'Santiago, East and West 

of Cuba'

'In Port-au-Prince

They're Picking Up'

Alex's bass-line drives the piece and Hamid's polyrhythms are its bed and I ride the multi-media inside and out. Cuba is a revelation and Santiago feels to me like a city close to pride in Africa and also close to the 'Pride' that upholds the Revolution

now 61 years since it came to power. Plus, the music there!

Crowd at the Feria del Libro in Habana, Friday afternoon, February 4, 2018. 

Maryse's and I first visited her home country, Haiti, as guests

of the excellent Port-au-Prince International Jazz Festival in January 2014. I've since been back 11 times. Every visit, Haitian people on the streets work and otherwise persevere

with dignity. Please see many pages of photos at stickingupforchildren.com.

Kidd and Morikeba felt 2010 earthquake's devastations and how tap-tap vans wind up and down with their colors of unforgotten forests and the "Konbit! Konbit!" that perseveres

in accord with obéissance to powers of endurance and community.

Always moving ... 7:15 a.m., Friday along Boulevard Canapé-Vert in Port-au-Prince, a father walks two sons to school.