You Don't Know Jack

J. Davey - Mr. Mister

Maseo (De La Soul) Live DJ Set in Houston

This Monday- One of Houston's most popular groove selectors DJ Sun puts it down with one of hip-hop's legendary group members. Maseo of De La Soul will spin at The Flat (1701 Commonwealth in Midtown) along with Sun and the Soular Grooves crew. Without a doubt, hip-hop fans will come out to see Maseo do his thing on the ol' ones and two's. But the real attraction is DJ Sun and crew. Sun has been voted Houston's best DJ more times than I have fingers...and for good reason - he's dope. With a mix of hip-hop, soul, jazz, break beats, and downtempo goodies, his sets are always on point. For more info, check out the Soular Grooves website here.

The Truth Vol. 2 shall set you free...

True fans of soul music recently rejoiced all over the world when Frank McComb released The Truth Vol. 2 this year. Few artists on today's musical landscape can fluidly transverse between the subtle intricacies of jazz and the deepest recesses of heartfelt soul. He is proof positive there are still "real" artists walking among us. Like Ray Charles, McComb's talent is so immense that he can literally sound like any artist he wanted to emulate. But the buttery vocals he allows you to hear truly belong to him and him alone. It is only by coincidence that his voice is so similar to that of the great Donny Hathaway. But those comparisons are fading fast as music fans worldwide are finally seeing the true genius in his works.

Frank McComb is a modern day soul "sensai". I can almost imagine something similar to David Carradine in Kung Fu, McComb strapping his Fender Rhodes to his back and traveling from city to city, teaching any student willing to learn about what soul really is. (Yeah, I watch too much tv, so what!) He's currently on tour and I, like many, will travel through hell and high waters to see him do what he does. If you're ready to learn about what "real" soul music is, first check out the link below of McComb's beautiful remake of Stevie Wonder's "Golden Lady". Then check the tour and event dates listed below and make a way to see one of the world's true talents.

Frank McComb - Golden Lady

Friday June 29, 2007

Santa Monica, Ca.

A Juke Joint, Hueman Foundations and BETJ's Soul Sessions Presents Frank McComb and Yolanda Johnson

The Temple Bar

1026 Wilshire Blvd.

Santa Monica, Ca.

Cost: $15.00

Doors: 9:00pm

Yolanda Johnson: 10:00pm

Frank McComb: 11:15pm

Friday July 6, 2007
Houston, Texas

The Breakfast Klub
3711 Travis (@ Alabama)
Houston, TX
77002
Time: 7:00 pm
Admission: Free, but you must RSVP at (713) 731-2409. (Seating is limited)

Sunday July 8, 2007
Baltimore, Maryland
African American Heritage Festival
For more information click onto aahf.net.

Saturday July 21, 2007
Cleveland, Ohio
The 4th Annual Unity in the Park
Old School Concert and Fireworks
Luke Easter Park
Free Admission
9:00am - 9:00pm

Other guests are Angela Johnson, Ronnie Laws, The Dramatics & The S.O.S. Band just to name a few.

Thursday September 6, 2007
Baltimore, Maryland
Jazzy Summer Nights Festival
More info coming soon.

Saturday, September 22, 2007
Norfolk, Virginia
-Fund Raiser-
Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Norfolk Chapter presents
A Smooth and Soothing Evening of Jazz
Half Moon Cruise and Celebration Center

Featuring special guest vocalist Carol Riddick

Time: 8:00 P.M.
General Admission: $65
VIP includes cocktail reception: $100
Hors d'oeuvres and Cash Bar
For more info call 757-737-2295

CD's will be available at all performances.

It's News To You

Review
Donnie - The Daily News














Donnie Johnson has news for you - the world sucks (the one most black folks live in anyway). While other soul singers lament on love found and lost, he is choosing to talk about the preverbial herd of 800 pound elephants that many of today's artists choose to ignore. Singing about suicide? Pharmaceutical drug company fuckery? Unemployment? This is blasphemy nowadays in the r&b and soul realm of the music industry. It's a good thing Donnie is no longer tied to Motown because they never would have released this record. He could have easily recorded an album full of lush sounding, neo-soulistic ooh la la...but instead chose to follow the path of the greats that came before him. This is a truly personal album. And after listening to it, it's no wonder it took almost 3 years to produce.

Only a truly fearless artist would release a song like "Atlanta Child Murders". On this funky gem, Donnie vocalizes the controversial opinion of many that the government, not convicted murderer Wayne Williams, is responsible for the deaths of 21 black youths between 1979 and 1981. "Suicide" is a cathartic release of the inner demons that have reportedly plagued Donnie since the release of his critically acclaimed debut "The Colored Section". "Over The Counter Culture" featuring Phonte of Little Brother is a bass heavy indictment of the pharmaceutical industries' desire to have us all hooked on some type of "legal" drug.

The Daily News is up-tempo, funk fest from front to back, only relenting momentarily on the cd's first single "If I Were You" - a breezy mid-tempo track that provides relief from the album's more intense selections. The overall artistry in the record is astounding for a sophomore release. Not only is Donnie brave enough to step away from the expected, but in brilliant fashion he creates a gateway to your own front door. It only takes a peek outside to know he speaks the truth. And while the music industry is dutifully doing its' part to keep us thoroughly entertained, this album does its' part by imploring us to confront reality. "News" is not all doom and gloom though, as you definitely hear a call for acceptance and tolerance within its' musical landscape.

Even though he's not quite there yet, Donnie is well on his way to not just receiving facetious comparisons to his influences like Donny Hathaway and Stevie Wonder, but creating his own space among them as their latter day artistic contemporary.

Out of zeit

What does 9-11, organized religion, the federal reserve, and terrorism have in common? You don't even want to know. Problem is, you really need to know. I really haven't been a big fan of movies like Loose Change and other conspiracy type films. Not because I didn't agree with what was presented, but I always sit through these movies like "DUH!!!" and they always tend to infer more than the facts suggest. BUT....this film will change the way you view the world. And if not, it will give you a helluva lot to think about. Sometimes I feel like Laurence Fishburne's character in School Daze because we all need to WAKE UP! The film is called Zeitgeist and it is worth all 2 hours of your time and focus. The word zeitgeist is a German term referring to the intellectual and cultural climate of an era. Even though the film is just an advance version with some incomplete graphics and editing, this is still just as riveting, enlightening, and ultimately as depressing as Michael Moore's SiCKO.

Click here to watch a streaming video of Zeitgeist. And oh yeah....wake up.

Beautiful Minds

Dudley Perkins and Georgia Anne Muldrow - Beautiful Mind

Free Urban Lounge Mixtape!

Ok...so for a while now, I've been getting a ton of requests for this mixtape. I never can seem to print enough copies of it, so why not just give it away? Music is for the people, right? This a blend of old school mostly 80's classic's from groups like the Rolling Stones, Hall and Oates, Wham, and David Bowie (hence the name The Blue Eyed Project.) With the exception of one or two, these were all songs that played on black stations back in the day, so most peeps will be familiar with the tracks. All the music has been "stretched" for maximum chill value, so be sure you pour up your favorite drink when you pop this in. And all my 420 peeps...you know what to do.

Just click here to go to the download page! Enjoy. BTW...if you want a sneak peek at what to expect, just drop my myspace page.