Great 28 -Black Love 2014 Kele Nitoto

Ok yeah, this cat?... Mystifunk, as in how did the brotha make it SO funky? I remember the first time I saw him perform, I was taking classes shortly there after and having my mind blown regularly. Aside from being an amazing drummer, he's about that roots and culture in action. Bringing beats and smiles, peace and passion, and always a little something in the mix to make your brain wiggle, its that Kele Nitoto. 

Kele Nitoto is a second-generation African American percussionist. Having studied with Masters of many styles, Kele has become proficient in West African, Congolese, Afro-Cuban, Afro-Peruvian , and Afro-Haitian traditional drumming. Since 1993 Kele has performed throughout California with such groups as the children's group S.U.D.U.A. House, Award Winning modern dance ensemble Dimensions Dance Theater, Haitian group Project Reconnect, The Peruvian Dance Ensemble, Congolese troupes Ballet Lisanga, and Internationally renowned Fua Dia Congo. 

A co-founder the Black Dot Artist Collective, Kele has also become one of the Bay Area’s most sought after percussionists for R+B, Hip-Hop and Jazz. He has played with such Funk/R+B groups as Electric Church, Xroads, The Jua Theory, Hip-Hop/ band Hairdoo, and Jazz trio E.S.P., Funk group Soul Mechanix, and Bay Area blues legend Augusta Lee Collins. He currently plays with World Soul artist WolfHawkJaguar, and Haitian Dance ensemble Elwa Movement. Kele has taught hundreds of workshops and classes over the years with adults and children. He has taught at summer camps, spiritual and workplace retreats, and for countless ceremonies and celebrations. Through it all he continues to explore all aspects of percussive music, and what it can mean to those who hear it.

Great 28 -Black Love 2014 Traci Bartlow

I met this sistah on the dance floor, and it's been on the one ever since! The love this woman has for our people and our culture, coupled with her talent and vision make her a force to be reckoned with and a straight up home girl for real. Prone to uplift yo vibe and enhance your funkentelechy, y'all please dig Ms. Traci "B-Love" Bartlow.

 

Traci Bartlow is one of the Bay Area's most mutli faceted artists. A native of Oakland California, this dancer / choreographer, photographer, poet has worked internationally in theater, film television and print. Her early beginings as "a dancer on the block" have evolved to being proficient in many dance styles including old school and new school hip hop dance, Lindy Hop, Jazz, West African dance and House. A striking beauty represented by Stars, The Agency in San Francisco she currently works in print, television and film. 

Traci is the founder and creative director of Starchild Enterprise, which is based on the African Adinkra symbol Nsoroma whose meaning translates to, 'my illumination is merely a reflection of God's or, Child of the Heavens'. This is the guiding principal for all Traci's creative endeavors. Traci is a cultural worker with over 20 years experience as a dancer, choreographer, teacher, photographer, director, producer, community organizer,  and gardener. Owner and operator of B-Love's Guest House, Traci is also an artist/activist and core member that helped to found and develop the Eastside Cultural Center. 

B-Love’s Guest House is a unique extension to Traci's lifestyle of wellness and creativity. Catering to the visiting artist or business professional, this guest house is a cute and spacious 5 bedroom apartment on the street level of her Victorian home. Click on this link to find out more about B-Love's Guest House.

For more info check out the tracibartlow.com and you can "like" Starchild on Facebook or follow @TraciBartlow on Twitter to find out about upcoming shows and workshops.

Great 28 -Black Love 2014 K.C. Lehman

It has been a pleasure to see this sistah's commitment to education for liberation continue to grow and manifest. Serious about the business at hand, KC is steady on task; creating spaces for real talk about challenging topics in the community, bringing folks together, calling for and taking action to create change up close and in person. Top Shelf, grassroots, knowledge wisdom, plus she's mad cool and nice with it. A Super Black Love shout out to my "Lil Sis" KC Lehman :-)

KC is the founder and visionary for the Black Is website. Born out of frustration at the lack of Black culture sites online not fully dedicated to gossip and celebrity, KC crafted Black Is as a think tank of ideas and discussions to help bolster the black community specifically in Los Angeles. An educator and licensed real estate agent by day, KC also has a passion for improving the world for the youth and empowering people of color through economic growth. Currently she hosts The Break podcast series. 

Black Is is a website that showcases the interests and experiences of Black American people. We are purveyors of Black-owned businesses, artistry, culture, and lifestyle. We are dedicated to sharing how rich and diverse this experience is with all members of the human race. Based in Los Angeles, CA we are also purveyors of Los Angeles events that occur within the myriad of Black communities here. 

Check out BlackIsOnline for recent podcast and more information

Great 28 -Black Love 2014 Afia Walking Tree

The first time I saw this sister she was walking with her Djembe like she was born wearing it, the first time I heard her play I knew it wouldn't be the last. Shortly there after I found myself packing up, saying farewell to my folks in L.A. and heading to the Bay to study with her... That's some kind of inspiration, my life -and drumming, haven't been the same since. I bring you Afia Walking Tree.

Percussionist, Instructor, Lead Facilitator, Ritualist, Afia Walking Tree, M.Ed is a world-class percussionist, cultural ambassador, spiritual activist, empowerment facilitator, leadership development advocate and trainer. Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, she is currently based in the California Bay Area.

For over 14 years, Walking Tree has served her destiny as visionary director of her brainchild, Spirit Drumz, an international organization that prioritizes women and youth of all cultures to utilize African Diasporic drumming, dancing, and storytelling to activate empowerment and healing. She has served in the capacity as mentor, coach, director, and performer across the US, Europe, Canada, and West Africa, spearheading integrative, expressive, cultural arts education programs such as: Drum-Talk-Story, Transformative Leadership, FunDRUMentals, and Drum Our Souls Free.

Walking Tree's drumsongs are prayers of gratitude for the generosity of spirit. Her lyrics are evolutionary teachings, addressing present day issues of social justice, freedom, healing and self-love.  

To get more information and her first solo CD, entitled Soul Affirmationz check out www.spiritdrumz.org.

Great 28 -Black Love 2014 Darryl "JMD" Moore

When I was a lil sistah in the hip hop arena this brotha gave me guidance and protection, a cornerstone in the #goodlife community nurturing young emcee's and keeping watch to maintain the culture and legacy of (r)evolutionary black music... drum roll please... 

i bring to you the one, the only JMD aka Darryl Moore #Great29BL2014

 

Aside from being a Baba in the community, this brotha is bout it bout it with his gifts... what can I say about Darryl?...

• Experienced musician: Composer, Drums including all percussion.
• Performances: Chick Corea, Billy Childs, Horace Tapscott, Lowell Fullsom, Bennie Maupin, Don Cherry, The  Pan African People Arkestra, Solomon Burk, Cheb Tatea, The Pharcyde, The Underground Railroad.
• Recording Engineer: Journeyman Recording Program Certificate of completion, Outstanding Student award RIT, Musicians Institute 12/19/2003. Apple certified Logic Pro-9 instructor. Apple certified end user. Pro Tools-8. Reason 5. Record . Abelton Live.
• Recording Projects: Eyrkah Badu, George Clinton, Madlib, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Dudley Perkins, Acey Alone, Awol-one, Busdriver, The Rifleman, Ricky Beckwith, The Dubber, Nate Morgan, and Disney Studio Projects.
• Experienced Producer: The Pharcyde, Freestyle Fellowship, Medusa, Acid Reign, Volume-10, George Clinton, Acey Alone, Olmecca, Jah Orah, The Dubber, Busdriver, Strange Fruit, and The Watts Prophets.
• Consoles: Neve VX (s), Flying Faders. SSL G series, Mackie D-8B, Yamaha PM5-D, and 01V, API, and Mackie.
• Film: Sugar Hill, song, Park bench People. Strange days, song, No White Clouds. HBO Production of Strapped, song, Inner city Boundaries.
This is the life. Songs, Inner city Boundaries, Park bench People,
Film Score: Snapping Pieces. “The Gift” Perry Ferral.

Great 28 -Black Love 2014 dj lynnee denise

Yes, yes, yall, the medicine is in the music the science is in the mind... nuf said, meet dj lynnee denise #Great28BL2014

Known for her eclectic mixes of classic hip-hop, soul, funk and deep house, dj lynnee denise of Wildseed Music draws from Black social and political movements to present the dynamic range of music of the Diaspora. lynnee denise was resident dj for “Schomburg Nights” at the Schomberg Center for Research in Black Culture and for the Central Park Skaters Association. She performed in the Orchestra of DJs at the Studio Museum in Harlem and in the Sekou Sundiata and Days of Art and Ideas conference at Harlem Stage. Working as the Sound Designer for the Excavating Motherhood exhibit at the Brooklyn Arts Gym in 2007 sparked lynnee’s passion for combining visual arts, youth development and music production to reflect her broad interest in the concept of humanization through music. lynnee has been a guest dj at internationally recognized venues in New York City including Joe’s Pub, Mocada Museum, Deity, Sutra, Knitting Factory, Harriet’s Alter Ego, Little Field, and Rush Arts Galleries. She's spun along side underground and internationally known artists such as Ursula Rucker, Joi, Saul Williams, MC Lyte, DJ Beverly Bond, DJ Spinna, Eric Roberson, Amplified Music (UK tour), Martin Luther, Julie Dexter, Cody Chestnut, Malena Perez, Larry Heard (Mr. Fingers) and Donnie. She was the feature dj at Spelman College's “Take Back The Music” and Toni Cade Bambara conferences in Atlanta. lynnee works as the Director of Programs and Services for exalt youth, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to transform the lives of youth involved the criminal justice system. She holds a BA in Sociology from Fisk University and an MA in Ethnic Studies from San Francisco State University. 

WildSeed Cultural Group provides "Entertainment with a thesis."

Check for more at WildSeed Music NYC and djlynneedenise.podOmatic.com