Latest Episodes for this Channel
Tue October 07 2008
Words about this very special party coming soon...
Words about this very special party coming soon...
Words about this very special party coming soon...
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Wed October 01 2008
Going back to '04, the great people at HBO thought that I could be a nice addition to their post-Emmy Award telecast celebration. Although I had no id...
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Going back to '04, the great people at HBO thought that I could be a nice addition to their post-Emmy Award telecast celebration. Although I had no idea how my style and set would go down in an
atmosphere that I've never been a part of, I did what came naturally and mixed good music that anyone would enjoy. I'd been cautioned not to worry if I couldn't get the well heeled entertainers and
executiv...
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Going back to '04, the great people at HBO thought that I could be a nice addition to their post-Emmy Award telecast celebration. Although I had no idea how my style and set would go down in an
atmosphere that I've never been a part of, I did what came naturally and mixed good music that anyone would enjoy. I'd been cautioned not to worry if I couldn't get the well heeled entertainers and
executives to hoof it on the dance floor because, for the most part, there's a lot of congratulatory conversation happening. They did get on the floor and before the party ended actors, actresses,
CEOs, movie deal makers, models were applauding and whistling for more despite the presence of the L.A. Fire Department who were there at the end to make sure that things wound down when they were
scheduled to. Since that 1st time out in 2004, the parties have become thematic. I enjoy the opportunity to come up with what can be considered as the 1st half of the party where the music reflects
the inspired design. Since '04, the Bollywood vibes of India, 60's St. Tropez, and traditional Thailand have been themes, this year South America, highlighting Brazil and Argentina was the flavor.
That's where having an open mind and an eclectic anything's possible ear comes in handy. Less than 10 days before this party, I was sent about 15 CDs that were purchased by the party's designer
during his tours of South America, and asked to build my opening set based on the music of the likes of Maria Bethania & Jorge Ben. With 200 songs to absorb and my own records to consider, I
began the process of cramming - you know like studying for that exam that you must pass - filling my head with suitable songs, working out when they should be played and what they could be mixed
with. The dynamic that I must consider is that the party begins primarily with arrivals and a lot of mingling ensues...then it begins to reach capacity thus there's a need to shift the energy upwards
into a groove that is infectious inviting but not yet overpowers...then there's the bit where they've heard the theme for more than an hour, and the task is keeping folks grooving and interested
until my counterpart Ravi, the man with 2 dozen drums, steps onto the stage with me to set it off into dance floor madness. So here you are. Another close your eyes and imagine you were there set for
you. A set that I've never done really but I hope that it's competent and that you enjoy it. One last detail I thought you might like and this detail somewhat explains the photo - I made up this
whole set on the fly...meaning, I only knew what my 1st song was going to be which is "So Many Stars" by Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66, they rest was improvised based on the best selections out of the
pool of 15 discs that I'd been sent and the best of the vinyls that I took to round out my musical possibilities. No paint by numbers, no track one then track two as it's laid out in my computer
playlist...just plain & pure intuition and mixing skills my friend, on the spot with the lights bright and hot. In that photo - I was calming myself to the view of downtown L.A. (Hollywood's
hills are to the left) because my mind was going wild with possibilities, scenarios, and blends. It's a big party and I needed to put by best foot forward but I get butterflies and mini-panic attacks
because I felt like I left a crucial record at home or I have some vision of a record skipping. Breathe & let it breathe while taking in the breathtaking - and all will be just fine. Enjoy and
share, please. Check out the details of the event production here (you can see me on the left side of the 1st photo - on stage and overlooking it all):
http://www.bizbash.com/losangeles/content/editorial/e12691.php Check out some great photos here: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/6Oq3muQkX7Q/Belvedere+At+HBO+EMMY+Party/0ef_YbX17_n
http://www1.wireimage.com/GalleryListing.asp?navtyp=gls====335186&nbc1=1#
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Fri September 05 2008
Qool DJ Marv goes commercial was going to be the title of this mix initially. ;) Yes indeed I've spent most of my DJ career focusing on the undergroun...
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Qool DJ Marv goes commercial was going to be the title of this mix initially. ;) Yes indeed I've spent most of my DJ career focusing on the underground and unknown, as compared to what's known as
pop, but when HBO calls me to rock it for the boys of Entourage, I happily swam up to the surface to make this a great party. I'm more known for the mellow and chill vibes at slow tempos but at this
gig, ...
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Qool DJ Marv goes commercial was going to be the title of this mix initially. ;) Yes indeed I've spent most of my DJ career focusing on the underground and unknown, as compared to what's known as
pop, but when HBO calls me to rock it for the boys of Entourage, I happily swam up to the surface to make this a great party. I'm more known for the mellow and chill vibes at slow tempos but at this
gig, the party got going pretty quick as you will hear. The venue's called Mansion, formerly, Crobar and the system is massive - these records sounded great with all that boom! Yes, the commercial
sounds are on my radar too. I'm a music lover so it all gets under my skin - only thing, if your career track is all about mainstream, unless you are a major force like DJ AM, you are pretty much on
the fast track to sounding like too many others. Then what happens is that you get a lot of gigs - how can you go wrong when all of the music is well known? The other thing though, is that when
you're all pop all the time, you get figured out and if you can't mix it up well,technically, you'll get yawned at by the people who have heard it all before - unless they are extremely inebriated
and are like, 'whatever'. And when you get too large, because you play pop, you are so very easy to replace...usually by someone playing the same stuff but for a few hundred dollars less. That's the
way it goes. But when I get that call, all that pent up pop energy burst out of me with fun and fervor. Check out the mix and imagine yourself there amongst the friends and family of Vince, Johnny
Drama, Eric, Turtle, & Ari...living the good life and grooving to the sounds of yours truly. Listen for Foreigner, Rhianna, the White Stripes, LL Cool J, Mylo, Justin Timberlake, Calvin Harris,
Nirvana, Spankrock, Mary J. Blige, Russell Taylor, Notorious B.I.G., Micheal Jackson, 50 Cent, Madonna, N.E.R.D., DJ Medhi, Kanye West, Prince, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious 5, Royksopp,
Beyonce, Robin Thicke, Jane's Addiction, Omarion, Franz Ferdinand, Ne-Yo, Santogold, Run-D.M.C, Est'elle, Gwen Stefani, Snoop Dogg, & more. The photo is taken by Getty Images Andrew H. Walker,
that's me in the Your Friend or Foe yellow John Lee Hooker t-shirt in between the elephant tusks looking things underneath the pinkish disco ball. More shots of the party can be found here:
http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/gCzCuzVDlmV/HBO+Presents+Premiere+Fifth+Season+Entourage/AbU7ryRLyn9 Late in the mix, there are intermittent audio drop outs, sounds like when the DJ drops the volume
so people can sing the words, except I wasn't doing that...my recorder has some miles on it and it maybe time for a new one. Still the 1st 3 hours are drop out free so please enjoy.
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Tue August 12 2008
Where's part one? "A Moment of Bernie" can be found on the Sunday Social Podcast right here: http://sundaysocial.podomatic.com/ In true melting pot ch...
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Where's part one? "A Moment of Bernie" can be found on the Sunday Social Podcast right here: http://sundaysocial.podomatic.com/ In true melting pot char grilled tasty and delicious style, this Philly
man joins a Scottish Jamaican, a Brooklynite with Irish roots, and a Mancunian (that's a resident of Manchester, England) to create a relaxed musical getaway at Williamsburg's Rose Live. Getaway
meani...
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Where's part one? "A Moment of Bernie" can be found on the Sunday Social Podcast right here: http://sundaysocial.podomatic.com/ In true melting pot char grilled tasty and delicious style, this Philly
man joins a Scottish Jamaican, a Brooklynite with Irish roots, and a Mancunian (that's a resident of Manchester, England) to create a relaxed musical getaway at Williamsburg's Rose Live. Getaway
meaning we put away all of our usual Friday and Saturday night selections, as in music we play, and blow the dust off of all the records that you'd have to visit us in our homes to hear. We're
connoisseurs of musical genius so you know the music will induce several, 'what's that?' out of you. We'll tell you, 'cause we're cool like that, and then that Sangria, both white & red wine
versions, will go down so nicely with the legit jerk chicken or Angus beef burgers on the menu. I was in the shower getting fresh and clean before heading to Brooklyn, it was 5:01pm and I heard the
breaking news alert on the all news station, thought it might be another Olympic record set or another high rise crane falling down in Manhattan, yet, the newsreader announced that "Rhythm &
Blues legend Isaac Hayes has been found dead in his home." Truthfully, I hadn't pulled out an Isaac album for Sunday Social - it was with tempered enthusiasm and bittersweet happiness that I had the
chance to grab the "Shaft" soundtrack, "Hot Buttered Soul," and "Black Moses," and I was reverently pleased that my Black Moses t-shirt was clean! There's only one song by Isaac in this mix,
consequently, the title, a play on the 'moment of silence ethos,' a Moment of Isaac - you'll like how I set it up. SUNDAY SOCIAL every Sunday at Rose Live, Williamsburg. TIME: 2pm-late, no cover.
VENUE: Rose Live, 345 Grand St (btw Havermayer/Marcy), Williamsburg. SUBWAY: L train to Lorimer, G to Metropolitan DJs: Monk One (Waxpoetics), Hamish Anderson (Out Of The Loop), Tim Giles (Prime
Numbers) www.sundaysocialnyc.com To sign up for our mailing list email sundaysocialnyc@gmail.com
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Fri August 01 2008
Thanks to Kayinde who reached out to me nearly a year before this party. She had an idea that I might be able to deliver a well balanced mix of the mu...
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Thanks to Kayinde who reached out to me nearly a year before this party. She had an idea that I might be able to deliver a well balanced mix of the musical favorites of her diverse classmates. As
always, there are the pop sounds that everyone all over America and the world can remember, and then also those songs that were on the margins, sub categorized as urban music. Madonna, Prince, George
Mich...
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Thanks to Kayinde who reached out to me nearly a year before this party. She had an idea that I might be able to deliver a well balanced mix of the musical favorites of her diverse classmates. As
always, there are the pop sounds that everyone all over America and the world can remember, and then also those songs that were on the margins, sub categorized as urban music. Madonna, Prince, George
Micheal, INXS, Janet & Micheal Jackson were ubiquitous international phenomenons, but Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, Chubb Rock, New Edition, and Shabba Ranks got the attention of the kids in the
cities. Far from definitive or complete in terms of being a comprehensive representation of the electric & eclectic favorites of city kids, specifically Brooklyn, New York City kids. This 4 hour
head nod to dance floor excursion will re-introduce and confirm the fun and sweet playfulness of an epic era in music. There's something for everybody, music for this crowd, music for that crowd,
music that brought both crowds together. Listen for the house music set that was one of those sets that brought people together...Crystal Waters, Aly-Us, Inner City, Marshall Jefferson's Move Your
Body (the song of the night!), The Jungle Brother's "I'll House You" and Ralph Rosario's "You Used To Hold Me" had everybody in the house moving. '88 - well that was the end of my freshman year of
college and around the same time that I decided to try my hand at DJing. Then, I bought music in two formats, cassette and vinyl LP, so I actually had most of these songs on vinyl. After years of
establishing my rep as a DJ who can go in any direction, it felt really great to revisit the music that I went out to party to back then, but this time around as a DJ. I hope you like the ride! It's
so smooth (as in blended, not as in energy) it sounds like I've been playing these grooves all along - great music never expires does it? I really needed about 5 more hours to really do the era
justice though. Another note about Midwood, one of the first few people I befriended during my freshman year at Emory University was a gentleman named Clinton E, a graduate of Midwood's class of '87
- one year before this group. Clint was my first host during my first trip to New York. That 1st trip, summer '88, tuning into the radio as soon as I got close enough on the New Jersey Transit train,
getting to New York and seeing it with my own eyes, taking to J or M to Lorimer and emerging from the tunnel to go above ground and across the Williamsburg Bridge en route to Clint's home sweet home
public housing complex...this was all very impressive to a West Philly kid. So impressive that I knew that New York was eventually going to be the place for me. Good looking Clint! Good looking
Kayinde! Good looking people of Midwood's class of '88 - truthfully so, y'all sure you weren't class of '98? You all looked FRESH! Check out Kayinde's good work right here, she does a magazine
everybody: http://www.sayitloudmagazine.com/ A story of connections behind every mix. Please note that because of the way the dj booth was wired, there are portions of this mix that is in mono, not
stereo. I recommend that you play this back on your computer or through your sound system versus listening to it using headphones. Also there are a couple of announcements sprinkled in after 2 hours
or so into the mix. Live recording... The photo is one of me in my high school dorm room with one of my buds. I'm wearing the shiny Sixers (Philadelphia 76ers) jacket. You can see by what I hung up
on my walls, where my head was and where it wanted to be.
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