Midterms are next week, which means I gotta show a movie as I conduct them individually outside the classroom. Sooo I decided to preview Disney’s latest, The Princess and the Frog, to see if it’d be appropriate/entertaining enough for my kiddos. I’d have to say, it’d probably be a bit slow and too much verbage for my kids to understand, but nevertheless, the story carries out a great message, that I wanted to share…. as sung by character, Mama Odie in the flick, from song, “Dig A Little Deeper“…..
You got to dig a little deeper
Find out who you are
You got to dig a little deeper
It really ain’t that far
When you find out who you are
You’ll find out what you need
Blue skies and sunshine guaranteed
You got to dig (dig)
You got to dig (dig)
Now the last two years out here, gallivanting through parts of Asia has not been too shabby of a deal, but there are times when I DO wish I could be teleported back to the West, in a snap. And here is one of them:
This Friday, April 16th, down the street from my old JO, at The Tribeca Grand, one of my most favorite people AND music spinsters in the world, DJ CENTER is celebrating his loooooong-awaited, MUCHO anticipated sophomore album release entitled, Everything in Time. Ohhhhhh, how I wish I could be there! (((jumping up and down)))
So, in lieu of my physical presence, I HIGHLY recommend ya’ll to show my homie some love and support in the way I would, if I were there now in the most concrete of all concrete jungles in the world….for an evening of GOOD PEOPLE. GOOD MUSIC. GOOD VIBE. GOOD TIMES. GOOD LOVE. GUARANTEED. Ahhhhh I missssss my NY Creative & Music Heads!!!!!! Tell him I sent you and take note of his reaction for me.
About Everything in Time:
DJ Center’s “Everything in Time” is a global soul record bringing back a low-end theory and warmth thatʼs been absent in music as of late. Itʼs a record for a generation raised on a foundation of Hip Hop and Jazz, but having grown up with a global scope and broader musical palate.
On April 16, DJ Center with friends Gretchen Parlato on guest vocals, DJs Ian Head & my other music head homie, Ant Demby and special guests will be playing at the Tribeca Grand celebrating the release of the album. The album’s incredible cast includes Oddisee, Zaki Ibrahim, Gretchen Parlato, Middle Child, Renee Neufville (of Zhané) and Samia Farah, amongst others.
As the songs unfold on “Everything in Time” youʼre enveloped in lush piano chords, warm bass lines, boom-bap drum patterns, flying tambourines, and soaring horns. The guests Center chose for his album are the perfect marriage to every song. The record features everyone from favorites like Oddisee and Zaki Ibrahim, to the up and coming Gretchen Parlato (whoʼs worked with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Esperanza Spalding) and Samia Farah (whoʼs dub reggae and jazz vocal styles give her an unparalleled uniqueness). The icing on the cake is the remix of “Tout Passe” contributed by the incredibly talented Waajeed of The Platinum Pied Pipers.
And if all that does not tempt you enough…. in a recent email exchange between myself and Center himself, he writes: (just replace the nickname, “mojo” with my first name and it’ll make more sense…)
Mojo!!!!
So wish you were here with us!!!! This is THE epitomy of a Mojo event/vibe, and it celebrates years of labor. Big thank you for the support along the way, YOU KNOW what it took….
Got if folks??!!?! MYYYYY kinda vibe. So you KNOW the night will be right! (And for those feeling the weight of the economy… well sheeeeeeeit, there’s open bar svedka and a room filled with beautiful people inside and out.. what more do you want??!! GO TO THIS.)
Official NYC Release party for ‘Everything in Time’
Friday April 16th
*** DJ Center & Friends ***
Gretchen Parlato on guest vocals
DJs Ian Head & Ant Demby
+ special guests
The Sanctum @ The Tribeca Grand Hotel
2 Avenue of the Americas at White St
Doors: 10PM
Open SVEDKA Bar 10-11PM
*** FREE with RSVP to: rsvp@pushthefader.com
To learn more, view the clip below on Center’s insightful take on making two of my most favorite things: music and food!
I love listening to my tunes on shuffle…. esp when it gives me hidden (almost forgotten) treasures like this!! Touche & Thank you, Mr. Lennon! I <3 !
People say I’m crazy doing what I’m doing
Well they give me all kinds of warnings to save me from ruin
When I say that I’m o.k. well they look at me kind of strange
Surely you’re not happy now you no longer play the game
People say I’m lazy dreaming my life away
Well they give me all kinds of advice designed to enlighten me
When I tell them that I’m doing fine watching shadows on the wall
Don’t you miss the big time boy you’re no longer on the ball
I’m just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round
I really love to watch them roll
No longer riding on the merry-go-round
I just had to let it go
Ah, people asking questions lost in confusion
Well I tell them there’s no problem, only solutions
Well they shake their heads and they look at me as if I’ve lost my mind
I tell them there’s no hurry
I’m just sitting here doing time
I’m just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round
I really love to watch them roll
No longer riding on the merry-go-round
I just had to let it go
I just had to let it go
I just had to let it go
- John Lennon
“Watching the Wheels” from album, Double Fantasy, by John Lennon & Yoko Ono (11.17.80)
As I skimmed through all my FB status ramblings and links n’ things, this particular link with the aforementioned title caught my eye…. and I hope it caught yours too….
This title/link was posted by a dear friend o’ mine, Phil, who had been interviewed by a cool lil’ webshow called, Capture Your Flag. Based on the premises of: “Cultivating Passion. Mapping Purpose. Finding Fulfillment. Empowering You.,” Capture Your Flag’s host, Eric delved into the “becoming” of Media and Publishing Entrepreneur (and my good bud,) Phil McKenzie.
But before the clip, let’s do a lil’ background check ….
As Phil and I caught up and chit chatted the other evening (thank you technology for closing global gaps), we reminisced and realized that our friendship is 4 yrs strong.. (like whoa! crazy talk!) Where we both were in our lives, 4 years ago seems like an entirely whole other lifetime… (and almost two)… In short, our fateful meeting at a P. Diddy showcase event that neither one of us wanted to be present at, but were forced to attend for one reason or another because of our work (ironically, neither of us are still involved in, but at that moment, the whole world seemed to had weighted on our positions, go figure…)…. brought forth a story of boredom at a showcase to a pretty dandy friendship!
As many of you know (especially as fans of this blog, and thereby moi), I pride myself in those that I keep around me. My family is legit (duh, as I am firsthand indication as offspring) …and my friends are on point. Having various pools of ambitiously creative and driven friends around me, allow for amazing bonds, built on mutual respect, admiration, faith and support.
From his time growing up in Brooklyn and attending Brooklyn Tech to Howard University, to obtaining his MBA from Duke’s Fuqua Business school… to grinding it out on the trading floor of Goldman Sachs…only to eventually leave it to be involved in his passion for the Arts and Philanthropy sects….and now, a Media & Pub Entrepreneur… (phew!)… Phil shares his thought-provoking insight via his tale of twists and turns and lessons learned from all of his experiences, in an effort to cutting out the noise and defining his own freedom and life fulfillment.
Check out the clips below and his lifestyle e-zine, fittingly titled, FREE. Enjoy!!
So, we all know that I’ve admitted myself into a much more “local-minded” soon this year. But if you’re haven’t found yourself convinced just yet.. give this lil tidbit a whirl of a listen…
It’s been frigid as I’ve noted before. Kids have been absent and/or sent home if they fail the digital temple-thermometer test that is administered to everyone (teachers and students alike.. yup, me too) as we walk through the school gates in the morning. (Thanks to H1N1, pretty much all schools in the ‘Hai implemented the thermometer test upon entrance, this school calendar year.)
And well, a couple weeks ago, as I walked up the stairs to my first class, my nose started twitching. It smelled as if the school building had been transformed into a kitchen. I walked into the classroom and I saw a boiling hot pot wayyyyy deep in the far corner. All the students simultaneously, while covering up their noses with dampened pieces of tissue, started yelling/explaining why we had “smelly stuff” bubbling in the back room. Turns out, it’s vinegar.
The local Chinese teachers as well as the students, then, gave me the spiel that boiling vinegar helps kill the germs that are spreading around the room…. and to keep the windows wide open for fresh (FRIGID) air….even if it means the classrooms turn into igloo temps. LE SIGH. Yup, I eye-rolled, and thought: crazy superstitions. (Ya’ll remember my whole thing about the battle of turning on AC and Heater last year. Seems like “eastern rationale” is even more bizarro in this school. But I will say, at least, they don’t mind the heater on as much as my previous school….. even with the windows open at the same time.)
Kids in jackets and masks (it’s the norm ’round here)…
So, I ask… boiling vinegar kills germs in the air, really??!! I had to do a lil’ google search on this and found Yahoo! Answers verdict: No. Any thoughts?
“Superstition” from album, Talking Book by Stevie Wonder (10.27.72)
Now, here I be with the follow-up! I guess now one of the, some can say, “perks” of living in the PRC is Google Music. As mentioned before, free music is available in China on various websites, soooooo Google has gotten into the game in order to compete!… launching their version of free music downloads within the PRC borders. Google Music has a catalog of over 1 million songs of artists from China and abroad. The site is all in Chinese, but all you have to do is type in what you’re looking for in the search bar and the results pop up in English. You can make a playlist right there on your computer and it’ll save and play from the web whenever you open it…. Great because Pandora doesn’t offer service outside of the US. (Boooo Pandora.) Or, if you wanna just keep the tune… Next to each song is an arrow pointing down(load). Click on the arrow if you’re feelin’ the song and that’s it. The MP3 is on your computer 10 seconds later. Easier than Geico.So if you’re coming over to China, clear up some space on your hard drive and get ready to gorge on free MP3’s… but I gotta tell ya… the catalog isn’t as awesomely full as I’d like for it to be, but it’ll do for now… Here’s a few snapshots of how it works:
Step 1: Google Music in China Homepage – Type in Artist/Song in Search box.
Step 2: Artist Catalog Page – Press Play or Free Download!
Step 3: Playlist – Press Play or Free Download! (again)
I live about a 10min walk to the Kodak Cinemas; found out that All Day Tuesday, all tickets are half off! Whoo Hoo! What normally would cost 80rmb ( 11.50usd – yes, same prices as States)…. I got to see MJ today for 40rmb!!! WHAT A DEAL! I don’t quite have the time to get into all out detail about it.. but I’ll just say this:
Michael Jackson: This Is It :: This (Man) Is Inspirational & Incredible! Never would I have thought a “would be” concert could get me so emotionally worked up in my seat in the theatres; bobbin’, tappin’ smilin’, singin’, dancin’ ….damn near tearin’!!!! Michael, “I just can’t stop lovin’ youuuuuuuuuuuuuuu…….” — Yes, I stayed thru the rolling end credits singing along with (or serenading, rather) some local Chinese…LOL
Surely, I was the only one in the theatre doing all of this… and I’m debating on checking it out again next Tuesday!… Hmmmm….
It was just great to see THE MAN being THE MAN! He is THE MAN for a reason… PERFECTIONIST for sure. I loved it when he had his lil’ fits (with a redemptive smile): “God Bless You”… All HAIL The King of POP!
THIS IS IT, folks! ENJOY!!
This is it
Here I stand
I’m the light of the world
I feel grand
Life is love, I can feel
And I know yes for sure, it is real.
Man, I am still shook with the passing of MJ. So, as is everyone else, I’ve been digging my collection of MJ’ness… and was also greeted in my inbox with a SUPERB MJ TRIBUTE MIX done up by one of my favorite, most down-to-earth, talented DJ’s, Qool Marv! It brings me distinct pleasure to be messenger for his super fresh (J) 5 part mix:
Minding Michael Part One: A Good Time
Minding Michael Part Two: Dreamer
Minding Michael Part Three: Grab Your Belt Buckle/Music’s Taking Over
Minding Michael Part Four: Stick with Us and We’ll Show You How to Smile
Minding Michael Part Five: The Angels
Download the full mix here!! Trust me on this one! WOW! INCREDIBLE GEMS!!! This mix answers the question of why I love MJ!!
My little flashback tribute to MJ:
Halloween ‘08: I had the pleasure of transforming the classroom into “The Thriller Room” – thereby, introducing many students in Shanghai to a true music icon of MY generation, the Legendary King of Pop, Michael Jackson. This included the viewing of “Thriller” as well as “Now Dance, Thriller-Style!”…. Check the goods! My kids are the cute shorties… you’ll see Woody, white Button-down and Princess in Purple Cape!
Thank you Michael! Because of you…..
And when the groove is dead and gone (yeah),
You know that loooooooove survives,
so we can roooooooock foreverrrrrrrrr!!
“Watching the Wheels” from album, Double Fantasy, by John Lennon & Yoko Ono (11.17.80)
“Superstition” from album, Talking Book by Stevie Wonder (10.27.72)
