Mumbo Jumbo

2008-05-23T11:20:00.000-07:00

PLAN YOUR NIGHT OUT AROUND JES GREW DJ NIGHTS!

MERCY! The Soul-Jazz Happy Hour at MARVIN Every Friday 6pm-10pm

JAZZ CORNER OF THE WORLD every Wednesday Night at Cafe Saint-Ex 7pm-10pm!

DJs Birdman and DC Digga also hold down the third Saturday of every month at Cafe Saint-Ex for the long-running dance party THE JUMP-OFF! 10pm-close - Next one is JUNE 21!

Watch this space for more announcements!

2007-12-03T12:49:00.000-08:00

FRIDAY NIGHT JAZZ HAPPY HOUR @ MARVIN 6pm-10pm
The Jes Grew DJs bring their enthusiasm for all things soulful to one of the newest and most talked-about clubs in DC, MARVIN. Friday nights from 6pm-10pm will take on a distinct jazz flavor as DJs Birdman and DCDigga spin the best music you have ever heard in this inviting and sophisticated(but never stuffy) upstairs lounge. MERCY! is the new weekly jazz happy hour that will start your weekend off on the good foot.

Inspired by the genius and incredible work of DC native, Marvin Gaye, MARVIN boasts 3 full bars(including a year-round outdoor patio bar), a Soul Food & Belgian menu, and a clientele who know how to party to great soul and jazz from every era. Jes Grew Productions is proud to be part of a new era of entertainment in the historic U Street Corridor in NW DC. Come down and help make MERCY! a staple of the U Street scene!

MARVIN is located at 2007 14th Street NW, DC, and reservations for the restaurant can be made at 202-797-7171.

And don't forget, Birdman and DCDigga are still cranking out Wednesday Night Happy Hour at Cafe Saint-Ex, every week from 7-10pm! After 4 years, The Jazz Corner remains one of the freshest nights out in DC. Get your jazz fix every wenesday at Saint-Ex, 1847 14th Street, NW DC.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"The secret to life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that you've got it made."

-Groucho Marx

2007-08-15T07:07:00.000-07:00

JAZZ CORNER AT SAINT EX TONIGHT 7pm to 10pm!
First 25 guests tonight will recieve the new Jes Grew Productions mix CD! Don't be late!

The longest running Jazz Happy Hour in DC cannot be stopped! Now entering our fourth summer on the scene, with no end in sight. Stay tuned for a special all night Jazz party celebrating our anniversary!

2006-12-15T12:30:00.000-08:00

CHRISTMAS AT THE JAZZ CORNER DEC 20th!

Come down to Cafe Saint-Ex's Gate 54 Lounge this Wednesday to celebrate the season with a helping of DJ Birdman's patented, homemade Christmas Jazz gravy! Chase it with a bottle of wine from the bar (always 25% off already low prices Wednesdays during the Jazz Corner), or choose from some of the best beer available in DC!

The Jazz Corner Wednesday Night Happy Hour is rapidly approaching it's 3rd year in the mix, and we want to thank everyone at Saint-Ex and all the supporters and friends of the event! This time of year is a great time to reflect on the milestones and achievements of the past year, and 2006 was indeed a great time for the Jes Grew Productions team and we couldn't have done it alone!

So we will see you down at Gate 54 this Wednesday, come prepared to deck some halls, roast some chestnuts, and jingle all the way, baby!

2006-08-27T17:10:00.000-07:00

JAZZ CORNER NOW HAS BOTTLED WINE SPECIALS!
25% off bottled wines downstairs at Gate 54 until 10pm every Wednesday
Ahhhh.....yes, after a looooooooong hiatus Mumbo Jumbo has returned! The realities of a full schedule and the demands of the non-cyber world caught up with me and I slipped on the regular blogging routine. I will try and keep up to the best of my ability (assuming anyone is out there reading!).

Anyway, one thing that has not changed is the Wednesday residency of the Jazz Corner at DC's one and only Cafe Saint-Ex. Going strong after 2 years, this weekly event continues to entertain regulars and new clientel alike with a skillful blend of soulful jazz from the distant past to the present. While some people want to narrow the scope of 'Jazz', the Jazz Corner DJs aim to expand and explode the notion, spinning sides by artists from all over the world and from nearly every major style that Jazz has embraced since it's birth. From hard bop to funky fusion, the Jazz Corner has something for every taste. And to quote Bill Cosby, "You might even learn somthin' before it's done. Hey, Hey, Hey!"

And now even more motivation: All available bottled wines are 25% off during the Jazz Corner, from 7pm til 10pm, only downstairs in Gate 54! So all you wine afficianados (and just plain winos, too) will get even more than you bargained for when swinging thru and hanging out with the Jes Grew crew. DC Digga and DJ Birdman are always available to help finish off any vino that you can't quite handle!

So plot out your schedules and make sure you clear off all the Wednesdays....you have a standing date with the Jazz Corner!

This week your DJ is the magic man himself, Mr DCDigga. He continually scours the metro area (and well beyond) in search of the finest in funky, soulful jazz. Don't miss it!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
"When in doubt, have two guys come through the door with guns."
-Raymond Chandler

2006-04-30T16:23:00.000-07:00

JAZZ CORNER of the WORLD w/DJ Birdman
This Wednesday Night, 4/3/06 Saint-Ex
Looking forward to returning to the gig after an extended break from the Jazz Corner! While I was relaxing and recharging my batteries, thankfully I had my partner in crime, the incredible Mr DC Digga, covering the waterfront AND my nights with his superb mixing skills and even better taste in funky jazz. His incredible enthusiasm for this weekly event have made it a pleasure to keep going! And in case any of you out there are keeping score, we are beginning our THIRD summer season since DJ Fatback and I founded this thing back in the Spring of 2004!

So come out this (and every) Wednesday for your weekly dose of great Jazz and related sounds! DC Digga and I go out and get our hands dirty nearly every day scouring the area for all types of great jazz, and once we do we can't wait to share it with you at the Jazz Corner.

We are also working on a mix to provide for our patrons as well, something a little summery to help you get through from one Wednesday to the next! So when you see us, keep hounding us about it so we get things up and running. It's great to be back!

QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Hollywood is like being nowhere and talking to nobody about nothing. "
-Michelangelo Antonioni

2006-04-26T15:30:00.000-07:00

DJ BIRDMAN IS BACK!
Come on out to a free Grand Opening event this weekend
Hey everyone...I know I have been missing in action this past month! But here's what I am up to this weekend!

From the Community Forklift press release:

Dancing, Deconstruction, and Dollhouses –
Nonprofit aims to reduce waste and make home repair affordable
Contact: Ruthie Mundell, Outreach Director
email: ruthie@CommunityForklift.com
office: 301-985-5180 or cell: 301-904-7579

Home improvement stores use a variety of strategies to attract customers, from how-to clinics to gardening newsletters.

Now, a new store in the DC area is trying some unconventional methods, including singles mixers, a potluck dinner, and information on environmentally-friendly building.

Their grand opening celebration is scheduled for April 27-29, 2006. In addition to the potluck, they are planning a “Blessing of the Green Builders” ceremony, a reggae and R&B dance, a “Dollhouses for Little Treehuggers” workshop, and a trade fair showcasing restoration experts and green tradespeople.

But Community Forklift is not your typical home improvement business. Operated by a nonprofit, the store sells surplus, salvaged, and green building materials at very low prices. Almost everything in the store was once destined for the landfill, from the items for sale to the display racks and checkout desk.

President Jim Schulman explains, "Unfortunately, we get a lot of calls from people who want to buy forklifts! But our name explains our mission: we hope to lift up communities by making repairs more affordable for homeowners, small businesses, and community groups. By collecting donations of new and used items, we can reduce waste and provide building materials very inexpensively to folks who need them.

Construction debris makes up over half of America’s solid waste stream. Contractors and manufacturers need to clear out leftovers and excess inventory, and have to throw away items that are still in the original packaging. During renovations, homeowners often toss out perfectly good appliances, cabinets, wood flooring, or bathroom fixtures.

Community Forklift offers an alternative, making it possible to choose to reuse.

Schulman adds, “The re-use of building materials is a winning situation for everyone involved. Half of our inventory comes from deconstruction, in which a building is taken apart carefully by skilled laborers instead of demolished with heavy machinery. This creates jobs, uses less fossil fuel, and costs the same or less than traditional demolition. Instead of paying dumping fees, businesses and property owners earn tax deductions. The unemployed find careers through job training in the deconstruction industry. The materials can be sold cheaply, so homeowners and small businesses can afford repairs - making neighborhoods cleaner and safer. Nonprofits, artists, and theatre groups can find materials at low prices. Renovators can find antique trim and hardware to preserve historic buildings. And everyone benefits because less virgin material is taken from the ground or the forest.”

Outreach Director Ruthie Mundell says, “Our customers and volunteers are a fun group – they come here to poke around the store, but I think they also like meeting other packrats, treehuggers, and bargain-hunters. The singles volunteer mixers are great – they do a lot of work for us while they’re socializing. Right now, I need to find more volunteers to help with the party at the grand opening, and more businesses to participate in the trade fair. It’s free!”

For more information about the grand opening, donation guidelines, or materials in stock, contact Community Forklift at 301-985-5180. Their website is www.communityforklift.com, and the store is located at 4671 Tanglewood Drive, Edmonston, MD 20681. It is five minutes from the DC line, and easily accessible from the DC Beltway, I-295, Kenilworth Avenue, Route One, or Rhode Island Avenue.

2006-03-10T07:38:00.000-08:00

Rest In Peace GORDON PARKS 1912-2006

QUOTE OF THE DAY
"The subject matter is so much more important than the photographer."
-Gordon Parks

2006-03-06T19:56:00.000-08:00

Jazz Corner This Wed-COME EARLY 6PM!
Come out Wednesday night (3/8/06) for a wonderful night of sonic liberation in the form of the best weekly Jazz night in DC! Jes Grew Productions' DJ Birdman is back this week with a heaping helping of the best jazz you will hear, and as usual it's taking place at the local U Street watering hole and lounge, Cafe Saint-Ex/Gate 54.

This week The Jazz Corner will be starting an hour early, and the good folks of the Cricklewood Massive bring you iPod Night at 9pm, following our program. We will see ya there, oh.... and I promise more blog entries on a regular basis!

Excelsior!

Quote of the Day
"I wanted to legitimize the profession, but nobody gave a f**k. The DJs didn't want health insurance. They just wanted records."
-Bob Casey (from the book "Love Saves The Day:A History of American Dance Music Culture 1970-'79" by Tim Lawrence)

2006-03-06T19:47:00.000-08:00

JAZZ CORNER PLAYLIST - FEBRUARY 22, 2006
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers-Free For All
Chet Baker & Gerry Mulligan-Funhouse
Charles Mingus-No Private Income Blues
Woody Shaw-Obsequious
Sonny Rollins-A Night In Tunisia
Sun Ra-Ankh
Horace Silver-How Long Has This Been Going On
Sonny Clark-Sippin' at Bells
Sergio Mendes-Comin' Home Baby
Latin Jazz Quintet-Rip a Dip
Ramsey Lewis-Spanish Grease
Dorothy Ashby-Bohemia After Dark
Mal Waldron-Status Seeking
Booker Ervin-Mour
Horace Silver-Cape Verdean Blues
Charles Kynard-Professor Soul
Roberta Flack-Compared To What
Milt Jackson-Braddock Breakdown
Eric Kloss-It's Too Late
Doug Carn-Higher Ground
Lou Donaldson-The Catepillar
Tom Scott & The LA Express-Sneakin' In The Back
Gil Scott-Heron-Lady Day and John Coltrane
Donald Byrd-Lansana's Priestess

2006-02-17T18:18:00.000-08:00

The Jump Off! This Saturday! 2/18/06
Come on out this saturday night to this month's installment of The Jump Off! DJ Birdman brings the classic club grooves, dancehall and hip hop from every era to create the kind of party you'll wanna tell your friends about! Come early and get your table, maybe grab a bite to eat upstairs before heading into Gate 54. After 11pm the joint gets jumpin', so come early or look for a line at the door. We'll see ya there!

2006-02-09T04:58:00.000-08:00

DJ BIRDMAN'S JAZZ CORNER PLAYLIST 02/08/06
Gerry Mulligan-Sweet and Lovely
Teddy Charles and Shorty Rodgers-Variations on a Motive by Bud
Sonny Clark-Royal Flush
JFK Quintet-Hominy Grits
Thelonious Monk-Straight, No Chaser
Ray Charles & Milt Jackson-Soul Brothers
Cal Tjader-Soul Sauce
Wes Montgomery-Cariba
Bobby Timmons-Moanin'
Sonny Stitt & Bennie Green-Double Dip
Charles Mingus-Jump Monk
Kenny Burrell-Chuckin'
John Coltrane-Blue Train
Art Blakey-Little Hughie
Andrew Hill-Smokestack
Jackie McClean-Cool Green
Fats Theus-Stone Flower
Dorothy Ashby-Soul Vibration
Jimmy Smith-I'm Gonna Love you Just a Little Bit More Babe
Yusef Lateef-Nubian Lady
Groove Holmes-Onsaya Joy
Cal Tjader-mama Aguela
Milt Jackson-The Metal Melter
Phil Upchurch-Washin' Machine
Gemini Brass-The Time is Right
Blue Mitchell-Funky Walk
Ramsey Lewis-Them Changes
Weldon Irvine-Walk that Walk, Talk that Talk
Gil Scott Heron-The Bottle(live version)
Lonnie Liston Smith-Expansions

QUOTE OF THE DAY
"What we call reality is an agreement that people have arrived at to make life more livable. "
-Louise Nevelson

2006-02-07T14:26:00.000-08:00

JAZZ CORNER THIS WEDNESDAY 2/8/06 7pm

This week I am in a quiet mood, a reflective mood. So no grand promises of good times and grooves and good vibes never before experienced in the history of mankind. Just come down and listen. 'Nuff said. 7pm-10pm, Cafe Saint-Ex, Gate 54 Lounge(downstairs).

Followed by this month's installment of Peppermint w/DJ Milk.

Quote of the Day
"There just isn't any pleasing some people. The trick is to stop trying."
-Robert Mitchum

2006-01-26T20:43:00.000-08:00

DJ Birdman's Jazz Corner Playlist for 01/25/06Les McCann - Bucket 'o Grease
Gigi Gryce and the Jazz Lab Quintet - Wake Up!
Sonny Rollins and the Contemporary Leaders- I Found A New Baby
Charles Mingus - Better Git It In Your Soul
Lee Morgan - Cornbread
John Jenkins, Cliff Jordan & Bobby Timmons - Cliff's Edge
Herbie Nichols - The Third World
Chet Baker - Something For Liza
Lambert, Hendricks & Ross - Gimme That Wine
Les Spann - Q's Dues Blues
Wes Montgomery - Freddie the Freeloader
Big Bill Broonzy - Get Back
Gerald Wilson Orchestra - I Got You (I Feel Good)
Herbie Mann - St. Thomas
Randy Weston Tribute
Fire Down There
Berkshire Blues
Under Blunder
Kucheza Blues
Chessman's Delight
Niger Mambo
Little Niles
African Cookbook
Blues To Africa
Marrakech Blues
Hi Fly
Ifrane
In Memory Of Eddie Gale - Black Rhythym Happening
James Moody - Unchained
Clare Fischer - Bachi
Pharoah Sanders - Gotta Have Freedom
Michael White - Go With The Flow
Ramsey Lewis - Sun Goddess
Johnny Hammond - Los Conquistadores Chocolates
Bobbi Humphrey - Ain't No Sunshine
Herbie Hancock - Watermelon Man
Candido - Candido's Funk

Jazz Corner's Throughout History : December 2005

The illustrious Minneapolis crew: Tom, Bruce and Ce!

This is just an excuse to finally getting around to posting this pic. It is always a pleasure to catch up with Tom and Ce, and Tom always has music knowledge to spare, and an unquenching thirst for something that may have eluded him over the years. I am pleased to say I stumped him with Ada Moore's haunting vocal LP on Debut Records. This does not often happen so I had to make a special mention. Good to see you guys! Come back soon.

Quote of the Day
"Art is either plagiarism or revolution."
-Paul Gauguin

2006-01-25T11:01:00.000-08:00

Randy Weston Tribute Tonite at the Jazz Corner

Tonight The Jazz Corner of the World pays homage to one of the last remaining giants of Modern Jazz, Mr. Randy Weston. In Randy Weston's case, that description is literal as well as historically accurate.
One of the earliest jazz musicians to incorporate African instrumentation as well as African song structure and rhythym, Weston has been a guiding light to American musicians abroad as well, having run a music club in Morocco at one point. In compositions like "Congolese Children" and "African Lady" he fuses African style and imagery into his adventurous songs, often bordering on what would later become Free Jazz, and certainly crafting the foundation of 70s Spiritual Jazz. All the while his compositions retains their grounding in the most ancient rhythyms but are played with a modern master's technique and flair.

His most obvious influences are Art Tatum and Thelonious Monk, but I once heard him talk about how he considered Nat King Cole to be one of the great pianists of the 20th Century, and an abiding influence on his playing. And like Monk(an instructor of his as a young man), Weston has never stopped being adventurous and experimental in his work. He maintains a body of work that he returns to re-craft regularly(also like Monk) but continues to push his ouvre into unexpected corners of the musical sphere as he ages. Wether it's leading large ensembles with the Master Musicians of Morocco, experimenting alongside Pharoah Sanders with ancient Asian motifs and instruments, or crafting elaborate and winning musical portraits of Duke Ellington or Art Tatum, Weston's style and depth often belie his fearless creativity. While other artists return to the safe environment of past successes and easy marketibility, Randy Weston's body of work demonstrates how easily he approaches the unknown, often re-arranging his compositions in new landscapes or creating new ones out of whole cloth, pushing his limitations and challenging his audience to do the same.
His friend and longtime collaborator/arranger, Melba Liston, was cast in a similar mold as Weston. Musically restless and forward moving, but with a master musician's chops and foundation in big band arrangement. Her collaborations with Weston date back to 1959 and span almost 40 years to include Weston's 1998 CD Khepera. Sadly, she passed in 1999, leaving a resume many could only envy, having arranged for greats including Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Mary Lou Williams, Weston and many others, including a stint as an arranger at Motown Records. As a pioneer in the field of female Jazz musicians, she is eclipsed only by the great Mary Lou Williams, and Liston's particular brilliance had a longevity that few musicians of either gender can match. Her collaborations with Randy Weston, in my opinion, are her crowning achievements.

Honoring Randy Weston's 80th birthday as well as his visit to Washington DC this Saturday, January 28th at the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theatre, tonight at The Jazz Corner of the World I will be focusing on the Giant of the Piano from 8pm til at least 9pm. I know, that's a small amount of time to give such an enourmous talent, but it will have to do. Truth be told I tout the greatness and kindness of this great musician whenever someone will listen. I was fortunate enough to have met Mr. Weston shortly after Khepara was released, and a good friend who grew up with him as a member of her family introduced me after a performance. I am forever in her debt for introducing me to his music first, and then to the man at the heart of it. Having seen him in recent years in performance has been a blessing, and I recommend his performances with no reservation. With nothing left to prove, Randy Weston ventures to the heart of African Rhythym and presents his audience with a musical treasure.

QUOTE OF THE DAY
“You have to practice improvisation, let no one kid you about it!”
-Art Tatum

2006-01-20T21:08:00.000-08:00

JES GREW PRODUCTIONS ON THE (WEB) RADIO
Tonight marks the first time for me doing LIVE internet radio. The wiley fellas over at www.beattactics.com have put together an impressive situation over on 9th Street in NW DC. So to follow in the footsteps of such alumnus as HEAT! miser DJ Nitekrawler and my Jazz Corner partner-in-crime DCDigga, I will be bringing the ruckus and my own oddball perspective to the 24 hour worldwide web radio with what I hope will add up to 3 sets.

Set one, will be a Jazz Corner set (rife with goodies spanning several decades of the finest recorded music ever put to wax), set two will be a little visit to Soul Street (a set of various soul and r&b) and finally a tribute to my way of thinking and the spirit of this blog, Mumbo Jumbo...a little bit of everything, and whatever feels good.

So check it out, TONIGHT, January 21, from 6pm to 9pm LIVE at www.beattactics.com

And hey, in case you forgot it's THE JUMP OFF! from 10pm til close and the cozy Gate 54 downstairs at Cafe Saint-Ex! It should be off the proverbial meat rack! Hip Hop, Dancehall, Disco and Club tracks all battle for pole position while the people get busy doing their thing. What that is, well that's up to you.
See ya there!

Quote of the Day
"It is good taste, and good taste alone, that possesses the power to sterilize and is always the first handicap to any creative functioning."
-Salvador Dali

2006-01-18T12:59:00.000-08:00

DCDigga runnin' things TONITE at
THE JAZZ CORNER OF THE WORLD!
The best weekly Jazz Night in DC is in full effect tonight! Come on down from 7pm-10pm at Cafe Saint-Ex's Gate 54 lounge, DCDigga will be carefully calibrating his selections for optimum soul and groove feeling. There is never a cover, and a glance through some old playlists of ours will show you where we are coming from. Trust us, it's a place you wanna go.
Your master of ceremonies for tonite's Jazz Corner, selecting that good stuff

Quote of the Day
“Jazz is music made by and for people who have chosen to feel good in spite of conditions.”-
Johnny Griffin

2006-01-15T20:00:00.000-08:00

UPCOMING JES GREW EVENT: The JUMP OFF!

Coming to Saint-Ex this Saturday, January 21st, is the monthly dance night brought to you by DJ Birdman! Hip Hop of the past & present, Dancehall and classic club hits will keep the most discerning dancers dancing long into the evening. The grooves begin at 10pm, but I always like to pop in a wee bit early and warm up the room with some buttery 70s/80s Soul sides. There is never a cover, but there is almost always a line after 11:30pm, so come early and beat the rush!
How can all this fun be free? And yet it is. Scenes from the last installment of The Jump Off!

If all goes as planned, Jes Grew Productions will be back on www.beattactics.com just before the Jump Off begins. While DCDigga has repped the cause with his stellar funk jazz and Gospel(!) sets on the mighty DC 24-hour internet radio station, I have yet to get my feet wet and deliver a live set or 2. Hopefully this Saturday night will be the date for some jazz, soul and everything-under-the-sun sets. I am hoping to do it late in the afternoon until the early evening, so once we nail down the times I will post it here. That's a bet.

And speaking of DCDigga, he has some surprises up his sleeve that he is currently working on, and as soon as those start shaping up, you'll read about them here first. And don't forget to check him out on this Wednesday night at the weekly Jazz Corner of the World, also at Cafe Saint-Ex's Gate 54 lounge. Tell him Birdman sent ya!

QUOTE OF THE DAY
"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them."
-Bruce Lee

2006-01-12T18:56:00.000-08:00

Birdman's JAZZ CORNER PLAYLIST 01/11/06 The Gary McFarland Orchestra- Reflections In the Park
Herbie Mann-When the Sun Comes Out
Les McCann Ltd.-Someone Stole My Chitlins
Bud Shank-Brasambra
Tal Farlow-I Remember You
Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis-Afro-Jaws
Grant Green-Django Mal Waldron-Loser's Lament
Shorty Rogers Quintet-Prevaliling on the Westerlies
Kenny Dorham-Afrodesia
Charles Mingus-Original Faubus Fables Benny Carter-One Morning In May
Jackie McClean-Moonscape
Thad Jones & Mel Lewis-Mach II
Eddie Jefferson-Things are Getting Better
Jon Hendricks-Saturday Night Fish Fry
Jean-Luc Ponty and George Duke-Cantaloup Island Horace Silver-The Jody Grind
Ramsey Lewis Trio-Bold and Black
Harold Land-Our Home
Blue Mitchell-HNIC
Lionel Hampton-The Price of Jazz
John Patton-Spirit
Ahmad Jamal-Superstitious
Deodato-Do It Again Ramsey Lewis-Serene Funk
The Crusaders-Scratch
Cannonball Adderley-New Orleans Strut
Rahsaan Roland Kirk-What's Going On/Mercy Mercy Me
Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson-Johannesburg
Billy Brooks-Fourty Days

Quote of the Day
“When you’re creating your own shit, man, even the sky ain’t the limit.”
-Miles Davis

2006-01-12T14:09:00.000-08:00

TONIGHT! EARLY JAZZ CORNER 6PM-9PM
Come down early this evening for the Jazz Corner. We start early due to the monthly iPod Night which begins promptly at 9pm. Tonight is hosted by me, DJ Birdman, and I have the usual mix of classic, groovy and funky jazz for your head. So come out to Cafe Saint Ex
a little early tonight and soak up some atmosphere in the historic U Street Corridor, or as we like to call it, the Jazz Corner of the World.

Quote of the Day
“Life is not about finding our limitations, it's about finding our infinity.”
-Herbie Hancock

2006-01-06T19:46:00.000-08:00

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, ALICE COOPER
or How I Relived My Sordid Elementary Years
All Over Again Thanks To The Miracle of DVD
Growing up in the small town of Stevens Point, WI didn't offer much in the way of rock and roll glamour. Subsequently, these out of the way places often breed the real die-hard FANS, kids whose identity is so wrapped up in living vicariously through their musical heros that it borders on the maniacal. Vince Furnier, the son of a preacher and eventually known to the world as Alice Cooper, also grew up removed from the focal points of rock, in the suburban deserts of Arizona. I think he might agree with my assessment of small town rock fandom, after all, he built a phenomenal career on these loyal fans in backwater burgs.

Before the internet, before MTV, before AM completely lost out to FM and when playlists weren't yet created by Clear Channel, the Alice Cooper Band was making it the old fashioned way: by pissing off parents all across America. Having started as a sort of Frank Zappa-endorsed, avant-garde-Stooges-emulation (but with good tunes), they rapidly ascended from their experimental early stages to perfecting the sort of Horror Rock that had small town deacons locking up their daughters. This was when it was still Alice Cooper-the BAND, who just happened to be fronted by Vince's alter ego, Alice Cooper. Alice was allowed to run wild, go as far as he felt was necessary to ensure a good show for the kids. This meant that they would create the first real rock arena SHOW, a huge spectacle for the time that involved showcasing illusions and a real guillotine, as well as characters and Vegas-style lighting. This was even pre-Kiss, and Alice Cooper was at the forefront of making spectacle shock rock not only plausible, but profitable.

It is the early 70s American landscape that the film "Good to See You Again, Alice Cooper" sprung into drive-ins and weekend screening all across this great nation. Not for long, though, despite the group having the #1 tour and LP not long before. The film itself has been a long-known-but-little-seen artifact, not even making it onto VHS officially(now that's obscure, given how many lousy concert films made their way onto home video in the early 80s). And it's not hard to see why on the one hand....practically everything in the film that is NOT concert footage is embarrassing and useless. The loose 'plot' involves the group pissing off a film director, and then the ensuing 'chase'. Lame cannot begin to cover this stupid device. That said, the reason to check this IS the concert footage of prime Alice Cooper Band. And not one minute of that dissapoints.Billion Dollar Babies was the LP that was making it all possible, and of course most of this DVD's performance footage concerns itself with the songs from that classic LP. Of course hits like "Eighteen" and "School's Out" are also present. but it's the tracks from BDB that really are standout performances. Songs like "Elected", "Billion Dollar Babies" and "Raped and Freezin'" are given spirited treatments and the band in particular sound like the well-oiled rawk juggernaut they had no doubt become by this stage. Alice himself is in full character, antagonizing the teens in the audience at the same time as he demands their undying adoration.

In listening to Alice's commentary (another fantastic feature of this DVD as is the 'concert only' feature), he remarks how he was obviously more concerned with overall performance rather than any concentration on his vocals. While this is true in part, the rawness of the vocals lends the proceedings a dangerous air, as though it could all go off the rails at any second. And truth be told, Alice even in live,undoctored footage still qualifies as one of the top ROCK vocalists of all time. His unfettered performance of "Under My Wheels" has to be seen to be believed...it is the kind of schtick that was putting parents into a frenzy and had teenagers at the time throwing all their allowance money at Alice and the boys.

Don't bother watching the whole film unless you enjoy terrible improvised comedy bits involving "funny" German accents and stoner humor(and I use the term 'humor' very lightly). The opening bit with Alice and the band doing a straight version of "The Lady is a Tramp" IS worth it, but after that, set the 'concert only' feature and then watch it again with the commentary on.
Oh and while you are at it, track down the Deluxe Edtion Billion Dollar Babies that Warner Archives put out a few years back. 2 discs, one the original LP remastered, and the bonus disc is the live tracks from the film and some outtakes from the LP sessions.

And so....if you are a fan, or someone who grew up in this era and is curious about the cultural phenomena that was Alice Cooper, check out "Good to See You Again, Alice Cooper". It may not make you wanna get a big snake and sing about necrophillia, but it will have you wondering whatever happened to this kind of wonderful rock and roll show.

Quote of the Day
"The hippies wanted peace and love. We wanted Ferraris, blondes and switchblades."
-Alice Cooper

2006-01-06T08:15:00.000-08:00

DCDigga's JAZZ CORNER PLAYLIST 01/04/06

Miles Davis Suite:
-All The Blues
-Sorcerer
-Water Babies
-Pharoah's Dance John Coltrane Suite:
-Acknowlegdement
-My Favorite Things
-Afro Blue
-Giant Steps Monk Montgomery-I Love You Camille
Andy Bey-Tune Up
Reverberi-Windy,Wendy
Horace Silver-Tokyo Blue
David"Fathead"Newman-Dance of the Honey Bee & the Funky Fly
Herbie Mann-Gagaku & Beyond
Cullen Knight-A'keem
Sonny Phillips-Feel Like the Wind
Merle Saunders-You Can Leave Your Hat On
Lonnie Smith-Move Your Hand
Jeff Lorber-Rain Dance Grant Green Suite:
-Ain't It Funky Now
-Down Here on the Ground
Les McCann Suite:
-Price You Got to Pay to be Free
-What's Going On
-North Carolina

QUOTE of the DAY
"A lie goes around the world while the truth is still putting its boots on."
-Australian Proverb

2006-01-03T16:40:00.000-08:00

It's a NEW YEAR, so let's MAKE IT COUNT

My resolution this year is to make this blog less of a vehicle for strictly self-promotion and infuse it with some more self-expression. That said, self-promotion in some form or another is a cornerstone of the 'blog galaxy', so I also have to be realistic. Hows this: for every announcement of a Jes Grew event, I will attempt at least one other feature on music, film or....something!

One thing I want to plug is my favorite radio personality, TD Mischke on Twin Cities' AM 1500 KSTP. Tommy(TD) has been moved to a new drive-time slot, 5:30-7:30 Central Time, down a few hours from the far more conducive late night spot from 10pm to midnight weekday evenings. The move seems to be more about getting rid of Sean Hannity(always a smart decision) by moving him to the graveyard slot rather than about really promoting Tommy, but in an age when local radio personalities are undervalued or completely ignored and easily fired, I am thrilled that KSTP has shown such faith in the most unconventional talk radio host in the country.For those who are unfamiliar(most everyone reading this, I am sure), TD Mischke has been hosting his own show, the Mischke Broadcast, on KSTP AM1500 for the last 12 years. Before that, he was the sidekick for the 'round mound of sound', the great Don Vogel on the Afternoon Saloon in the early 90s. As a delivery driver/courier in the early 90s, I got addicted to talk radio and AM1500 in particular. These were the days of Bob Yates in the morning (who is starting a podcast by the way), and Turi Ryder in the afternoons. This was also when Garage Logic and Joe Soucheray started their reign as afternoon staples(replacing a fired Turi Ryder-it was inevitable, the Twin Cities were not yet ready for an opinionated, liberal Jewish female host no matter how funny she was). A real Golden Era at KSTP, although one plagued by short-sightedness (Bob Yates was let go several times if I recall correctly, and the eventual hiring of Jesse Ventura as a talk host-ugh). This was the climate that allowed a regular caller to shows become a sidekick as Vogel hired Mischke as a comic foil after Mischke's 'Phantom Caller' gags became a repeat success. The long and the short of it, through many ups, downs(an acrimonious split from Vogel not long before his untimely passing being one) and sideways trevails, Mischke finally managed to snag a block of time that went almost unnoticed, the dreaded 10pm-midnight slot.

To hear Mischke tell it, the station was literally giving ad space away at that timeslot, so he was left alone to develop what has become over the last 12 years, the most imaginative 2 hours in radio. Oh, not always, mind you, but Mischke's ability to welcome failure as heartily as he revels in a perfect bit is what makes the show so addictive. So far, the new time slot has only made Mischke adhere to some stricter time constraints(news,traffic,etc) but has left him the same unrestrained character he was in the late show mode. If anything, he now relishes the ability to cheese off Hannity fans just by being there, otherwise his approach has shown little change. I think he is displaying some more manic energy, but only in context to himself. Shock jock morning zoo crap this ain't and never will be. Thank the Lord.

Anyway....do yourself a big favor and tune in or check out the new podcast being offered by some other fanatic die-hards online! This includes some archived podcasts and the new show at the new time. Also check out Derek Larson's Mischke Madness , the spot that brought me back to the Twin Cities via the internet and has archived many of the most legendary moments and bits in the Mischke Broadcast history so far! I can't guarantee that you will have found a new favorite radio guy, but you will have heard something unique....no question.

QUOTE of the DAY
"It is not light that is needed, but fire."
-Frederick Douglass

2005-12-29T04:48:00.000-08:00

JAZZ CORNER PLAYLIST 12/28/05

Blueberry Hill-Mose Allison
Blowin' The Blues Away-Horace Silver
Moanin'-Wes Montgomery
Ray-El-Elvin Jones
Tendin' To Business-Dave Pike
Workout-Hank Mobley
Blues Melba-Melba Liston
Blue Monk-Abbey Lincoln
Two Bass Hit-Buck Hill
Berkshire Blues-Randy Weston
Annie Laurie-Tiny Grimes
Blow for the Crossing-Billy Butler
A Fickle Sonance-Jackie McClean
Interplay-Bill Evans Quintet w/Freddie Hubbard
Sweet Fire-Rahsaan Roland Kirk
The Man I Love-Ada Moore The Phantom-Duke Pearson
Open Your Eyes, You Can Fly-Ethel Ennis
Guitar Willie-Chico Hamilton
Weird Beard-Joe Alexander
The Boiler-Brother Jack
Village-Blue Mitchell
Up Above the Rock-Ray Bryant
Burning Spear-Kenny Burrell
Time Is Right Now-Gemini Brass
Boo!-Groove Holmes and Ernie Watts Miss Poopie-Jimmy McGriff
Them Changes-Ramsey Lewis
I Don't Nobody To Give Me Nothin'/Cold Sweat-Grant Green
Benign Beginning-LaMont Johnson

2005-12-28T09:18:00.000-08:00

JAZZ CORNER TONITE!

1847 14th Street, corner of 14th and T. FREE, no cover. Jazz from all corners, from classic hard bop to funky and free. Every Wednesday from 7pm-10pm DCDigga and DJ Birdman host the best Jazz Happy Hour in DC!

Quote of the Day
"There's no cure for life."
-Johnny Cash

2005-12-27T07:14:00.000-08:00

LAST JAZZ CORNER.......of 2005
DCDigga and DJ Birdman, your weekly hosts

As the end of one year rolls to a close, the future looms large on the horizon. I just want to take this opportunity to thank all the folks who have made the Jazz Corner such a success and so much fun! All the folks at Saint-Ex who help us bring you this music every week, and who have had so much faith in us, your efforts are truly appreciated! All the people who have come down and had a drink(or 6) and enjoyed the groove and have come back for more, we especially appreciate you!

This week DJ Birdman will be helming the decks for 3 solid hours of groove. And as a special honor, the Jazz Corner welcomes Twin Cities music scribe, radio host and Jazz connoisseur, Mr Tom Surowicz! Tom has been a good friend for many years, and has selflessly shared knowledge, sent LPs, and otherwise encouraged a young Birdman to do his homework and get it right when it comes to delivering quality entertainment. Hopefully we can get the bearded master to at least handpick some numbers while he soaks up the atmosphere of the cozy Gate 54 Lounge at Saint-Ex.

So get on the bus, start your car, or jump on the metro, we start at 7pm sharp, and the jazz pumps till 10pm. After that, you are on yer own, folks!

Quote of the Day
"Art is the ability to tell the truth, especially about oneself."
-Richard Pryor

2005-12-26T17:53:00.000-08:00

JAZZ CORNER PLAYLIST 12/21/05

Roy Ayers-DC City
Roy Ayers-We Live In Brooklyn,Baby
Willie Bobo & Bo-Gents-Thrill Is Gone
Donald Byrd & 125th Street-Fell Like Loving You Today
Jorge Dalto-I've Got You On My Mind
Elizeth Cardoso-Cidade Vizaze
Cullen Knight-Pshalom
Ronnie Laws-If You Knew

Idris Muhammad-Loren's Dance
Idris Muhammad-Power of Soul
Cal Tjader-Temo Teimoso
Bob James Suite:
-Storm King
-Nautilus
-Take Me To The Mardi Gras
Philadelphia-Inner City Blues

Grover Washington,Jr-Knucklehead
Herb Geller-The Power Of A Smile
Norman Connors-Laughter
Sergio Mendes & Brasil'65-Berimbau
Ahmad Jamal-You're Welcome, Stop On By
Stan Kenton-Inner Crisis

Unity-Kitty Bey
Charles Earland-Betty Boop
Eddie Henderson-Inside You
Bobby Forrester-Funky Fly
Mongo Santamaria-Cloud Nine
Buddy Rich-Big Mac
Pucho & the Latin Soul Brothers-Superfly

2005-12-11T12:11:00.000-08:00

UPCOMING JES GREW EVENTS:
WEEK OF DECEMBER 12th, 2005
Your monthly dose of classic club hits, dancehall scorchers and new and classic hip hop comes back around to Cafe Saint-Ex's Gate 54 this coming Saturday night, December 17th! Last one was packed from the front to the back, so come early, grab some dinner(either upstairs in the Cafe OR in the lounge downstairs) and stay and dance all night. It will be a whole month til the next one, so get in on the last Jump Off of the year!
And on this coming Wednesday, drop by Saint-Ex after work for the weekly residence to end 'em all, the Jazz Corner of the World! Be sure that the holiday season will see DJ Birdman mixing some of the finest Christmas songs by the finest Jazz musicians ever recorded with the usual classic performances. Make sure that this week you roll by early, as we start at 6pm and go until 9pm, as the monthly iPod Night starts at 9pm. So come down, and bring your iPod so we can stack the deck with Jazz fans! See ya there!

Quote of the Day
"Dance is vulnerability; it's about giving your love, light, generosity."
-Judith Jamison

2005-12-05T07:42:00.000-08:00

JAZZ CORNER WEDNESDAY w/DCDIGGA

This week's set is another excellent installment from DCDigga, the funky sound architect about town. Fresh from sitting in on Nitekrawler's Friday night funk set on www.beattactics.com, he will keep that flow flowing on Wednesday nite in the Gate 54 lounge, downstairs at famous Cafe Saint-Ex. Stop in and ask Benjy the bartender about the happy hour drink specials while you soak in DCDigga's selections.
Speaking of DJ Nitekrawler, the local funk researcher and skilled DJ will be putting in the work to bring you HEAT! tonight. Yes, that's HEAT!, Nitekrawler's funk-only event, served up the first Tuesday of every month at Gate 54/Saint-Ex. It all jumps off tonite at 10pm, so don't hesitate! Get out of the cold and mingle to some serious funk at HEAT!

QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Whose got time to keep up with the times?"
-Bob Dylan

2005-12-01T19:07:00.000-08:00

Web Radio Spotlight: BEATTACTICS.comOur friends at 24 hour web radio www.beattactics.com have offered the Jes Grew team some on-air sessions from their studio in the heart of Washington DC, and DCDigga enthusiatically accepted their challenge! Spinning until the wee(I mean WEE) hours of the morning this past Monday, his sets will be airing throughout the coming days, so drop in and give the new station a listen! I have been told by the good folks at Beattactics that all the sets will eventually be archived as well for easy access at some point in the near future.

While DCDigga's sets were chock-a-block with the kind of funky, groove oriented jazz he is known for, the main focus on the station so far is hip hop in it's many varieties. The Beattactics team are extremely encouraging of local DJs and crews, so if you are a local DC DJ or a DJ coming through town looking to drop some mixes, visit the site and establish contact. It runs 24-7 and is available world wide thru the miracle of the internets! I will be dropping some soul and jazz sets myself hopefully within the month, so I will keep everyone posted as to when I will be going in live.

Tune in and support local worldwide radio!

2005-12-01T17:39:00.000-08:00

JAZZ CORNER PLAYLIST 11/30/05
Bobby Hutcherson-Montara
Grant Green-Solid
Abbey Lincoln-Painted Lady
JJ Johnson-Turnpike
Hank Mobley-A Slice of the Top
Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington-Duke's Place
Bennie Green-Walkin' and Talkin'
Lee Morgan-Cornbread
Ramsey Lewis-Function at the Junction
Horace Silver-Juicy Lucy
Gerald Wilson Orchestra-Watermelon Man
Herbie Mann w/Johnny Rae's Afro Jazz Septet-St. Thomas
Horace Silver-Psychedelic Sally
Grant Green-It's Your Thing
Wes Montgomery-California Dreamin'
Pat Martino-Sunny
Wilton Felder-Theme from 'Bullit'
Art Farmer-Soulsides
Randy Weston-In Memory Of
Herbie Mann-Today
Ahmad Jamal-Say a Little Prayer
Bobbi Humphrey-I Love Every Little Thing About You
Hilton Felton-Bee Bop Boogie
Ronnie Foster-Back Stabbers
Blue Mitchell-The Message
LaMont Johnson-Benign Beginning
Rusty Bryant-The Hump Bump
The Lightmen Plus One-The PhantomJu-Par Universal Orchestra-Mocha Velvet
Hampton Hawes-Web
Azar Lawrence-Kickin' Back
Bobbi Humphrey-Smiling Faces

Quote of the Day
"You can jail a revolutionary, but you can't jail the revolution."
-Fred Hampton

2005-11-28T06:59:00.000-08:00

JAZZ CORNER TOMORROW!

The weekly event that brings you the finest music from around the world is back again this week, this time with DJ Birdman bringing you your helping of that good stuff.

Things get swinging at 7pm sharp, and continue on til 10pm. All you have to do is peruse our playlists from past weeks to know that we come to have fun, but we are serious as a heart attack when it comes to the music.

So bring a friend, come early and stay late in the best local lounge on 14th Street.
You be glad you did.

2005-11-24T08:53:00.000-08:00

JAZZ CORNER PLAYLIST 11/23/05

Yellow Sunshine-Along the Seashore
Jimmy McGriff-Space Cadet
Doug Lucas-One For You
David Newman-Lovely Avenue
Gary Bartz Ntu Troop Suite:
-Celestial Blues
-Dr. Follows Dance
-People's Dance
-Brtha Baptist
-Winding Roads
-Mother Nature
Ahmad Jamal Suite:
-Nature Boy
-Misdemeanor
-You're Welcome, Stop On By
-Spanish Interlude
John Handy-Hard Work
Oliver Sain-On the Hill
Galt MacDermott-Ripped Open By Metal Explosives
Phoenix Authority-Come Together
Alain Goraguer-LeBracelet
Bill Conti-Packed Up
Billy Brooks-Fourty Days
Brian Bennett-Solstice
Travis Briggs-Tibetian Serenity
Jimmy Gordon-Walter L
Harold McKinney-Freedom Jazz Dance
Jimmy Ponder-While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Cannonball Adderley-Hummin'
Dorothy Ashby-Soul Vibration
Madelaine-Who Is He and What is He to You
Eddie Henderson-Kumquat Kids
Daniel Janim-Fat, Fat Fellow
Johnny Harris-Light My Fire
Mongo Santamaria-Cloud Nine
Eddie Fisher-Jeremiah Puckett

QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Ego has always been a paradox--it is the point from which you see, but it also makes you blind."
-Bill Russell

2005-11-22T18:27:00.000-08:00

IT'S NEXT WEEK ALREADY!
(BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT YOU GOT)

A special Thanksgiving eve presentation of The Jazz Corner of the World with this week's host and musical director, DCDigga!

DCDigga puts in the work to bring you the finest in spiritual vibes and jazzy funk. Tireless in his endeavors and joyful in his presentation, his sets are illuminating, insightful and always deeply deeply funky.

So come out Wednesday night and give thanks early and often!

QUOTE OF THE DAY
“The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where theives and pimps run free and good men die like dogs. There’s also a negative side.”
-Dr. Hunter S. Thompson

2005-11-19T14:30:00.000-08:00

JAZZ CORNER PLAYLIST 11/16/05

Lou Donaldson-South of the Border
Harold Land-The Fox
Cannonball Adderley-P.Bouk
Hank Mobley-A Caddy For Daddy
Elvin Jones-Lady Luck
Lee Morgan-The Stroker

Miles Davis Quintet-So What (Live in Stockholm 1961)
Jazz Crusaders-Doin' That Thing
Music Inc.-Drought
Dizzy Gillespie-Bang!Bang!
Mose Allison-Wild Man on the Loose
Jon Hendricks-I'll Die Happy
Lambert, Hendricks and Ross-Gimme That Wine
Moe Koffman-Canteloupe Island
Rahsaan Roland Kirk-Bright Moments

Sun Ra-Where Pathways Meet
Milt Jackson-The Metal Melter
Roy Ayers-DC City
Eddie Henderson-Kudu
Oscar Peterson-Teenager
Catalyst-Ain't It The Truth
Lightmen Plus One-Blues For Curtis
Bobbie Humphrey-Uno Esta
Ju-Par Universal Orchestra-Flute Salad

Johnny Hammond-Gears
Donald Byrd-Stepping Into Tomorrow
The 3 Pieces-Shortnin' Bread
Buddy Rich Big Band Machine-Yearnin' Learnin'
Lou Donaldson-Sanford and Son Theme

QUOTE OF THE DAY
“So until we see you again, bright moments and keep searchin’ for your mystery note on the universal piano of life. ”
-Rahsaan Roland Kirk
*aquired at this great site

2005-11-15T18:21:00.000-08:00

2005-11-13T18:12:00.000-08:00

JAZZ CORNER PLAYLIST 11/09/05

DCDigga was on decks and stirring up some jazz trouble last Wednesday, and was joined by local Funk researcher and all-around hot DJ, DJ Nitecrawler. Nitecrawler spins regularly at Wonderland Ballroom down the street, and has his own monthly of Funk at Saint-Ex called HEAT. The next hot serving of funk takes place Nov 22, this next Tuesday. Be there.

Wednesday was a fun night, but that's just what we do each and every Wednesday at the Jazz Corner. Always some soulful fun and good company.

THE PLAYLIST 11/09/05

Hugh Masekela-Been Such a Long Time Gone
Sergio Mendes &Brasil '66-Righteous Life
Lani Hall-Love Song
Gene Harris-Koko & Lee
Doug Carn-Higher Ground
Junior Mance-Tin Tin Deo
Michael Franks-Monkey See Monkey Do
Phil Ranelin-Vibes From The Tribe
Bill Conti-Reflections
Joe McDuphrey Experience-Solar Waves
Jimmy Owens-What's the Use
Jack McDuff-Pressure Gauge

Charles Rouse-Hopscotch
Port Authority-PA Blues
Jeff Lorber-Rain Dance
Grant Green-Ain't It Funky Now
Richard Evans-Patutu
Buddy Rich-Big Mac
Philadelphia-Inner City Blues
Tribe-Beneficient

QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Rhythym and Blues is the most fervent sound in pop music. It appeals to kids when they're young and expect a lot out of life. When a person gets older, he understands there's only so much to be gotten out of life. He doesn't have to have excitement all the time."
-Sam Cooke

2005-11-08T20:37:00.000-08:00

John Waters Is a Very Nice Fellow
Despite having a reputation as a filthy degenerate filmmaker(to be fair, he has hardly been filthy since the 70s, and much of his post-Divine work has been chock full of 'family values'), John Waters is a gracious and polite gentleman. My wife and I had the pleasure to meet him briefly at a book signing last night in DC, and it was a real thrill.
Having been a youngster when he was being branded an outlaw artist and underground hero in 70s Baltimore, I came to love Waters' odd sensibility and devastating wit in my college years. It was just what I needed to mentally combat the stifling rigidity of the Christian college I was attending(another long story...let's just say John Waters was not about to get a call to come speak at Bethel College).

HAIRSPRAY was the film that blew Waters up with the mainstream audiences, and I was lucky enough to have seen it in the theatres when it was released. Once that opened my eyes, I rented his back catalog available at my local video store....MONDO TRASHO, MULTIPLE MANIACS, PINK FLAMINGOS.

CRYBABY and SERIAL MOM were still up around the bend, further exploring his taste for movie musicals(which would eventually culminate in Hairspray evolving into a HUGE Broadway hit) and everyday life co-existing with an obsession with serial killers and conspicuous criminality. It was during this time in the late 80s I discovered my two favorite John Waters' films, POLYESTER and the supreme marriage of compelling narrative, high concept and gutter trash, FEMALE TROUBLE.
FEMALE TROUBLE is in my humble opinion, Waters' magnum opus, his statement of purpose. I know that a lot of people credit PINK FLAMINGOS as the flick that propelled him beyond Baltimore into the World's Arbitor of Bad Taste, but I would argue that it's the most satisfying and incisive writing of his pre-Hairspray career. Funny, tragic, horrible,sexy, repulsive, irresponsible,hysterical...this film has it ALL. Divine is finally captured portraying an actual character, even if it is all her on a magnificent scale. The not-at-all cautionary tale of Dawn Davenport, juvie deliquent turned model/killer/deathrow inmate is really something one has to experience in all it's glory to fully appreciate John Waters' ouvre. Back in print in a great mid-priced DVD, replete with Waters' excellent commentary.
Also available again on DVD is POLYESTER. This is Divine's most subtle performance, and really shows that she had so much more to offer than a drag act. This film is the story of Francine Fishpaw, a suburban MD housewife pushed to the edge, a modern-day Job, attacked on all sides by the likes of her porno-theatre-owner husband and her sadistic and cruel mother. The film features great performances by Waters' regulars Edith Massey and Mink Stole, but the most odd turn is by ex-teen idol and matinee idol, Tab Hunter. Hunter chews scenery like the old pro that he is, and his scenes with Divine are a crack-up. The film uses the theatre gimmick, Odorama, which is really just a tip-of-the-hat to director William Castle and utilizes a series of scratch-n-sniffs on a card to coincide with numbers flashed on the screen. In the commentary Waters' describes watching a whole theatre full of people knowingly scratch and sniff what they KNEW was going to smell like a fart. Again, the commentary is a must-listen. Also, look for Stiv Bators of the Dead Boys as Francine's slutty daughter's deliquent boyfriend.

QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Parents should worry if their children haven't been arrested by the time they turn sixteen."
-John Waters

2005-11-08T20:27:00.000-08:00

TONIGHT! DCDigga spins @ Saint-Ex JAZZ CORNER is from 6PM to 9PM TONIGHT

To quote the man himself, DCDigga:

"So I have to annouce the funkiest and most spiritually uplifting set of sounds you will hear anywhere in the city. Expect plenty of raw spiritual and funky jazz sounds, so even the biggest record baller can stand up in the crowd and yell prowdly "shit yeah!"

Can't put it any clearer than that. Go ahead.

See ya there, corner of 14th and T in NW DC, about 2 blocks from the U Street Metro Station. In the basement lounge of Saint-Ex, Gate 54 .

2005-11-07T20:37:00.000-08:00

COZMIK CLINTON
and other Flea Market Finds

I think that some things just speak for themselves, and don't require a lot of editorializing. It is in this spirit that I am completing this week's first update. I submit, for your consideration, several items I have found over the last few years at DC area Flea markets.

This, found on this past Halloween weekend, is interesting to say the least. An original mixed-media portrait of President Bill Clinton, artist unknown. I have titled it "Cozmik Clinton".
Next we have a great carnival remnant from the 80s, the requisite framed Led Zep black light glitter print. NOT FOR SALE so don't even ask.Finally, my 'Bowler's Decanter', a bowling ball with a bar built in. Swanky, and one of my faves.

QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Everything that IS was once IMAGINED."
-Ted Joans

2005-11-03T17:12:00.000-08:00

JAZZ CORNER OF THE WORLD:
The Day After Update

The Selector, just trying to take care of some business.
The patrons, just trying to get their drink on.

A big thanks to everyone who came out to relax and have a good time last night.

Make sure you mark your calendars with a big highlighter on every Wednesday of every month, "THE JAZZ CORNER-Saint-Ex 7pm-AWESOME!!!!!", it helps you to remember where you need to be on a weekly basis.
We'll see ya next week!

THE PLAYLIST: 11/2/5

Nat Adderley and the Big Sax Section-The Old Country
Keno Duke/Contemporaries-Sense of Values
Johnny Coles-Jano
Sonny Clark-Sonny's Crib
Clare Fischer-Artifact
Booker Little-Gichi
John Coltrane-Blues To Elvin
Hank Mobley-Smokin'

Freddie Hubbard-Backlash
Horace Silver-Mexican Hip Dance
Latin Jazz Quintet-Rip a Dip
Bud Shank-Samba de Orpheu
Kenny Dorham-Sao Paulo
Dizzy Gillespie and the Big Band-The Swords
Odell Brown and the Organ-izers-Raising The Roof
Jackie McLean-Fidel

Lou Donaldson-Funky Mama
Elvin Jones-Mr. Jones
John Patton-Barefootin'
Grant Green-Ain't It Funky Now
Monette Sudler-Congo
Gabor Szabo-Sombrero Sam
Billy Brooks-Fourty Days
Crusaders-Stomp and Buck Dance
Quincy Jones-Hikky-Burr

Cannonball Adderley-Walk Tall/Mercy, Mercy, Mercy
Gil Scott-Heron-The Bottle
Gary Bartz-Celestial Blues
Alphonse Mouzon-Funky Snake Foot
Weldon Irvine-Love Your Brother
Jiro Inagaki and Chuck Rainey Rhythym Section-UFO

In Memoriam / Rest In Power
It is with great sorrow that we acknowledge the passing of one of America's Great Elders, the indomitable Rosa Parks. There is nothing that I can say to do justice to this woman's achievements, so I will offer up this quote in her own words:

"When I made that decision, I knew that I had the strength of my ancestors with me."

And now your strength is with all of us. God Bless.
Rosa Parks 1913-2005

2005-11-01T14:35:00.000-08:00

WEDNESDAY 11/02: JAZZ CORNER at SAINT EX

You know how the Jes Grew Production family does it, but you may not know why we do it. One word : LOVE. We LOVE this music and we love you, the folks who come out and support us and support Jazz music on the regular.

So in that spirit I want to put out a call to all the folks who have supported us over the past year and more, as well as those of you who may never have had opportunity to join us down in the luxurious surroundings of Cafe Saint-Ex's Gate 54 lounge. We are really pushing to drive up our Wednesday Happy Hour attendance from 7pm to 10pm every week in the hopes that more folks will ultimately mean better drink specials and maybe even some great door prizes and events in the future. So all this month of November I want to put out a special invitation to everyone! Let the club know how much you appreciate Jazz music there every Wednesday, come vote with your dollars!

Cafe Saint-Ex/Gate 54 is located at 1847 14th Street (Corner of 14th and T NW DC). Come early for the best parking. And check the website for other events and directions.

So stop in, stay awhile, and don't forget to say hello to your Jes Grew DJ! It will be a pleasure to see you.

QUOTE OF THE DAY
"After the dance, the drums are heavy."
-Haitian Proverb

2005-10-30T20:12:00.000-08:00

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!

2005-10-29T06:43:00.000-07:00

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

2005-10-25T20:01:00.000-07:00

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

2005-10-23T20:38:00.000-07:00

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 Record s' 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

2005-10-21T19:09:00.000-07:00

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

2005-10-21T14:28:00.000-07:00

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!

2005-10-13T12:48:00.000-07:00

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

2005-10-06T14:58:00.000-07:00

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

2005-10-06T13:35:00.000-07:00

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.

2005-10-02T19:01:00.000-07:00

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

2005-09-29T06:59:00.000-07:00

Playlist for 9/28/05

Thelonious Monk & John Coltrane- Monk's Mood
Randy Weston- Berkshire Blues
Sonny Rollins- Brownskin Girl
Bennie Green- The Shouter
Clare Fischer- Nigerian Walk
The 3 Sounds- Georgia
Thelonious Monk & John Coltrane- Blue Monk
Eddie Lockjaw Davis- Afro-Jaws
Freddie Hubbard- Pensativa
Johnny Lytle Trio- Blue Vibes
Thelonious Monk & Jhn Coltrane- Nutty
Blue Mitchell- I Should Care
Allen Houser Quintet featuring Buck Hill- No Samba
Composers Workshop Ensemble- Sub-Structure

Johnny Coles- Hobo Joe
Roland Kirk-Serenade to a Cuckoo
Richard Davis-Dealin'
Gene Ammons- Son of a Preacher Man
Blue Mitchell- Where It's At
LaMont Johnson- Libra's Longing
Bobbie Humphrey- Don't Knock My Funk
Candido- Succulent
Marlena Shaw- Feel Like Makin' Love
Frank Strazzeri- Rush Hour

Byron Morris & Unity-Panamanian Aire
Mike Longo-Wyyowa
Weldon Irvine- Fat Mouth
Music Inc. - Abscretions
Dizzy Gillespie featuring Lalo Schifrin- Incantation
Donald Byrd- Places and Spaces

Also screened the classic Karloff film
The Mask of Fu Manchu to kick off the Halloween Season!
Will this ever come out on DVD?

Quote of the Day
When you feel in your gut what you are and then dynamically pursue it - don't back down and don't give up- then you're going to mystify a lot of folks.
-Bob Dylan

2005-09-27T20:01:00.000-07:00

The Jazz Corner : Wednesday September 28
Come on down Wednesday to Cafe Saint-Ex's Gate 54 lounge to the only Jazz DJ night of it's kind in DC. I promise good music by the trunkful. Artists like the great underrated piano giant Randy Weston will be featured, along with Charles Tolliver's Music Inc., Bobbie Humphrey, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Bennie Green, and many many more. So come early, stay late and make sure you tip Benji the Bartender, who is only one of the reasons the night is such a success!

I may even break with our vinyl tradition and drop a special selection or two from a very important new release on Blue Note Records. Recently discovered Voice of America Radio recordings of Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane playing together at Carnegie Hall in 1957. The quality sounds great, and the backstory is truly amazing, as it was unearthed right here in DC at the Library of Congress by accident last year. It came out today, so I will be picking it up in time for tomorrow's Jazz Corner. I am really excited for this release!

Check back on Thursday for a full set list.

Quote of the Day
"Originality is nothing more than judicious plagiarism."
-Voltaire

2005-09-26T14:26:00.000-07:00

On Any Given Saturday
So I thought I might take you on a little excursion documenting what my Saturday mornings have been about lately.
While the rest of the world sleeps in after a night of drinking and dancing (or TV and homework for that matter), record collectors are scouring the city streets all over the world looking for the big score. More often than not, it's the little scores that add up over time, but it's the dream of a collection of rare records in one spot that motivates most of us.
Saturday morning is when the Flea markets open early and garage sales start setting up to rid basements of useless junk. Thankfully, this junk often includes records, as fewer and fewer people even have working turnatbles to play them on. Unfortunately, lots of folks have left their LPs in damp basements, stored incorrectly and sloppily, so finding large quantities of LPs that are not completely worthless also gets harder and harder. Here on the streets of DC, there is always the possibility of running into nice veins of jazz, R&B, and Hip Hop. And on any given Saturday AM, that's what we are combing the streets for.
There is competition on the streets early and you have to have your game together, or these guys will scoop you with no remorse. On the other hand, once you get on a first name or face recognition basis with folks, most of these cats are pretty nice and helpful and will often look out for you as well as hip you to things you wouldn't otherwise be aware of. Just learn your digging ettiquette and the flea market is a kind and generous place. In other words, don't be a goofus, be gallant.
The picture below is not what most flea market stashes in DC look like. Many resemble a hastily unpacked yard sale or worse, and when you add the elements to the mix you have potential for some true adventure stories. On this day it actually began to rain for a bit, and that's always fun.
Some dudes like Harry(on the left) swear by their portable turntables to assist them from buying stuff that isn't worth the wax it's pressed on, or for finding those secret-squirrel drum breaks. Me, I play it fast and loose, figure that I am just wasting my time listening there instead of looking for another vendor to dig thru. It's a matter of preference, and with or without a portable, Harry has the golden touch. Every collector I know in town has a story of getting scooped by his magic touch.
Lots of gems are found everyday in every city in the world, and that's what keeps us going. From the hand-painted covers of Mingering Mike to original blaxploitation soundtracks, the promise of a great score encourages persistence and rewards patience. I may not be back out THIS Saturday, but you can bet I will be back.

Quote of the Day
"We probably wouldn't worry what other people thought of us if we knew how seldom they do."
-Olin Miller

2005-09-25T17:09:00.000-07:00

IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT
Operation: Ceasefire draws thousands to the Mall

The day was overcast but the vibe was anything but dreary as thousands of people from the DC area and all over the country came for the anti-war march and concert on the mall. The line-up was repping primarily underground acts, as assembled by local svengalis Thievery Corporation, who also performed with a full ensemble later in the evening. The entire event was hosted by ex-Dead Kennedy's frontman(and my high school hero) Jello Biafra. His schtick was actually pretty thoughtful and entertaining, not solely embarrassing as I had feared.

The crowd was very diverse, age-wise, and the old and young mingled freely. The music line-up could have benefitted from more populist Hip Hop or R&B acts, but thematically it seemed to be all about the margins and the underground. A Go Go band like Rare Essence, Junkyard or Chuck Brown himself would have really added to a scene like this.

My gang of friends and I arrived later in the afternoon, just as Al Sharpton took to the stage. Just in time to catch The BellRays set. They rocked the mall to it's foundations and were then joined by MC5 guitarist Brother Wayne Kramer. Wayne joined the full BellRay line-up for a fantastic rendition of "Human Being Lawnmower", the 5's anti-Vietnam opus and then was backed by the band for some of his solo songs, the best being a spoken word aggro-noise feature called "Bomb Day".

Peace activist(and punching-bag-for-right-wing-radio-hosts) Cindy Sheehan gave a short presentation, and was then presented with a Star Quilt by representatives of the Lakota Nation. The short ceremony, according to the Lakota elders, was a tribute to Sheehan's courage at having taken the position she has taken despite severe pressure and opposition. having heard her on TV and radio previously, I always wish Sheehan was a better public speaker(I think she would take less heat if she didn't sound quite so shaky and strained). But seeing her up close and personal made me realize that she is just an average person who has assumed a pretty huge yoke of responsibility and expectations, and given that, she carries it pretty well.

Steve Earle started out with a rousing number called "F--- the FCC" complete with an uncensored spelling lesson, but faded a bit into some pretty slow numbers before closing with his classic "Jerusalem".

Washington Wizard Etan Thomas gave the most moving presentation that I saw, a poetic sermon of sorts describing a tour he would take the administration on through the 'hood in DC. Thomas is a tremendous poet, and a real throwback to the days when pro athletes used their platform to address social issues and not just stack their endorsement cash. I had first seen Thomas during a DC HS poetry slam hosted by Nikki Giovanni a few years ago, and was impressed with his committment to the arts and DC kids, but his performance today just enhanced and solidified that perception. The real deal.

The Coup were the last group we stayed for in their entirety, and they were pretty hot. I have only had limited exposure to their politically-savvy rap, but I have always dug their single "5,000,000 ways to Kill a CEO" from a few years back, so I was jazzed that they played that track early in the set. They energized the crowd and got things flowing. A surprisingly energetic performance from these Oakland mainstays who have been bringing it since the days of "Kill My Landlord" and "Genocide and Juice", the Coup really worked the DC crowd.

Although we left after the Coup, we did come back later and caught most of Thievery Corp's reggae-soaked set. Having never seen them live, I was expecting something altogether more sedate than what was delivered. Pretty impressive.

Once they finished up, us old men ambled off into the DC night, illuminated by the Washington Monument, content to leave the kids to their generation's punk rock heroes.

Quote of the Day
"You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you mad."
-Aldous Huxley

2005-09-23T09:02:00.000-07:00

It's Not Where You're From, It's Where You're At

I thought I would use the space today to give y'all a brief walking tour of my neighborhood, the beautiful Mt. Rainier, MD. Largely unknown(by name at least) by many in the DC Metro Area, it sits just shy of the NE dividing line of MD and DC known as Eastern Ave. You can find out all kinds of civic details at the city's website.
This is a long shot of My Block, not too far off from the center of town.

The center of town is essentially a traffic circle and doesn't really constitute the actual center of town. But as a point of reference, it's handy. Sitting right on the edge of the traffic circle is a new Artspace building that is residence to some 30-40 artists I believe, most new to the area.

A view from across the street.

Mt. Rainier has long been an artist's community, putting much of the area's energy and resources into arts programs and businesses. Joes's Movement Emporium has been at the forefront, below is a shot walking by their storefront.

Across the street from Joe's is the best Antique shop in Mt Rainier, my buddy Stuart's Mt Rainier Antiques. I'm not trying to blow up a secret spot, but I have found some really good records there on occasion. But don't think about stepping into my 'hood for records, cuz I have that place on LOCK. But do stop in and buy some antiques from my man Stuart if you are in the area.

Next we have the West Indian homemade ice cream parlor that just opened this year! They make great ice cream (Rum Raisin and Soursop are my wife's faves, I prefer the Guava, but they have the usual flavors too) and you can even get a tasty beef patty for cheap. Highly recommended. Love the plastic palm tree the most.

Finally I have reached my destination, The Glut. the Glut is a Mt Rainier institution and has been around for years. I go there on the regular mostly for my fair trade coffee (always French Roast ground extra fine). They also have great vegetables, organic everything(except meat, I don't think they deal in meat) and really cheap good bagels and nut mixes. The economic lynchpin of the community, this place brings together people of incredibly diverse backgrounds under it's roof, and has been a stabilizing factor in the city since it's inception. Support the Glut!

Heading back home, I just love this block. This is just the type of block that will never be constructed again in America, and it's a shame. It's beautiful. Now dominated by Latino-owned shops, it is finally lively again, after mostly sitting empty for a while. Glad to see it coming back.

Another angle on the Traffic Circle.

The roadway into DC. Rhode Island Avenue, once dominated by liquor stores, those days have passed. Now I just hope some viable locally owned business can work some magic and get the life back onto this stretch. To the left is our award-winning Cop Shop (aka Police Station).

From a backward glance, this is the Latin American Folk Institute, another great place that I don't know nearly enough about. Seriously, they offer music and dance classes (sometimes in conjuction with Joe's Movement Emporium) and provide a superb setting for them with this building. It's places like this that make my neighborhood more than the run of the mill strip-mall towns that surround us and why I love it here.

So that was my trip to get some coffee. Now, can we get a damn cofee shop in this burg?

Quote of the Day:
"A great many people think they are thinking,
when they are merely rearranging their prejudices."
-William James

Don't forget we'll see y'all out the mall Saturday for Operation:Ceasefire

2005-09-22T13:04:00.000-07:00

Operation: CeaseFire Concert storms the Mall this Saturday

This Saturday at the Washington Monument marks the response of the grassroots anti-war effort in America to make a significant showing in the nations capitol. Operation Ceasefire features a wide variety of artists, from rap group The Coup to gospel mainstays Sweet Honey In The Rock. Local DJ collective/exotic electronica collective Thievery Corporation are responsible for bringing this ecclectic happening together, and will also be performing later into the evening .

My personal favorites in the line-up include controversial country troubador Steve Earle, and the always reliable, always killer Brother Wayne Kramer of the legendary MC5.
Brother Wayne will be performing with like-minded rockers the Bellrays(whose Lisa Ray has been serving as a lead voice in the re-constituted MC5 in recent months), who at least seem to have the pedigree to back what I hope will be an incendiary set of MC5 and solo Wayne numbers.

Check out the Operation:Ceasefire site for further info and performance times(yeah, right) .

Oh yeah...and it's FREE. Let's hope for a nice afternoon, hopefully arrest-free!

DCDigga comes thru with a Jazz Corner playlist!

As promised...now, don'tcha wish you woulda gone? Damn.

Roy Ayers-D.C. City
Roy Ayers-Everybody Loves the Sunshine
RAMP-Everybody Loves the Sunshine
RAMP-Daylight
Common-Pop's RapIII(inst.)
Lonnie Liston Smith-Journey to Love
Sonny Stitt-Goin' to D.C.
Lonnie Liston Smith-Devika
Yusef Lateef-Nubian Lady
Gary Burton-Las Vegas Tango
Arthur Verocai-Sylvia
Astrud Gilberto-Take it Easy my Brother Charlie
Elizeth Cardoso-Cidade Vazia
Ed Motta-Linduria
Jorge Dalto-I've got you on my Mind
Phil Ranelin-Vibes from the Tribe
Stan Kenton-Inner Crisis
Rashaan Roland Kirk-Never Can Say Goodbye
Sabu Martinez-My Christina
Fania All Stars-Alli Andas
Buddy Rich-Big Mac
Willie Colon-Camino Al Barrio
Grant Green-Down Here on the Ground
Gary Bartz Ntu Troop-Celestial Blues
Eddie Harris-Lovely is the Day
Harold Alexander-Sunshine Man
Chuck Mangione-High Heeled Sneakers
Johnny Lytle-Agapee/Polemos
Eddie Henderson-Inside You
Three Pieces-Concrete Jungle
Herbie Hancock-Oh,Oh, Here we Come
Idris Muhammad-Don't Knock My Love
Wille Bobo-La Descrada Del Bobo
Julius Brockington-Do your Thing
Grover Washington Jr.-Knucklehead

2005-09-21T14:08:00.000-07:00

Jazz Corner Tonight! DC Digga in full effect

Tonight is the night! DC Digga combs the metro area and beyond for a unique brand of jazz which he brings to Gate 54 at Cafe Saint-Ex every other Wednesday. Spiritual jazz on the funky side of the music expertly selected and always exciting, DC Digga sculpts the sound into an experience that is one of a kind. Music starts at 7pm and goes until 10pm, and as always there is NO cover charge. Now where can you have this much fun for free?

Check back for a playlist from tonight's set.

2005-09-20T10:49:00.000-07:00

The Jump Off! lands at Gate 54

This past Friday was the most recent installment of the Jump Off!, with a host of people enjoying a heady brew of classic disco anthems, dancehall and current club bangers! Thougt I'd provide some DJ-booth-POV pics for your enjoyment.

Guest DJ Fatback holds down the decks, killing the crowd with his Doobie Bros remix!

Take note of local legend and Jazz Corner DJ DCDigga (in red) setting the pace on the dancefloor.

Fatback (who some may remember was a founding party in the Jazz Corner and general nuisance DJ about town before an abrupt move to Richmond VA) was in town to spin a private function in DC, so he graciously sat in at the Jump Off! for an energetic back-and-forth that thankfully lasted most of the evening. On Saturday, we trundled off to Georgetown to DJ the event, and it was a blast. A contemplative cocktail hour(or 3) of classic jazz and much samba led into Fatback's patented ecclectic dance set. The surroundings were beautiful, the guests well oiled, and a good time was had by all.

2005-09-19T20:07:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Mumbo Jumbo, home of the Jazz Corner of the World!

The Jazz Corner has been operating as a weekly residency at Cafe Saint Ex in the historic U Street Corridor of Washington DC, birthplace of the great Duke Ellington.

Begiining at 7pm every Wednesday evening in the downstairs lounge at Cafe Saint Ex known as Gate 54, the JesGrew DJs play a wide variety of jazz, potentially playing everything from Django Reinhardt or Cab Calloway in the 1930s to funky fusion from the 70s and all points in between! I will be attempting to post setlists, photos, assorted announcements and news items pertaining to all the JesGrew activities.

Nearest and dearest to my heart is The Jazz Corner of the World, of course, but I will be keeping the world informed of our monthly dance nights as well, aptly titled, The Jump Off!

So stay tuned, check back for playlists, some record and movie reviews and to see who might turn up as our esteemed guest DJs on occasion!