Stop Cruising & Start Dancing
Yes I admit that I'm biased toward Fusion Chicago, the internet radio station, but even if I were totally objective I'd still be recommending this dance music outlet. In addition to my Sunday night Groove Line show, Fusion has two other mixshows that truly deliver. On Friday nights from 10 pm 11 pm, DJ Spinn gets the weekend off to an incredible start with his New York City-influenced style that has him blending tribal, hard house and Latin beats to perfect effect. Then on Saturday nights from 10 pm - midnight, Indy's DJ Deanne creates peak hour excitement to match what you might get were you to actually go out clubbing. Catch Fusion directly from their web site (www.fusionchicago.com) or via iTunes Radio (in the Electronica group of stations)"JUN-YAA!!!!" - Part 1
I remember the first time I heard DJ Junior Vasquez in the mid-1990s and I thought to myself, "what's all the fuss about?" I continued to feel that way for the next couple of years whenever I heard him spin. Then I purchased his Junior Works Eightball mixed compilation CD and subsequently heard him at the White Party in Palm Springs: my dance music world, as I knew it, was forever changed. Not only did I start liking and appreciating Junior, it was because of him that I realized that a DJ could be so much more than a human jukebox. He mastered the production of emotional dance floor musical soundscapes and added plenty of drama with sets full of creative track selections.
There's a wide array of opinions regarding Junior and I understand why many of them are less than complimentary. Junior's diva-quotient is infamously high and he's not always been a consistent deliverer of the goods when he's in the DJ booth. That said, I've found that an average night by Junior, which undoubtedly will have some smile-inducing surprises, is far better and more interesting than most DJs' stellar performances. Thus, when Junior Vasquez graces us with his presence at Crobar on February 26th, I'll surely be there dancing my ass off.
Heather Headley Part 1
Ms. Headley, the beautiful award winning vocalist who starred on Broadway in Aida, has released her second album called InMy Mind (RCA Records) and it is sure to return her to the R&B and pop musical limelight. This 12-track CD project follows her very successful 2002 debut effort, This Is Who I Am, and is highlighted by production assistance from the likes of Babyface, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, India.Arie, and Lil Jon. But no matter who helped out, the essence and beauty of this release is Headley's very strong, sultry, and emotion-filled vocal performance on each and every song.
What Time Is It?
Currently, the most compelling reality show - in a very tragic "I-can't-believe-they-are-debasing-themselves-in-this-manner" - is VH1's The Flavor Of Love. In this weekly Bachelor-esque show, a group of women have been vying for the attention and affection of Flavor Flav, the gold-toothed hype-man of the rap group Public Enemy who famously wears super large clock necklaces. This show is so low brow - with its Red Lobster dates and blind-folded sniff tests it's only slightly above Paris Hilton's The Simple Life.Apple's Daddy and His Friends
The biggest band in the world right now is Coldplay and there are two dance remixes of "Talk," the latest single from the multi-platinum X&Y album. The both have a progressive feel to them with the Francois K Remix going the deeper and darker route while the Junkie XL Remix has a big room sound.Heather Headley Part 2
I told you how good the new Heather Headley CD is, so now let's focus on the dance remixes of the first single, the title track "In My Mind." The Dave Hernandez mixes have a wonderful transcontinental feel, combining melodic guitars reminiscent of West Coast house with the soulful pianos of East Coast garage. The fuller sounding Freemason mixes contain an infectious general house groove that will undoubtedly attract folks to the dance floor. Both sets of remixes are top notch!
