Wanda's Picks Radio Show: Jazz&Democracy;SFJFF 32;Kim Nalley

We open with a conversation with Wesley Watkins VI, Ph.D., creator of the The Jazz & Democracy Project® which manifests a hypothesis that Dr. Wes has been investigating since he was an undergraduate: a music-centered curriculum with genuine links to the other subject areas can increase student identification with school, impact academic engagement, and have a subsequent effect on overall academic success among students who have an affinity for music. Visit http://www.jazzanddemocracy.com Caleb Heller (director, editor,cinematographer) & Pilar Hailé-Damato (producer) speak about their film about Y-LOVE or Yitz Jordan, in their film by its same title.
Y-Love is the “premier Orthodox Jewish entity in hip hop.”  This documentary paints a poignant portrait of a perennial outsider: a Black, Jewish, gay orphan searching for a home. The film is a part of the SFJFF opening July 24, 11:40 AM at the Castro Theatre in SF. There is a party the next evening. Visit www.sfjff.org Peter Miller, dir. of a.k.a. doc pomus joins us to talk about the SFJFF closing night film at the Castro, July 26, 8:15 PM. The festival continues at other venues through Aug. 6, with screenings of a.k.a doc several more times: 7/28 at Cinearts, 8/4 at the Roda, and 8/5 at the Rafael. Visit http://akadocpomus.com/ We close with one of our favorite guests, Kim Nalley, who is having another residency at the Rrazz Room at Hotel Nikko, through July 22. July 18, is a special tribute to Etta James with special guests: Sugar Pie DeSanto, Ms. James contemporary, Lady Mem'fis, Denise Perrier, and Mike Olmos, trumpeter for Ms. James. Visit www.therrazzroom.com