4Groovers

So have you made plans for New Years Eve yet? I know. It's over priced, over crowded, and generally a pain in the rear, right? Well, it doesn't have to be.

Scandal residents Fugami, Kochi, and myself will be rockin' in the new year at Gazuza. Already, 2010 is shaping up to be an interesting year and I, for one, am quite excited. But for this show you better be wearing good dancing shoes. NYE 2010 Scandal Style at Gazuza is quite reasonable and stress free. Check out the details here...

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Afro In My Locks is the latest DJ Set. It's an earthy organic downtempo mix with blend of funk, jazz, and hip-hop. You'll be definitely bobbing your heads and shakin' your rears...

Afro In My Locks Mix by djstylo

You Can Do It (Roc-A-Bloc Remix) - Ski
Divine - Boca 45
Funk Strutt (Long Version) - The White Shadow
Funky President (People It's Bad) - James Brown
If Only - Information Society
All I Want - Dolphin
Daylight - Lazy
Kineo (Original Mix) - Vincenzo
Give A Man A Fish - Arrested Development
Free Run - Xeno Sound System
Barbara's Bedroom (LP Version) - Whistle
Shack Up - Blackbuster
Merci Bon Dieu - Charlie Rouse
Bodyheat - James Brown
Shoppin (Fila Brazilia remix) - The Egg
The Shining Path - Thievery Corporation
Know How - Young MC
Mother Blues (DJ Puku Chill Out Remix) - Jerk House Connection

So I went to the movies this holiday season and I finally got my chance to see Avatar. After the flick--which I really enjoyed, by the way--I decided to look up some of the actors and actresses in the film. Why? Because I'm a geek and I've always done stuff like that--for the record, I'm a computer geek, car geek, useless information geek, and I used to read the dictionary (page by page), just to name the few of my geeky qualities.

And boy did the celebrity crush meter ping off the charts with miss Zoe Saldana. Ms. Saldana, born Zoe Yadira Zaldaña Nazario, in New Jersey, has also been trained as a dancer (ballet) as well as an actress. The other movie she most recently starred in was the revisionist Star Trek as Uhura.

However, not only did she have an interesting background and experiences (see: Zoe Saldana on IMDB.com), but she's an admitted Sci-Fi fan. Sci-Fi fan? Yes! She has also apparently said, "I am actually! I'm very proud to say I am a geek. But I'm kind of a cool geek." Geeky-cool? Hmmm... sounds good and familiar to me.

And on top of all that, she is credited with this quote:

"I tend to be very picky, so I look for the perfect man! So if Spock and Kirk can mix, they'd become my perfect man. That's the kind of guy I'd go for. I don't only go for muscles, I don't only go for brains. You just need to have a little bit of a bad boy and a geek and then you've got the perfect guy."

Shazam! I think I'm in love!! Or at least as I said at the top, I have a very strong celebrity crush. This is not only the type of personality that usually interests me, this is also the attitude that really gets my curiosity piqued! A hottie-geek who loves geeks too?! I would be all over it, or at least I would get over my initial shyness...

Now, if there were a way to get Ms Saldana my contact information... LOL!

How about you all? Who's your recent famous person crush? And especially you geeks out there, who are your favorite celeb-geek crushes and why?

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While you contemplate that, here is your BSB:

Dennis Ferrer, Hey Hey
Hey Hey (DF's Attention Vocal Mix)

Johnny Fiasco, Reflex Vol. 2 – Remixes
Reflex (Fiasco's Remix)

Latenight Society, Voice In My Head EP
Voice In My Head (Ezra Osborn's Code Brown Remix)

John Oudo feat Junior + Adeola Ranson & Ann Browne, Work Me Over

Best of Blockhead 4
Dt3ch - Tested On Animals (Sonny Fodera Remix)
Alan Barratt - My Kinda Music (Emil Lanne Remix)
Magik J - Come On Girl (Jay West Remix)
Jay West - Power To Create (Tom Drummond Remix)
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Be sure to leave comment!

Happy Holidays, peeps!
-s

Many people are confused about what house music is. There are many who equate it with techno; if they only knew how many artists they would offend.

Yes, there are quite a few producers who have liberally blurred the lines. However, in true house there are several telltale musical elements. House is strongly influenced by elements of Soul- and Funk-infused varieties of Disco (see Wikipedia article on House Music for other influences.) By extension, other forms of R&B, Jazz, and Hip-Hop have been also borrowed as samples for the music. Oh, if it doesn't have a ground shaking bass drum, one is definitely missing a unique sonic experience that almost forces you to move...

So what does this all mean? It means if you like Rick James, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Aretha Franklin, The Surpremes, The Isley Brothers, etc.; or you like later artists that attempt to mimic, emulate, update, or mix those styles, you would probably like House Music.

Do you like Michael Jackson's songs from Off The Wall? You'd like House Music. Alot of Madonna's pre- and Material Girl albums were produced by who? Yes, House DJ/Producer's John 'Jellybean' Benitez and Junior Vasquez.

Picture this:

The wife of one of my DJ partners(a Jewish family, by the way) was listening to a podcast of a recent DJ set and was moved to ask, "this is cool. What is this?" His response was, "this is House Music." He also said it was like Soul, Funk, and R&B on [drugs], especially when referring to the rhythm section. Funny, Mike, funny--but true too.

House music is not about bottle service, or pomp and circumstance. Some of the sounds are certainly popular among some in those circles. However, true house heads are about inclusion, diversity, love, and most of all, getting down to some funky-soulful tunes...

So, will you join me in 'shakin your booty down to the ground'?

-s

Not too long ago there was this debate among friends about the Lust4Life parties. The conversation arose because I was suggesting using the party as a vehicle for charity, to assist in raising some money for art supplies of an under funded school. I have to admit being quite shocked by the position by one of my friends who suggested not to do the charity at Lust4Life because it was just about promoting music. This is far from truth.

When Lust4Life started almost 5 years ago, it was in response to the need that arose out of the devastation after hurricane Katrina. In addition to donating to a Katrina charity, we also collected a small amount for Sphinx Organization, an non-profit that builds diversity in classical music and at the time was running a campaign to assist under privileged African-American and Hispanic-American youth to purchase instruments. In successive years other charities where chosen to support.

In the original spirit of support victims of Katrina and as tribute to the New Orleans area, a photo from Stylo's trip to New Orleans French Quarter that featured prominently as sign that read "Lust Is Life Condom Co." was the original logo. In a bit of satire, we decided to turn the concept of lust on it's ears and use it to give back to our communities while, yes, having a dance party that featured House music.

That being said, I found it disheartening to criticize a common methodology to promote a charity, namely by pairing it with something people already like to do or with a corporate entity. This practice is used on large scales (see the breast cancer awareness and the United Way campaigns that are done with the NFL...) or smaller grass-root like scales (see your local paper). Either way to suggest Lust4Life goals are insincere is bogus. Giving back and doing so while supporting local talent is closer to vibe behind the term 'community' than through a large corporate soft drink or beer manufacturer. But let's not criticize those methods either for each has a place in helping the public for the greater good. Instead look for ways to be a part of the solution...

So in this vein, Lust4Life is asking you to Spread the Holiday Love. Join this on-going campaign by Shorty's, Diva Productions, and the Baltimore Music Conference as we collect items for the upcoming holiday season to support our local communities

We will be accepting donations at Shorty’s Martini Bar & Lounge (3301 Foster Ave) Thursday - Sunday nights until December 23rd starting on Nov1st.

Donations of any amount will be greatly appreciated. For those feeling extra generous we will be offering the following rewards:

$25+ cash donation = 20% off of your drink tab at Shorty’s
20 items = 10% off of your drink tab at Shorty’s
10 items = 1 Free Drink at Shorty’s

PLUS, each donation will qualify for a chance to win a pair of tickets to the 2010 BMC/BAM Music Festival!!

Below is a list of some of the items most needed at area food banks.
When possible please donate All Natural/Organic food products and please no items in glass containers as we will not accept those products

Meat & Protein
Canned meat, ham and chicken
Peanut Butter
Macaroni and Cheese
Canned stews
Soups
Canned tuna and salmon
Powdered Milk
Dried canned beans

Fruits & Vegetables
Canned fruits and juices
Canned vegetables
Canned soup

Breads & Cereals
Oatmeal
Breakfast cereal
Rice and rice cakes
Pasta

Non-Food Items also needed
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes
Bar Soap
Deodorant
Toilet Paper
Plastic/Paper plates and cups
Sanitary napkins and tampons

Thank you for your support!

www.shortysbaltimore.com
www.bmcon.org

So some friends and fans of mine were doing some reminiscing recently; about music of course. We were waxing poetic about Moloko's Forever More.

This started me on my three day search for my own vinyl copy (pictured above). Each of us had different things that endeared us to the song. The Michael Jackson like dance routine--think thriller--was a big draw. Others, including myself, were more into the cool remixes. But we were all in agreement that the other hit by Moloko was good all by itself, Sing It Back. I then searched, found, and posted a 10 minute live video by Moloko (see below).

If you get a chance.. Check out the string on my Facebook fan page... (Stylo's Fan Page]

Here is my recent BSB:

Sonny Fodera, The Beatdown EP

d-t3ch, Unseen Things EP (Incl. Sonny Fodera Remix)

weS, I Miss Chicago EP



Jeff Service, Community Service EP

Jay 'Sinister' Sealee & Louie Vega starring Julie McKnight, Bittersweet Love Affair Pt 2 (Louie Vega Mixes)

Foliage Records Presents, The Nature Of House EP (Incl. Abicah Soul, Black Coffee, Doruk Ozlen Mixes)

Peven Everett, Special / Simmer (Timmy Regisford Mixes)