KCRW+ OM PRESENTS:
JOSE JAMES (LIVE) + QUADRON (DJ SET + LIVE VOCALS)
Next Wednesday Zanibar LA and OM - a spiritual quest for unifying sounds brings you the Los Angeles debut of both Jose James and Quadron! If you are in LA, you def will NOT want to sleep on this one.
www.myspace.com/quadronquadron
all photos c/o: Dan Carino
The New Zealand-based Electric Wire Hustle recently made their U.S. debut in Los Angeles. There was no doubt that they would be amazing live and I’m very excited to report that they absolutely demolished any and every expectation I had. The show was electric, funky and just an old fashioned good time.
Getting things started off properly Taylor Mcferrin and an amazing drummer he brought along set it off with some rad beatboxing/Rhodes keys/drum breaks and experimental glory. Immediately after Mr. Mcferrin, Master Blazter (Dam Funk, J1 THE DEER & Computer Jay) proceeded to serve up the funk on a gold platter with some of the best LA energy ever getting everyone nice and hyped up for Electric Wire Hustle.
Prior to EWH’s set, I was able to step outside with them and get to know the trio a bit better. Watch below as they share their vast influences, views on public policy, what they look forward to, who they’d like to collaborate with, and Mara TK’s cooking specialties!
Electric Wire Hustle Interview from The Mint Collective on Vimeo.
Super special thank you’s to Aaron Byrd and Hayley Digwall for coordination and support, Anthony Valadez for the use of his camera when both of my recording devices failed, Aaron Gleen from BeatsNcrates for filming and SefDiggy & Greg The Dude for their super sweet expert assistance in post-production. Much love to all who were in attendance and to those who have supported amazing, quality through their creative endeavors. -J. Marie
José James has masterfully combined jazz, hip hop, soul and freestyle elements into his music, has propelled some of the most epic musical projects of the past few years and is poised to elevate genre-blending consciousness for many years to come. From covering Coltrane’s “Equinox” - which got the attention of worldwide musical tastemaker Gilles Peterson who later put out his first album, to re-inventing Freestyle Fellowship’s “Park Bench People” José James has carved a very special and much needed niche into musical culture worldwide.
Prior to José’s recent Los Angeles show, we had the distinct pleasure of speaking with him to touch base and get a more in-depth look at how he’s gotten to where he is, what this next steps will be and who he’s collaborating with musically, spiritually and wholeheartedly to get there. We rapped about his Panamanian percussive influence from his father, tried to pinpoint why experimental music is more abundant overseas as well as where he’s had some of his most memorable shows.
Watch out for José James + Taylor McFerrin in Jan 2012 with a Japan tour slated and then up next, José’s new album - set to drop in early 2012.
It was a pleasure and honor to chat with José and we are deeply grateful for his music and many infinite blessings he’s shared with us.
Preview Minty posts on José here, here, here and here. Yeah, we ♥ him.
KCRW: Aaron Byrd, Anthony Valadez, Jeremy Sole @ Zanzibar
José gettin’ it in!
José and his epic trumpet player, Takuya Kuroda
José’s amazing bassist, Solomon Dorsey
José & Takuya going off!
Peaceful melodies
Fan club shot!
-J Marie for The Mint Collective
