New Mix: The Soulful Tenth

This past Saturday evening, I was hungry for some soul music.  I sat in front of my record shelf and picked 10 records.  I briefly reviewed each LP, made my choices, and hit record:  no edits, one take, live mix.  I wanted to put together something folks could relate to, yet highlight artists and songs which have easily slipped under the average listeners radar.  Keeping true to many an LP release back in the day, I played the uptempo songs for the first half, then slid right into the slow, love songs for the second half of the mix.

100% Live, 100% Vinyl, 100% Soul.

Peace.

tracklisting:

Prince Phillip Mitchell - You'll Throw Bricks at Him
Willie Mitchell - I Wanna Be Where You Are
The Sylvers - I Don't Need to Prove Myself
The Fourtops - Turn on the Light of Your Love
Stevie Wonder - Jesus Children of America
Prince - Crazy You
Phyllis Hyman - The Nightbird Gets The Love
The Impressions - Keep on Trying
Blue Magic - Spell
DJ Rodgers - Faithful to the End

Fall breeze....

On location this past October, LBC Airport, CA.

360 Degrees of Black

First and foremost, my philosphy as to what I do as a DJ is simple: present the music that I enjoy in a manner which highlights the inter-relationships of varying emotions/feelings, sounds, and rhythms. Secondly, I believe that the one playing/showcasing the music is always secondary to the music itself. The time I have spent - and continue to spend - searching for music has led to continuous refinement & evolution of my ear for music. I believe the music a DJ plays should be reflective of the DJ, as to give the listener an honest and more human experience.
Musically, this mix is a representation of the emotions & sounds which I feel represents me as a person with the song sequencing highlighting the relationship between all of these feelings.
360 Degree of Black has a two fold meaning. On one hand, it simply represents the time-tested medium of which I chose to play my music on, vinyl. But more importantly, it is a representation of the deep, rich, culture of music which has been created, performed, and influenced by the people of the African diaspora, for through this lense is how I view the world.
Aside from the music, this mix also highlights ways of thinking which have shaped how I relate to the present day world and the feelings which are contained within this mix serve as an ambassador of Black cultures worldwide, with music being the universal language we can all understand.
Interested in the tracklisting? Shoot me an email and build with a brotha at BruceGeetz@gmail.com.

Blue Suede in Effect Mode

Check out our debut single as Blue Suede (myself & Chuck Daily).  Our EP, "Rappin'..." is dropping June 14th.

What is Hip Hop? Thoughts on the fly...

Hip Hop, to me, is not as much a musical style, as it is an approach to music, and a scope through which life can be viewed.  It is about natural progression, using what is around you as a vehicle for expression.  Often times we see folks talking about "real hip hop" and pointing towards something made in the mid-90's - that is nothing more than a signal of the inability to adapt to, and contextualize the present day world, using as fuel to continue moving forward (if something is considered "dead", why continue to cloak yourself in it?).

The musical traditions of Hip Hop started from dj's playing various genres of music (years before traditional Hip Hop records existed) and channeling the energy towards a common destination (a good time).

Now, Hip Hop as we see it being presented to us today from media outlets is just as worthy as being called such but is simply very limited in scope.  Just as there are many ways to prepare and cook some shrimp (word to Bubba), there are many ways to approach the creation of Hip Hop music.

Labels are made for selling.  Before a product is sold though, it takes a creative mind to bring it into existence.  So while I understand how things must be packaged and sold, when getting down to the crux of things we must realize that expression is foremost in art, thus the reason I felt the need to address what I believe Hip Hop truly IS at it's core.  After we know what something is, then we know what it can be, then it is the consumers choice to decide whatever  they like best.

The East Coast is warming up...so here's another mix...

I had a bunch of records laying on my bedroom floor after a few digging trips, beat making & listening sessions, so I figured I'd make a mix. No edits, no rehearsal, no pre-determined tracklist, 100% live on-the-spot mix (added a few vocal samples a few days later). Like Bambataa at the park jams in the early 80s, the styles of the music aren't what's important, it's all about the feeling. As a DJ I feel as if it is my duty to find and share good music with people. The music, in my opinion, should always be at the forefront, not the DJ, not any "tricks", just the music. Peace & Love.

Fabolous Counts - Get Down People
Ray Barretto - Drum Poem (Free Spirit)
Eric B & Rakim - I Know You Got Soul (Acapella)
Airto - Virgin Land
Angela Bofill - People Make The World Go Round
Escurinho e suas Pastoras - Escurinho
Manu Dibango - New Bell
La Charanga 76 - No Nas Pararan
Hedzoleh Soundz - Rekpete
Richie Havens - Girls Don't Run Away
Willie Hutch - Why Has Our Love Turned Cold
Ace Spectrum - If You Were There
Leroy Hutson - Love The Feeling
Quincy Jones - What's Going On
The Impressions - What It Is
Ramsey Lewis - Black Bird
Cloud One - Atmosphere Strut
Gary Bartz NTU Troop - Uhuru Sasa (Outro)

Que Beleza!

 Here is a taste of some Brazilian music from my collection.  All vinyl, recorded live.