AJ Dance Legacy

HOT & LOUD

Turn up the volume and let the bass drop. That’s what Baltimore’s legendary DJ Spen, decked out in a black ensemble of a basement ball cap and MF (Muthafunkaz) tee delivered to Tambor. The venue’s walls contracted and the floor vibrated as four count beats gave birth to dancing feet, snapping fingers and raised arms. Not only did the thumping beats pronounce their arrival but so too the room’s temperature.… Continue

Ten Tips for a Successful House Music Party Thrown at an Outdoor Public Space

Please do not have a wedding in one of the city’s largest PUBLIC parks on a Sunday afternoon across the pathway from a music event playing loud music.

Please do not tell park officials/park security to have the music event to turn off their music so that a wedding can proceed as scheduled.… Continue

JOE CLAUSSELL

“He’s warming up. Now, he’s starting to play,” yelled Mrs. Thang

What is a musical maestro called when he/she plays on a stubborn acting sound system? A PISSED off DJ.

This Tambor might have gone down in history as one giant, “technical difficult.” The culprit mainly attributed to the bass heavy sounding sound systems refusal to adhere to quality sound control standards.… Continue

CHEZ DAMIER

The storm promised to dampen the night’s festivities. Outdoors in the windy air lightning flashed and thunder boomed as a deluge fell from the sky. In the distance, several tornado sirens marked by repeated calls for shelter sounded throughout the metropolitan area. This deadly weather was highly unusual for a night out on the town. Or was it? After all, it was the month of April.… Continue

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