Shafiq Husayn – “Nirvana”

The drawback of dealing with a huge backlog of good music is that I often take a long time to get around to listening to some of the hottest shit. I picked up Shafiq’s solo project months after everyone had already been raving about it. Even if you followed all of Sa-Ra’s work closely, it would be hard to prepare for the experience of hearing Shafiq En’ A-Free-Ka for the first time. It’s a cosmic afro-space sonic landscape.

RJD2 – “Games You Can Win” (Feat. Kenna)

See the Shafiq comments. I sat on RJD2’s latest for a long time too but great sounds don’t have expiration dates. The Colossus is a fascinating listen. This Kenna joint is dope but not even in my top three tracks on the album. You should check it out for yourselves.

Trus’me feat. Amp Fiddler – “Can We Pretend”

Great dancefloor flip of a Bill Withers classic from this Brit DJ/producer with a hot hand in the game right now. Catch him in DC on March 20 as part of the Forward Festival.

Reggie B & Miles Bonny – “Doin Our Thang”

I initially wasn’t sold on the vocals and writing but this joint has an irresistible bop to it. Sometimes the whole is bigger than the sum of its parts. You agreed too, as many of you asked me about this tune.

Spring’s here. You should stop by.

Download audio file (DJStylus_The_Carlton.mp3)

[download | subscribe via iTunes]

Carlton Banks & Tom Jones – It’s Not Unusual
Gnarls Barkley – Smiley Faces
Stevie Wonder – Part-time Lover
Hall & Oates – You Make My Dreams
Alice Russell – High Up On The Hook
Prince – I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man
Blackalicious – Powers
Lauryn Hill – Lose Myself
HEAVy – Sam
Joe Jackson – Steppin’ Out
Zo! and Tigallo – Steppin’ Out
Pigeon John – Brand New Day
Gang Starr – Lovesick (Upbeat Mix)
Carlton is a maniac
Pink – Feel Good Time feat. William Orbit
J*DaVeY – Outta The Window
Weird War – Ak-47
Punks Jump Up – Dance To Our Disco
Jamiroquai – Black Devil Car
PPP – Countless Excuses
Luther Vandross – Give Me The Reason
Carlton Banks – I’ve Got A Gal In Kalamazoo
Donald Fagen – Walk Between Raindrops
Doobie Brothers – Taking It To The Streets
Ben Westbeech & Die – Get Closer (Lovers Mix)
Carlton approves

It’s designed to make you dance like Carlton Banks for an entire hour, a dance originally captured in the wild by Eddie Murphy.

Those with shallow historical knowledge might be skeptical that this dance actually existed. For confirmation, check The Boss and Courtney Cox GOING IN on the white people dance, particularly at 3:30. This shit is awesome.

We’ve established that this dance has its own lore, but like any true visionary, Alfonso Ribeiro took existing styles to new creative heights in creating Carlton Banks’ signature movement vocabulary.

With DJs Stylus, Meistro, Deep Sang and Hermon on live percussion.

Snowpocalypse knocked us off track last month but the forecast for Saturday:
Abundant sunshine. Highs in the low 50s.

January the floor was filled all night grooving to afro beat, salsa, samba and more.

ALL beers are $4 (including Leffe & Redstripe)

Saturday, March 6
Dahlak
1771 U St, NW (18th & U)
21 and Over
NO COVER

Nona Hendryx – “Why Should I Cry?”

No, not Chaka or Vesta but one-third of LaBelle. Big shouts to ThePBG for getting it right, singing along AND doing her dance. This used to go hard. Word to Jellybean Johnson.

Sherrick – “Just Call”

I won with this one. Folks guessed Loose Ends and that actually makes sense stylistically. Sherrick only had one hit other than this one and sadly passed away in 1999. I’m bringing this tune back though.

Five Star – “Let Me Be The One”

Part of a double play, I dropped “All Fall Down” too. UK stand up. This was just for funsies. If folks didn’t know Five Star I would have had to put them on punishment.

I wasn’t in retro mode all night of course. Right now I’m stanning hard for the homie Ty’s new project, so expect a lot excitement generated about it in this space. Again, UK represent.

Ty – “Emotions”

Every week, your new favorite song. Come by and check us out.

Thursday, February 25, 2010
9pm
Marvin
2007 14th St., NW WDC

The all-star DJ lineup:
RBI | Stylus | Book | JahSonic | 2-Tone Jones | Roddy Rod | J-Laine
& Special Guests

$5 Donation (Proceeds to benefit The JDILLA Foundation)

It’s been out for a couple of weeks but good music isn’t held captive by 1st week sales or blizzards.

If this is all foreign to you, play catch up here. The brainchild of UK future soul producer Dego (2000 Black, 4hero), keyboardist Kaidi Tatham (DKD, Agent K), and vocalist/songwriter Bembe Segue (4hero, The Politik) Silhouette Brown’s 2005 debut was the sexy, jazzy flip-side to broken beat’s jump up riddims.

We have two copies of the new Silhouette Brown album to give away at Refuge tonight to go along with a set featuring cuts from both albums and an exploration of Dego, Kaidi and Bembe’s extensive catalog. The first two folks to email me at djstylus AT vibeconductor DOT com with the answers to these questions will snag a copy of Two. Google is your friend.

1. Name the featured vocalist on Silhouette Brown’s debut.
2. Name the featured vocalist on the new Silhouette Brown album.
3. What classic hip-hop figure cameos on the new album?
4. Name the first single from the new album.
5. Name one project, collaboration or crew that Dego, Kaidi or Bembe are associated with that I didn’t mention above.

Last week I was deep in Two bliss and my 2000 Black crates as well. There were a couple of amorous couples in the building getting re-acquainted on date night. I think they rather enjoyed this cut:

Silhouette Brown – “Check It (Calling You)”

You might find these bits interesting.

For the lovers…

I went digging in the crates and pulled out a classic soundtrack for seduction.

Projectvibe 2 – Foreplay
Download audio file (projectvibe2.mp3)
[download | tracklist]

For the skeptics…

We’ve put together an evening for those that generally consider Valentine’s Day a day of corniness, or even worse, a source of emotional distress. The happily coupled and the comfortably single are encouraged to attend, but we’ve got some special things in store for those looking for a little help in connecting with someone new.

Suite 202 Sessions: Valentine’s Jook Joint

For the heartbroken…

Because we’ve all been there, check out my Valentine’s playlist for dumpers and dumpees on The Root. Trouble don’t last always. Cry or shout it out as needed.

Love Songs for the Lovelorn: a DJ Stylus breakup playlist – TheRoot.com

They win.

Here’s an actual album cover:

And tracklisting:

And here’s a song with some R&B guy you may have heard before.

[POEM-CEES - "Honor" feat. Smokey Temptation]
Everything You’ve Always Wanted… 2010

-Complimentary Desserts
-Drink specials
-Get to Know You Scavenger Hunt (win deeper drink discounts that night or come back to Tabaq for brunch and get a discount)

Featuring:

Basement: “90 Below”: DJ Stylus makes it sexy with a “slow drag” set featuring music that’s no faster than 90bpms (beats per minute). DJ Phaze will guest with a special lover’s rock reggae set.

Art Room: “Suite Spot”: DJ Jahsonic makes it funky for the people who prefer a faster pace. Funk, disco, house, soul and everything else that gets the party going, with DJ Phaze sitting in.

RSVPs will be required for entry. No Cover.

Saturday, February 13
10pm
Tabaq Bistro
1336 U Street, NW WDC

Chris Burns
DJ Stylus
Louie Vega & Anané

Friday, February 12
Liv
2001 11th St NW WDC
$20
doors: 9pm

Every component of our Sade listening party worked out perfectly. From the food to the Sade themed cocktail samples courtesy of Ciroc (thanks Karim!), the art (big up Charles Jean-Pierre), the eager crowd of music lovers and party people and the sponsorship support. I speak on behalf of LSP in thanking April at Sony for allowing Refuge to host the event and hooking up our guests with great prizes. Soldier of Love comes out February 9. I’ve got mine on pre-order.

[photos: Dana Kristina-Joi Morgan]

Check Gerald Watson’s spot for more photos.

Before we listened to the new album, I played an all Sade set. Didn’t rock any Sweetback though! Outside of that bit of fail, the evening was spiced with great remixes that I pulled from my stash. How is it that three of the best Sade remixes are for “By Your Side?” Tell me in the comments which one is the hottest.

Sade – “By Your Side” (the Neptunes Remix)

This is a great snapshot of the Neptunes sound that dominated the scene ten years ago and the ability for them to adapt their club banging style to a ballad. This one isn’t so rare and was actually released on a single so you should be able to dig it up.

Sade – “By Your Side” (Cottonbelly Remix)

For those just tuning in, Cottonbelly is Stuart Matthewman, founding member of Sade and Sweetback. This smoldering afrobeat ember can be found on a rare compilation of his and also on the Red Hot + Riot album, which everyone should own anyway. Neptunes, I’ma let you finish, but Cottonbelly had the best “By Your Side” remix of all times… OF ALL TIMES! *shrug*

Sade – “By Your Side” (Naked Music Mix)

Let me stop playing. Cottonbelly has seniority due to his role in the band but I can’t give him the title that quickly. So much of the Sade discography captures the essence of carnal pleasure but this remix is one of the sexiest Sade songs in existence. I waxed nostalgic about Naked Music after week 12, but for anyone not hip, this label built their whole catalog on music designed for getting someone pregnant.

One thing that can never be replaced about vinyl is the thrill of the hunt and the emotional relationship you develop with the treasures you find. When this white label dropped, I felt like I was walking around with something rare, magic and powerful whenever I had this in my dj bag. Records like these make you feel like you should be porting them around in a Haliburton cuffed to your wrist.

Sade – “Stronger Than Pride” (Karizma K2 Mix)

Here’s the portion of the talent contest where a feature performs while the judges deliberate, although I want your opinions about this one too. It was feeling so good to me that I had to play it twice in the same night. I know you all weren’t mad either. Opening with what sounds like a distorted tuba and accordion (?!?) the track builds hypnotically with vocal loops, percussion and synths for four minutes before you even get to the first verse. By then it’s a spiritual experience. You must rock the whole 10 minutes. EPIC.

Karizma is one of my top 5 favorite DJs. His sets are technical, soulful, funky and downright BRUTAL. It’s like musical masochism. Dude is a fucking monster on the decks. I’ve seen him make a roomful of the world’s best DJs draw inward and reflect on the meaning of their craft. His production work brings the same heat. Drawing from his background in Baltimore club, he blends sexy jazziness with jack-your-body beats.

He still releases his remixes on wax, which makes them that much more valuable. That was the only way you could get them until now. If you’re willing to suck up the import tax, you can own ALL OF THE K2 edits on CD. the $20 is worth it just for the Sade mix alone, not to mention the Faith Evans, Maxwell, Al B. Sure, Anita Baker…. just cop that joint and buy me a drink when you see me next as a show of gratitude.

So last week, Tami sang a few of her most popular songs to her five fans (not really) then Refuge turned into a juke joint. Here are a few cuts responsible for that.

Omar – “Feeling You” feat. Stevie Wonder

These two could really do a whole album together. Has Omar ever made a less than banging joint? That was a silly question.

Paulinho Da Costa – “Love Till The End Of Time”

The Grammys got me reminiscing on the Black Eyed Peas when they were still dope. And that got me reminiscing on one of my favorite jazz fusion joints ever by one of Brazil’s most esteemed exports.

Unlimited Touch – “I Hear Music In The Streets”

CHOOON!!

Nathan Adams & Zepherin Saint – “Holding On”

I’m glad that I can officially crown this a Refuge staple after giving “Circles” a well-deserved rest. Can these cats keep making anthems every time they drop a joint? Don’t want to put that much pressure on them but if they make a full album it could be a problem (in a good way). Zepherin Saint is on FB too. Go be his friend.

The Clonious – “One At A Time” feat. Musinah

Full disclosure, when this first came out, I kinda ignored it despite its release on one of my favorite labels. It was a collaboration between Muhsinah and another talented, up and coming RBMA attendee from Austria, and maybe I was hating a little inside because of all the times RBMA rejected me. DJ Stylus is human and has his faults. Thanks to DJ Brainchild, I got a second chance to fall into one of the most breathtaking tunes I’ve heard in recent memory.

This song sounds like what I imagine Na’vi sex feels like.

I love Muhsinah like cooked food and fancy beer. I won’t let my petty ego issues stand in the way of our love ever again. Much props to The Clonious too. I shook off the shame and bought both of his projects immediately.

Dianne Reeves & Grant Green – “Down Here On The Ground” (Ummah Remix)

The New Groove was several years ahead of the rush of legendary labels seeking to monetize their back catalogs through remix projects. I used to wear this cassette out.

Burnier & Cartier – “Mirandolina”

Que bonito!

Refuge makes me smile when someone is minding their business, I throw on a tune and they’re compelled to get out of their seat and groove in their own little world. Then they come to me and I can tell them the name of their new favorite song. I have to give props to DJ Day for getting me hip to this one.

Tam-Rock is re-launching her website and celebrating at Refuge this week. Join us this Wednesday! There will be girly stuff, like make-up giveaways and martinis and such. Considering my fanbase, this doesn’t bother me at all. She’s going to sing a few songs and give away some music too.

Little Miss Whiskey’s Golden Dollar is no longer a secret. Spot was full by 10pm. Jammed by 11pm with a line outside. I rocked them bammas, but I had to retool my approach to play peak time intensity at 11:30 rather than 1am. Mark the owner was looking at the room, then looking at me like “could you go ahead and crush these fools already?”

The chorus of supporters all say “why weren’t you recording?”

My recorder is kinda funny style these days. The cash register was working overtime last night so maybe I’ll go buy a new one. “Cha-ching!!”

I lieu of what would have been a dope podcast, here’s a setlist, if only for the folks who were asking me about tunes I couldn’t remember playing. Must have been “The Awesomeness” at work. I somehow ended up with more peach whiskey slurpees than I intended.

[setlist: DJ Stylus at Little Miss Whiskey's, 1/23/10]

Everything from ’80s jams, b-boy classics, jheri curl fonk, house, disco… all that.
[Download my favorite 2009 set from LWM]

DJ Stylus at Little Miss Whiskey’s Golden Dollar
1104 H St. NE, WDC
Saturday, January 23
10pm – 2am
NO COVER

Ty – “What You Want”

I push Ty the way that Jehovah’s Witnesses push salvation. If you dig progressive, soulful, smart hip-hop and you don’t have any Ty in rotation then I feel like it’s my duty to help you see the light. This is one of my favorite cuts from his superb Closer album. Taylor McFerrin on the beatbox.

Petalpusher – “Rely On Me”

Naked Music’s best years were just magic. The beautiful series of nudes on the album covers and the gems in the record sleeves that never left your crate after purchase. I can’t look at these records without being flooded with memories of rocking sets with or having dancefloor moments to these songs. 10 years ago the Vibe Conductor concept was just forming and these tracks helped shape that early identity.

Fertile Ground – “Take Me Higher” (Waiwan Remix)

Felt like ending the evening with drum & bass so I did. Must do that more often. Maybe tonight?

Think it could work?

Here are some of the joints I pulled out early in the night when I was in that mood.

Middlewood Sessions – “Fall Back”

Fitting that since I invoked Gilles Peterson above, this was released on his Brownswood label.

Lonnie Smith – “Apex”

Records like this are why I still buy vinyl.

Jukka Eskola – “1974″

What a gorgeous smoker of a tune from this young Finnish trumpeter. This is one of those songs that you wonder where it’s been all your life once you hear it. It’s a bit hard to find. First released as a b-side to the “Buttercup” 12-inch in the image above, it was also on his 2005 debut album as well as a Raw Fusion compilation. I must thank Tigallo for putting me up on this one. Homie’s got a jazz ear too.

Every Wednesday I’ve always got more treats to share.

Apparently this was all the New Year’s partying that some folks needed.

As these events were developing, I was playing out of my “make you shake your ass and sing along” repertoire. But before all that, we was chillin’ and this is how it went down. No categories on this post, just a few noteworthy joints.

Boogiemonsters – “Recognized Thresholds of Negative Stress” (Stressless Mix)

This has always been and will always be my jam. But being the contrarian that I am, I rocked the smoothed out remix last week. It definitely has its own charm.

The Sunburst Band – “Far Beyond”

This is an old staple of mine that I had to put on ice for a few years because I played it too much. Then when I bring it back out of retirement, it’s new to everyone! Another fantastic usage of Ahmad Jamal’s “Swahililand”.

Dorothy Ashby – “Cause I Need It”

Swingingest harpist I know of, and source material for some of Pete Rock’s best work.

As usual, your presence is requested.

SOL POWER
Afro.Latin.Brazilian.House.Disco.Funk.

DJ Stylus
Meistro
Deep Sang

This Saturday January 2nd and every 1st Saturday for 2010.
10 pm

Dahlak
1771 U St, NW (18th & U)
Washington, DC
21+
NO COVER

Vibe Conductor Pick:

Kidkanevil – “When I Dig” featuring Kissey Asplund, Blu

It almost feels premature to be rocking this now because it’s such a spring jam. Kissey Asplund does her cutesy space kitten thing and Blu’s Dana Dane impression takes me back to happier times. Who’s Kidkanevil? I’m just finding out myself over a year after everyone else did.

Peoples’ Pick:

Eric Roberson – “Wanna Believe It Again” feat. Wayna

I got Music Fan First right before the first Refuge and been banging this tune ever since. It’s almost cursory to highlight it at this point because its jam status was instantly evident. But I love it. The dancefloor loves it. Other DJs reading this, if you like women, you should be playing it.

Nostalgia Pick:

SWV – “Coming Home”

SWV had a lot of great tracks outside of their established hits. Many solid cuts fell through the cracks in that transitional period when new jack swing was waning and R&B had yet to merge DNA with hip-hop.

Digging In The Crates Pick:

Rahsaan Patterson – “It Ain’t Love”

It feels like folks should shed clothing and inhibitions when this song drops. I’ve never seen it happen but perhaps subconsciously I wish it would.

Join us for another session tonight?

Celebrating a few birfdays with:

DJ Stylus
DJ Jahsonic

Saturday, Dec. 26
TABAQ BISTRO & LOUNGE
1336 U St, NW
WDC
10PM, No Cover

The backstory on this cat is pretty deep. He was killing this style on a pair of these when I first met him on the U Street scene almost 15 years ago:

That was back in the Amphibians days. Then he moved on to this:

Eventually he was hauling a whole desktop around to gigs, rocking an array of virtual samplers and synth modules and a MIDI controller. That’s just how mad scientists do. I think he’s on Reason now. But anyway, you know this joint, right? Blackberry Jones + Asheru + Heron Gibran = Black Lincolns.

Blackberry Jones, previously known as Aychell made a bunch of amazing music with this guy that never came out.

They were called K.H.E.Mystery. They both rapped and did beats. Did you know that Slimkat78 (of The Els and Op Swamp 81, formerly known as Akuaman) used to rhyme? You should ask him about it. He was quite good. I have a lot of that stuff in the archives. And now you have some too, thanks to Rule4080.com.

To close, I’ll leave you with Blackberry’s classic Dilla tribute.

I think I’m going to have to do more posts like this. Joey and Shatungwa say so too. Folks talk about DMV hip-hop and have no concept of history.

None of these songs should be a surprise to anyone who heard me play this year, whether in the party or on the air. You loved them as much as I did, because when I felt like I’d have to give them a rest, you would keep asking me about them.

Now go spread the word to those who might have missed out, talking about “2009 was wack”.

Michael Jackson – “Never Can Say Goodbye” (Beatnick & K-Salaam Remix)

For some, the most defining musical event of 2009 was also traumatizing enough to write off the whole year. I can relate, but ultimately preferred to celebrate. It was either that, or fall into the abyss of despair. K-Salaam and Beatnick were on the same program with the best MJ remix since Tangoterje and Opolopo. Those three will have to battle it out for the top spot because the beefed up horns, club ready drum programming, funky synth bass and guitar interplay on this joint… I dare say that this version actually improves on the original. Blasphemy? Listen for yourselves.

Diamond District – “Streets Won’t Let Me Chill”

My favorite song on the best hip-hop album of 2009. There’s so much hip-hop that I can’t even be bothered to listen to, yet I know that none of it is fucking with Diamond District. The established brands are not fucking with Diamond District. Even the significant amount of hip-hop that I actually enjoyed this year isn’t seeing In The Ruff. I’m not saying that just because of my DC hometown zealotry. This is an end-to-end burner. There’s not a single bar of fast-forwardable material. The beats are cold concrete, the rhymes are hammers.

Reflection Eternal – “Back Again”

I’ve been so amped for the return of Reflection Eternal. Rarely is that type of anticipation rewarded with exactly what you hoped you’d get. I had no idea Hi-Tek would come with something like this though. An uptempo brazilian percussive groove with jazz guitar? More please. Kweli’s flow is in the cut and Res lays the sweetness on the hook.

“You can like rap again, you can say that again.”

Mos Def – “Casa Bey”

I was so moved by the grandeur of this song that I had to spin it into a full study of its origins. A song crafted in one context decades ago sounds like it was always supposed to be the way it turned out once Mos put words to it.

“Magnetic, the flows are athletic…” Flaco rocks so effortlessly over the 3-count phrases, not skipping a beat when it transitions to the more conventional 4/4. Rappers, STUDY THIS SHIT. This is superhero music.

“You can’t stop my GO!”

Jay Electronica – “Exhibit C”

“Eating wack rappers alive, shittin’ out chains.”

Emcees like to talk about ending the careers of adversaries, but really, these are verses that should influence hordes of rappers to put their mics to rest and start perusing want ads on Craigslist.

It’s nice to get an actual retail release from this enigmatic hot property. It snuck in under the wire for 2009 consideration. I didn’t believe the hype for a long time, just because I couldn’t get behind snippets on blogs and industry co-signs. I’ve since accumulated enough of his gray market material to see the light. “Exhibit A” should have been enough. Now would an album be too much to ask for or must there be a bidding war first?

Nathan Adams & Zepherin Saint – “Circles”

Everyone who heard Jamil and I play this year KNOWS WHAT TIME IT IS. I couldn’t stop playing this song even when I knew I was wearing it out. You couldn’t stop dancing to it. You couldn’t stop SCREAMING to it. Easily a classic all-time house anthem. Forever and ever. Amen.

Georgia Anne Muldrow – “Run Away”

How much did this song warm the cockles of my shriveled, cynical heart? How many times did I have to physically restrain myself from pinching the cheeks of the little cartoon Georgia on my computer screen every time I hit ‘play’ on the video? This song is precious. I say that the way your grandma does before she hugs you. When Georgia first blew my mind with Worth Nothings, I had never heard her demos that were floating around. And now, Early captures those days of a teenage songwriter crafting music with the skill and emotional heft of an old soul. Wondrous.

PPP – “The Ghost of Aveiro”

As much as I loved the new wave, synth funk direction that PPP took on Abundance, this latin smoker was sitting on the album as if it were put there just for me. Coultrain CRUSHES the vocal. Waajeed sounds like he packed a whole salsa orchestra into his studio.

Joy Jones – “Over”

Joy Jones brings Ronnie Foster’s “Mystic Brew” (my second favorite sampled groove of all time) back into our consciousness in a way that makes me re-think my stance on Auto-Tune. Joy definitely doesn’t need it, but she takes a true artist’s tack on this song, employing a tool to a specific end. In this case that end is a haunting plea for an end to heartache. Everything about this song is perfect.

Anto Vitale feat. Tamara Wellons – “Broken Wings”

It was either this or “Out Of This World”. I damn near had to flip a coin. Smoldering sexual energy or soaring emotion? I had to go with the latter this time. It feels like Tami reached deep into her gut to nail this vocal. And I’m a sucker for a huge hook on a house tune. Vitale’s instrumentation fans the flame of the vocal on the chorus.

• Honorable Mentions
De La Soul – “La La La”
Joe D. feat. Cool Cee Brown – “Aaw Man, Homey”
Op Swamp 81 – “Another Day”
Matthias ‘Matty’ Heilbronn feat. Monique Bingham – “Go Getter” (Soulflower Mix)
Yameen – Light of Love feat. Lady Alma (Mark de Clive-Lowe Remix)

DJ Dredd and DJ Stylus back like we never left with the classic and vintage hip-hop styles.
Friday, December 18
Black Cat backstage
1811 14th St. NW WDC 20009
9pm/$7
dress code: Doowhatchyalike

Diamond D – “The Hiatus”

Pulling this out last week was prescient since Refuge is taking a week off.

Kat is in the middle of her birthday week, is closing out Soul Overdose for 2009 and there was no way we could do the final one any other day than Wednesday. We’re suspending Refuge tomorrow and will resume on December 23. Of course, we’ve got a Grammy nominee to help you get over the hump and maybe a dual Soul Controller after party to boost the usual Jahsonic throwdown.

Soul Overdose with N’digo Rose, DJ Jahsonic and special guest Phonte

Wednesday, December 16
LIV
2001 11th St NW
doors: 9PM
tickets available at LilSoSo.com
door purchase availability NOT GUARANTEED.

Nuspirit Helsinki – “Silent Steps”

I can’t believe it’s going on eight years since I first got hip to the wave of future hybrid jazzy soul that was rolling out of Scandinavia. The Gothenburg scene was popping in Sweden. Copenhagen was kragenoff. Even Finland was getting it in. The first Nuspirit Helsinki album is so mandatory. It’s held up really well over time.

Mica Paris – “I Should’ve Known Better”

The B-side wins again, which is why I posted the 12-inch label instead of an album cover displaying this luscious singer. Remember when the flip side of every single contained an exciting new adventure? This tune dropped in 1990 but was never officially released on an album until 1998. By then it was a well-established classic. I feel like I can never be a big enough stan for black Brit soul. Did y’all know Mica dropped a new record this year? Honey had the scoop on that this summer.

J. Rawls – “Hebejeebees”

Sometimes I feel like the Liquid Crystal Project jazz albums by this Ohio producer best known for his hip-hop work with Lone Catalysts are some sort of well-guarded secret. If that’s the case, they’re a secret I’d rather share.

Antonio Adolfo – “Cascavel”

I would have missed out on this tasty slice of funky Brazilian fusion jazz if it weren’t for Gilles Peterson. Compilations are your friends.

Want more? Come hang.

Since Tami is dropping heat rocks left, right and all over the place, it seemed like a good time to take it back.

We did this project in ‘05 after we did an EP in 2003. She wanted something to hustle at WMC that year and it worked better than we could have anticipated.

The Alice in Wonderland theme was Kat’s idea. Ed handled the interlude segments (lady on the Metro = Ed’s mama, Metro conductor = Ed) and I recorded all of the re-envisioned takes on some of our favorite beats at the time then assembled it in mix form. Listen for early versions of the big records that Tami is now known for.

Tamara Wellons – Tamara in Wonderland

Download audio file (tamara_in_wonderland.mp3)
[download: mixed | unmixed ]

1. Ferry Ride (reprise) feat. Naima Jamal
2. Caught Up
3. Hold Me
4. Don’t Change
5. Can’t Be Found
6. Blue Skies
7. All This Time
8. Oh Well
9. Free
10. Moonwalk (acapella)
11. Like Rain feat. K’Alyn & Black Picasso
12. And So….

Hard drive failure.

Laptop failure.

Theft.

Ever happened to you right before a gig?

Just a few short years ago it wasn’t uncommon to lose record boxes on flights. That’s a soul killing ordeal. Remember those check-in battles to carry your vinyl as a carry-on? Remember when you’d lose that battle and damn near have a heart attack waiting for your flight case to emerge at baggage claim? Now that most of us are partially or all digital, the convenience of our current tools sometimes makes us forget that tragedy can still strike.

I’ve read that A-Trak tours with two laptops. That isn’t practical for me, but I do have my music drive mirrored on an external that I bring to every gig.

But what if my laptop AND external drive fail? What if your main AND backup laptop get swiped?

Actually, before you proceed, you MUST read A-Trak’s account of one of the most confounding EPIC FAILS that any DJ could suffer, including a stack of dead Lacie drives. I hope no one is still under that illusion that Mac users are immune to this sort of suffering.

I don’t tour as much as many of my peers, but if I did, I’d look into online backup services. Imagine being on the other side of the world and your whole gig bag gets stolen. You can download a full clone of your hard drive onto a new machine and be up and running again quickly.

DJ Tech Tools has a nice roundup of these services with a helpful summary of all their features.

The comments in that article are even more informative. There are many different approaches to emergency proofing your data.

Of course, we all have multiple backups at home, right? RIGHT?!? They’re just no good to you on the road in an emergency.

What disaster avoidance schemes do you all have? There’s no way that any of us should have our asses hanging in the wind due to computer failure. We just have to prepare in advance and not be lazy.

The night will include performances by area artists paying tribute to the music and legacy of protest as displayed during the Montgomery Bus Boycott highlighted in the 381 Days exhibition. Using protest music from America and the African Diaspora, the event will feature songs that have been used for generations in times of strife and struggle, love and joy.

Kat’s doing museums now. She major.

Featuring:

Ne’a Posey
JSOUL
Tamara Wellons
Olu Butterfly
Femi the Dri Fish
Zo! and The Els
DJ Stylus

and closing party by DJ Phaze

Rebel Music: A Celebration for the People
Friday, December 4th
8PM-12 AM
The Reginald F. Lewis Museum
830 E. Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
443.263.1800