HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2005!


I am gonna let the pictures speak for themselves! Houseparties R Us, and anything goes on Halloween Saturday on Capitol Hill! Special thanks to Curly and the Rocket, and SoulStice! Their live sets made the night. Please proceed!

JAZZ CORNER OF THE WORLD PLAYLIST 10/26/05


John Coltrane-My Favorite Things

Lou Donaldson-One Cylinder

Willie Bobo&Bo-Gents-The Thrill Is Gone

Willie Bobo&Bo-Gents-Soul Foo Young

Sergio Mendes&Brasil'66-Witchita Lineman

Bob James-Storm King

Bob James-Nautilus

Bob James-Westchester Lady

Grover Washington Jr-Knucklehead

Grover Washington Jr-Hydra

Wally Richardson-Monday,Monday

Joe Farrell-Upon This Rock

Odell Brown & the Organ-izers-Mas Que Nada

Jimmy Ponder-Do It Baby

Mongo Santamaria-Cloud Nine

Yesterday's New Quintet-Funshine

Yesterday's New Quintet-Heaven Must Be Like This

Horace Silver-Tokyo Blues

Ronnie Laws-Tidal Wave

Charles Rouse-Hopscotch

Phil Woods & his European Rhythm Machine-The Meeting

Donald Byrd-Street Lady

Bobbi Humphrey-Jasper County Man

Eddie Henderson-Kumquat Kids

Gene Harris-Higga Boom

Rueben Wilson-Orange Peel

Jimmy McGriff-The Worm

Blue Mitchell-Good Humor Man

Gerald Wilson-Viva Tirado






QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"No matter how far a person can go, the horizon is still way beyond you."
-Zora Neale Hurston

HALLOWEEN TREATS:
The most entertaining Horror Films
you may have never seen

Sit back, flip on the TV and the DVD player, get the chips an salsa and make sure the beer is cold....we are about to go over this year's picks for Halloween viewing! If you can't find these at your local video store, you need to create a scene until they straighten out their act, or step to the next store for some satisfaction. These are the films that will give you the right frame of mind for celebrating this special time of year!Q-THE WINGED SERPENT- Michael Moriarty. Candy Clark. Richard Roundtree. David Carradine. From that list of names you know this movie is going to at least be interesting. Now check the director credit....that's right, Larry Cohen! The man who brought you "God Told Me To" and "It's Alive!" plunges headlong into Aztec mythology and urban crime and paranoia with a vengance. With particularly intriguing performances from Moriarty and Carradine as the two adversarys trying to wrestle with the notion of how to control what they can scarcely believe exists, this film has a starnge energy as a result of all the personas involved. Cohen's use of actual NYC locations lends it a weird 'real' look as well to offset the bizarre story of the Aztec God Quetzalcoatl being summoned forth in the Big Apple, wreaking havoc on the sinful place! A monster movie full of ideas, claymation effects, great acting and directing and gore, this is one even your snooty 'art film' friends can appreciate(just tell them it was an 'indie' film shot 'guerilla style'). A stone classic.
THE INCREDIBLY STRANGE CREATURES WHO STOPPED LIVING AND BECAME MIXED-UP ZOMBIES - Ahh.....the Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed Up Zombies....what can I say that hasn't already been said? Monsters, crystal balls and fortune tellers, Rock and Roll musical numbers, leggy dancers, murder and mayhem all set at a carnival in LA in the mid 1960s(when things wuz cool)! And that is just the first 15 minutes of the movie!
My high school buddies and I first were turned onto this crazed flick by Lester Bangs' article about the film that was anthologized in the now classic "Psycotic Reactions and Carbeurator Dung". Bangs' take on the film, which he described in hilarious(and pretty accurate) detail was the kind of film we would have made as teenagers who were stuck in the 80s but desperate to taste the schlocky fun and excitement of a 60s horror musical! We were not on drugs, but we craved the dementia and weirdness that a movie like this can induce on even the soberest judge. It was celluloid LSD, seen only by a few in it's initial release, but brought to it's rightful prominence by Bangs and cult film fans in the 90s who took to it's deadly earnest lunacy. Remind me to tell you the story sometime about how I came to meet it's creator and star, one Ray Dennis Steckler(aka Cash Flagg) while living in Las Vegas in the late 90s. It's a trip.
SUSPIRIA - A favorite of mine from the Italian Master of Suspense and Murder, Dario Argento. It was hard for me to choose between this and 'Opera', but even though scads have been written about 'Suspiria', it invites a certain personal relationship with it's viewers that still makes it unique among horror films. Unapologetically stylized and sometimes verging on nonsensical, this film is visceral and dreamlike all at once. It creates in the viewer an uneasiness that never gains it's balance. The plot involves an American ballet student(I love ballet and the setting adds to the creepiness of the film)who arrives in a German Academy where from the moment she arrives in a driving rainstorm, nothing seems the way it ought to be. Of course the place is run by witches, but I am not really giving anything away since it's all in how the story is told that matters, and it unfolds beautifully with great splashes of color, brilliantly brutal murders and all manner of horrific happenings witnessed by the young American(the charming Jessica Harper). Argento pushes the envelope of terror and gore, making you cringe while wondering why it all seems so seductive and alluring. His special gift to the film world, but be prepared to be bedazzled and a bit bedeviled. Not for all tastes, but a truly unique experience.
MAD LOVE - Peter Lorre is creepy. Creepy creepy creepy. I could have picked 'M', I could have picked 'The Beast with Five Fingers'.....but this film is just EXTRA creepy and over-the-top. Here he plays a completely nuts surgeon in love with an actress....oh,and he really enjoys watching executions. This film has been copied so often you can't even count the ways, but this is one of the OG crazy-in-love horror flicks and they come no crazier than Lorre's Dr. Gogol. Ignored by many of modern horror fans who aren't happy unless they are seeing gallons of blood, this film is a study in suspense and mental unravelling. PLEASE do yourself a favor an peep this movie!
DEATHDREAM - George Romero was less of an influence and more of an inspiration for lots of small budget by-any-means-necessary horror films in the 70s, what with the success of the iconic 'Night of the Living Dead' as a 70s drive-in staple and future midnight movie. This is perhaps the best of the films that took Romero's social-conciousness-and-gore success and parlayed it into a great vampire/zombie/Viet Nam Vet Comes Home movie! Based on an updating and riffing on the classic tale "The Monkey's Paw", "Deathdream" takes America's weariness of Viet Nam and plays it into a morality tale ripe with all sorts of mixed messages but with a truly compelling story. Director Alan Ormsby injects imagery of war and turns the soldier who has come back from the dead into a zombie vampire whose need for blood is likened to that of a junkie and their hunger for junk. It's all pretty strong stuff, but this is a really great, smart horror movie.

MAD MONSTER PARTY - To lighten things up a bit, toss this crazed bit of puppet animation into your DVD player and marvel at how something like this just could not be made today! All the usual suspects are here, Dracula, the Mummy, the Wolfman and many assorted weirdies and creatures. This is from the minds of the great humorist and cartoonist Harvey Kurtzman and horror historian Forry Ackerman, so you know its goofy, excited fun. Great dance numbers and novelty tunes('Do the Mummy' is a standout, as is the Ethel Ennis-sung title track) make this a real 60s time capsule too. Just a lot of animagic fun for those of you who always wondered why the 'Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer' people never made a Halloween special: They did, and it's called Mad Monster Party!
DAWN OF THE DEAD - The bomb. The greatest. The best damn horror film of the 70s. Can DotD really even be called a horror film? It trancends the genre it popularized (Zombie films) and has left such an impression it has been re-made in a big budget version and copied and reference by many other productions. George A. Romero's vision is informed by the death of 60s idealism and the onset of 80s excess, with the naivte of the 70s as it's barely discernable glimmer of hope. Certainly one of the bleakest films ever in it's dismal, devastating assessment and indictment of consumer culture, it is also a triumph of self-reliance and perserverance for it's creators. Doomed to an X rating by the MPAA, Romero released it unrated to spectacular results for an indie in the late 70s. Dario Argento, a co-producer, also arranged to re-cut the film and release it his way in Europe. By all means, get the 4-DVD set that collects the Theatrical release, Romero's extended Director cut and Argento's faster-paced, less expositional Euro cut of Dawn. Each has points to recommend them, but I am partial to the director cut with Romero and Tom Savini's excellent commentary. Like John Waters, George Romero's DVD commentaries lift even pedestrian films to unprecedented heights by nature of his wit and attention to detail. As Savini notes over and over on the commentary, "It was like George was making every day Halloween! I loved every minute of it!"

QUOTE OF THE DAY
"It's hard to kill a nun!"
-George A. Romero

JES GREW PARTY PICS!

Since one of the best things about DJing is getting to see people get out the house and have a good time dancing, I thought I would throw up some pictures from this weekend and selected other events that yours truly has been spinning at.
Sorry most of these are from the DJ-booth perspective, but I need to start rollin' deep with a photographer/valet before I can get better 'in-the-crowd' shots! Plus I need a better camera!

This first group is from last Saturday's installment of THE JUMP OFF, and people were indeed gettin down and dirty at Gate 54's basement lounge in Cafe Saint-Ex. It was wall-to-wall dancing until 2:30AM. If ya missed it, don't sleep on the next one, Saturday NOV 19TH!





These pics are from last weekend, we de-camped from DC down to Fatback's hometown of Charleston, South Carolina for the nuptials of Mr & Mrs Fatback. These are from the groom's dinner, which was hosted by Fatback's sister, and was a Low Country Oyster Broil and dance!

Crooked Beat Records' own DJ Neville C was running things on the decks, spinning a host of great jazz, soul and reggae.
Saturday found Fatback looking suave and smelling good for his wedding and reception. He instructed Neville, Secret Chimp and I to just keep the girls dancing and make he and Mrs Fatback (who was resplendent in a chic white gown) proud. We had a ball!




These are pics from the last Jazz Corner of the World I did, whic was fun, because DC Digga arrived to lend support and check my selections....oh, and also to sip a cocktail.

And The Jazz Corner would be missing a lot of flavor if it weren't for the steadfast service and philosophical musings of the one and only Benjy, the bartender to end 'em all. He has truly been a saving grace from the day we started the Jazz Corner to this day. So thanks, B! You are a part of the Jes Grew family!
These are a couple of pics from a backyard BBQ that I have DJ'ed for the last 2 summers running for some good friends of mine who also live just down the street. Check the Cha Cha Slide! Followed by the Electric Slide! or was that the other way around?



This pic is from a wedding reception/cocktail party in Georgetown that I helped DJ Fatback with, back in September. I was strictly relief pitching, but I had a great time keeping the Bossa Nova bossin' and the revelers revelin'. The hosts were super cool folks too, and we hope to another house party for them soon since the boys in blue closed this one down by midnight!
Whew! Well that's a lot of visual stimulation for one night, so I will be back later in the week with my Halloween Horror Treats, so stop back, y'hear?

QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Soul is a way of life. But it is always the hard way."
-Ray Charles

JAZZ CORNER PLAYLIST 10/19/05

Charley Byrd-Live for Life

George Benson-The Changing World

Phyllis Hyman-Be One

Lani Hall-Love Song

Novi Singers-Jeansy

Jimmy Ponder-Jennifer

Monty Alexander-Love & Happiness

Larry Willis-Inner Crisis

Nathan Page-Footprints

Tom Scott & the L.A.Express-Sneakin' In the Back

Nelson Riddle-Volcano's Daughter

Afro Latin Soultet-Get Ready

Richard Evans-Patutu

Soulful Strings-Burning Spear

Baird Hershey & the Year of the Ear-Partings

Gap Mangione-(Groupie)Superstar

Philadelphia-Smilin' Faces Sometimes

Grady Tate-Would You Believe

Dizzy Gillespie-Matrix

Archie Shepp-Attica Blues

Grant Green-Ain't It Funky Now

Charles Earland-Betty Boop

Bobby Forrester-Uncle Funky

Luis Gasca-Street Dude

Mongo Santamaria-The Letter

Ronnie Laws-Always There

Bobbi Humphrey-New York Times

Antonia Carlos Jobim-Fat Cat Strut

Jimmy McGriff-Dig On It

Nina Simone-Sinnerman

Natural Essence-Little Dahoud's Dance






QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does. Love is a battle, love is a war; love is growing up."
-James Baldwin

Coming This Saturday Night! THE JUMP OFF!

I know I have been remiss in my updating as of late, but I am a staff of one here at JesGrew Headquarters, and I have been busy ramping up for a week of crazy DJ nights!

First up, tomorrow night is the monthly Saint-Ex get-together we call THE JUMP OFF!

We'll make you sweat, we'll make you work, but it will be well worth the effort! Come early to enjoy classic club and disco before we heat it up to a boil as the evening wears on into classic and contemporary Hip Hop and Danchall favorites. I will also be screening some wigged out feature films and shorts, so stay tuned for the visual feast.

Then Thursday October 27th is a special Thursday edition of The BREAKDOWN, a night I used to do last year at Wonderland Ballroom on 11th and Kenyon in NW DC.

This will be a fun free for all, with a wide variety of music, from roots reggae to rock and new wave, and of course plenty of hip hop and disco. It will be a fun evening, so clear your calendar and come early, festivities will commence by 9pm(if not a touch earlier).

And upcoming next weekend, Sat Oct 27, is a special invitation only Halloween Costume Ball on Capitol Hill. I will be happy to field requests for the address, just know that it should be off the meathook and I promise a night of dancing pleasure! Check back for details this week!

Also, DC Digga will be back this coming Wednesday Oct 26th, for yet another installment of The JAZZ CORNER of the WORLD at Gate 54/Cafe Saint-EX! 7pm to 10pm EVERY WEDNESDAY, people, the best residency in DC is where you will hear the Jazz they won't play at the other clubs.
And I haven't forgotten about my Halloween Horror Review promise...they are coming soon!
Stay scared!

A TRIBUTE to THELONIOUS SPHERE MONK
This week would have marked Thelonious Monk's 88th birthday(October 10, 1917), so in honor of the man whose developments in Modern Jazz are almost peerless I did about 45 minutes straight of the master. Genius of Modern Music indeed.

JAZZ CORNER OF THE WORLD Playlist for 10/13/05


Lee Morgan - Sneaky Pete
Bennie Green-Walkin' and Talkin'
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers-Drum Thunder Suite Mongo Santamaria-Afro Blue
Freddie Hubbard-Open Sesame
Herbie Nichols-Beyond Recall
Billie Holiday-Come Rain or Come Shine
Thelonious Monk-'Round Midnight(solo piano)
Thelonious Monk-Straight No Chaser
Thelonious Monk-Pannonica
Thelonious Monk-Blue Monk
Thelonious Monk-Rhythym-a-ning
Cannonball Adderley-Straight No Chaser

Tal Farlow-Fascinatin' Rhythym
John Jenkins-From this Moment On
Horace Silver- Hippy
Herbie Hancock-Blind Man, Blind Man
Frank Foster-Little Miss No Nose
Chico Hamilton- The Dealer
Joe Henderson Quintet-Carribean Fire Dance
Mel Brown-African Sweets
Ramsey Lewis-Sweet and Tender You
Mike Longo-Wyyowa
Donald Byrd-The Dude
Maulawi-Street Rap


Rusty Bryant-The Hump Bump
Weldon Irvine-Fat Mouth
Candido-Candido's Funk
Eddie Henderson-Butterfly






Screened for the patron's viewing pleasure was the Val Lewton horror classic of Carribean Voodoo, 'I Walked with a Zombie'


QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"There are no wrong notes."
-Thelonious Monk

Terror at the Drive-In!

While lots of people like to make a fuss about Christmas, Easter or Passover, I myself find that nothing captures the imagination like All Hallow's Eve, or in the parlance of our time, Halloween!
So in honor of the most fun day of the year (a pox on all religious nuts and hardline lefties who have routed Halloween from our nation's classrooms) I have decided to pay tribute to horror films and Halloween memories of my youth all this month. But first I wanted to talk about my fave place to watch horror flicks, and that is the DRIVE-IN THEATRE.


I admit an unfailing and wholly sentimental attachment to the Drive-In theatre. As a young buck, my Dad used to usher the entire family to the movies on a Friday or Saturday night (rarely both, but that was not unheard of) to take in whatever was playing on the enormous outdoor screens. I saw every genre of movie at the Drive-In, but nothing to me was more entertaining under the open sky like a good scary movie. Something about the contrast of being in the great outdoors while crammed into a 1975 Chevy Impala with the whole family watching It's Alive! that leaves a lasting impression on a youngster.

It is those impressions that had me so excited to attend this weekend's horror marathon out at the incredibly cool Bowie Baysox Stadium Drive-In! While the movies are exciting from a cult-film perspective (House on Haunted Hill/Trilogy of Terror/ Frankenstein Must Die!), it is the experience of catching these type of films in their natural habitat that is the real thrill. Our first visit to the Baysox Drive-In was to take in another genre picture that practically was made for drive-ins, Cannonball Run! Alas, the terrible rains that plagued the eastern seabored this week postponed the nights festivities, leaving me only my memories of drive-in terror from years back. I will of course report back if we attend the re-scheduled event. I only hope they bring the hearse out to take pictures with as they promised they would at the last Horror fest!



Of course, there are still a few bonafide, permanent Drive-In Theatres located all over the country, as evidenced by this great website. We found a great one while visiting my family in Wisconsin Dells, WI. A beautiful if somewhat cheesy(a big part of it's charm) resort town in southern WI, it boasts a great drive-in to call it's own in addition to rock formations, water shows and t-shirt shops! It's called the Big Sky Drive in, and is family owned and operated. We caught the fine Kurt Russell showcase 'Sky High' (which was a lot of fun), but fell asleep to the regrettable 'Dukes of Hazard'.
Regardless, it was great to be outdoors in late August basking in all that big screen glory. And the nachos were pretty good too.

Anyway, here are the top 5 movies that I want to see on a Drive-In screen:


1. Vanishing Point (1971)- the greatest car chase-while-hopped-up-on-uppers movie of all time! Plus you get Cleavon Little as Super Soul, the blind soul-radio DJ who is doing on-air commentary all the way. 'Classic' can't even cover it. 'Supreme Entertainment' might do.

2. Two Lane Blacktop (1971)- The 'existential' road movie....lots of racing, lots of open road car chases, the American original Warren Oates as GTO, and barely any dialogue from the two male leads (James Tayor and Dennis Wilson). Odd, fascinating, and the convergence of 70s art film with made-for-the-drive-in exploitation. It was a feat never to be duplicated.

3. Cockfighter (1974)- 3 years later, Monte Hellman returned to the drive-in circuit along with the greatest character actor of his generation(which is actually saying something), Warren Oates. This was based on a Charles Willeford novel of the same name, and was a star vehicle for lifelong sideman Oates. I feel this is easily Oates' finest moment, and I would love to see his weatherbeaten mug up on a huge outdoor screen like God intended. Roger Corman produced this epic about the sport of cockfighting, which he erroneously assumed would be a huge hit in the south(where it was shot using actual cockfighters and real fights). Corman failed to realize just how demonized (though still popular underground) the whole sport was in Southern States, and when it tanked on first release, he recut it, added some car chases and re-released it as 'Born to Kill'! Oh, did I mention that it also stars Harry Dean Stanton? Well, it does.

4. Rock and Roll High School (1979) - When this masterpiece of comedic anarchy and punk rock majesty hit theatres, the American drive-in picture was undoubtedly on the wane. But this would still have all the right elements for a drive-in experience like no other: The Ramones, Clint Howard, high school kids smoking pot and blowing up their school...even Paul Bartel! What more can you ask for while snuggling in the backseat with yer honey? Not much. Except for I forgot all about Principal Togar, the amazing Mary Warnov. "Do your parents know that you're Ramones?!" I would kill for a chance to witness this from my car.

5. Night Of The Living Dead (1968)- George Romero and his fellow filmmakers in Pittsburg would change the history of drive-in horror when they unleased this bleak, terrifying and altogether unique film on audiences all across the country in 1968. To have all that scandalous footage 30 feet high with the top down on the convertible would be close to a religious experience for me, so I hope that my local drive-in chooses to screen this in my lifetime. Gory, creepy and socially relevant. And scary as hell.

Quote of the Day:
"I merely took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues."
-Duke Ellington

DC Digga Grooves Gate 54 at The Jazz Corner
Another great night of the music you simply won't hear at any other club in DC! DC Digga dug deep yet again to deliver a night of funky jazz and sweet sounds to caress DC's collective ear canal. Discerning patrons of U Street Corridor's most happening bistro, Cafe Saint-Ex are treated weekly to this unique combination of sounds at the Jazz Corner of the World! Just take a peep at the set list below for a taste of DC Digga's science.

Playlist for October 5, 2005

Joe Thomas-Mr. Mumbles

3 Pieces-Backed Up Against the Wall

Charles Rouse-In A Funky Way

Charles Rouse-Bitchin'

Lonnie Liston Smith-Expansions

Lonnie Liston Smith-Journey to Love

Sabu Martinez-My Christina

Eddie Palmieri-Condiciones Que Existen

Arthur Verocai-Na Boca Do Sol

Arthur Verocai-Sylvia

Mongo Santamaria-Forked Tongue

Mongo Santamaria-Ricki Tick

Fania All Stars-Alli Andas

Grant Green-Down Here on the Ground

Grover Washington Jr.-Mister Magic

Buddy Fite-El Jefe

Yellow Sunshine-Along the Seashore

Ahmad Jamal-Swahililand

Phil Ranelin- Vibes from the Tribe

Jimmy Owens-What's the Use

RAMP-Everybody Love the Sunshine

Roy Ayers-Everybody Love the Sunshine

Madlib-Montara

Rashaan Roland Kirk-Never Can Say Goodbye

Jimmy McGriff-Space Cadet

Buddy Rich-Big Mac

Willie Colon-Camino Al Barrio

Young Holt Unlimited-Freddie's Dead

Young Holt Unlimited-People Make the World Go Around

Julius Brockington-Do Your Thing


Quote of the Day
"The rest of the world is always one drink behind."
-Dean Martin

***It is with great sadness we acknowledge the passing of one of the great comic minds of the 20th Century, the incomprable Nipsey Russell.

On your way to that big Match Game in the Sky, Nipsy, how about a poem?

"They made a movie about a mermaid
I really don't know why
It's not enough woman to make love to
And too much fish to fry."

Peace go with you, Brother.

Get out your palm pilots! Jes Grew Upcoming events!

While October is just under way, it will be November befor you know it, and I wanted to make sure that everyone has a chance to plan ahead for a couple of fun nights in the near future.

First up is this month's installment of The Jump Off! at Cafe Saint-Ex's Gate 54! This monthly excursion is a sweaty, extended remix of a night featuring the finest in classic club, new and used Hip Hop and some serious Dancehall moves to add that flavorful twist y'all have come to know and love. Add some mind-bending films on the large screens and you have a night to remember (if you can remember anything by the end of the night). Come early and warm up to some classic Soul as we get things moving in the only direction that matters.

Next up is a very special private Halloween party to be thrown at a surprise, undisclosed location on Capital Hill! This will be one for the history books, a full on costume party, lots of happening folks and festivities! Leave a comment with an email address for more info, but beware! This wil be a musical monster mash with a mind-bending array of styles and sounds blissfully cranked up and stewed to perfection. Create that costume, but make sure you wear those dancing shoes!



Also wanna send out a big CONGRATULATIONS to Jes Grew's own DJ Fatback, who will be jumping the broom barefoot in his hometown of Charleston, SC next weekend. He and Mrs Fatback will be employing at least two of the areas funkiest DJs, Crooked Beat's own DJ Neville C and the elusive Secret Chimp! Another affair to remember, before it's even happened! Doesn't the fatbacked one look thrilled?


Quote of the Day
"I passionately hate the idea of being 'with it'. I think an artist has always to be out of step with his time."
-Orson Welles