Here's a video of my birthday jam during my "Funky 40th Soul Party" last night at Club 412. So much fun dancing and partying with some of my closest friends from swing, hip-hop, Quaker and Global Kids communities. Yes, I really am 40. I don't really believe it myself sometimes. Thanks for taking this video,…
Tag: soul music
Dig Deeper brings Lee Fields to the Five Spot in Fort Greene (video)
I was fortunate enough to catch soul singer Lee Fields performing last night at the Five Spot in Fort Greene, the latest in the impressive monthly live soul music parties thrown by the nice folks at Dig Deeper. What a fantastic night of soul music. Even at Mr Fields advanced age, he still tore it…
Help me realize my dream 40th birthday: a dance party on the Hudson!
I have a dream. It is not a grandiose dream. But it is one that maybe you can help make real. I want to have a dance party for my 40th birthday on the Hudson river this June. Specifically here's what I want: to gather 50-100 of my favorite peeps and have them ring in…
Free Daptone Records sampler album on Amazon!
As folks know, I'm a big fan of Daptone Records, the Brooklyn-based soul music label. If you would like to check out what all the fuss is about , head to Amazon.com where you can download a free sampler album featuring several acts in the Daptone stable, including Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, the Budos…
Update from Gabe Roth on Daptones Records Burglary
My friend Laura passed on to me this email from Gabe "Bosco" Roth, head of soul music indie record label Daptone Records, about the burglary of their studios a week ago. Sounds like they are still hurting, but basically back in business: Luckily, the extent of the burglary was not debilitating. Between what was stolen…
Daptone Records in Bushwick was robbed!
Brooklyn Vegan reports that the amazing indie soul label Daptone Records was broken into a couple of days ago! They lost a ton of equipment including: a Fender Super Guitar Amp and Deluxe Guitar Amp, an HP laptop computer, one desktop MacIntosh computer, 2 Yamaha NS10 monitors, a vintage Harmony Rocket Guitar, one steel string…
Grooving to Sharon Jones and Dap Kings in Times Square last night!
Last night, a bunch of friends and I caught Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings at the swank Nokia Theater in Times Square. Sharon and the band played a mix of their last two albums, several awesome new songs that they are still working on, as well as amazing covers of Sam Cooke and Gladys…
Dancing alone, dancing in community
Several people at Quaker Meeting today wanted me to share this message I spoke at Meeting for Worship this morning. So here’s the gist of it: Last night I attended two dances. I ended the evening at a soul party in Fort Greene. There was a certain kind of joy in the room, with a …
The Mighty Hannibal at the Five Spot in Brooklyn tonight (video)
I just got home from "Dig Deeper", a monthly soul jam at the Five Spot in Fort Greene. Tonight the featured performer was the Mighty Hannibal, a 69-year old soul artist from Atlanta, backed by the Sweet Divines. Hannibal is still a powerful performer, despite losing his eyesight a few years ago. I love…
Manu, Naomi & Ramona performing Wilson Pickett song at Swing & Soul (video)
Here's Manu Smith, Naomi Oyama, and Ramona Staffeld just KILLING a performance to Wilson Pickett's "Land of 1,000 Dances" at Swing and Soul in Atlanta this weekend. Sorry for my terrible call-and-response singing into the mic. How do you not sing along to this song?