Author C. Rance Redman

Music to David Garibaldi

2008-08-16T00:26:00.001-04:00

DTP's Steph Jones At My Spot!

2008-08-13T00:01:00.002-04:00

It's a bird. It's a plane. No it's Steph Jones chillin' with Red today. Call him "The International Superstar". Call him "The International Model". Call him "The Bad Ass Singer". I call him "Mr. Cool", but he said no, call him "Mr. Ordinary". So I said "Mr. Ordinary let's talk some music" and then he was like "Whussup sir" and then I was like "Cool" and he was like "I will def... get to this tonight"...and the rest is celebrity history.

Steph is an energetic, fun, but serious artist. He has always had the gift of song in him "...trying to do music and modeling at the same time, and modeling just took off". It's difficult to believe that this high profile "alien" is sooo down-to-earth. Since he signed with Disturbing The Peace (DTP) with my boy Ludacris, the world has taken notice. But, for us true fans that listened to him grow these past few years, we know it was slow rise to the top. Ok, ok, the interview...

Red: What are you doing right now?

Steph: I love people watching at Starbucks, popping bubble wrap, extreme sports, paint balling and a few million other things, I'm like a big kid.

Red: (Laughing) So what are you doing musically with yourself?

Steph: I am working on several movie soundtracks, which I cant really discuss right now. I worked with Jessie McCartney, Jordin Sparks, Chingy, B.O.B, Blake Lewis and a few up and comers as far as writing goes.

Red: Can we hear some samples?

Steph: Yes. My new website will be up in the next couple of weeks at http://www.stephjonesgalaxy.com/

Red: Jeez how do I get there? I mean you are dropping some big names...

Steph: Just do your best to make music from your heart and soul. Your soul never lies.

Red: Your creative process... do you have like a ritual or structured way of approaching a song?

Steph: It's a bit unorthodox because I dont really have a set creative process. It all comes from inspiration and I'm inspired by life...

Red: And women... so how did you get your start?

Steph: When I sang "Tears In Heaven" by Eric Clapton at my 12th grade graduation and how it made everyone cry.

Red: Influences? Name who really had an effect on Mr. Ordinary...

Steph: My mom and music in general.

Red: So Mom had a big influence... does she help keep you focused?

Steph: Goals like buying my mom her dream house and being a part of a young generation that has content of subtance to offer the world.

Red: For those that don't know, why do they call my main man Steph the "Mo' City Alien"?

Steph: I was born in Houston and raised in Missouri City, Texas.

Red: Thanks for chillin with me man. So, where can we find your music?

Steph: Well right now you can find it on Myspace www.myspace.com/stephjones2, www.youtube.com/mocityalien and pretty soon I will have some stuff up on iTunes. I gotta run now but def thanks for the interest and support sir...

Clawdhammercy: Alicia Keys

2008-08-12T14:07:00.006-04:00

Speechless and Thristy =0

Chicago's Own: Willie Spade

2008-08-12T07:36:00.003-04:00

The instant classic Urban Renaissance was his debut album. Since then he has emerged as a greater force lyrically, as he has matured as an emcee with a fierce command of flow and a sense of humor to match. Willie Spade is definitely ahead of his time.

Red: Spade you are from the south right?

Spade: I was born in Chicago, but did most of my growing up in Germany my father was military, but it wasn't until i moved to Alabama that i started really doing music.

Red: Smashing the competition. How did it all begin?

Spade: I was born into it, not necessarily wanting to be a rap artist, just always around and creating music in a way. My father was always singing in the house, I used to dub tapes of me singing or even in a few instances rapping. My father ended up getting a computer somewhere down the line, and I would actually sample beats from a CD player run them into sound recorder and loop them, the record my vocals and mix them into sound recorder as well just to make songs...It wasn't until I met another local rapper named "Per'Pos" that I came into fruition about doing music seriously.

Red: To whom do you attribute some of your influence as a powerful emcee?

Spade: Too many to name, but as far as Mainstream, Em, Luda, Jada, Biggie & Pac of course, but as far as underground Loaded Lux, Joell Ortiz Serius Jones...

Red: I've seen you grow phenomenally over the past few years, but still keep it fresh...

Spade: ...Unlimited creativity, the premise that I can do anything I want to a track, the effort behind it and the expressions from people when they finally get a finish product... I'm also very hard to please...I get a thrill when I finish new joints, but I grow tired of them and just wanna see how much clever I can be and how much further I can stretch out.

Red: So explain the complex way in which you create a new joint?

Spade: It's not really that complex. I try to envision what a beat says to me, and embody a concept inside of it. Then I kind of go scatter brain and write lyrics or ideas down and patch them all together, and hopefully I'll come up with something..(laughing)

Red: What's popping in the studio these days?

Spade: I'm finishing the Gump Gumbo mixtape as we speak which is a southern genre album that's more upbeat and catchy then my prior darker and more concentrated material..it's a new Vibe for me, As well as finishing up The Civil War which is a mixtape I started with Na'Ledge who was born in NY. The idea behind it is to mesh a Yankee and southern sound and produce a solid project. So far our efforts have far exceeded his, mine, and everyone's expectations.

Red: You've gained so much, so rapidly. How?

Spade: Invest patience. Invest originality; and most importantly invest. There is a lot of money in this game. Still to get, but you'll spend a whole lot of cash before you will even create a buzz.

Red: Besides music, how do you occupy your time?

Spade: I'm a very creative media person. I direct, edit, and arrange all my own music vids, but I've always been big on making movies. Visual and vocal media really take the cake. I've made several little clips and vids on Youtube, as well as directed my own animated film. I'm also a big video game junkie if anyone has the heart to man-up on some fight night GET AT ME!

Red: New fans of Willie Spade can find albums online?

Spade: Google "Willie Spade" (laughing). I'm everywhere, but my most updated content is either on http://www.myspace.com/williespade or http://www.youtube.com/williespade My first studio album "The Urban Renaissance" is available on www.cdbaby.com/williespade or you can download my mixtape "The Famine" at http://datpiff.com/Willie-Spade-The-Famine-mid9522.html

A Chat with London's "Verbal"

2008-08-11T12:39:00.000-04:00

I first heard Verbal when he was doing a video live in the studio. After 5 minutes of hurricane lyrics and straight fiya, I realized that I am a fan of Hip-hop influenced Grime. While recording on the track "Real Recognise Real" he suddenly morphed into beast mode and destroyed the mic. Keep an eye out for this up and coming MC as he possesses the skill and determination to make it big in the game!

Red: How did Verbal's music journey begin?

Verbal: I realized music was for me when I was about 9 or 10. When I started learning steelpan and guitar I was like proper into it and just feeling the vibes. Then nearly all ma' family play a instrument, so growing up around them and seeing them progress and stuff just made me wanna' do music even more.

Red: So your family got you into music from the start?

Verbal: My Family (Miles and Duncan James, my aunty and Dad), Jimmy Hendrix, Miles Davis, Sweet Sticks, YOKA, Diva Geek and that whole circle man! (laughing) Pantasia and Other Steelbands.

Red: You had great taste very early...

Verbal: Thats instrumentally... MCing and producing wise... S.K.A (K-smallz, Street Focus, A.R, Big Mike, Grafter, Mezar, Rhys), Slum Village, Dr.Dre, Eminem, Mobb deep, Busta Rhymes, Ludacris, Juice, Outkast, Sa-ra, Street Journalist, Q-tip, A Tribe Called Quest, Talib Kweli, J Dilla, Madlib, Black Star, Kano... the Grime scene as a whole. Nas, Snoop Dogg, Jay Z, The Streets, Mikey G, Davinche... there's more, but it's long! (laughing)

Red: Give my readers a little background info

Verbal: I'm born and raised in Tottenham North London, 17 now soon be 18, and just always been interested in music...used to play alot of football like most kids (laughing), but that flopped after that I started getting into hip hop and trying to freestyle. My cuz Grafter and Mezar use to bunk off and just practice in the music deep. It was funny boy (laughing)... after that, Grime came and here I am now. Doing a bit of everything.

Red: What brings on your inspiration?

Verbal: Seeing people moving forward, hearing good music, and the growing support from people in general.

Red: What's your creative process?

Verbal: ...how i write bars? Well basically normally I hear the beat first. I feel the vibes and the concept comes from listening to the beat. This may sound funny, but the beat will talk to you (laughing) If you know, you know; if you don't, you don't, but I'm being real!

Red: So once it's there, you just feel it?

Verbal: ...yeah once I get a concept, a flow will come to my head and I'll just be grooving. Then I get a starting line and the rest is history as they say. Once I got that first line it's gameover ya dig!

Red: So what projects do you have in the making?

Verbal: Right now I'm working on a video which should be out soon! The tune is called TAKE ME HIGHER. I'm working on a promo with K smallz which has a couple funky house bangers on it. I'm working on my mixtape POETRY AND FLOW which is pretty much all Hip-hop, and I'm working on my promo SOLID SOUNDS which is pretty much all Grime and Pop.

Red: A lot of young artists want to know your secret to success. Any advise?

Verbal: Advice, expect to knocked back 80% when your starting it. Happens to the best of us... just keep pursuing, working hard, and producing good music, then your time will come. I say make a load of free CD's and just hand them around...when you get a big support base all you can do is move forward.

Red: When Verbal isn't making music Verval is...?

Verbal: I do photography and designs other than music... nothing special. Play football(soccer) and do a bit of coaching with the youngsters.

Red: For people interested in finding more of your music they can go where?

Verbal: You can find my music on Myspace. I also got a CD floating around called A LONG TIME COMING. You can download it off my myspace http://www.myspace.com/VERBALARTIST

Thanks for reading!
As verbal put it "There you go fam". Check out his music now!

ATL Songwriter Nick Eden

2008-08-10T08:01:00.006-04:00

Looking for some groove oriented tunes or some "just chill" music? Look no futher. Nick Eden is a cool ass songwriter in the Atlanta scene. If I listen to Take Control from his second EP one more time, my speakers may just burst. A talented artist and businessman, he offered up a few words with Red before recording his live set this August.

Red: When did the magic of music begin for you?

Eden: When I enrolled in Band at 11 years old. I was never really the best student but music just stuck to me.

Red: Who's in your mp3 player right now?

Eden: Michael Jackson, Otis Redding, Johnnie Taylor, Sam Cooke, Dave Hollister & Boyz II Men

Red: Now I am from Detroit "the dirty glove" (laughing). You rep the Dirty South in Atlanta...
-

Eden: I was born in Slidell, Louisiana but I was raised in Mississippi. I claim both as my hometown and also Montgomery, AL because I lived there for 10 years and its where my music really took off.

Red: What drove you to make the move?

Eden: The passion for music that I developed earlier as a child... Music has done so much for me.

Red: For me the best time to write a song is first thing in the morning...right out of bed. How does it happen for you?

Eden: It starts with the concept. Usually once I figure out what type of song or series of songs I'm going to do, I develop a character in my mind. Its sort of like musical theatre. IF I create that character then I can write from his standpoint and give myself some diversity.

Red: So you approach it not from a single song, but as a full concept or vision if you will for a project?

Eden: I released my second album "Life, Love, & Lust" in March of this year. I'm preparing to record my live acoustic album "Fireside Chats" August 16th and it will be released Sept. 2nd through Alley Katz Music Group, which is a boutique label I created to produce live albums for touring artists. I've also started writing for my 3rd studio album "Beducation", which is an intimate concept album.

Red: For the up and coming katz, what should they know?

Eden: Keep performing. The industry, I feel, is getting back to the 50's where indie distributors rule the charts and artists did albums to support their touring. With the creation of companies like Live Nation and Madison Square Garden Entertainment, people are finally starting to realize the touring will never suffer in this business. People will always need vast forms of live entertainment.

Red: When you rarely aren't wrapped up in music, you...?

Eden: I love to read. I will go to a Barnes & Noble and literally spend all day reading. I am also a graphic designer, and I write short stories.

Red: So I know that you have some new hits brewing. Where can we find you?

Eden: You can find my music on http://www.myspace.com/nickeden and also http://nickeden.ning.com/ which is my social networking site.

Keep a lookout for the Fireside Chats Acoustic Soul Tour featuring Nick Eden and acoustic artist Ken J. Martin coming soon!

Interview: Slakah the Beat Child

2008-08-09T11:57:00.003-04:00

Today I am interviewing Slakah. I happened upon the BeatChild himself when I was searching for something to quell my neo-soul urge. Fueled by greats such as J-Dilla, Raphael Saadiq & Pete Rock, multi instrumentalist and recording artist/producer Slakah the Beatchild's music is often described as a breath of fresh air. Soulful chords, warm harmonies & intricate progressions are the root of his unique feel good sound.

Red: When did you realize that music was for you?

Slakah: ...In the first few months of taking an architecture course in college.

Red: Who are some of your biggest influences?

Slakah: Magnus Tingsek, Stevie Wonder, Raphael Saadiq & Bob Marley.

Red: For those of you that don't know, Slakah is from originally Canada.

Slakah: I was born and raised in the small town of Sarnia Ontario Canada (Google map it if you bored yall!) I now live in Toronto.

Red: I know it's sort of a hard thing to do for many, but what keep you on track? What keeps you so focused?

Slakah: Jehovah God.

Red: So how does it start? Are you just naturally inclined to make music or is it inspiration?

Slakah: Usually music will just brew in my mind. I'll start claping my hands and beatboxing it out loud and then record it into my phone. I then go to the studio, play back the idea and bring it to life.

Red: That's what's up. So tell my readers what projects are you currently working on?

Slakah: 1) Just finished Divine Browns Record (Warner) 2) 'Bout to do some fresh stuff with the legendary James Ingraham 3) 'Bout to do some fresh new stuff with Melanie Durrant 4) Just finished the Art of Fresh album

Red: Wow it sounds like you are really putting in work. For all you that want to know how to grind and make it happen this is how you do it. Stay busy.

Slakah: Magnus Tingsek, Magnus Tingsek, and Magnus Tinksek. Get all three of his albums and you can thank me at beatchildmusic@gmail.com once you take that fresh air in.

Red: What do you enjoy besides music?

Slakah: Painting (Acrylic)Flying (Cessna 150/172) & Snowboarding

Red: So before you go, tell us, where and when is the album available?

Slakah: In Stores Sept 2 world wide & iTunes.

You can find more of Slakah the beat child and his new album the Art of Fresh at the links below!
http://www.myspace.com/slakahthebeatchild
http://www.theartoffresh.com/
http://www.bbemusic.com/
http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LnRpbmdzZWsuY29t

I Love Black Folks

2008-07-05T13:39:00.000-04:00

Freedom for Whom

2008-07-03T13:02:00.004-04:00

Justice or Just Us? The 4th of July bears no vestiges of freedom for me.

When My Granddad became a Black Panther

2008-07-02T12:55:00.000-04:00

The July that Detroit Died

2008-07-01T12:20:00.002-04:00

When the smoke cleared in July of '67, 43 people were dead, 5000 national guardsmen had been dispatched, and one of the most prosperous African American communities in the US became the precursor for the title "Murder Capital of the World." We who live in the shadows, we who are the discarded, we who are on the fringes of a new slavery, play in the rubble of our red brick promised land. The auto jobs fled. Motown fled. Whites fled to suburbia. We now allow others to laugh at our squalor, and we willing accept the notion that this our destiny.

In a single summer Detroit became terminal, and 40 years later the charred embers are still hot and something, something is brewing...

For the Haters

2008-05-18T15:38:00.001-04:00

Get that dirt off your shoulders...

The Real First Black President

2008-05-15T20:12:00.013-04:00

All Urban Legend?

The first Black president was chosen unanimously and unchallenged by the Continental Congress, which included George Washington's vote! But this aint him...Photography wasn't invented yet...

The myth goes that on back of the $2 bill has an engraving of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In the image is a man who has dark skin and wearing a powdered wig while sitting at the table just to the left of the men standing in the center of the engraving. This dark skinned man is John Hanson in his position as president of the continental congress. In the original painting hanging in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, he does not appear as US history tries to exclude him.

JOHN HANSON was the first President of the United States and served from 1781-1782. George Washington was really the 8th President of the United States and Barack technically would not be the first? Or is it Robert Morris? You decide...

Barack 08'

Scary

2008-05-11T08:36:00.005-04:00

Keep people in fear and it

strips them of their civil liberty

Look Lady...Times Up

2008-05-10T19:49:00.002-04:00

Hmmm...
Yours too...

Dig and Be Dug

2008-05-05T13:06:00.001-04:00

Clutched Purses

2008-05-03T15:22:00.007-04:00

I began working on my second novel "The Amorphous Ones". Trying to write about the beauty of human experience is proving to be a daunting challenge. Certainly my experience has been less than moving. I went to the store today, and some lady grabbed her purse as though I was a criminal. Then they had security follow me around. I've accomplished so much in my lifespan, but I'm still dealing with the same old nusance: people prejudging my skin. Its getting to me, but as Schiller once said, "the voice of the majority is no proof of justice."

Bush vs. Obama

2008-05-02T12:41:00.003-04:00

“Such a double life with double thoughts, double duties, and double social classes, must give rise to double words and double ideals, and tempt the mind to pretense or revolt, to hypocrisy or radicalism."
-W.E.B. Dubois

The humbling of inferiors is necessary to the maintainance of social order.
-Madame de Sevigne

Daydreaming

2008-05-01T14:43:00.005-04:00

I often dream that God has a wonderful sense of humor. Since I was a young kid I would always look up at the sky and daydream, staring, and searching for peace that never came. I did it so much that I would crash into things and even ended up with stitches from one mishap. Now I still isolate myself and ponder why am I here. What is my purpose?

I dream in colors that vividly haunt my soul with an inner urge to be great. But, at what? I smile at the Sun and embrace the rain, but I don't know why. Why? I hum when I walk and listen in silence, but why? Why are the people around me so complacent with life, yet, I search for more? Then today I listened in silence, stared at the Sun after the rain passed, looked to the sky, and saw the vivid colors of my dreams around me. He answered my question by opening my eyes: Don't dream in color, be. There was the riddle for peace solved. Be in color. Live in the moments of this beautiful spectrum and realize that you are surrounded by peace.

Gone! -- IAJE Files for Bankrupcy

2008-04-18T20:43:00.003-04:00

Dear IAJE Family,
It is with a great sense of loss that I inform you that despite drastic efforts to cut expenses and raise emergency funds, the IAJE Board has voted to file for bankruptcy under Chapter 7 of the Federal Bankruptcy Law. I want to thank profusely those who responded with their generous donations and offers of assistance following my last communication. While over 250 individuals contributed just over $12,000, this, along with the many other efforts and contributions of IAJE staff, Board members, and association partners, was simply not enough to address the accumulated debt of the organization or its urgent need for cash relief.

In the next few days, a Kansas bankruptcy court will appoint a trustee to oversee all ongoing aspects of the association. This includes the ability to examine IAJE's financial records and mount an independent inquiry into the causes of it's financial downfall as well as disposing of the remaining assets of the association with proceeds distributed to creditors in accordance with Kansas and Federal law. The board will no longer be involved in operation of the organization and will at some point resign. IAJE as it presently stands will no longer exist.

Approximately a week after filing, all potential creditors of the association will receive notice of the association's filing from the court. Members who desire additional information regarding the petition, including a complete listing of association assets and liabilities, may retrieve this, as it is a public document, through normal court procedures. Undoubtedly, however, you will have more immediate questions deserving of responses I hope to address in this report.

Since the first communication to the membership outlining this crisis, there has been considerable public speculation as to its causes. As noted in that communication, years of dependence upon the conference as a primary (but unreliable) revenue stream and the launch of a well-intentioned capital campaign (the Campaign for Jazz), which generated a meager response but required considerable expenditures in advance of contributions, drove the association into insolvency. Sadly, the attendance at the conference in Toronto (the lowest in 10 years) exacerbated an already critical situation, depriving the association of the cash-flow needed to continue daily operations as well as the time needed to seek alternative resources.

While ultimately not able to skirt the financial land mines placed in its path, I want to assure you the IAJE Board has acted responsibly, ethically, and with a sense of urgency ever since it was blindsided last fall with the discovery of the extent of the accumulated association debt. Since that time, the board slashed spending, set specific performance targets for the Executive Director, sought outside consultations, and enlisted the services of several past-presidents and strategic association partners in attempts to raise funds - sadly, with minimal success.

It goes without saying, the board you elected is comprised of very accomplished, intelligent, and dedicated educators and professionals who have given generously of their time in service to this association and care about it passionately. Likewise, our entire professional staff, led by Associate Executive Director, Vivian Orndorff, and Executive Producer, Steve Baker, has worked heroically in the face of declining resources to meet the needs of the association and its members. I wanted to take this opportunity to thank both the board and staff for their service. I have been privileged and honored to serve with them. While there may be those who question specific decisions or strategies in efforts to meet this crisis, the dedication and integrity of these individuals should never be in doubt.

As we move forward, one of the most pressing questions is how the operations of individual chapters and affiliated associations will be affected by this filing. Since our chapters are either separate corporate entitles or voluntary associations with their own boards, constitutions and bylaws; IAJE views them as completely independent entities. Ultimately, however, the trustee and the court will make this determination and it is anticipated that the trustee may request certain information from the chapters in this regard.

Sadly, the 2009 IAJE International Conference in Seattle has been cancelled. However, there has been some discussion of mounting a regional conference in its place. At the moment, Lou Fischer, U.S. Board Representative is fielding inquiries: ljazzmanf@yahoo.com.

For the time being, the IAJE website will remain up. However, the international offices of IAJE will close their doors at the end of the day on Friday, April 18th. Should there be additional questions you may submit them to info@iaje.org and every attempt will be made to respond to these as staffing allows.

Today, we, the members of IAJE and the global jazz community, face an extremely important task. For, as we all recognize, the opportunities, impact, and work of this association are too vital to simply disappear. Whether you were first drawn to IAJE for its conference, its magazine or research publications, its student scholarship programs such as Sisters in Jazz or the Clifford Brown/Stan Getz All-Stars, its Teacher Training Institutes, the resources provided through its website or Resource Team, or any one of a number of other offerings; it is clear the mission of IAJE still resonates and its advocacy is needed today more than ever. We must, therefore, look at this as an opportunity to refocus the mission, scope, programs, and vision of IAJE (or whatever succeeds it) to better meet the needs of our members and the jazz community not only today but looking toward the future.

I am, in no way, suggesting the membership turn a blind eye towards the need for an independent inquiry into causes and ultimately assigning responsibility for this situation. I ask you recognize the court appointed trustee, who will have access to all necessary documents and facts, is charged with that task. Our efforts and our passion, should be to collectively rally the community to recognize the importance IAJE has had and continues to have in the life and development of jazz and jazz education - seeking new strategic partnerships, new government structures, and a revitalized mission that embraces current needs.

Already there are efforts to do just that. I know that Mary Jo Papich, who would have begun serving her term as President of IAJE beginning this July, is dedicated to recreating such an association. As many know, Mary Jo has been a tireless advocate for IAJE, serving it long and well. You will, undoubtedly, be hearing from her in the near future. When she does contact you, I urge you to join me in offering her every support and assistance. Of course, others may also seek to fill this void by promoting alternative visions for empowering, serving, and gathering the jazz community. While I generally believe such diversity is quite healthy, I would strongly encourage all such efforts and leaders to attempt to collaborate and seek ways to unite us in spirit and strength.

Finally, I would encourage you to recognize and remember IAJE for all the tremendous good it has done in the past 40 years. Many individuals have contributed along the way, often at considerable personal sacrifice of their time and resources, to establish and advance the work of this association. Much has been achieved that can never be taken away! Therefore, the vision, effort, and shared passion that have fueled the growth of IAJE and its programs should not be forgotten or considered in vain. Rather, the spirit that is IAJE must be rekindled into a new vision for the future.
Sincerely,

The IAJE Board - Chuck Owen, President