DJ Stylus – The Vibe Conductor

Zo!’s Secret Stash was like story hour back in kindergarten with similar anticipation and focused attention as Zo! revealed rare treats from his back catalog. It got so good to him that he previewed a few cuts from his solo album SunStorm. I guess he felt at ease since the rough mixes sounded pretty good on the club system. It reminded me that I’m not the only who has spent a lot of social time with my friends excitedly playing obscure tunes for each other. Thanks to DC heads who showed up to prove that this Refuge thing might work.

Here are some highlights of the set I rocked after Zo!’s show & tell time.

Vibe Conductor Pick:

Strange Fruit Project – “Fresh For Life” feat. Thesis

I’ve been following these guys since Soul Travelin’ when hearing hip-hop in this style out of Texas was rare. After a long hiatus as a group while beatmaker S1 racked up production credits, they’re serving up a new EP that forecasts good things for them in the near future. Check out the first video from the M.A.S.K. EP and a highlight from their last full-length project.

Peoples’ Pick:

Electric Wire Hustle – “Perception”

That classic Minnie Riperton sample made an appearance in week 1 and will never get old as long as it’s flipped properly. The music blogosphere can sometimes smother a new artist with adoration before they prove that they deserve the hype. In the case of Electric Wire Hustle, I’ll hop on the bandwagon with everyone else and not be ashamed. When Uncle Q led a stream of folks to the booth for a round of “Who’s that’s”, I knew this was the audience pick. This electronic/organic trio joins forward looking soul artists already representing New Zealand on the international stage like Mark de Clive-Lowe, Lanu and Fat Freddy’s Drop, to name but a few. Get like them.

Nostalgia Pick:

Mighty Ryeders – “Evil Vibrations”

Just occasionally reminding folks of songs that they know, but don’t know that they know.

Digging In The Crates Pick:

Loose Ends – “Don’t Be A Fool”

“Hangin’ On A String” was inescapable but I didn’t explore the rest of Loose End’s catalog until high school when I played my Look How Long tape until it crumbled into dust. Then I came up on the cd and wore the grooves out on that. If I had seen this performance when it aired I would have DIED.

Next week: Pre-Turkey Day Jam, house party style.

While I was bemoaning the bone-chilling weather and its effect on my gathering, a couple rolled in and turned the back of the room into their own special dancefloor.

Vibe Conductor Pick:

Kaidi Tatham – “I’m High”

This song almost broke my iPod’s repeat feature. The album was only released in Japan so it can be difficult to track down but diligence will reward you. Kaidi Tatham is the Herbie Hancock of broken beat. In the seven years since his last solo project as Agent K, he’s blessed us with DKD, Silhouette Brown, 2000 Black and a gang of features, remixes and collaborations. Google all those names, he has more than a few. Jazz chops combined with electronic techniques and soulful sensibilities – that’s where the magic happens.

Peoples’ Pick:

Benny Sings – “Unconditional Love”

If you didn’t know about all the soul in the Netherlands, there’s always time to catch up. It’s hard to describe Benny Sings to folks who haven’t heard him, but they always ask “Who is this?” This video is more helpful than any description.

Nostalgia Pick:

The Brand New Heavies feat. Grand Puba – “Who Makes The Loot?”

Classic Hilfiger and backpack flavor! I sure wouldn’t be mad at a Heavy Rhyme Experience vol. 2.

Digging In The Crates Pick:

Kashif – “I Just Gotta Have You (Lover Turn Me On)”

I’m also healing relationships at Refuge. You didn’t know?

Working on something special for next week with someone who’s got a hot hand in the game right now.

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.

A core group of music heads and long time supporters (I really love and appreciate y’all) assembled on the late end. Early adopters know what’s up. Saw a few new faces too. I’m digging the socializing vibe. Sometimes a party doesn’t have to be about megawatt energy. And I love folks who will just get up and dance to their song even if no one else does, just because it’s their song. These are my kind of people.

Vibe Conductor Pick:

Hawthorne Headhunters – “She Wanna”

Singing, rapping, banging out them beats… Black Spade is on it. And he’s one of those cats who has so much stuff going on that he creates new names under which to do it all. Please get familiar, and then check Black Sp-, or rather Stoney Rock‘s new group Hawthorne Headhunters.

Peoples’ Pick:

Erykah Badu and Rahzel – “Southern Gul”

Could also be included in the “Songs That DJs Should Play More Often” category.

Nostalgia Pick:

Rebbie Jackson – “Centipede”

I was pretty much only aiming to elicit a squeal from ThePBG, although she wasn’t the only one who appreciated it.

Digging In The Crates Pick:

Chuckii Booker – “(Don’t U Know) I Love U”

When my iPod throws this joint at me on shuffle, I turn into one of those weirdos on the Metro singing LOUD AS HELL in my own little world.

Next week: an album listening party and special giveaways. Stay tuned.

Got the album yet?

Old friends and new came through to sip, chat and boogie. This experiment just might work. As promised, every week I’ll recap a few highlights. Hopefully this will become a running conversation. What records do YOU remember and want to know more about?

Vibe Conductor Pick:

As much as I like to smash off a party, I also enjoy just sharing tunes with a room full of folks socializing and appreciating the sounds. Early in the night I dropped one of my favorite tracks from the Jazz Refreshed compilation, Femi Temowo’s “Wood & Strings”.

Click the album cover to listen to the project in its entirety.

When I read that Femi took up jazz guitar after being inspired by Wes Montgomery, I wasn’t surprised. Here’s why:

Peoples’ Pick:

Slakah the Beatchild – “D.A.N.C.E.”

I ended the night with this one, and for those who haven’t heard it in my sets and mixes since this summer, it was an instant earworm. Toronto’s got some freshly ground goodness brewing these days. Been seeing Slakah the Beatchild in album credits, on blogs and in music press for a minute.

Nostalgia Pick:

Brownstone – “If You Love Me”

Sometimes you just want the ladies to get really happy and sing along really loud. We DJs enjoy that.

Digging In The Crates Pick:

Madonna – “Human Nature”

Forgot about this one, didn’t ya? Still goes hooard in the clurb. Word to Madge.

See you next week, right? Of course!

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.

The newest incarnation of his Cuba After Market project. Next installment to hit iTunes on Nov. 27, 2009.

And of course, the first single’s been kragenoff. Did you catch the Vibe Conductor cameo?

And then there’s that new Kev Brown vid. Shot by Apex. Edited by the Humble Monarch himself, young Roderick.

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.

I know there’s a flood of artists paying their respects to Michael Jackson right now, ranging from touching to creative to regrettable. That flood will only increase to a tsunami as time goes on, but seriously, this one right here is among the best I’ve heard. Nick’s vocal study of some of MJ’s most beloved melodies and harmonies is elegant, poignant and expertly executed.

If you’re not hip to young Nicholas, you can play catch-up here and here.

Nicholas Ryan Gant – MJ Medley

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