The HighLife

...a new night of downtempo beats and chilled dance vibes with DJs EROK and Properly Chilled...spinning downtempo, hip hop, chill house, funk, soul, dub, reggae, nu-jazz and world beats for your listening and grooving pleasure from 9:30 PM to 1 AM.

 

Join the party:

The Upside @ Enormous Room w/ DJs EROK and Properly Chilled

Tuesday, Jan. 19
21+UP
NO COVER --- FREE!!!
9:30 PM - 1 AM

http://www.enormous.tv
http://downbeatscape.blogspot.com
http://www.properlychilled.com

Are you sitting comfortably?  Now let's begin.  Or more so, close out 2009.  It's seems that everyone is really eager to throw out 2009 with the bath water.  I personally beg to differ.  A common malady of our current web 2.0 generation is ridiculously short memory spans, and if some of us were to actually consider the entirety of '09 we'd find something to cheer about.  So here's my thanks to 09.  The year that connected all of us much closer than we are even yet to realize; giving way to the rise of social media, unreal NYC all night dance parties, the disco ball at Santos party House, pastel colored sunglasses, the most ridiculous Bonnaroo ever, Pretty Lights, Phish coming back, the most amazing concert i've ever been to with The Roots and Antibalas @ the Red Bull Soundclash, rocking out underneath the McGrath Bridge, free Chester French and Wale concert in Harvard Square, Jesse Dee, The Bodega Girls, Show Dem Camp, Blackjoy, Shepard Fairey at the ICA, dance parties at the ICA... i could keep going but it'd take too long.  So if you're of the opinion that this year wasn't that great, you probably weren't trying hard enough. 





As we proceed into the new year, the Highlife crew would like to thank you all for your support.  This enterprise has been a leap of faith from the beginning, and it wouldn't be possible without all of you out there.  The scary thing about leaps of faith is that you don't how or if you'll land.  But you have to jump anyway.  That said, our resolution for 2010 is to make the impossible possible.  Keep watching this space.

Jumpoff On Point 2009


Happy New Year!!!

From his April 2009 solo album, Brand New Blues, here's the New Orleans jazz-funk-blues flavor of the youngest Neville brother. 

Cyril Neville - I Found Joy

This New York based Venezuelan band released their first album in 1995; working on the strength of that album for two years until David Byrne (yeah, that David Byrne) discovered and signed them to his Luaka Bop label in 1997.  Since then, they have released four more albums.  The most recent being the Dimitri from Paris produced Super Pop Venezuela (2006).  Their sound glides effortlessly between disco, funk, acid jazz, salsa, and merengue.  Unlike many bands today, they don't seem to take themselves very seriously, which is awesome.  Read the scrolling captions in the video for Si Estuvieras Aqui and you'll understand.  But don't let the comedy fool you, they are a seriously talented band, that make seriously good music, that will seriously make you move.  This is Los Amigos Invisibles.

Si Estuvieras Aqui


Selecciones

Happy Friday people!  I've been in a great mood all day and it seemed like a good idea to share some of the goodness.  I put up a few On Point posts last week about Dimitri from Paris and Fantastic Plastic Machine, that if you peeped will be a perfect segue into this contents of this post.   There have been a few new releases in the past few months that have got me pretty excited about life.  Mos Def's The Ecstatic, Brother Ali's US, Gossip's Music for Men, the second half of Jay-Z's Blueprint 3, and Ghostface Killah's Ghostdini, Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City, to name a few.   So for those who haven't been on top of their music game lately, here's a refresher course in what you've been missing.  Plus a few other gems from Saint Etienne, Syreeta, The Disco Biscuits, Ugly Duckling, and Pharcyde.  It's music to handle bidness to.   Welcome to The Jumpoff!

Business Related Affairs


That's all today.  Rock it out this weekend, or at least try to be creative.  Until next time, be easy.
-Afolabi

Today, as we proceed with the globe trotting, we find ourselves in France.  Courtesy of the multi-national jet-setter better known as Dimitri from Paris.  His sound fuses heavy doses of disco and funk with electro, house, and jazz.   All combining to create a welcome atmosphere for that ever elusive social custom known as the dance party.   He was a DJ for Radio NRJ in 1986, and is credited for introducing the first house show broadcast in France.  To add to his swag, he also produced runway soundtracks for Chanel, YSL, Hermes.  You know, just your everyday tailor shops.  He's released a slew of mixes, compilations, and albums that have received wide critical acclaim.   Sacrebleu (1996),  A Night at the Playboy Mansion (2000), and Cruising Attitude (2003) might be all the nudging you need to finally get that disco ball you've always wanted.  Stay classy.  Voici Dimitri from Paris.

During my brief period of highlife convalescence I had the opportunity to explore new territory musically.  Discover new sounds if you will.  Pretty much an exercise in stretching my sonic proclivities beyond their current shores.  A lot of the music I came across is actually by artists from other countries; including this particular artist.  Dj/Producer Tomoyuki Tanaka, a.k.a. Fantastic Plastic Machine,  hails from Japan.  He played the bass, dj'ed, and recorded music in Japan through the 80's and early 90's.  Eventually releasing his first solo effort titled Fantastic Plastic Machine in 1997.  The sound is highly influenced by bossa nova, house, and 60s lounge music, making it almost seem theatrical at times.  He's released five more albums since his debut, and they're all solid.   Here's a little sample, but I highly recommend getting to know more of the Fantastic Plastic Machine.

I don't know how many truly sunshiny days we'll have left before the sun decides it only wants to do half of its job for the next 5 months, and since i can still hear birds chirping it seemed like a good day to break you off with some Zach Deputy.  He a South Carolina native that makes his way around these parts quite often.  His music is never down or sullen, surprisingly soulful, deeply funky, and just downright fun.  He's a one man band (a la Keller Williams), but you forget that once the music gets going. 

He played at the Wormtown sidestage off Shakedown Street at Bonnaroo this year, and i was literally drawn, like a moth to a flame, to the sound.  Phish had their glowstick war, he had the haystack hoedown.  Straight up ridiculousness! And trust me, that hay was not pristine.  There's a video of the Saturday latenight hoedown that i found.  Everyone in it is getting down, except that it's 6:30 am.  There was another dance party further up Shakedown that morning, and if i hadn't already been in one hoedown earlier in the night/morning you might have seen a dude attached to a gigantic 3ft in diameter pink balloon tied to a 20ft string bouncing along to the music in the back of the crowd.   True story.  Anyhoo, check out more of his music. We'll definitely keep you posted about upcoming shows.  It's an awesome live experience.  He's a pretty chill dude too... Here's to sunshine.  This is Zach Deputy (Sunshine, She Say, Haystack Hoedown)

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen! It's been a bit.  I haven't really been on top of writing lately, as i'm sure some might have noticed.  I promise it's all been for good reason.  We're a year old now at The Highlife, and i thought i'd thank all of you out there livin' the highlife with a Jumpoff.  We're only just getting started people, and it seemed fitting to kick it old school to give you a glimpse of things to come on The Highlife.  Take for example, the image you're looking at right now.  Created by one of Boston's finest artists, Dan Szymanowski. You may not know him yet; that'll change.  But like i said, this is only just a preview. Welcome to The Jumpoff!



A-Side
This British house duo has been making me dance since high school, but i kinda eased off their sound once college hit.  Which would explain why i'd gone relatively unaware of their 2003 release, Kish Kash, for quite a while. Nevertheless, it made its way into my ears, and now it will make its way into yours. The juicy cuts at least. This is Basement Jaxx.



B-Side
Sometime last year i put up a post with the Entourage Season 5 closing credits soundtrack.  They're not killin' it so much this year; the show's still good though.  But the song from last week was absolutely solid. They dug deep to find an unreleased gem from the catalog of a music legend; I have nothing more to add... Marvin Gaye - Piece of Clay



And that'll do it for today.  I can't say when next i'll be posting, but it'll be sooner rather than later.  Live, love, be the highlife.  Stay cool.  Until next time, be easy.
-Afolabi

Flavorheard Radio Vol. 5 - Whiskey Barons Edition
Enjoy!