La Spirit Radio

     April 6 2020, at the height of the Coronavirus pandemic, the universe and the jazz community lost a brilliant musician, composer, arranger, songwriter and pianist.  Onaje Allan Gumbs is his name.  Eight days later Onaje's wife Sandra Wright Gumbs would pass away.  On April 6th 2020 I lost a friend on my birthday.  The following three years I have lost several family members like so many of us.  It has all been bittersweet for me.   In 1998 I became a cable access producer and began producing shows on Bronxnet Television Cable 68 until 2001.  I left New York in 2001 and returned in 2003 for about a year.  I left New York for good in 2004 and relocated to North Carolina.  Onaje and I met during this time of transition.  

      American jazz vibraphonist and composer Jay Hoggard is raising the spiritual consciousness with songs such as; Holy Spirit Consciousness, Peace To You My Children, Worship God in Spirit Truth and Love on Raise Your Spirit Consciousness album.  Raise your spirit consciousness has eight original compositions from Hoggard as well as recreations of original classics by Wayne Shorter, Duke Ellington, Stevie Wonder and Thad Jones. Hoggard has played with other jazz vibraphonists throughout his career such as; Milt Jackson, Lionel Hampton, and Tito Puente.  " Holy Spirit Consciousness " has a jazz funk intro that leads into a spirit filled praise groove. Affirming with an Amen from Hoggard at the end of the song.  " Peace To You My Children " enters with a  high energy drum riff that leads into a soprano saxophone collaboration with the vibraphones which is electrifying.  Nat Adderly Jr. has a beautiful piano solo. Ends with a bang!...

Jazz guitarist Calvin Edwards, born in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, now spends most of his time in the state of South Carolina surrounded by his family. "My father, Hiawthia Edwards, was a pretty famous gospel singer" explains Edwards. At seventeen years of age he started out professionally with his father.  While playing in his brother's band, The Jett Edwards Band, the brothers recorded two albums together. Edwards was a member of the original Five Blind Boys of Alabama. "After seeing me perform, they wanted me to play with them. I was with them for four or five years." says Edwards.  Calvin has lived in Japan for over fifteen years during his career. "The people come out more to enjoy music, and it is pretty pricey. They have a safer nightlife, crime is less than over in the states. The people will go out if it means they will be safer", explains Edwards about the jazz scene when he was in Japan.  In July 2000, The Calvin Edwards Trio perfo...

      Last Sunday was the street party for legendary DJ Larry Levan.   Larry Levan put DJing on the map as an art form in NYC spinning at the famous Paradise Garage.  The street party was to celebrate the launching of the campaign to rename King Street,     "Larry Levan Way".        That epic party kicked off the dance season of summer 2014 in NYC.   Original members of paradise garage, and party people from all over came out for this anticipated event.  There were ages eight to eighty out there partying to the way dance music should be played. We started lining up around 7:30 am, the weather was so beautiful in NYC that day.  I believe it was their first 80 degree temperature this year along with this amazing sun that lasted the entire day.      It is estimated that 22,000 people showed up to get on down and party.  I saw people that I hadn't seen in decades, twenty to twenty five ye...

                            Welcome to La Spirit Radio!      After eight years in radio I've decided to change the name of my radio show " The LW Experience Sunday Classics" which started in the summer of 2005.  About six months ago "La Spirit Radio" was created.       Today everything is moving and changing at such a rapid pace.  No one has the time to really TAKE  TIME and listen to each other let alone listen to music like we use to.  Remember when listening to the radio was a highlight of the day?  Alot of people don't even listen to their local radio stations anymore, they listen to their ipods, or a station  online like XM/Sirius.   Back in 2010 things were changing at the radio station, due to budget constraints they let go of the paid music director who was also working as the radio station manager.  Some other behind the scene events ha...

      Black History Month kicked off in a very sad and somber way with the announcement of Don Cornelius passing.  You can't celebrate Black History Month without mentioning music and Don Cornelius played a major role in black history music.  The year was 1971 when Soul Train aired across the country.  I was ten going on eleven years of age at that great time in music history.  Don Cornelius, creator and host of soul train, was known for his hip dress style, his coolness along with a baritone voice.  One of his famous rap lines at the end of the show "we wish you love, peace and soul" will always be upon the lips of many.               Soul Train came on Saturday mornings around 11:00am.  My siblings and I would make sure our chores for the weekend were done, that's right CHORES, we had them back then.  After that it was all soul train, funky music and dancing.  The show aired once a week so we ...