Isaac Hayes (R.I.P.)

I had the opportunity to spend some time with Mr. Hayes last year. Despite a few bouts with being sick, he was still the star I'd always known him to be on all the seventies movies I'd ever seen him in. We sat down for lunch and talked of music and the possibility of him working on some music for my album. Of course I was really nervous. I barely knew what I to say to him. I mean, he was the inventor of the Shaft theme music. My hands layed clasped together under the table and all I could think was, "I hope I pass his test." Something about the sunniness of the day and his calming demeanor helped break the ice. After I endured him listening to my music to hear my "style" ('cos artists try to edit and fix the known imperfections in the art we think we make after we make it). To my surprise, what I was doing was met with his approval and we talked of working together. He was in process of beginning his album and tour Europe so, we figured we find our way in the middle at some point.

Anyway, I asked him some of the questions I'd been dying to ask like why he chose strings in his arrangements and stuff about how it was to write on staff at Stax. He answered the questions willingly and even gave me more information about him musically than I had room to store. I walked away with an indelible mark in my passionate music heart for him. Life is so unpredictable and one never knows just how it's going to turn out. But to my chagrin, finding out he passed away just kinda took me aback. It was so untimely. I didn't know how to take things because I had just talked with my manager about the tribute to Isaac Hayes that I was participating in and where he was to perform in September.

The day I was told of his death, I thought about Mr. Hayes and the wisdom he imparted on me in words and in deed. In retrospect, Mr. Hayes is immortal because he has left a legacy of music that will continue to live for years to come. Not only that, I believe his life was full because he accomplished more than many; being a successful recording artist, scoring the movie Shaft and becoming the first black person to win an oscar for it, acting, buying a fly ass cadillac, enjoying a host of family and friends etc.... So what I learned the most from Mr. Hayes is to live your best life everyday as if it is your last by doing exactly what you love until the end. Who can argue with that?

Rest In Peace
Isaac Hayes

Stax Revue - A Lesson in Becoming a Legend

I must admit, I love my life. I have been fortunate to know what I've wanted to do and be for a long time. Most importantly, I am pursuing my love. Most recently, I had the honor of sharing the stage with the Legendary Stax Records artists William Bell and The Soul Children in Holland and Finland. If I have but one thing to take from the experience, I must say that loving and being passionate about music is a must.

To be a star, one must embody the notion that one is. When you believe it, you live it in every way. That is what I saw in William Bell and J. Blackfoot (probably one of the most underrated soul stars on the legendary Stax roster). I really spent a lot of time around J. Blackfoot and Norman West (the other half of the Soul Children) . Foot (as he is affectionately known) and Norman West, along with two newer members, heated the stage every night. Most memorable was Foot's command of the stage and band. They were filled with antics and anecdotes. They filled my mind with stories of a history past of a young Stax in it's prime with all that good southern talent in Memphis, TN. Foot and Norman had the voices, the clothes, the Cadillacs, women and the confidence to ease their charisma into the music. To this day, it is ever present. There's a gritty sweetness with the most soulful combination of singers singing backgrounds as leads in their music and more importantly, the connection they have to performing their songs night after night is stellar. I don't mean to leave William Bell out, because his suave cool confidence, soulfully beautiful voice, along with his command of a stage is amazing.

I walked away wanting to be better than I am. They all showed me the show starts the moment you wake up until you get off the stage. Each one of them were sticklers for getting the sound right, the band playing the music as it should be played, making sure all eyes were on them at all times when on the stage, and lastly continuing to perservere despite obstacles. We were accompanied by Total Package (William Bell's band) out of Atlanta and they did us well every night. Thanks guys for everything. All I can say is it was wonderful to be able to watch, talk to, laugh with, perform with, and learn from such classy legends as these.


As I grow I want to become a legend like them.

Africa....coming home

This amazing place. My home but not my home. I saw many faces everywhere like mine and for the first time it was strange. I realized that where I come from, I was definitely not the majority. In Africa, it was me. There was a sense of familiarity even through our differences. We saw the Masai walking the streets in royal fashion with their traditional drapes of red and blue fabric accented by their walking sticks. I was told that nowadays, they work in the city as security guards. They are chosen because of their skill at taming animals. There were the healthy hustlers standing in the middle of busy streets selling anything from windshield wipers to ping pong paddles. I would call them aggressive salesmen with the energy of a quiet fire. Women worked for the town in the streets as street sweepers, in dresses and hardhats. I saw women carrying lumber, food, heavy bags atop their heads while, the handicapped sat in the middle of streets waiting for whatever crumbs to come. Since some of them looked to be afflicted by paralysis in the lower body, a few of them rode special bikes they peddled with their hands.

As beautiful as it was to see the hustle and bustle of everyday life, there were certain things that really concerned me. Because of poor emission systems on cars, the burning of sewage everywhere, along with a large number of the population who smoke, pollution there is bad. Makes me wonder about how long life expectancy is in a place with very little clean air. I hadn't the opportunity to see beyond the town of Dar Es Salaam but what I saw is a reflection much like any working community the beautiful and ugly situations coexisting together.

Going to Uganda was a somewhat different experience. I was told that Uganda was the second richest country in Africa. In some ways, you could really see it. Several homes are built with stones and bricks with tiled roofs. I've been told it's prime real estate and many people buy land there. Unfortunately, they have only one two lane highway that hasn't been updated since the 1960's. The pollution is not as bad but it still exists for the same reasons as in Tanzania. Pedestrians and motorcyclist dart between cars and they all give new meaning to defensive driving. Still, I loved the beauty of seeing these beautiful, lean Africans line the freeways to walk home or wherever their destinations takes them, for as many of them drive, very many walk. There are a series of shops and building that align the freeway in all kinds of beautiful colors: red dress shops, orange butcher shops, blue internet cafes, white barber shops etc with the busyness of people everywhere. There is a tropical feeling here with areas of deep palm trees and all kind of trees that cover mountains for days. It's indescribable just the beautiful suns and showers are.

More importantly, I was able to perform and be a part of a movement of music exposed to an emerging market. The people of East Africa gave us love, hugs, dances and congratulations on "the jazz" we performed (that's how they label soul music). Many asked when we would return. We made new connections and this new beginning seems to be the start of something a cry far bigger than us. It's always fun to watch an Amp Fiddler show and to be added to the bill just filled my heart with pride and joy. He makes me want to be a better artist and I thank him for that. Hopefully, we are opening the door for more artist like us to come through. I can never say enough how grateful I am for such an opportunity. I walked away making new friends and having a new hope for things to come.

They say Africa is supposed to change your life. Personally, I admit that it changed mine. With a renewed spirit, my heart knows nothing should be taken for granted. I plan to apply this knowledge to everything I touch going forward.

Obama, Obama (my cameo)!!!

I'm very excited about Barack Obama and what he's done to inspire a nation of young people to once again be interested in politics. Truth be told, there's a crop of the older generation that decided to register and vote because of him. We are all too blessed to see such a wonderful inspiration in a man of our time. CHANGE. We've heard that things will change many times before but Obama has shown us all so much promise and hope for change. He represents a new beginning to us. Because of his ambitions, I felt inspired like many to participate in the new video "We Are The Ones" produced by the talented WILL.I.AM. It's posted on my page so please, take a look!

OBAMA, OBAMA!!!
We are the ones we've been waiting for!!

Happy New Year people (betta late than never)!!!

So you guys,
It's a new year and I am making my own bit of "personal new" by committing to write here in the blog space more often. I've been checking out a few of these things and I realize "wow, people really use this space to say stuff". People want a porthole to get inside the head of folks and what better way to do that than this "infamous" blogging business? Currently, I really don't have much to say but I thought I'd come through anyway.

What's going on with me these days? Well, I am writing and more writing. And if someone else asks me one more time when my album is coming out, I'm going to fall out like Miss Celie did in "The Color Purple" film when Shug left the house-lol. No, in all seriousness, I am enjoying the process of making this album. It all started with me being in a inner tube on the lazy river traveling west downstream. Now you know a sista' had to make it hard on herself by paddling upstream. After my arms got really weary (and I got tired of not making progress), I decided to go with the inner tube allowing it to follow the flow of the river. So far, I get more done and now I realize I never knew everything. I anticipate there will be something relatable to everyone in the music and I expect there to be color and adventure (but nothing you guys can't wrap your head around).

My love life?
It's music. These days, he's a selfish lover who casts a baleful stare at anyone vying for my affections. I mean, he doesn't want to share me with anyone. He's been keeping me company with songs, appearing in movies, and he even shows his face in the books I read. Ole Music has cankered my mind right now. And so it is. It's my noblesse oblige to represent him well in everything I do. He keeps my head in a vertiginous state, as if I'd brought John Barleycorn for the ride. You know, I just can't shake him. I address him by the hypocorism lover and I must say he is gruntled by the sound of it. Some people don't understand it. Music and me, that is. We have a toothsome relationship much like the taste of fresh melon in summer, or a fine glass of port wine accompanying the best book and fireplace. He's been nothing but foursquare in his commitment to help me achieve excellence. It's because of this, I am always willing to show him my appreciation the best ways I can. With music, there is never a stultifying moment. He gives me esculent melodies so candy sweet that I can't hardly stand them. Mmmmm. He is so satisfying. To be honest, I personally don't mind his selfishness. And you know what? we are in love...

Thank you for the opportunity to use the new vocabulary I've learned. My new practice is learning a new word daily.

I say all this to say I will give you guys updates as to when the album is coming out so be on the lookout :).

Welcome to my world!!!

-ndambi