TigerHawk

Femi Kuti opens Summer 2009 at Hollywood Bowl

Friends welcome to Summer 2009.Sunday June 21,2009 was the Summer Solstice here in Hollywood/Los Angeles.the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Yoruba cosmology and traditions,Eleggua is the 'Opener of the Way'.One of the seven (7) significant Orishas.He is equivalent to St.Michael The Arch-Angel.So it is most welcome and appropriate that Yoruban from Nigeria ,Femi Kuti, son of the great Fela Kuti opened the Hollywood Bowl Summer 2009  season on the Solstice.TigerHawk was blessed with a seat a few feet from the stage, able to sit near Santigold, who along with Raffael Siddiq entertained the capacity crowd.All respects to these 2 artists (an autograph from Philly's Santgold was obtained), but Femi was whom the 12,000 audience mainly came to experience.

We were not disappointed, however we believed there was un-necessary adjustments of the sound levels by the Bowl's engineering to mollify the hillside neighbors, resulting in Femi's continually signalling to raise the volume.Honestly, something was taken away from the full impact of the West African's polyrhythmic and horn sections. Yet we were thrilled by Femi's juggling; blowing on the saxophones(tenor and alto), playing the key-boards, dancing and belting out emotional vocals of Africa's redemption, human sagas, and social justice. Cuts from the new album 'Day by Day' were interspersed with his cult standards such as 'Blackman Know Thyself' , Sorry Sorry'  and 'Beng Beng Beng'. What energy and joy.A powerful start to our Summer 2009 in Los Angeles.Femi is continuing in his father's footsteps of political and social controversy in Nigeria.The Lagos authorities had just recently closed one of his night clubs.Thank you Yoruban for the benediction and blessings.Ache'.

Shakespeare causes a Tempest in Hollywood.

One of TigerHawk's joys SummerTime in Hollywood is the Independent Shakespeare Company outdoor series.A few years back we wrote here on 'Richard II','Mid-Summer Night's Dream' and the Scottish play (Mac....). This week David and his crew threw up the outdoor stage at Barnsdall Arts Park. Shakespeare's later play , 'The Tempest'dealing with the island tropics and the magical is the opening curtain tonight Friday at 7.30 p.m.We can't wait.Henry V continues the royals series and sure to shed light on English societal mysteries since the Normans and their Conquering William grabbed the British Isles in 1066.Last year 10,000 plus attended the series. RSVP is highly encouraged.

Shaolin warrior XJ and a new Tiger Fighting style

We have all heard of the legendary Shaolin monks who through discipline snd virtue defended the honor of China, challenged tyranny and brought highly effective martial arts to the Chinese people.This is not legend but fact.Their danger to Chairman Mao's brain-washing was such that he ordered more fires and persecutions of Shaolin monks much as the Manchus and Ching dynasties.TigerHawk as a beneficiary and supporter of the arts had met a group of Shaolin warriors a few years back through Master Hugh(originally from Jamaica). Fate would put us again in contact in China Town at a Vietnamese-Chinese temple.Now again in Hollywood TigerHawk 'stumbles'upon young Shaolin Master XJ training students in his shealth-regimen and fighting techniques.We recognized each other immediately.'Too much co-incidence'.

This week as TigerHawk stopped by to say hello to XJ, he noticed his students perform a very dynamic and graceful choreography of arm and leg moves.Intuitively TigerHawk sensed a familiarityand asked XJ the name of the forms.XJ smiled and said 'Tiger'.Óne more time, please?''.'Tiger'', he repeated. Amazing.Í created this particular combination, can you help me edit the video?' People, Tiger will soon share the 'Tiger'fighting form from Shaolin warrior XJ on these pages.In the interim here is XJ's site with his history from the legendary Henan province and his personal path expressing 'The Way'.Remember Yoruban Femi exhorts us to 'Fight to Win'.

Ache', Paz Y Luz

TigerHawk

P.S We share in the loss and memory of 'King of Pop' Michael Jackson.