The Sounds of VTech

The Timeless DVD Box Set

Timeless describes moments outside of time— moments that exist so deep inside history that they break through that finite grid. Timeless: The Composer/Arranger Series is an homage to the composer-arrangers that have influenced hip-hop in the most literal and profound ways.

The creative center of popular music today is the beatmaker-producer. Whether it is Timbaland, Dilla, Dre, or Madlib, these musicians have an uncanny sense for voicings, a penchant for unusual sounds and catchy rhythms and a magical ability to manufacture a good performance. Today’s beatmakers are the direct descendants of yesterday’s composer-arrangers. Their processes—whether it be writing a memorable line for background singers or finding the appropriate moment for a baritone harmonica — mirror those of today’s musicians. The composer-arranger creates music through the frame of the bigger picture, often more concerned with how things sound together than individually. Similarly today’s beatmakers produce music on a grand scale, but through automation and sampling.

Timeless brings these two seemingly unlike worlds together. The series honors the musical legacies of some of the greatest composer-arrangers ever.  Timeless celebrates the work of the composer-arranger in the context it should be seen—with full orchestras.

From Mulatu Astatke to J. Dilla to Arthur Verocai, the Timeless Concert Series touched upon the works of three musical giants. Mochilla is proud to announce the March 30th, 2010 release date of the Timeless Concert Series, a 3 DVD box set with a special downloadable audio portion. The box set will be an extremely limited and numbered edition of 4,000, which will include full liner notes, a free poster exclusive only to the box set, extra features, songs, and slideshows of images used in the presentation. To mark the launch of the DVD, there will be a series of events scheduled around its release, including a SXSW screening. Stay tuned here to The Sounds of VTech for more.

Mulatu Astatke:

Headlining the first concert in the Timeless series was the beginning of a big year for Mulatu Astatke. His recent collaboration with the Heliocentrics has made it on many people’s “Best of List,” for 2009. The anthology of his work, New York-Addis-London: The Story of Ethio Jazz 1965-1975, the first comprehensive collection of his work was a big success for Strut Records. On February 1^st, he blessed the Luckman Auditorium with an amazing show. He shared the stage with Los Angeles jazz scene veterans Bennie Maupin, Azar Lawrence, and Phil Ranelin. The performance is beautiful, showcasing many classics as well as some new material. The music was mixed by Los Angeles engineer Benjamin Tierney and UK producer/musician, Will “Quantic” Holland.

Mulatu is currently touring Europe with the Heliocentrics and is still talking about the Timeless concert. 

 Suite For Ma Dukes:

Timeless II celebrated the music of hip-hop producer, James “J. Dilla” Yancey. Composed and arranged for a 60-piece orchestra by Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, the concert featured special guests Bilal, Dwele, Posdnuos (De La Soul), Talib Kweli, and more. This premiere performance is still buzzing in the minds of many, unable to shake the magic of that evening.

The music was mixed and mastered by legendary Grammy award-winning producer/mixer Bob Power. Power is the man behind hundreds of pop and jazz recordings. He’s worked with such artists as Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, India.Arie, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, and even more significantly, with Dilla.  Bob rarely works on smaller independent projects like this, but was so impressed with Miguel’s music that he blessed this collaboration with an epic mix.

We are premiering “Take Notice” today with Bob’s mix.

In related news, on February 6^th, 2010, the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony will be perform four of Miguel’s arrangements of Dilla in a tribute to great American composers. Dilla will be honored right along side George Gershwin, William Grant Still, and Duke Ellington. Only Timeless could have made this happen. Deepest congratulations to Miguel and Dilla.

 Arthur Verocai:

Timeless III saw Arthur Verocai make his very first trip to Los Angeles to perform his seminal 1972 record for a capacity audience at the Luckman. The performance brought the crowd to a stand still. According to Verocai, “I never played the record, alive or dead!” and hid the record from his family because “of his disappointment at its failure during the 70s.” His utter delight at the opportunity to play this music in its complete form can be seen in the DVD. He has subsequently been offered an opportunity to do the concert again in London. Stay tuned. 

The music was mixed by Verocai himself in Rio de Janeiro. He was so excited with the final result that he held a private screening of the concert at the beginning of December and invited the Carioca music community.

Three different shows with three different producers/arrangers and three different styles of extraordinary music presented. For those who attended, the Timeless Series was that of magic, love, and music that penetrated the soul. With the box set, those who weren’t able to attend will now understand what everyone has been talking about. And for those who have, a chance to relive music history all over again. 

FULL SCREEN
The Sounds of VTech / Suite For Ma Dukes: Take Notice

Right Click To Download: Take Notice (Bob Power mix)

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A Jam Packed Set List!!

We’re bidding adieu to 2009.  Last Tuesday, VTech and Plug Research did it the only way they knew how…. With a huge almost mini festival at the beyond capacity Echoplex in LA. With so much amazing music crammed into one evening, we’re still wishing the night never ended.

Though L.A. loves to boast about being able to wear flip-flops all year long, Tuesday was not the night to be wearing them. Staying indoors next to your heater on a freezing cold night with relentless winds is what most people would deem the safe thing to do, but the promise of good music was just too strong.  Instead, 900 music lovers showed up  and crammed their way into the Echoplex for PR2010. The more people in one room, the more bodyheat! The evening started with Kutmah and ended with a special musical ménage a trios for a crowd pleasing encore. The line-up of artists was as diverse as the crowd that filled the Echoplex, the night was all about the music. Daedelus gave us crazy techno style beats, Milosh performed a beautifully melodic acoustic set, Om’mas played a blend of R&B and Pop with scantily clad dancers, Exile and DJ Day brought us to Planet Rock, and paid an incredible homage to MJ, while Pharoahe Monche played it cool as master of ceremonies – he even brought up Ras Kass for an impromptu accapella.  J.Rocc prepared the stage for the part of the show everyone had waited for with his insane selection of exclusives, rarities and bangers.  Los Angeles is lucky to have one as talented as him.

Bilal didn’t disappoint - he gave an electric hour-long performance before finishing with “Levels” which he had performed at CMJ earlier this year in NYC. And though Bilal made it seem like the evening was officially over as he disappeared from the stage amidst cries for an encore, he surprised everyone when he reappeared with Shafiq Husayn and Om’Mas Keith to close the night out with a bang!  They all sang Hollywood the Sa-Ra hit and the tired crowd expended their final energy bringing it home.

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The Sounds of VTech / Bilal: LEVELS

slideshow photos by Mike Park

VTech Presents “Plug Research TwentyTen,” an amazing evening with notably, one of the heaviest line ups this year. A combination of vision and audio artistry, this showcase offers a taste of Plug Research’s soon-to-be released menu of musical delights. 

LIVE PERFORMANCES BY:

BILAL
EXILE & DJ DAY FEAT BLU
MILOSH
OM’MAS KEITH
SHAFIQ HUSAYN

HOSTED BY:
PHAROAHE MONCH

DJ SETS:
DAEDELUS
J.ROCC
KUTMAH

*SPECIAL SURPRISE GUESTS*

ECHOPLEX 

1154 GLENDALE BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CA. 90026
21 AND OVER | 8PM-2AM
$10 LIMITED PRESLAE TICKETS
[www.ticketweb.com]
$15 DOOR

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PR2010

VTech with Plug Research brings you back to Bilal’s amazing performance at CMJ last month. Truly an amazing performance and one you have never seen before. So, press play, sit back, and let the music do the rest. 

Keep an eye open and an ear to the ground for Bilal’s forthcoming full length album releasing on Plug Research.

The Sounds of VTech continues to bring you music for the soul.

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The Sounds of VTech / Bilal: LEVELS

*video by Mochilla*

Last week was a whirlwind of music and events. Can you even remember all the acts you saw and the places you went? Instead of straining your already exhausted brain, which is slowly recovering from all the events of CMJ 2009, just sit back and relax. Download this exclusive podcast featuring our friends, Exile, Blu, Pharoahe Monch, J. Rocc, Spinna, Large Professor and more from our special VTech evening last Wednesday, and let the music help you get back into the groove of things. 

Don’t sleep… just listen.

Right click to download:  Can I Get You High: Podcast

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