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The Yanks seem to have taken notice of the Black Music Congress, as you can see from the cut out on the left, which appears in the May 2004 issue of the 'hip-hop Bible' The Source. There is life after football, it seems, as there were several men in the audience for the BMC’s ‘Is It Black Music Or Urban Music?’ debate on Saturday May 22. Respect
to panellist Ade, soul singer/vocal coach and music business tutor, who
heads the UK Urban All-Stars. He said he used urban music as a “vehicle
for opening doors”. He however had a hard time when he suggested he used
the term because it made it more palatable to sell black music to white
people, adding that most white people felt uncomfortable saying “black
music”, particularly in the company of black people. Two white people in
the audience said they had no issue with saying “black music” in the
company of blacks. Although
some members of the audience felt that urban had its place as a marketing
tool for the popular black music genres, notable R&B and hip-hop, and
to a lesser extent garage and dancehall, the debate concluded that the
body of music we all recognise as black music should be referred to as
black music, and not urban music (See Genre
Report). In the week of the debate, Steve Pope's column in New Nation concentrated on our debate topic. He couldn't attend, but was happy for us to use his article, which formed part of our workshop resource. Two weeks prior, Earl's Court rocked to the sounds from the Prince's Trust's Urban Music Festival. There's no doubt that it helped lodge the term 'urban music' further into the consciousness of the mainstream. But that wasn't the aim, was it? We have some issues with the Festival (See our UMF Open Letter) Although talking and debating are important (See Talking Shop), from this autumn, BMC will concentrate on workshops. We are hoping to develop BMC Disciples - participants who commit to take further specific aspects of workshop outcomes, or help the BMC cause with simple things, such as committing to bring a friend to a workshop or publicising BMC events, such us our third records and crafts fair on Saturday July 31 (People at the debates often go on about "coming together", "the community" and "our own systems" - now let's see you put your money where your mouth is! Contact us to book for a stall or a slot on the showcase). During
our last debate we were informed that the same all-inclusive characterised
by urban music looks like happening with Black History Month (BHM) in Harrow,
where the council was planning on making it an all-inclusive Festival Of
Cultures. So some
of us attended a BHM sub-group meeting and made our views known
(See Harrow BHM) Incidentally, with Black History Month activties over-stretching the month of October, the BMC is proposing from next year that June be designated Black Music & History Month (BM&HM). We envisage the activities will not only to be musical performances, but that there will be various forms of talks programmes to highlight the historical contexts of the different black music genres. BBM works in conjunction with pan-London voluntary organisation BTWSC to deliver music business overview courses. It is currently enrolling for an 8 week course starting Monday June 28 aimed at Newham’s 16-19 year olds NOT in education, employment or training, or at the risk of exclusion. Its courses for adults are yet to be firmed. Finally, during our last debate we gave away a CD every half hour or so in order to encourage participants to fill in and return the BBM/BMC Questionnaire. If you haven't filled one in, we'd like you carrying on to use the online version. We'll be sending CDs to 3 respondents chosen at random each week till June 30 2004. So if you've ever attended a BBM/BMC event, please click the BBM/BMC Questionnaire now. May 27 2004 Here are some more bits and pieces : |
URBANIZED
WHAT
IS URBAN? ALL-STAR
VOCALISTS
Ade, panellist at the BMC’s ‘Is It Black Music Or
Urban?’ debate runs the All-Star Academy’s soul vocals programme. Its
one-to-one private lessons and group classes are enrolling now. There’s
an exclusive
choir training programs, plus ‘free’ group class introductions in June
2004. For enquiries and bookings for "urban music's No.1 school of expertise in vocals,
performance & artist development training":
020 7770 6080/ 07976 412 093. www.urbanallstar.com/allstaracademy. URBAN
NIGHT
BBC Radio 1 has revamped its schedules. One of the programmes
that benefits from better time slot is the Bobby
& Nihal’s Sony award winning Asian beats show under the Wednesday
Urban Night strand now starts at 9pm. "It is about making sure the
right music is on at the right time of day,” states a station bod. “We
looked at the line-up six months ago and asked if we were giving the right
exposure to the right musical genres, and decided to bring shows like
Bobby and Nihal and The Lock Up into the evening schedule." URBAN
NOMADS
Bamjimba is a Preston-based reggae collective based around
Fatman, who was recently in Marocco (yes, it’s in Africa!), recording
“ some ‘urban’ nomad dub/reggae in the Medina in Marrakech”.
Bamjimba’s ‘I Love’ CD, which is available for sale www.prostudio.co.uk,
has managed to raise over £6,000 for the UK Sickle Cell Society from
April 2003 to April 2004 sales! URBAN
YOUTH
One of the lesser known attractions at the Urban Music
Festival was 14 year old Harlesden-based MC SmartGuy who won the UK
Unsigned Rap Finals. Check out his site for more details, including a
sample of his rocking, conscious track ‘Don’t Be Easily Led’: www.mcsmartguy.com. USHER’S SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER FRESH
TELLY
T4 are looking for fresh producers, MC’s, lyricists, and
vocalist to take part in a new urban music documentary for channel 4. If
you believe you have what it takes to make it in the game, send your demo,
biog and photo to: Jade Richardson, T4/Chancers, P. O. Box 38148, London
W10 5TH or call 0208 969 9991 and leave a 60 second freestyle, as well as
your name and contact details. Must be 18 or older. Closing date is June
10. URBAN
TALENT
Urban Syndicate presents the Urban Talent showcase every
Tuesday 11pm-Midnight on 1503AM and www.soundradio.info.
Urban Talent introduces you to a
fresh, vibrant and unique radio programme on Sound Radio”. It is
predominantly to showcase and promote UK artists and their hip-hop,
R&B, garage and reggae music. This is
achieved, wherever possible, through interviewing artists live on air at
the Sound Radio studios. The Urban Talent show primarily focuses on local
talent from the east London area. However, they welcome talented artists
from anywhere within the U.K. The Urban Talent show is aired live,
wherever possible. Tuesday 25th May: in the studio will be Denise
Destini, founder of Phuturehype. She will be bringing three artists
who will be performing at the finals of Phuturehype. Sound
Radio officially launched on July 26 2002. Terrestrial coverage ranges
from Potters Bar (Hertfordshire) through to Croydon (Surrey). In addition
to a potential local audience reach of 4 million.
Urban Talent, Sound Radio,
15 Olympus Square, London E5 8PL. urbantalent@soundradio.info,
Mr
Whyte on
07903 340 938. Roaring Showcase
RoaR is the UK urban artist showcase for signed and unsigned
artists. It’s held every 2-3 months. The next one’s on Friday
June 4 at Oh
Art!!, Oxford House, Derbyshire Street,
Bethnal Green, London E2. £7 in advance.
7pm. Limited concession tickets available. For more
information, submission of demos, tickets, etc: 07944 152 430 or visit www.twylyte.co.uk.
“Support homegrown. RoaR does
just that.”. STILL
URBAN?
Heard of The Now Urban Official Charts? Why Now Urban? It was
“created to give urban black music the true representation it deserves,
something found to be lacking in all other official national charts”.
Now you know. But have you ever seen these urban charts? www.nowurban.com.
CHOICE RADIO AFRICANIZED
GRASSROOTS
PLAN
GrassRoots hits Plan B, 418 Brixton Road, London SW9 on June
2 (and every first Wednesday
of every month). It’s the “ place to see the most exciting, talented,
raw and underground, up-and-coming African and urban rappers, DJs, MCs,
vocalists and beat makers. They leave no stone unturned to present the
most dynamic and trailblazing acts”. Features resident DJ Eric Soul
alongside The Truentz, a seven strong hip-hop collective, bringing you
their own special blend of hip-hop, mixed with samba, rhythm and blues,
classical, reggae, blaxploitation and jazz. 8pm-2am. £5, £3 Concs. 07967
362 551 info@outofafrica-london.com. CHARLIE’S
WORLD
Charlie Gillette celebrates twenty-five years of presenting
World music with the release of ‘World 2004’ compilation. The
fourth in the series, it’s the first on Wrasse Records. “Each year his
compilation has created more and more interest, mainly because it is the
best World album for the year. This year’s ‘World 2004’ is no
exception. It rounds up the best and most popular world music of the past
twelve months. As such this compilation is now seen as the must-buy World
Music Compilation of the year. As Charlie sums it up: "This is the
Sound of the World today, as heard by these ears." The selection
crosses all boundaries, nationalities and languages. It includes Ojos
De Brujo, Souad Massi, Think of One, Terry Hall, DJ Dolores, Carla Bruni,
plus the rocking ‘Atide’ by Brit African/hip-hop fusionists JJC &
The 419, whom Gillette has champoioned. www.wrasserecords.com/albums/112.html. JAZZY
SENEGALESE Award-winning Senegalese rap Daara J play live at London’s
Jazz Café on Saturday 29th May. Their album ‘Boomerang’ is released
in the UK on Wrasse Records. GRIOT
TOUR
Kasse Mady Diabate is “one of West Africa’s greatest
musicians, acclaimed for the sheer beauty and ethereal quality of his
tenor voice”. Born into a
legendary line of griots (singers for the emperors of Mali and their
descendents), Diabate is “perhaps the greatest living performer of a
tradition which dates back some 700 years to the height of the Mali
empire”. He is equally comfortable in other styles, having received
great acclaim for his recent collaboration with legendary blues guitarist
Taj Mahal and as singer for the Cuban-flavoured ‘Las Maravillas de
Mali’. His album, ‘Kassi
Kasse’ (EMI), was released in March 2003 and was nominated for a BBC
Radio 3 Award for World Music. His UK tour includes May 29 London Barbican
(opening for Cesaria Evora), June 3 Bristol’s Fiddler Club, 4
Manchester’s Royal Northern College of Music, 5 Southport’s Southport
Arts Centre, 6 London’s Blackheath Concert Halls. AFRICAN
RADIO
Uncle Sam recently marked his fourth anniversary as a radio
presenter. He started presenting his African music programme on
Choice FM on May 7 2000. “It all started out of curiosity to discover
what it took to make a radio presenter,” states Uncle Sam, whose day job
is an accountant at Choice. “Fortunately, I was working at the same
radio station in a different capacity. I guess I must be doing it well,
else I wouldn’t still be here. We started with four shows, of which
I presented one. The others have all gone, sadly. I have had great
support from you all in various ways. I can only say words alone
cannot express my gratitude. “To mark this, I have declared May and June 'anniversary
months' to be used for promotions, giveaway and competitions. I would be
even more grateful if the labels can help me make this a successful
celebration.” Not one to sit on his laurels, Uncle Sam has been studying
French in order to effectively communicate with his Francophone listeners.
Check out the African Beat programme Saturdays 10pm-midnight. It’s
streamed on www.choicefm.net or
see the playlist at www.unclesamofafrica.com/Playlists.htm. AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT
The African Diaspora And Development Day (AD3) is July 3. The
theme foe 2004 is: ‘Transforming the local everywhere: Africa here,
there, Africa everywhere’. Hundreds of Africans and their organisations
are expected to gather on Saturday July 3 at London's City Hall for AD3.
The day “has become the biggest gathering of Africans in the UK involved
in supporting Africa’s development”. Featuring seminars, workshops,
exhibitions, an African development market, and a keynote address by
renowned West African gender activist Yassine Fall, AD3 will also provide
an opportunity for African diaspora organisations to meet with other
development agencies - donors, policy-makers, pan-African development
institutions and international NGOs - to share information and chart a way
forward for the UK diaspora’s role in Africa’s development. AMPLIFIED
AFRO-LATIN SOUL
Better check out Amplied on Sunday May 30 at Market Place,
London W1 for a blast of Afro-Latin sounds from the likes of Africando, Antibalas, Azymuth, Batidos,
Bebel Gilberto, Bugz In The Attic, D'Angelo, Da Lata, De La
Soul, Ed Motta, Eddie Palmieri, Ernestos, Fertile
Ground, George
Duke, Incognito,
Joyce, Mark De Clive-Lowe, Masters
at Work, Meshell Ndegeocello, Milton Nascimento, Modaji, Mondo Grosso, Mongo Santamaria, Orishas, Osunlade,
Peven Everett, The Pharcyde, Tito Puente, Ramsey Lewis, Raphael Saadiq, Ry
Cooder, Sade,
Santana, Slum Village, Stevie Wonder, Vikter Duplaix, Wyclef Jean and many
more. www.amplified-online.co.uk. AFRICA
DAY
May 25 is Africa Day. Activities include the campaign to celebrate the UNESCO 2004 International Year of the
Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition. www.ligali.org/nomoretalk/2004whatareyoudoing.htm.
WEIRD
AFRICAN BIRTHDAY
Out Of Africa celebrates
its first year at Cargo, Rivington St, London E1 with a big bash on June
16 featuring a huge line-up of performers and DJs threatening to blow the roof off
Cargo in a party of African proportions!” On the bill are Aphletik and
Weird MC, plus DJs including the “legendary” Eric Soul. Having
played with the likes of Tony Allen, Femi Kuti and Ashley Beedle, Weird
MC, the “pioneer of Afrobeat hip-hop” plays with her full band. Old
Street tube. 8pm-1am. £10,
£6 concession. Out of Africa: Giles 07957 621 814 or hatch@hatch-uk.com;
Weird MC: Debbie Golt: debbie@outerglobe.freeserve.co.uk Aphletik:
Jules Simon: jules@spiracle-management.com;
Eric Soul: www.ericsoul-dj.com. REMEMBERING AFRICA UHURU
BUSINESS
Pan-Africanist group Uhuru have a meeting at the UNITY Centre on
May 30, 3.30pm focusing on ‘The Crisis Of Pan Africanism’. 37-39
Peckham High street, Peckham, SE15. Arrive early to watch international
screening of political speakers. 020 8265 1731. On July 16, 7pm, there
will be the Celebrating Africa & Africans talks, live entertainment
and a banquet at Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Sq, WC1. £15. At the same venue
on July 17-18 there will be The Conference To Build Worldwide African
Revolutionary Organisation: The African Socialist International. For an
open mic showcase for pan-Africanists and conscious heads, check out the
twice monthly Free Da Mic, a “progressive musical night in support of
young African musicians for their economic benefit”. Sunday May 23, 7pm.
£3. N.A.T. 07957 427 168. www.sunshinekid.com. CHRISTIAN
CORNER
May 28: Destiny’s Child member Michelle Williams will sing songs from
her most recent gospel album 'Do You Know'. This is her first UK
appearance as a gospel singer and promises to be a memorable affair.
Support artists include Raymond & Co, Croydon SDA Choir, Power Praise
and Nu Life. Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, Croydon. www.rfproductions.co.uk. TIGHTEN
UP
Tighten Up in association with Trojan Records drop
“rough and rugged mixdown of Ccassic reggae, scorching
ska, real rocksteady, old-skool dancehall, raw roots and
heavyweight dub serious reggae” on Friday May 28 and the last friday of
every month at The Salmon & Compass, 58 Penton St, Islington N1
(Corner of Chapel Market & Penton St. Angel tube). 8pm-2am. £Free
till 9pm, £3 until 11pm, £5 after. www.klix.freeserve.co.uk,
mistahbrown@hotmail.com.
Tighten Up is sponsored by Trojan Records: www.trojanrecords.net. LIFE MUSICLifefm.org.uk
is an internet radio station based in Stonebridge, Brent. It covers a wide
range of black music, plus community affairs. It’s planning for a 28 day
terrestrial radio licence which will see it hit the air waves across
north-west London in September-October. You can catch the flavour by
logging on to www.lifefm.org.uk
this Friday 3-5pm to catch Johnny live. He promises his show will be
“full of the finest music from the mid-50s to the present day”.
He’s happy to take requests. johnny@lifefm.org.uk.
BEV’S LAUNCH
Beverley Knight’s new album ‘Affirmation’ (Parlophone)
sounds great. Quality, as we should expect from the BBM/BMC Trailerblazer
Artist 2003. She’ll launch it on June 9 with a live show in central
London. We’ve seen two of her press shows, and it’s like a full-on
concert! It precedes the late June release of the album and the rocking
‘Come As You Are’ single. We hope ‘rock’ stations like Xfm and
Virgin will support the single, as it sounds like something fro the
Rolling Stones’ songbook! JD has produced a more ‘urban’ remix. GOSPEL
SOULSTER
Record label boss looking for very good singers from Church
backgrounds for contemporary music aimed at the church and secular market.
Details to editor@britishblackmusic.com
will be passed on. CITY SHOW The City Showcase, featuring new music and fashion talent,
will help launch at the new Karamel club in Wood Green (Chocolate Factory,
2 Coburg Road , N22) on Saturday June 26. City Showcase, a premier music
and fashion showcase, is holding local events across London in advance of
the main showcase in London, to provide musicians and designers from
boroughs across the capital the opportunity to take part in this
prestigious event. City Showcase 2003 provided a platform for new and emerging
talent to perform at West End shops, bars and restaurants. Backed by
London’s top media XFM, BBC
London and Time Out, this unique event
provided a stage for London’s new fashion designers and musicians
to establish their presence on the growing creative industries’ map. This year sees the addition of regional showcases around
London where talent has a chance to shine locally, plus the possibility of
being nominated for the main City Showcase event in September, where
shortlisted participants can also enjoy free advice and development
workshops with key players from the music and fashion industries. Collage Arts is hosting the regional showcase for North East
London at its prestigious all new Karamel
Club on June 26, from
5pm. Located in the heart of the Cultural Quarter, with its purpose
built live stage, acoustic performers have the opportunity to hone their
craft in a professional music environment.
All genres of music are welcomed, but performers are required to
play accompanied by a musical instrument of some kind. Shortlisted fashion
designers get the opportunity to style City Showcase music performers at
the main September showcase event in the West end. Remember! Submissions need to be
received by Collage Arts by May 28.
So if you have a demo CD, a fashion portfolio, a biog, a photo or web
link, send it in to Cassie at Collage Arts, The Chocolate Factory,
Clarendon Road, N22 6XJ. Cassie
on 020 8365 7500, cassie@collage-arts.org.
RINGING TONES USHER’S CHART TRIOS IVOR’S
OSCARS
The
Ivor Novellos Awards celebrates songwriters, songs and publishers. This
year’s honours include Best Contemporary Song (Amy Winehouse,
‘Stronger Than Me’), PRS Most Performed Work (Jamelia,
‘Superstar’), Outstanding Contribution To British Music (Errol Brown),
and Special International Award (Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Eddie
Holland (Holland Dozier Holland)). LIVE LAW
Hazy about the Licensing Act which
comes into force in June? Then you had better book to
check out the Live
Or Unplugged: How Will You Perform Under The New Licensing Act? seminar featuring
none other than the chappie entrusted by the government with mapping out
the effect on the live scene, Live Music Forum chair Feargal Sharkey.
Panel includes Channelfly CEO Adam Driscoll and Musicians’ Union general
secretary John Smith. Chaired by Music Tank chair Keith Harris, it takes
place June 8 at The Red Room, Bertorelli's, 11-13 Frith Street, Soho,
London, W1. 6.30-9.30pm. £20/£15. http://www.musictank.co.uk/events_live_debate.htm. 1XTRA
EUROPEAN
1Xtra
will be hitting Europe in June for ‘1Xtra Live’s European Tour’ - a
series of gigs showcasing the best in black music from around the
continent. It will be a chance for listeners to hear special
edition shows of 1Xtra Live brought to you by the station’s DJs:
Robbo Ranx,
Silverstar,
Rampage,
Ronnie Herel and
L Double. The tour
will comprise of three dates: Dancehall
in Switzerland on Saturday June 12 with Robbo Ranx and Silverstar;
Drum & Bass in
Spain on Saturday June 19 with L Double; and R&B in Greece on Saturday June
26 with Rampage and Ronnie Herel. There will also be an on-line competition
where listeners will get the chance to join ‘1Xtra Live’s European
Tour’ in Zurich, Athens or Barcelona and compile a 1Xtra fact file. www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra. ROCKING
EMPIRE
Spanish fusionists and winners of BBC Radio 3 Award For World
Music 2004 Ojos de Brujo play Shepherds Bush Empire Thursday June 3, and
appear on Later with Jools Holland on BBC2 on Friday June 4.
www.ojosdebrujo.com HELICOPTER
CHIC
Helicopter Girl is Scottish singer-songwriter and “visual
artist” Jackie Joyce, whose esoteric debut album ‘How To Steal The
World’ garnered a Mercury Music Prize nomination, but little commercial
success. That album, which Instant Karma chairman Rob Dickins says sold
“10,000 without a single - just word of mouth”, came at a “wrong
time during the pop explosion.” Dickins however commissioned a second
album, ‘Voodoo Chic’, released April 5, because he believes in the old
school ethos of developing “timeless artists” over two to three
albums, instead of today’s tendency of “signing trends.” The pop and
rock sophomore set has a more commercial edge, which the artist says just
happened, as “there was no conscious effort to write it that way.”
Unlike its predecessor, ‘Voodoo Chic’ will be supported with live
gigs, a single, ‘Angel City’ out May 31, and international release in
territories such as France and Australia. CALLING UK UNSIGNED
Last chances to enter UK Unsigned contest. There are only
three chances left to win a spot in the UK’s biggest talent quest, and
£5000 worth of prizes up for grabs. The Grand Finals take place July 17
at the Respect Festival in Victoria Park, Hackney, E9. The categories are
Singer/Songwriter, MCs and Vocal Performances for all ages. The last three
UK Unsigned showcases will take place at the following venues, all shows
start at 7pm: Wednesday
May 26, Woughton Leisure Centre, Rainbow Drive, Leadenhall, Milton Keynes,
MK6; Saturday
May 29, Selsdon Hall, 138
Addington Road, South Croydon, CR2; and Sunday May 30, Yaa Asantyewa Arts
Centre, 1a Chippenham Mews, Marylands Road, (off Harrow Rd by KFC), W9. To
book your performance spot or to buy tickets at £5 in advance, contact
SABA 020 7377 8545/020 8696 7003, www.gigsonline.co.uk. GUT
CALL
Following on from our last
release highlighting Gut Records’ Hungry For Talent open-door A&R
sourcing programme, label boss Guy Holmes has informed us that they’ve
been hit by so much spam, they are not accepting submissions via their
website. They are open to artists and managers using the phone: 020 7266 0777. FANTASTIC
IDOL?
Some of you may remember Elton John branding American Pop
Idol racist. He said the three singers he rated the most were black, but
they call ended up at the bottom of the competition. Surprisingly, the
winner of the third series is a young, black singer called Fantasia
Barrino. Simon Cowell was most effusive with his praise for her. He said
she was the best performer to appear on the show since it started!
Fantasia releases a single called ‘I Believe’ on J in June. DEVELOPING
MUSIC
McKenzie Group Limited is looking to fill in a vacancy for a London-based music development manager with a £25-£30,000 salary. This key role requires a wide knowledge of the public sector and an understanding of how the commercial music sector works. Working with the McKenzie Group and the Arts Council, England, the person will be responsible for developing a strategy that delivers partnerships with arts and cultural organisations in locations where there is a McKenzie group venue creating links, networks and events for the benefit of the public and commercial sector, artists and music industry. Send CV to Claire Anscombe, McKenzie Group Ltd, 211 Stockwell Road, London SW9 9SL. claire@mkg.co.uk. STREET SOUL USA
UK soul star Hil
St. Soul has recently been causing a buzz in the US with ‘Pieces’ on
Urban Adult Contemporary radio, and her cover of the Isleys’ ‘For The
Love Of You’ is doing good business on Smooth Jazz Radio1, which has
added the track onto their station across America. This is not our
Hilary’s first stab at Stateside success. At one time when she was
signed to Dome Records, she was the only Brit in the Billboard R&B
charts. Shanachie have licensed her current product from Gut Records.
They’ve already shipped over 35,000 copies. Hil St Soul have also been
asked to support Freddie Jackson on a twenty-two day tour across America
as well as headline a US tour. SEVEN
ENTERTAINMENT
Birmingham-based rap group Moorish
Delta will be shooting a video Friday May 28 at Lakeside
Country Club, Lifford Lane, Kings Norton, Birmingham. Expect the likes of
DJ One Step, Tubby T, Gappy Ranx, Champions In Action, DJ Nighttrate, the
Shotcallers, Yogi, DJ Megga Stress, and Wolftown Committee. £7/£10. BLAZIN’
LOUIE
One of my most memorable club
experiences include coming out of a drum & bass session in Camden like
6 am still feeling exhilarated without aid of any stimulants; and leaving
The Shelter in New York about 8am after having spent most of the night in
the huge DJ room with Little Louie Vega and
Kevin Hedge manning the desk. I managed to interview Vega, who had
invited Shaun Escoffery for a special independence day set. Unfortunately
I did not interview Hedge because I did not know who he was! This is the
one half of the Blaze artist/producer team! Check out the new ‘Blaze:
Found Love’ (Slip N Slide) compo. Louie Vega and his Masters At Work mate Kenny Dope Gonzalez
play Ministry Of Sound Midnight Saturday May 29 until 9am! The duo will
precede their club date with a 3-4pm set at London record shop Black
Market. SWINGING
DONORS
Following
on from the discovery that ex-Boogie Bunch member DJ Swing has been
diagnosed with multiple myeloma (cancer of the blood), his friends and
family are making an urgent appeal to the Afro-Caribbean community in the
hope of finding a suitable bone marrow donor. For those wanting to
help, a simple blood test is all that is required to identify a possible
match. There will be a mobile blood clinic situated at the Whitgift Centre
in Croydon on Saturday May 29, 10am-6pm. Donors unable to make this
date, please contact any of the numbers listed below to arrange a private
appointment.
Beverley McIntyre:
07949 856 351,
Doreen: 0778 236
4001,
Sami: 07958 207
246,
Juliette: 07951
756 376,
Yvonnette
Phillips: 07940 504 053. NETWORKING
DJ’S
“The DJ's Network has been created to bring all key
players of the music industry closer to DJ's to share and support their
passions and activities, by getting linked up, being promoted on the
worldwide scale” … The DJ's Network is also an organisation which
provides support to DJs worldwide from marketing consultancy, booking
agency and management, advice centre, a virtual office and more; which has
been established to promote, improve and create opportunities for DJs”.
It is open to the record companies, radio stations, promoters, publishers,
journalists, and the general public”. www.thedjsnetwork.com,
info@thedjsnetwork.com GANGSTA
VIEW
Reading’s Blue Sky Arts is running a gangsta film season
called ‘In Da Club’ throughout the Sundays in June at Bar Oz, Station
Road, Town Centre, Reading. The programmes, which start from 6pm include
discussion sessions after each film. Yours truly is sitting on two of the
discussion panels. June 6 ‘Beef’, 13 ‘Shottas’, 20 ‘Gang
Tapes’, 27 ‘Welcome To Death Row’. It’s about half an hour from
Paddington or an hour from Waterloo station. £4 or £6 for two films.
Gracie Duncan. 0118 901 5119. IN &
OUT STORES
First US-owned Tower closes down its stores in the UK. Now
UK-owned retailer HMV have closed down their US stores. BLINKING POLITICOS Blink.org.uk, the black community website wants your top 5
political songs! Hit: lholloway@blink.org.uk.
www.blink.org.uk/top5.asp JAZZ NODS BBC Radios 2 and 3 celebrate the fourth Annual BBC Jazz
Awards on Thursday July 29 at the Hammersmith Palais, London. The 2004
event will “be a celebration of the continuing strength and rising
recognition of British jazz”. Last year’s event included a Rising
Star gong for the now platinum-selling singer Jamie Cullum.This year's
nominations include two multi-nominated Dune recording artists: Denys
Baptiste (best New Work, Best album: 'Let Freedom Ring!') and Soweto Kinch
(Best Instrumentalist, Best Album: 'Conversations With The Unseen'). www.bbc.co.uk/music/jazzawards.
WATCH THAT! EMI BLUES For the year to March 31, EMI's recorded music division saw
sales fall by 2%, to £1.7bn, while the industry saw a decline of 5.6%. In
March, EMI said it would trim its artist roster by one fifth, and
outsource CD and DVD manufacturing in the US and Europe. The company
maintained its full-year dividend at the previous year's level of 8p per
share. In
the US - the world's largest music market - EMI reported a 4% rise in its recorded music sales
over the six months ending March 31 2004. DANCING ITALIANS STILL
PULSATING
Veteran Brit reggae group Steel Pulse play the Ocean, east
London on Monday June 28. £15. 7pm LIVE
LEMAR LIVE We caught Lemar’s electrifying show at Shepherd’s Bush
Empire a few months ago. The place was jam-packed with genuine fans who
sang along with him. predominantly white, with a wide age group – from
young to middle aged, you could see how his album managed to sell
platinum-plus. If you have not yet caught this genuine star, go see him on
his current tour, which includes Hammersmith Apollo on June 8.
Black Music Records & African Crafts Fair III |