AJ Dance Legacy

LARS BEHRENROTH/JEREMY ELLIS

In the air there was a movement brewing called the Great Divide. The Great Divide could be seen in the distance on the horizon. An obvious choice would soon have to be made. However, the choice would not be made now but at a later time. Why make a decision today when the decision can be made tomorrow? No verbiage could offer a satisfactory explanation of how the Great Divide had plagued the mind like the media obsessed with an upcoming presidential election. Was it a matter of political parties? There was the left. There was the right. Was it a matter of colors? The blue left and the red right. Was the choice a matter of seating arrangements? Left side seats or right side seats? Obviously, no. The choice had more to do with the purview of club land and music tastes than any political party, their color or seating arrangement. The decision narrowed down to hear in the left room the more soul/hip-hop sounds from the first time appearance of a musician or to stay in the right room and listen to the more soulful/deep house sounds from a mainstay DJ. Over the course of weeks the final grain of sand dropped in the hour glass of time. Which door would be opened? Uhmmm.

My night with a Detroit electronic freestyler and a German DJ.

The night was about as varied as the music itself. However, the two music maestros from two different music worlds actually shared more in common with slight nuance. Both of the aficionado’s music influences can be traced back to that Motor City soul. From Motown to Detroit Techno both melody makers marked the night with registered selections. There was the piping hot soul/hip-hop exploding from techno wonder Jeremy Ellis in the right room named Space2 and from the room to the left in the restaurant, Lars Behrenroth belting out deep house served over a hot plate of tech beats. This was some serious ear culinary to serve in a place known for its tasty expressions as well as eclectic music palettes.

“This is why I need to wear a hat; so I can hide,” observed one female dancer wearing a multicolored head scarf studying the mayhem about to take place. Overall, the majority aged 30 and over crowd provided that much needed safety net on the dance floor but there was the usual mischief of activity. Three twenty something blondes baring semi-bare flesh gyrated up and down trying so hard to display some type of faux lesbo threesome that the group lost footing and stumbled halfway to the ground spilling libation onto the floor. One misguided female thought the event was, “Dancing With The Stars” as she paraded around the floor, dancing with every guy in the room as if she was the Queen of the Night.

Following the visual view of a low-rise denim wearer with a budging feature next door into the dance space of Space2 revealed some hint of guilty pleasure. In the room next to the restaurant, testosterone plaid long sleeves hid tee shirts as the curvaceous in cocktail dresses stood hypnotized by a stage of electronic gadgetry. Not only were the usual suspects of two turntables, two CDJs and one large mixer present but also a long black rectangular box with huge squares made to look for punching; the Akai MPC.

Self-titled, “Freestyle Electronica” Jermey “Aryo” Ellis had the entire room under a spell of tempting soul/hip-hop/broken beat that had all mouths dropping to the floor with drool. Something a brew was cooking as the red-haired bobbed maestro wrapped in a winter green scarf crooned, “Hey Baby” with that blue-eyed soul that made panties wet. What was this? A pin could have been heard dropping in the crowd. What an eerie silence. Not one body danced. Not one soul moved. Every eye budged out from the sockets with that vertigo visage stricken right before some terminal illness. You would have thought the president had walked into the room and offered every guest free healthcare. This dazzling display was surreal. How could anyone command such musical mind control?

The scene back in the restaurant was of the opposite kind. Bodies writhed in fluid rhythms spelled for a “Dance by Different Music.” Fancy footwork came out of the closet to warm up the concrete floor. As the night progressed from evening eatery to late night dance club, long wooden rectangular tables were shoved alongside an exposed brick wall to make way for the party people rushing to dance.

4Deep alumni warmed up the floor with an onslaught of hors d’oeuvres. The latest addition, Kevin Latham opened with Berlin born Georg Levin’s, “Late Discovery” and the hit maker Louie Vega’s Root Mix of “I Love The Night” by French producer Rocco and the legendary vocals of C. Robert Walker as original member Kevin Nowell drenched the party with soulful caviar from vocalist LT Brown to Zakes Bantwini’s, “Wasting My Time” (Dan Ghenacia Mix). Following in the funky but soulful footsteps, founding member DJ Carroll A.K.A DJC delivered a forgotten jam, “Don’t Give It Up” (Lawnchair General Mix) by DJ Hal featuring Jay Thomas on vocals and the much needed inspiring lyricism and power house vocals from Inaya Day with DJ Boris Duglosh presents BOOOM’s, “Keep Pushin” a 1990’s classic dub that had the audience reaching for the top.

After the far too short 4Deep reunion it was time to hear the night’s main course. The “Walk A Mile” label release owner Lars Behrenroth sporting a brown Deeper Shades of House tee, approached the DJ booth’s music hardware with that expertise reserved for top chefs. The volume decreased on the funky house to make way for afro-house. From the crisp sound system came an address of deep beats that engaged the environment. Fingers snapped, feet danced and screams penetrated the air. The set was off to a delicacy start. Over the course of three hours, Lars transitioned flawlessly between bold flavors of afro-beat, freshly prepared melodic vocals, bitter deep-tech and rich old-school tech house. Eddie Grant’s “Time Warp” sautéed perfectly with Musaria’s, “Moment” featuring Memphis vocalist/songwriter Saturna who by the way was in the house and pleasantly surprised to hear her voice simmering through the makeshift club. Just when Lars couldn’t experiment any further with deep eclectic flavors, out from the kitchen came a sexy chocolate dessert; a profound house instrumental of “Between The Sheets” by The Isley Brothers that steadily built into a climatic taste explosion that closed out the night around 3:30 am.

At last the Great Divide had been conquered with more time being spent in the Deeper Shades hospitality than on the stage of Mr. Freestyle Electronica. Despite clandestine efforts, the majority probably were more involved in experiencing the Detroit native’s rarity than feasting on the German producer’s treats. Overall, the night went down with success, besides the running back and forth between rooms to dance, stand in awe, dance and stand in awe. There was so much music to behold in so little time. Here’s to next time keeping all the festivities in one room, under one roof instead of having to face a two-headed dilemma. Unlike the current political landscape, let the music UNITE and not DIVIDE.

Cover and first photographs of Lars Behrenroth by Andre Lozano/All additional photography by Chris Marley

JULIUS THE MAD THINKER

The Dharma Lounge sits quietly on the South End of the quaint but bustling Camden district of storefronts and businesses in Queen City, North Carolina. Entering the front door along the narrow hallway to pay homage at the front counter leaves a feeling of mild curiosity until one rounds the corner to find…..a path that leads to enlightened nightlife. The 3,000 square foot venue contains eye popping hues of fiery oranges, deep reds and majestic gold. First glance around the playful interior reveals eclectic abstract greens, blues and gold of Asian inspired artwork-think Picasso meets the far east-that hang on fiery orange walls. The room gives off a warmth of tranquility that illuminates the natural environment as fresh organic aromas play in the air. Except for Blaze’s, “Found Love” (Shrine Vocal) blazing from the clear crisp sound system the healing oasis could double for a yoga class. By the way free yoga classes are held on Tuesday evenings. Another survey throughout the global bazaar reveals three cabanas-one keeping company on the side wall and the other two on the room’s back wall-with mahogany beams wrapped in vibrant orange drapes that flow to royal purple linen covered beds that entertain brilliantly colored Indian saris of red, orange and gold relaxing in total Zen. Each cabana contains its own decorative mahogany table with a golden mini-Buddha bathing in the soft glow of candles. Along the room’s side wall are additional relaxing comforts of contemporary crème leather sofas sitting underneath the soft glow hue of orange lamps. Adjacent the crème sofas is the DJ booth-a rectangular shape that resembles a tree with branches sprouting upward against the backdrop of a burning flame provided by again fiery orange hues. The spacious booth sits four feet off ground in front of bamboo sticks that line the tango tangerine walls lit by ceiling lights which seem to shine down from the heavens. A state of the art light system hangs from a tapestry of natural crossbeams that resembles a steel beam suspension bridge. The beams intersect each other and travel the ceiling in every direction to form an impressive shadow of lines on the dance floor below. Travel the opposite wall, across from the burning DJ booth and you will find the Buddha Bar set ablaze too with flames and surrounded by mahogany barstools. However, this is not your daddy’s average watering hole as it contains the centerpiece of the bar and perhaps the centerpiece of the entire room, an oversized golden Buddha sitting behind the bar wearing headphones. Talk about an ancient deity grooving to contemporary sounds. On the other hand, for the dancers the room’s centerpiece is the wooden dance floor positioned dead smack center of the room. The floor large enough to house a gathering of foot soldiers and a small army of dancers is just right. After Kings of Tomorrow featuring April’s, “I Need To Love Me” plays and as Magnetic Man’s, “Getting Nowhere” (Yoruba Soul Mix) with R’n’B crooner John Legend on vocals cues up on the mixer the heated outdoor patio is discovered. Round tables grace the deck along with walnut patio furniture equipped with orange cushions that sit alongside a wooden fence with two fire burning furnace tables. Word to the wise, “Please be careful with the alcohol.”

Dharma in Buddhist scriptures can take on a variety of meanings from phenomenon, nature, or characteristic; including but not limited too, source of things and truth. For the sake of this experience let’s snatch Dharma from its path of an enlightened night life to a phenomenon as this night was nothing short of such. To define a phenomenon means looking at the word’s second and third definitions which include; 2) something that is impressive or extraordinary; 3) a remarkable or exceptional person, prodigy or wonder.*

Chicago’s own, Julius The Mad Thinker embodies the very meaning of phenomenon. The 3Degrees co-founder is the very instrument of the music he plays and produces. In order to understand, let us dive deeper into the phenomenal waters of The Mad Thinker’s world. It’s a world of spiritual and uplifting music. A journey of rollercoaster beats that play soft and deep and then rush into a mad fury of fast meets hard. From Big Band swing to funky house, from afro-beat to Latin house, the beats never stop or disappoint. The beats originate from South Africa’s Capetown to America’s Chicago, from London’s underground to San Francisco’s bay and everywhere else in between.

On this phenomenal night there is no opening DJ to be seen with no opening musical set to be heard, just four straight-hours of The Mad Thinker’s mindset. Right from the start, Julius wastes no time by bringing his A+ game with choice cuts from Atlanta’s KemeticJust’s, “I’ve Got Life” (DJ Spinna Galatic Mix) which set the lifeless dance floor ablaze with tweaks and bass drops to old-school Gladys Knight & The Pip’s, “I’ve Got To Use My Imagination” (Timmy Regisford & Quentin Harris Mix) that gathers people from the bar and the outdoors patio to the ever burgeoning dance floor. Feet began to sway and hips gyrate as the party is off to a spectacular start. Chicago song master, Peven Everett with “Burning Hot” (Timmy Regisford & Adam Rios Mix) keeps the cold winter’s night hot as U.K. soul sensation Shaun Escoffery’s, “Days Like This” (DJ Spinna & Tickla Mix) perches the sun into the night. Cheers of approval swarm the room from the cabanas on the back wall to the front DJ booth on the front wall as people proudly sing, “I Love The Sun.”

As the crowd steadily grows, Julius’ musical concoction becomes a “Top Songs of the Year” playlist. The party’s heavy hitters come from the year’s brightest anthems and largest house music producers. Front and center sits Soundgarden’s, “Black Hole Sun” (MasterKev & Tony Loreto Mix) that provides the alternative vibe for the affair. Big beats come courtesy of Joey Negro’s and Gramaphonzie’s, “No Sugar” with Shea Soul on sampled vocals. Trumpets shout and horns scream as swing house rushes into action to electrify happy-dancing feet. As if on cue, dancers stand upside down on hands and their knees slide onto the floor to spin in circles. This is dancing at best.

Wait! What’s this? The music stops. A pause ensues for two short seconds. Then a four-count thump penetrates the atmosphere. An echo heard in the distance sings, “I Was At The Club.” With arms raised in the air and screams out of the mouths of hungry babes the house heads go bedlam; real bedlam. Its Timmy Regisford’s with Lynn Lockamy’s vocals on “At The Club” remixed by Rocco that drives the music into hard progressive house territory that sends Dharma into the next stratosphere. Yet, another surprise is heard from the sleeper of the year, “Idiosyncrasy” by Yoruba priest Osunlade. The auto-tuned spoken rap drenches the room in chaotic dance. Talk about disturbing the Zen. South Africa shows up and shows out with-two of the top deep house songs of the year-Black Coffee’s featuring Hugh Masekela’s, “We Are One” and Zakes Bantwini’s, “Wasting My Time” (Black Coffee Original Club Mix) destroying the room with deep soul. From there last year’s number one anthem storms the room, a deep house ballad from Black Coffee titled, “Superman” that slows the vibe down and has the crowd singing, “Will You Be My Superman?”

There comes a point when The Mad Thinker goes deep, so deep that the music’s rhythms became healing waters of ointment. Got a cold? Got lower back muscle spasms? Poof! Be gone. Just ask and you shall receive. The mind, body and heart become immersed in the deep subconscious of dance and deep beats. Literally folks, people lose their minds. The beats become so muddled and vocals so undistinguished that consciousness becomes an abstract thought. Was this Prince singing over a deep house remix treatment? Or someone else?

Not long there after, a funky beat rides deep as House Music vocalist king, Kenny Bobien’s falsetto floats flawlessly and sings, “Don’t Be Afraid” (MasterKev and Tony Loreto Deeper Vocal) a 10:45 extravaganza filled with swirling keys climaxing to a dizzying finish. Julius the instrument tweaks the synthesizer’s highs and drops the bass to deliver an even deeper experience. Next up, songstress Monique Bingham with, “You, Me, World” (Jon Cutler Distant Music Mix) brings smiles to faces.

Julius has the ability to take your not so favorite song and turn it into your favorite anthem by playing songs like they’ve never been played before. Being the instrument of music, Julius eschews every rhythm played. From the top of his buzz-cut head to the rubber soles of his sneakers, he becomes a vessel of the music. At times his body bobs and weaves with syncopated bursts of energy. Then he moves about with staccato jabs and at other times with fluid movements like ocean waves. With his body turned to the left his head uncontrollably falls backwards to speak the language of his love-music. No bone in his body is able to escape the grasp of rhythm’s hold. Even his fingers absorb the melodies of life. The mixer’s control knobs violently spin and the crossfader slams from side to side to allow the treble to run to the forefront and the bass lines to disappear in the background and drop on key counts that shatter the room.

The night’s other musical standouts include a marching band thumping drums, clashing cymbals and blasting horns before transforming into the Elements of Life with Louie Vega’s wife Anane on vocals singing, “One Dream” the Big Game Mix which opened the 2007 Super Bowl. After that rousing round of Latin house, Josh Milan’s, “Your Body” (Louie Vega Eol Mix) and Nathan Adams with Zepherin Saint’s, “Holding On” (Timmy Regisford & Adam Rios Mix) keep the deep house afloat. It is Trina Broussard’s, “Joy” (Quentin Harris Mix) that brings down the house with its uplifting heartfelt appeal. Additional positive lyrics ensue from Lady Alma & The Rainmakers’ on “Let It Fall.” With lyics as “Trouble Don’t Last Always/Let It Rain” the club transforms into church. Baseball caps swing through the air, hands wave in the air and shouts of praise are heard.

Rounding out the dynamic set are U.K. soulstirs, Ben Westbeech’s, “Something For The Weekend” (Joey Negro Z Mix) that brings a smooth groove to the dance floor as 1990’s superstar Jamiroquai, “Just Dance” chops up the smooth groove with a broken beat mix.

By night’s end a sizable and diverse mixture of minds had gathered-including two drunk girls that fell smack down on the dance floor. Several diehard house heads trekked from Raleigh, NC, Sumter, South Carolina and even Atlanta, GA. The bodies in motion were more than pleased to have taken the journey along the path of the enlightened with The Mad Thinker. Thanks Dharma and Julius for a phenomenal night of music and dance.

*Definitions of Dharma and phenomenon are provided by Dictionary.com.

Photography by Siouxanna Gomez

MARK FARINA

Outdoors in the cold night’s air, the crisp breathe of old man winter kissed the dark sky decorated with twinkling stars. On the corner of 13^th and Peachtree Walk sat a cozy little nook-the lounge that resembled the gingerbread house from fabled fairytales of old. From its chimney smoke piped into the cool clear air while four count beats marched outdoors onto the empty city streets.

Inside the heated nook equipped with a fireplace tucked neatly off to the side, its interior screamed, “Happy Holidays!” A lighted Christmas tree sat in a corner of the foyer as holey snaked its way around shelves and techno colored snowflakes danced on a wall right above the bar. But the establishment’s best display lied right through the club’s backdoor; a well lit, spacious and heated patio with surround sound that entertained several tables, several chairs and one cocktail bar. For all you conversation-ist, smoke-puffers and standing models this was the place to be and see. Once the fresh oxygen of the impressive patio was inhaled, several employees in black “staff” shirts gearing up for the night’s activities were followed back indoors into the lounge area. In plain view sat a handful of guests on bar stools at the empty bar while two patrons graced the tables inside the club. One empty roped-off VIP table way too small for more than two guests sat lonely in a dead end corner adjacent the bar. From time to time a few stragglers struggled into the lounge, conversing on smart phones while ordering drinks far too busy to notice the serene surroundings. Of course, this was due to change as the night progressed. For the night was young; still in its birth of infancy for the massive crowd that would later form and soak the room’s funk filled energy from none other; DJ Mark Farina.

Up above in the space-challenged DJ booth, situated approximately six feet off the ground, the night’s first party-starter, DJ Sublime A.K.A. Jory Johnson wasted no time warming up the musical 1’s and 2’s. Sublime played a brilliant spectrum of mind bending genres from soulful house to 1980’s soul with beats per minute slowed down to a safe groove. One stand out, Kerri Chandler’s featuring Treasa “Diva” Fennie’s, “Heal My Heart” shined brightly on a dark night. With lyrics, “Heal My Heart/Ease My Pain/Give Me The Strength/To Love Again” the song’s message of healing hope to love again was much needed.

Soon, Atlanta’s Lil Steven hopped on board and bought a bangin’ dub of Moloko’s 1999 classic, “Sing It Back” that brought the ever growing crowd to its feet. Cheers!

Next up, 4Deep’s DJC went hard with heavy beats from the likes of a swinging dub of Joey Negro’s featuring Shea Soul’s, “No Sugar.” “Don’t Get Me Mad/You’ll Get No Sugar” soared through the ears of the crowd. With in your face lyrics that tell the truth the crowd should take caution of their actions.

Finally, the night’s headliner arrived. Short in stature but sweet in spirit, west coast house music pioneer, mid-west born and bred, Mark Farina autographed posters and vinyl sleeves and posed for pictures with various subjects all the while maintaining an amiable smile. This is what house music is all about having the down-to-earth heart of sharing your gifts (music) and talent (mixing skills) with the world and the ones you love.

Photography by Lil Steven. Used by permission.

BAKE A CAKE

The Dutch may not be famous for eloquent cuisine or musically inclined palettes as they are for wooden shoes or tulips but Tommy Largo showed BPM Sessions how to musically “bake a cake” from scratch.

DJ/producer Tommy Largo hails from one of Netherlands larger municipalities Arnhem, known for its greenery and parks. Arnhem’s population of over 700,000 situated between the Veluwe nature reserve and the Rhine river, located in the eastern region of the country may not be known for jackin’ house music but a quarter of the city’s population belongs to the creative arts industry, fit for the sounds of funky house to jack form Tommy Largo’s stereo system. Although the Dutch are described as being very reserved and respecting of privacy, Tommy Largo “gezelligheid” (had a great time) the small group of gatherers assembled for the monthly installment of BPM Sessions at the Music Room.

The Music Room sits underneath the warm smells of a pizzeria where sixteen lanes of concrete interstate divide the Old Fourth Ward district from downtown. Safely nestled within the pizza eatery’s basement, Music Room’s interior appears a bit snazzy walking down a flight of steps that provide a grand overview of the brown- washed room. This is the see and be seen stairwell that makes for an extravagant entrance and gives the impression you are “IT” as heads turned to eyeball your descent. A lavish birthday celebration was set to begin next to the exhibitionist stairwell in a quaint cozy lounge where red balloons attached to leather chocolate lounge chairs and chocolate sofas danced in the air. The cozy lounge appeared very welcoming and unassuming until a note read, “reserved.”

At the mouth of the stairwell there sat a newly built, varnished, brown, hardwood, 6 feet by 8 feet dance floor lifted a couple of inches off the concrete floor. Upon that sat two giant speakers positioned kitty- corner on the floor next to mud-brown painted walls. The spacious square- shaped bar behind the dance floor saw little action. The people seated at the bar seemed heavily concentrated in conversations while others observed the opening DJ’s play in a custom built spacious DJ booth across from the bar against a brick wall. To the right of the elevated DJ booth, sat another open, spacious concrete area for dancers. There, a projector showcased a late 1980’s comedy movie against a white wall to the backdrop of funky house music. Those few engaged in the dance preferred this space of knee-hard concrete compared to the feet friendly wooden dance floor towards the room’s derriere. However, the space’s most compelling feature was the orthodoxies distributed about the venue. Several Jesus and Mary figurines and trinity fish symbols decorating the venue severed as sober reminders of the spiritual side. Not to mention the keeping at bay of evil spirits.

Anyways, shifting the focus back to Tommy Largo’s baking skills or it should be said mixing skills. The base ingredients needed to bake a cake from scratch start with flour, sugar, baking powder, butter, milk and salt. The mix’s framework or flour for the cake consisted of a mixture of unadulterated funky 4 count jackin’ beats that made the body jack for joy. Two eggs or in this case groove driven bass guitar lines provided the connecting structure needed to keep the mix together. Next, one and one third cups of sugar filled funky samples ranging from sexy saxophones to swirling keys provided the necessary sweetness of jack. A half teaspoon of salty electronic beeps and burps punched a bit of tech-house into the musical mix. Three teaspoons of baking powder for that Chicago acid house combined with the liquid of milky vocals definitely caused the room to rise with anticipated joy. Of course, a sweet isn’t sinfully decadent without some fat or phat. The one fourth cup of unsalted, buttered phat musical rhythms and the same amount of vegetable oil of phat melodies used for extra added moisture did the trick. However, the sole ingredient to not be left out-and if it is left out does the cake or mix no justice- is the one teaspoon of pure Chicago Jack extract added for aromatic flavor. Just a dab did the trick because a little Chicago Jack goes along way. Trust me.

Tommy Largo briskly mixed the ingredients (music) on the 1’s and 2’s using a state of the art mixer. The beats were baked fresh in preheated hot stereo surround sound speakers for 30 to 35 minutes. The toothpick test- stuck in the center of the freshly baked treat only to emerge clean and smooth-proved the beats were dance floor ready and jack worthy. After a 5 minute cool down session out came the whipped frosting of smooth funk topped with a few chopped strawberry vocals. Yes!!!!

It was the mix’s harmonious flavors from swing house to Tommy Largo’s own funky houser, “Bake A Cake” that made the room sway from left to right. Other notables included DJ Gemini’s, “Where Do I Go?” Tommy Largo’s upcoming, “More Love To Give” and the whimsical Chris Carrier’s ““Beat Du Matin.”

The end result was a melt-in-your-mouth morsel full of robust flavor of funky dance beats that jacked the body. Served up on a heaping platter of foot-stomping and hand-clapping rhythms the sounds fell fresh on deprived ears of jack lovers. The mix, so moist, fell from the speakers and fed the hungry mouths. The music, so easy to swallow, caused the once hungry mouths to moan deep, “hmmms” and soulful “yummms” of filled satisfaction. The cake proved this is what has been amiss in the city’s house music scene.

The night’s only sizable issue had nothing to do with the music but the crowd, or the lack thereof. For a fecund international DJ/producer to travel across the pond and deliver jackin’ house-worthy of industry attention the support of souls could have been far greater and more appreciative.

Photography by Luis V for Dynamite Entertainment Group DEG