Get Up, Get Down

2008-11-23T15:49:00.000-08:00

I'm back in business, albeit limited. I am relentlessly searching for a new job while attending school full-time to earn my Bachelors of Science in Business Administration.

I will be DJing again in December, after a six-month long hiatus. As for when and where, thats for you all to ask- its DL.

I just want to say that I have been really grateful to have the modest but dedicated following and to receive that "Boston's Best DJ" award earlier this year was a total blast, as I was able to get so many supporters from near and far to vote for me, and leave all those who read the publication to scratch their heads and wonder, "who the hell is this?" It was brilliant, and I thank all of you for voting to make it happen. It just goes to show that if you market yourself well and have a solid reputation, even the least expected positive results may be possible.

I want to update this as often as possible— I am ashamed that only two posts have been produced in the past year. For today, I want to share a strong tune:

Keep on, keepin on...

2008-05-11T07:16:00.000-07:00

I'm back- take a look at what's happened...

BEST DJ/DANCE BOSTON, BOSTON PHOENIX 2008 BEST MUSIC POLL

and take a look at whats happening...

G.O.D.: The After Party Benefit
Wednesday May 14, 2008 10pm
at Machine/Ramrod
1254 Boylston Street Boston, MA
21+ $6 with MFA ticket stub, $8 without, or more if you can!

In conjunction with the screening of The Godfather of Disco at the The 24th Annual Boston Gay and Lesbian Film/Video Festival, Truth Serum Productions is hosting an after party and benefit at Machine/Ramrod (the most disco club left in Boston!) featuring DJ Joseph Colbourne (Color RIP) spinning the West End Records catalog and records played at the Paradise Garage.

We will be celebrating The Godfather of Disco, the music of the era, pioneer/activist/survivor Mel Cheren (who passed in December), and the hard work of MAP. A portion of the door and raffle proceeds will go to MAP. Join Us. Help Raise Funds. Shake Your Ass.

There is no baseball game! Machine is a lovely stroll through The Fens from The MFA. DJ Joseph Coulbourne is the perfect DJ to take us on this trip.

Here is info about the screening at the MFA:
Wed, May 14, 8:30 pm The Godfather of Disco by Gene Graham (2007, 82 min.). Based on Mel Cheren's powerful autobiography, My Life and the Paradise Garage: Keep On Dancin', The Godfather of Disco (G.O.D.) offers a "mesmerizing overview of the rise and fall of '70s-era dance music," according to Max Sparber of the Pulse of the Twin Cities (4/18/07). Through a series of interviews with a who's who of the dance music community, G.O.D. uses the arc of Mel's life to examine the early 70's musical and cultural currents that gave birth to disco, West End Records' contribution to that scene, the rise of Paradise Garage, and the onslaught of HIV/Aids and it's impact on New York City. We look at Mel's activist years as he harnesses the power of music to fight Aids via his charity work for GMHC (NYC's Gay Men's Health Crisis) and 24hrs for Life/LifeBEAT. Pioneer. Activist. Survivor. Mel Cheren is The Godfather of Disco.

Co-presented by Massachusetts Asians and Pacific Islanders for Health (MAP for Health)

More to Come! Peace Out.

2007-12-25T12:31:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays to all, I have returned to present to you a mix by a fellow DJ and good friend Steve (DJ Shakewell) from New York City. Shakewell is one half of Sharegroove with Patrick aka DJ Duckcomb, and has much of a presence as a disco and house DJ in the big city. Shakewell's partnership with Duckcomb for Sharegroove has been going strong since 2004, and I have been invited down a couple times to share the grooves myself.

Today I present a dynamic mix for you by Shakewell especially for Get Up, Get Down, entitled "Road Tripping", which runs the gamut from disco to edits to cosmic to house, and is downloadable here:

Road Tripping

Track Listing:

Sunburst Band - Far Beyond Intro
Fern Kinney - Baby Let Me Kiss You
Studio One Mystery Dub
Suzy Q / Flirts - "Get It Up and Do It Again / Passion"-- Dutch Medley
Japanese Synchro System - Let's Go Bang!
Irving Martin & Brian Dee - Indianapolis 2 (Bronx Dogs mix)
Earth People - Dance
Santa Esmeralda - Hey Gip!
George Duke - North Beach
John Tropea - Livin in the Jungle
Sade- Don't Turn My Back On You
Frankie Valentine - Zumbi
Womack & Womack - Conscious of My Conscience
Rydim - Rydim #2
Coldplay - Talk (Francois K mix)
Theo Parrish - Synthetic Flemm
Kaylan - Nice & Slow
Cymande - Bra (Community Edit)
Lil Louis - Why'd you Fall
Andreas Vollenweider - Sisyphos
Love & Happiness (Levan accapella)

2007-11-22T08:17:00.000-08:00

You know, I love a little bit of flute in my funk. Or a lot, as is in this number by Ms. Bobbi Humphrey- she holds it together, as is expected, the strings are understated, yet tasteful, and the bass is tightly wound, and then, you've got this flute break out of leftfield that grabs ya, "so sweet like sherry wine" as Ms. Humphrey croons. This is a track for a classy shuffle and groove- serious perspiration and wreckless abandon on the floor is optional, as it has a vibe best suited for sippin wine and feelin fine. You move, but you don't get completely unecessary with this joint- you just ride with it. But make no mistake, it IS a Roy Ayers joint, so you know you can't stay still, and you know why that flute break grabs you, all acid-jazzed out and shit...

"We've got a love so strong
It turns me on and on
We've got a love so deep
It knocks me off my feet
And you know that
And you know that
And you know that
And you know that!"

Listen here:

Bobbi Humphrey - Baby Don't You Know

2007-10-23T18:10:00.000-07:00

A return from a six month hiatus...

Since May, I have been hosting COLOR, which has been an enormous success, I've become resident DJ the third Friday of each month at Zuzu's SOLID!, and keepin on with Viva Radio. I've also acquired what was most needed: experience. Experience as a DJ is crucial. You can mix away in your bedroom, imagining how you'll go over for an audience, but its actually consistent INTERACTION and EXCHANGE with your audience that brings it all together.

I want to talk about that EXCHANGE.

I am a performer, and my objective is to make a lasting impression. I've thought of ways to achieve this. Its your movements and expressions behind the decks, letting your spirit exude from ever fine pore of your body. The reaction you have to the music is a catalyst for response from the audience. Likewise, breaking down the walls between you and your dancer, going OUT to join your dancers now and then, DANCE WITH them, demystifies the illusion that the DJ is detached and immersed in his self-satisfaction. It demonstrates a passion that he wants to SHARE with the people, not keep EXCLUSIVE and CACHED. That's one of my peeves about an elevated booth where your eyes descend upon the audience- it creates a seperation, a detachment, an illusion of grandeur.

Its like I'd have to climb down some damn golden staircase to reach my people and dance with them, thank them, hug them, show them my love and respect.

Never forget your people. They may need to feel you out, warm up to you, try to RELATE. And you may have to work that much harder to steer them in, make them feel welcome, give them something that will stimulate their mind, body, and soul. Yes, thats right. You can do that. I feel like I can. And I have. Its a labor of love.

And this is a symbiotic relationship that gratifies and enlightens. A mutual exchange. You give them an experience, a rush, a trip, a thrill. They give you life and relevance as a DJ.

2007-05-14T16:18:00.001-07:00

This is the disco I want the people to know. The spirit, anticipation, adrenaline, and syncopation of this music. This is the nexus between soul, funk, and pop. Lenny Williams' "You Got Me Running" is a man's race for the love of his life, and you feel the running through the rhythms, the breaks, and the urgency in Williams' voice. He isn't messing around, and "ain't nothing gonna make him stop." Through the driving beat, the strings, the organ, scraping guitar, and scintillating bass, you know that this man is desperately reaching out and he is passionate. This is a track where the music emotes the theme of the song and takes the dancefloor on a journey.

In retrospect, putting together a record like this would be in today's standards a formidable feat, in terms of the instrumentation, orchestration, and production. These days with technology and immediacy, the type of blood, sweat, and tears that went into making this record just isn't evident anymore. Today's producers and musicians may see otherwise, but the music reveals a difference in distillation. The rawness and purity of "You Got Me Running" is something that just can't be reproduced these days. It is for this, that disco warrants high regard. They just don't make them like they used to.

Listen to Lenny Williams "You Got Me Running"

2007-03-25T15:11:00.000-07:00

I would like to feature an up and coming DJ hailing from NYC, who has been a pal of mine for several years now. Ben Manzone (aka Benguin) got acquainted with me through our shared interest in postpunk and dance music, and we both have veered away from collecting DIY and postpunk in the years that followed, and focused on our infatuation with dance music. We both started to become very familiar with disco, boogie, garage, proto-house, and house with much passion and enthusiasm. We've tipped each other a great deal on some serious tunes, looking out for each other's wants while digging, and sharing constructive critiques of each others' mixes, as both us were beginning to develop experience as DJs. I definitely see him going places, and look forward to sharing our progress together in the years to come.

I wanted to give a shout out to this fine young man and his impeccable taste by featuring a mix that he has made especially for 'Get Up Get Down', titled MELT YOUR FACE in addition to an edit of Billy Paul's "Only the Strong Survive".

Download MELT YOUR FACE here

Download ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE EDIT here

2007-03-01T17:02:00.002-08:00

Its official. I am now international. Hopefully the impending inclement weather will not make it impossible to reach our destination!

Special thanks to Brian Merz for helping me secure the gig.

2007-02-27T17:01:00.000-08:00

Back in business here- my apologies for being absent, but I've returned to announce that I've gone International. This Friday, March 2nd, I will be performing in MONTREAL for Loose Joints, a night thrown by resident DJs David Shaw, Chris Paré, and Davey Lähteenmaa, and held every Friday at 200-year old mansion that has been converted into a nightspot. Check this article:

The Hour (January 18th 2007)

Written by: Steve Lala

David Shaw, Delphi and Chris Pare launch the Loose Joints weekly at La Sociale, promising "the very best in electronic disco, Italo and bumpin' gems both past and present" in the luxurious, refurbished setting of this newly branded club (known until last week as The Mansion, 1445 Bishop St.). I took advantage of the opportunity to allow Dave to shed some light on disco music and its progeny, specifically the genre of "Italo," in the 21st century:

"I've heard Italo used to describe everything from Canadian disco to techno," Dave explains, "but to me it really belongs to an era in the late '70s and early '80s... European artists were being heavily influenced by disco from NYC and Philadelphia, but without the crazy budgets being paid by U.S. labels for orchestras and studio musicians, they had to employ a lot more electronic instruments and English-mangling vocalists. Pair that up with lyrics and artwork about robots and outer space and you're mostly there... Some of the tracks went a long way to influence the birth of house music. That being said, like most dance genres, about 85 per cent of it is unlistenable shit, but that's where record hunting comes in."

Mixes of theirs can be downloaded from the Attitude City site.

The Loose Joints Boys

Also, since its long overdue, I want to feature a track for you all to download. Its "Pay Up" by Proton Plus. A superb, Brit jazz-funk excursion that I adore. Produced by Phill Fearon (later known for his UK house tracks), this one is punchy, sweet, joyous, and has endearing whiteboy vocals. The arrangements are impeccable, the sax and strings are on, and the synths are tastefully and lovingly used- including a synth marimba (yes!).

Proton Plus - Pay Up

2007-01-29T17:25:00.000-08:00

Let's put the spotlight on Jocelyn Brown. One Hell of a voice. She has sung on some of my all-time favorite records, such as Inner Life's "Moment of My Life", Cerrone's "Hooked on You", Raven's "So in Love", the Dazzle LP. She's a prolific session vocalist, and has sung over everything from gospel to trance. Here, we have here singing her classic "Somebody Else's Guy", which was a UK top 20 hit in 1984. It was recorded in 2004 for the Fashion Care benefit.

Now here's something amusing. Girl even worked with freakin' Right Said Fred, for their single "Don't Talk Just Kiss". Now I remember seeing this video when it first came out, and at the time did not realise exactly who Jocelyn Brown was. Coming back to it, I am truly thrilled as to just how er...versatile she was!

Let's give a hand for this hard-working and absolutely UNDERRATED queen of disco.

2007-01-21T17:02:00.000-08:00

Michael Freedberg was there when it all happened, in the disco era- and I had the pleasure of meeting him this past September, as I was spinning for a dance night at the Midway Cafe in JP called MUSK. Mr. Freedberg was there to see what I do, not necessarily to "size me up" against the DJs who were doing it then, but rather to see how someone from a different generation approaches the disco sound. It was a curiosity to him, as there isn't much emphasis on the classic disco sound coming out of Boston, no doubt. Many DJs barely go back more than 15 years, and at the most will throw on a throwback as a novelty. I was honored to have made an impression, which is evident as he has kept in close correspondence with me, and delivered a great article this week in the Boston Phoenix this week. In the article, Freedberg covers that "surprise descendant of disco" that we know of as House, providing a breakdown of the different scenes in Boston that are championing this sound. As he diverges into the topic of the internet as a promotional tool, he mentions MySpace as a means of spreading a DJ's name and talent. I was cited as an example, and it is indeed true: I have learned that MySpace isn't limited to its use as a social networking group for young people. I have made many connections through it, and have gotten much attention from other DJs and music lovers due to the mixes and imagery that are linked directly from my profile. Freedberg's article can be found here.

I have also found this great interview of Freeberg at DJs Portal where he includes a list of his 50 Essential Disco Albums.

2007-01-16T09:51:00.000-08:00

[at Make it New Years, photo by David Day]

After an extended holiday hiatus, I have returned to share some thoughts and sounds...

Two upcoming events here, Paradise at Key West on January 25 and All Skate on February 8. In other news, I will be accompanying DJs Lone Wolf, Baltimoroder, and others for a fundraiser for Second Gallery, Feb 17th, courtesy of sQuare Productions and its Fort Point Channel Loft. If it is anything like the NYE party we had there, then your calendar must be marked right NOW.

Since a post has long been awaited, I would love to share a track. Turned on to me by my friend Jeremy Campbell, this one is all fired up right now, and in demand. Its a gorgeous latin soul track from 76 and seems to be getting attention through the whole Italian Cosmic revival. Willowband's "The Willow Man" is a taste of heaven, clocking in at a mere three and a half minutes and marinated in rhythm and latin groove, it should be a staple of mine come this summer. Check it out:

The Willow Band - Willowman

2006-11-29T12:41:00.000-08:00

Finally, I have returned, and I am hear to bring you a simulcast of my most recent newsletter:

Hello Folks,

I have here to present to you a new mix, "Disconflagration"

Downloadable via SendSpace™

Download Disconflagration

Playlist:

Kay-Gees - Latican Funk
Tumblack - Caraiba
Billy Always - Some Kind of Love
Barbara Mason and Bunny Sigler - Locked in This Position
Sylvester - Over and Over
Lee Moore - Reachin' Out
Dazzle - All
Ashford and Simpson - Tried, Tested, and Found True
Eddie Cheba - Lookin' Good
Erotic Drum Band - Plug Me to Death
Cognac - How High
Quartz - Beyond the Clouds

ALSO:

AllSkate: A Winter Wonderland On Wheels

"The Student Council's next ALL SKATE party to raise money for the Chez Vous roller rink takes place Wednesday, December 6th. Certified Bananas, Eli Paperboy Reed and Joseph Colbourne spin while your $10 admission ($12 night of, at the door) helps keep a crucial Boston institution alive. Bring a non-perishable food item to stick under the tree.

Last time, ALL SKATE brought 500 people to the rink to raise $5,000 to help out. City Councilor Charles Yancey visited, reading a proclamation from the Boston City Council, and roller skaters from other parts of the country have been visiting to show their support.

Chez Vous is located at 11 Rhoades St. on the Dorchester-Mattapan line. 617-825-6877."

AllSkate on Myspace

Phoenix article on AllSkate2:

http://www.thephoenix.com/article_ektid28314.aspx

Thats it for now...

Much Love,

Joseph Colbourne

2006-11-04T15:22:00.000-08:00

This week's cut may be known by some of you as a signature track of mine, the gorgeous "Moving Up" by Toba. A highly collectible and rare record, found in both blue and red vinyl, "Moving Up" is a 'feel good' track in the highest degree- impeccable jazz arrangements coupled with massive britfunk, a heavy bass and earnest vocals; a sax solo, a nylon-string guitar solo, synth solo, AND piano solo. "Moving Up" is one of those records that I would decree a masterpiece for all of its lushness in sound and its impressive musicality. Who exactly were Toba? They were fronted by Mr. Tony Balch (would "Toba" derive from the first two letters of his first and last name?), and next to no information is available on them. They also had another lovely single in the form of "Make Your Mind Up", but this is the one that is the true knockout. Its the kind that gives me that shiver of joy, because its a song essentially about joy- it sums up the experience, if you will. The experience of life. Yup, thats how powerful this record is.

Listen to Toba "Moving Up"

2006-10-29T06:30:00.000-08:00

Today I'd like to give a shout out to two of the most supportive individuals of what I do here in Boston.

Bleep

Bleep (aka Brian Merz) was introduced to me as he was told of my love for disco, Italo and otherwise, and as result, invited me to peform for FutureRetro, a night that was hosted by Opal Lounge in early 2005. At the time, I was still getting my feet wet as far as proper programming, mixing, and other DJ-related skills. For him to give me an opportunity to perform despite my amateur status was something with which I am very grateful. Despite, shaky blends and iffy beat-matching, I was able to reach a new audience. From that point onward, his support for me has proven to be invaluable, and a great friendship had been made. Bleep has also hosted the series, "Party in the Combat Zone" at Gallery 808, which had its final party on September 30. I was invited to perform one of the parties, and it was one of the best experiences I had playing for a crowd, which, while modest, was devoted and enthralled with the music. It seemed as though it was a harbinger for what would come in the future for me as a DJ, and I have Bleep to think for enabling me to have the time of my life that evening. This gentleman is a primary player in nuturing a growing dance music culture in Boston, through his hard work, enthusiasm, personability, and passion for the music.

David Day

David Day is a very strong figure in Boston dance music culture, a hard-working and ever active contributor, whether as a DJ, promoter, distrbutor, producer, or film-maker. Mr. Day and I had the pleasure of DJing together at Love During Wartime, and from there I found much support and recognition for which I am indebted.

David is also a photographer, and captured this shot of me shown below, during AllSkate.

2006-10-22T18:23:00.000-07:00

Remembrances from patrons of the Paradise Garage can be found here. These humorous, bittersweet, and heartfelt musings almost make feel homesick for a place I never had the chance to visit. Also its worth noting that among these recollections you find many a reference to the classic records these patrons heard at a particular time within the context of the Garage and the domain of Larry Levan.

Which brings me to this week's track, inspired from this remembrance:

"I remember the time (late 1981) Larry played Chazz's "Dancin' shoes" in instrumental and a long line started back by the stage. These Garage members did the "Slide" all the way in the opposite direction. Baby powder lined the floor.

I also miss "Rapper, Dapper, Snapper" with the Close Encounter's sound effect behind it. In 1981, Taana Gardner's "Heartbeat" played for the first time. When the "break" came, the heartbeat played, Boom-Boom Kish!, Boom-Boom Kish!- Larry Played a real heartbeat sound effect. The red lights flashed with each increment of beat. When he mixed it in, the "heartbeat" slowed down and stopped dead! This lasted for at least a minute or so. We screamed and yelled for more!

Another time, Larry played Herbie Hancock's "Chameleon". Everyone just lined up on the outer border of the dance floor, and observed the light show. That was a trance-like mission. Same way that I went crazy for "Take a Chance" by Pleasure."

I would like to have you give a listen to the instrumental of Chazz's "Dancing Shoes", so that you may envision this display. The line. The sliding. The baby powder. The legendary Paradise Garage.

Listen to Chazz "Dancing Shoes"

2006-10-19T06:57:00.000-07:00

Making the Top Story on CBS 4 news, All Skate was a smashing success. A special thank you goes out to Lindsay Crudele, for inviting me to be a party of such an important event. I will give you further details as to how much we raised as soon as I hear word.

One of the DJs that accompanied me, talented musician and DJ San Serac. provides this week's featured mix. It's named for D-Train's "Keep Giving Me Love", which appears in the mix, and is an assortment of party-pleasing disco, boogie, and electro, so feast your ears...

Listen to "Keep Giving Me Love"

2006-10-14T14:40:00.000-07:00

Music as a spiritual experience. Some of us can feel it in our heart, in our soul, an ineffable sensation the drives us to move, to summon the spirits, to feel intense love for life. My involvement with the music I have come to realise is a spiritual relationship. Looking to faith has brought me much joy, and my courtship with the music has led to this insight into faith as remedy. Rhythm. Movement. Body music. Bringing people together. Joy. Grace. Spirit. That's what its all about.

LIVE.

LOVE.

LEARN.

EXPERIENCE.

2006-10-10T17:37:00.000-07:00

"You can listen if you please, AVOID, this message must be typed as a warning." Coco Bill's "Evita" is the paragon of bittersweet italo-disco, and it projects a familiar, yet still fresh sound. Its slow tempo does not plod, as its rhythmically lush and there's a lot to ride on. The vocals are reminiscent of John Rocca, a somber, earnest tenor, and they're an excellent example that Italo vocals are not always necessarily challenging to the ears. Actually, when I first heard this track, I assumed it was made in the US or UK.

Hell, this shits' phat, robust if you will, now that I hear it stripped down to its rhythmic track in the outro.

Check it:

Coco Bill - Evita

2006-10-07T16:25:00.000-07:00

Check out this article from the Boston Phoenix, courtesy of David Day:

"This Wednesday, October 18, an event unique in recent nightlife goes off at the Chez Vous Roller Rink in Dorchester. ALL SKATE is a benefit for Boston’s beloved roller rink, which is looking at closing its doors unless the community comes to its side — that’d be you. So head down to the rink (11 Rhoades Street, Dorchester) and boogie as performer and DJ SAN SERAC, Plunge into Death member and heralded 440R DJ MARK E MOON, DJ and disco-music producer BRENDAN WESLEY, and Love During Wartime DJ and Italo king JOSEPH COLBOURNE all spin from 8 pm till midnight. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door; that includes skate rental, and every last dime goes to Chez Vous.

"Speaking of Mr. Colbourne: it was excellent to come across his mug in the contributors’ section of VIVA-RADIO.COM , a new audio Web site that’s easy to use and requires little more than a browser and some speakers. Colbourne is streaming all his Italo, boogie, and disco sounds to a worldwide audience alongside dance-music visionaries like DAN SELZER (Acute Records), JAMES F!@#$% ^ FRIEDMAN (Defend Music), and the ELECTRIC CHAIR CLUB (UK)."

In other news,
I am celebrating my 28th(!) birthday next Saturday, and those of you who are in or near town and would like to come by my place, inquire within....

I also would like to present our poster for AllSkate:

2006-10-03T17:11:00.000-07:00

The featured mix comes courtesy of Chicago's Terry James, who has been spinning for 25 years, and as he states, "came up under Ron Hardy's Music Box School of Music." Influenced by the great pioneers such as Larry Levan, David Mancuso, Tee Scott, Farley Jackmaster Funk, Hot Mix 5, and Frankie Knuckles, James brings forth disco, funk, classic Chicago house, and has a formidable collection of great tunes with which a number he has turned me on to through performing live or via recorded mixes. I had the honor of spinning with him when he was temporarily stationed here in Boston. I'd like to present a favorite mix of his, "Black Hole", featured on Bring the Heat, which features tracks by Deodato, Cheri, and Ish, to name a few...

Listen to Black Hole

2006-09-30T07:31:00.000-07:00

This week's track is the epitome of SOUL DISCO. Blood Hollins' "Don't Give it Up". Man, this one is a killer. Its 1976 and you had this great big sound, and it was soon to give way to a more European influence in disco, save for some exceptions. For an early twelve-inch, this single is surprisingly well-mixed and is packed with heat right to the end groove, brimming with a lush interplay of fanfare horns, scintillating strings, and even a grandiose harp. Its starts off as a solid, uplifting soul tune with an irresistible groove, and then it takes a turn that leads into an epic instrumental masterpiece- its foray is immense, and occurs just a mere two and a half minutes after the vocal part. The trumpet solos are jazz-inflected but very much grounded in funk and soul sensibility, and they weave in and out with the staccato of harps heralding that this record is one that takes you on a journey- much like Lamont Dozier's "Going Back to My Roots" or Billy Paul's "Going East". This could incinerate the floor, and I was fortunate to find my very own copy of this record before hype has really kicked in. Check it out for yourself...

Blood Hollins - Don't Give it Up

2006-09-28T15:36:00.000-07:00

It isn't a dead medium.... check this report on vinyl making a comeback.

And now, its time to herald the return of rollerdisco. What better time and place to bang out the boogie?

Here is the Press Release for AllSkate:

Skate to save a roller rink
City kids line up their vinyl for grand benefit to help save Chez Vous

Dorchester, MA --- September 20, 2006 --- It may be the music of the 80s that could save Boston's only roller rink from a fate fit for a bad 80s movie itself.

After 70 years serving the city with a place to roller skate, Chez Vous Roller Rink in Dorchester is facing tough financial times and could face closure if it can't get its head above water soon. But a group of local DJs and community organizers won't let that happen without a fight, and on Wednesday, October 18th, they are hosting a benefit at the rink to raise money and awareness for the threatened institution.

"ALL SKATE: A Night to Benefit Chez Vous" takes place from 8 pm to midnight on the 18th of October. It's hosted by DJs Joseph Colbourne, San Serac, Mark. E. Moon and Brendan Wesley spinning classic roller boogie and disco, electro funk and house to recreate a roller disco party of a new kind of scale. Proceeds from the event directly benefit the rink; tickets are $10, available this weekend onward at the rink, or via this contact, and $12 the night of the event. Skate rental is included free. Partygoers are invited to pursue their most creative roller skating outfitting ideas, and there is no age restriction on attendance. Chez Vous is located at 11 Rhoades St. in Dorchester, just at the corner of Rt. 203 and Blue Hill Ave. The rink area is serviced by the 28, 29, 21 and 31 bus routes on the MBTA.

Chez Vous has served the city since the 1930s, in its recent years hosting countless musical events as well as after-school programs for local kids. Now, it's time for the community to reach back and help preserve this city treasure. It's a place for neighborhood kids to enjoy a creative, athletic activity, as well as an outlet for some of the region's most stunning artistic skating for patrons of all ages, and we can't let it be forgotten.

Please refer to our myspace page for updates and a mini-mix by Colbourne at www.myspace.com/bostonrollerboogie .

"ALL SKATE" is produced by Lindsay Crudele, a writer and fond roller skater, an entirely volunteer team of DJs, designers, sound technicians and printers, and in partnership with the Northeast Sticks Together festival.

2006-09-24T11:14:00.000-07:00

Some would argue that it was...

Homophobia.

Racism.

And the reaction of the angry (afraid) American (or British) white man's threat to masculinity and alpha status...

...that lead to the stigma this still exists today. Perhaps these factors contributed even more so than the exploitation and distillation by the music industry at the time, creating a cash crop of rehashing, recycling, and retreading tired formulas for quick bucks and Billboard Hot 100 opportunities.

The Phoenix has risen.

2006-09-20T19:22:00.000-07:00

Steve Fish, aka DJ Dynasty, was there when old school was new school. Originally from Brooklyn, and now residing in South Florida, he is primarily a bedroom DJ, save for the occasional party here and there. However, he has some solid disco and funk mixes with grooves from the likes of Fantasy, Patrick Cowley, Invisible Man's Band, First Choice, Telex, and Bruni Pagan, to name a few. He states, "I always find it as some sort of expression release that cant be replaced with anything else. I never forget where I come from & frequently get into some private sets of the stuff that I grew up on that keeps me in perspective knowing that thats where the challenge lies. To mix the perfectly timed drum machine based music of today is nice but spinning the late 70's and early 80s type of music helps keep me sharp in the mix." His site is definitely worth checking out:

DJ DYNASTY

This is yet another example of the legions of DJs, both those in bedrooms and in clubs far and wide, are keeping the spirit of this legendary sound burning bright.

2006-09-18T18:24:00.000-07:00

Kat Mandu's "Super Lady" is my track of the week, and I gotta tell ya, I can't resist this one. Its got a groove, but its also playful, tongue-in-cheek, sexy, and has its own character- if it were a handsome feller rather than a record, I would say its quite a catch. It comes from the Manhattan Formula imprint (a division of Uniwave) which also brought us the ultra-rare boogie soul jam "Can't Sleep at Night" by Mike Dozier and, oddly enough, minimal-synth group Iko 83. It was produced by Michel Bibeau, whose other credits include Junior Byron's "Dance to the Music". This one is a keeper in my book, and I think you should give it a listen...

Kat Mandu - Super Lady

2006-09-15T15:43:00.000-07:00

This week's featured mix comes courtesy of Million Dollar Disco and its by Andrew Morgan of District Wax Museum. This mix is bite-size (a mere 15 minutes), but well worth the listen, because this man has some raw, down and dirty, sick RARE DISCO records and I have no idea what tracks he uses in the mix. Tune in...

Ultra Mix '77

2006-09-12T14:56:00.000-07:00

Reading the crowd. One of the most underdeveloped skills of any aspiring DJ. When I started, I didn't exactly pay enough attention at the reaction of the crowd depending on what I programmed for a set. As a result, I would have a very inconsistent, very dissatisfied dancefloor of people milling about waiting for something that would hit them in that spot.

Room for deviation is something I found to be necessary. Crowd not feeling an electro, early house, techno, or italo vibe? Throw on some vocal, souful house, funk, or disco. Maybe thats what the particular crowd is craving. I gotta look at the crowd, I gotta communicate with crowd. Whats the sense in performing for others when you are the vehicle for the music you love? The crowd should be entertaining you as much as you are entertaining them. All these elements come into play, the element, the mood of the crowd, the nature of the venue, the sound system, the time of the night.

Along with reading the crowd, there is programming. The crowd DOES NOT always need accessiblity in the form of pop songs where they know all the hooks and words. "Never underestimate your audience" has become my personal mantra. WHAT you play may take you one step, but what REALLY counts once you choose what you play, is HOW you PLAY your music as a set. Programming. BPM and tempo, style of sound, composition (SO overlooked!), vocals, instrumentals, levels, quantized vs. non-quantized, the essence of two tracks and how they are juxtaposed. Should one play Slave's "Just a Touch of Love" directly after Berlin's "The Metro"? Will mixing out of a track in the vocal's mid-verse really work? Does that depend on whether it is quantized or raw?

I have found that there is much to consider....

...if you want to avoid an empty dancefloor.

2006-09-08T06:58:00.000-07:00

An intoxicating slice of sultry soul is what we got this week in Blanche Carter's "Straight Down to the Bone"- which happens to be the namesake for my new show on Viva Radio. Man, this one is tasty, sexy, and its got a PROFOUND bass and Blanche's vocals are earnest yet also mischievous- just my type. Off the heralded TSOB label, which is known for their raw, dirty, no-BS grooves, this piece of goodness was written and produced by Richard Weeks of Weeks and Co. ("Rock Your World", "Go With the Flow") fame, and its subtly evident; while Weeks and Co. has the party jams, this is more of a late night/early morning groove. It sure is a crying shame that good ole Boston closed up at 2am. Shucks! Give this lovely one a listen:

Blanche Carter - Straight Down to the Bone

One More Note: I would like to receive feedback on file retrieval. Should I continue with You Send It or should I move on to Sendspace? Let me know here, or email me.

2006-09-05T15:45:00.000-07:00

Recently, I've had the privilege becoming acquainted with Greg Wilson, prolific DJ and music writer, who had brought electro-funk to the UK and made it a hugely successful scene. I'd also like to point out that as I was beginning to explore and research as a budding DJ, Wilson's Essential Beats 82/83 (a list of 100 of the biggest tunes played at Legend in Manchester and Wigan Pier during 1982 and 1983) served as a one of my main reference points, and learned a lot of great tracks as a result. So I present him as a significant inspiration of mine.

This week, Mr. Wilson is not only my featured DJ but I also want to feature a number of his mixes:

ELECTRO RETROSPECTIVE (82/83)
THE BEST OF 83
MUSIC IS BETTER (mix #1106) at Deep House Page
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ADJUST YOUR RADIO
DJ HISTORY JAZZ-FUNK / FUSION
UK ELECTRO / ICA - SUMMER 84
MONASTIC MIX

In addition, there are live mixes:
FIRST TIME IN NYC: http://deephousepage.com/mixes.php (mix #1302)
ELECTRIC CHAIR: http://www.electriks.co.uk/mixes.php
WHISTLEBUMP: http://www.whistlebump.co.uk/mixes.html
SOLESCIENCE: http://www.solescience.co.uk/music.htm
SUONO: http://www.rawpromotions.co.uk/live_mixes.html
STYLUS: http://www.lovestylus.com/mixes.htm
JIGSAW: http://www.jigsawmusic.net/livemix.htm
X CENTRAL: http://www.universalvibes.com/fattuesday/index.htm
NOMANSLAND: http://www.milkaudio.com/web/live_gregwilson.php
CREME: http://www.latenightaudio.com/listen.htm

Greg Wilson also has a monthly online radio show, courtesy of Samurai.fm:
TIME CAPSULE

Lastly, here are a list of biographies on the man, including one from one of my favorite resource sites Jahsonic
Biography:
http://www.andwedanced.com/djs/wilson.htm
http://www.tirk.co.uk/artists_gregwilson.html
http://www.kumomusic.com/Greg_Wilson.html
http://www.jahsonic.com/GregWilson.html

2006-09-04T15:26:00.000-07:00

Viva Radio is an internet radio station courtesy of American Apparel, which features disc jockeys offering up music of all genres and styles, and includes shows by my friends Dan Selzer and Rob Kelley. I am pleased to announce that I have been offered a show on Viva Radio, and I have named it "Straight Down to The Bone" (more on the origins of this name in my upcoming "Track of the Week" coming soon). I invite you to give it a listen:

Straight Down to The Bone RADIO SHOW

In other news, Ben Sisto has uploaded this week's Scenefeeder mix, named in celebration of my new radio show...

Listen to Straight Down to Tha Bone MIX

2006-09-03T12:03:00.000-07:00

Love During Wartime was a success. Not only was $1,000 raised towards a grant (which local artists and non-profits can apply for-more info on the myspace site), but it served as a veritable convention for fourteen local DJs to become acquainted, share, network, and make new friends. This was one of the highlights of the year for me, and it was great to see such DJs as Lone Wolf, and David Day perform, along with VJ Matt Boch. A special thanks to Ben Sisto for inviting me- your recognition of me as a DJ is something that I am really grateful for, as you helped me out at my very beginnings, with my first residency at Dynasty. I am honored to have been involved in this event, and it is an indication that the DJ culture of Boston in in fact, alive and well.

2006-08-30T15:19:00.000-07:00

Track of the week...Now this one is off the hook. Candela's "Love You Madly", an Amir Bayyan joint (Bayyan was formerly Robert 'Kool' Bell of none other than Kool and the Gang, and was quite the prolific producer and arranger in his own right), this one typifies the garage (or boogie) sound of 1982. Approximately 118bpm, bass heavy, funk oriented, and with yet another killer break thats been the trend of my tracks of the week.

"Love You Madly, Oww, Whatcha Thinkin' Now? Gotta know somehow.."

Give it a listen...

Candela - Love You Madly

2006-08-27T11:46:00.000-07:00

The motivation to dance. I wanted to take a good look at this concept. I look on a dancefloor and I see many different types- those who nod and appreciate, but seldom make their way to the floor. Others who will dance very low-key and in a small space, taking small steps and pacing themselves in an understated manner. Then there are a few who demand that they only dance to only that which they can only sing along to- the ones seeking an anthem to celebrate- its the only thing that will have them approach the floor. Then there is another DANCER. There are those who relish the sounds, whether classic are unfamiliar, electronic or live, and abandon inhibition and take to the rhythm like a fish to water. I adore those- the near intrinsic disposition to be loyal to a sound that moves them, possessed by the near synesthesia of the disco experience.

Let me be clear, however. ANYONE who dances gets my gratitude when I pay tribute to this music, no matter what dancer you are. No matter how you dance, how you express yourself, you are the judge and the jury of the way you celebrate your life, and if you have the motivation to move at all, whether it be a head nod or an acrobatic move, you liberate yourself, and pay tribute to the spirit of this sound.

2006-08-25T14:48:00.000-07:00

Love During Wartime comes Saturday, September 2. I am delighted to be a part of this. Check it out:

Saturday September 2nd 2006
at The Paradise, 969 Commonwealth Ave. Boston MA
V.I.P. 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM / General 8:00 PM - 2:00 AM
18+, $10.00 to raise funds for a local artists' grant
Presented by Ben of Scene Feeder and Ian of Happy Endings
Part of The Boston Phoeinx's "Excuse" event series

14 DJs spin for 30 minutes each. Confirmed DJs:

Bethany (The Plan)
A weekly indie, rock, dance night at Great Scott
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Knife (Marinate)
One of Boston's best hiphop DJs, often over at The Milky Way
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Terrence (The Pill)
From M.I.A. to MOZ, the man loves that which is from Europe
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EMarce (Paper)
DJ for one of the city's most packed college/indie nights
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Sir Loins (Hot Lunch)
Helping to create awesome punk and dance nights for radical queers and their buddies
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David Day (Square Productions)
Forced Exposure, films, DJing, production. David does it all.
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Claude Money (Soul-le-lu-jah)
The soul reason ZuZu pwnz Saturday nights. <3 his 45s.
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Joseph Colbourne (formerly of Dynasty & Number Six)
Every city needs a disco / Italo know-it all. We have the best.
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Lone Wolf (Gold Chain)
Southie's fun-loving artist-teacher-dj gets you crunk
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Matt (of Dead Disco / Ready Steady Yo!)
Non-stop quality selections, from indie-dance to UK grime.
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Ian (of Happy Endings)
Venue seller-outter and co-promoter for L.D.W.T.
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Red Foxxworth (of Hearthrob)
Dude likes Three 6 Mafia and Skinny Puppy. Say no more.
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Video Artists:
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Matt (Dust Bunnies, Blanks)
His love for video is only outdone by his love for nice hoodies.
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Joe Dinkin
One of those smart-arts types. Projects 'films' not video. Duh.
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Robotkid
Old school beat-head and creator of fantastic visuals.
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Sarah (of Memories Forever) and Ben are designing 2 sides to a 4x6 promo card to hit the streets in August.

The Details

We want to raise the bar. Just think: what if a dance night was a platform for community growth? How could we maximize having 500+ people in a room together? So we're throwing "Love During Wartime", a dance party with the end goal of helping the local underground arts, music, and non-profit communities. Here's a quick breakdown of how we plan to do this:

1. Get 14 DJs from some of the best nights across the city
2. Get one of the largest rock venues in Boston on-board
3. Get the largest weekly indie newspaper to back us
4. Get 500+ people at this one-of-a-kind all-out genre-mash
5. Pay every DJ, promoter, artist involved a flat rate of $50.00
6. Put all post-cost profits into a fund
7. All artists involved become part of a voting team
8. Ask the public to submit funding-proposals
9. Our team votes, and awards a member of the community with a grant
9a. If we sell this thing out, we could be looking at a $2,000.00 award!
10. Follow up / check in on the award winner / keep progress blog
11. Put up a 'how to' PDF / explaininghow the entire night came together

2006-08-23T15:08:00.000-07:00

This week's featured DJ: Beppe Loda. Courtesy of Jeremy Campbell's Tropical Computer System site.

"Italian DJ Beppe Loda, pioneer of DJ culture and resident at Brescia's Typhoon club from 1980 to 1987, has been searching for sounds off the beaten path since his first gig in 1973. Playing to as many as 7,000 people a night, producing in excess of 200 mix tapes and pioneering the "italo synth" sound with his MC1 project (just reissued on Synthonic), he has just about done it all. His "Afro" style (also called "Cosmic" or "Cosmic Afro") is as disorienting, funky and inspiring now as it was then. Listen to a mix for yourself below, and if you're lucky, catch one of his first US performances."

Elettronica Meccanica 08/85 mix

2006-08-22T10:11:00.000-07:00

Track of the Week: Greg Perry "It Takes Heart"

A record coveted by both northern soul and boogie collectors, alike, this fast-tempo (130 bpm) track is a rare crossroads between the two. Recorded in 1982, and released on the small Alfa label, "It Takes Heart" has the telltale expressive, melodic sound and tempo craved by Northern Soul collectors; the break, however, is wildly indicative of the sound that was very contemporary for that time- a tight, pounding drive with an infectious synth riff.

One VERY noteworthy fact about the artist is that Mr. Perry was a Holland-Dozier-Holland collaborator, and had recorded much since the 60s, and many of his records are sought after by Northern Soul collectors.

Give it a listen:

Greg Perry - It Takes Heart

2006-08-20T16:56:00.000-07:00

Guilty Pleasures: A Thank You to all those involved and to those who came out last night, to Adam Bouchard (Commodore Vic) for inviting me, Ben Sisto (Scenefeeder), and Michael Potvin (Compound 440r, Cassette), of whom is pictured with me below. The night was jammin', and when the clapping and stomping began as I mixed Take Five's "You Gotta Walk Through It" into Sylvester's "I Need You", I experienced great joy. My utmost gratitute to you all.

2006-08-18T18:30:00.001-07:00

This week's mix I feature courtesy of Bring The Heat, and its by Jr Jam. This one is jam-packed with the love of my life, that funky, deep, tender and yet at the same time, tough groove- most tracks from between 1980-1983, that sweet spot. Plus its got one of my all time favorites, Norman Giscombe Jr's "Hot Up and Heated", the B-side to "Get Up and Dance". You may now him better as simply Junior, famed for "Mama Used to Say", a big dance and radio hit in the UK and here in the US. The segue from "Hot Up and Heated" to Daybreak's "Everybody Get Off" is very effective, and is one of the highlights of the mix. So give it a listen and let it take you away...

Disco Grooves

2006-08-16T16:27:00.000-07:00

Tee Scott.

He was considered the "repairman"- was able to take a record in desperate need of attention and make it classic. Think First Choice's "Love Thang", Northend's "Tee's Happy" and "Tee's Right", Atlantis' "Keep on Movin' and Groovin".... I just wanted to proclaim my admiration for this man as one of my main inspirations as a DJ and one of my favorite mixers.

A Discography

On His DJing:
"[Tee] picked really good songs," says François K, an acolyte of Scott’s. "He was more focused on the real soulful grooves that would work the dancefloor to an absolute frenzy. He was into playing a very solid; steady no-nonsense set, but also very beautiful. He could really work a record into becoming a hit just because he made it so. It might not a very strong record to begin with but just the way he would work it, cut it, and make his crowd like it and then it would become a hit.
-Francois Kervorkian

2006-08-15T17:20:00.000-07:00

Guilty Pleasures...

2006-08-13T10:47:00.000-07:00

Track of the Week:

Underground - Behind My Back

Released on the heralded Queens-based label Sam Records in 1981 (best known for hits by Convertion, Rhyze, Glen Adams Affair, Vicky "D", Evasions, and so forth), this appeared to be Underground's sole record, and is actually the b-side of the more smooth and soul-fueled "Doin' It". The record is the funkiest catharsis ever to lay its grooves on black wax, and, as suggested in its title, is a candid declaration of a man's "last straw" with his deceitful, unfaithful lover. The bottom line is that this track is rough, tough, and seriously got too much of serious groove to be overlooked- a sick synth-driven break, vocals that hold their own, and overall a solid track that has been a floor-filler for me in the past. Its surprising that it isn't far more in demand, but such is the case with certain records that may get lost into obscurity on a label that has huger hits that overshadow it. Download the track here.

2006-08-11T19:42:00.000-07:00

A Proposal.

I would like to feature/review a mix each week from local, regional, national, or international DJs. If you are interested in referring me to a mix of yours, a friend's, acquaintance's, or simply someone you admire, please inquire within. The best way would be to reply to this post, or email me.

This week I will feature a mix of my choice, by Chicago's DJ Bullit (courtesy of Deep House Page. Bullit's collection of boogie, funk, soul, disco, and rare groove is enviable and as a DJ, he is an enigma. I know very little information on the gentleman, besides mixes that have been featured on DHP and Bring the Heat. Consequently, both DHP and Bring the Heat exhibit the enthusiasm, passion, and loyalty of the deep disco and boogie sound in the Windy City, and there are some dedicated fellas from that town whose collections far surpass my own. Out of respect for Bullit, I will not post a tracklist but if you would like any tracks identified, contact me. So without further ado, here is the mix by Bullit, simply titled "Deep Disco."

Listen to Deep Disco

2006-08-10T18:05:00.000-07:00

AUGUST 19th

GUILTY PLEASURES

Funk, Electro, R&B Dancing
Commodore Vic w/ Special Guest Joseph Colbourne (Thee Disco Archiviste.)
Saturday August 19th, 2006

Common Ground Bar & Grill
85 Harvard Ave, Allston, MA
11 PM, 21+
Bring valid ID

Mark Your Calendars.

2006-08-09T18:15:00.002-07:00

My friend Ben Sisto has graciously offered to host mixes of mine on a weekly basis on his blog Scenefeeder. One of these mixes featured is Givin' in to the Beat. Check it out...

Givin' in to the Beat

black gold - cmon stop
lefturno - out of sight
amra - special kind of love
wickett - cant get enough of you
splash - when we touch (ju ju)
jammers - an you know that
raven feat, jocelyn brown - so in love
mass production - come get some of this

2006-08-08T16:02:00.000-07:00

A real live wire.

You deserve to dance.

This beat is mine.

Knocks me off my feet.

It's got to be love.

Don't you know that I've been looking for you?

Welcome.