OPEN AIR AND INTIMATE
Part II
“You, you, you….’ The F sharp and C minor notes dot the soundscape. When the tappings of drums dissipates leaving only emptiness to expand. A sound of sweeping ocean waves builds and builds to a climatic fall that washes away Upper Alabama Street. A refreshing rain of vibe and rhythm drenches the tops of heads. Possessed by unspoken rhythms. All bodies dance. Bent over. Feet stomping the ground. Hands swaying on the brick. The Thakzin and Sun-El Musician produced Afro-banger with sutlry vocals by Thandazo’s “I.C.U” provides the most cinematic scene of dance thus far.
Sniffing the air. Is that OG Kush? Head turn. Is Black Coffee playing this joint? Cause somewhere the bass and thump gives way to progressive offerings. Made By Pete & Zoe Kypri’s “Horizon Red,” the Crosstown Rebels release first approved by Damian Lazarus and then Black Coffee is now LV certified.
Tony Touch’s “Apaga la Luz” (OG Main) heaps fire and brimstone. The graying of hairs, micro braids and snap backs burn in the effervescent glow of the green turned blue laser rotating performance 360 degree light show beaming upward the Sam3 painted figure praying on the Comfort Suite building.
“Don’t act brand new up in here.” Chicago’s Mike Dunn commands. South Africa’s Caiiro’s “Drummotions” (The Mike Dunn Movement Mix) comes to life when the drum and bass drops on the Nulu 10th Anniversary anthem. That makes a white guy showoff: his shuffle, glide and spin across the cobble.
Recall Vega has tricks. He plays doubles. The percussions of one track underneath the organ and bass of another track making a killer Dub of Black Coffee’s “We Dance Again.”
Production trick number two. When removing the layers, the climax, the ebbs, surprise the dancers with an entirely new song. Without warning. Caiiro’s “The Akan” comes at the heads unannounced with bang and force. Louie, please, please. Give the people a heads up before slaying.
Not only do anointed ministers of music bring out the dance In people, but true ministers of music bring out a different dance in experienced dancers. That “Make you create dance steps you can’t repeat.” Janine Lyons speaks on the Josh Milan produced “I Need To Dance” (a cappella). And rightfully so. Bodies are caught up. Dancing as though they have not danced post COVID. After all, “If I could be a beat, I’d be over by the speaker with a percussion and a whole lotta bass,”continues Janine. Where the PK Sound K12p emits a hi-def romp and haunting hum. The vibes ascending with Bacanito’s swirling keys dancing over electro synths. When the claves kicks into existence. Rapturous joy is experienced on Fiona Kraft’s “Deeper Feelings” (Manoo The Dub).
Who sings this stand out banger? A familiar soprano belts at the top of lungs. The lyrics are almost unrecognizable. Something like “awake, awake, awake.” Piano notes trickle down from the heavens, orchestrated string arrangements ascends, live drums, hand claps and a disco drop that was not made in this world. Angelic voices singing “take the shield of faith.” Only the King can cue a heavenly tune as “Awake O Zion” by Elbernita “Twinkie” Clark.
As for trick number three. Do not just play songs, play exclusives. Take an a cappella from the dynamic Lisa Fischer singing, “Angel come to me, let me be…”. Lyrics that serves as a closing love letter from Louie to his tribe. After all, his fans return the favor, their singing as Louie holds his hand up to his ear. The Heatwave cover always sounds regal. After Phil Hamilton’s mesmerizing acoustic guitar solo, the time to boogie arrives. The drums punch into the sound sphere. Mouths scream! Vega and Fischer’s “The Star of A Story” is ten minutes of disco funk. While dancing underneath the stars.
“One more…” the fresh faces of youth shout.
Honestly, after six hours of pleasure, the time has arrived to clean up and peace out.
Instead….
Back inside The Rock the Disco Soundsystem is the most impressive interior ever. Wall to wall coverage of speakers! Woofers! And sub woofer drivers! In various shapes and sizes aligning the control center. Where rotating green, yellow, purple, blue and red boogies to disco beats. There stands Louie. And to his left stands another silhouette. Wearing sparkling oversized eye frames, a vibrant headscarf and varsity jacket, she belts, “I’m on my knees praying to God.” The voice is unmistakably recognizable. The incomparable Barbara Tucker takes over vocal ad libs, singing live, The Jasper Street Company’s “Praying for You.” Stamping her signature riffs all over the classic Hardrive’s “Deep Inside,” and her Vega Soulful Mix produced “Let’s Stay Together.” On Duane Harden’s “Never Stop” the legendary diva sings a message of unity that brings goosebumps and chills. The only way the Brooklyn now Atlantan knows how.
Walking away from the perfectly executed event. Your every penny and more of the entry price was well spent. In order to experience the best, you have to pay to play. Remembering that nothing is free. Sadly, over time, house heads have grown increasingly frugal. Understandably so, this is the era of inflation. But sadly too, has the quality level of most soulful/deep house events grown lazy as of late. The correlation is twofold: You get what you pay for and you get what you don’t pay for. So for sparing no detail and expense, the award for the best one-off party goes to the Captains of Revery.
Looking up. You stare at the twinkling stars. That take your thoughts to the outer realm of possibilities. Thinking. Louie Vega should throw a music festival. The Elements of Life Festival with his live musicians, live singers and guest DJs, the likes of Kenny Dope and Joe Claussell and Anané. Cause after all, who doesn’t want to experience? The feeing you have danced to the Milky Way, crossed the galaxy and discovered the secrets of the universe. Music.
wrds: aj dance
grphcs: aj art
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Tags: #dancefloormagic #housemusicexcellence, afro house music, Atlanta Georgia, BARBARA TUCKER, Captains of Revery, deep house music, elements of life, gospel house music, house music, house music dancing, Kai Alce, Louie Vega, masters at work, NDATL Music, nuyorican soul, soulful house music, Underground Atlanta, vega recordings