Dubai Fashion Week Studio Kalid Fall/Winter Collection

The Studio Kalid Collection for  Fall/ Winter Won The best Emerging Talent Award....
Hello Jazzlovers

Just returned home from Dubai Fashion Week and wanted to give you a sneak peek at our Fall/Winter Collection...

We won the Best Emerging Talent Award for this collection...
Until Later,

Keep the beat...

DWJazzlover

Percy Mayfield " Please Send Me Someone To Love"

Percy Mayfield
August 12, 1920 – August 11, 1984


 very windy and beautiful day in Bahrain


Hello Jazzlovers,

I have moved to a new place and taking my time getting it just right, because this is my last move..I am lightening my load and getting rid of a lot of things both physical and mental..This will be my home....
I have clothes I have had since I was a teenager and I do pull them out and still wear them but it is time to let go....emotionally I am down to  carry on luggage and plan to do the same with my house....I had 5 complete sets of dishes and still finding complete  sets of silver wear ( Yes sughah real silver) Not counting the stainless.....and  complete sets of crystal still in the original boxes! Just tooooo much!

I read the story titled "The Blue Willow Plate when I was about 6 years old and just fell in love with blue willow pattern, so that was my first set of dishes and the only thing I packed when my marrage broke up along with my child on the back seat of my old Carvair and got the hell out of my home town...Like many things in life I have now disposed of those dishes a couple of days ago and now iam down to 2 sets of dishes one very nice of hand painted fine china for everday and of course my "Royal Dalton"(shades of Mrs. Bucket, Keeping up Apperences) and it feels good...I have really gotten rid of all the emotional baggage of ramifications of thing pass and can look back with a smile of innocence still in my heart...now I am gettin rid of things that remind me of percived sad times.....It feels good...

Which brings me to Percy Mayfield, (as I said I now look back with clear eyes) my innocence was taken away from me when I was 6 years old and I relived the ramafications of that for years until I remembered that I really did not remember the incident at all only the things that happened after, as my whole life changed that day...everyone involved is now gone so why hold on to it? so I have let it go..But the major thing that followed me from that day was the lost of trust! Trust issues are still very important to me until today and I am a very trust worthy person because of that incident yet it has invaded every relationship I have ever had! If I lose trust in someone it is over Thank you Mam!!!Nothing left to say....

Now in 1952 I had become a very lonley child and spent hours alone by choice trying to understand this world, my mother played music all the time and one day this song penertrated my brain..and in someway became my theme song, it is still my favorite song and I do have favorite artist versions but the original still moves me to tears...on that day in 1952 I heard Percy Mayfield do "Please Send Me Someone to Love", My Mother played this song over and over and over, I did not complain because you see I understood the song even at that early age..( I am listening to it now?And Now that I understand my Mothers life better I also know what it was to her..( My mother wrote me a letter 7 March 1983, and she died November 1983, I got the letter 7 March 1984) she had never stopped loving my father....Please send me someone to love was released in 1950 but I think it took 2 years to get back to Louisiana...or to get my attention..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoZlcq9eL1k

Percy Mayfield was born in Minden, the seat of Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana. As a youth, he showed a talent for poetry and this led him into songwriting and singing. He began his performing career in Texas and then moved to Los Angeles, California by 1942 where success as a singer continued to elude him. Finally in 1947 a small record label, Swing Time, signed him to record his song "Two Years of Torture". The song sold steadily over the next few years, prompting Art Rupe to sign Mayfield to his label, Specialty Records in 1950.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUqX9oK8_ZY&NR=1

Although his vocal style was influenced by such stylists as Charles Brown, Percy Mayfield did not focus on the white market as did many West Coast bluesmen. Rather, he sang blues ballads, mostly his own songs, in a gentle vocal style. His most famous recording, "Please Send Me Someone to Love", a number one R&B hit single in 1950, was widely influential and recorded by many other singers. The song is a brilliant combination of sensitivity to wider issues of conflict in the world and the very personal need for love.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpAY7z3uL-c

I trully love this man always have he has always knew how I felt...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvxjiue3zW4&feature=related


Gladys Knight and BB King does a good job too I am so happy this song has stood the test of time, I am going to add a couple of other versions Jazzlovers please enjoy....

BB King Gladys Knight...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jot9br3ea60

One of my Most fav.. Versions Sade..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7qFmvQp_MA&feature=related

The Great Miss Nancy Wilson.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6_1P3zDM_w

Marlena Shaw and Ernestine Anderson also do a very good job with the song although I can not find it on You Tube yet, I anyone has it please send it to me.. I have the CD's but have not learned to upload them yet...

The Moonglows.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXHvq168mXY

The reason I am talking about love here and the past is I think most of us really desire to be loved for ourselfves and that is my point, I realize now I had to take the time to really love me! Which ment I had to strip away the layers of baggage and walls I used  to proctect myself and get to myself and love that person underneath unconditionally before I could let someone in...I have done that and it the Universe  sees fit to send that love!!! Sughah I am ready!!!

Until next time JazzLovers,

Keep the beat.

DW Jazzlover..

Alberta Hunter A Very Interesting Life A Lesson for All

Alberta Hunter
April 1, 1895 – October 17, 1984

Hello JazzLovers it is a rainy day in Beautiful Bahrain

I have had a long dry spell, I have just did not feel like writing, but that is ok too...I have become very unhappy with my neighborhood, (not condusive to writing)it is going down and my flat the harder I try to clean and upgrade just reveals another problem...So I am moving tomorrow to a new building "Way out on the outside of town " That is a song by Ruth Brown by the way! I will miss the area only because I can walk everywhere and now I had to find something on the bus line...I don't drive.(So you see Alan we are all moving right now!) I have found a nice 2 bedroom flat with windows!!!!!!!!!a new building and CLEAN!!more than I can say for this building...But enough of that..

Mis Alberta Hunter has been on my mind, I discovered her a couple of years before she died and fell in love with her music..Of course she was then in her 80s,, but she had a very interesting life..She started singing in the 20s and gained fame for her jazzz and blues style..in 1950 she left the entertainment field and went to nursing school and retired from Nursing at 80 and was rediscovered as a singer and the rest is history...
So Jazz lovers I just wanted to introduce her to you......She traveled the world in her early career and and once more in her 80s...Remarkable.

Handy Man
 http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4505406898043114457#

Jazz Fest 1982

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4505406898043114457#docid=-4780066716829901242

Alberta Hunter wrote this song in 1922 and Bessie Smith made it a very big hit.."Down Hearted Blues"

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4505406898043114457#docid=-4158518805838742848

This is my Favorite song by Ms. Hunter "No Body knows You when You're Down and Out"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdaNlZhmHoM

"My Castle's Jumping" Age 82 Plus interview! Very Sassy!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW9vzBRXwD0&feature=related


Alberta Hunter in Concert in France 1983 part 1,2 and  3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKD1cY8C-To&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwVaONPgzaI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS7cGsyGx1c&feature=related

"The Down Town Strutters Ball" is one of the best she has ever done!

Ms. Alberta Hunter answers a question I had in an earlier bolg about aging, I think she is just fantastic to have lived her life so fully.....Thanks to her I have nothing to complain about..I could tell her story here but I think she did a better job than I ever could...Enjoy Jazzlovers..A remarkable Woman.

Until next Time Jazzlovers,

Keep the beat.


DW Jazzlover. 

Woolgethering and Musings on a Sentimental Journey with Corn bread

Atlanta


Another beautiful day here in Beautiful Bahrain


Hello Jazzlovers,


Now that I am really practcing living in the now, it is a wonderful place to be but sometimes little things happen that takes me off on another mental journey. I would like to share some of the mental journeys I have been on over the last 2 days... I guess I am on a sentimental journey..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzKJGZ55P_Y

It all started 2 days a go when I visited my favorite watering hole. the Keep is from Ethiopia and once more there were other visitors with her, I started noticing their elegance and the quiet pride in which they carried them selves and it sort of took me back. It took me back to the women I grew up with and how they carried themselves with the same diginity..the senuious sway of the hips, head held high, soft voices,quiet sexuality, that i no longer see amoung my people. When did our women become hotchie's bitches, and hoes? where did I miss the change? I did not let my thoughts stay there to long, tooooo painful!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4cjqF3SWaQ


While sitting there taking my mind off the sad fact of the above, I decided to clear my phone messages and guess what happened my phone just died!!!( I love that phone), now I have alway kept a phone book with everones number written down, until cell phones no one writes down a number anymore, including me! So of course all my contacts are now lost!!!! So first stop a local repair shop, (you have not lived until you have had to deal with people who want your money but don't give a darn about you) where I got the run around big time!! Leave the phone come back in an hour!!!! back in an hour phone still sitting in the same place, come back in 3 days! Ok Why? what is wrong with it?" I don't know come back in 3 days" Ok why what is wrong with it?Then you get the blank look!!! At this point it is just easier to buy a new phone!!Which is the point!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0PamtXZO70

Now this phone was the last link to my Ex as it was a gift, so there is an emotional attachment as well. But the big issue was that I am not attached to gadets, a phone is to make calls only and I have no idea of any other functions so I just know now I was going to be ripped off!!! Because the phone I had is now obsolete!! and all I want is one that my current memory chip fits, should be easy right? No way! I ended up walking about 6 miles to the Sony Erickson head store!!!  Because in my area they just wanted to sell me a phone and how dare I ask questions! What does a memory chip have to do with it!! Here just buy a new chip!!..AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! But truly this is not the essence of this post.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2EsZpobWJs

I had also recieved an email from my mentor and the person who is responsible for this blog, She was talking about her Mother, and what she was making to tempt her to eat and it made me homesick I could picture the house Minnie grew up in...I also recieved an email from my Cousin telling me what she had cooked for dinner!! double homesick!!!so on my 6mile walk I started thinking about home, and the true beauty of Louisiana. Bahrain is beautiful but I miss trees, I miss green, I miss rain, I miss the night sky and stars!! I miss the accents,I miss the food most of all ! I miss the smells of cooking while walking down the street and knowing exactly what each Family is having for supper,and knowing it was ok to stop by at supper time and to be welcome..  I miss my people!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR2Z-cucTfU

I walked the 6 miles there and back, it was a wonderful experience because I had the time to just let my thoughts go where they wanted, it was nice to remember all the people, sights,sounds , and smells that make me the person I am today and to realize I really like the person I am today, I have very few regrets and I owe most of it to Moss Bluff, Louisiana and the wonderful village that raised me, but I still have a need to see what is around the next corner, so I will keep moving towards the sun. But in the mean time I right now have a pot of butter beans on the stove simmering and I am making a meat loaf,and rice,then I am headed to the local store for eggs and milk, and will come home an make me an old fashion cornbread and some ice tea and have me a nice Louisiana Dinner with some grat jazz in the background and spend a few moments back home!!!

And then:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR2Z-cucTfU



Until next time Jazzlovers

Keep the beat.

D W Jazzlover

2012 To Buy Or Not To Buy The Hype, What Year is it Anyway?

Stained Glass Dubai

There was the most Beautiful Sunset Today here in Beautiful Bahrain,

Hello Jazzlovers,

I am from Louisiana, so I am no stranger to the seen and the unseen, the known and the unknown,the believable and the unbelievable, we have a serious reputation for that. And being a possible desendant on Marie Laveaux makes me no different from anyone else in Louisiana. All of this to say I am not a stanger to the paranormal,but I am just a little shocked by the hype being given the world distruction in 2012!Has everyone forgotten the hype of Y2K??? Think about it jazzlovers.....But I also know people believe what they want to believe...But the truth is we have no idea of what year this is!! Everyone on this earth is not on the Georian Calendar or a 12 month year. So if September is the 7th month and October is the 8th month, and November is the 9th month, that would make December the 10th month, what year is this and where did we get the extra 2 monhts? Trivia what are the added months???( of course i am going to tell you).

http://www.webexhibits.org/calendars/calendar-roman.html

There was a time that March was the 1st month and December the 10th month,  The months bore the names Martius, Aprilis, Maius, Juniius, Quintilis, Sextilis, September, October, November, and December–the last six names correspond to the Latin words for the numbers 5 through 10. The Roman ruler Numa Pompilius is credited with adding January at the beginning and February at the end of the calendar to create the 12-month year. In 452 B.C.E., February was moved between January and March. The Julian Calendar began in  46 B.C.E., when Julius Caesar initiated a thorough reform that resulted in the establishment of a new dating system, the Julian calendar which changed and added July in his own honor... Augustus Caesar clarified and completed the calendar reform of Julius Caesar. In the process, he also renamed the month of Sextilis to August after himself.I think you Jazlovers get my point! 2012 may just not be 2012 or doomsday because the whole world is not on a 12 month Calendar or in the year 2010, Where I live the year is 1431...

http://www.crowl.org/Lawrence/time/months.html

I really don't understand all the hype, if you remember all the Art Bell hype that sold radio's and emergency lights and how people stocked up on supplies without thinking about it, makes me very sceptical...I remember the facility I worked for wanting to pay staff $300.00 to be on call, when I pointed out that Y2K would hit Australia  24 hours before us and would give time for action if needed as it was planned , I was looked at like I had lost my mind!!!! and the staff was very happy on payday!

http://www.livescience.com/strangenews/091105-2021-doomsday.html

The truth is Jazzlovers none of us know the Master Plan for us, and no man knows the end and we should live everyday as maybe the last,treat others right . I am more worried about these idiots with their hands on buttons than I am about 2012, because I really don't know what year or month it really is!! ( Just had to say it) Being from Louisiana has given me a very healthy belief system as well as a very heavy dose of skepticism about things seen and unseen and that tells me something is happening on this earth but is is not because of the end of the mayan calendar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho5tSulnzXo&feature=related

Well Jazz lovers until next time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beCun9Qgtno&feature=related
 
Keep the beat..

DWJazzlover

Happy New Year...






 

Happy New Year Jazzlovers

Woolworths Dubai

Hello Jazzlovers,

A beautiful cold day in Beautiful Bahrain.

This birthday I am now officially a senior citizen!!I went from middle age to old age in one day..Now the amazing thing about this change in life is I don't feel it!!Now I know the Mirror can and often does LIE to us..( Just look at how some people leave home dressed!) but I don't think I look it either, but when I was younger and growing up, people the age I am now were old in looks and action, (maybe the mirror does lie..)but I am very busy and active, I go to the gym so I am in pretty good shape for an old man......So I guess my reason for opening this discussion is when do we start being old? Is there a rule book that says our actions must change? I have noticed that people do treat me differently,and I do tend to speak my mind more often than I did in the past!(My Grandmother use to say , (when she let loose a zinger) " I am old enough to say anything I want too" and I think I do understand that now. Hummmmmmm! I think it is because you Recognize BS as soon you see it! That is called experience..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5ICIjO_uBs

I love fashion and I feel like I have my own style, I don't try to dress and act 21, but since I have crossed that line, is there certain thing I can not wear anymore? I started greying about 25 years ago and I don't color my hair, ( deliver me from bad dye jobs) I love my silver hair and beard,and I do wear glasses but I have quite a collection of fashionable styles ( I have worn glasses from age 12) and I am very comfortable with the styles I choose as they are part of my wardrobe...this is a real debate in my head right now. Is my life supposed to change because of a number?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIyv3RMra7k

What I have noticed is that I am developing a love for animal print shirts, bright jewel toned sweaters, and leather pants and jackets but does that mean I am joining the ranks of old men who wear stiped shirts and plaid pants? Do I look ridiculous when I think I am looking good ? Who wrote that book anyway? But the body is looking good and my energy level remain high so I guess I am really am as old as I feel....I did not realize this was a dilemma until I started writing tonight. When I sit down to write I never know where it is going to go...Is that Jazz?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMf0Z7EPdLo&feature=related

The big question is what about Love???? I do want to love again, that is clear in my heart and my mind but where does love stop coming our way!! I know so many old folks that have given up on love, is that a part of the aging process? This month also marks the 2 year anniversary of my breakup and I have given myself healing time...so what is next I really don't know...But I had a wonderful birthday celebration this year, and will always remember this one..thanks to my friends at Betty Too and The Web....Thank you guys very much....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2GrgLSUdX8

Well Jazz Lovers that is where my head is as we leave 2009 and start 2010, so go out and get yourself some Live!!!! Because that is just what I am going to do, you see because I am still here and that is what's important....... SO HAPPY NEW YEAR JAZZ LOVERS...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B06N2MLvB0w


Well Jazz Lovers until Next Year ...

Keep the Beat!

DW JazzLover

Amsterdam The Harlem Gospel Choir from Brooklyn and Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens

Amsterdam

A beautiful cold day in Beautiful Bahrain

Hello Jazzlovers,

I have just returned from 3 wonderful weeks in a city I truly love Amsterdam, (now don't let your head go there) to me it is the most beautiful place.I walk for hours and hours daily, and as many years I have been going, it still amazes me at each turn, it is constantly unfolding it's Beauty. When I say Amsterdam to my friends their minds automaticly go to the pleaseures they have experienced, or the pleasures they think is Amsterdam. Those who have been there only saw or experienced exactly what they were looking for (most have limited themselves only to the areas of their pleasures) but the City is so much more!

The amazing thing about Amsterdam is the music,(if you limit yourselves to only the tourist areas you only hear commercial music, they play to your taste) it never ceases to amaze me the Dutch taste in Music. Remixes and original artist, Dianah, Billie, Marlena, Ella, Miles,Cassandra ,Nina,Jill,Angie,and the list just goes on ans on, They really appreciate the greats...Sitting in local bars or cafes is of the greatest pleaseurs....
By all means visit the music store Concerto, if they don't have it it has not been released (don't think Fame or Virgin) it is a true Amsterdam experience...

http://www.nlstreets.nl/EN/shop/concerto--music-amsterdam/

I had a young traveling companion, that was a little bored with the music store and tried to drag me kicking and screaming in ti the 21st centry of Ipods and downloads, but I understand the instant gratification genaration. They will never know the sound of records,and needle, the pleasure of 45s,331/3s, LPs but that is ok! But the Dutch understands and that is what is important the music is being preserved...and enjoyed by a new generation, including my friend, he too was amazed at the music...and that is what's important. he was able to hear it for in may instances  the first time...One day he will understand the pleasure of choosing a CD, reading the liner notes and placing the CD in the changer and hearing that sweet  sweet sound....I still have a tape deck and a turntable for goodness sakes!!!( it is ok to laugh here..).

The first day we were walking to one of my favorite places, when we saw the poster, The Harlem Gospel Choir in Concert ! and decided to go.....OK...now I have attended concerts in Amsterdam over the years and have always enjoyed them very much, so I felt no reserveations about going...now here is where it gets interesting!!!!!I will also post photos after I get my film developed (yes I still use a point and shoot) as I am slow sometimes. But this was one of the most interesting nights of my life! We went to the ticket center(something you must do in Amsterdam) and even got half price tickets! we then walked to Paradiso to see the distance from the hotel to plan our time for the next night......Looking forward to the Harlem Gospel Choir!!

So on the next night we left early to get to the hall and good thing too because there was a long line..then we had to buy membership to get in (no problem) when we entered we choose floor seats about 5 rows back on the end (good seats). A very interesting couple took seats next to us ( in Amsterdam it is ok to have conversations with people you are near) we started a nice conversation and it was all good.....Now I grew up in the South and remember" Revivals" so I was cool Until!!!!my friend went to get refreshments, and came back with BEER!!!Baby Louisiana and my Mama came flying through that room instantly!!!Beer and Gospel Music just did not instantly compute!!!!The look on my face must have been amazing, because I stopped in mid sentence and just stared at the beer and lost it!!!! You can take the man out of Louisiana but you can not take Louisiana out of the man, I have never laughed so hard in my life!!!WOW! But more confusion was yet to come!!!

The first group was a young Dutch Female Acappela Quartet that was very good, the second group was a gospel rock group which was very nice. The Third Group was when I started to get Nervous! it was a Polish Gospel Choir, lead by a Chicago Brother, (now I must say here I do believe in something bigger than me in this universe, butI have a fear of organized religion, I have paid too many dues and suffered a lot of pain)The first words out of the brothers mouth was " If you thought you were coming to a concert you are so wrong"!and started a serious guilt trip on the crowed!!!!Now picture this,I have beer in my hand and except for my friend, the only one in the area with a beer!!!!"We are here to praise"Get up"!and it looked like I had walked into a another time!!!All of you Southerners know what I am talking about it was a little freaky......I turned to my friend and asked should we leave(it was his first time) he said no lets stay awhile.....Now I am glad I did (I am still not to the best part)! The Polish Gospel Choir even though singing gospel were 2 steps from a disco I have never seen any gospel group get so close!!!!

Then the magic happend in the form of Ms. Naomi Shelton and The Gospel Queens! She was assisted down to the stage and WOW! Brooklyn can be very proud of this Lady!!!Here is a clip from a few nights later in Brussels,  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xfCPl1zKpo
My friend did take videos of the night we were there but he has not sent them to me yet, but this is the group traveling with her currently, on  their European tour, Amsterdam was the first city on the tour...When she did "A Change is gonna Come""Sam Cooke anyone " she brought the house down.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6kBEAlNEzM&NR=1

I was really amazed at her stage presence and the Dutch loved her I am sure all of Eroupe will embrace her, as they did that night...She was so amazing she really took me home for one night.....I fell in love.....When she did this I was was lost!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJxf9-hmYIk&feature=related

Please keep up with her I am sure there will be more posted on You tube of the Eroupean trip so check her out.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjtBCHi8hO0

Now here is the Clincher, Naomi was not tthe closing act!NO NO the closing act was the Harlem Gospel Choir....and the first thing the Choir director said after the first song was "Not everyone from New York is from Harlem" !" We are from Brooklyn"!!!!! Now I wasssss really confused!!!! Is the Harlem Gospel Choir from Harlem or Brooklyn? Then they procceeded to try and take me back to that scary place!!!Jazzlovers I am not saying they were not good! but I was not at a Revival!!!and I was not up to a guilt trip at a concert,and that is when people started to leave including me....by the way only the Dutch singers and Naomi had mention on the morning news the next morning....I am truly trying to find news on the rest of the tour....as i said the Dutch knows music!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8FI5ppJEH4&feature=related

Jazzlovers there will be more on Amsterdam in the next couple of post as there is lots to tell...My Birthday was one of the best I have ever had, The Dutch know how to relly say happy birthday, they made it very special! (but that's a whole nother story) too be continued!

Until then have a very Happy Holiday and a Wonderfully Happy New Year..Jazzlovers..You are Loved.


Keep the beat...

DW Jazzlover