'K Balewa' performed

    						K. Balewa 

Every Wednesday morning over WWOZ,

The voice of K. Balewa

Sounded like Africa / Brass,

Dulcet and strong, 

Swinging and bold and kindly, 

As he brought us selections from 

John Coltrane, Sarah Vaughn, Abbey Lincoln,

Alvin Batiste, Nicholas Payton, Diana Krall,

Kidd Jordan, Donald Harrison, Jr.. Stan Getz,

George French, Germaine Bazzle, Chucho Valdes, Art Blakey, ... 

And many, many more 

Of that shimmering tapestry 

Delivered up out of bondage, 

Mélange, and freedom, 

New Orleans still rippling out 

Pilgrims’ triumphs 

And wonders to a needy world. 

K. Balewa also gave us the weather

At Louis Ar grees, wind-speed, and forecast, 

And here too his measured, melodic,

Dulcet and strong voice sounded like

He was glad as Africa / Brass

To perform a service. 

K. Balewa, thank you,

Volunteer, for making the trip

From Gonzalez and after you drove Cab, 

Every Wednesday morning. 

Three hours

You gave us history 

Of the most generous 

And hence female art-form. 

Player! Bearer! 

Shimmering, you. too! 

Smoking like you meant it! 

K. Balewa, you another voice we’ll always hear. 

				First, April 2016