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A Timeless Sneak Peek Video + Download: YEKERMO SEW

Monday, March 15th, 2010

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The Sounds of VTech / Mulatu Astatke: Yekermo Sew

Ethiopian, Mulatu Astatke is a giant in African music.  He is the inventor of Ethio-jazz.  His work has inspired many imitations, many admirers, and a whole new generation of fans.  His music veers from the sublime tezetas to the most foot stomping funk.

The award winning and invaluable Ethiopiques series has shed a light into a vital and amazing music scene that existed in Addis Ababa in the 60s. The composer/arranger of that era was Mulatu Astatke.

On February 1st, during the first concert in the Timeless Series brought to you by Mochilla and VTech, he blessed the sold-out Luckman Theater with an amazing show. He shared the stage with veterans of the Los Angeles jazz scene, Bennie Maupin, Azar Lawrence, and Phil Ranelin. The performance was beautiful- showcasing many classics (like Yekermo Sew featured here) as well as some new material.

Nas, Damian Marley, Cut Chemist, Quantic, Oh No, Madlib, and K’naan all have felt the influence of Ethio-Jazz- this Timeless Sneak Peek honors Mulatu and his music.

Line-Up

Mulatu Astatke – Vibraphone, Percussion

Brandon Coleman – Electric and Acoustic Piano, Organ

Bennie Maupin – Bass Clarinet, Flute, Soprano Sax

Azar Lawrence – Tenor Sax

Phil Ranelin - Trombone

Joel Yennior – Trombone

Todd Simon – Trumpet, Flugelhorn

Miguel Atwood-Ferguson – Viola

Dan Ubick – Electric and Acoustic Guitar

Trevor Ware – Electric and Upright Bass

Tony Austin – Trap Drums

Alan Lightner – Percussion

Munyungo Jackson – Hand Drums and Percussion


Right Click to Download:  Yekermo Sew

Download: Mulatu Astatke: Yèkèrmo Sèw
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Behind the Scenes with D+T and Jonsi

Friday, March 12th, 2010

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Here’s a new video from our friends over at Death and Taxes Magazine featuring Jonsi. Jonsi who is the front man of ethereal pop group, Sigur Ros is going solo. His first solo album, titled “Go,” will be released on March 23rd, 2010.

Although the majority of Sigur Ros’s music could be described as melancholic and sullen, despite being a bit  psychedelic, the songs on “Go” are joyful and radiant, showing Jonsi’s sunnier and  more vivacious side. As owner of one of the most distinct voices in music, on his solo record, Jonsi has opted to sing in English instead of Hopelandic, the language he invented for Sigur Ros.

Watch and enjoy.

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The Sounds of VTech / Jonsi from Sigur Ros for Death+Taxes

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Exclusive: VTech and Mochilla Meet Jay Electronica in New Orleans

Monday, March 8th, 2010

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“Your entire community is gone…

You can’t go home, it doesn’t exist anymore”

-Jay Electronica

In the weeks after Hurricane Katrina, Coleman and B+ were invited to New Orleans to screen Brasilintime and to make photos by the folks from Common Ground. Documenting the damages and the obstacles people were faced with to rebuild what was lost. In five days they had made enough images to have a benefit show at Self Help Graphics in LA.

Three years later on Halloween Weekend of 2009, VTech invited Mochilla back to New Orleans again – to attend the Voodoo Festival and to meet with Jay Electronica – New Orleans favorite representative – well, besides the Saints!

This video was shot that weekend. Though Jay proved to be quite elusive during our stay, we managed to get him over to his beloved Magnolia Projects in the Third Ward. His memories of growing up there and what it means to be there now stand as a striking reminder to all those of us lucky enough to escape these kinds of unnatural disasters.

It has taken us a second to bring you this video but the events that have occurred over the past few weeks mean that the message hasn’t lost any of its potency.

Take a minute to remember…

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The Sounds of VTech / Jay Electronica in New Orleans

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Behind the Scenes at National Geographic for Distant Relatives

Sunday, January 31st, 2010

Though the weather was wet and cold back in December 2009 in Washington DC, the crowds came early and patiently waited in long serpentine lines throughout the lobby of the National Geographic Grosvenor Auditorium for “Distant Relatives,” a special panel discussion. Some had come to hear Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, others for Nas, several came for Kool Herc and Rakim, and one person in particular came for Jeff Chang with book in hand hoping for an autograph. But no matter who they came for, the purpose of the evening was to learn about the roots of Hip-Hop and Reggae music, spanning the continent of Africa to the sound systems of Jamaica, and onto the streets of America.

This amazing panel which includes guests such as Stephen Marley, DJ Red Alert, Pat McKay, Waterflow, Big Youth, etc., was brought to the global stage by VTech  and was truly a melding of the minds.

They touched on the generational gap of learning and understanding music, the evolution of their industries, their personal experiences, beliefs, and interpretations of what music meant to them and expressed their joys and frustrations.

For those of you who weren’t there, this video gives a look at the magic behind the scenes as well as what happened on stage that night.  Listen, learn, and grow.

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The Sounds of VTech / Distant Relatives at National Geographic

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A Timeless Moment with Karriem Riggins and Thundercat

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

It was show day at the Luckman Theatre and February 22nd, 2009 marked our second concert of the Timeless series, Suite for Ma Dukes. As the Orchestra assembled, Karriem Riggins and Steve “Thundercat” Bruner sat in the back chatting and sharing jazz stories. Karriem and Thundercat, both jazz veterans despite their youthfulness, were having a good time. Then in a flash Thundercat broke out his iPhone and asked Karriem about Tony Williams. Tony Williams had been a jazz prodigy who at 17 had played drums with the famous Miles Davis Quartet with Ron Carter, and Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock in the mid-sixties. In the seventies his band Lifetime were an amazing fusion combo making some just incredible records.

Thundercat played Williams’, “Proto-Cosmos,” and Karriem knew the song straight away. Immediately they began to play. B+ happened to be standing there with camera in hand, and was fortunate enough to capture this joyful moment. Here it is, free, happy, improvised and spectacular. Just what music is about.

Get ready for the 3 DVD Limited Edition Timeless Box Set coming 03-30-10..

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The Sounds of VTech / Karriem Riggins and Thundercat: Proto Cosmos

The song that inspired the moment…


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Happy Holidays From VTech and D+T

Thursday, December 10th, 2009

Here’s a video put together by our friends over at Death + Taxes featuring Das Racist and the Food Network’s Ian Kanauer as a holiday gift to you, our Sound of VTech fans. The video, a reflection of our current economic times, shows Ian teaching the band full of struggling artists how to cook a holiday meal on the cheap. Maybe you’ll try the recipe out yourself over the holidays and let us know how it works out. 

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The Sounds of VTech / Das Racist

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