Tokyo Tales (part 2)

O.K.
Pull up a chair while I pick up where I left off...

So after I came back from Ginza-
The band and I went to the Blue Note Tokyo
to see the Tower of Power play their set.
This was an experience I did not want to pass up and
I'm so glad I didn't-It was AWESOME!!!
They are such a great band and the guys are cool too.
Because I'm an Oakland Girl (OAKTOWN HOLLA!!!)
I have an extra special affinity for Tower...
When they played Oakland stroke I lost it!!
The horn section was ON it- ANNNND...
You're still a young man (baaaaby...ooohh) is the
absolute JAM! ( Holla at cha' girl ILL!! )

Here are a few pics from backstage after the show.


(Larry Braggs-The Lead singer)


(Roger Smith-The Keyboard/Organist)


(Francis "Rocco" Prestia-The Bass player- Original Memeber!)


(Jeffrey Osborne, Kevin Chokan (guitarist), Larry Braggs, Roger Smith and ME!)



After I left the Blue Note I hooked back up with
my friends and we headed over to a city called Shibuya.
Maru says it is the city where the young, artsy and eclectic hang out.

(Me, Maru and our peace signs hahaha!)



Once a month there's a huge Jam session for all
musicians. You bring your instrument (if you play) and everyone
takes turns Jammin' with each other.





I met a lot of musicians from the Tokyo music scene and lots
of American musicians as well. It was a really cool hang.

Here are more pics


(Me, Maru and Shauna Marie-Pochi's Girlfriend)


(The Butterfly Crew :) Olivia, Me, Maru and Shauna Marie)


(Carin-The Japanese Erykah Badu and Me)


(Taku, Carin, Maru, Shauna Marie, Me and Tommy Campbell
the "Bombest" drummer in Japan!!!)

I gotta give a shout out to Queen Bamby Jonez *bka* Candy Ass!!!
This girl is a gas... and beans!!! LUV HER!!!

(Candy Boob and Candy Ass hahahaha!!!)

Now I might have forgotten to mention that we jammed all night-
LITERALLY.
We didn't leave my hotel until about 1:45 in the morning.
And in true musician style when we left the JAM it was 7am the next day :)
So what's left to do but go get food!!??!
Here we are clowin' at Jonathan's- which is like our Denny's but
Japanese style. Notice how I'm in NONE of these photos-
I will NEVER let the camera see me lookin' crazy on purpose!!!


(Soshi and Pochi... "MOTERIO" *inside joke*)


( The Diva Hannah who opened for the "real" Erykah Badu
when she played Japan)


(uh... PEACE?? hahaha!)

Before I go-
I've got to send love to my friend MAYUMI!

She comes to see the shows when ever I play Japan,
she brings me beautiful gifts and is a great friend :)
She also teaches English in Japan and tells me that her
students read and love my blog...HELLO CLASS!!!

Aiight... I'm out!



Sangindiva~

Tokyo Tales...

I figure since I can't call anybody at home because
it's 4 a.m. (Cali time) I might as well get to bloggin'!
I usually wait until I get home to get my blog on-
but I have free high speed internet in my room and
all the stories are still fresh in my head.
Plus, when I get home I won't feel like talking about it...
AND SUPA SISTA (the Gemini Genius)
told me to write somethin' :)

I am staying at Hotel Okura
which according to my friend Mayumi-
is one of the 2 best hotels in Tokyo,
(I mean the President stays here-
NOT that he's so great- but if it's good enough for
Ol' W then who am I to hate?)
When I was here last year I stayed
at the other one. ( whole 'nutha trip and story...)
Just one more reason that I'm a balla' shot calla'...
um... KIDDING!
On the for real-for real - the hotel is VERY nice.
EVERYTHING is embroidered.
I have thick fluffy American bathrobes AND Japanese ones
just in case I feel froggy :)
There are phones in EVERY part of the room-
AND bathroom so that I don't have to get up-
'cause I'm lazy like that...
There's a computerized scale, fax machine with my own private #,
a HUGE desk, 2 kinds of slippers-(a terry cloth set and a japanese set)
embroidered once again-with the name of the hotel-
a DVD player, and MP3 hook up so I can play my I-pod,
wireless web AND ethernet in the room
a humidifier(!!!) so that I don't dry my voice and throat out-
because THAT'S how I roll :) (they don't call me a diva for nothin'!)
A hot water thinga-ma-bob that always has fresh HOT
water in it so I can have tea at any time...
Lounge chairs and mirrors everywhere :)
EVERYDAY I get new toothbrushes w/paste and
fizzing bath salts for my bath
(they smell delicious and turn the water pretty colors.)
There's so much stuff up in here up in here...
they have thought of every creature comfort.
I ain't braggin'- just showin' you how GOOD God is.
This is how I asked him to see the world...

Anyway- I'm playing at the Cotton Club Tokyo.
It's a fairly new club. Only been open 3 months.
It's owned by the Blue Note, so the atmosphere is
pretty much the same.
(Musicians who have done the Blue Note circuit will know
what I mean)...
VERY upscale, about 100 yen/dollars to get in.
Not including dinner and drinks.
Japan is known for supper clubs. They like intimate settings.

Here I am the first night right before going on stage.


And then after the show in the green room chillin'



The next night I was starting to get into the swing of thangs-
I was used to the time difference by then
(1 day and 5 hours ahead) and was feelin' aiight :)



That night some of my friends came.
It was soo cool. I was glad to see my crew :)
Maru insisted on the peace sign-
She said Shannon- YOU HAVE TO DO IT-
IT'S THE JAPANESE WAY!!! um... ok *shrug*


(Shota in green, Me, Maru in front, Olivia the Canadian Jap :) and Pochi)
Maru and Olivia are both singers and Shota & Pochi
are GREAT keyboard players!
They also invited me to a Jam session the next day-
(more on that later)

More Green room chillin'...





The next day I hopped on the train and went to Ginza.







They have a luxury district that rivals Beverly Hills...
I was in heaven! :)
I don't normally bring back souvenirs anymore-
especially since this is my 3rd time to Japan-
But for you ISHA ...I was thinking BLUE. :)

One thing I ALWAYS do is find a stationary shop
and buy beautiful paper and envelopes.
The Japanese LOVE writing and they make beautiful paper.
You have to feel it before you buy it because some of it
can be really thick and is used for calligraphy.
I would show a picture but they (gift) WRAP everything!!
so it's wrapped up... *Oh, well...* (Kia!!!)

One thing I love about Japan is how clean and safe it is.
I mean, for real, you could leave your purse sitting on the street,
come back 2 days later and it's right where you left it- NO JOKE.

So, as I'm walking down the nooks, crannys and alleys-
known as streets in Ginza I stumbled upon a public restroom.


This is significant because they DON'T look ANYTHING like ours.
FIRST of all they are CLEAN. I mean REALLY clean.


Second... the toilets are kinda like hole in the ground.


Now, what you are SUPPOSED to do is squat down over it like so...

now I guess that works for a little Japanese person-
But a 6 foot(without my shoes) sista like me??
That would NOT have happened for a WHOLE lot of reasons!!
(oh and you need to be skinny by the way because it's SUPER narrow)

Then you wipe and flush...


And throw away any trash (electronically mind you)...


All while standing, I mean, SQUATTING in a shower sized box :)
I mean these folks got a system!! hahaha!
I hate to sound like the Diva I am...
but Thank GOD I didn't have to use it!!!

In my hotel room as well as the club-
and ALL of the shops I went to...
They have computerized toilets with a bidet.

A bidet (Beh-DAY) is found mostly in rich folks' homes
or high end establishments overseas.
It is bascially a shower for your a**.

When you sit on the toilet there are 2 nozzles-
one points to the womans...uh..private area,
and one points to your...uh...hole :)
you can adjust water the pressure
(which I suggest you do- ahaha!)
and warm water comes out to wash yo' a**
after doin' ya biz-nass-
or gives you a womanly "spray"
after you tinkle :)
I love it actually :) heh heh heh...



As I was walking around I met a Kimono seamstress.


She was so excited to talk to me!
In our limited english/japanese exchange
she told me she had visited Los Angeles about 10
years ago and that some of the material she uses
to make Kimonos are 40 years old.
Her daughter took the photo of us together.



Alright I'm tired.
I will have to tell you the rest later
And I need to get dressed :)
Stay tuned for part 2...

Hosted at YourSpaceNow.com

Sangindiva~

'Konichiwa' from JAPAN!!

Konichiwa (koh-Nee-chee-wah)- Hello All!

I know my post is a little late but you try crossin' the international date line
and see how much posting gets done!! :)


I really like Japan. The culture, the people, it's traditions...
I think if I could speak and read the language I could stay a while :)
I've been to a few cities in Japan-
Nagoya, Asakusa, Osaka, Fukuoka, and (of course) Tokyo.
(which is where I am now)

Tokyo is cool because it's like a Japanese New York-
crowded streets, traffic jams, taxis, lights, clubs,
24 hour spots- It's crazy! You can easily go into a
club and the sun will beat you home :)
Like it did me last night! hahaha!

I won't post alot right now because I am hanging out and
doin' my thang :) But I will have stories and of course pictures
soon.



Sangindiva~

Watch Mama Work...

I'm so excited!! When I opened my e-mail today,
I was surprised to find pictures from the show in St. Vincent.
(see-'And So I'm Grateful' post).
I am very happy to see them because
I did not take any pictures from that show.

At first I was thinking-
I'd be too much of a diva if I displayed a post
full of pictures of myself...
Then I thought -IT'S MY DANG BLOG!!!
Sooooo.... sit back and Watch Mama Work!!!







This is my Tina Turna moment! hahaha!


Whew! It's gettin' hot in hurr...






Buh-bye...





Sangindiva~

My Love Letter To God...

Since today is Valentine's Day and most of the world is celebrating it
by expressing their love to someone- I, too, will join in.

I am writing a love letter... to God.

When you love someone it is important to let them know.
I feel it is important for God to know how much I love and appreciate him-
so on this "International Day of Love" I am doing just that.


Dear God,

I love you.
Not because I have to, but because I want to.
I love you because you first loved me.
There are so many reasons to love you- so many that if I had
10,000 tongues I couldn't name them all or thank you enough...
but let me at least try :)

I love you for giving me the ULTIMATE gift-which is LIFE.

I love you for being so faithful and giving me a fresh start every day.
(Lamentations 3:22-23)

I love you for loving me in spite of my faults and short comings.

I love you for the gifts and talents that you have given me.

I love you for blessing me with people in my life who love me,
and with whom I can share love.

I love you for creating such a beautiful world for me to explore
and enjoy.

I love you for giving me a wonderful son with a gentle spirit
and good disposition.

I love you for taking my dreams and allowing me to live them
bigger and better than I could have ever imagined.

I love you for blessing me so much-
that I must drink from my saucer because
"my cup has runneth over"...

I know these are simple reasons and my list could go on forever-
these are just token reasons as to why I love you.
I could never even begin to express the depth of my love for you
Lord... Daddy... GOD...
but you are important enough for me to let you know.


Sangindiva~

Am I ready for love?

India.Aire has a song that says:
"I am ready for love
why are you hiding from me?
I'd quickly give my freedom
to be wrapped in your captivity..."

It's a beautiful song-
and I totally feel the sentiment,
but really... AM I ready for love???

With all the hoopla surrounding Valentines Day-
(and all the stores pushing hearts and crap down your throat
before Christmas is even over) I had to stop and ask myself-
What IS love? REAL LOVE?? Am I ready for love???

Most of the time what comes to mind when one thinks of love,
it is the Hollywood idealized version... which tends to lead you
down the dark alley of disillusionment and disappointment.

Most people think love is having a "perfect" relationship
(when neither of you are perfect)
or that love is easy-
or that love enough to make things last forever...

Love is so much more than roses, a card and chocolate once a year.
Now don't get me wrong- I love all of that stuff...
(and jewelry, and spa packages, and perfume and...) :)
It's just that no one talks about the tears, the sacrifices and compromises
that one must make to be with someone else.
Someone who did not experience life the way you did-
Someone who does not think the way you do, or do things
the way YOU do them (or think they should be done)

So I wonder... Am I ready for love?



Or is the question- Is it ready for me??


Sangindiva~

And So I'm Grateful...

One of my dreams growing up was to see the world.
Not just some of it... but the WHOLE thing.
The dream started because I always wanted to be somewhere else,
when I was growing up. I hated my house for various reasons- but
instead of wishing to be invisible- I wished to be somewhere else
in the world. I would read books about different places and wonder
what it would be like to have a life outside of the one I knew.
I would PRAY and PRAY and although it didn't happen right then...
it has and is still happening- And So I'm Grateful...

I just got home from the Island of St. Vincent (and the) Grenadines.


(Frankie, ME and Joey)

I must say it was very...Interesting.
It took a loooong time to get there.
(4 hours more in a plane going south and you'd be in Venezuela!!!)
I went from L.A. to Miami to Barbados to St. Vincent
PLUS- in order to get to St. Vincent, we had to take a little
prop plane... can we say SCARY??!!



The island itself is an (active!!! but dormant) Volcano.
There's not a lot of flat land on the island. It's just a big hill.
It is very green and lush 'cause it rains ALL the dang time!!
It wasn't even the "rainy season" but it rained in BUCKETS at
least 5 times a day. It was very HOT & humid.

Rain is coming...

After the rain...



It's beaches are black sand beaches. That was the first time I had
ever seen a black sand beach. The sand was very fine but looked
like dirt. Interesting...


While I was there I met the Island "Emeril"- Chef Sid Murphy
and his brother Wayne. They are a funny bunch!


They told me all types of stories AND Sid
made me a fabulous meal of Mahi -Mahi fish in an
orange juice and orange cointreau liqueur sauce over wilted
greens and cherry tomatoes... all I can say is YUM!

Sid told me that he lives totally off of the island...
no electricity, no running water, his house has no walls
it's just open and he built it with his hands... WOW!
He wanted to show it to me BUT-
the only way to get there was to get in his "boat"

and there was no pier- so once we got there
I'd have to walk in the water to get to the shore...
AWW HELL TO THE NAW!!!


As much as they tried to assure me I'd be safe-
("we'll give you a life jacket, you'll be fine")
I KNOW better- I swim like a ROCK. So I passed.
I'm sure it would have been a wonderful sight to see...
but, OH WELL...

As with most Islands, the native people are often
very poor. I came across "wash day" for a few families-
down at the river...

This "river" is water that flows down from the mountain
before it opens into the ocean.


As always, I have more pictures and stories
than time and room to post them.
But as I think back on the dreams I had as a little girl,
the dreams that are coming into fruition,
the dreams that I am living-
which allow me to know without a shadow of doubt
that I have a purpose... and destiny
I stand in awe of God. And I thank him.

When I think about how blessed I am
and have been-
I realize how loving, merciful and good God is-
And So I am Grateful...




Sangindiva~

I'M BAAAAACK!!!

I have so much to say-so let's get it started...

First let me say I'm leaving on Thursday for St. Vincent
so I'm gonna have to make this a quick post.
(Saint Vincent are islands between the Caribbean Sea
and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago.
They are apart of the Grenadines-islands in the
British West Indies (BWI).)

Second- I have a lot of pictures but in the interest of time
I will only post some. Anyone who knows the Sangindiva on
a more intimate level will get ALL the juice!

AAAAAND...
The first night I was there I went partyin'.
After a night of Island club hoppin' and non stop shot poppin'
we ( my driver, guide & I ) went to this HOOOOD chicken spot...
It was great drunk folk food-
greeeeeasy chicken and THICK, greeeeeeasy fries...
but WHY did I break my back tooth eating it ???!!!
THAT WAS SOOO UN-FABULOUS!!!
I of course had to wait until I got home to hook it up-
'cause I was NOT going to trust the local island man
all up in my mouth.
BUT- my motto is: Beauty knows no pain!!
So it did NOT stop me from feeling or LOOKING fabulous! hahaha!
so now- I'm typing with a FAT lip... ugh!

o.k.

NASSAU was the BOMB- but it was COLD!!!
I can't believe how cold it was...
needless to say the pool was empty LOL!


I stayed at the Atlantis Hotel on Paradise Island,
which is really NOT apart of Nassau but because there is a bridge
that connects them- uh... it is.
The hotel is REALLY beautiful! They even have a REAL aquarium in it.
You walk through this tunnel and it's like you're underwater-
Fantastic!! I would show pics but...
it's boring if you weren't there.

So let's get to ME... Shall We?! :)

Here I am in the Ballroom where the festivities took place,
while the folks were setting up.

Here is what the tables looked like


This is significant because RYAN (luv him!!!)
is one of the men behind all of this...
(he throws great parties & knows EVERYONE!!)


Now believe me your girl was busy working the room!
There were sooo many folks up in the place I couldn't get
to them all. The bar of course was fully stocked and...
FREE :) all top shelf quality liquor- just how I like it.
The food was great. There were about 5 or 6 different
food stations with all types of stuff- lobster, shrimp,
prime rib, sushi, caribbean foods etc...

Here I am back stage in the green room with
Cedric (The Entertainer) and his wife Lorna-
who I must say is THE HOMEGIRL!!
We all sat at the same table with BeBe Winans
and somebody else but I forget...
(blame the drinks!)
Cedric also opened the show-
that boy is FUNN-TEE!


Shanice and I were both prayin' and freakin' out on the plane
You should have seen us holdin' hands and callin' da Lawd!
She also sang a song with Michael McDonald for the show.

I normally ain't the "click" type-
but the band said I was being "clicky" because
by the end of the week-
Shanice, Flex, Sally, DeAndre, Gabrielle & I
were "bestist" friends!!
Of course I don't think it's true but WHATEVER!





Chris Tucker told me I was fun-
and said why you ain't takin' pictures with me?!
I was like My bad! CHEESE!

I go my photo with Jada before we hit the dance floor.
I think I must have danced with his Whole crew!!

Mya was looking cute-I wasn't mad at her!

O.K. Yall-
I need to step my sports game WAY up.
I was dancing with Derek Jeeter...
and didn't know it! Tyrell Owens was cheesin'
for everybody's pictures and I didn't even look his way-
'cause I didn't know who he was! HELLO!!
My homegirl from the waaay back DeLeon (Richards) Sheffield
was like "Shannon-my husband is over THERE"...
('cause I didn't know WHO the HECK he was!!!)
I mean- it WAS sponsored by Michael Jordan!!!
Anyway... here we are-



o.k. yall for real I gotta go-
I have a gang of pics and stories that just
can't fit into one post :(
Anyway before I sign off-
I've got to give props to 'DA BAND!!!

Mark (F.O.H.), Andrew (Tech), ME! (Sangindiva), Phil da Pill (Keys),
Gorden (Drums -in front) Mike (bass), Kenya (vocals) Lynn (vocals)

AND my bosses :)
George Duke, Me, and Jeffrey Osborne.
(This picture was from a show the next night)


Sangindiva is out...