and leg. Then sometimes it would move to the right side.  I just thought it would subside and sometimes it did. Some days were better than others, but it never really went away.

By Thanksgiving I was sort of in a panic because it wasn’t subsiding. My blood pressure was fine, but I found a community acupuncture spot near my mom, which helped me get through till I got back to New York.  I really didn’t know what was up.  Back in New York, I went to see my friend who is an acupuncturist and told her what was going on. After talking for a while she says, “It sounds like grief. Have you lost anyone lately?” I was quick to say, “No I haven’t lost…” and then I stopped. OMG, I had lost! What was I talking about? Because I was in labor I hadn’t had time to properly mourn any of those five losses that happened damn near in the span of less than two weeks. I couldn’t stop the push and now here I was in grief. The numbness and out of the blue sadness. Grief.  She needled me and I rested and I started to feel. I can’t quite say better, but I just started to feel…something. 

So here we are at the end and I’m trying to wrap my head around the beginning.  Earlier this month someone reminded me that I played at the Apollo Theater this year. That was THIS YEAR! I played Lincoln Center (two times!), I released the single “Punanny Politixxx,” I performed with Meshell N’dgeocello. I played at the Brooklyn Museum (two times!), I performed on B-Side on BRIC TV, I was on the Sweet Spot radio show (two times!), I sang with Climbing Poetree, I hosted the sweat lodge, was a featured artists with the Resistance Revival Chorus, I performed the Sparkle Soundtrack with my Black Rock Coalition fam and also…

…I lost my dear  brother Buddy Cooper and my dear sister and friend Dumeha Vernice Thompson, both to cancer. Breathe… Feel….Carry on…kinda…

We shot the video for “Punanny Politixxx,” co-hosted a yoga retreat in Carriacou, was featured guest again with the Resistance Revival Chorus and then…the Life Celebration for Dumeha…Dance…Breathe…Feel…Carry on…kinda…

…I started Momentum Education (ask me about it) and declared my album would be out on Nov. 6th, played TAMAfest, celebrated Black Women in Rock & Punk at Afropunk and shared the stage with Angela Davis and Nona Hendryx (sit with that), performed in the play, “The Dark Girl Chronicles” at Colgate University, beamed as my baby cousin got married on the Vineyard, Rocked Restoration in honor of Aretha Franklin and now we are back to where we first found our shero, at San Francisco State. What a year.  

Afropunk

2018 was so wonderful. I mean gosh, look at all that went down. I met and performed with Angela Davis for Christ sake! My year could have stopped right there and I would have been golden.  But it was also laced with sadness on many levels, some I have shared here and some I have not, but there have been things that have rocked me to my core and sometimes I find myself still rockin’, looking for answers, trying to understand. The older I get the more I know that every year is this way. Every year has its ups and downs. Some years have more ups than downs and vice versa, but this year for me felt wildly up and wildly down.  So many things that I thought I was done with came back to the surface and I had to work through the pieces that I had pushed to the recesses of my heart, mind and spirit.  “You can’t hide from yourself/everywhere you go/there you are.” That’s what Teddy P. said and he was 100% correct.  You can lie to get by, but the truth will all rear its head and you will have to face her one day, way, or another.

I refuse to take this junk with me into the next turn of the sun.  The winter is about dreaming in the dark so I am about this business of letting go and creating a big life for myself. One with so much LOVE, joy, fun, sex, laughter, cuddles, kisses, travel, health, food, wealth, friends and family that no matter what comes around the corner to try and rock me, I will be solid in love from the inside and out.

I kept a gratitude journal all year and I will continue that practice into the next and the next.  I am in deep gratitude for all the things and people that showed up in my life this year. Whether friend or frenemy, I thank you.  You came in for a reason, thank you, but in 2019 I’m gonna have to usher some of ya’ll out! Ha! But I know that the only way to move through is to understand that there are lessons in the challenging spaces. We just have to be open to receiving them so we can step into to our greatness.  I am stepping into mine and I see you stepping as well, into the light.  The past is gone just as quickly as you read this post.  The only thing we have is NOW and that's where the power is.  I dare you to be present in it. 

Happy New Year! Let’s get this _________________ !

(you fill in your dream)

Happy New Year! 

My Top 13 of 2013: For those with a short attention span!

As you know I always write a stupid long Year End Review, but for those of you who have lost your desire to read I have compiled My Top 13 of 2013.  So check it out and if you are curious about more you and always check out the entire 2013 Year End Review: Musicga!  Thank you for sharing the year with me. Big things ahead!

love,
Shelley

My Top 13 of 2013

1. I wrote over 356 Haikus! (I will post some soon!)

2. Attuned two more students to Reiki!

3. Was featured on the Sony Christmas R&B Hits Compilation.

4. Rocked Michfest with my rendition of "Invincible" by Pat Benatar.

5. Played Mamapalooza and Pussypaolooza.

6. Hosted two blaKbüshe Wellness Days.

7. Shot a video with Rebellum for "Heart Seed."

8. Taught lots of yoga and hosted a yoga workshop/show with M'Balia (MB) in Philadelphia.

9. Wrote and directed my first comedy sketch with American Candy.

10. Was part of the "Medusa/Asudem" video with Kelly Horrigan and Lee Free.

11. Played at BAM Café two times (blaKbüshe and American Candy).

12. Debuted Phellatio Gonzalez feat. Jeff Jeudy, Jerome Jordan, V. Jeffery Smith, Matsu, Akie Bermiss, Sharief Hobley, Shawn Banks and special guest Garrett Shider, Jr.

13. "blaK Girls" is featured in the independent film Homecoming directed by Eugene Ashe.

Click HERE to Read the full 
2013 Year End Review: Musicga!

2013 Year End Review: Musicga

Year End Review 2013: Musicga

Often when I come to the end of the year I can’t believe that it has gone by so fast, but I actually feel like 2013 took its time. A lot of things happened in 2013 for sure. As you know, I graduated from Kripalu in 2012 so 2013 was all about getting my yoga teaching going. So without further ado here is my 2013 Year End Review:  Musicga (Music & Yoga)!

January
I kicked off the month writing my first Haiku of the year. I gave myself a Haiku a day challenge, which turned out to be lots of fun and insightful to say the least. I will post them all on my blog so you can see them ASAP!

I began the year teaching at Shambhala Yoga & Dance Center and Hip Dhamma. I also started taking aerial class with my girl Kiebpoli aka Black Acrobat, which was amazing! If you are thinking about trying it out I highly recommend her. That lasted through May, but I really hope to be able to get back! The rope and silks are no joke. The power involved in making that look effortless is not a game. I had so much fun!

This month I also played with Burnt Sugar at the Million Man Mosh. It was a great night to raise money for Donovan Drayton who was battling for his freedom. Donovan was in the house that night and I’m happy to report that he has been cleared of all charges! Give Thanks! That night we had the pleasure of sharing the bill with 24-7 Spyz, Nona Hendrix, Living Colour and Ronny Drayton. Also Big Mike from the Sugar Hill Gang and Melle Mel from the Furious Five were in the house and graced the stage as well.

At the close of the month I stared to feel a little under the weather, but I had no time to be sick because Burnt Sugar was heading to Paris on the 31st. So I boarded a plane to Paris with one of the worst head colds I’ve had in my life. Before we all got to the airport we found out that our original flight had been cancelled and our new flight was moved up! Not cool! Well, we all made it, but I was not looking forward to that flight with the head cold. My saving grace was that the flight was empty so at least I could spread out and really lay down. Next stop, Paris!

February
Although I spent most of the Paris trip in bed trying to get myself together to perform, it turned out to be really fun time. The only downside was the Gestapo at Heathrow that took my coconut oil when we had to change planes in London. So the only thing I did in Paris besides, eat, sleep, soak and sing was get some lotion! Anyway, for the show we did the Steely Dan Songbook conducted by Vernon Reid and a few Bowie tunes conducted by Mikel. Thank Goddess I was able to pull it together and give the best show I could give. [Blog: Next Stop Paris! ]. We didn’t get to stay in Paris this time as long as we did last so there was no sightseeing for me, but I’m still so thankful for the time spent there. I love traveling with the Sugars!

This month I began teaching yoga to the kids at Little Sun People a pre-school where a lot of my friend’s children attend. That went on through May and was a great experience.

I rounded out February by attuning my fourth student to Reiki! That is something that I’m going to do much more of in 2014. Congrats to my girl Po-Hong on becoming a Reiki I practitioner. It makes me feel go great to be able to teach people this healing tool. It’s such a blessing.

March
Looking back at this month, a whole lot happened. I went to Buffalo and Canada with Burnt Sugar. That was really an amazing trip and one of the best parts was finding Betty’s restaurant. That food was amazing! We are still talking about that food and how we can get Betty’s downstate.

Early in the month blaKbüshe played at Mamapalooza, which was my friend Rick’s 50th b’earthday party. We did the show as a 4-piece so Matsu, Jeff, Ganessa and I hit it. The place was packed and we had a blast. We made a few blaKbüshe converts that night and we also met another Jeff who would be instrumental down the line. Jeff James, a friend or Rick’s, works at Sony. That night he asked me if I had any holiday music and as you may or may not know, the answer to that is yes! If you recall I made a holiday album for my mom a few years ago, so I have music. He asked me to send him a couple of things because he was putting together Sony’s holiday compilation. I sent the tracks, but I have to admit that I didn’t think anything would come of it. Silly me.

We played Mamapalooza on the 11th and then played BAM Café on the 16th. It was another packed house at BAM and we had a lot of fun as usual. I tried out a new song that night and it seemed to go over well. Win or lose it’s great to have the audience feedback. [Blog: BAM Café Show Recap]. I really live for that!

April
I think the highlight of April, which has nothing to do with music, is that I got my stuff out of storage. That was nothing short of a spring miracle. I am so glad not all that stuff in my life anymore. I kept much of it, but I also did a huge book and magazine giveaway. It felt so good to lighten my load. Try it!

This month I also started recording the Rebellum project with Greg Tate at Luqman’s studio in Harlem. At the time I thought it was another Burnt Sugar project, but I later found out differently. I now it must sound strange that I didn’t know the project I was recording, but many of the same people in Burnt Sugar are in Rebellum and at that time I’m no sure the new band had a name yet. When you are rolling with this crew you just have to be open to the changes. LOL!

May
This was a pretty big month. I had my first blaKbüshe Wellness Day on the 19th. Thanks to Po-Hong, my partner in Scorpionic magic, it was a great success. My mom and aunt Helen also took the drive down from MA to support and my cousin Ashley and his girlfriend Emilie came though. It was a rainy day in Brooklyn. So rainy that they even cancelled one of the days of the Great GoogaMooga concert in Prospect Park. But a little rain didn’t stop our show. It was beautiful day.

Po-Hong & I! Scorpio Power!

Earlier in the year my girl Nucomme asked me if I wanted to play at the Williamsburg Music Center. When I agreed it was going to do a blaKbüshe show, but Ganessa couldn’t make the date. So instead of cancelling it I had another idea. I have so many wonderful men in my life that I thought it would be great to play with all of them, or as many as possible, in one night! So I called on Jeff Jeudy, Matsu, V. Jeffrey Smith, Akie Bermis, David Pilgrim, Sharief Hobley, Jerome Jordan and Shawn Banks who collectively became Phellatio Gonzalez. Then as a cherry on top was, Garrett Schider, Jr. who happened to be in town and in the house! He happily sat in with us! Whoa!

The night was a kind of round-robin type of evening and everyone was really amazing. All the fellas took a turn and then I chimed in with a couple of my tunes. Fun, fun! I was hoping to make that happen again in 2013, but clearly the year was packed. But stay tuned because Phellatio Gonzalez will ride again!

The men of Phellatio Gonzalez!

June
This month kicked off with me joining the Soulfolk Experience at Le Poisson Rouge for a Prince tribute on the 7th and since there is so rest for the wicked, the next night I hit with Burnt Sugar at Ginny’s uptown. We had lots of friends and fam in the house for that show. It was great to see Helga Davis, Daniel Carlton, Somi and Vernon who sat in with us that night.

Soon blaKbüshe was back in action as the musical guest for the African Voices 20th Anniversary at the Schomburg Center in Harlem. The event was also in honor of author/poet/professor Tony Medina. He was in the house along with Bonified Rojas, Willie Perdomo and Asha Bandele. I was also surprised to see Mike Ladd in the house, in from Paris. One of the highlights of this event was Willie mentioning The Tea Party. For those of you who know don’t know, before that name was taken over by the far right, it was an amazing arts organization in Brooklyn.

Post Schomburg show glow

The ladies and the gentleman of honor

I had to hurry home from that event to pack to hit the road with the Sugars the next day. We were heading to Cleveland to play for the Summer Solstice event at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Trevor, V. Jeff and I took the long journey with Ben and met the rest of the crew in Cleveland. I got to see my sands Shay while I was there and also my friend Katrice and her family, which was great. But the highlight for me was going to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! [Blog: NYC to O-HI-O ]

Beam of vocal light in Cleveland at the Summer Solstice jam

Soon we were headed back to New York and I had to get ready for two more shows just a week later. The first was Burnt Sugar at Marcus Garvey Park for the Harlem Arts Festival. It was ok, but the person who went on before us went way over and there was no stage management so no one stopped her. It takes us a “minute” to set up so between the pervious set ending late and our set beginning late I think we only 20 minutes to play. For Burnt Sugar that’s about two songs. LOL! That show was on the 29th and then Pussypalooza was on the 30th. I have a lot to say about this show, but I’ll just let you read the blog. Well, I will say one thing. I was really excited about the show and then quickly disappointed. It was an amazing show. One of those nights where I was so angry before I went on that the show was EPIC! But it was also the show that made me take a break from doing any full band shows for the rest of the year. [Blog: Pride and Prejudice]

I love to make music. I love to play shows. I love it so much and I’m sure the artists out there can relate, but sometimes you have to pull back and take a look at how things are going. Regroup. Pause. That’s what I did after this gig and I’m glad I did.

This month I started my second to last fundraiser of the year. It was a silent auction, which brings us to July.

July
I kicked off the month with the Silent Auction fundraiser show, which featured Ganessa, Chaney Sims, Ashley Phillips and myself. We rocked out the Rockbar and helped me get that much closer to reaching my recording fundraising goal.

This month I also found that that I had been selected to be on the Sony Christmas compilation. I was so shocked! Although I had been contacted about possibly being on it I never had an attachment to it. So when I saw Jeff from Sony at the fundraiser and he told me he was going to make it happen, I don’t think really heard him. Soon there after I got the email! It was great news, but I needed to re-record the song. Jeff gave me two weeks to do it, but my Jeff (Jeudy) was going to be out of town for one of those two weeks! So I really had a week to do it, but we got it done. Matsu, Jeff and I recorded “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” with Lionel at his place one evening and the rest is on the CD!

Another highlight of the month was shooting the “Medusa/Asudem” video with Kelly Horrigan and Lee Free. That was so much fun! Kelly is an amazing designer and stylist and Lee is an awesome musician. Together they make a great team and I was honored to be the first artist to do a video for their Seen & Herd blog. Artsy videos! Yeah!

In my Medusa gear ready to shoot!

Finally I closed the month teaching yoga at Socrates Park in Long Island City. I was subbing for my friend Monique who was doing an art fellowship out of state for a few weeks. It was so wonderful to teach yoga in the park by the water. It was hot as hell those weeks, but since class was early and in the shade it wasn’t so bad. It’s kind of tricky to get to that park so I decided to bike from Brooklyn to Queens. In the morning, which was great, but by the afternoon it was literally hell on wheels! I think I damn near melted on the way home.

August
What was supposed to be one of the big highlights of the month was swiftly postponed and then cancelled. That was D’Angelo and Williamsburg Park. Something told me I should have went to go see him in Philly in July during the Roots Picnic weekend. I had seen him in March at Brooklyn Bowl with Questlove and it was off the chain! They did it again in July in Philly and I really wanted to go, but I didn’t. Then the show came up in NY. I was excited, but honestly something was nagging me. Then it happened, the show was postponed. It was supposed to happen on August 1st, but when it was postponed I wondered if I would be around for the rescheduled day. The original plan was to go to the show on the 1st, then home to MA for a couple of days, come back to BK and head to Festival for a week and then to my friend Shirley’s for a week. Well, it turned out that they cancelled the show and a bunch of others due to D being “ill.” Honestly when I heard that reason it scared me. Notice we haven’t heard a word from him since. There was all sorts of talk and speculation about what really happened to D, but let me tell you that I am still convinced that a brotha needs a hug…from me! Look out for Shelley’s Celebrity Hug Healing Program. Coming to a town where celebs live near you. I also need Kanye's number immediately! [SoundCloud: Quest & D'Angelo at BK Bowl]

At the Brooklyn bowl show Quest said something about D that has really stuck with me. When we were all clapping for an encore Quest said that we better keep clapping because he “gets love every day, but D needs to know that ya’ll really love him or you may not see him again till 2042.” We all laughed, but I totally got what he was saying. Although we were clapping and cheering for him to come back, the real deal is that D’Angelo needs to know deep within himself that he is loved. It makes me sad because the brotha is a genius and I don’t throw that word around at all, but he is truly gifted beyond measure. Sending much love to my brotha. Love and peace within.

August is always about Michfest and this year was no exception. This time I went to the festival as part of the ladies version of Hanifah Walidah’s band St. Lô, which included Hanifah, Julie Wolf and I. Of course you know there is a blog all about it. So if you missed the Michfest update, give it a read [Blog: Michfest 2013].

When I finally got home from Michigan I had to jump right into gear and get ready for Afropunk After Dark. I just did a broken down show with Jeff and Matsu at Putnam’s Pub in Brooklyn. We had shared the bill that night with Shae Rose and Adam Falcon. Thanks again to Trevor Gale at SESAC for inviting us out that night. If you haven’t read the Afropunk blog [Blog: Afropunk: Put Down the Hate] now is your chance.

Somewhere in the middle of all this I took a break and went to see Pete Rock vs. DJ Premier in one of the last Summerstage shows of the season. They were battling at East River Park by the FDR Drive. It was a serious trek to get over there, but worth all the trains, buses and footsteps that it took me. The place was packed and it was just an all out good time. They were spinning the music of my youth and clearly that of many others, but it wasn’t just a bunch of grown folks reminiscing, there were people of all ages there. People who really love hip-hop and respect the pioneers. We sang and danced together into to the night. It was probably one of the best days I had of the summer. There was so much love was in the air.

Closing out the month, the newly formed band Rebellum had our first photo shoot at the Village @ Gureje in BK. Thanks to photographer Nisha Sondhe, we took some great photos and set the group on its way. I know it might be a bit confusing because many of the members of Rebellum are also in Burnt Sugar, but trust me it’s a different band and a different sound.

Rebellum

September
This month saw the official release of the “Medusa/Asudem” video and the opening of the exhibit at Pratt Institute. Yeah! I can officially say I’ve been part of an art show! I know that doesn’t seem so huge, but stand by and see what happens next.

I also hosted my final blaKbüshe Wellness Day/Album Fundraiser. I’m sure I will do another wellness day because people really liked them, but that was my last fundraiser of the year. I want to thank Freebrook Spaces for allowing me to host my event there. I also want to thank Julie Brown and Dayanra Marte for coming to speak to us on the Fall Equinox. It was an amazing way to jump into the new season. I’m very thankful.

Rebellum closed the month for me. We had an album release show for our debut album The Darknuss at Joe’s Pub on the late night tip. Ronny Drayton sat in with us and Vernon Reid stopped by with his axe, fresh off the road. We a rockin’ good time that night. The fall kicked off lovely.

October
I took a big leap of faith in October and kicked off my yoga workshop/show in Philadelphia. The workshop and show were happening on a Saturday, but I arrived in Philly on Friday to do an interview on WRTI radio with M’Balia whom I was sharing the bill with.

M'Balia and I ready to Chill & Burn

When I got to the radio station I ran into artist Sherman Fleming who I had been on a Full Spectrum panel with in New York about a year or so ago. It was great to see him and hear about what he’s doing on Philly. We had a wonderful and fun interview that night with J. Michael Harrison host of The Bridge and I’m sure we’ll be back to WRTI in 2014.

Live at WRTI, Philadelphia, PA

The workshop on Saturday happened at Soft Illusions Fine Art Gallery and included a yoga class and an artist talk with Diane E. Vaughn, whose art was hanging in the gallery. We had a small turnout, but big energy so for me it was a huge success. It took a short break in between and then had to get ready for the show in the evening.

After my yoga workshop in Philly

MB’s (our nickname for M’baila) husband went to get Jeff from the train while we finished getting ready. My friend Damon had arrived earlier with the sound so that was good to go. Soon MB and I arrived at the gallery and the gang was all there. We set up the evening in a round robin style with MB and I going song for song, or maybe it was two songs and then two songs. We also sang our old Women of Bogolan anthem “What Can You Do For Me” by Labelle, which was appropriate being in Philly and all. All of the weekend’s events went so well that I, as well as MB and I, have been asked to do it again. Also MB and I were reminded of how much we love singing together so this year that will be happening again. I’ll keep you posted for sure!

The end of October was a busy one. Burnt Sugar played for three nights at the Apollo as part of the James Brown Dance Tribute by Philadanco (Philadelphia Dance Company) and right smack in the middle American Candy did our Silly Song Show at BAM. So I did the Tuesday and Saturday show at the Apollo and Friday night played BAM. That is really the way life should be all the time. All of those shows were really fun. We had a packed house in BAM on Friday night, which was amazing. It was the first time American Candy did those songs with a band, which was special. Nice way to close the month.

Note: I just found out at the end the year that Homecoming, an independent film directed by Eugene Ashe, came out in October. Why is this key? My song “blaK Girls” is featured in the film! So if you would like to check it out click the link here [Purchase Homecoming or Watch on Demand] to see how you can purchase or view the film. This is the first release from Seven Letter Word Films and is distributed on digital platforms and Video On Demand through RLJ Entertainment. Check it out!

November
November started off so great. I had two b’earthday hangs on the 6th with Po-Hong and on the 7th, and had the nerve to get a whole lotta tipsy at the former. I had dinner with my good friend Rha who I hadn’t seen in a LONG time on the 8th and then played at BRIC with Rebellum on the 9th, which was also a mini Wonder-ful (Stevie Wonder) party with DJ Spinna.

On the 14th the Sugars became the Sun Ra Arkestra for a staged reading of a play that’s in development about his trip through space and then on the 20th Rebellum shot our first video at Paris Blues in Harlem. Things were going really well and then I got the call.

On Friday the 22nd I was working in Harlem with Greg on his book. My plan was to go to his place, work for a while and then go to see my vocal coach Jeremiah, for a lesson, and then go to see Danni Gee at the Blue Note late night. Greg said he would come with me to the Blue Note so after my voice lesson I went to back to his place.

Shortly after I arrived back, my phone rang. It was my girl Saba telling me that she was planning to go home to see our friend and my cousin Kim who was batting cancer. It sounded urgent. She had a feeling she needed to go now. I asked her if she needed me to go with her. I really needed to see Kim myself anyway and she said if I could come she would want me to be there. So that’s what I did. Greg and I still went to see Danni and strangely enough before going into the Blue Note we ran into Ian Friday in the Village. We all chatted for a while and then Greg and I went into the club.

Danni gave a great show, but I couldn’t stay till the end. I knew I had to get up early to get on a train to Connecticut and I had to take the subway home that night.

The next day I took the Metro North to CT and then Saba, Michael, the twins and I drove to MA. No big announcements. I didn’t even tell my mother I was coming. We drove straight to Kim’s place. We called shortly before we arrived just to let someone know we were coming and to give Kim time to get ready if she needed, and that was it.

When we arrived my cousin May was with Kim and they were both surprised to see us. May stayed for a little while longer and then it was just Kim, Saba and I for a while. We had a great time! We laughed and joked. I gave Kim Reiki and let her hold my crystals. When I went upstairs to use my phone she joked with Saba about dying, which was crazy and hilarious! She also told Saba that when I was giving her Reiki she didn’t feel anything, which I also thought was hilarious. I can see Kim thinking, “This ain’t doing a damn thing!” LOL!

I talked to Julie, Kim’s sister for a while, then her other sister Priscilla showed up and we all laughed some more. JT, Kim’s brother in law, came by to visit somewhere during the day and then soon it was time for Saba and I to head back home. We couldn’t spend the night, but it was one of the best days. I could see Kim was in pain while we were there, but she was in good spirits. It was a blessing.

I ended up spending the night in CT with Saba since I was taking the train back to New York Sunday the morning. As Saba drove me to the train that morning we were just talking about the day we spent with Kim when I got a call from my cousin Donna who told me that Kim was found on the floor that morning and rushed to the hospital. As far as we knew she was still with us, but then about 20 minutes later Donna called back crying. Kim was gone.

By this time I was on the train and it was all I could do to contain my tears. I cried. I cried long and hard and I thought I wasn’t being loud, heard or seen, but the woman across the row from me sweetly checked in with me to make sure I was all right. Give thanks.

All of this happened the weekend before Thanksgiving. So I went back to NY for two days and then headed back to MA for the Thanksgiving holiday. Besides being Thanksgiving weekend, it was also the weekend of my high school reunion and now it was also the weekend of Kim’s funeral. It was a lot to take in and take on for sure, but I did it.

I have to say that Kim’s going home service was one of the best I have ever been to. Kim had cancer and knew that she was leaving us for a while. So she wrote out her funeral program and asked certain people to speak when she was still with us, which was a blessing for her sisters. I read Romans 8: 1-8, and I wasn’t sure why at first, but the first verse reads, "There is no condemnation to them who walk in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." One of the first songs that the Fifth Sunday Singers (a group that Kim and I sang in together) learned was called “Walk Not After the Flesh.” Uh huh.  Oh Kim, even in death you are hilarious!

I miss her all the time. Sometimes something funny she said will pop into my mind and I’ll laugh. I can still hear her beautiful voice singing the house down. When she got sick I was honestly angry, but that’s another story. No matter what I always had hope. After her diagnosis she was here 10 short months, but she was beautiful and brave. I know she was scared, she told me so, but in the end I know she’s all right and as cliché as it sounds, she’s not in pain anymore. Give thanks.

Thanksgiving weekend, in honor of Kim, I went to my high school reunion. Kim asked me to take her in October, but she left before the event. It was a good time and I’m glad I went in her honor. Soon the weekend was over and it was back to Brooklyn and back to life.

Kim Nicholas (1970-2013)

December
Once again, in spite of everything, the top of the month was good. Sony released their R&B Christmas Hits compilation that I’m featured on, my Kirtan group Soul Sangha also released our album Sacred Geometry. Well actually it came out in November, but so much was going on that I didn’t get a chance to let folks know. Sadly you can’t get the holiday album anymore, but it will be back next season. In fact Sony is putting it out for the next 5 years! Holla! As for Sacred Geometry, you can pick up a hard or digital copy on CD Baby and of course on iTunes, Amazon, etc. [Purchase Spiritual Geometry].

I was barely back in New York after the holiday weekend, when I had to jump on a bus to DC to go to a Sacred Business Woman’s Retreat. Although it was called a retreat, it was far from relaxing. We had to do a lot of personal work, which is never easy and I was totally full of emotion from the previous week so it was hard. I had a great time though and I got to spend a little time with my cousin Kwabena and some great Ethiopian food when the retreat ended.

I was only home for three days when I got a call from my girl Yolanda in Atlanta. She sounded serious and told me that she heard that our friend Zook died. I immediately told her that was not true. Not because I knew it wasn’t true, but because she was calling me from Atlanta and I was in New York where he lived and I hadn’t heard from anyone here anything of the sort. So I told Yo that until I heard something from someone in the area then it wasn’t true. She laughed at me and said, OK! So I hung up the phone with her and called Zook. His phone went to voicemail, which didn’t immediately alarm me. Then I called Mechelle who lived with Zook and I got her voicemail too. So I waited.

Let me also tell you why I was not quick to rush to judgment. Besides being in total denial, my friend Greg been falsely reported dead just a week or two prior. How you ask? Well someone else named Greg Tate was killed in his neighborhood. How crazy is that?! When the word got out that Greg Tate had been killed the media, of which Greg has been a part of for about 30 years, started calling colleagues and asking for comments. Of course folks were confused and that’s when they started calling Greg who quickly informed them that, Goddess Bless, he was alive! So, with that so close I was not going to believe anything too quick.

I sat in my living room waiting for Mechelle to call back and praying for it not to be true when the phone rang. When I answered Mechelle was in tears and then I knew it was true. I wanted all the answers right then and there, but the particulars would have to wait. Zook had a heart attack and died the morning of the 12th. Craig Davis aka Zook was gone. I was nothing short of devastated. How could this be happening? Two people that I loved so much gone in a matter of weeks. With Kim the possibility of her passing was much easier to understand, yet still tragic, but Zook? I just don’t get it. There are things that I know about life and death. Things that I understand fundamentally, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it. So here it is that I was still mourning Kim and I had to start all over again. The pictures, the phone calls, the confusion, the shock and the sadness.

I called Yo back to tell her it was true; then the next person I called was Ian. He was devastated. Then Mechelle called me back and I knew I needed to call Larry, so I did. Soon my doorbell buzzed and it was Ian coming to check on me and also share in our shock and sadness. Then I called Fahiym and Brad and Hakhi and then I couldn’t make another call. My heart was broken. So Ian too up the mantle and called Dawn and Brian and Wil and Mert and Mia and Micah and Derrin and the fam was getting the word.

That week between Zook’s passing and his funeral was a long one, but it just reaffirmed something that I have been saying for a while now. All of this time we spend on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram is nice, but we need real face time with people. Real time to touch them and look at them in the face to see what is really going on. You can never know what’s really happening with someone in 140 characters or even in the novellas that some write on Facebook. We need to feel each other’s breath and look into eyes. That’s the only way to really know. I know that these mediums are great for keeping in touch with people far away, but how about trying to budget in a trip to see these folks? That’s what I’m doing this year. No more excuses. I need to see my people.

Losing Kim and Zook has reignited something in me. I wish they were still physically here, but I am clear that their essence is still here. Their spirits are still here. I feel them all the time. Sometimes I’ll start laughing for no reason and I know it’s one of them. They both had great laughs.

So we laid Zook to rest in the traditional way, but a couple days later, before I headed home for the holidays, I attuned one more student, my friend Peta-Gaye, to Reiki level I, which was wonderful. That same evening I also went to my voice teacher’s holiday party and then had one more intimate service for Zook and Pep (another friend who passed in 2006) on the Brooklyn Bridge with friends.

Craig Davis aka Zook (1968-2013)

I spent 5 days at home with the fam, which was right on time and then headed back to NY to get ready to go to Cleveland for New Years Eve with Burnt Sugar. This would be our second time in Cleveland at the Art Museum that year. I guess they like us.

I had one of the best New Years of my life. I never work on NYE and I can’t remember the last time I really went out and did the party thing, but this year it felt really good to be doing both.

I rang in 2013 on stage with a glass of champagne in my hand. I took a selfie with my girl Karma, toasted up with the museum muckity-mucks and it was all good in the hood. Snow was falling outside, but we were warm and some of us toasted on the inside. My friend Hank has his artwork up in the museum and I snuck another selfie before being busted by museum security. Oops! LOL! It was really a perfect evening.

Getting down in Cleveland town. 

The next day we took the long drive back to New York. I closed the year officially by writing my last Haiku of the year. In the end I wrote over 365 Haikus! I loved it so much that I kept going. By next year I’ll have over 700. It’s officially 2014 and it already feels good.

2014
Since the year jumped off I have had two interviews published. Sorry I didn’t shout them out right away, but a girl needed to take a real break. So here they are. One is with Kim Kirkley for her Good Energy Entrepreneur Show  and the other is with Abhita Austin for her Monday Motivation. Big love and thanks to both of these women for showing me so much love.

Thank you all for the continued love and support. Although blaKbüshe was very quiet toward the end of the year I promise you will see us soon. Here’s to an amazing 2014! May this New Year fulfill your Champagne wishes and caviar dreams!

Jai!
One Love!

Year of the Horse!

Goodbye 2012. Hello 2013! Year-End Reivew!

 Twenty-Twelve is over! Most times when I come to the end of a year I look back and think how fast it went by, but 2012 dragged its ass all the way to the end. Well maybe I felt a little speed in November, but really...November?? That’s damn near December. It was a long ass year.

As I looked back over the highlights I realized that I did a bit more than I thought. Some things were really obvious, but others I had kind of forgotten about. I overcame a lot in 2012. I really went thought the gauntlet and as it turns out I recorded an album about Gauntlet the video game. So I guess it all makes sense after all.

To paraphrase my friend Des, I’ve never been so glad to see an odd number year in my life! Well actually 1993 was great. So if 2013 is half a good as 1993 was it’s going to be a hell of a year! But before we go there let’s look back at 2012 and all its glory.

January
I spent a lot of time with Burnt Sugar in 2012 so it make sense that the first show of the year was with them at Tammany Hall in NYC. It was the last show of our residency there. Shortly thereafter we would play at the Bitter End for the Winter Jazz Festival. It was that night that I saw a band called Ermaj that blew my mind! Sadly I haven’t seen them since, but I will never forget those brothas. Look them up for sure.

This month I also interviewed Norman Connors of “You Are My Starship” fame among other great hits. I talked to him for the Pharoah Sanders, Love Will Find a Way liner notes that I wrote. I met Norman in late 2011, but this was the first time we were really able to sit and talk. He produced Pharoah’s album so it was great to have his perspective in the absence of Mr. Sanders.

I think the most challenging part of January was losing my friend Anisa Fujah to cancer. I found out like most people that she passed before we even had a chance to say goodbye. That was a sad day, but I’m so blessed to have known and sang with Anisa. She was an angel before, but now she is really looking out.

Switching gears, at the end of January I went in for CAT Scan to see more clearly what was going on with my voice. It was after this CAT scan that I was told that I was alright and so I started to plot a course of have to really start singing again. A few months later I would learn that I actually did have a cyst on the tissue right near my vocal chords, which was causing my hoarseness. That is the short of a very long story. You can read all about it on my In Gratitude blog.

February
This month I got a very unexpected call to record a bass part on Josh Milan’s project. If you are not familiar with Josh is one half of the dance music duo Blaze. I have been a long time fan of their work so it was an honor for him to ask me. I have to admit that I was very nervous. I don’t really consider myself a bass player. What I mean is that I play for myself, but I really don’t play for a lot of other people. Well no time like the present.

This month also marked the return of blaKbüshe. Up until this point we hadn’t played a gig since August of 2011 at Michfest. That is where my whole voice journey began. We just did a small show at AM Studios with BR and Timebomb for their 10 year anniversary. That evening was just Jeff, Matsu, Shawn and I. I played bass on that hit and had a great time. We also covered Fleet Foxes’s, “Blue Ridge Mountains” and Blaze’s “Found Love.” The voice felt good so I thought I was on the road back. I thought...

On the writing front I submitted liner notes for the re-issue of the Pharoah Sanders album mentioned above and I also spoke to Cheryl Lynn and Ray Parker Jr. for the liner notes of the re-issue of her project “In the Night.”

American Candy was on the docket with "Love is Magic" and that same weekend I also facilitated the winter sweat lodge. I closed the month playing Kirtan with my friend Keith and then we were on to March.

March
This month marked the beginning of a Vernon Reid/Burnt Sugar/Steely Dan run that is still going today. But it all began at Lincoln Center the same scene of the crime where we unleashed David Bowie, Sugar-style the year before. The place was packed for the re-imagining of Steely Dan. You have to have some big balls to take on this music and Burnt Sugar has the biggest for sure. We really put our stamp on the music and even the biggest Dan fans couldn’t deny us. As I said, this Steely Dan train is still rolling. We are taking it and a bit of Bowie to Paris in February. Goddess bless Bowie, Fagen and Becker for keeping money is a girls pocket and taking me all over the world.

The full blaKbüshe experience returned for the first time in 2012 at the Purim Ball. This hit was at a warehouse in Sunset Park, Brooklyn and it was a hell of a time. Costumes, skits, comedy, dancing girls, fed up West Indian nannies and more! It seemed to be a triumphant return or at the very lest a rockin’ good time.

Later in the month Chuz, Jeff, Shawn were back at Tammany Hall for the Proud Music Series. That evening we shared the bill with some amazing artists that night including Jason Walker and Ki Ki Hawkins. Very cool!

Burnt Sugar wasn’t done yet. This month we also traveled to Brown University where we played on campus and at a cool club called Fete in Providence, RI. The funny thing is that club is owned by a cat named Don King. Turns out I had played a gig for an event he did years ago, with a band called Three Generations Walking. It’s such a small world.

The Sugars closed out March right back where we started, with Steely Dan. This time we were at Le Poisson Rouge (LPR) and it was another amazing show. As I said before, the Dan train keeps rolling.

April
This month was a bit quiet on the music front, but you can always count on American Candy if there is a break in the music action. So I hit with the Candy crew once again for a show called Men. The only music that happened was a very short, small acoustic gig at Insight Mediation Center in Manhattan for their Art Salon. It was so nice to perform where I had been meditating for the past 5 or 6 years.

I also turned in the James Brown, Gravity liner notes. For that I spoke to Greg Tate and Bow Legged Lou of Full Force for the scoop on the Godfather of Soul. It was cool to revisit that album.

May
I rallied the troops for what would be the last blaKbüshe show for quite some time. I was asked to play for Fierce Night Out at Sullivan Hall. It’s an annual fundraiser for an organization called Fierce, which is an LGBT Youth of Color activist organization.

The show went really well. I felt good and the people really enjoyed themselves. After the hit, Ian Friday was DJing at his party Libation, downastairs at the Sullivan Room. So Jeff and I went in through the back way and proceeded to continue to party over there.

A couple of weeks later Burnt Sugar was back at LPR doing Steely Dan...again! It almost sounds like a joke if you know what a Steely Dan is, but we were doing it again as they would say. This time we shared a bill with Melvin Van Peebles wid Laxative. That was a pretty busy weekend for me. This show was on a Thursday night and then I had to do the Black Rock Coalition Salute to Don Cornelius & Soul Train at BAM.

I had been doing a lot of rehearsing that week and I had a ton of material to learn for the Soul Train show. We did the music of the artists of Solar Records, the label that Don founded with Dick Griffey. Some of the folks to come from that hot time were Shalamar, The Whispers, Klymaxxx, Babyface and the list goes on. We heard before the show that there was a line around the corner to get in! I knew the show would be poplar, but I wasn’t expecting that. We had a blast! Folks were dancing and of course there was a Soul Train line. Don Cornelius was one of the many great losses of 2012.

After the Burnt Sugar show on Thursday and the Soul Train show on Saturday, I woke up Sunday and barely had a voice. That really put me on notice.

June
I went back to the doctor to get more answers about what was going on with my voice and learned that needed to have surgery. (See my In Gratitude blog for details)

In short, I postponed my June 28th gig at DROM, which was supposed the official, official come back and had surgery on my throat on June 21st, the summer solstice. But before all that I finished writing my last set of liner notes for the year on one of my favorite bands, Switch. They gave me, hands down, the best, “How we got signed” story I have ever heard. Sadly those notes have never been released and that’s another long story.

Before surgery I also was able to play two kirtans with Soul Sangha and we also recorded an album, on which I played bass and sang a little bit too. It would be the last things I would sing before surgery and to me it was so moving to be singing to God/dess before going under. Blessed Be.

July
I was recuperating most of this month. I headed home for the 4th of July weekend and then I flew from Boston to Michigan, where I spent 10 days in the country and 4 days in ceremony. It was so beautiful and just what I needed. It was the perfect place to regroup. I am so thankful to my friends Shirley and Sue for opening their home to me.

After my stay I flew back to Boston for my brothers wedding and then back to New York to get back on the grind. It was having such good travel karma until that bus ride back to New York. A bit after we entered the Bronx the bus decided it wanted to break down! So close. So close! Luckily another bus came quickly, but I took that as my welcome home.

I wasn’t singing when I returned, but I was playing. So I played my tambourine, shakers and such at the Stone with the Sugars. This time we were doing the music of Sun Ra. That hot ass evening was the gateway to another evening, which really showcased some hot bottoms. I know that might sound really strange, but you will see what I mean.

August
I can’t remember if it was May, June or July when I reached out to the folks and Michfest to see if I could come and be part of the crew. Well I worked my way on to Chix Lix and little did many folks know it would be my first time really singing since my surgery.

But before we get all festie, Burnt Sugar did the Sun Ra hit, but this time with Brown Girls Burlesque in Coney Island. That’s where the beautiful bottoms come in. Now this...was a hell of a show! I mean the music, the atmosphere, everything. It just made for one glorious night. I mostly played percussion that night, but Greg brought my man Shawn in to help out. It was fire!

Two days after that show I headed out to Michfest. I looked back and realized that I didn’t even blog about the festival at all. Wow there really was a lot going on.

So in short, my band wasn’t selected to play at Michfest last year, but as I said, I was on Chix Lix. I drove out to the festival with Mazz, but we made a pit stop in Detroit to pick up the rest of her band at the airport and to also play at gig in Ann Arbor that day. I knew when Mazz arrived at my house in Brooklyn, that it was going to be very interesting to say the last to get all the women that were coming into her car, but in the end it all worked out. It was hella tight, but it worked.

Her band played in Ann Arbor, we spent the night there and the next day headed to the northern part of the state and Michfest. I know I have done extensive recaps of the festival in the past, but I will just say this. It was one of the best fests I’ve been too. It was a quiet year, but I felt like I could really dig in and find some peace out there in the woods. I worked the sweat lodge, rehearsed for Chix and just had an all around great time. When Saturday night rolled around it was really cold that night. Or course I had some ridiculously small outfit on, but hey, you have to do it every night like it’s the last. But that night it was really the first. The first time I hit the stage in that way since my surgery and I did it in front of thousands of people. Hey, go hard or go home! So I went hard and everything went well. I did one song, “Motor City Baby” by the Dirtbombs and that was that. After that, I told people about the surgery. Some were shocked, others knew, but Goddess bless I made it through.

I returned to New York and had a break before the Burnt Sugar rehearsals kicked in again. Also toward the end of the month my cosmic twin Tim asked me to sing on an album that he had conceptualized around the arcade game Gauntlet. Well, not only was it based on the game, it was totally freestyle! Yes you heard me correctly. So Tim would pick a musical style, give the singers the topic of the song and we would go in and freestyle lyrics over whatever style the band was playing. It was a trip, but so much fun! I love my cosmic twin.

Burnt Sugar closed August with a small hit with the dance company Danz at Alvin Ailey and then we were back at LPR, this time doing “Every song in the book.” We pulled out music from James Brown, Steely Dan, Sun Ra, Bowie and the Brown Girls joined us on that show once again. Big, big fun!

At the close of the month I found out that I got into Yoga Teacher Training at Kripalu in Stockbridge, MA and I also found out that I got a partial scholarship! Yes! Yes! Yes!

September
On the road again. I spent so much time in the Midwest this summer, I felt like I was in college again. This time the Sugar crew drove to Dayton, OH for the Dayton Downtown Music Festival. That drive to Ohio may be shorter than that Michigan drive, but it’s still a beast.

On the way up I drive with Karma, V. Jeff, Maya and Ben in Ben’s car. We were packed in that joint. You gotta love you band mates to do that. We were going along well, when I work up to some commotion about us being a bit turned around. We were lost! Well sort of lost. As long at you have GPS you are not totally lost, but we were far away from where we needed to be. We had to drive over some mountain in PA, that seemed like it would be short on my map, but in truth it was long and windy and it was dark. Really dark, but we made it to the other side and got back on track.

When we arrived in Dayton I was beat and if I remember correctly we had to play that night for an event. After said event some of us were really hungry, but finding food was a task as well. We had to go over hill and dale just to find a spot that was open. Well kids you’re not in Kansas anymore, or shall I say New York. We got some grub in the pouring down rain, went back to the hotel, ate and crashed.

The next day we played the actual festival, which was...um...special. We did the Steely Dan show there one more time and people really dug it, but there were some technical issues. We made it though and people seemed to really like it, but it was touch and go at the top.

The best part about being in Dayton was getting to see my sands Jackie, who I hadn’t seen in years and also I got to see my friends Audrey and Cheryl. They took me to the world famous Yellow Springs, OH. Yellow Springs is their home, but it’s also the home of Dave Chappelle. It’s really cute town and we had some amazing food. On our way back to Dayton I had them stop at Meijer so that I could get a bottle of Wild Girl wine that is only sold in the Midwest. Score!

When I got back to the hotel I had to get myself together and almost immediately get on the road. I was driving out with Bruce, Vernon, and Andre. More space, but it is a beast driving through the night like that. Bruce and I did all of the driving and I don’t think I slept much, but we all got home safely and had a great time along the way. Those long hauls can be tough, but those are the times that I really get to know the men and women that I play with. It’s really a blessing.

This month I was also back in American Candy. I couldn’t do the July show because of my surgery, but it was so appropriate that I was back for the "Rock Comedy" show. I was reviving my role as Grace Jones in “Turn the Lamp On” among other hilarious sketches.

I closed September with the Sugars, but this time we were in Philly at the Painted Bride. We did a little James Brown at that show. I also ran into an old friend Alyson, who I grew up with in MA, which was amazing. She didn’t know I was in the band and of course I had no idea she was coming. It was great to see her. I also saw my old friend MB who used to live in Brooklyn in the early days. I always have love for Philly. There were some folks there who had seen blaKbüshe when we used to go play in Philly a lot. They were so happy to see me. Now that’s love.

October
Before leaving for yoga school I had two very small gigs. They were my first blaKbüshe gigs since May. Both hits were acoustic with Jeff, Matsu and Shawn. The first was at Sister’s Uptown Bookstore. This is a cozy spot that kind of reminded me of the old Nkiru Books in Brooklyn. It was a night of storytelling and music. The folks really enjoyed us and I sold all the CDs I brought with me, which is a rare thing in New York these days.

The last show before leaving was a fundraiser that Katie and I did at the Masonic Temple. We had a small, but appreciative crowd. It was also a very intimate setting and lots of fun. It was a great way to wrap things up before closing up shop for a while.

Sunday, October 14th, my girl Vilma picked me up in Brooklyn and we headed to MA for what would be my month long yoga teacher training. So much happened here. You can read my Downward Blog for all those details, but I am so thankful for that experience. So, so thankful!

White away at school I also managed to release a new track “Punannay Politixxx!"  If you haven’t heard it, check it out! I couldn’t have done it without Jeff, Lionel and Patranila! Thank You!

November
I’m not even going to talk about the election. We know who won and I’m thankful. Nuff said.

I got back from teaching training this month and I jumped right into the fire. We had our first fill band show in months at DROM. It was my b’earthday and graduation celebration all rolled into one. The band was great and I even got the audience to chant with me! Yes we were chanting in Sanskrit. We put a little African beat behind it and away we went. Jaya Bolo Sita Rama Ki/Ananda Mey/Prabu Ananda Mey. That is what we sang. It was amazing. I really hope to get to do that one more time. I made some new fans that night, which honestly is rare sometimes in NYC and I was able to pay the band. Good night all around.

The following Monday I was back on stage with American Candy, but this time we were at the Comic Strip in Manhattan. I have to be honest and say that although I’m all up in this comedy show, I am not all up in the comedy world. So I had heard of the Comic Strip, but I wasn’t totally clear about all the history of the place. Eddie Murphy, Robin Williams, Adam Sandler and more have come thought there. Eddie Murphy went up there to try out the jokes for his Delirious special before the whole world heard them. It’s that kind of spot.

We did a kick ass show that night with only a small hallway as a dressing room. We made it work and it was so good that the owner wants us back. So you might see more American Candy in Manhattan this year.

November just flew by after that. I set up my Thank You yoga classes for those who donated to yoga school campaign. I was ready to give back. Bring on December.

December
I kicked off the month with Yoga. December 2nd was my first Thank You class followed by the 9th and 16th. All of the classes were amazing. Please check out my Downward Blog for the details on those classes.

In between all that Burnt Sugar played at BAM, which was a really fun show and I was rehearsing for the American Candy: Physical Fitness show at the same time.

What I didn’t mention in November was that Hollie asked me to write a sketch about yoga for the December show. I honestly had to cram that in, in between leaving yoga school and heading back to New York. Somehow I managed to write something that was pretty funny and I directed it to boot.

What I also didn’t mention in October was hurricane Sandy. New York is still recovering from that storm. There are still people who are displaced or without heat. It’s really crazy that it’s still a crisis, but alas it is. I got an email from a young woman named Po who asked me to do Reiki as part of a healing day for Sandy Relief. Basically she asked various healers to donate their time to give treatments. People who came would pay a sliding scale for treatments from $25-$50. Our goal was to raise $1000 on a Sunday afternoon and we did it! It was a rainy day too, but people walked came through. It was just beautiful.

The last blaKbüshe show of the year happened at Rockbar NYC. Ganessa and Chaney have a monthly residency there and they asked me to be on the bill for that evening. It was December 19th so we were really close to the holidays at that point. Rockbar is on Christopher Street almost at the West Side Highway. It’s a cute spot, but on a December night you never know how the turn out will be. Well people turned out! The owners Rick and Erich are so wonderful. Rick has a big bell behind the bar that he rings if he really likes what he’s hearing on stage. That bell was ringing all night because there was so much great talent coming through. Before Chaney and Ganessa kicked off their night, the bar had what they call Fight Night. Basically they ask folks to come through and sing a cover of the two battling artists. That night it was Courtney Love vs. Prince. Now I don’t know how that’s really a battle, but it was lots of fun!

Chaney and Ganessa did a short set, Ganessa and Tiffany did a short set (both sets were killin’), and then we hit the stage. That night the band was Matsu on cajon, Jeff on guitar and Ganessa on bass. I really love when the band is broken down. I closed the set with “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and we added a bit of a dance remix at the end. I think it was the first time I danced to a Christmas carol. We will surely be back at Rockbar. Rick and Erich are the best! Just all around good folks, which is rare find in a NY club owner.

A couple of days later I headed home for the holidays. When I returned to NY I had a few friends over, which is something I never get to do because we are all hustling so hard throughout the year. Then on New Year’s Eve I did one of the most non-capitalistic things I could do. I went to Prospect Park with my friend Mechelle to watch the fireworks at Midnight. In all my years of living in Brooklyn I had never done that. I have to say I think that’s going to be my ritual as long as I’m living in this town. It was so much fun. After that I came home and spent a quiet evening with a glass on wine.

Here’s to you 2012! You really gave me a run for my money. I am thankful for every moment. It was probably one of the most challenging years of my life, but I made it through. I made it through heartbreak, near eviction (oh did I not mention that), surgery, disappointment at times, you pushed me to my edge but I came out glowing on the other side. I feel the fire coming back. Aahh Yeah!

Post Script:
I think I would be remiss if I did not give a brief mention to the fact that in 2012 we lost so many great artists. To that I say Rest In Power Etta James, Whitney Houston, Donna Summer, Don Cornelius, Belita Woods, Robin Gibb, Tony Scott, Ben Gazarra, Jan Berenstain, Adrienne Rich, Mike Wallace, Levon Helm, Maurice Sendak, Vidal Sassoon, Doc Watson, Nora Ephron, Andy Griffith, Ernest Borgnine, Sherman Helmsley, Marvin Hamlisch, Gore Vidal, Al Freeman Jr., Helen Gurley Brown, Phyllis Diller, Hal David, Michael Clarke Duncan, Andy Williams, Dave Brubeck, Ravi Shankar, Jack Klugman and of course all those who lost their lives on Aurora, Sandy Hook another all over the world. See you on the next level.