Invocation means to call upon the spirit of a deity. And on this night the ancestors answered the call. The congregation of those gathered heard angelic voices of sharp high notes float amongst their midst. The fancy footwork of the living danced with the graceful oscillates of motley spirits in perfect harmony that had transitioned from this world to the next many moons ago. The ancestors lived on; they lived on through song and they lived on through dance of the ancestral soul.
DJ BE
From an empty air conditioned room to a swelling mass of sweaty and sexy foot soldiers spreading the joy of dance, Tambor’s second in command, DJ BE played opening act for two full hours. The Diversified Sounds creator sculpted a soundscape that kept the vibe sexy with melodic vocals and spoken word playing over afro-house, deep house and proper house. Tambor’s jovial congregation ate the musical offerings up like fried chicken dinners sold after Sunday morning church service. DJ BE, sporting a green beaded Saint Paddy’s Day necklace was on fire, not a rarity for one of the city’s most prolific house music ambassadors.
Much talent existed in the atmosphere. Song writers and music producers mingled with singers. Musicians and DJs posed for pictures. Dancers showered the abilities of the melody makers with audible praise. Business cards and mobile numbers made the rounds. This was a kind of musician network; a net space reserved for major house music conferences like those held in Miami and Amsterdam. For the up and coming individuals in the house music world, Tambor was the place to be.
The night’s special guests read like a who’s who of house music. Kenny Bobien, Stephanie Cooke, Marlene Perez, Zepherin Saint, DJ Roland Clark, DJ Swift Ruben Vidal and Miranda Nicole were all in the house. This was without the mention of the night’s special headlining guest, Mr. Boddhi Satva.
Boddhi Satva
Mr. Boddhi Satva AKA “Ancestral Soul” bared his humble soul and brought his signature sound to the Tribe of Tambor for his “Invocation” American tour EP release. Born and raised in the Central Africa Republic (C.A.R.) the producer birthed a spiritual awakening on those that had gathered within the four walls of the sanctuary. With mouths open wide and smiles firmly planted between chocolate cheeks the people assembled at the front alter of the DJ stage. A mass of digital appeal shot straight into the air. Digital smartphones, digital point and shoot and DSLR cameras were seen all about recording the onstage spectacle. The room froze in a moment of time. The faint sounds of “Oohs and Ahhs” could be heard if one listened closely to the heart. All stood in eager anticipation for the musical blessings that Boddhi Satva would bestow upon them.
According to the in demand music producer one of ancestral soul’s several meanings includes; when deep house weds Congloese rumba and West African voices become mistresses while urban R&B play occasional girlfriends. The polygamy of sounds is just what Boddhi delivered to Tambor. So let’s dig a little deeper into the house that built Ancestral Soul.
The Offering Recordings founder arose to the occasion with an opening African chant before transitioning into some hardcore deepness. To watch Boddhi DJ provides a sort of amusement, much like watching a charismatic caricature muscle the stage. He whips around in circles, swivels his neck from left to right, and rotates his fist in soft round circles and slow winds to the groove. Honestly, this guy can dance. Boddhi feels the groove and conjures up the excitement with a seductive sultry dance.
Sporting some serious tribal neckwear the minister of music unleashed philharmonic gifts upon the crowd. From the depths of the soul arose singer Lynn Lockamy’s acapella from Timmy Regisford’s, “At The Club” steadily bubbling under an ancestral treatment of sanctified beats. The vocals played background to harmonious synthesizers that caused one house music lover to conclude this was an exclusive goodie. Finally, in mid-song Lynn’s vocals were set free, amplified and allowed to shine as she wailed, “We were cheek to cheek/Sex to sex.” Suddenly, warm synths fell from the heavens and wrapped its embrace around the audible vocals in a luxurious display of bride courtship that concluded in a ceremony of holy matrimony. What a mellifluous marriage between the elements of deep vocal house and ancestral soul. Spoken Word played mistress as Athenai’s vocals off Invocation’s first single; “Here I Am” crept out from a dark corner to get some action. After all it was a Saturday night right? All the while urban R&B outfitters, Fantasia Borino and Dru Hill played girlfriends to the ancestral sound. Fantasia’s ballad, “Free Yourself” and the late 1990’s Dru Hill hit, “Beauty” entered the mix with ancestral freshness. Unfortunately, both songs fell flat as only a few house heads positioned near the speakers were able to decode the audible delivery. As with most edits played before a live audience the volumes of many acapellas ride sotto voce. Kudos for dropping the two cuts but had there been additional vocal clarity the songs would have received greater audience accolades.
Fortunately, executed correctly was an ancestral take on Culoe De Song’s, “I Really Do” with Kenny Bobien’s falsetto floating flawlessly across the DJ platform as the man himself walked onstage and gave Boddhi a huge embrace. Yes folks, this was a family affair. Soon to follow, the powerhouse anthem of the night arrived from Tambor’s next month’s guest, Chicago’s own DJ Terry Hunter with, “Wonderful.” Diva Terisa Griffin wailed with fiery intense that made the room all hot, sweaty and sticky. Shouts of joy resounded; arms flew in the air to praise as heads nodded with approval. The gospel-esque melody arrived right on time causing the people to catch the spirit. The dance came out in everyone-not only from DJ Stan Zeff but too his younger brother of Tribe Records UK Zepherin Saint.
From there the spirituality of Mr. Satva continued its exploration into ancestral rhythms of afro-beat, broken beat and even classic house as a drummer/percussionist took right stage and added the extra excitement of live drumming.
In a surprise and rare move DJ Stan Zeff took to the stage and assumed musical closer. Tambor’s founder rocked the house with the latest interpretation from Pablo Martinez of Jill Scott’s, “Hear My Call” to Black Coffee’s classic global crossover, “Turn Me On” (Raw Artistic Soul) with the “Princess of House” Bucie belting vocal lead. As the crowd dwindled to the usual suspects of hand standers, of couples two-stepping and some of Atlanta’s finest dancers waiting for pictures, the music’s intensity only increased to a climatic end.
Tambor had done it again. The night was one of the most celebrated ever. The air was solidified with a thick presence of love. Each soul that entered the premises felt the grasp of love take hold of the heart. Even with the abundance of special guests, not one displayed airs or the need to sit in VIP. All remained grounded and humbled and yet assumed a cloak of close kinship. This goes to show at a Tambor party love reigns supreme. You can throw a party. As a matter- of-fact you can throw the best party. But without love what do you have? Just another plain old party.
Photography by AJ Dance
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Tags: Atlanta Georgia, Boddhi Satva, deep house music, DJ BE, DJ Stanzeff, house music, Tambor