Page 17 - BiTS_08_AUGUST_2023

I also see myself as a griot. Drawn from West African tradition, I try to keep our history, the
history of black people – black women in particular – in the United States, in my lifetime, alive
in songs, telling stories, delivering truth as I see it. For sure, my truth is subjective, but no one
has my eyes, but me.

LL: Please tell about the folks who participated and contributed to the making of “Satisfied”.

GA: Thank you for asking. I made note about two incredible musicians that I have worked with
since 2004 on the insert. Roddy Barnes is a pianist extraordinaire! He can play most any style,
but he can really play classic blues. I ask you to listen
to ‘Jelly Bean Blues’. On Ma Rainey's recording, Louis
Armstrong is on cornet and there's a banjo player.
Roddy sings Louis' part and, in those passages, plays
the banjo part in his right hand. Or to hear him really
boogie, listen to our version of ‘The Dirty Dozens’.

Jeff Covert, the studio engineer who first recorded
“Neo-Classic Blues” has been on just about every
recording I've done. What a blessing to have an
engineer who plays lead electric and acoustic guitar,
bass, drums, banjo – whatever! And all are first-rate.
The other day I listened to “Satisfied” and just listened
to his drumming. I was blown away. After all these
years, his work still moves me to tears. You ever cry
just listening to trap drums? I was so full to think that
this man has disciplined his life in such a way to accomplish such goodness on every instrument.

I could talk about every musician on every song. I'll just single out one more: Resa Gibbs. She,
too, has graced many projects for me. On “Satisfed”, you can hear her creative fills on ‘Hetero
Twinges’ and on the outro of ‘Nothing's Changed’ you can hear her recreate the pain of families
being torn apart in 2018. On ‘3 Hour Shoes’, Resa becomes the choir's soprano with an extra
dose of vibrato. Though not on this CD, Resa gives the prayer call on “The Griot's” ‘FMG’ (female
genital mutilation). While her natural voice is incredible, the creative nuances are almost
other-worldly.

These are really big questions and I know I'm getting way too long-winded. I am hoping that
some readers still believe in reading the insert of a CD to learn about each musician's talent.

LL: Are you satisfied with “Satisfied”?

GA: I can nit-pick anything. I would say I'm 95% “Satisfied”. The CD was really hard to put in
order because I definitely wanted the children's songs included. I had to fit songs around them.
Consequently, some of my more powerful songs (like #13, 14, 15) are toward the end of the CD
and might get passed over by cursory listeners.

I love the packaging and the photos. 100% satisfied. I just wish I had taken some space on the
packaging to explain what the dirty dozens are and what look at the forehead/Tommy Jefferson
means. I know they are obscure to some listeners.
I am very, very satisfied with all the music. Only one song I wish I had re-recorded, ‘Prove It On
Me Blues’. After singing it for years, I now really know how to sing the piss out of it. But still, it
ain't bad really.

LL: How was the global pandemic for you?