Yukimi Nagano of Little Dragon @ UCLA Jazz Reggae Festival from TruthSeekers Radio on Vimeo.

We had a chance to catch up with the insanely talented and beautiful Yukimi Nagano of Little Dragon after their performance at the 25th Annual UCLA Jazz Reggae Festival. This track is unreleased, but gives us a glimpse of what’s to come. We def look forward to it!

Today we offer an exclusive fifty minute cultural excursion that takes us well south of the equatorial line. Our Lightfriends, Rani D., Son Zoo, & Maya held a blissful event celebrating the 50th anniversary of Marcel Camus’ Orfeo Negro (Black Orpheus). An entire day of ffff’s… families, friends, film and food (shouts to Comida Y Cultura). As day shed it’s light to night, this is just a fraction of the sounds showering the rooftop of LA’s Downtown Independent Theatre… the audible selects of DJ Rani D. & Son Zoo, as recorded 11/22/09.

Bless!

Not set on what to do for this Memorial Day weekend? Why not fill Sunday and Monday with lovely music and lovely people? This has turned out to be the gateway event that prepares us for a lovely summer in LA. Come out and support “A Culture of Change” Sunday May 24-Monday May 25th this and every Memorial Day weekend!

podcast at:
http://jazzreggaemusic.podomatic.com/entry/2009-05-19T13_17_17-07_00

Art show reception on April 25th, 2009 @ 

6:00pm-11:00 pm.

“Because Your Mama Said So…” Group Artshow with works dedicated to 80′s icon, Mr. T.

BeatRock Long Beach, California
4158 Norse Way
Long Beach, CA
Beatrock.com

Opening Reception:
April 25th, 2009
6:00 pm – 11:00pm
Music and Entertainment: DJ Phatrick (Devil’s Pie, Native Guns)

Long Beach, Calfornia – Long Beach, CA- Beatrock and alfie numeric has combined forces to bring you, “Because Your Mama Said So” Group Artshow dedicated to childhood idol of the 80′s Laurence Tureaud aka Mr. T. Sure he’s menacing as Clubber Lang in Rocky III, and he hardly cracked a smile as Sgt. Bosco “B.A.” Baracus in The A-Team, that you would never knew that he was also a positive role model for kids who grew up in the 80′s, teaching them to respect their mothers, stay in school, and to say “no” to drugs. So here’s a head-nod to the legend.

Limited edition “Because Your Mama Said So” Mr. T-shirts available. Limited edition! Make sure you cop one before they are all sold out!

Original Hip Hop Chocolates REPRESENTING! – featuring Thomas Messenger

Curator: Alfie Ebojo
Gallery Director: David Araquel

Truth Seekers Radio lit up even brighter last night. Warm re-connections were made when Santana and Afta-1 interviewed world-renowned percussionist Leon Mobley, DâM-FunK and DJ Frane.  Leon Mobley has played music for several decades with likes of Ben Harper and Damian Marley and has a solo album entitled Da Lion Roars. You catch him playing with tonight at the new Dakota Lounge in Santa Monica.

The night took another vintage shift when DJ Frane and DâM-FunK (of Funkmosphere and Stones Throw Records) also made their way to the studio via the  funk train. They both boogied ears world-wide with superior sets. Dam Funk’s new album, TOEACHIZOWN should (fittingly) be released this summer.  Audible heat like, “Brookside Park” and “Kill That M*****F*****” had listeners jumping in their cars, and living rooms.  I heard through the network that DJ Frane may drop another experience on us in the very near future.  But what I think the first thing anyone should do is clear their calendars the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month and make your way to China Town’s Mountains Bar for Super Cuts…and it’s FREE!

Take a dose of this morning’s delight and make Truth Seekers apart of your Friday night (Saturday morning) regiment.  And remember music unites minds world-wide!

Harriet Luckman Auditorium  – Cal State LA

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A Suite for Ma Dukes hosted by VTech, Mochilla, + ArtDon’tSleep

On Sunday February 22nd , Maureen Yancey, also known as Ma Dukes, took to the stage of the Luckman Auditorium at Cal State LA for the second installment of Timeless, a four-part series honoring the legacy of renowned composers. “This event is another way for your soul to soar through music,” Yancey shared with the audience. The diverse attendees reflected J-Dilla’s ability to break cultural boundaries that seemingly exist between different genres of music.

Fans and listeners gathered to hear the orchestral revision of his music and more importantly, to raise funds for the Ma Dukes foundation. The foundation’s goal is to help Ma Dukes and Dilla’s daughters with any financial responsibilities. Ma Dukes, including Dilla’s children, have yet to receive any of his assets or residuals for the work that he produced.

As I walked into the theater, DJ House Shoes lured audience goers with Dilla’s raw, grimey laden beats. Then J.Rocc kept the crowd seated, rocking back and forth in their seats as he spun Dilla’s tracks and cleverly incorporated some obscure samples to create a timeless atmosphere to his music.  As a backdrop, a slide show exhibiting some of Detroit’s toughest areas were projected. The slides soon developed into action footage where still shots of Detroit’s eerily emptied and dilapidated neighborhoods were shown.

As the set wound down, Garth Trinidad (Chocolate City/ KCRW) stepped on to stage and said a few words about the legendary Dilla. And so the memorable evening continued where music’s  most recognized radio hosts trickled in to pay homage to the great producer. Amongst them was Carlos Nino (Space Ways Radio/ KPFK), the host/co-conceptual creator for the evening, and Fuzzy (Power 106) who gave a moving speech on how he helped commission Dilla’s first remix.

Following with anticipation, the curtain unveiled a forty-piece orchestra composed of sixteen persons in the string section, thirteen in the wind, reed, and horn’s section, four creatively and strategically positioned in the percussion’s section, one star pianist, a harpist, a few synths, and the renowned, conductor, Miguel Atwood-Furgeson. As they began to play, the backdrop displayed a scene from Dilla’s funeral at Forest Lawn in Los Angeles. Beautifully composed, the orchestra played some notable tracks such as “Find a Way,” “Fall in Love” and “Nag Champa.”

By now, the auditorium was filled and the celebrated artist, Common came out to introduce the warm and spirited Ma Dukes, along with Illa J (J Dilla’s brother).  She expressed her deep love and appreciation for classical music and how this was the catalyst for Dilla’s musical education.  She recounted how he first developed as an artist by playing the cello, which later transformed into an unending passion for music. The audience was collectively inspired, suddenly realizing just how resilient she was despite the loss of her son.

Then the second half of the show had quite a different appeal. The bassist Stephen “Thunder cat” Bruner and drummer Kareem Riggins livened up the performance with vocalists Dwele and Amp Fiddler (who also contributed by jumping on the keys for a couple of songs). A number of women in the audience went hysterical when Bilal performed “Reminisce.”  However, the crowd errupted when the talented mcees Posdnuos and  Talib Kweli ran onstage to perform “Stakes is High.”   At thet end of the song the chorus grew to include OhNo, Alchemist,Frank Nitty, Rhettmatic, Ma Dukes, J Davey, Houseshoes and the audience who sang out the refrain…“Love, Vibration.”  An encore of Slum Village’s “Fall in Love” rounded out the musical spectacular.  I felt truly honored to witness such explosive performances exemplifying that love and appreciation for music can bring diverse people together.

You can aid in the purchasing of a suite for Ma Dukes by going here.  Proceeds from the the tickets, albums and posters purchased will raise donations for Ma Dukes.

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All photos courtesy of Azul 213* for Mochilla.com

You may also visit the photographer msypace page at: http://www.myspace.com/azul213

Tomorrow, Sunday March 15th, please come out to support our friends at the Lost Souls Cafe.  An integral part of downtown LA’s ever changing dynamics, they have selflessly provided a venue for artists to gather and express their divine talents. It would be heartbreaking to see their doors close, so we need your help.  There will be audibles, stop by!

Artists: Aidger 34, alfie numeric, Aparna Malladi, phloe, SICKdotONE, Stuter, Mike Nailit, Gina Doran, Tawni, Lucero, Maria Moctezuma, Ryan Spence, and many more.

DJs: DJ AVEINDE, DJ WALSO, HAYCOCK, Rani D, equanimous1, SP, abstract butta.

Interactive Painting: hearsee

Collectives: The Talking Drum, Rare Medium, Nommo, Soul People.

Noon – 10pm | $10 donation at the door
124 w. 4th Street (harlem place alley)
downtown LA 90013
213 617 7006