OK everytime I go out and speak about my book, I get high! Higher and higher off the folks, esp. the sisters who dig what I've done. I wrote this book for us! us=hue-mans with chromozones!!

On Oct 12th, I had a book reading at BROWNSTONEBOOKS.COM in my remarkable neighborhood called BED-STUY (DO OR DIE BABY!!). I moved in late August and folks here have embraced me like one of their own. Ain't no place like it. Crooklyn on the real!!

So there I am reading from my book. Sharing about the musical aspects of girls' handclapping gamesongs like Eeny meeny pepsadeeny and I also had the pleasure of inviting my songwriting partner and guitarist Tomas Doncker to join me and I sang my songs from BE THE TRUE REVOLUTION. It was a small crowd from the neighborhood but totally vibing off the material (music + written text).

I asked if someone else could help me demonstrate the gamesong DOWN DOWN BABY, the oral-kinetic practice from girls' culture that launched Nelly's career on COUNTRY GRAMMAR. This friend of mine QUEEN EBONY who lives around the corner came. I said, come on and do this with me. She said, "Naw! Not me!"

Then I hear in a beautiful 5 year old enthusiastic voice with a little nasal on the side, "I can DO it!"

Corrin, dark chocolate princess, artistic queen, and curious composer who was creating songs on my keyboard for me before we began, joins me.

We begin. No prompting. Just step right in.
DOWN DOWN BABY
DOWN DOWN THE ROLLER COASTER
SWEET SWEET BABY
I'LL NEVER LET YOU GO

I'm singing and she's just with me, hand gestures right there but she's not chanting and I wonder if she really knows it

SHIMMY SHIMMY KO-KO POP
SHIMMY SHIMMY POW
(repeat)

We get to GRAN'MA GRAN'MA SICK IN BED and she starts to sing along and when we get to HOT DOG she is crazy gyrating her body from head to toe, not having fully developed her ability to isolate her hips and head yet.

She knew it alright and it was SO adorable.
This 5 year old showed more to me and the audience about my book than I ever had and it was like the fulfillment of why I even wanted to write the book.

GIRLS GIRLS GIRLSGIRLS!
OH I love em and want em to get who they are as musical beings for the world!

Rock rock to the planet girls rock!!
It was a great moment in my life!
Peace, Kyra aka Prof. G (with her P H and D)

Keep playing your games!!

My wonderful former student and friend Kimberly Ehrlich invited me to go see India Arie at the Beacon Oct 7 in NYC. Thanks for the birthday present!

What a lovely show! She's simply got an amazing instrument, spirit, and energy of fun, love and testimony she brings to the stage. So natural. No fanfare but a great show with style and great music.

Kimberly said she could hear me opening up for her.
A future to live into! Thanks for listening me that big! Love, Kyra

Feeling melancholy. Really missing the man I was in a great relationship with that turned out so different than I anticipated. It was an extraordinary relationship in many ways and he is an extraordinary man. Moments during the concert I was in tears thinking of him. On the A train home, I played Dianne Reeves on my I-pod. The title track. More tears and great memories of an evening sky watching the sunset from the park off West Side highway. One of our first dates. He brought me live crabs. I cooked those suckers with Old Bay Seasoning (I AM from Maryland, OK!) and we shared them. Great memories. Sad thoughts.

About me: Got a show coming up Oct 12 at Brownstone Books, OCt 30 at Symphony Space for U-M alum gathering, and Nov 28 at Rose Live Music (for CD release party).
Check out http://kyraocity.com for details.

About my heart & mind: The Jabane Ensemble featuring Robert Glasper(piano/keyboard) performed Mon Oct 2 at the Blue Note. I hit the 10:30pm show. Was supposed to meet a friend. He got there too late. His big loss. The show was off the chain!

I got sit with a young extraordinary drummer I know from Sunday nights at St Nick's Pub, I think I remember his first name, Emmanual, last name Harold -- an extraordinary family of young jazz musicians who will knock you off your feet.

The show started the way Robert Glasper explains himself on myspace -- ever so casually. http://www.myspace.com/therealrobertglasper

This was like cloud nine, acid, music from the solar system, and the core of black musical genius released into the heart and stratosphere. If you haven't seen Robert Glasper or the Jabane Ensemble DO NOT MISS IT!

The music was deeply funky, in the pocket rockin, Roger Troutman like sax and keyboard riffs (by a wonderful rocked out, braided locks, sax bro) with drum and bass that mixed some tripped out hip-hop and out jazz shit that was mind blowing and still funky.

It was intellectual stuff for a hip-hop minded soul and jazz eared traveler. Talib Kweli made an appearance but from his thoughts about the earlier set, the 10:30 crew was feeling the hip-hop vibe much. They seemed to be totally out of the loop of GET BY which they performed and Talib didn't bring a new listening and speaking to an audience in a jazz club that is likely to be out of the hip-hop loop. More hip-hop emcees need to consider adjustments to the interactions with the audience might be more effective in a sit-and-listen venue of jazz. I know emceeing and hip-hop has a place there but perhaps the lack of being in jazz venues was the difference. Talib seemed a little out of sorts that people were not responding like we do in hip-hop contexts (everybody clap you hands--a few did....I was of course trying to bring the noise but the context is decisive!)

That didn't stop me from hollas and bopping to the beat, singing along and wantin to jump up and scat with this funky next ensemble of heads bringing all the resources of black popular and sacred music to bear from the four corners these four musicians (piano-sax-bass-drums) brought to bear Monday night.

I never noticed the time, the length of pieces, the audience. It was a NOW evening, right in the moment eternal. And such fun. So great to see musicians enjoying themselves and enjoying sharing so fully with the audience!

Foucault would have loved it (The Order of Things) cuz it was outside the f*ckin' box in so many ways! The emperor's animals are subdivided into...i) that from which a long way off looks like flies, j) included in the present classification, k) etc.

Robert Glasper is playing next Mon October, 9 2006 at Merkin Hall
Duos w/Michelle Ndegeocello and Lionel Loueke. I do not want to miss this one!

Last week one of my closest friends and confidentes Rama Carty was found guilty of drug trafficking and conspiracy to sell crack and cocaine in the state of Maine. He resides in Massachusetts. He has no record. Has never done drugs or alcohol. Fit! Respectable! A brother with great aspirations. I used to joke with another friend about Rama, who was born in the Congo of Haitian descent. After seeing the film Lumumba by Raoul Peck (EXTRAORDINARY!!), I loved that I met a Haitian like Peck from the Congo (once Zaire now the Democratic REpublic of the Congo).

Rama was convicted by a unanimous "jury of his peers" in Maine. Even though it is clear to any who know Rama that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was gullible and blindly carried a bag over the state line, the jury found it unbelievable. The evidence against him was compelling enough to convict him.

Rama is a permanent resident, not a US Citizen. We thought jail time was the worst that could happen. But deportation has shown up. Crime-related deportation is on the rise since 1996 and esp. since 9-11 (my birthday by the way).

Rama came to the US at the age of 1. Never lived anywhere other than here. As I and his other friends get present to what's really happening, and stop resisting the decision, I heard this from a friend. "Living outside the US is not the end of the world. There's a lot a places to live out there." Ain't that the truth. Hard to see when you've only lived here all your life. His best bet is deportation rather than serving a mandatory prison term in US it seems.

His attorney is looking to appeal of course. But because a jury found him guilty the appeal has be based on a violation of the rule of law, rather than fact.

What I learned? Avoid jury trials if you are not a citizen. When a jury of your peers say you are not credible, that beyond a reasonable doubt you are guilty, it is practically impossible to overturn that decision. It's easier to overturn a judge's rulling.

I am standing in that Rama, who intends to be a hip-hop producer, can do all he ever wanted to do without living in the US. The transition will take something and it ain't over yet, but it's great to consider that live goes on despite our circumstances. Who we are matters, the circumstances are just the backdrop for our passion, livelihood and courage.

I keep inspiring myself by remembering that Mandela is one of the most peaceful and inspiring individuals who never let 27 years in solitary confinement determine who he was. He defined himself. He didn't let the circumstances define him!

Standing for the possibility of freedom no matter what the circumstances!
Peace, Kyra

Life has been so exceptional full of life--ups and downs--and I have been riding like a pro! My book THE GAMES BLACK GIRLS PLAY has allowed me to be on XM Satellite radio (Laura Flanders show), been on Harry Allen's Non-Fiction show on WBAI-FM in NYC, and now I learned that I sold 1000 books in the 1500 run already. The press was expecting to sell 600 by July. I intend to push this book everywhere I go. It's my baby and lots of folks are getting a lot from it.

Today, I have been given the privilege to have Russell Simmons attention at a meeting at the UN. I am now working with an international treaty organization whose mission is to end severe malnutrition in Africa. They are signing an agreement with the Hip-hop Summit Youth Council with Russell Simmons alignment to work with hip-hop youth to forward this mission. I am the cultural specialist guiding the project with the international ambassadors from 11 countries. The US and UK have refused to sign the treaty which shows the Spirulina, a micro-algae is the only product that can significantly reverse severe malnutirution. All other efforts have been failing. 40,000 children a day die of severe malnutrition in Africa.

My intention is to educate and arm Hip-hop youth to become global citizens asissting African youth in thriving to overcome malnutrition and AIDs while also educating US youth about the impact media like Hip-hop is having on gender relations, relationships between generations, and perhaps how African youth has something to teach us about using hip-hop to cause social and political change. Something youth here can take for granted but that cannot be taken for granted in many African nations. South Africa and Senegal are hotbeds for hip-hop music and production. Using those regions to broadcast to the other nations and getting US youth involved there would really make a difference. Hip-hop for Global Empowerement and Wellbeing for all!

PLAYDATES?? I met with a colleague, a black professor in law at NYU, and she asserted what I do is specialize in playdates. All my enterpenuerial ventures are about social playdates for adults. Be on the lookout for great things for people of the opposite sex as well as for jazz vocalists with dat skat!!!!

Peace and as Harry Allen loves to sign off with
PRODUCE JUSTICE!
Love, Kyra

This is about a miracle. The miracle of sharing and singing. I was invited to the Virginia Festival of the Book by a friend in Charlottesville VA the weekend of March 25th. I read from my new book at the Festival, at Piedmont Virginia community College and at a brunch sponsored by the Links Club in Cville that Sunday.

The friend who invited me is the wife of a former colleague of mine from Univ of Virginia. I taught there from '96 - 2002. At my book event and at the brunch, I shared about meeting and forgiving my dad whom had not been in my life for 40 years. "My dad gave me life and I wouldn't have the wonderful life I have without him." And then I shared a song I wrote the speaks to the healing in other relationships that became possible once I connected with my dad. That song is "Black Can Be Me" on my myspace page.

About three days later. My friend's husband, my former colleague, phoned me.
"I was so moved by that song that I called my daughter that I have denied for 47 years." WOW! Now I thought it was incredible what I did with my dad. I contacted him. His name is Norman Lee Evans. When we met in 2002, he had not seen his 13 brothers and sisters for 20 years. So out of my connecting with him, he reconnecting with his siblings within a year or so. Black fathers and daughters! So much healing from one action, one song.

My friend Rick said he called the mother of his 47 year old daughter and she cussed him out so bad that he thought to himself "Who does she think she is" but he took it all without a word. How courageous and generous! The mother gave him permission to call his daughter the day he phoned me.

It takes something to be a man after so many years of denial, get cussed out, and be so moved by your own actions that you are greatful for the possibility of liberatng your daughter even if she can't see it as such right away. I asked him if it would be worth being cussed out and going through some strife if in the end he had a relationship with his daughter. He said yes!

All this from my participating and continuing to be trained in powerful sharing from participating in the Landmark Forum! What a gift!! Kyra

www.landmarkeducation.com

I am out to cause some wants I don't think I would pursue if I thought about em too much.
Here;s the list

1) I want to double my income by August
2) I want to run my own company KYRA-o-CITY devoted to coaching, consulting and community around music, race and gender. I'd like to consult with VIBE, ROLLING STONE, DEF JAM and other companies and their staff writers and A&R. Sometimes we don't need more training we need room to rid ourselves of the baggage we've picked up along the way about the music, race, and gender of what we are involved in.
3) I want to live in Manhattan in a fly apartment near the Village or in Harlem.
4) I want to tour with my book, my CD and my band from May through Dec developing a serious national audience for who I am and what I sing about - love, connecting with others, and being open to the serendipity of life
5) I want a body and mind that is working as it should be - a balanced weight and look, a fabulous wardrobe for NYC, and a partner to share it all with by Dec.

I've been creating these in quite simple and carefree ways. My job at NYU ends in August. I am leaving academia to create my own company and career and to continue teaching what I've been teaching to a larger audience and to influential clientele who will pay for what I have to offer.

I was at the Virginia Festival of the Book speaking and singing and went to a workshop on PLOTTING YOUR CAREER as a writer. THere was one panelist, Lynn Isenberg, who was exceptional. She writes enterpeneurial comedies she calls them. She is an entertainment brand specialist and has created joy, fun and contribution out of her book called the FUNERAL PLANNER. The idea for the book came from her brother's funeral. With the help of the funeral director of her brother's funeral, she wrote a book and now with the director created a line of GRIEF GUIDEBOOKS that make funerals an occasion for celebration. The book has been optioned for a TV series.

This is the kind of CEO I intend to be. Causing contribution through entertainment, books, and lecturing to others about how they can cause that with what they love too!

I was in Chicago last weekend. Denver MOnday and Tue. NYC teaching on Tue and Wed. And in Charlottesville Thu thru Sun. I love traveling and sharing about my new book and selling my CDs. Now to performing in the city regularly!!

Tommy and I are writing new songs for another album and I intend to put the finishing touches on marketing BE THE TRUE REVOLUTION.

PS SHOUT OUT TO JEFF CHANG and his talks in NYC last week. Me and my students loved it! NOw I gotta get in touch with the Zulu Queen Toni PRince I met at Hue-Man Bookstore!
She is a first generation Zulu Queen with the Zulu Nation. Cool!

Take care, Kyra

DJ Jazzy Joyce is going to be stopping through my hip-hop course. My courses are always off the beaten path because I believe that most knowledge we can learn on our own. If I am going to teach, I teach from a place of not knowing, from a place that is unexpected so we really discover some new ways of looking at and experiencing topics we think we already know or know what we think it should be like hip-hop. So the lens we are using is African American Culture, Gender and Music. We can get at everything else through those three lens of humanity. So Joyce is going to come and share some beats and some communication about her expreiences in hip-hop as one of the legendary DJs in the business in NY and on record even though you may have never heard of her outside NYC. She came to my attention on Digable Planets' Blowout Comb (one of my favorite hip-hop CDs). From her site at www.jazzyjoyce.com: "Representing the best of Hip Hop's past, present and future, DJ Jazzy Joyce, who kicked the flava on the wheels of steel on the historic HBO special "Russell Simmons Presents Bad Girls of Def Comedy Jam", is now mixing the hottest tracks every Friday on the highly rated Ladies Night program on HOT 97 and moving the dancefloor in clubs around the world."

This past week was a high marking one for me.
Wed Feb 15th Tommy (my songwriting partner and guitarist) and I appeared at Crash Mansion with an amplified acoustic set of our songs. As Tommy started strumming the chorsds to my staple tune "Black Can Be Me", I spontaneously started to hear and sing the Beatles tune Blackboard over the chords and he got inspired. We did an impromptu arrangement of the song as an intro to "Black" and it was SO funky! You'll be hearing it when we perform live from now on. On Thu Feb 16th, Tommy (my songwriting partner and guitarist) and I showed up at the King Juan Carlos Center around 5pm to get warmed up for my first reading from my new book. Hey I can put my own book as something I am reading for the first! Tommy and opened with our Blackbird/Black Can Be Me and then I read from my book for about 20-25 mins. This from p. 186, the conclusion: "[Girls'] game-songs are embodied scripts of music, inscribed into space, experience, and memory. We all witness this "music notation" and sight-read it with some proficiency. But mastery is what I call for. We have yet to fully understand the social affiliations and disaffiliations of race, gender, and embodiment in music. As movers to music, we are not *thinking* with or through the body as much as we are *writing* or inscribing memories into the world. This embodied literacy is taken for granted. It is why the concept of oral-kinetic etudes is valuable.... The embodied scripts of play, the social narratives of street dance, and the "chapters" of somatic history, all require skillful ethnographers to interpret them. In many cases, we may need to recruit and train new scholars. But this is a beginning. ... Women and men use romance and sex to get places in the business, or get away from places (heartbreak), through the music itself. The discourse around black musical practices and performance needs to be examined to see how it sustains and disrupts gender and race norms. This is essential to the study of black popular music where the discourse of musical identity has played a pivotal role in sustaining stereotypical views of a rich and complex group of people. ... This book is a clarion call for expanding black musical studies to include gender and embodiment in its historical and cultural analyses of musical sounds, behaviors, and concepts." [THE END; p. 187]