Koko's Album 'Who's That Lady?' Drops November 18

I've talked about Koko Jones,  my seriously talented musical sis from time to time on the blog and had the pleasure of doing one of my TransGriot Ten Questions interviews with her.

How talented is she?  Talented enough for this Jersey girl over her four decades in the music biz to have performed with some of the most recognizable names in the pop, R&B, jazz, house and African music worlds.

Jones has either performed or recorded as a first call musician with the Isley Brothers, Whitney Houston, Carlos Santana, Angela Winbush, Raul Midon, Marcus Miller, Randy Weston,  Jose Feliciano, Buddy Miles, Clarence Burke, Louie Vega, Luisito Quintero, Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child, DJ Kenny Dope, Archie Shepp, and Reggie Workman.

And now you'll have something to look forward to during TDOR Week in terms of her 'Who's That Lady' LP dropping on that date..

The timing of the release of the album near that date is not an accident.  As a girl like us who happens to be a  musician, several of the tracks on this upcoming album release on Motema Music reflect either personal or universal issues facing the trans community:







“Why” honors those trans individuals who have lost their lives due to violence or suicide and “Turn It” pays tribute to the heroes, past and present, who strive for civil rights, justice and equality. “I’m Free” celebrates the joy of reveling in who you really are despite societal norms and constraints. And “Xtravaganzas” pays homage to the House of Xtravaganza, one of the most important cultural institutions in the trans community.

While she has always handled her business as a musician first and foremost, she has had an ongoing parallel role as an activist and a voice in the trans community. In addition to Koko’s ground-breaking work as an interventionist at the Center for HIV Education Studies and Training (CHEST) at Hunter College, where she is a part of T-Talk, a project delivered by trans women for trans women that seeks to reduce sexual health risk, substance use, and internalized stigma affecting the community.

Koko frequently speaks at events, and recently gave a TEDx talk at Seton Hall University and delivered a lecture on Current Issues in the Trans Community at Columbia University Teachers College. She is also an active member of Trans Women of Color Collective (TWOCC)

But it's time for peeps to get to know Koko Jones in her primary role as an extraordinary musician

Those of you in the New York area can check her out on December 1 at her CD release show that will start at 8 PM EST at Sub Culture. The venue is located at 45 Bleeker St, and if you're looking for more info hit the link or call 212-533-5470.

And yeah, Christmas and Hanukkah are coming up, so why not purchase 'Who's That Lady?' and kill two birds with one stone at the same time?  You buy a gift for someone (or keep it for your own music collection), keep our T-bills circulating in our community, and support a fantastic musician at the same time.

George Duke Passes Away

Was stunned to hear the news via the TJMS that another fave musician I grew up with passed away August 5, a year after his wife Corine died of cancer on July 18.

Legendary keyboardist, composer, producer, jazz artist, R&B and soul funkmeister and versatile musician across a wide variety of musical genres George Duke passed away in Los Angeles at age 67.  

As a matter of fact, Duke had recently released a new album called DreamWeaver on July 13 that was a tribute to his departed wife.

The Grammy award winning artist was born in San Rafael, CA on January 12, 1946 and starting from his 1967 graduation from the San Francisco Conservatory he played with a who's who of legendary musicians from a number of genres including Miles Davis, Frank Zappa, Cannonball Adderley, Michael Jackson, Jean-Luc Ponty, Billy Cobham, Jill Scott, his cousin Dianne Reeves, Anita Baker,  Deniece Williams, George Clinton, Jeffrey Osborne, Joe Sample, Rachelle Farrell and Sheila E. over his six decades in the music business.

I was introduced to him via the 1977 album Reach For It but it was his chart topping song 'Dukey Stick' on his 1978 LP 'Don't Let Go' and the 1981 release of The Clarke/Duke Project album that permanently solidified my love for his music and made him a 'must buy' artist for me when I wanted to add to my expansive music collection.   I still love the songs 'Sweet Baby' and 'Winners' from that album and 'Dukey Stick' to this day.

Cause of death as of this writing hasn't been determined, but to borrow the words of jazz flutist Bobbi Humphrey, "Heaven just got a little funkier."

Rest in peace and power, George Duke.

MJ-Gone Too Soon

Today would have been Michael Jackson's 54th birthday.   There's a celebration going on in his hometown of Gary, IN today. 

While this song Michael Jackson is singing is  along with the video about Ryan White (and AIDS is still a major problem in our world) the lyrics also apply to MJ in terms of his legions of fans around the world losing this remarkable talent and all around wonderful human being way too soon.

 


Rest in Peace, King Of Pop.   You are missed.

2012 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Nominees Announced

The 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominee class has been named and for me there is one notable absence in the fact my fave group Chic, after being on the list for several years is not on it.

The nominees were announced on September 27 and while I'm not happy about Chic once again being shut out of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for another year I am pleased that Donna Summer once again was deservedly nominated.along with Rufus with Chaka Khan, the Spinners and War.

Well, since I spilled who some of the nominees are, here's the full list.  

The inductees will be announced when balloting is completed and tabulated at a later date.

Beastie Boys
The Cure
Donovan
Eric B. and Rakim
Guns 'N Roses
Heart
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
Freddie King
Laura Nyro
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Rufus with Chaka Khan
The Small Faces/The Faces
The Spinners
Donna Summer
War

Tona Brown Making History At LGBT Gala

Just got the word from Tona about this exciting piece of news I'm about to share with you TransGriot readers.

When she  ascends the stage to sing the national anthem at the LGBT Leadership Gala that takes place on June 23 in New York, she will become the first African descended trans person to perform for a sitting United States president.

Congratulations again sis on this upcoming history making moment, say hello to the POTUS for me, and make sure they take a lot of pictures

And oh yeah, this question will be on next year's TransGriot African American trans history quiz

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Rest In Peace, Gil Scott-Heron

Gil Scott-Heron, one of my fave poets, musicians, 'bluesologist' and authors of the 70's and 80's died yesterday in New York at age 62 after becoming ill after returning from a European trip..

Scott-Heron is considered the 'Godfather of Rap' by some and many of the themes he explored in his music and poetry were expounded on later by Talib Kweli and Common   

In addition to his music which included songs such as Home Is Where The Hatred Is', 'Johannesburg', 'Angel Dust', 'Shut 'Um Down', 'We Almost Lost Detroit', 'Space Shuttle', 'Re-Ron',and 'B-Movie', he's best known for his 1970 spoken word piece 'The Revolution Will Not Be Televised'.



He broke down what he was talking about when he said 'The Revolution Will Not Be Televised' in a 1991 interview:.

"What that was all about, 'The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,' was that the first change that takes place is in your mind. You have to change your mind before you can change the way you live and the way you move. 

So, when we said that 'The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,' we were saying it like--that the thing that's going to change people is something that no one will ever be able to capture on film. It'll just be something that you see and all the sudden you'll realize: 'I'm on the wrong page,' or 'I'm on the right page but I'm on the wrong note--and I've got to get in synch with everyone else to understand what's happening in this country."

As you can tell by the song titles 'Re-Ron' and 'B-Movie', Scott-Heron was not a fan of Ronald Reagan or his conservafool policies.   He had his battles with drug addiction and the legal trouble it spawned over the last  two decades.   In February 2010 he released his first new studio album in sixteen entitled I'm New Here to critical acclaim.    

But there is no denying that Gil Scott Heron's work influenced rap and neo soul artists and even a certain trans blogger from H-town.       

Rest in power and peace brother Gil.   You will be missed.