The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs

seanmiura:

caamedia:

American Revolutionary: The Life of Grace Lee Boggs unfolds like a layered conversation. Director Grace Lee was working on The Grace Lee Project, seeking stories from Asian American women who share a common name with her. In a moment of serendipity, Grace Lee met Grace Lee Boggs; a social activist born in 1915, feminist, supporter of the black power movement, lover of good questions, and idol to many. What emerged from their initial meeting became a decade-long project of conversations and sharing stories. Lee captures candid and intimate sides of Boggs and the flux of activism, revolution, inner reflection, and structural change. As Boggs narrates histories of activism and community in Detroit, she also provides her refreshing and restorative wisdoms on spiritual and social transformation.

Can we talk about how CAAM gif-ed Grace Lee Boggs.

The director of this documentary also has another good documentary in which Grace Lee Boggs appears as well. It’s called “The Grace Lee Project” (trailer) and it’s about stereotypes, religion, and a host of other topics and it’s all centered around her search to meet other Asian women named Grace Lee. I really enjoyed it.
(via wrcsolace)

Source: knowledge equals black power 

Mark Hewko: Blurb Book 2014

A dummy copy of a new interior design photo book by Mark Hewko himself. Stay tuned.

Source: http://markhewko.blogspot.com/

Mark Hewko

Punjabi. Lower East Side, 2004.

Source: http://markhewko.com/home.html 

pronounced 'hĕv-'kó.

News and Photographs from a guy named Hevko.

I never forgot you Mark. Stay awesome!

Clara Hill Meets Atjazz

Years before purchasing my first Smartphone and utilizing the iPhone Notes app to jot down annotations, I wrote notes on nearly everything with a surface (it happens when you have an affinity for art). The other day while throwing out paperwork, I came across a torn piece of paper with songs that appealed to me at the time from a satellite channel formerly called “The Move” (now Zen). Famed underground House producer and DJ Lars Berenroth was the chief host on The Move by way of his show Deeper Shades of House.

The songs listed were: Wagon Cookin “Everyday Life”, Clara Hill “Nowhere (I Can Go) (Clara Hill Meets Atjazz)”, and Sterling Ensemble “Follow Me”. While working out, I began to ponder on moving out of my current residence and relocating outside of New York. I’ve considered even moving as far out as Cali. Perhaps a big move, but when is there ever a small move when you’re willing to renew your life and follow your heart. While thinking about the possible changes, I unintentionally began playing Clara Hill’s – “Nowhere (I Can Go) (Clara Hill Meets Atjazz - Remix)”.

I find it quite funny how this soulful track draws a parallel with my current mind-set (from a male’s perspective). So, it was only right that I uploaded this to dwell on later. This track along with other things may perhaps be a source of inspiration in my shift.

Crème Brûlée

Jazz Meet performing their rendition of Pepe Bradock's underground house classic "Deep Burnt" into Freddie Hubbard's "Little Sunflower". You know Pepe Bradock is the man when his music inspires a jazz band to improv "Deep Burnt". If you've never heard "Deep Burnt", it's not only a classic house track, it's one of the illest deep house tracks ever produced, in my opinion.

The Jazz Meet Band live at Floripa 1/13/13.
A Special Edition House Band to open The 2013 Sessions featuring :
Dave Orchart--Trumpet / Jessica Lauren-- Keys / Jason Simpson-- Double Bass / Sophie Alloway--Drums / Mark Townson--Percussion.

Due to technical issues, the Jazz Meet Band video does not upload properly on the blog, so here's a link to the their performance.
"Jazz Meet" Freestyling on Pepe Bradock's Deep Burnt into Freddie Hubbard's Little Sunflower.

On that note, check out the original track by Pepe Bradock.

Thelonious Monk - Caravan - Berliner Jazztage 1969

To end off Black History Month and the dawning of the Chinese New Year (Year of the Horse and my astrological sign) with style (Mandarin hat) and grace, I'd like to share this classic performance by one of the most prolific and abstract thinking jazz pianist/composers in history, the legendary Thelonious Monk. Performing Duke Ellington's "Caravan", co-written by Juan Tizol, Monk showcases his unique improvisational style.

Some say it's "Improvised Dissonance", but I say he was too advanced for the average listener. "The first humans who invented music were improvisers, the first cries of a new born child is improvised music. So, improvisation is the main source of new inventions in music." (anonymous)

This' the way we dance, dance, dance...

The dance sequence of the Maestro documentary. Several dancers from the Wreckin' Shop (Live From Brooklyn) film who paved the way and united the Hip Hop and House dance culture, can be seen in this clip, like Ejoe Wilson and Caleaf Sellers (older, wiser, and more experienced). Ejoe and Caleaf were more dedicated to the House community back then than Hip Hop and are now iconic figures on the scene today, traveling the world, dancing, and teaching.

To name a few; Shannon, TeNofQuad (California), and a few others I can't remember are in this clip as well.

To be honest, the environment was much more pleasant, the people were (and still are) incredibly humble, and the experiences memorable. My first house club deterred me from going to Hip Hop clubs infrequently. Nowadays, it's a once or twice a year old school or underground Hip Hop event, at venues like Santos Party House and The Paper Box among others, to reminisce with friends.

This statement was well said by Pluggedin2u, giving a brief history on the origins of the House music culture in NY: "Before it was popularly called "House" we referred to it simply as "free style". The term "House" came about 79 or 80 because a good amount of the music we listened to in the underground clubs could only be heard "in house" meaning only at the at the club. Sometimes we referred to it as "acid house" because most of the dancers were on acid. It was truly underground at the time and relatively unknown until House music and dancing became mainstream later in the mid 80's and 90's."

Founding fathers of the NYC underground dance club culture

 

Maestro is a powerful documentary chronicling the early years of the NYC underground DJ and dance club culture. For those unfamiliar with the scene, it was pioneered largely by gay, Black and Hispanic men and women. This clip is a tribute to Larry Levan, David Mancuso, Frankie Knuckles, Nicky Siano, Tony Humphries. The clubs featured are The Loft and Paradise Garage. Thanks to Caligulalia for the clip.

The JBeez, The JBeez, The JBeez!

One of the greatest loops and Hip Hop tracks of the early 90's. DJ Red Alert made this a New York City and Hip Hop dance scene classic. I miss those cyphers! The New York club scene was absolutely ridiculous in the 80's and 90's. There was practically a club on every corner of Manhattan. House clubs (my personal favorite) didn't shut down until noon. Raves...well, raves just went on. Those were great times.