Wanda's Picks Radio Show

Wanda's Picks

Damu Sudi Alii began his musical career playing trombone in junior high school, then switched to piano in the United States Air Force. He went on the road in 1969 with a group called "The Mint Juleps" led by trumpeter, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist Clarence Pinckney. The group toured the midwest, southwest, and northwest United States. Damu later joined a group in Los Angeles called the "Geechie" Smith Allstars" and played the B-3 organ in this group from 1975-1977. After moving to Oakland around 1979, Damu played in several groups including eight years, 2001 to 2009 with William "Doc" Webster's group, "Jazz Nostalgia" at Les Joulins Jazz Bistro in San Francisco. He was a sideman for many years with "Hanif and the Sound Voyagers." He also had his own group "First Edition," and occasionally performed with the "Carl Garrett Quartet". From 1982 -1984, and again briefly in 2008 and 2010, Damu was pianist for the "Stones of Fire," a reggae gospel choir of Wo'Se Community Church in East Oakland. He was also a music teacher at Ile Omode. Damu released Serenity, Spring 2023, to great acclaim. Damu Sudi Alii Quintet is hosting a tribute concert to two of his favorite musician friends, Kenneth Byrd and Kamau Seitu at Oaktown Jazz Workshop, 3-5 PM PT, 55 Washington Street, Jack London Square, Oakland. Suggested donation is $20.00. There will be special guests that afternoon. It will be a highlight for 2024. Technical difficulties this afternoon, so we were not able to broadcast live. Damu was going to join me. See you Sunday afternoon. Blessings