A long way from the block
Stories of how passion and craft take us to different corners of the world.@alongwayfromtheblock@dialoguesofjazz
Episodes
107 episodes
Ep. 106-Daughter of the soil—my conversation with Thandiswa Mazwai
In this inspiring episode, I talk with South African rebel singer Thandiswa Mazwai, discussing her upbringing in Soweto, South Africa, during the Apartheid era. Her memories of the violence that took place are vivid. She recalls experiencin...
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Episode 106
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1:04:54
Ep. 105-Cultivators of conscious culture—my conversation with Derrick Banks
Derrick Banks is the owner and operator of Freshly Faded Barber + Shop in North Park, San Diego. Coming up, he was mentored by local barbers such as those at Gentry’s, part of the San Diego scene for over sixty years. In this conversation we st...
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Episode 105
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1:22:14
Ep. 104-Claiming your own DNA—my conversation with Carl Hancock Rux
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Rux Revue, the groundbreaking debut album by Carl Hancock Rux. Not long ago, we sat down for an in-depth discussion about his hands-on involvement in its making, from bringing in his own backgrou...
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Episode 104
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2:04:59
Ep. 103-My culture informs my voice—my conversation with Linda Sikhakhane
In this latest episode, I talk with South African saxophonist and composer Linda Sikhakhane, who honors and pays homage to the great elders and master musicians, including Brian Thusi. Sikhakhane, who was raised in Umlazi township, talks about ...
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Episode 103
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1:00:33
Ep. 102- The process of discovery—my conversation with Kris Davis
After seeing Grammy-winning pianist and composer Kris Davis, live at the Village Vanguard, I knew I wanted to sit down with her and dive into jazz. Here we discuss her philosophy of improvisation and her energy and passion for performing live. ...
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Episode 102
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1:01:23
Ep. 101- The seat of my soul Pt. 3—my conversation with Lynel “Dukeysticc” Allen III
In my first-ever interview with an audience, I sat down with Lynel Allen III for the third installment of “The seat of my soul.” We revisited topics from our prior conversations (Episodes 79 and 81) while discussing his childhood in greater dep...
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Episode 101
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1:15:28
Ep. 100- Great Highland Park Stories Vol. 1
To celebrate the 100th episode of this podcast, a podcast inspired by the concept of roots, I offer you a tribute to Highland Park. In San Diego, when I was young, this park was Mecca—the place where kids met every day after school and for enti...
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Episode 100
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2:22:30
Ep. 99- "I started this to heal myself"—my conversation with Azikiwee Anderson
Azikiwee Anderson founded his San Francisco bakery, Rize Up, as a way to heal. In the wake of George Floyd’s murder, Anderson began channeling his feelings one loaf at a time in his home kitchen; from there he became a household name in the cit...
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Episode 99
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50:08
Ep. 98-Surrender to the music—my conversation with Corcoran Holt
I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Corcoran Holt before his performance with the Kenny Garrett group, at the world-famous Blue Note. The jazz bassist, composer, and educator discussed the early influences of African drum and dance ...
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Episode 98
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34:27
Ep. 97-From block to bishop—my conversation with Cornelius Bowser
In 1984, Bishop Cornelius Bowser experienced a major transition: he decided to leave gang- and street-life behind and turn his life over to Christ. In this episode, we talk about the years that preceded and the years that followed that momentou...
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Episode 97
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1:45:20
Ep. 96-Food, Family, Music—my conversation with DJ Nu-Mark
In this episode, I talk with DJ Nu-Mark, world-renowned producer, turntablist, and member of the legendary hip-hop group Jurassic 5. He has a brand-new cookbook/memoir out, called Amu Nu. In describing the book, he offers some stories ...
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Episode 96
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1:09:33
Ep. 95-Show them that light—my conversation with Sanah Kadoura
Prior to her performance at Dizzy's Club, I had the pleasure of talking with Lebanese-Canadian drummer, composer, producer, and educator Sanah Kadoura. This week's episode encompasses that conversation. We discuss the Arabic and popular America...
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Episode 95
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19:47
Ep. 94-The Sun Rises in The East—my conversation with Tayo and Cynthia Giwa
In this episode, I sat down with Brooklyn’s own Tayo and Cynthia Giwa, the husband and wife filmmaking team and creators of Black-Owned Brooklyn. Their current documentary, “The Sun Rises in The East,” is streaming now on Amazon Prime. We talke...
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Episode 94
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1:12:33
Ep. 93- “My fingers are dancing grassroots”—a tribute to Horace Tapscott
In this episode, we celebrate the legendary Los Angeles community leader, mentor, jazz pianist, and composer Horace Tapscott. Among my guests are former members of the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra, founded by Tapscott in 1961, and others who ap...
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Episode 93
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3:36:17
Ep. 92-A competitor like no other-my conversation with Keith Barksdale.
For this episode, I sat down with a former Hoover High basketball backcourt teammate. Back then, he went by Keith Williams; later in life, he changed his last name to Barksdale, in recognition of his biological father. Together we reminisced ab...
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Episode 92
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55:38
Ep. 91-Drums of Passion-my conversation with Nic Cacioppo
While traveling on the East Coast, I stopped by the Jersey City apartment/studio of jazz drummer and composer Nic Cacioppo, to discuss his jazz journey. In this interview, he talks about the influence of his parents, both classically trained mu...
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Episode 91
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52:56
Ep. 90-Wordsmith of the highest degree—my conversation with Myka 9
Myka 9 is one of the most prolific MCs of all time. In this interview, he talks in depth about the components of thought and influence that shape his rhyme style. His entire approach is inflected with jazz, with random sounds sparking melodies ...
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Episode 90
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1:10:03
Ep. 89-“She is known for her soil”—my conversation with Dr. Theresa “T” Ford
Dr. T. Ford is a venerable elder in San Diego. As part of my series dedicated to documenting elders, we sat down together to discuss her upbringing—how her parents showed her at an early age what black excellence looked like, and how she carrie...
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Episode 89
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1:43:40
Ep. 88-You're not going to pass me—my conversation with Regina Peters and Hannibal Smith
For this episode, I sat down with two incredible ultra-runners: Hannibal Smith, who has appeared on this podcast before and is a trainer and co-owner of NXPT Fitness; and Regina Peters, who is also a trainer at NXPT and, like Hannibal, has comp...
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Episode 88
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1:17:52
Ep. 87-Make room in the mouth for grass—my conversation with Layli Long Soldier
In this episode, I sat down with Layli Long Soldier in her Albuquerque studio to talk about her upbringing. I spoke with the Oglala Lakota poet, writer, artist, and activist about some of the history of broken treaties experienced by Native peo...
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Episode 87
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3:05:55
Ep. 86-Do no harm—my conversation with John Williams
In this episode, I talk with John Williams about his unique approach to coaching, training, and mentoring athletes. At the core of his teaching is the Hippocratic oath. He discusses how he adapts and adjusts to various athletes from different a...
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Episode 86
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1:28:12
Ep. 85-The sweet spot of discovery—my conversation with Tongo Eisen-Martin
Tongo Eisen-Martin is the current Poet Laureate of San Francisco, his hometown. He's also an educator and an activist. We talk about the influence of his activist mother and the role she played in his life. Tongo discusses major issues in the c...
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Episode 85
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1:51:01
Ep. 84-The knight of swords—my conversation with JD Allen
To mark the release of his new album, THIS, I sit down with tenor saxophonist and composer JD Allen. We talk extensively about what went into making the album, the musicians he chose for the project, and the meanings behind some of its track ti...
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Episode 84
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59:03
Ep. 83-"I think of my parents"-my conversation with Tamar Greene
In this episode, I talk with Tamar Greene, who plays George Washington in the current Broadway production of "Hamilton." We discuss his upbringing in Rochester, NY, and—thanks to his parents—his early exposure to the arts. His Jamaican-born fat...
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Episode 83
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1:04:27
Ep. 82-Purveyor of sonic eclectics—my conversation with LeRoy Downs
For this episode, I sat down with the Jazzcat himself, LeRoy Downs, to talk about all things jazz. Born and raised in LA, listening to KDAY, it wasn't until he saw artists like Roy Hargrove and Terence Blanchard that he was pulled into the musi...
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Episode 82
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50:59