The Sounds of VTech

It’s been a week and a day, not that I’m counting, since the Timeless #2: A Suite for Ma Dukes.  I’ve found it hard to write about the weekend, the rehearsal, the show for that matter.  I was sitting on B+’s couch, again, late last Friday night as we did our final decompress from the heavier than norm week that was behind us.  We were both still in a state of awe about what transpired, trying wrap my head around the things that unfurled along the way.  Walking into rehearsal straight from Burbank and seeing Dukes for the first time in a year and half. Seeing Miguel work his magic and feeling it like I’ve never seen, his months, hell, years of prep leading him to this moment.  The playful glee in the smiles of the musicians making up the amazing ensemble as they practiced what was definitely a bit outside their comfort zone - and KILLING it. Looking around the room: Pas from De La Soul, Bilal, my man Shafiq, Mochilla crew shooting everything…Nino posted next to dukes, me right behind her….soaking it in, being quiet. Holding hands, crying, laughing, smiling, bouncing…..it was all there. Drew of course handling biz, Bekka handling Drew…..It was different than #1…smoother…more like watching an opera.

Cut to Sunday before the show, backstage was buzzing. Ma Dukes brilliant in white, biggest grin I have ever seen, feeling the moment and ready to take care of all of us, if you know here you know what I am saying.  So much love that night in Luckman on both sides of the stage.  Karriem Riggins, Thundercat, so many friends and fam in the seats and on stage.  J. Rocc and House Shoes rocked the 1’s and 2’s as only they can, knowing Dilla so well for so long.  Miguel’s 1st time conducting, and for all of you that were there, it was nothing short of unbelievable.  5 standing ovations, encore and finale took us past the drop dead time, and the Luckman is Union….needless to say everyone was feeling the moment. I had the pleasure of sitting with Dukes during the show. At one point I hit Dru ” what time should I bring Dukes back?” ‘10:15′….So i leaned over and let her know we would need to get her on stage for “Stakes is High” et al…at which point she said ” Oh no, they have every one they need, they are full”….we secured the largest stage in LA for a reason….” No way Mom, we’re going…”

As i took her back stage we ran into Talib Kweli, surprise…around stage right we run into the whole crew, surprise….Oh No, Alchemist, Frank, MED, Rhettmatic…all the fam….from that point on you can imagine.  We’ll put up another video of the encore shortly, we thought Hoc n Pucky was the essence  you really needed to see right away.

All 4 of these shows are special, unique and close to our hearts. This show was complex on many levels, and allowed a lot of amazing people take their own gifts to another level, and we are grateful to have been there to witness it and to be supporting them.  Los Angeles, again, than you for your support.  Our special guests who came in from all over the country, Thank You. Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and Carlos Nino- congrats!.Mochilla, Artdontsleep and the entire crew, killing the game and get some rest. J Dilla: We miss you. Ma Dukes: we love you.

a quick video of Ma Dukes on stage with Common and Illa J during the show:

Last week was a big one for all of us. 2.10.09 was the 3rd anniversary of the passing of our good friend James Yancey aka J. Dilla, an amazing individual who has touched so many lives both personally and professionally.  I think back to that day in early ‘05 when we shot the now legendary 4 page spread with Stones Throw Records in the original GIANT magazine at Madlib’s studio ( the LootPack Hideaway ) in Echo Park.  Who would have thought the images from that shoot would become so intertwined with his legacy; I’ve seen them in Rolling Stone, Vibe and countless other articles both online and off.  It’s a point of pride, and a day that all of us involved will always remember.

Fast forward to 2.16.09 and we’re getting ready for the 2nd show in our  Timeless Concert Series: A Suite for Ma Dukes. This is going to be a very special evening, especially since Ma Dukes and Fam will be joining us for the evening, we can’t ait to share this with you Ma;)  Carlos Nino and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson have labored intensely to bring this vision to reality and those in attendance will hear this performed live for the 1st time.  J. Rocc and House Shoes will open the evening with very special DJ Sets, fittingly so.  I don’t think any of us can aptly put into words the influence Dilla had and continues to have on us in our daily lives.  We are blessed to have Maureen carry on his legacy and spread the love so tirelessly. She truly is an inspiration.

I strongly encourage you to purchase tickets ahead of time, as the Mulatu show sold out quickly and we sadly had to turn hundreds away at the door.  These concerts are not typical in that they start on-time at 7pm and finish up about 11….Showing up to see the main act about when they go on usually works, but just not for this series.  Demand is high and again we will be having some very special guests joining us to celebrate Dilla’s legacy through interpretations of his music in a whole new light.  Hope to see you there and to all of you, we really can’t say enough to thank you for your support.  

I thought it would be appropriate to share this video by Mochilla that sums it up: Obrigado Dilla.  enjoy

I also wanted to share another special video , from ‘07 around the Plug Awards. As Ma Dukes says, Spread the love.

Feb 22nd 2009
VTech, Mochilla and ArtDontSleep present

Suite for Ma Dukes : Miguel Atwood- Ferguson & Carlos Nino with a 40-piece orchestra.

James Yancey will be forever be known as J Dilla.  He was born in Detroit. His music was the most revered sound in hiphop from the mid-nineties until today.  He had worked with everyone from Tribe called Quest to Busta Rhymes, De la Soul, Common even Janet Jackson. His two solo albums for BBE records are classics and his Donuts album for Stones Throw is considered genre defining. Donuts, his final album,  was completed during one of his extended hospital stays. Dilla suffered from Lupus. It was released on February 7, his 32nd birthday. Three days later, while at his Los Angeles home with his mother (MaDukes), he passed away.

Carlos Nino & Miguel Atwood Ferguson have chosen to pay tribute to Dilla by interpreting his music in a contemporary chamber music style that they been developing.  Their EP “Suite For Ma Dukes” will be released and performed live for the first time.  Very special guests to be announced.

Opening Dj Sets by J.ROCC and House Shoes
Very Special Guests TBA

Sunday, February 1, 2009
7-11pm / All Ages / $32.50

*Tickets Available via WWW.TICKETMASTER. COM

Presented at The Harriet and Charles Luckman Fine Arts Complex located on the campus of Cal State University Los Angeles. 5151 State University Drive. Los Angeles. 90032

March 15th 2009
VTech, Mochilla and ArtDontSleep present:
Arthur Verocai with 30 piece orchestra featuring Airto Moreira, Ivan “Mamao” Conti, Jose Bertrami, Carlos Dafe and many more…

Folk-jazz composer/arranger Arthur Verocai was born in Rio de Janeiro in 1945.He has created challenging arrangements and compositions for Brasilian artistsfrom Jorge Ben (Negro é Linda) to Ivan Lins (Agora) to works from Leny Andrade and Gal Costa. Verocai is best known however for his eponymous 1972 album. It is a stunningly innovative effort.  It puts Verocai into a rarified field with the heavy string oriented music of Charles Stepney and David Axelrod. Released in a dark period of Brasilian history, the album fared poorly. Subsequently the album has become an oft sampled highly influential classic - see Ludacriss and Little Brother.

Opening sets by Madlib and Dj Nuts
Very Special Guests TBA

Sunday, February 1, 2009
7-11pm / All Ages / $22.50

*Tickets Available via WWW.TICKETMASTER. COM

Presented at The Harriet and Charles Luckman Fine Arts Complex located on the campus of Cal State University Los Angeles. 5151 State University Drive. Los Angeles. 90032

April 5th 2009
VTech, Mochilla and ArtDontSleep present:

The Music of David Axelrod live with 26 piece orchestra.

Born in Los Angeles, David Axelrod defines composer/arranger. He was a Grammy winning producer for Capitol Records in the 1960s and ’70s.  He has recorded everyone from Stan Kenton to Lou Rawls from the Electric Prunes to Cannonball Adderley. David Axelrod has forged a distinctive dramatic musical style.  His music lives and breathes Los Angeles.  His pair of solo albums based on the visionary, mystical poetry of William Blake (Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience) have influenced so much of hiphop.  His string heavy sound has been sampled by everyone from Dr. Dre (Next Episode) to Lauryn Hill and Lil Wayne (Dr Carter).

Opening sets by J.ROCC
Very Special Guests TBA

Sunday, February 1, 2009
7-11pm / All Ages / $32.50

*Tickets Available via WWW.TICKETMASTER. COM or please call the Luckman box office.

Presented at The Harriet and Charles Luckman Fine Arts Complex located on the campus of Cal State University Los Angeles. 5151 State University Drive. Los Angeles. 90032