Kidnapping Water: Bottled Operas, August 4 - 31, 2008
Posted on Aug 3rd, 2008
by 
Baba James
Baba James
(Seattle, WA) Connecting the ideas of surviving as an artist in America with living as a global citizen, composer Byron Au Yong premieres 64 portable operas inspired by the ancient Chinese text I Ching (Book of Changes) and the environment.
Scientists and global leaders worry that the world’s future challenges revolve around water. Kidnapping Water emotionally addresses these aspects in a new way. “These Bottled Operas are meant to be carried through catastrophes. I think about straining water resources and compose songs of survival,” says Au Yong.
Opera singers and percussionists perform Au Yong’s Kidnapping Water: Bottled Operas in waterways throughout the Pacific Northwest this August. The 64 mini-operas explore operatic themes in an accessible format.
By taking opera out of the opera house, the Bottled Operas connect the power and beauty of traditional operatic voices with a musical experience intimately connected to nature. The site-specific performances allow Au Yong to take his music directly to places where people interact with many forms of water, creating opportunities for audience members from all walks of life to experience heightened awareness, understanding, and awe of the powerful forces of nature and humanity in a natural environment.
Percussionists play the water found at these locations with instruments that include wood, stone, bamboo, bone, rope, hide, plants, and metal. Libretti are written by eight writers from diverse cultural and artistic traditions not often represented in opera; the 64 Bottled Operas will be anything but a traditional operatic experience.
Kidnapping Water: Bottled Operas will be performed by opera singer/water percussionist duos in rivers, lakes, fountains, ravines, and other waterways as part of 4Culture’s Site-Specific Performance Network on August 4, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, and 26.
Funketabla’s James Whetzel is one of four percussionists taking part in KWBO. The other percussionists are Stuart McLeod, Dean Moore and Ben Morrow.
The opera singers include Josie Davis, Emily Greenleaf and David Stutz.
The music is by Byron Au Yong. The libretti were created by Eugenie Chan (San Francisco), Bret Fetzer (Seattle), Aaron Jafferis (New Haven), Archana Kumar (Chicago), Carola Luther (Yorkshire), Caroline Murphy (New York), Vivian Umino (Los Angeles), and Edisa Weeks (Brooklyn).
James Whetzel will be performing 8 pieces from KWBO Monday August 4th with singer David Stutz in locations in Bothell, Shoreline, Lake Forest Park: UW Bothell, Saltwater Park, Richmond Beach, Ronald Bog, North Lake Washington, Lake Forest Park Towne Center, and Echo Lake.
James will also be performing as part of Kidnapping Water: Bottled Operas as staged by Bret Fetzer at the Bumbershoot Festival, August 29 - 31st in the DuPen Fountain at Seattle Center. Telephone info 206 281-7788.
Production Pike Pin (Project Manager), Emily Carlsen (Costume Designer), Eric Rockey (Videographer), Ben Kasulke (Filmmaker), Jean-Stephane (Photographer, Multimedia), Erica Howard (Researcher, Writer)
There will also be a Light/Sound Installation of KWBO by Byron Au Yong and interactive media artist Randy Moss at the Jack Straw New Media Gallery from September 12 to October 10, 2008; Opening September 12, 7pm with Artist Talk September 25, 7pm. Telephone info 206 634-0919
To see the complete schedule of performances and to get additional information about Kidnapping Water: Bottle Operas please go to:
Access: PublicTagged with: Byron Au Yong, James Whetzel, David Stutz, Kidnapping Water, Water, Seattle, King County, Avant Garde Music, Traditional Music
DANCE This, July 19, 2008 7:30pm @ The Paramount Theatre
Posted on Jul 19th, 2008
by Baba James
Baba James
Funketabla's Shri Deepayan and James Whetzel are acting as musical directors for the finale performance of the 2008 DANCE This. James will be doing a live electronic set for the finale. Music for the finale will feature Mean Deep's track “Lindjo Remix" as well as parts of James's tracks "Sympathy for the 4/4," "Everything Strange, "Color Me Impressed" and additional original beats, including kathak padhant by Shri Deepayan. Also featured will be live performers from the eleven (!) different dance groups participating in this special 10th anniversary edition of Dance This.
Featured live performers include Roberto Arguedas (guitar), Yaw Amponsah (percussion), Jon Lovrich (lijerica), and Evan Shay (sax).
The lead choreographer for the finale is Daniel Cruz.
Groups taking part in the 2008 Dance This include: Ethnic Dance Theatre, Fillipino Youth Activities Drill Team, Kalalaya School for the Performing Arts, Leela Kathak, Morning Star Korean Cultural Center, Northwest Tap Connection, Radost Folk Ensemble, Rainier Vista Cambodian Youth Dance Program, The Seattle Chinese Community Girls Drill Team, Slieveloughane Irish Dance Company, & the Vela Luka Croatian Dance Ensemble. And the choreographers are: Etienne Cakpo, Lora Lue Chiorah, Daniel Cruz, Chris and Edna Daigre, Sonia Dawkins, Jamel Gaines and Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn, Petur Iliev, Amy O'Neal, and Luis Sandoval.
About Dance This:
DANCE This
brings together intergenerational performers from diverse communities and backgrounds for collaboration and to share their culture through the art of dance.More than 150 diverse youth, ages 13-22, participate in this multi-layered program each year.Program components include:
* Dance Training Intensive in diverse styles
* Cross-cultural workshops and rehearsals
* Youth matinee and public performances
* Year round opportunities to participate in master classes and attend dance performances at the Paramount and Moore Theatres.
Nationally renowned professional guest artists work with local youth and are significant to the program’s success and impact. Artists from past years include: Savion Glover, legendary tapper; Joffrey Ballet from Chicago; Abdel Salaam from Forces of Nature in New York; Jamel Gaines from Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn; Bahiyah Sayyed Gaines from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; Napoleon & Tabitha D’umo from Los Angelesand nationally recognized, Seattle-based choreographers Donald Byrd, Sonia Dawkins, Pat Graney and Amy O’Neal.
For more on dance this go to http://www.theparamount.com/education/dt_2008.asp
Dance This: July 19th at 7:30pm
The Paramount Theatre
911 Pine Street
Seattle, WA 981010
Tickets: Advance: Adults $23 Students $12. Day of Show: Adults $26, students $15
Featured live performers include Roberto Arguedas (guitar), Yaw Amponsah (percussion), Jon Lovrich (lijerica), and Evan Shay (sax).
The lead choreographer for the finale is Daniel Cruz.
Groups taking part in the 2008 Dance This include: Ethnic Dance Theatre, Fillipino Youth Activities Drill Team, Kalalaya School for the Performing Arts, Leela Kathak, Morning Star Korean Cultural Center, Northwest Tap Connection, Radost Folk Ensemble, Rainier Vista Cambodian Youth Dance Program, The Seattle Chinese Community Girls Drill Team, Slieveloughane Irish Dance Company, & the Vela Luka Croatian Dance Ensemble. And the choreographers are: Etienne Cakpo, Lora Lue Chiorah, Daniel Cruz, Chris and Edna Daigre, Sonia Dawkins, Jamel Gaines and Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn, Petur Iliev, Amy O'Neal, and Luis Sandoval.
About Dance This:
DANCE This
brings together intergenerational performers from diverse communities and backgrounds for collaboration and to share their culture through the art of dance.More than 150 diverse youth, ages 13-22, participate in this multi-layered program each year.Program components include:
* Dance Training Intensive in diverse styles
* Cross-cultural workshops and rehearsals
* Youth matinee and public performances
* Year round opportunities to participate in master classes and attend dance performances at the Paramount and Moore Theatres.
Nationally renowned professional guest artists work with local youth and are significant to the program’s success and impact. Artists from past years include: Savion Glover, legendary tapper; Joffrey Ballet from Chicago; Abdel Salaam from Forces of Nature in New York; Jamel Gaines from Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn; Bahiyah Sayyed Gaines from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; Napoleon & Tabitha D’umo from Los Angelesand nationally recognized, Seattle-based choreographers Donald Byrd, Sonia Dawkins, Pat Graney and Amy O’Neal.
For more on dance this go to http://www.theparamount.com/education/dt_2008.asp
Dance This: July 19th at 7:30pm
The Paramount Theatre
911 Pine Street
Seattle, WA 981010
Tickets: Advance: Adults $23 Students $12. Day of Show: Adults $26, students $15
Tagged with: James Whetzel, Shri Deepayan, Dance This, music, funketabla, The Paramount Theatre, dance, youth
Mean Deep live! (and free) July 4th 4pm at Myrtle Edwards Park!
Posted on Jul 1st, 2008
by Baba James
Baba James
Mean Deep is doing a special show for the Fourth of Jul-Ivars celebration at Myrtle Edwards Park on the Seattle Waterfront.
Our set is from 4pm til 5:30pm
We’ll do some chill sarod and dhol, and also some downtempo beats, and of course we will not neglect to bring some high energy funkelectronik beats and tablificacion so that you may get your dance on!
Mean Deep (aka Shri Deepayan & James Whetzel)
Myrtle Edwards park is located at 3130 Alaskan Way on the Seattle Waterfront just below the Olympic Sculpture Park.
Tagged with: Mean Deep, funketabla, Shri Deepayan, James Whetzel, Sarod, tabla, throat singing, July 4th, Seattle, live music
The House of Good Juju
Posted on Jun 18th, 2008
by Baba James
Baba James
The House of Good Juju is my new album. It’s a summation of five years of my club oriented and electronic music. These are things I started out playing as James Whetzel and now spin primarily as DJ Baba James.
The CD is now available through Funketabla, exclusively:
http://www.funketabla.com/store.php
Here is a quick breakdown about the music. It has fifteen tracks!
1. “About Love” is a mix of Bollywood, and Bhangra vibes with Hip Hop and West African beats, and the words for love in Hindi, Urdu, Spanish, French and English. C’est a propos de l’amour bebe!
2. “Space Tekyuman” is a re-interpretation of American Swing via the Tekyuman rhythm of Ghana, West Africa. I love the unique rhythm in this track, also I am proud of the lyrics, which are:
Aliens send to me the mothership
I need to take a trans-galactic trip
My soul’s grown small living on oil and cash
I want to fly to the sun and use no gas
Nautilus, Captain Nemo, send her to me
I want to go ten thousand leagues under the sea
It’s time I made my life aquatic
Because living on land is not doing it for me
Solution for stopping the start of wars
Shift violence to reverse, take a new course
Builders of bombs no longer get paid in cash
Demolished by their products are weapons plants
Wars would work better if they were simplified
With musical competitions we could decide
Victory would not go to who can kill well
But to whoever makes the music that is most beautiful!
If there can’t be dance what purpose revolution?
We need some fresh grooves and we need evolution
And we sure could use another election
Because we need a reality-based correction
Oh Life is a free and a subtle phenomenon
Happening everywhere and in everyone
Infinite in number are the possibilities
Every moment possesses new opportunities
3. “Sympathy for the 4/4″ is an instrumental which has a four on the floor beat supplied by a tabla bayan tuned down low. I play funk beats on tabla and break out some talking drums, West African rumba box (for the super low chunky bass), chimta, and keyboards.
4.”Theme From Beat On!” is a track which was made in honor of the Beat On! artists collective that produces the monthly Beat Council nights at ToST in Seattle. This track starts off with a Nigerian fuji influenced intro and then changes into some break beat.
5. “Washington State.” Many already know this clever little break beat track that is made up of the names of cities of the Evergreen State from Auburn to Walla Walla. An essential track for WA state residents and also for those who are Washington residents of the spirit.
6. “Sympathy for the Sarod.” This is an uptempo remix of “Sympathy for the 4/4″ featuring sarod and throat singing parts.
7. “Capitol Hill” is an ode to the Capitol Hill area of Seattle, which is where I grew up. It references Sir Mixalot’s “My Posse’s on Broadway,” and is a break beat bhangra influenced track that was originally going to be called “my bhangra’s on broadway.”
8. “The Superstar Scene” is rocktronica track with a generous helping of tabla and sarod.
9. “From Freak to Freakshow,” based on a true story, this higlife-ified housey track song is about how it is OK to be freaky but how getting your freakiness in other people’s business can lead you to becoming a freak show. And should there be any doubt, it is always best to keep your clothes on at a dance party . . .
10. “Afro-Balkan House” is a track that mixes a snippet of the beautiful accordion playing of Erin Kurtz with a house beat made up of a mixture of acoustic and electronic sounds. A little bit of highlife and congolese music sneaks into the rhythm section and there is a clever bassline break down and also a pretty sarod solo.
11. “Kitten” is my own instrumental version of congolese electronica with sarod talking the place of the vocal part that appeared in the original version of this song
12. “Mr. Whetzel’s Extraordinary Intergalactic Fuji” is one of the more ambitious tracks on the album. Weighing in at Seven minutes and two seconds, it is an electronic version of Nigerian fuji music. The parts played by various drums and percussion such as bata, sakara, and shekere are all played as electronic drums and synthesizers. The parts interlock to create a very large melodic rhythmic composition (aka a delicious intelligent groove). Bringing in the western synth and electronic drum sounds makes the fuji ideas take on unexpected references. It begins with what may sound like polyrhythmic psytrance, and finishes up as 12/8 break beat.
13. “International Bossa” is brazilectro Whetzel style. This track began as music I made for Seattle Center for a video to promote the series of cultural festivals known as Festal. They specifically wanted a Brazlian style beat with sounds of music from around the world. So I started with the Brazilian beat on drums and mixed in North African/Middle percussion, playing the clave no less, and added touches of West African rumba box, South Asian dhol and sarod, and a little bit of retro flavored keyboards, bass and guitar. Definitely a fun one to chill out too!
14. “Hello (featuring Aaron Straight)” features the sounds and vocalizations of digeridoo player Aaron Straight. Aaron’s digeridoo is mixed with sarod, whale songs, and delayed out throat singing. The bass line is quite large and the beat is puncy with a suggestion of reggaeton.
15. “Goodbye” is a hip hopping instrumental with big strings, funky bass parts, and massively reverbed throat singing. I had wanted to end an album with this track for years and I am so glad I finally got to do it!
You can preview “The House of Good Juju” at Funketabla.
Here’s the link one more time:
http://www.funketabla.com/store.php
Alright, good juju to you! peace, respect, love, and cheers!
James
The CD is now available through Funketabla, exclusively:
http://www.funketabla.com/store.php
Here is a quick breakdown about the music. It has fifteen tracks!
1. “About Love” is a mix of Bollywood, and Bhangra vibes with Hip Hop and West African beats, and the words for love in Hindi, Urdu, Spanish, French and English. C’est a propos de l’amour bebe!
2. “Space Tekyuman” is a re-interpretation of American Swing via the Tekyuman rhythm of Ghana, West Africa. I love the unique rhythm in this track, also I am proud of the lyrics, which are:
Aliens send to me the mothership
I need to take a trans-galactic trip
My soul’s grown small living on oil and cash
I want to fly to the sun and use no gas
Nautilus, Captain Nemo, send her to me
I want to go ten thousand leagues under the sea
It’s time I made my life aquatic
Because living on land is not doing it for me
Solution for stopping the start of wars
Shift violence to reverse, take a new course
Builders of bombs no longer get paid in cash
Demolished by their products are weapons plants
Wars would work better if they were simplified
With musical competitions we could decide
Victory would not go to who can kill well
But to whoever makes the music that is most beautiful!
If there can’t be dance what purpose revolution?
We need some fresh grooves and we need evolution
And we sure could use another election
Because we need a reality-based correction
Oh Life is a free and a subtle phenomenon
Happening everywhere and in everyone
Infinite in number are the possibilities
Every moment possesses new opportunities
3. “Sympathy for the 4/4″ is an instrumental which has a four on the floor beat supplied by a tabla bayan tuned down low. I play funk beats on tabla and break out some talking drums, West African rumba box (for the super low chunky bass), chimta, and keyboards.
4.”Theme From Beat On!” is a track which was made in honor of the Beat On! artists collective that produces the monthly Beat Council nights at ToST in Seattle. This track starts off with a Nigerian fuji influenced intro and then changes into some break beat.
5. “Washington State.” Many already know this clever little break beat track that is made up of the names of cities of the Evergreen State from Auburn to Walla Walla. An essential track for WA state residents and also for those who are Washington residents of the spirit.
6. “Sympathy for the Sarod.” This is an uptempo remix of “Sympathy for the 4/4″ featuring sarod and throat singing parts.
7. “Capitol Hill” is an ode to the Capitol Hill area of Seattle, which is where I grew up. It references Sir Mixalot’s “My Posse’s on Broadway,” and is a break beat bhangra influenced track that was originally going to be called “my bhangra’s on broadway.”
8. “The Superstar Scene” is rocktronica track with a generous helping of tabla and sarod.
9. “From Freak to Freakshow,” based on a true story, this higlife-ified housey track song is about how it is OK to be freaky but how getting your freakiness in other people’s business can lead you to becoming a freak show. And should there be any doubt, it is always best to keep your clothes on at a dance party . . .
10. “Afro-Balkan House” is a track that mixes a snippet of the beautiful accordion playing of Erin Kurtz with a house beat made up of a mixture of acoustic and electronic sounds. A little bit of highlife and congolese music sneaks into the rhythm section and there is a clever bassline break down and also a pretty sarod solo.
11. “Kitten” is my own instrumental version of congolese electronica with sarod talking the place of the vocal part that appeared in the original version of this song
12. “Mr. Whetzel’s Extraordinary Intergalactic Fuji” is one of the more ambitious tracks on the album. Weighing in at Seven minutes and two seconds, it is an electronic version of Nigerian fuji music. The parts played by various drums and percussion such as bata, sakara, and shekere are all played as electronic drums and synthesizers. The parts interlock to create a very large melodic rhythmic composition (aka a delicious intelligent groove). Bringing in the western synth and electronic drum sounds makes the fuji ideas take on unexpected references. It begins with what may sound like polyrhythmic psytrance, and finishes up as 12/8 break beat.
13. “International Bossa” is brazilectro Whetzel style. This track began as music I made for Seattle Center for a video to promote the series of cultural festivals known as Festal. They specifically wanted a Brazlian style beat with sounds of music from around the world. So I started with the Brazilian beat on drums and mixed in North African/Middle percussion, playing the clave no less, and added touches of West African rumba box, South Asian dhol and sarod, and a little bit of retro flavored keyboards, bass and guitar. Definitely a fun one to chill out too!
14. “Hello (featuring Aaron Straight)” features the sounds and vocalizations of digeridoo player Aaron Straight. Aaron’s digeridoo is mixed with sarod, whale songs, and delayed out throat singing. The bass line is quite large and the beat is puncy with a suggestion of reggaeton.
15. “Goodbye” is a hip hopping instrumental with big strings, funky bass parts, and massively reverbed throat singing. I had wanted to end an album with this track for years and I am so glad I finally got to do it!
You can preview “The House of Good Juju” at Funketabla.
Here’s the link one more time:
http://www.funketabla.com/store.php
Alright, good juju to you! peace, respect, love, and cheers!
James
EQlateral & James Whetzel, Friday, April 25th at Skylark
Posted on Apr 21st, 2008
by Baba James
Baba James
Friday April 25th, EQlateral and James Whetzel at Skylark, with Wolfgang Del Toro and DJ Baba James
Friday, April 25th presents a rare opportunity to catch an extended performance by psyche classical ensemble EQlateral and special guest James Whetzel.
EQlateral is John Ames on Cello, Susan Dumett on voice, Sebastian Lange on violin, and Peter Toms on upright bass and percussion. All the members of Eqlateral mix their live sounds with electronic effects and beats. The music ranges from funky electronica to ambient atmospherics and can sound like trip hop, european classical chamber music, or industrial music, hence the moniker "psyche-classical." To this I, James Whetzel, add my penchant for cleverly punchy Indian and African beats and my love for ragas and modal music. For this show I will play sarod, darbouka, do throat singing, and also play selected fresh beats from my electronic repetoire.
For more info on EQ check:
http://eqlateral.com/
For more info on yours truly check:
http://www.funketabla.com/jwhetzel.php
This performance will take place at the eminently cool and intimate environs of Skylark in West Seattle. Skylark is located at 3803 Delridge Way SW, zip. 98106 take the Delridge Exit from the West Seattle bridge, veer left and voila it's right after the ramp on your right.
http://www.skylarkcafe.com/
Also on the bill are the funky tripped out hopping sounds of Wolfgang Del Toro. And likewise rocking you will be DJ Baba James (aka James Whetzel with his DJ hat on) who will be doing a DJ set featuring sounds from his soon to be released album "The House of Good Juju."
Tentative Schedule for the night is:
9 - 10pm Wolfgang Del Toro
10pm EQlateral & James Whetzel
11pm DJ Baba James
12am - ?? EQlateral & James Whetzel
And like all shows at Skylark the show is free!
This is definitely a show you don't want to miss!!!
Hope to see you there, best musical regards,
Cheers!
James Whetzel
Here's a link to some recordings from our live shows together:
http://eqlateral.com/music.html
And here's is a link to a video from October 5, 2007 Beat Council show that finds Peter (bass) and Sebastian (violin) and yours truly (darbouka, beats) playing over a surprisingly jolly DJ Baba James beat.
http://revver.com/video/425956/baba-james-with-eqlateral-at-beat-ons-the-beat-council-october-5-2007-at-electric-tea-garden-at-oseao/
Friday, April 25th presents a rare opportunity to catch an extended performance by psyche classical ensemble EQlateral and special guest James Whetzel.
EQlateral is John Ames on Cello, Susan Dumett on voice, Sebastian Lange on violin, and Peter Toms on upright bass and percussion. All the members of Eqlateral mix their live sounds with electronic effects and beats. The music ranges from funky electronica to ambient atmospherics and can sound like trip hop, european classical chamber music, or industrial music, hence the moniker "psyche-classical." To this I, James Whetzel, add my penchant for cleverly punchy Indian and African beats and my love for ragas and modal music. For this show I will play sarod, darbouka, do throat singing, and also play selected fresh beats from my electronic repetoire.
For more info on EQ check:
http://eqlateral.com/
For more info on yours truly check:
http://www.funketabla.com/jwhetzel.php
This performance will take place at the eminently cool and intimate environs of Skylark in West Seattle. Skylark is located at 3803 Delridge Way SW, zip. 98106 take the Delridge Exit from the West Seattle bridge, veer left and voila it's right after the ramp on your right.
http://www.skylarkcafe.com/
Also on the bill are the funky tripped out hopping sounds of Wolfgang Del Toro. And likewise rocking you will be DJ Baba James (aka James Whetzel with his DJ hat on) who will be doing a DJ set featuring sounds from his soon to be released album "The House of Good Juju."
Tentative Schedule for the night is:
9 - 10pm Wolfgang Del Toro
10pm EQlateral & James Whetzel
11pm DJ Baba James
12am - ?? EQlateral & James Whetzel
And like all shows at Skylark the show is free!
This is definitely a show you don't want to miss!!!
Hope to see you there, best musical regards,
Cheers!
James Whetzel
Here's a link to some recordings from our live shows together:
http://eqlateral.com/music.html
And here's is a link to a video from October 5, 2007 Beat Council show that finds Peter (bass) and Sebastian (violin) and yours truly (darbouka, beats) playing over a surprisingly jolly DJ Baba James beat.
http://revver.com/video/425956/baba-james-with-eqlateral-at-beat-ons-the-beat-council-october-5-2007-at-electric-tea-garden-at-oseao/
Tagged with: EQlateral, James Whetzel, Wolfgang Del Toro, DJ Baba James, Music, Skylark, Seattle, Sarod, Psycheclassical
The Beat Council, Saturday, April 12th @ ToST, 9pm
Posted on Apr 11th, 2008
by Baba James
Baba James
Hey Ladies and Gents!
Tommorow is Saturday April 12th! and the Beat Council is coming back to ToST. We do it once a month on the second Saturday 9pm to 2am. Cover is only $3.
I will be kicking off the night at 9pm - 10pm with a new project of African Electronic music. I will be playing traditional Asante rhythms from Ghana, West Africa, on my laptop. I will play the basic support drum parts of these complex beats while the lead drum parts are played live by Master Ghanaian drummer Yaw Amponsah and the awesome American drummer Greg Campbell.
For more about these gents check these links:
Yaw Amponsah
http://www.funketabla.com/yaw.php
(you can hear great samples of Yaw's drumming here, I recommend the "Tekyuman" track)
Greg Campbell
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=14753
And of course there is even more. Following the set by yours truly Yaw and Greg are our excellent Beat On! resident DJs:
Crispy
http://djmix.net/Crispy/mixes
&
Muad'deep
http://www.myspace.com/djmuaddeep
http://www.karunarecordings.com/
Plus our special guest DJ B.FLY.
She will be spinning breaks. B.FLY http://www.myspace.com/whybfly
ToST is located at 513 N. 36th Street in Fremont, Seattle.http://www.tostlounge.com/
Best musical regards, cheers!
James Whetzel
http://www.funketabla.com/jwhetzel.php
http://www.ilike.com/artist/James+Whetzel
http://www.myspace.com/jameswhetzel
PS oh btw and the funketabla website has a calendar now!!!! So if you are ever curious to see what I am up to you can just go to Funketabla and you can see what I'm up to on the main page. http://www.funketabla.com
Tommorow is Saturday April 12th! and the Beat Council is coming back to ToST. We do it once a month on the second Saturday 9pm to 2am. Cover is only $3.
I will be kicking off the night at 9pm - 10pm with a new project of African Electronic music. I will be playing traditional Asante rhythms from Ghana, West Africa, on my laptop. I will play the basic support drum parts of these complex beats while the lead drum parts are played live by Master Ghanaian drummer Yaw Amponsah and the awesome American drummer Greg Campbell.
For more about these gents check these links:
Yaw Amponsah
Yaw Amponsah
http://www.funketabla.com/yaw.php
(you can hear great samples of Yaw's drumming here, I recommend the "Tekyuman" track)
Greg Campbell
Greg Campbell
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=14753
And of course there is even more. Following the set by yours truly Yaw and Greg are our excellent Beat On! resident DJs:
Crispy
Crispy
http://djmix.net/Crispy/mixes
&
DJ Muad'deep
Muad'deep
http://www.myspace.com/djmuaddeep
http://www.karunarecordings.com/
Plus our special guest DJ B.FLY.
B.FLY
She will be spinning breaks. B.FLY http://www.myspace.com/whybfly
ToST is located at 513 N. 36th Street in Fremont, Seattle.http://www.tostlounge.com/
Best musical regards, cheers!
James Whetzel
James Whetzel
http://www.funketabla.com/jwhetzel.php
http://www.ilike.com/artist/James+Whetzel
http://www.myspace.com/jameswhetzel
PS oh btw and the funketabla website has a calendar now!!!! So if you are ever curious to see what I am up to you can just go to Funketabla and you can see what I'm up to on the main page. http://www.funketabla.com
Tagged with: African Music, Electronic, James Whetzel, Crispy, B.FLY, Beat On!, Yaw Amponsah, Funketabla, Greg Campbell
The Beat Council, Feb. 9, 2008 w EQlateral & James Whetzel
Posted on Jan 20th, 2008
by Baba James
Baba James
Good people
This is a great show that will be happening at ToST in fremont, 513 N. 36th St. on Saturday, February 9th. See e-flier attached below. This show will feature resident DJs: Crispy, Lara, Muad'deep and Baba James (AKA moi) and will have as special guests EQlateral with yours truly, James Whetzel. EQlateral is a four piece group that mixes classical music and instrumentation with live electronic music and improvisation on violin, cello, bass and voice. I'll will be joining EQlateral for this show and will be playing sarod, african guitar, beats, percussion and singing.
This show is free!!! No cover and open to the 21+ public.
Hope to see you there!
Cheers!
James Whetzel
http://ilike.com/artist/James+Whetzel
http://www.funketabla.com/jwhetzel.php
This is a great show that will be happening at ToST in fremont, 513 N. 36th St. on Saturday, February 9th. See e-flier attached below. This show will feature resident DJs: Crispy, Lara, Muad'deep and Baba James (AKA moi) and will have as special guests EQlateral with yours truly, James Whetzel. EQlateral is a four piece group that mixes classical music and instrumentation with live electronic music and improvisation on violin, cello, bass and voice. I'll will be joining EQlateral for this show and will be playing sarod, african guitar, beats, percussion and singing.
This show is free!!! No cover and open to the 21+ public.
Hope to see you there!
Cheers!
James Whetzel
http://ilike.com/artist/James+Whetzel
http://www.funketabla.com/jwhetzel.php
Tagged with: james whetzel, eqlateral, beat on!, the beat council, seattle, music, funketabla, tost, dj, electronic, sarod, crispy, lara, muad'deep, baba james
East of the Underground Events: September 28, Oct. 27, Dec. 29th,
Posted on Sep 23rd, 2007
by Baba James
Baba James
East of the Underground Events: September 28, October 27, December 29, 2007
Ladies and Gents!
I am proud to tell you about a cool series of events I am producing with DJ Muad'deep at the Electric Tea Garden at Oseao at 1402 E. Pike Street in Seattle, WA 98122.
The series is called East of the Underground and is about presenting fresh new music: this is more than music that matters, it's music that you haven't heard yet. These are sounds that are pushing the creative envelope and mixing live music with electronic music in a way that is truly revolutionary, or as we like to say evolutionary!
Each event will feature new sounds by yours truly James Whetzel, on sarod, voice, throat singing and tabla poetry. I'll be playing my live acoustic sounds over fresh original beats based on traditional Indian and African grooves which I control with a foot pedal while I sing and strum. DJ Muad'deep will be playing new grooves of all kinds with an emphasis on Asian and Middle Easterns styles. I'll be joining in on live music with his beats. http://www.myspace.com/james whetzel http://www.myspace.com/djmuaddeep
Each event will feature a guest artist. And we are really excited about our guest artists!!!! :
East of the Underground Events and Guest Artists:
September 28th, Friday 9pm -2am: Special Guest: Shri Deepayan (PDX)
October 27th, Saturday, 9pm - 2am: Special Guest: Signia (BC)
December 29th, Saturday, 9pm - 2am: Special Guest: Emch from Subatomic Sound System (NYC)
About our guest artists:
Shri Deepayan: hailing now from Portland, Seattle audience will remember Shri Deepayan as one my co-producers of the Tandav club nights along with DJ Gringo Starr. Nowadays Shri D. is exploring new dimension of live beats mixed with live tabla. He has promised an energizing set of "tabla and bass" for the first East of the Underground event. http://www.funketabla.com/sdeep.php
Signia: live innovative Bhangra sounds coming directly to you from British Columbia. As Panjabi Canadians, the members of Signia grew up in a mix of cultures and their sound is a reflection of this daily reality. Hip hop, rock, and drum n bass, are just a few of the elements that go into their cutting edge bhangra sound. http://www.myspace.com/signiabhangra
Emch from Subatomic Sound System: Emch is the beat maker in the collective music making machine that is Subatomic Sound System. A critically acclaimed producer Emch's makes on one hand dub reggae tracks that you would swear came from 1970s Jamaica and on the other hand makes futuristic hip hop and drum n bass that seems to come from the 22nd Century. Recently an afrobeat remix by Emch of a dancehall track by Sierra Leone's Dry Yai, was featured on radio in in the run up to elections there.
Tagged with: East of the Underground, Tabla, Dub, Bhangra, Sarod, Seattle, Oseao, Electric Tea Garden
James Seranades Seattle Parks w/ Sarod! & Shri Deepayan in town!
Posted on Sep 5th, 2007
by Baba James
Baba James
Yes it is true. James Whetzel is back bringing sarod, voice and occasional dashes of throat singing to the Parks of the City of Seattle.
You can catch him:
Wednesday, September 5th between 11:30am and 1:30pm at Waterfront Park in Downtown Seattle, 1301 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98101
&
Wednesday, September 11th between 11:30am and 1:30pm at Hing Hay Park in Chinatown/ The ID, 423 Maynard Ave South, Seattle, WA 98104
More shows on the way including, a show on September 28th show with special guest Shri Deepayan, who’s coming up from Portland, Oregon to grace the Electric Tea Garden on Capitol Hill with a rare display of live tabla drum n bass. Also “Beat ON†is bringing The Beat Council night back to the Electric Tea Garden at 1402 E. Pike Street on Friday October 5th. Special guest for that show T.B.A
“East of the Undergroundâ€
Friday September 28th, Doors open at 9pm, Peformances 10pm - 2am
James Whetzel (Sarod, voice, throat singing, tabla poetry with live beats)
DJ Muad’deep (South Asian downtempo, Middle Eastern trip hop)
Plus Special Guest: Shri Deepayan (live Indian tabla and beats)
@ Electric Tea Garden at Oseao, 1402 E. Pike, Seattle WA 98122
$5 cover includes complimentary cup of the house tea! (aka one tea cup minimum)
All Ages!
“Beat ON Presents The Beat Council†Friday, October 5th, Doors at 9pm, show from 10pm -2am
Crispy (downtempo/progressive/psytrance)
Baba James (bhangra fusion/juju/highlife/afrobeat)
Dj Muad’deep (south asian downtempo/middle eastern trip hop)
Plus special guest T.B.A.
@ The Electric Tea Garden at Oseao, 1402 E. Pike Street, Seattle, WA 98122
$3 cover (donations to cover costs gladly accepted!)
All Ages!
Tagged with: James Whetzel, Beat On, East of the Underground, Shri Deepayan, Electric Tea Garden, Seattle, Sarod, Baba James, Crispy, DJ Muad'deep
Subcontinental Palmwine Punk CD Release Party! July 29th!!!
Posted on Jul 7th, 2007
by Baba James
Baba James
James Whetzel Subcontinental Palmwine Punk CD Release party Sunday July 29th, 9pm with special guests: Yaw Asare, Siendo, DJ Mau' Deep and Shri Deepayan.
Yes it’s true the Afican/Indian/American musical extravaganza that will be the James Whetzel CD Release is happening Sunday July 29th at 9pm at The Tractor Tavern. Tickets are $10 and are available at the door and through Ticket Web and other online outlets. To order tickets online copy this link and paste it into your browser
tractortavern.ypguides.net/page....html
In addition to James on Palmwine guitar, sarod and throat singing, there will be virtuouso African percussionist Yaw Asare, Afro/Latin group Siendo, Indian electronic music from Shri Deepayan, and Arabic and Indian electronic sounds from Dj Mau’Deep.
The Tractor Tavern is located at 5213 Ballard Ave NW. Telephone: (206) 789-3599
Yes it’s true the Afican/Indian/American musical extravaganza that will be the James Whetzel CD Release is happening Sunday July 29th at 9pm at The Tractor Tavern. Tickets are $10 and are available at the door and through Ticket Web and other online outlets. To order tickets online copy this link and paste it into your browser
tractortavern.ypguides.net/page....html
In addition to James on Palmwine guitar, sarod and throat singing, there will be virtuouso African percussionist Yaw Asare, Afro/Latin group Siendo, Indian electronic music from Shri Deepayan, and Arabic and Indian electronic sounds from Dj Mau’Deep.
The Tractor Tavern is located at 5213 Ballard Ave NW. Telephone: (206) 789-3599
james whetzel
August 2008 