AJ Dance Legacy

FABIO GENITO VERSION II

The Party

This spring night belonged to the dancers.

Much can be said about Italy’s Fabio Genito’s spirited set that delivered robust afro-beat/latin/90’s house/current deep-house/funk/soul and disco flavors of heated beats marinated on a fruit-based laptop connected to a smoking mixing deck. After a rousing opener by Tambor’s founder and resident, Stan Zeff, the packed room of bodies was ripe with anticipation for some Italian delight.… Continue

THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE

Love it or hate it. It can’t be denied the Europeans have their own style and definition of DeeJaying. Actually, it’s this distinct flair of recognizing overseas talent that Tambor needs to embrace its burgeoning global presence. Also, worth noting, the beat of the drum travels not only domestically but globally. It is this rhythmic journey that treks across all lands, seas, cultures and villages delivering the language of music.… Continue

BAKE A CAKE

The Dutch may not be famous for eloquent cuisine or musically inclined palettes as they are for wooden shoes or tulips but Tommy Largo showed BPM Sessions how to musically “bake a cake” from scratch.

DJ/producer Tommy Largo hails from one of Netherlands larger municipalities Arnhem, known for its greenery and parks. Arnhem’s population of over 700,000 situated between the Veluwe nature reserve and the Rhine river, located in the eastern region of the country may not be known for jackin’ house music but a quarter of the city’s population belongs to the creative arts industry, fit for the sounds of funky house to jack form Tommy Largo’s stereo system.… Continue

MASTERPIECE

What does a master create when he/she weaves the magnetic fabric of the human voice coupled with unparalleled musicianship that exhibits a body of art and defines soulful house music? A masterpiece.

Famed New York City’s club-night Shelter founder, Timmy Regisford crafted a moving mosaic of music that wooed music loving disciples to the dance floor or at best to the club.… Continue

THE TRADITION EDITION

“Guys we’re closed. The DJ’s car broke down but he’s on his way. Trust me, once he arrives we will open,” mentioned the gruff, goateed gatekeeper.

The night consisted of boisterous headscarves, receded hairlines and silver beards. Not only were the afro-centrist out but so were the vanilla explorers all making their annual journey to the music Mecca.… Continue

FREEDOM SATURDAY

“Nothing could prevent me from getting to my beloved Tambor; not foot play-off traffic, not the homeless man standing in the middle of the street, whom I almost hit with my car, nor the accessory I left at home for my outfit.”-AJ Dance

The wall behind the DJ stage flashed with cutting edge avant-garde images of brilliant techno-acid washed colors from extreme music video clips combined with haunting Tambor images that provided a dazzling landscape of visual sensory.… Continue

Burning Hot!

As the crowd gathered center stage to cheer Peven Everett on Sexy Santa strutted around the dance floor decked out in eye candy cane gear. Then it happened, Peven took to the stage dressed in head to toe black, small in stature but ready to deck the halls with vocal havoc on merry ears. Needless to say the tribesters were filled with joy.… Continue

OMG 3F

The night consisted of the three F’s: fiyah, flatulence and a fight.

Fiyah. “At the Club” by Timmy Regisford featuring Lynn Lockamy started the night off right after informal praises were offered to Yoruba deity Olodumare. From there deep tech vocals filled the restaurant/bar that “Surely” pleased the ears. Sassy Latin house brought finger snappers to the dance floor while East London’s, Brassroots cover of Inner City’s, “Good Life” kept all feet marching with joy.… Continue

SILENT BUT DEADLY

OK, if u sleep on THIS SET, u WILL SOOOOOOOOOOO regret it!! Jihad is what i call SILENT, but MASSIVELY DEADLY!! & to those who DO come…ALL i can say is: BE PREPARED TO GET ROCKED!! ~ ? ~ -Mama House

The night’s headliner quietly assumed DJ duties after Shea Soul’s “Perfectly” vocals came to a complete stop and the baby powder lay spread all across the dark but not empty dance floor reminiscent of a first snowfall in November.… Continue

ALL GREAT THINGS COME TO AN END

“He keeps on blessing me/Blessing Me”

These were the lyrics to the party’s opener played by Lars Behrenroth at Connect’s final party. Connect a monthly party held every first Thursday night that for six years had been instrumental in bringing house music back to the city’s forefront during the nitelife’s, “drought years.” Maybe not so much as bringing house music back as it did to keep house music alive during those “drought years.”… Continue