AJ Dance Legacy

TRILOGY ACTS 5 & 6: NYC LOUIE VEGA, DEON COLE & KENNY DOPE

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OPEN AIR AND INTIMATE

Part I 

Kai Alcé

Yeah, you are at the right place.  As the car door closes, you overhear faint thumps where you are parked adjacent a curb monitored by vagrants. Walk a block pass the open air parking structure as the ontz expands in the atmosphere.  Juxtaposed against the skyline of high rises, onward forward lies the destination.  A folding table and portable fence where your mobile ticket is scanned.  Grab a smiley face wristband.  Say hi to security.  Enter. Tents. Vendors. Lounge chaises. Restrooms?  Behold the center piece of the event.  That is not the surrounding professional lighting towers, nor the arena-sized sound gear but an aerodynamic aluminum mobile trailer titled Rock The Disco Soundsystem.  Coachella eat your fucking heart out.  (more…)

OPEN AIR AND INTIMATE

Part II 

LOUIE VEGA

“You, you, you….’ The F sharp and C minor notes dot the soundscape.  When the tappings of drums dissipates leaving only emptiness to expand.  A sound of sweeping ocean waves builds and builds to a climatic fall that washes away Upper Alabama Street. A refreshing rain of vibe and rhythm drenches the tops of heads. Possessed by unspoken rhythms. All bodies dance. Bent over. Feet stomping the ground. Hands swaying on the brick.  The Thakzin and Sun-El Musician produced Afro-banger with sutlry vocals by Thandazo’s “I.C.U” provides the most cinematic scene of dance thus far.  (more…)

The Phenomenon That Is Demarkus Lewis 

“Yooooooooooooooo!!!  What’s up?”  He grabs you by the hand giving you a bear hug. 

“I haven’t seen you in a minute.”  You reply.

“Oh, wait, you have to see someone.”  He leads you meandering through the heat.  The sweat.  And the thump from Jimpster featuring Mavhungu’s “Tribute.”  Luminiferous flashes guide you through the mass.  Their bodies careful not to brush against you and you them.   (more…)

KING LOUIE

Be prepared to lose your $hit. 

1700

The atmosphere transforms.  A new presence is felt.  A new spirit arrives. Although he nor his fedora are visible from the rear of the dance floor adjacent the bar.  No longer Little Louie, Vega gives life when playing the Dance Ritual chart-topper from the early aughts.  “Brand New Day” never sounded more engaging.  As a tidal wave of optimism floods over the gathered faces of brown, tan, and peach.  Appreciating.  The King’s preaching an uplifting sermon; Raul Midón’s “Sunshine (I Can Fly)” (Sacred Rhythm Mix),  Elements of Life’s featuring Anané’s “You Came Into My Life” (Louie Vega NYC Mix), Lil Louis’ “Fable” (Director’s Cut Classic Club Mix) with those uplifting piano riffs that floors everyone including the woman with tatted sleeves waving her limbs uncontrollably at the classic, Barbara Tucker’s “I Get Lifted”-all songs Texans need to hear.   (more…)

Prologue 

“How long does it take to get a damn bottled water?” The bartenders dressed in shoulder less black halters are wearing black masks. By 2 pm, people are tripping over, slightly inebriated, or buzzed from Moscow Mules or whatever trendy libations are du jour. You’ve waited so long at the bar that you start a conversation with a lady wearing micro braids. 

“What’s the wait about?” She asks over Akabu featuring Ovasoul7’s “Raw Love” (Joey Negro Club Mix).  Pockets of prime real estate appear. As the crowd thins.  That allows you to spin around and two-step adjacent the libation station as you wait and wait and wait.  Eyeing the servers inching away, further south the rectangle bar.  All you want is a bottled water.  

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David Morales

Helluva Surprises and WTFs!

At 4:05 am, stepping onto Florida Avenue, seen are flashing lights and heard are sirens slashing the chilly air. Police cars, first responders, and emergency vehicles barricade the road. Bystanders stare from street corners.  Finger-pointers stand down 7th Avenue.  Whatever happened doesn’t look good at all. (more…)

Gimmick Music

Kai Alcé

2345

Walking into the club when the Kerri Chandler Dark Mix of Lea Lisa’s “Something for the Dancers” is playing means this is money well spent.  In the era of inflation, when the DJ drops your favorite from KemiticJust featuring Terrance Down’s “I’m Here For It” you totally agree, you came here just for this moment.  To dance.  To smile.  To laugh with friends.  Life only gets better.  When the percussions of Afro beats that drives young feet to stomp and the sneakers of the middle-age to shuffle around steel columns to Detroit Swindle, oops Dam Swindle featuring Jungle by Night’s “Call of the Wild,” is the most excitement of the party thus far. (more…)

DERRICK CARTER

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What is Chicago’s obsession with Mary J. Blige?  Chi-town’s Emmaculate, Terry Hunter, and now Derrick Carter have remixed her latest chart-topper.  Carter’s version jumpstarts the party with kick drums, hi-hats and the Queen of Hip Hop cooing “Good Morning Gorgeous.”

And gorgeous, they are.  The femmes and doms are out!  For Atlanta’s 51st Pride Celebration.  The must-attend Queen Butch’s “The Last Ball” closes the weekender.  Queen Butch dressed in all black leather.  His furry chest exposed, unzipped biker jacket, fitted pants, and tipped beret brings the boys to his backyard.  Their painted nails, protruding eyelashes and ass less chaps.

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