NINA SIMONE: THE HIGH PRIESTESS OF SOUL LIVE IN '69

 Wandering around the internet, we came upon this amazing footage of Nina Simone live in 1969. "Save Me" (Aretha Franklin) has always been a favorite, and this live version is absolutely smoking!
Quite a bit of footage here.... Dig. Wow!

NINA SIMONE: DEEP SOUL GODDESS



 

YASIIN BEY + HYPNOTIC BRASS + FELA!

 Felabration 2012 went off! Hypnotic Brass Ensemble were joined by Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def) on stage. The results were incendiary! Check the footage. Yeah yeah! We love Yassin Bey! We love Hypnotic Brass! We Love Fela Kuti. The Shrine Loves Chicago and the world.

Yasiin Bey + Hypnotic Brass Ensemble - Water No Get Enemy / New World Water from Jamaar J on Vimeo.

FELABRATION Update: with Mos Def / Hypnotic Brass / Hebru Brantley After Party

A lot more heat has been added to Felabration 2012 at The Shrine, Chicago! The party just got seriously turnt up with live performances by MOS DEF (aka Yasiin Bey) and HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE. And of course, MR. RICH MEDINA on the ones and twos. Cop your tickets now: BUY It is also the official after party for Hebru Brantley! (Check him out on the cover of this week's Reader!)

 FELABRATE GOOD TIMES!

GO SEE THE SHOW! (MAKE SURE YOU HAVE AN INVITE!

FELABRATION 3.0 with RICH MEDINA (10.12.12)

FELABRATION returns to The Shrine for the third year to celebrate the life and music of Afrobeat creator Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Once again, Rich Medina (Jump n' Funk) blesses the ones and twos! We are huge fans of Rich and are thrilled to have him back once again. His set will be accompanied by the visuals of The Marksmen. Peoples DJ Collective/Sonic Diaspora DJs Itch 13 and Afroqbano open up the festivities. We will also have a 'world market', with artists and artisans selling all sorts of wares. Discounted pre-tickets are on sale now! BUY

                     

MELLOW MADNESS WITH DJ NEVILLE C

Here is a super groovy mix by DJ Neville C. (aka Neal Becton), the owner of one of D.C.'s finest record shops, Som Records. Mix was recorded for the Mellow Madness show on WRIR 97.3 in Richmond, VA.

THE MAN IN QUESTION: DJ NEVILLE C.

 

SOM RECORDS 

 

Luis Gomez Photos

Tracks range from Brazilian tunes and obscure Soul cuts, to hard-to-find Reggae, Latin & African jams, and whatever else Neal felt like dropping. All are seven inch record, all original vinyl. Neal is a beast and has a mind-blowing collection. Ever heard Ronnie Jones' cover of Rodriguez's 'Sugar Man' @ around the 41 minute (halfway) mark?! Me neither. Killer, like the whole mix.

We actually scored a few of the records in this set together on a little digging expedition in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Hey, Edson!) His store is bad ass, too! If you are in the DC area, drop in. Tell 'em Clark Quente sent you. Oh, almost forgot, check out his monthly Brazilian party (Brazilian Rhythms) at Cafe Saint-Ex.

LISTEN and LEARN and GROOVE!

THE SET LIST

GOOD THING GOING: REGGAE AT THE SHRINE

The Shrine continues to throw great Reggae events! Shows by Beres Hammmond and Yellowman were enormous successes. Barrington Levy has been re-scheduled for Oct. 18... Rocksteady! goes down every Sunday. Field Marshall, who hosts Rocksteady, brings a new monthly Old School Reggae Dance Party to The Shrine every 4th Friday. We Love Reggae, so drop in and LIVELY UP YOURSELF!

Beres Hammond brought the LOVE.

 All hail King Yellowman!

Rocksteady!

Barrington Levy... Here I Come

Field Marshall + Friends on deck!

ROOTS, ROCK, REGGAE: DOCUMENTARY (1977)

Cool 1977 documentary about the roots of Reggae. Parts one through five.
Enjoy!

ROCKSTEADY! YELLOWMAN + BARRINGTON LEVY

The Shrine continues to stir it up this summer with more live Reggae shows! Hot off the heals of a sold out show with Beres Hammond, two new shows have just been announced; Yellowman on Wednesday, July 11 and Barrington Levy on Wednesday, August 9.

KEEPIN' IT IRIE ALL SUMMER LONG. NO NEED TO SIMMER DOWN!
And don't forget - ROCKSTEADY! Live Reggae every Sunday in Coup d'état (@ The Shrine)

 

    

TIM MAIA DOES THE THREE IN ONE

One of all time favorite Brazilian artists. Tim is Brazilian Soul.
Last track on side one of 1983 album O Descobridor dos Setes Mares is a groovy instrumental.

Don't sleep on his 80s jams!

SONIC DIASPORA w. DJ ZHAO

Berlin-based DJ Zhao guests at this months edition of SONIC DIASPORA. He's got a new mix dropping.... check the spiel. Should be available at party! #YeahYeah!

Juju-Juke demonstrates the epic reconnection between African tradition and Afro-Diaspora: between Juju/Fuji and Juke/Footwork, between Iberian trad-modern street sounds and R'n'B/Pop, between Congolese Mbira workouts and Ghetto Tech, between Ghanaian and Senegalese percussion and Urban Bass Pressure.

LEE 'SCRATCH' PERRY BOBBLEHEAD

Everybody needs a LEE 'SCRATCH' PERRY bobblehead doll, right?! The doll was created by Chicago's very own Archer Prewitt in a limited edition of 1000. The Japanese import is available from Aggronautix, which is taking pre-orders now!

The doll has adjustable arms and head and is accompanied by a cloth hat, gold bracelet, and gold necklace. He holds a lighter and microphone.

Hopefully, there is no fluid in the lighter...

NEW CURUMIN ON WAX!

The new Curumin album (his third) entitled 'Arrocha' will be released by Vinyl Land on April 18th. A limited run of 500 copies are available for pre-order now: BUY IT NOW! In the meantime, check out a cut from the record.... LISTEN

MORE AFRICAN RECORDS YOU NEED....

The African re-issues just keep coming which is good news for your wallet, unless you are a purist AND have unlimited dough to drop on obscure gems....

Soundway release the second LP from Ghanian singer Rob. 'Make It Fast, Make It Slow' is a Afro/Psych/Funk diggers dream. The title track appeared on the Ghana Soundz compilation. Afrobeats, tripped out production, oddball percussion, yup!

Segun Okeji's 'I Like Woman' follows closely in Fela's footsteps. One long track on each side. Originally released in 1978. I have an earlier re-issue that is on Soul Patrol as well. This is supposed to be limited to 500 copies. Afro heat, indeed! "Everybody say feelings!"

Academy Records and Voodoo Frank are back with another insanely rare 45. Some folks out there may be familiar with The Apostles 'Black Is Beautiful' LP. Same funky feel, though the lyrics are sung in their native language, instead of English. Dopeness!

ROB

SEGUN OKEJI

THE APOSTLES

ALL AVAILABLE AT DUSTYGROOVE

CONTEMPORARY GROOVES ON SOUNDWAY: BATIDA!

The first-ever contemporary recording on Soundway – but a set that's still got firm roots in the 70s African scene that's usually represented by the label! Batida is the brainchild of Portuguese DJ Mpula – who brings together samples from older Angolan recordings with contemporary beats and rhythms – often in a blend that's got the quick-stepping sort of pace you'd hear in favela grooves from the Brazilian scene – yet which comes across completely differently, thanks to the rich array of acoustic elements in the original recordings! There's loads of sweet guitar lines that rifle through the music – and the set also features guest contributions from contemporary MCs and producers.

Cop it on LP at Dusty Groove!

TONY ALLEN: ROCKET JUICE AND THE MOON

The legendary Tony Allen returns with a new group and album with Damon Albarn, Flea and a host of guests including Chicago's own Hypnotic Brass Ensemble.


Check the cut below with Erykah Badu. Hottness!!!!


And some sage words from Mr Allen, recorded live in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2004. "Don't Take My Kindness For Weakness", indeed!

FELA! The Musical In Chicago: KICK-OFF PARTY! CHICAGO AFROBEAT PROJECT + MORE

FELA! The Musical finally makes its Chicago premier Mar 27-April 8 at The Oriental Theater. Of course we are thrilled to be a part of the party, so we are throwing another!

Come to The Shrine Wednesday March 28th and meet cast members of the play! Chicago Afrobeat Project with special guest Ugochi perform along with Get Up With The Get Downs. The Sonic Diaspora DJs (Itch 13, Itzi Nallah & Afroqbano) will also be on hand to warm things up. the evening will also feature an art exhibit by Rahmaan Statik. Doors 9pm.

OF COURSE, YOU NEED TO SEE THE MUSICAL! THE SHRINE IS ALSO SPONSORING DISCOUNTED TICKETS: BUY HERE! ENTER 'SHRINE' (NO QUOTES) FOR A DISCOUNT!

REMEMBERING MALCOLM X: (2.21.12)

Remembering Malcolm on the day he was taken from us.
May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965

Great track from Miriam and Mbongi Makeba compiled on the amazing 'Black and Proud' compilation on Trikont Records.

BIXIGA 70! MODERN AFROBEAT FROM BRAZIL

It's no secret that Afrobeat has enjoyed a resurgence over the last ten years, with bands from all over the world taking cues from the sound Fela Kuti created in Nigeria forty+ years ago. Bixiga 70 hail from Sao Paulo, Brazil. The band, while clearly influenced bu Kuti in both sound and name, also mixes elements of jazz, funk, soul, latin and dub into its heady musical stew.





LISTEN/DOWNLOAD TO THEIR ENTIRE ALBUM: CLICK HERE

INSPIRATION INFORMATION: SKATING DURBAN SOUTH AFRICA

Super inspiring video of young kid from the streets of Durban, South Africa, who's life was changed by skateboarding. Love what he says about skating to make him deal with his problems. Makes you want to stop complaining and dig deeper!



lifted from: BANGERS AND NASH

RON TENT & RICH MEDINA: Ilé Feb 3 CHOP N' QUENCH!

Ilé jumps off yet again on Friday, February 3. This time around Ron Trent is joined on the decks by Philly, PA's very own Rich Medina! Medina is well known for his Afro Beat-heavy sets at his signature party Jump n' Funk in NYC.

 It has been five or six years since these two have rocked a party together, so you don't want to miss it! A musical journey for the mind and body!

GET TICKETS NOW: CLICK HERE

ADELE SEBASTIAN-DESERT FAIRY PRINCESS

I tend to get obsessed with certain artists or groups and end up trying to track down there records. Adele Sebastian was a flute player who played with Horace Tapscott's People's Pan African Arkestra. I have been reading "The Dark Tree", a book written about Tapscott's group and the Los Angles community art scene that grew up around it. Sebastian's one LP is a holy grail among Spiritual/Soulfull Jazz collectors. Tragically, she died at the age of twenty-six or twenty-seven years old. You can pick-up the CD at dustygroove.com for around eleven bucks. Wax is going top cost you a lot more...! All but the last track posted here for your listening pleasure.

SONIC DIASPORA + COUP D'ETAT RISING

Invite the familia!

Chicago Nu Latin DJ ITZI NALLAH and Afrobeat specialist AFROQBANO of the Peoples DJs Collective team up with ITCH13 of Gramaphone Records to bring one of Chicago’s hottest African underground dance parties to it’s rightful place - the Shrine in Chicago.

The Shrine, a bumpin' African-inspired club-lounge combo in the South Loop, may be known for it’s high-caliber Hip hop nights, but its Coup d’Etat room, where SONIC DIASPORA will be Friday, January 13, is the perfect venue where Fela Kuti will proudly look on as Chicagoans desegregate the dance floor with tunes from Mali & Ghana to Nigeria & the Cape of Good Hope.

We all know Chicago is home to House Music, but have we connected with its home in Africa? Chitown, have you heard or been looking for the best in Kuduro, Kwaito, Soukous, Afrobeat, AfroLatin House, Nu Dancehall & Global Bass?

According to the Zhaoist Manifesto by way of Berlin’s Zhao, “if one traces the history of 20th Century North American pop and dance music, a crude and very abbreviated but basically sound genealogy describes a line going back to Disco, to Soul, to Funk, to Motown, to Gospel, to Blues, to Jazz, to work songs of the slaves, and indeed, to Africa.”

This isn’t your normal world music party.

Sonic Diaspora DJs & hosts Tifflove & the Wolfpack promise to groove you to high-energy classic & urban music of Africa and the Diaspora and indeed to invoke the magic of the original drum and the boom of a bangin’ sound system for your booty-shaking enlightenment.

This party will also be the Chicago release for our guy Brotha Onaci's OkayAfrica.com Sonic Diaspora Mixtape- have a listen! He'll be guesting with us in upcoming months.

//http://www.okayafrica.com/2011/11/29/africa-in-your-earbuds-7-brotha-onaci/

Save the night. Every 2nd Friday.

//SONIC Diaspora @ Coup d'Etat (next to The Shrine)
2109 S. Wabash, Chicago IL
No Cover, 21+, Space is Accessible
Red Line at Cermak/Chinatown
$6 Drink Specials
Mention SONIC DIASPORA at the door

//JEWELRY BY:
Roots of Life Designs

//PHOTOGRAPHY BY:
theCrapper.net

//SPONSORED BY:
www.Haveplentymusic.com (NAMIBIA)
www.ThisIsAfrica.me (EUROPE, AFRICA)
www.Gozamos.com (CHICAGO)
www.facebook.com/PeoplesDJs (CHICAGO)

Ilé + 718 Sessions = RON TRENT x DANNY KRIVIT!

Ilé goes even DEEPER this month with very special guest DANNY KRIVIT! Danny has been a fixture on the New York scene for decades, manning the decks at legendary parties like 'Body and Soul' and his '718 Sessions'. But his unparalleled DJing skills are only part of the story. He is also well-known for his masterful edits.

He makes a rare Chicago appearance alongside Ron Trent for a special edition of Ilé!

Dancing shoes required!!!!

TICKETS ON SALE NOW CLICK HERE