Southland Sessions

Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra N.Y.E.L.A.
Join Mekala Session and the "Ark" as they ring in the new year with a musical celebration in downtown's Grand Park. Honoring the work of Horace Tapscott amongst other musical legends, the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra is a multi-generational band that brings together the legacy of jazz music in Los Angeles.
TRANSCRIPT
SESSION: WELCOME TO "SOUTHLAND
SESSIONS." EVERY WEEK, WE
SHOWCASE THE VIBRANCY AND THE
RESILIENCE OF SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA'S CREATIVE COMMUNITY.
MY NAME IS MEKALA SESSION. I'M
CURRENTLY THE DIRECTOR OF THE
PAN AFRIKAN PEOPLES ARKESTRA, A
MULTICULTURAL, MULTIGENERATIONAL
COMMUNITY BAND BASED IN SOUTH
CENTRAL LOS ANGELES. MY FAMILY
IS IN THIS BAND. MY BEST FRIENDS
ARE IN THIS BAND. I GREW UP IN
THIS BAND, SO IT WAS AN HONOR
AND A PRIVILEGE TO BE INVITED TO
HEADLINE AT GRAND PARK'S ANNUAL
NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATION
RINGING IN 2020. I WAS ABLE TO
GET A LOT OF VETERAN MEMBERS AND
A LOT OF NEW MEMBERS. FOR SOME
OF THE CATS, IT WAS THEIR FIRST
TIME PLAYING WITH THE ARK, AND
THAT WAS HORACE'S VISION WHEN HE
STARTED THE ARK IN '61. THAT'S
HORACE TAPSCOTT, FOR THOSE NOT
IN THE KNOW. HE WANTED VETS,
INTERMEDIATE PLAYERS, NOVICE
PLAYERS, MEN, WOMEN, YOUNG, OLD,
PEOPLE FROM ALL CREEDS, ALL
WALKS OF LIFE PLAYING THIS MUSIC
TOGETHER REPRESENTING THIS ONE
PEOPLE, THIS UNIFIED BAND, AND
THAT'S THE PAN AFRIKAN PEOPLES
ARKESTRA. HOPE YOU ENJOY THE
SHOW.
ANNOUNCER: MAJOR FUNDING FOR
THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY THE
CITY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT
OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS. ADDITIONAL
FUNDING WAS PROVIDED BY THE
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS
AND THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE.
[PLAYING "PAPA, THE LEAN
GRIOT"]
DAAOOD: ♪ FREEDOM IN THIS SOUND
SPINNING AND TURNING
AT THE EDGE OF POSSIBILITIES
QUIVERING IN SOME NAKED
SPECK OF TIME
A STRAIGHT LINE LIQUEFIED
DRIPPING EARTH TONES
AND QUANTUM RHYTHMS
JOY SPLIT OPEN
AND POURED AGAINST THE NIGHT
ON A PIANO OPEN 24 HOURS
OR PRAYER IN A BED OF DRUMSTICKS
OR LAUGHTER PEELING AT THE ENDS
A FLOCK OF BIRDS
JAILBREAK FROM A THROAT
AND FADE INTO THE IMAGE
OF SOME CHILD
HOLDING A TOY SAXOPHONE
THIS MOMENT IS IMPROVISED
THEME OF PASSION
SILENCE BROKEN UP
INTO LITTLE PIECES
AND SPREAD LIKE SEEDS
IN THE MIDST OF TONE
HERE WHERE HISTORY
MAKES LOVE TO THE FUTURE
AND GIVE BIRTH TO NEW WORDS
IN A PLATE OF RICE AND BEANS
PEPPER DRESSED IN THE CLOTHES
OF A SONG
AND MOVE THROUGH THE AIR
LIKE A SPORE
OR IMPRINT THE MIND LIKE A KISS
OR PASS LIKE A VIRUS
WE SPEAK OF THIS DAY'S MAGIC
WE SPEAK OF SKY
WE SPEAK OF ASPHALT
AND THE SPIRIT THAT FLIES
MUSICAL LIBATIONS
POURED OVER SIREN-PIERCED EARS
ENDLESS BREATH WOVEN
THROUGH THE PATH OF TIME
THIS HIP-HOP CHILD
OF BEBOP PARENTS
SCATTING NEW SUNRISES
IN THE FACE OF TYRANNY
THIS BASS STRUNG WITH SEAWEED
THIS CONSTANT PULSATION OF GLORY
THIS TONE OF PURPLE FUNK
WE SPEAK OF JOY
AND A RAINBOW OF NOTES
THIS FAT BREEZE
BOUNCING OUT OF SPEAKERS
THESE DRUMS SOAKED WITH DEW
THESE BLUE ARTICULATIONS
CHANTS OF OLD SOULS
'FLECTIONS IN NEW LIGHT
THIS ELONGATED AFRICAN SONG
THIS NEW WORLD COMMON GROUND
WE ARE THIS DAY'S NEW LANGUAGE
THIS ORCHESTRA
OF TIN CANS AND STICKS
THE ECHOES OF MASTERS
THIS TORCH PASSED
THIS MESSAGE OF LOVE LIQUEFIED
THESE BEINGS CLUTCHING
INSTRUMENTS LIKE LOVERS
SINGING SECRETS AND WONDER
THESE HORNS SPITTING ALPHABETS
THIS BOWL OF MAJESTIC RHYTHMS
THIS AVANT-GARDE BOUQUET
WE ARE HORACE TAPSCOTT
OUR FINGERS
ARE DANCING GRASSROOTS
WE DO NOT FIT INTO FORM
WE CREATE FORM
OUR EARS ARE RADARS
CHARTING THE WHISPERING
OF OUR ANCESTORS
WE SEEK THE DIVINITY IN OUTCAST
THE RICHNESS OF REBELS
WE WERE BRAVE FOR YOU
ON THIS NIGHT OF DUEL PIANO
SONGS FOR THE UNSUNG
THIS LINEAGE FED
TO SHARKS IN THE ATLANTIC
I WILL CONJURE TIRED YOUTH
RIGHT IN A TRANCE
RIGHT HERE ON THIS STAGE
CONJURE SPIRITS
SPIRITS THAT WERE REMEMBERED
I WILL CLIMB OUTSIDE THE PIANO
SEARCHING FOR OUR HISTORY
I WILL ASSEMBLE
A CHOIR OF VOICES
TO TELL YOU WHAT THE FUTURE
SOUNDS LIKE
I WILL LOVE YOU
WITH THE WARMTH
OF AN AFRICAN BREEZE
WE ARE HORACE TAPSCOTT
I SAY, WE ARE HORACE TAPSCOTT
AND WE ARE NOT FOR SALE
AND WE ARE NOT FOR SALE
WE ARE NOT FOR SALE, Y'ALL
WE ARE NOT FOR SALE
OUTSIDE THE BOX OF FREEDOM
FREEDOM ♪
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
>> GO!
OH, YEAH! LET'S GO.
YEAH.
GO, MAN. GO. WHOO!
YEAH!
ALL RIGHT.
YEAH!
GO.
GO!
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
[PLAYING DIFFERENT PIECE]
>> YES.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERING]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
[NEW SONG STARTS]
SHARADA SHASHIDHAR: ♪ OOH
AH OOH OOH OOH
AH AH AH AH
I DREAM
OF YOU ALL MY LIFE
PLEASE WILL YOU EASE MY STRIFE?
YOU ARE PARADISE
A LOVE
I HAVE NEVER KNOWN
SWEET AS A HONEYCOMB
COSMIC SEEDS ARE SOWN
MY SOUL'S
CRYING OUT TO YOU
THEY SAY OUR LOVE'S TABOO
HOW I LONG FOR YOU
THIS LOVE'S
FROM ANOTHER WORLD
HEAVEN'S VIBRATIONS SWIRL
YOU'RE MY PRECIOUS PEARL
A DESERT FLOWER
BEAUTIFUL AND RARE
YOUR SOULFUL WALK
LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE WALKING
ON THE AIR
GAZE OF YOUR EYES
PURPOSEFUL AND WISE
I'M HYPNOTIZED
EACH TIME WE TOUCH
IS A SURPRISE
YOU ARE
TRULY ROYALTY
MY LIFE IS NOW COMPLETE
OH, YOUR MAJESTY
TONIGHT
WATCHING AS YOU SLEEP
DREAMING IN PERFECT PEACE
MY DESERT
FAIRY PRINCE
WOMAN: OHH!
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION]
WOMAN: ♪ ALL RIGHT
SESSION: ALL RIGHT
WOMEN: I MET A MOUNTAIN
HE WAS STILL AS PEACE
I MET A MOUNTAIN
HE WAS A FRIEND TO ME
HE WAS ALIVE
HE WAS A FRIEND TO ME
HE WAS ALIVE
HE WAS A KING OF BEATS
SPACE BASE
SHATTERING THROUGH EVERY SYSTEM
SPACE BASE
TRAVELING ON, CAN YOU SEE HIM?
I MET A MOUNTAIN
HE WAS STRONG AS WIND ♪
CONDUCTOR: WHOO!
YEAH!
WOMEN: ♪ HIS SOUND WAS MIGHTY
HIS LAUGH WAS RUMBLING
HE WAS ALIVE
HE WAS A SYMPHONY
HE WAS ALIVE
HE WAS A KING OF BEATS
CONDUCTOR: HEY! 3 AND...
WOMEN: ♪ SPACE BASE
SHATTERING THROUGH EVERY SYSTEM
SPACE BASE
COSMIC TRAVELER
CAN YOU SEE HIM?
WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO
WO WO WOM
WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO
WO WO WO WO WOM
WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO
WO WO WO WOM
WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO
WO WO WO WOM
WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO
WO WO WO WOM
WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO
WO WO WO WOM
WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO
WO WO WO WOM
WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO
WO WO WO WOM
WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO
WO WO WO WOM
WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO
WO WO WO WOM
WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO
WO WO WO WOM
WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO
WO WO WO WOM
WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO
WO WO WO WOM
WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO
WO WO WO WOM
WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO
WO WO WO WOM
WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO
WO WO WO WOM
CAN YOU SEE HIM RISING?
TRAVEL ON
TRAVEL ON
CAN YOU SEE HIM
RISING?
TRAVEL ON
TRAVEL ON, TRAVEL ON
TRAVEL ON
CAN YOU SEE HIM
RISING?
TRAVEL ON
TRAVEL ON
CAN YOU SEE HIM
RISING?
TRAVEL ON
TRAVEL ON, TRAVEL ON
SPACE BASE
SHATTERING THROUGH EVERY SYSTEM
SPACE BASE
COSMIC TRAVELER
CAN YOU SEE HIM?
SPACE BASE
SPACE BASE
COSMIC TRAVELER
CAN YOU SEE HIM?
SPACE BASE...
GROUP 2: TRAVEL ON...
GROUP 1: SHATTERING THROUGH
EVERY SYSTEM
SPACE BASE
GROUP 2: TRAVEL ON...
GROUP 1: COSMIC PEOPLE
CAN YOU SEE HIM?
SPACE BASE...
SHATTERING THROUGH
EVERY SYSTEM
SPACE BASE
GROUP 2: TRAVEL ON...
GROUP 1: CAN YOU SEE HIM?
GROUP 2: TRAVEL ON...
GROUP 1: SPACE BASE
GROUP 1: SEE HIM RISING
GROUP 2: SHATTERING THROUGH
EVERY SYSTEM
OUTER SPACE
GROUP 1: COSMIC PEOPLE...
GROUP 2: TRAVELING ON
GROUP 1: CAN YOU SEE HIM?
SPACE BASE
SHATTERING THROUGH
EVERY SYSTEM
SPACE BASE
GROUP 2: TRAVEL ON...
GROUP 1: COSMIC PEOPLE
CAN YOU SEE HIM?
HE WAS ALIVE!
WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO WO
WO WO WO WOM ♪
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
SESSION: MAKE SOME NOISE FOR
JIMETTA ROSE AND THE VOICES
OF CREATION.
[CHEERING CONTINUES]
SESSION: THAT SONG WAS ENTITLED
"I MET A MOUNTAIN."
IT WAS FOR RAS G.
PEACE TO RAS G.
THANK YOU, JIMETTA. THANK YOU,
LOS ANGELES. WE GOT ONE MORE FOR
Y'ALL. THANK YOU.
MAN: THIS IS PAN AFRIKAN
PEOPLES ARKESTRA, AND WE'RE
BRINGING ON THE FABULOUS,
THE GREAT DWIGHT TRIBLE.
GONNA DO THIS FEATURED SONG
CALLED "LITTLE AFRICA."
DWIGHT TRIBLE: MERRY 2020.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
MERRY 2023.
BRING US ALL A LITTLE BIT CLOSER
TOGETHER.
MERRY 2020.
LET THE PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE ARE
ALL ONE...
THAT WE ARE ALL ONE.
LET US ALL KNOW
THAT WE ARE BROTHERS AND SISTERS
IN 2020,
EVERY LAST ONE OF US!
EVERY LAST ONE OF US!
WE ALL BROTHERS AND SISTERS
HERE IN 2020.
OH, LET THIS--LET THIS BE
THE DECADE OF PEACE.
LET THIS BE THE DECADE OF PEACE.
>> YEAH!
TRIBLE: ♪ LITTLE AFRICA
YOU WITH BLACKENED FACE
WELL, SUMMER'S JUST BEGUN
IN THE BLA-AZING SUN
[CHEERING]
LAUGHTER, SONG
AND A FUN NEW PLACE
OH, PRINCE OF AFRICA
OH, YOU WITH
DISTANT TOUCH
ALL THE JOY YOU BRING
HOW MY HEART DOES SING
THE TRUTH IS REALLY
YOU ARE KING
ON THE NATIVE STARS
YEAH, THE PYRAMIDS
HAVE TOLD
YOU AND ME GONNA
UNBOUND THE SPELL
WITHIN YOUR EYES
IT'S, OH, SO MUCH
OH, I CAN'T
I CAN'T EXPRESS
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH!
[CHEERING]
OH, MY AFRICA
WON'T YOU STAY...
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO STAY
WITH ME
OH
MAYBE WITH OUR LOVE
BABIES BORN TODAY
WITH YOUR SPIRIT'S LIGHT
PEACE IS ON THE WAY
[CHEERING]
AND YOU WON'T HAVE TO STAY
LITTLE A-AF--LITTLE AFRICA
YEAH!
WOMEN: LITTLE AFRICA
TRIBLE: OH, MY LITTLE AFRICA
OH, MY LITTLE
AFRICA
OH, MY LITTLE AFRICA
OH, MY LITTLE
AFRICA
LITTLE AFRICA
YOU WITH BLACKENED FACE
SUMMER'S JUST BEGUN
IN THE BLAZING SUN
LAUGHTER, SONG
AND A FUN NEW PLACE
OH, MY AFRICA
YOU WITH DISTANT TOUCH
ALL THE JOY YOU BRING
HOW MY HEART DOES SING
THE TRUTH IS REALLY
YOU ARE KING
YEAH!
ON THE NATIVE STARS
THE PYRAMIDS
HAVE TOLD
WE'LL UNBOUND THE SPELL
WITHIN YOUR EYES
IT'S, OH, SO MUCH
I CANNOT EXPRESS!
PRINCE OF AFRICA
OH, WON'T YOU STAY...
MAYBE WITH OUR LOVE
BABIES BORN TODAY
WITH YOUR SPIRIT'S LIGHT
PEACE IS ON THE WAY
YOU WON'T HAVE TO STAY
LITTLE AFRICA
YEAH, YEAH
MY LITTLE AFRICA
NO, NO, NO
YEAH
PEACE AND LOVE
OH, PEACE
WELL, WELL, WELL, PEACE
ALL AROUND THE WORLD
YEAH, PEACE AND, YEAH, YEAH
WHOA, EEE EEE!
WHOA WHOA OOH
YEAH, MY LITTLE
AFRICA
YEAH
YEAH, YEAH, YES, YEAH, YEAH!
OH, YEAH, YEAH
OOH, WHOA
YOUR LOVE
YEAH
WELL, WELL
YES, YES, YES, YES, YES!
PEACE, YES!
PEACE, YES, PEACE, OH!
PEACE, YEAH, PEACE, PEACE
PEACE, PEACE, PEACE
WHOA, PEACE, PLEASE, PLEASE
PLEASE
WELL, OH
OH OH
WELL, WELL
YEAH, MY, YES, YES
SOMEBODY SAY "PEACE"
PEACE
SAY "PEACE"
PEACE
LOVE!
LOVE
LOVE, LO-OVE
SAY "LOVE"
WHOA WHOA
WELL, LOVE
WELL, LOVE
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE
LOVE, PEACE
WHOA
YEAH, YEAH
YEAH, HEE HEE!
WELL, WELL, WELL
WELL
OH
OH, MY LITTLE AFRICA
OH, MY LITTLE
AFRICA
OH, MY LITTLE AFRICA
OH, MY LITTLE AFRICA
OH, MY LITTLE
AFRICA
OH, MY LITTLE AFRICA
OH, MY LITTLE
AFRICA
WOMAN: OH, MY LITTLE AFRICA
[TRIBLE VOCALIZING]
PEACE
PEACE, PEACE
YEAH, PEACE, PEACE
OH, PEACE
YEAH, PEACE
OOH
WELL, OH
OH, MY LITTLE AFRICA
OH, MY LITTLE
AFRICA
YEAH
OH, MY LITTLE AFRICA
LET OUR REJOICING
RISE
HIGH AS THE LISTENING SKIES
YEAH, YEAH
YEAH, YEAH!
WHOA OH
YEAH, YEAH
WHOA OH
OOH OOH OOH!
WELL, OVER AND OVER AND OVER
AND OVER
YEAH, YEAH!
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH!
[SONG ENDS, CROWD CHEERING]
TRIBLE: PEACE AND LOVE,
EVERYBODY.
YEAH! EVERYBODY SAY "PEACE"!
CROWD: PEACE!
TRIBLE: LOVE!
CROWD: LOVE!
TRIBLE: THAT'S RIGHT.
THAT'S WHAT IT IS. STAY THERE.
SESSION: ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT. MAKE SOME NOISE FOR
THIS BAND--PAN AFRIKAN PEOPLES
ARKESTRA. IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT
IT IS, YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS NOW.
ANNOUNCER: MAJOR FUNDING FOR
THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY
THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES
DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING WAS PROVIDED
BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR
THE ARTS AND THE LOS ANGELES
COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF ARTS
& CULTURE.
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-
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