My crazy
xxth Birthday passed finally this year and I had amazing days with amazing people.
First, my JP girls got together for Indian dinner party and Karaoke night!
Mariko, Shino, Kimitea, Kaori... thank you and love you so much!
On Feb 28th was our
Robert Glasper's <Black Radio> release party at Highline ballroom with
Yasiin Bay (AKA Mos Def), Lala Hathaway, Bilal, and more. (sold out show!!!)
Robert and his manager tried to get tix or pass somehow and they informed me that there would be an additional party the very next day. Of course I did get in for that with my girls and was sooooooooooo happy to hear who would perform for this day...!!! It was
Lupe Fiasco, Ledisi, and my fav lady Meshell N'degeochello!!! and surely RG's singer,
Bilal too! I was soooooo excited to hear these names!!! And the opening for this day was
DJ Spinna, my friend!!! more and more excited!!!lol
On 28th DJ Questlove and MC Yameen Allworld opened the party and I heard it was all sold out, packed and hot night.
They actually came late for the show @highline ballroom, already Ledisi, Bilal, MeShell were hanging with their people in VIP section. Also, of course MeShell's long term musician, Mark Kelly (The Roots crew Bass player now) showed up too!!! He didnt play for this show but it's always nice seeing him!!! (Mark stop glab my back meat tho...!!!lol)
After the show, I heard there was no sound check as RG, Bilal and Lupe were late coz of the shooting for David Letterman's Late show. But it all came out great and organic, jamming and fun, funky and soulful by the end. I looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooved it so much!
About the details, you can read this website. This tells you a lot what was going on.
After the gig, Me, Mariko and Wataru met some of my music friends, like Soshi, and Kayo, and the people who got press passes like Shino, Dashaun, and Rico.
DJ Spinna was buying RG's T-Shirt that was $25! I didnt know that he actually buying T-Shirt like others!!! Wow... it was interesting to see him buying it actually...lol Shino and Dashaun were there for both nights, they said second night was better, but DJ Spinna said first night was better. I am sure I would say 2nd day as my real favorite singers and musicians were there for 2nd day plus I felt they were enjoying jam a lot ;-)
Right after this second night, RG experiment left for the US tour. I didnt get to see band members after their gig but its all good that I had amazing night on this day.
Also Check this site out that I helped set up for this site
bmr Japan for
Robert Glasper interview. AMAZING AMAZING interview!!!
http://bmr.jp/feature/detail/0000000150/
I actually got a lot hits and reputations for this article from artists, musicians, fans and the people who did not know about RG! Hey, this was honest interview and I really liked what he said!
Also RG experiment and
LEDISI were on Tonight show with Jay Leno on March 19th. This is the link that you can see them perform. They were performing by the end as special guests!
http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/video/Monday-March-19-2012/1391559
On
March 2nd, Friday, it was heavy rain but went to
A Tribe Called Quest Tribute Feat. The Revive Da Live Big Band w. Vinia Mojica, Dinco D & Charlie Brown (Leaders of the New School) and Dres (Black Sheep) Sadat X, Jarobi@Harlem Stage.Highlighting and reimagining works from Tribe's influential discography, acclaimed trumpeter and composer
Igmar Thomas leads the
Revive Da Live Big Band in a musical tribute to Tribe's trailblazing sound.
Special Guests: Jarobi White from ATCQ, Buckshot (Black Moon and Bootcamp Clik), Dinco D & Charlie Brown (Leaders of the New School), Dres (Black Sheep), Sadat X (Brand Nubian),Vinia Mojica
I went there with Big Jeff and got there late.. when we got the venue, Jarobi and his crew came out...we thought ok, it might had been over..., then inside the venue, Sadat X was on the stage and the big band with Igmar Thomas was kicking it! but...wait... people were siting and very quiet.You know, me and Jeff wont be quiet with music! We got the seats but stood up and started dancing, rapping and singing together! Heeeeey Parrrrrr~~~~ty people got in the room!!!lol
In the Big Band, I saw some of my GREAT FRIENDs, like STACY DILLARD was in the front and very center with his Sax! It's always always nice seeing him anywhere! So as great key/producer RAY ANGRY, funky drummer BUTTER and Trombone STAFFORD HUNTER!And of course Meghan and IGMAR THOMAS... always always fun to get together with you guys!
There was an after party at next door. I was talking to Stacy, Stafford, Butter and Ray Angry then Hiphop crew came out!!! Sadat X!!!!!!!!!! Yeyyyyyy! He is always very coooooooooool! Love him. Dinco, Charlie Brown, Sadat X, Big Jeff and Photographer- Raheem, more people were hanging together and we really enjoyed it!Danced together, they rapped into my ears and talking about the music video that was on the stage screen.
At this venue, it was extremely hot and got sweat, some people already left. And Dres from Black Sheep came out to perform! My dear friend, Jarobi came out to the stage too! Yes, they performed together and rapped well. After the show, it was real heavy rain, when I looked around, most of my people left and I was alone without umbrella...>< I saw Ray Angry was about to leave the venue too so I got on the car with him and wen to Cleopatra's Needle. Ray was on the phone with someone and making music on the phone the whole time in the car...that was amazing scene and amazing music concept to hear while he was talking to someone... after he hang up, he told me that was... QUEEN LATIFAH!!!!! OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Latifah
Dana Elaine Owens (born March 18, 1970),better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American singer, rapper, and actress. Her work in music, film and television has earned her a Golden Globe award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Image Awards, a Grammy Award, six additional Grammy nominations, an Emmy Award nomination and an Academy Award nomination.
There.. you know who I ran into???
Rodney Kendrick was sitting there... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodney_Kendrick
Rodney Kendrick (born April 30, 1960) is an American jazz pianist, bandleader, composer, and producer. He has been described as a "hard swinging player and composer with a delightful Monkish wit and drive..
The time Rodney was eighteen, he had already turned professional, touring and playing keyboards with R&B and funk acts, traveled the world with Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, James Brown and George Clinton. At twenty-one, he delved more deeply into jazz, moving to New York in 1981, began a career where he worked steadily, supporting Freddie Hubbard, Terence Blanchard, Stanley Turrentine, Clark Terry, J. J. Johnson, and others. He studied with pianist Barry Harris, who remained his teacher and mentor for over 20 years. Kendrick cites Randy Weston and Sun Ra as influences. In the early 1990s he served as Abbey Lincoln’s musical leader for seven years.
I had not seen him for a while, so it was very nice seeing him and his people!;-) When the rain stopped, it was already 1am and left Cleo's took a subway alone and went home..awww...BK is too far to go home from Harlem alone...>< !!!
