If you would like to register please show up at 5pm to register as the battles will start promptly at 6pm.

Join us at Casa de Cultura for Soulidify’s 10 year anniversary celebration!

2-on-2 Open Style Battle: $400 cash prize.

Casa de Cultura
1901 San Pablo Avenue
Berkeley, CA

August 29 at 5:00pm – August 30 at 12:00am

DJs:
…Sivan “Party Rocka Supreme”: Hip-Hop, Soul, Funk, Latin
CoFlo & Steve Rigmaden: House, Afro, Broken-Beat

Judges:
jZon (FLO-ology)
Free (Soulshifters / Circle of Fire)
Erik Thorough (Soulshifters / Soul Control)

Soulidify was created out of a desire to bridge the gaps between the many styles of dance out there. It stemmed from the inspiration of going to Club Shelter at Hubbert St. in 1997-98. It was amazing how so many styles of dance were getting loose in the same circle with the most amazing energy. It was like a feeding frenzy of dancers feeding off of each other. African dancers, tap, bboys, house, ballet. So many people just plain and simply getting loose. It was a camaraderie that I was not used to in the bay at that time. Souldify was an attempt to try and bring that feeling to the bay….

Celebrating Natalie and B’s birthday’s, ATM is hosting another backyard summer slammer. These folks know how to do it up in the summertime!! Come check out the best DJ line up in the bay, catch some rays, grill it up and boogie down.

House DJ Line up: Rahiem Jihad, Geo, J Funk, Frankie Jr., Nesto, Co Flo, DJ Swing, Brian Cabalic, Stephen Rigmaiden, William the Monq

Ol’ Skool Hip Hop /Reggae/ Funk Dj Line up:
Evin Kepic, Dj Mist, Kurious

2pm-late night // BYOB FREE!!
3051 Champion Street, Oakland

BLU-RAY DVD RELEASE PARTY & CELEBRATION

Strength in Flavor is our temple of sweat and sound. We believe in an unending devotion to our art and are poised to devastate the floor before us. While our languages may differ our attitude is the same. We do not seek your approval; we have already earned it. We are the legends, the masters, the next generation.

Strength In Flavor is proud to announce the release of the first ever urban dance competition released on Blu-Ray DVD. We are excited to be able to give our continued support to the dance community by putting 50% of all the profits made by the sale of the DVD into the pockets of the top four crews from the battle held in November 2009. We invite you to come celebrate with us by blessing our cyphers or with your hands raised in the air.

Hosted By:
Naka B-Boy Edition
Flo-Ology
All the Way Live
Funkonometry &
The Renegade Rockers

Talent:
F.A.M.E. (Fresh Analog Music Experience)
Live Performance by Teeko, Max Kane, and Malaguti
Cecil (the People)
Dennis Infante (One Cypher)
B-Boy Wicket
Co FLO (FLO-ology)
DJ Nomadeeq (Flavor Group)

Special Guests:
Machine Gone Funk
Orb and Free
Double Trouble
Soul Shifters X

May 28, 2010
DNA Lounge – 375 11th St, SF CA
9pm-2am
18+

For $5 Reduced Guest List RSVP at: FLAVORGROUP.COM/SIF

COME OUT AND DANCE

As always thePeople hold it DOWN! – come out and celebrate my birthday as we dance the night away. It’s a guarenteed good time you best believe it! Hope to see you in the cypher…I want a good b-day battle damnit!

This Saturday:  YOU ARE THE ART!  thePeople (that means you too), are teaming up with the Yerba Buena Cener for the Arts to bring together a boat load of incredible djs, amazing sound, a huge dancefloor, sonic bliss in the music school room, world class live painting and video, an interactive portrait project from one of the Bay’s own super-talents, gourmet street food, artisan vendors, mind-blowing dance artists… Saturday April 3rd thePeople and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts present A YBCA Big Idea Night:   Under the Influence   (the influence of the underground)   hosted by heyLove* and Ms. Nabong featuring YOU as the embodiment of the thriving underground arts community move yourself to the sounds of special musical guest Daz-I-kue along side thePeople resident djs Cecil, Cali, and Be Brown in the Forum educate yourself and your dancing feet  in the Music School with legendary djs Dedan, Aybee, Wazir, and Rob Rhythm add yourself  to the HearthePeople portrait project lead by Bryon Malik of S|I|P Creative, longtime collaborator of thePeople* see yourself  in the live painting of the legendary Mear One lose yourself in the live dance videography of Yak Films open yourself with the sounds of live drums by Taji Malik find yourself in the beauty of the Bizarre featuring artisans Ital Pinay, MeeshMeesh Designs, African Removed Art, and Blank Tea, plus live painting by Ashley Arnold treat yourself to the tasty goodness of Caribbean inspired tacos, burritos and sandwiches by Get Jerked and the heavenly sweetness of Reuschelle’s Cheesecake by Victor Harris Yerba Buena Center for the Arts 701 Mission Street | San Francisco | map FREE with RSVP:  http://ybcafree.org/2010form/20100401_bigidea.php 9pm – 2am 18+

This is sure fire deep house music heat! Gotta check it out – here is a little more info / promo drop for ya!

The dawn of the first Soso Deep release is soon upon us “Phonograph’d Pheelings”, Randy and I and the rest of the crew @ Soso Deep hope for a nice and smooth transition into the world of independent music making. This Ep consist of 3 songs or should i say 3 heaters… we hope you will enjoy, here’s the rundown….

- “hypnotic”

is a song that will hypnotize you to the fullest extent. With a very deep and afro minimal vibe, the synths meld with tribal percussion as the pulsating bass line compliments the bulgarian vocals all together in a beautifully composed track sure to set the dance floor afire…..

- “Roads Traveled (isolatoraffairmix)”

is a song that needs no introduction as a masssive synth solo takes you on a journey thru percussion rhythms and a tribal drum groove, reminiscent of a time wen improvisation was the standard. a sure fire song you can Twist those eq knobs too… (isolators watch out)…

and finally

- “My Soul Will”

Boast mad deep vibrations. This song will be the missing link for the three, the completion of the tri-force. Vocals from head honcho of Soso Deep Stephen Rigmaiden complete this tracks as the baritone pitch of chants stating”my soul will move you” add the perfect amount of mystery and groove. With a crescendo of synths, perc fills, and strings we reach the climax….. “ahhhhhhh” was that deep enough for you ?

Here is some early Feedback———————————————

Another Stephen Rigmaiden banger, play it loud! - Carlos Mena (Ocha/Yoruba)

“Mean and Moody! lovin it” – Ezel (Yoruba/Ocha)

i like this EP very much! The heads and hardcore dancers will be all over this one! Hypnotic is the one that rounds this out nicely. WIll be supporting 4 sho – Master Kev (MKTL/Underground Collective)

Phonograph’d Pheelings is Soso appealing! Soso Deep gives bright life to 3 very deep tacks. My personal favorite is Hypnotic – a hard polyrhythmic beat iced over with a soft and meditative like vox. The combination of the two gives me lots to play with in the dance cypher. - Co FLO (FLO-ology / Soulshifters/ HDI Finalist 2009)

Stephen Rigmaiden is one of the producers to look out for in 2010 this ep will be graced by myself and im sure many others the Deepnes at its purist. – Halo (City Deep Music)

diggin the vibes..very much has the south african vibe but of course your own sound as well..lovely soul! – Osunlade (Yoruba Records)

Your Feedback and comments are much appreciated and needed.

Reply to stoopiddue@yahoo.com

peace and blessings to all…..

Stephen Rigmaiden of Soso Deep

http://www.sosodeeprecords.blogspot.com/
http://www.stephenrigmaiden.podomatic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/sosodeepsoul
http://www.myspace.com/randeepsoul
http://www.myspace.com/ableflo
http://www.myspace.com/andrelondon
http://www.myspace.com/stephenrigmaiden

Follow on twitter:
@Soso_Rigmaiden

RitualGP.com – Interview with Brooklyn Terry

Hello, and welcome to the Houston House Dance Scene. Would you be so kind as to please introduce yourself to our readers with a brief bio?
Whats up folks I’m Brooklyn Terry From the crew known as Elite Force. I have been dancing for as long as I can remember and I am not a house dancer I am a dancer.

Ritual Music was under the impression that you are currently residing in Japan. For the record, could you please set this story straight for our readers?
Yes I live in Tokyo, Japan and have been here for the past 3.5 years.

Being an old school member yourself, would you mind telling us a little bit about the history of the legendary ‘Elite Force’ crew and its members?
Mmm well I don’t really consider myself old school, but E.F. is the crew known for putting hip hop dance on the map. Stretch is the founder and the crew started on the set of Michael Jackson’s “Remember the Time” video set. Stretch, Link, and Loose Joint are the original members. They had been friends and danced together long b4 that video but the name Elite started on the set of that set.

Who or what would you say was your main inspiration and influence in regards to your house dancing?
The music plain and simple.

There is more! You’ll have to go to RitualGP.com to read the full article

I for sure recommend picking up this track and adding it to your collection. As a bonus a it has a dope music video!

If ya don’t know Black Coffee, I don’t know where you have been. He is one of the hottest producers out of South Africa (among many). Here is a bit more info for ya!

“Curiously, South Africa, as the Spanish island Ibiza or England’s ‘90s Manchester scene around club the Hacienda or Michigan’s Detroit scene, presents one of the few places in the world where genuine house music has taken root. One of its leading proponents is the reserved, studiously academic Black Coffee, whose inventive, imaginative and a boldly educated re-interpretation of classic South African music is radically at odds with the many flash-in-the-pan hit-chasers that populate the dance music genre.

Black Coffee, who is one-part member of the unfashionable urban soul trio Shana, is one of the few Club DJs in the country who genuinely understands the precise function of a music deejay: he does not simply re-mix songs; he re-interprets their previously unimagined musical possibilities and therefore quietly reclaims the composition as his own. When he debuted with his interpretation of Hugh Masekela’s rambunctious jazz hit Stimela (2005 original South African release; 2008 UK release), subsequently to be the lead single off the self-titled 12-track debut album, by re-featuring the old musician to guest vocal anew Black Coffee simply demonstrated how it was possible to re-work the South African canon music vault into club music, acceptable to both the youth and the adults, a feat not easily achievable in the instant festive hit-obsessed market that is South Africa: it requires a decidedly original-inclined, singular mind such as that of Black Coffee to be able to pursue an original music trajectory.

Durban-born Nkosinathi Maphumulo has been on the music scene for over a decade but only got his break a few years ago. Nkosinathi, otherwise known as Black Coffee, is popular for his smash hit remixes, most of which have dominated the airwaves in the past couple of years. He studied music in Durban because he felt that as a producer, he had to deepen his overall musical knowledge, develop his listening skills and advance his knowledge of music theory. When asked who helped him achieve his goals, he said “I have Massive Respect for Christos and Oskido for taking me around and giving me slots on their gigs”. 2003 saw Black Coffee starting to put his first project together.

He revealed that his first album was created using very basic music-making software. “I don’t know how to explain the production stages of my album because all I did was put down the basic ideas that I had, I didn’t use any MIDI controllers everything was played with a Computer Mouse. He added that the use of live instruments in a song is also very important, giving a track that final magic touch and bringing it to life. Black Coffee is proof that if you have real skill when it comes to producing, it won’t take much for you to achieve your goals. After all he’s managed to penetrate the music industry with only a desktop computer, some music-making software and a lot of passion. His first big break was when his song “Happiness” was featured on the DJs at Work album. In 2006 he enjoyed international exposure when his song ‘Music’ got signed in New York and was released by Keith Thompson on the album, ‘Worlds Collide’. He was chosen as one of two South African participants in the Red Bull Music Academy in 2003(www.redbullmusicacademy.com) which jump-started him into the South African DJ scene. He released Two EP’s with London’s Label Kronologik (www.kronologik.com), which was out on Vinyl in the UK Records Shops and was also played in some Radio Stations Abroad. He then released two tracks with Real Tone Records in Paris featuring the Record ”Even Though” now this introduce him to the World as this Record was released in Globally and on Established House Music Websites. In January 2009 he released a Single ”Turn Me On” with a German Label “GOGO Music”, with Remixes by Ralf Gum, this Single became Number One on www.traxsource.com for Two Weeks. Black Coffee started a Label in South Africa www.soulisticmusic.com with Artist Like “Tumelo” who’s featured on Franck Roger’s Free Fall and “Culoe de Song” (who’s taking the World by Storm) signed on this Label. He has featured since at various clubs locally and Internationally like Taboo(SA),Cafe de Flore(Swaziland),Djoon(Paris), Scala(London)Ambassador(Lyon), Café Mugambo (Swaziland’s New Year’s Eve Parties)2008&2009 Miami Winter Festival,2008 & 2009 Ultra Music Festival(Miami),Sutra (Cape Town),In Namibia, Botswana, Barcelona, Lesotho, Cannes, Stratford, Birmingham and recently New York to mention a few. However, Black Coffee’s talent has taken him over the lines into the scene making him a DJ and a producer that has put together two Albums. The 1st CD was released end of September 2005 and since then it has been rocking the SA dance floors and the World. He scooped a SAMA Award for best dance album. He is currently nominated for the 2009 SAMA for Record of the Year.”

Do you listen to FLO Radio (I hope so). For those of you who do, I have been getting hit up with request to play certain songs etc.. In general House DJs don’t take request while actually playing – good thing I’m not a DJ (at all) haha.

I would like to open up FLO Radio to everyone that tunes in and ask you to send in some songs that you would like to hear. Please make sure to send me title, artist and mix you would like to hear. This is because I can’t figure out what song your requesting if you say something like, “you know that one song where the girl is singing – i love you, da da da, la la” – you know what i mean right?

If you have an entire list of songs you would like to hear throw them at me and I’ll make an entirely selected mix by you. There are alot of dancers out there that know alot of good music and they select the fire! Im giving you the opportunity right now to let me put together what you would like to hear.

If your with it – go ahead and email me using the link below.

Co.FLO@MindBodyFLO.com

Ok, here is the interview from Traxsource.

1. Tell us your age , where are you from, and how long you have been making trax?
28 and im from The SanFrancisco Bay Area , and/or California. I have been producing for about 5 years now. .

2. What labels and productions / remixes are you most proud of?
I am very blessed to have worked with such great labels such as City Deep, Ocha Records, Earthrumental Records, Connected Music & Abicah Soul Project (wasup Stax!). But I would have to say I am especially proud of My remix I did for Centric Music, “Rise Up” ft Danill Wright the powerful voice that brought you “church lady”. i am especially proud of that one because from the get it was set in my mind that, that was how the song was going to sound. I heard the lyrics on John Crocketts mix and I instantly fell in love with the lyrics( which I feel is the best way to get a great remix.) and from then it was only a matter of time before it was done. Another would have to be “Black Sun” (Chez #48) because its a great song & also because of the personal stuff that went into writing that song. This is a very personal & dear song to me, I thank Neil for giving me the opportunity to express myself thru his label.

3. Describe your sound, your inspiration, and your vision for house music
a) I guess to identify myself with one certain sound i couldn’t really do it. I’d rather like to be known as a versatile producer who loves all facets of house music, and can translate that mood in all sub-genres( i,e; deep, tech, soulful, etc.) my inspiration is my children , the next generation dj’s/producers , and the fans of music in general. Music is a beautiful entity, & my vision is to share and inspire people thru music and dance.

4. Do you write, program, engineer yourself or do you prefer to collaborate with others?
I actually like to do a little bit of both, i feel being well rounded is the best service you can do for yourself and music.

5. Any advice for the aspiring bedroom producers out there?
I cannot stress how much producers should know how to use their equipment. take pride in your work and study your craft. read about synthesis, drum programming, chord progressions, patching/ wirirng , if you are using logic read the manual. If its about music you should be interested. Be a sponge and never stop learning new techniques. And also find your confidence an go for it……trust your instincts. if you think you got what it takes no one is going to give it to you, you have to want it and take the necessary action to make it happen for yourself…….

http://myspace.com/sosodeepsoul | http://myspace.com/stephenrigmaiden | http://stephenrigmaiden.podOmatic.com/

We have officially launched our video archive (still a rough draft)! Now you can check out our videos, most videos being exclusive to Mind Body FLO.com. To view the videos click on “Video” in the navigation – or we will always have some of the latest videos on the front page for you to check out (upper right hand corner for now).

Check out the latest addition to our collection from the talented and beautiful Tsunami (FLO-ology/Soulshifters).

The House Dance Project

The Way of the Jack

The Method of House Dance, Culture and You!

If you haven’t heard about the House Dance Project you should! Our good friends on the East Coast are in the thick of House Dance/Music culture and are helping to keep the roots/history and love alive. Here is a little bit about the House Dance Project. Respect to Byron, Cricket and Cam for keeping the culture alive!

The House Dance Project is an effort to share the rich cultural experience associated with Underground Dance Music. The dancers, the DJ and the music together provide a fertile playground for all who genuinely enter the garden. The music and the culture have evolved from its simple beginnings; and the dancer and the dance followed suit. The eccentric dances of the Paradise Garage; the smooth lines of the “Lofters,” and the point of departure at the Sound Factory Bar provided the backdrop to the stylized movement vocabulary known as “house dance.” Throughout the site, we will attempt to educate and illustrate various elements of the culture and hopefully inspire everyone to experience it for him or herself.

House Dance Project offers open cypher seesons and workshops world wide!  I suggest your grab their presskit here.

Click Here to Download the House Dance Project press kit

We are back and beat up! hahaha! I swear all of us are feelin the rough NY streets. Knees, ankles, black eyes, feet – you name it we are broken! This trip was certainly a great trip. I cannot speak for everyone but I can respectively speak for my self and my feeling about the trip and the scene/culture in New York.

Let me start by saying this trip wasn’t like my normal dance trip where I head out to become inspired and really open my eyes to other dancer’s concepts, style and emotion. This trip, at least for me, was to show the House Dance culture (as far in the world as it could reach) that what I exist as another of many, many dope dancers in the world. I wasn’t setting out bent to battle, upstage or MURDER any other dancers out there- just simply put my name out in the scene. I have been dancing (with and without style) for approx 12 years now (6 almost 7 years with style); I have always been dancing in the Bay Area scene even prior to legal clubbing age. Where am I going with this? Okay – here it is:

Dancing for me has always been something I looked at seriously, at first for fun, then for work, then for popularity. I realized as I tried to achieve these particular milestones in my dance the only one that seemed to really make me feel good was dancing for fun. Dancing for fun? Fun is described and felt differently according to the person you talk to. It had gotten to the point over the last couple of years that dancing wasn’t as much “fun” as it used to be. I wasn’t learning anything new, I wasn’t feeling more accomplished, physically I was feeling older – my normal routine of dance aside for partying in the club wasn’t “fun” for me. I then decided to revisit the pure feelings of when I started to dance and see if I could find that “fun” in dancing. Long story short, I did – what was it that I discovered?

I had discovered: history, culture, people, music and a purpose.

Aside from my main purpose to – put on a show at HDI; I went to New York so I could breathe the same air, walk on the same streets, dance in the same clubs that the originators of House Music culture had once done. The House Music culture in New York is INSANE! People love house music in SF, no doubt, but do they really love the music/culture? I have met many of the older SF “House Heads” in my days clubbing here in the city and any conversation that you have with them they will tell you an incredible story about clubbing in New York. Not to say we don’t have great DJs, producers and club patrons (and Dancers can’t forget the Dancers) – but SF seems almost infant in respect to what New York has done with their scene. Let me give you a small example: We had a group of about 20-25 West Coasters rolling through the streets of Manhattan, bumping TeN’s boombox, playing some FLO Radio mixes (ahhh gheyeaaa!) – just about every group of people on the street or in any park we visited that heard our music would let us know that its dope. They would do this by instantly joining our House marching vibe, dancing, or even just simply blurting out “WOOOOO! Okayyyyy!”. This is the type of reaction that you do not get here in the Bay Area, House music (shit man….music in general) just seems to be felt in a more evolved way out in NY.

After learning so much of the history of House culture in New York I am blown away with where it seems to have gone. From parties on docking piers where the average age is 40+ to parties in Fort Green Park for “Soul Summit” where the dance floor is half a football field of wall to wall people just grooving – House music culture is alive and growing! I only wish I could have spent more time and gone to more (I know I have just scratched the surface). The music alone at every single event I went to was beyond my expectations: grown, tasteful, beautiful house music was the music of choice mixed in thick with old funk, jazz, soul and afro beat. Yes their was electronic sounding music – but not during “groove sessions” type parties. You could see the look on peoples faces, the movement in their bodies – the smell of their hair (hahahaha); the music was really touching their soul – they were all coming together to enjoy this music we call House Music.

The cyphers….well the cyphers weren’t what I expected. Im sure that the parties I went to were not the norm, reason being we went to parties that everyone visiting, Europe, America, Japan were all attending because of the HDI event. The cyphers were filled with good vibes but from what I felt were not natural or inviting. In general the OG’s didn’t show up to as many of the cyphers as I would have liked to witness, but I did get a good feel for their vibe. For the most part the cyphers with the OG’s were very competitive, the energy was raw and to the point, no nonsense – no bullshit. It wasn’t about sharing the experience of the music and the exchange of emotion – more about “dope mufucka’s only”. With that being said I may have read the vibe wrong, but looks on people’s faces seem to tell the story all to well. Not to say I don’t feel like going hard and keeping the cypher raw and bull shit free – it just wasn’t what I expected considering the MASS adoption of house music culture throughout New York. In any case, I respectfully and thankfully have to say – it was incredible to see any and all OGs do their thang….thank you.

My purpose: I have realized that I want to be a name that is associated with House music culture in the Bay Area for years to come. I want to give back twice as much as I receive. I want more people in the Bay Area to experience and feel the same way I do about this culture and music. The more I practice the more I can give back, the more I learn about music, culture, history, theory – the more I can give back. The more places I travel, visit, experience, the more I can give back. The more music I listen to – the more I can give back. I want to dance and represent the beautiful feeling that music, specifically House Music, provides to me. I went to New York to complete in HDI and do well – represent and show people that even with a younger less influenced culture in San Francisco their is still love, passion and desire to feed the same scene world wide. I have accomplished that immediate goal, but the ultimate promise to my self will never end, I am going to keep dancing and keep moving.

Among all the drama with the actual HDI event, there were alot of people with us on this that have inspired me to keep moving – let their names and locations be known, thank you all – lets dance!

FLO-ology Collective (San Francisco), SoulShifters (USA), ODie, TeN of Quad, Tsunami, Slim, Gaby ‘Aqua’, Free, Seth, Orb, Orb’s girl (i forgot her name), Steve Rhythmz, Shade, GraVIDy, Oj, Gerald, Jihnee, Victor, We:Whum, Angelo, Julie, Manny, Cam, Jason, Larry, Raquel, Open House LA, Texas Dancers, Steve Motion, Noi, Corey, Jimbo (congrats on the experimental win!), Tine Machine, Nicole, Dan, Ndu, Eric ‘Ranger’, Zane Danger 45, Carlos, ATM Crew, Erico, Sammy (Boston), Dan from France.

If I missed you let me know – I didn’t mean too, but I want to make sure you are on this post cause it means something to me

Congrats to all the dancers that entered and competed in HDI, all catagories – you have inspired someone out their, at the very least me. Thanks to Pang Lo for supplying the cuts during our battles. Thanks to Ejoe and Red for not shutting me down when I for sure registered and should have been able to compete (drama haha).

A very personal thank you to Shade and my family (FLO-ology / SoulShifters) for being my hype men/women pushing me forward in the competition. I hope I made you all proud (clearing my throat) PARTY ON THE TRAIN, PARTY ON THE TRAIN!

I danced every round for my grandmother Rosalind Smith, I love you.

Till the next trip, peace my music luvin’ peoples.

p.s. stay tuned for pictures, video and other good stuff from the event of the next week as we will be updating soon

FLO radio will have two sessions for you this week since we have zero internet we couldn’t upload the last weeks mix. (We got to keep the music going!)

Small update: Co FLO made it to the final Battle against Cebo (Elite Force).

There is a shit load of video from our trip – stay tuned and keep checking back cause we gonna hit you wih that too!!!

peace!
Sent from my iFLOne

As I said this whole album is an awesome mix of Nu Jazz and house, buy the whole album – its a steal for such incredible music.

Here is the traxsource link for you to listen and check it out, make sure if your feelin’ it you buy it and support the beautiful music that these artist and putting out for us: http://www.traxsource.com/index.php?act=show&fc=tpage&cr=titles&cv=33834

From Traxsource:

The nom de plume of New York producer and DJ Marc-Alan Gray, and Loveslap! Records founder Charles Spencer, Spencer Gray was conceived in 2003 setting the benchmark high with their debut release ‘Pillow Talk’. DJ mag heralded the group’s arrival by drawing comparisons to the legendary house music partnership Masters At Work, proclaiming the single: “the sort of record that if made by MAW would be heralded as the epitome of cool, as it easily stands head-and-shoulders above the current competition.” Blues & Soul equally enthused about the single calling it “a joy” amongst other superlatives.

Six years in the making, Dreaming In Color, the group’s debut, about is upon us more than making up to the wait. A nine-strong collection of real songs (as well as a trio of additional remixes) that meander through a plethora of styles and tempos taking in house grooves, broken-beats, nu-jazz flavours and even electro influences en route, with an underbelly of warmth, rich textures and soulful jazz traditions.

Dreaming In Color is a debut set of pastoral impressions and beguiling dream-inducing electronica and deconstructed house from two protagonists who create a soundscape that boarders on cinematic themes, Afro-centric rhythms, and jazz-kissed soulful house at its most appealing. Enlisting the services of skilled musicians, singers and friends – among them vocalists Heather Johnson, Terrence Downs, Sylvia Gordon and Yshara, along with bass-player Andrew Higgins, trumpeter Rich Armstrong and jazz virtuosos guitarist Jay Bowman ? Spencer Gray have created a rare balance of live musicianship and contemporary technology all too missing in today’s club market.

Conceptually Dreaming In Color is an album for listening to from beginning to end; the journey getting underway with the smooth jazz-tinged ‘Over Tonight’, before ebbing-and-flowing into the airy vibes of ‘How Do You’. Fellow stable mate, the Galaxy Group (Spencer along with studio partner Tonee Green) adding swing beats to the song’s sparse arrangement allowing Terrence Downs’ subtle harmonies to envelope the senses.

A beautifully constructed opus of Balearic-kissed beats, rolling dance grooves and subtle nuances, the album sounds more delicious with each successive play: instinctively groovy, occasionally laid-back yet always polished and musically modish. Full of surprises and enriched by beautifully lush and dreamy numbers like the seductive ‘(Dream) In Color’ featuring Sylvia Gordon (fresh from adding her stamp to Moby’s ‘Last Night’ album), and the Stevie Wonder-like ‘Come On’ with Downs’ vintage delivery sitting atop percolating percussion-driven beats.

Highlights are many, and include the warm ambience of their 2003 debut ‘Pillow Talk’ – not a cover of Sylvia’s ’70s disco-erotica, instead an equally sublime shuffler with Heather Johnson’s seductive adlibs punctuating as deeply as her heartfelt words. (Also included is the sort after chunkier house remix by Asad Rizvi). The jazz-kissed bossa nova ‘Scatter Me’, with chanteuse Yshara (who’s worked with Loveslap! since the start of the decade and featured on singles like ‘A Better Way’ and ‘Freed Or Bound’), sounding uncannily like Bebel Gilberto; implausibly relaxed against a back drop of rattling Basilica samba rhythms. Iamni Uzuri (who has also recorded with Sly & Robbie, 4Hero and King Britt) delivers some truly captivating vocals on the bass-driven ‘Precious’.

Spencer Gray sustained success has been their vision for using the traditions of the roots of jazz, soul and a fair splattering of West Coast soulful house, to make their music more accessible. With the aid of sharp musicianship and sophisticated production flair, the result is a sound that pleases mature listeners whilst all the while maintaining contemporary aspects for both stalwarts and new fans alike. Edgy deep house grooves with the odd hint afro-beat, ooze elegance and panache, and add up to make Dreaming In Color a classic dance album.

Here is the traxsource link for you to listen and check it out, make sure if your feelin’ it you buy it and support the beautiful music that these artist and putting out for us: http://www.traxsource.com/index.php?act=show&fc=tpage&cr=titles&cv=35606

From Traxsource:

The debut release for Ezel on Ocha featuring Carlos Mena and Djinji Brown

Ocha Records proudly presents the debut single from Ezel. This young talent is already making a name for himself with remixes on Yoruba, Ocha, and solo projects for Franck Roger, Boddhi Satva and Halo’s City Deep. “Secreto” is the title track from Ezel’s forthcoming full-length release “Secreto” on Ocha Records. A very deep affair, that gives you organic percussion, mysterious vocals by Carlos Mena, while Ezel takes you on an afro-tech ride that you will not soon forget. Next up on this release is “Thunderbolts”, also from the upcoming “Secreto” album, and features the powerful vocals of our brother Djinji Brown. “Thunderbolts will rock any dancefloor!

Thunderbolts
(Ocha People’s Music, Yoruba People’s Music, Ascap, Sony Atv Music)
Written & produced by Ezel @ House of Spirits studio , Santo Domingo, D.R.
All instruments by Ezel
Vocals & chimes by Djinji Brown
Thunderbolts by Chango (Kabio Sile)

Executive Producers Carlos Mena, Osunlade and Ezel
All songs mastered by Carlos Mena at the CASAMENA Studios, Oakland, CA.

Here is the traxsource link for you to listen and check it out, make sure if your feelin’ it you buy it and support the beautiful music that these artist and putting out for us: http://www.traxsource.com/index.php?act=show&fc=tpage&cr=titles&cv=32979

From Traxsource:

Altered Natives has hit hard with a raw, big beat driven drum and bass highly impressionable track – fans include Laurent Garnier, Afronaut, Quentin Harris, Phil Asher and many more

Following the well-received debut release this second single for Fresh Minute is starting to gather even more numbers of enthusiasts to the label who have already marked it for its revered qualities in production of underground electronic dance music… Altered Natives has hit hard with a raw, big beat driven drum and bass highly impressionable track – fans include Laurent Garnier, Afronaut, Quentin Harris, Phil Asher and many clubbers have been drawn to it, as have the noted house heads who equally are enthralled by the nod to old school disco elements on the Souled remix of “Bullet Blade Knuckle Slap.”

All tracks Written and Produced By Daniel Yorke.
Except Bullet Blade Knuckle Slap (Souled remix)
Additional Music Production and Arrangement by Adam Cook and Ben Tidy

Mind Body FLO House Dance Workshop 2009 @ ODC Dance Commons, San Francisco
Edited by ODie and Tsunami (FLO-ology Dance Collective)

Want to take class? Summer sessions start Wed, June 17th for House Dance Basics (intro to house). Intermediate class for House Dance choreography and intro to freestyle on Saturday, June 27th. Click here for more info!

I actually ended up picking up the whole album (my other fav on this album is “Trama”).

Here is the traxsource link for you to listen and check it out, make sure if your feelin’ it you buy it and support the beautiful music that these artist and putting out for us: http://www.traxsource.com/index.php?act=show&fc=tpage&cr=titles&cv=35053

From Traxsource:

Jovonn releases his latest artist album ‘Blaque House’ on the respected Baltimore house label, CodeRed.

For any true house fan, the name Jovonn is one which never fails to create intrigue and expectation. The Brooklyn born DJ and internationally respected Uber producer has been adding his vast musical talents to Dance, R&B, Hip Hop and Neosoul records for over 20 years and has become synonymous with the underground soulful house scene.

Few house fans will have forgotten Jovonn’s arrival onto the dance scene when he released ‘Turn and Runaway’ in 1991. Reaching number 10 on the billboard charts, it was a record which shook the scene and since then the DJ has never looked back.

Inspired largely by the works of Strafe, Jovonn’s musical career has seen him produce hits such as Ceybil Jeffries’s ‘Love So Special’, Valerie Jonhnston’s ‘Step Into My Life’, and many others.

With an unbridled passion for Dance music, and boldly declaring the genre as ‘Spiritual’, Jovonn’s recent hits have included ‘Cliff Hanger’, ‘Old Man Groan’, ‘Jurassic House’, ‘Circle Dance’ & ‘Something About Dis Love (feat Carol Sylvian)’.

Since the launch of his own record label ‘Goldtone’ in the early 90’s, Jovonn has produced more than 200 records, gaining worldwide appreciation and adoration. He then moved on and formed the labels, ‘NextMoov Records’ and ‘NextMoov Traxx’, which, in doing so, have seen the DJ/Producer passionately push the sounds of underground house to the masses.

Indeed, Jovonn, or as he’s otherwise known as ‘The God Father Of The Underground’ continues to flaunt his versatility as an artist, and this is epitomised on his latest record ‘Blaque House’, a collection of tunes which first and foremost finds an artist in fine voice and instrumental form.

‘Blaque House’ is a sophisticated House album, combining precise percussive beats, intricate synth keys, blissed out Jazz chords and a voice as soulful as they come.

‘Blaque House’ soulfully grooves along with a degree of coolness and competence not heard on a house record for some time, and can only enhance the singer/songwriter, musician, producer and DJ’s credentials further.

The album is made up of 13 new tracks, and features guest appearances from Chavelle Singleton on ‘Take Control’, the late K.T. Brooks on the sublime ‘I’m Gonna Miss You’ and Kareem on ‘Call Me’. The record also includes ‘First Night To Love’- the lead single from the Code Red winter sampler released in December 08, and the tracks ‘Trama’ & ‘Take Control’, which will appear on Jovonn’s imminent ‘The Take Control’ E.P.

Other highlights from the record include ‘Blaque Magic’, ‘Inside’, ‘6.30 AM’ and Jovonn’s message to his listeners, ‘Take A Chance’.

6. Jovonn ‘Ey Bi Yea’
Written, Produced & Mixed by Jovonn
Executive Producers Gary Deane and Sean Spencer
Published by Von Ton Chic (ASCAP)
P&C 2008 Code Red Recordings
GB-CPZ-08-03282

10. You always have extra set of dry clothes in your bag or trunk.

9. When you buy new shoes the first thing you do is try your favorite step to make sure they feel better than they look.

8. You have hands like a mechanic but you don’t know a thing about fixing cars.

7. You have more sweat towels than you do good underwear.

6. When your out running errands or shopping and come across a really nice floor you find it necessary to do some ground work or hit a spin.

5. You have been kicked out of a public location, like the mall, for dancing.

4. When in the studio you spend more time stretching in the middle of the floor than you do on the stretch bar.

3. Your favorite musician plays turntables.

2. When you hug your girl friends at the club they say “Wow your sweaty”. hahahahahaha!

1. Your favorite website is MindBodyFLO.com (shameless, I know).

What are your top 10?