The Latest SLO Arrival Coming Soon: Arnold & Ellis!!
As I’m struggling to meet deadline for my latest reviews to be submitted to XLR8R Magazine (to be published in December as Issue 93), this week so far has been a bit of a juggling act. Still, it’s been a good one so far. Good enough to share.
I’ve found out today, and made an announcement, that local music promoter Manuel Barba, co-host of the Night Train soul/funk show on San Luis Obispo County public radio station KCBX, has scored once again. It’s always been sort of a dream to make what’s happening a reality, but Manuel’s really coming through. Bringing acts here to SLO such as Quantic, the Crown City Rockers, the Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra, and Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings among others, his hard work, along with great support from the community, has validated so far that there’s a hunger for quality entertainment here. Not that the city doesn’t have such entertainment already, but it’s always frustrating when acts that are near and dear to us are performing either in L.A. or San Francisco, but never having the opportunity to play in an area that’s smack dab in between the two cities.
We are about to find out soon just how open-minded and how hungry people are for future music. The news was shared to me today by Manuel that John Arnold and Jeremy Ellis will be performing here on Friday, November 4th here in San Luis Obispo. I’m obviously very excited about this, especially with Ellis on the bill. I’ve interviewed him on Urban Landscapes around the time that his “Drink This” EP was released several years back on Detroit’s Omoa Music, and have met him in Miami last year prior to his live keyboard performance during an early evening Ubiquity event. I wish at the time that I didn’t had to leave, because he is just a wizard on the keyboard. I’m not sure what it was that he was using; I’m guessing a keyboard and an MPC. I was in awe with how quickly he’s able to shift from one sound to another, or even layering sound on top of sound, with relative ease. I wasn’t able to stick around long enough to hear him sing, either.
You bet your ass I’m not missing it this time. Not him, not the talented John Arnold, for whom the tour is really for (to promote his “Style and Pattern” album that’s just been released), not for anything. But since I’m going to be the opening DJ for the show, I really can’t cop out now can I? but no need to. I hope that it’s going to be a fun show. It’ll be live and all freestyle, as Arnold and Ellis take the music where it needs to go.
The most important barometer, of course, will be the community support. It’s still hard to gauge if they are ready for such music, but it’s funk…it’s soul….it’s boogie. I can’t see why they would not be ready, but that’s not for me to judge. We will just have to promote the show hard, and encourage people that this will be worth their time. If it’s a success, then it will open even more doors than it already has. My hats off to Manuel for having the courage to take a chance. Let’s see if the community will be as brave.
And also, it looks as if the Breakestra show has finally been confirmed. Umm, you’ll know when later on. Not too much later, but let’s focus on one show at a time shall we?
And on the subject of shows, this weekend promises to be big as far as Gilles Peterson goes. I’m looking forward to seeing him once again. There are also several other cats who have traveled to the Bay Area, not necessarily to see Gilles though. But of course, they now want to see his BBC Radio Sessions show now that they are aware of his presence, which is almost God-like for some. But to me, he’s one of us. He’s a DJ with a deep knowledge and a true love for all things deep and soulful. It’s been about a year and a half since our time in Miami, and it’ll be good to see him again. Albeit, I’m guessing a lot of people will want to see him at some point! But that’s just the nature of the beast. He’s performing tomorrow night in Los Angeles at the Vanguard, and then Saturday at the Mezzanine. I’ll be at the Mez.
I’m really looking forward to seeing L.A.’s The Rebirth at the show, too. If you haven’t picked up “This Journey In,” the band’s full-length debut, you really would do well to add it to your collection. Some really generous heapings of soul is in store for listeners from the seven-member band. Seek it out on the fledging Kajmere Sound label.
And Dwele? Well I haven’t got to listen to his album just yet, which is out this week. Hard to talk of him too much, so I will withhold judgment until I see the show.
Other than that, it will be good to see friends, too.
I have more to talk about, but I need to get back to meeting my writing deadline. Stay cool….
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