Djnyc Funk n' Soul, nyc dj

Tips for djing Salsa

There are so many different styles, tempos and eras with Salsa music that it's important to ask people exactly what they like to dance to if you will be spinning salsa at their event.  Often if they love salsa but their guests are not as keen on it you have to play more well known tracks from Willie Colon or Tito Puente, and often slower tempo particularly if they can't really salsa but like to fake it.  The event we dj-ed Sunday there were several guests there who loved Jimmy Bosch and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra but were less keen on the Tito Puente tracks, which is different than what we expected. As always the best nights are the ones where you can move between many different styles/ genres of music which is what we did, we eneded up playing country, Detroit funk, soul, disco, salsa, merengue, bachata, cha cha cha, Cuban son, Nigerian funk, roots reggae, latin jazz and latin soul.

Here are some of their favorite salsa tracks

We'll be spinning a few of these at the Scorpello event.

Willie Colón/Ruben Blades Homenaje a Levoe
Oscar D'Leon Mi Mujer es Una Bomba
Willie Colón Idilio
Ray Barretto Guarare;  Descarga la Moderna;  Cocinando Suave;  Ahora Sí;  Son con Cuero
Spanish Harlem Orchestra Cuando Te Vea
Johnny Polanco y Conjunto Amistád La Receta
Sonora Ponceña Fuego en el 23 (4:44 version);  Nanara Cai;  Canto al Amór
Cal Tjader Tumbao;  Alonzo
El Gran Combo Por Siempre
Eddie Torres (Dance City album) Pa' Gozar;  Caraván;  Tú Me Estas Volviendo Loco
Tito Puente Gozar Timbero;  Swinging the Mambo;  Oye mi Guanguanco;  El Cayuco;  Ran Kan Kan
Jimmy Bosch El Avión de la Salsa;  Cocosito

Headed to Scorpello in Fort Greene this weekend

We're headed to Fort Greene theis weekend to dj an event at Scorpello Restaurant.  Fort Greene is where I first got introduced to a lot of the African music like the Golden Afrique compilations and some of the other artists I've mentioned.  At this event I anticipate we'll play more latin influenced music, some classic salsa, cha cha cha, latin jazz and possibly some latin soul, in addition to some motown, and good old detroit funk.  Here are some potential tracks:

Che Che Cole - Willie Colon
Como Lo Canto Yo - Spanish Harlem Orchestra
Cualquiera - Oscar D'Leon
Descarga 72 - Orquesta Willie Rodriguez
El Cuarto - Eddie Palmieri
El Malo - Willie Colon
Llore - Hector Lavoe
Lluvia - Eddie Santiago
Ran Kan Kan - Tito Puente

More photos from AER Bar Kostume Kult Festival

Last week I posted photos from the event at AER Bar in the West Village. Been meaning to post more, here are a few you can check out some of the fun Kostumes!

djnyc in November '07 of New York Magazine

We dj-ed an event summer of '06 at Banchet Flowers in the West Village.
We played a mix of latin jazz, latin soul, salsa, downtempo, soul and funk.  This month's issue of New York Magazine mentions us along with several friends who worked the event.  If you have adobe acrobat you can read the article here:  page one   page two

The endless search for the ideal background music

Something people often tell us is play Buddha Bar type music for part of the evening. Usually what they mean is electro lounge, downtempo, trip hop, etc. Something with an electro feel that is not too housy or drum n' bass ish. I usually comb through the Buddha Bar compilations and pick on or two tracks on each that is decent, but there are much better artists for this type of feel like LTJ Bukem, Kraak and Smaak and of course the ubiquitous Thievery Corporation.

Here's a sample of a nice track from Guadi called Sufani from the latest Cafe Buddha Compilation.  It's more suited for a hookah lounge in Soho or a yoga studio, but still a nice interesting track.   

Raw funk from Munich - Poets of Rhythm

Here's a sample of a nice track from The Poets of Rhythm called More Mess on My Thing.   

Funky Nassau - Beginning of the End

As promised I've posted a sample of the song Funky Nassau by the band Beginning of the End from the Bahamas. They had a unique funky style incorporating island rhythms with bluesy funk riffs. If anyone out there has more like this please write me, they are hard to find.

My Morning Jacket - Bermuda Highway

These guys are amazing if you've never heard of them, My Morning Jacket are a band from Louisville, KY. My favorite song by them is Bermuda Highway. You can't see what's going on but it doesn't really matter.

Panamerican Roots Funk - Cult Cargo

I love song Funky Nassau by the Beginning of the End which I'll post tomorrow and wanted to dive more into this sort of Carribean Funk music.  The album Cult Cargo: Grand Bahama Goombay has two standout tracks, Dry Bread - Words To My Song and Jay Mitchell's Mustang Sally.  I've never been a big fan of the newer barroom version of Mustang Sally but this is a 13 minute roots funk jam.   

Kostumekult festival @ AER Bar - 10-13-07

Here are some photos from the Kostumekult event we were at Saturday night at AER Bar which is in the West Village on 13th between 9th and 10th.  It was a really fun night, an opportunity to get dressed up and meet New Yorkers who go to Burning Man. I've wanted to go every year but haven't been able to get away.  We were there late so I'm too lazy to write more today.

Some Modern Funk for the subway on Friday

There are some great modern funk bands out there like The New Mastersounds and The Dap Kings who go way back with Sharon Jones and are now backing Amy Winehouse. Some of my favorite tracks on this compilation are Sharon Jone's What if We All Stopped Paying Taxes and Rita Curry's Everything's Gonna Be Alright. The samples are cut in odd spots, you have to go about 3/4 of the way through the Sharon Jones track to hear the essence of the song.

Federico Aubele - Panamericana

Federico Aubele has a new album out called Panamericana put out by Eighteenth Street Lounge which is one of my favorite downtempo, trip hop labels. They are in New York City as well. I'm still getting accustomed to it but at first pass my favorite track from the album is La Esquina. The album is what I would refer to as electro tango, with a mix of beats, electronic arrangements, and a little bolero thrown in. There's not much else out there like it.

Here's the last of the Westside loft photos

Here are few more photos from the Westside Loft.  We also played a lot of big band, swing, waltz, and 40s and 50s era jazz as Joe's parents and friends loved it. 

More Westside Loft Photos

Photos from Westside Loft - 10-06-07

We were at Westside Loft Saturday night forn event. The venue can be tricky because often there are multiple events occuring in that building so you need to plan in advance loading in, setting up, etc. because often you have to wait for the service elevator.  We were on for six hours which enabled us to play all kinds of music from reggae-ska to roots funk to classic rock to salsa, etc.  I'll post more photos tomorrow, here's a few for now!

Mickey Murray - Shout Bamalama

Mickey Murray's Shout Bamalama, which was written by Otis Redding, and nearly made it into the top 10 of the R & B soul charts, is a much underrated soul song.  It's one of those songs you hear from time to time and think, who is that? Well this is it!

Madilu System - Ya Jean - Music of Congo

I heard the song Ya Jean by Madilu System yesterday on KCRW while I was working. He has an amazing voice and was very popular throughout Africa.  I'm just starting to scratch the surface with music from Africa and recently picked up the Golden Afrique compilation which I'll write more on later.  Other popular singers from Congo include Franco, Sam Mangwana, Papa Wemba and Nyomba. 

Kurtis Blow and the old New York City

Whenever I hear songs like Kurtis Blow's Christmas Rappin' it always takes me back to the old New York City that I never got to experience, the lawlessness and possiblity of anything happening, people rollerskating to the breaks (although this still happens in Central Park with many a honkey mid westerner looking on and snapping photos), and graffiti riddled trains.  A time before metrosexuals, men who tweak their eyebrows and get their nails done, a time before 192 locations of the same coffee shop sprinkled throughout the city. 

I Feel So Good Today!

I can't remember where I came across this one. Ben Westbeech is a singer/ songwriter in the UK who also produces and remixes music. Here he has a track mashed up with the infamous roots funk band The Dap Kings.  Listen to a sample here!

Orlando Julius - Super Afro Soul

I love this music, Orlando Julius created his signature Afro Beat style in the late 60s early 70s in Nigeria.  It's a unique combination of reggae, soul, afrobeat and and funk.  He gained popularity outside of Nigeria in the United States and Europe after releasing this album which many said he was a head of his time with.  My favorite track on this particular collection is Oni Suru which you can listen to a sample of here.

What's on the Ipod this morning - Louie's Grooves

Riding the train today I'm listening to Louie's Grooves: Latin Jazz, Soul and Boogaloo.  My favorite track on the album is Jimmy Sabater's "Yroco", if you listen to the sample until about 2/3 through it kicks in, very nice.  Other standout tracks are Charlie Palmieri's "Fat Papa's Descarga" and Kako's New York After Hour Orchestra's "Vitamina".