DJ Stylus – The Vibe Conductor

Chris Burns
DJ Stylus
Louie Vega & Anané

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

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

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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….

The pre-Thanksgiving session was fresh. No one was there then everyone came through all at once. I almost made Brett repeat his set because he played so many hot records early on. But then he had more hot records so it was all good.

To mark the occasion of an old friend being the first Refuge guest DJ, this recap will be a bit different. The first two tunes are under the heading of…

Joints That Brett Rocked That I Will Be Adding To My Sets Immediately:

Bennson – “Let The Love” (Yam Who Remix)

I’ve been running the album version since it came out almost exactly a year ago. But skimming through the remixes online made me miss out on the Yam Who joint that didn’t command my attention until I heard it in the club. In that context it sounds like Tom Browne in his prime consulted on the recording. That means all kinds of dancefloor win is involved. If I still had hair, I think that this song could make me spontaneously sprout a jheri curl. And by the way, dude is from Australia.

I was totally unfamiliar with this one, despite so many big name cats playing it. A little digging hipped me quickly. This is one of those studio alchemists with multiple names for multiple projects, one of which was also on Raw Fusion. I don’t get down with techno but this cut is right in that deep house lane that flirts with techno but stays soulful. Theo Parrish should be proud of this young German who bears his influence. All I envision when I listen to this is some low-lit, sweaty club rub-n-grind action. It’s not just me, is it?

Vibe Conductor Pick:

Ok-Ma – “Bwoy Gal” (Lanu Remix)

One of those not-new-but-new-to-you joints. I’m never mad at those, but just annoyed that I never really have the right space to play this tune, or when I do I forget to pull it out. That’s why I started this party. The Opolopo mix is broken beat for pop sensibilities and is my favorite but Lanu’s version gets the booties shaking.

Nostalgia Pick:

Eddie Kendricks – “Date With The Rain”

Out of hundreds, this is may be the best song about rain that I’ve ever heard. And that’s saying something. Epic b-boy record too.

I’m looking forward to kicking it with some new friends tomorrow. Might you be one of them?

We opened the night with a taste of the Anthony Valadez album. I hope everyone that took it home enjoys the sounds. If you haven’t pre-ordered yet, this is your newest meditation/mood setting record, and more than a little bit suitable as the soundtrack for amorous pursuits. I’m just saying.

And here are some more of the treats I was eager to share.

Vibe Conductor Pick:

Zo! – “Somethin’ Special” feat. Yahzarah

The internets blew the hell up on Tuesday when the multi-instrumentalist of The Foreign Exchange, The Els, and Zo! & Tigallo dropped his Just Visiting Too… project FOR DE FREE. Zo! rounded up the artists you know and love on the Foreign Exchange imprint and covered a slate of jazzy soul classics.

Let’s rewind for a minute and revisit the original featuring Quincy Jones and the incomparable Patti Austin.

So folks were chillin’ and vibing… until they weren’t. Somehow a party broke out. I blame DJ Ten. And a set of soulful house jams anchored by…

Peoples’ Pick:

Quentin Harris & Monique Bingham – “Poor People”

Quentin Harris has long been a beast. And Monique Bingham has long been an object of my fanboy adoration. Put them together and you’ve got an anthem that people hear for the first time and swear that it’s always been their favorite song.

Nostalgia Pick:

Tara Kemp – “Hold You Tight”

Everyone remembers this song. No one remembers the name of the artist. That’s what I’m here for. Next time you see Vickey, ask her to show you her Tara Kemp dance. It’s awesome.

Digging In The Crates Pick:

Skyy – “High”

Sure wish I could link to an online purchase site for this one, I played a
vinyl re-issue. I definitely need to increase the rollerskating fonk quotient of this party.

Who are you going to tell about Refuge next week? Word of mouth is the best word.

So yeah, Meistro’s back from Nigeria and it’s his birthday. Seems like a fitting time to get the three amigos together again.

Sol Power! Afro. Latin. Brazilian. House. Disco. Funk.

With DJ Stylus, Meistro and Deep Sang.

Samba whistles, shekeres and cowbells welcome. Sweat to the rhythms of Cuba, Brazil, Puerto Rico & West Africa.

Saturday, Oct. 24
Dahlak
1771 U St, NW (18th & U)
Washington, DC
21+
NO COVER

And as an extra bonus treat, here’s the last hour from when we rocked in June.

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Of course the homie went digging on his trip. Make sure you check out Meistro’s mix on Soul Strut putting some of those rare treats on display.

1. Outkast – You May Die
2. Quincy Jones – Summer in the City
3. Zansika – Beyond
4. Quintessence – Delirious
5. DJ Spinna – Summer Madness feat. Fresh Daily & Daniel Joseph
6. Roddy Rod – This Time Around feat. Phonte & Carlitta Durand
7. M64 – Rhythm of the Drum
8. Minnie Riperton – Inside My Love
9. Slakah the Beatchild – D.A.N.C.E.
10. Lewis Taylor – Lovelight
11. Bennson – Let The Love
12. Janet Jackson – And On and On
13. Azymuth – Dear Limmertz
14. Real to Reel – Love Me Like This
15. Basia – New Day For You
16. Reel People – Ordinary Man
17. The Rebirth – Love Issue
18. Metro Area – Piña
19. Omar – Little Boy (Jaycee in da Mix)
20. Anthony Nicholson – Dirty Soul (Can’t Lift It)
21. Pirahnahead & Diviniti – Music
22. Zaki Ibrahim – Money (King Britt rmx)
23. Jeremy Ellis – Kissed By The Sun
24. Yaminah – 7 Days (Pirahnahead Remix Mellopella)
25. Yaminah – 7 Days (Pirahnahead Remix)

Nope, no download link.

This one’s only available for now on a special USB drive you can get by attending events in the LiL SoSo Productions/Smirnoff “Be You” series. The drives serve as discount passes to the events in the series, including Soul Overdose with Yahzarah and Inside The Artist’s Studio with N’Dambi. Get your USB drive at the Yahzarah event and be the first to have her new mixtape in addition to my new mix.

We’ll be giving out some drives at The Main Ingredient at Marvin on Monday and also watch Kat of LSP’s Twitter for giveaway opportunities.

Afro. Latin. Brazilian. House. Disco. Funk.

featuring:

DJ Stylus
Meistro
Deep Sang
and Boogie on live percussion

sweat to the rhythms of Cuba, Brazil, Puerto Rico & West Africa.

Friday, June 12 2009
$5 before midnight, $7 after
Almaz
1212 U St. NW WDC
10pm – 3am

Some warm-up material:

DJ Meistro – Top Ranking vol. 1

Deep Sang – Beach Ball Boogaloo

DJ Stylus – Afro Diaspora Mix

Friday, May 1
9:30 pm
Rock N Roll Hotel
1353 H Street, NE, WDC

In the upstairs space.
No cover.
All vinyl.

Chris Burns’ description:
Disco, boogie, cosmic, rock, funk, early house, 90s house and more.

My interpretation:
All the funky but slightly odd rekkids that never come out of my house because I don’t know who I’d play them for. And a few sing-along joints that you all know.

Temporarily retired:
Serato, CD’s and any other form of digital paraphernalia.

I tried to set it up, but this joint is about to hit so hard.

Anto Vitale and Tamara Wellons partner up to levitate your heart, spirit, and feet off of the dancefloor.

The chorus soars with so much energy. Vitale’s original has a powerful, jazzy elegance while Ian Friday puts the hump on it. John Beltran rounds it out with an after hours treatment.

This bountiful goodness of “Broken Wings” is available at Traxsource right now.

Finally liberated an important SD card from Jamil’s clutches. Now we can reminisce on the first minutes of 2009.

Part 1

The warm-up.

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Part 2

The clock striking midnight with maximum room capacity then busting the lightweights upside the head for about an hour.

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Part 3

Going deep and hitting a few peaks.

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Part 4

A little more head crack and then dénouement.

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