The Jazzcat

Click on picture above for a morphing music sample

Slide Show

What does it take to “Build an Ark”? Noah did it with different animals and

it worked. Well, humans are certainly a different animal, each with their own

distinctive beliefs and routine rituals. Always right and never wrong,

concerned only for their existence and well being while not taking into account

the predicament that their actions may leave others in.

Well, my people, the answer is simple, “Communication”.

There are so many forms of it. The way we speak, the way we dress, the expressions

on our faces, our belief in higher powers of the universe. But, one of the

strongest forms of communication is through music.

  click icture for video

Usually the music we listen to is part of the definition of

our character. It certainly is a strong part of mine, but there do not always

have to be such restrictions on just one music or another. Who ever said that

music should be packaged and put in a box? Music is for the world to enjoy and

Build an Ark

has allowed everyone to come on the boat to triumph in a collaboration of sounds

that span from the Eastside to the Westside, to the Northside to the South.

 

Jazz, Rock, Hip-Hop, eastern rhythms and blends of funk

permeated the Museum

of Natural History. Deep into the night, the

people, Black, White, Asian, Latin, young, hip and beautiful all came together

to experience music for the universe. The spirit of love is the common theme as

this group of musicians from different genres of music, with no rehearsal, got

together on the stage and turned the Motha out!

 

Carlos Nino is the free funk master who had the foresight to

bring all of these cats together to make beautiful music. From folk guitarist,

to African percussion, to spiritual jazz conduits, to horns with eastern

influences all the way through to rappers who speak on infinite love and human beat boxes that spin, scratch

and cut vocal vinyl, Build an Ark

brings love and freedom in music to all the people.

 

A few of the favorite local heroes like Dwight Trible, Phil

Ranelin, Derf Reklaw, Joshua Spiegelman, Nate Morgan, Dexter Story and Trevor

Ware were on hand. The great percussionist Adam Rudolph was there along with

guitarists, back ground vocals, DJ’s and a whole host of cosmic galactic

influences that created a vibe that was grounded in earthy reality. Sounds like

a contradiction however, the experience was anything but. There were two big

screens blending visual images with images of the players and the music. This

gig was hip and full of musical freedom!

  click picture for video

World be Free is more than just a nick name for a basketball

player it is a concept for living. If the world got down on the battlefield

with music instead of swords and knives, the global village would be one big

party!!! As the artist Patrick Johnson always says “Follow your spirit and  Phree-Ya Mind!”

 LeRoy Downs