Matti Paquiz's blog

MAG REVIEW: WAXPOETICS - photo issue

picked up the WAXPOETICS - photo issue. it hit newstands last week. it's got mr. miles davis on the front and rap legend slick rick on the flip. waxpo' is the baddest-ass music magazine covering jazz, funk, hip-hop, soul - with a record (that's vinyl, y'all) collector slant. not since 'big daddy' magazine have a collective of music 'journalists'/lovers put together such a tight composition of articles informing, educating, and inspiring other folks to dig deeper and find the essence of sound beyond the top-40 charts.

each issue of waxpo' is well researched history of what has been termed as 'african-american', but i'll just call it BLACK music -- brazilian, peruvian, north american, european, asian - people from all over this globe have been inspired by the polyrhythms and backbeats from the african motherland for decades. waxpoetics puts the stories of the music veterans in your hands to read. the writers focus on giving the players, and those most involved in the history a booming-voice to tell their story, in their words.

this issue has the movers and shakers from the early years of hip-hop tell their tales in photo-form. Photo essays from old-skool documentarians bill adler (def jam), joe conzo (yes, yes, y'all), charlie ahearn (wild style), jamel shabazz (a time before crack), ernie paniccioli (word up! magazine), and, janette beckman (the breaks: stylin and profilin) to name just a few.

two articles stood out for me -- one is an 'in their own words' interview with the major players of miles davis' electric funk band - michael henderson, pete cosey, james mtume. they made some revolutionary albums together with mr. davis during the period of 1970-75 ('on the corner' and 'pangaea' are standouts), and got dragged over the predominantly white jazz critics conservative coals. the second article is about the making of 'check your head' by the beastie boys. it encompasses their move to the west coast after prior release of 'paul's boutique' and the creation of G-son studios and a new instrumental-beastie sound.

cop this mag, YO! i gots every issue.

recommended reading: can't stop, won't stop and total chaos both by hip-hop-journalist jeff chang (solesides/ quannum crew)  read more »

It is about time for another ROADKILL SERIES race. We're puttin' this out to everyone. We need yer input on the next race.

Some have suggested an 'urban track relay or time trial' -- ie. racing counter-clockwise in the SoHo ["South of Hortion"] area, around the VIC Tavern. Teams would be picked out of a 'hat' before the relay. Or, in the case of a time trial, racers would start staggered (30 seconds apart).

Others are wanting a get together in Queens Park [Old East Village] for a straight ahead 'match sprint' round robin -- ie. two racers go head to head down a straight distance. Top 4 sprinters after the round robin move onto the finals.  read more »

A New Years Photography Show

At London's Newest Gallery!!!

This event starts early and finishes early [7.00pm-10.00pm]. so come check it. The gallery is located at the corner of Stanley St. and Wharncliffe Rd.

Hope to see all-a-y'all there.   read more »

You are invited to participate in a Community-Building Forum for the LGBT Community:

• October 22/06, Sunday, 7:00-10:00 PM
• at  the Aeolian Performing Arts Centre, 795 Dundas St. E (at Rectory St.)
• (free parking across Dundas St from the Hall at Longo Food Service Equipment parking lot.)

This forum is initiated by Clark Bryan, Owner and General Manager of the Aeolian Performing Arts Centre and is co-hosted by the Aeolian Performing Arts Centre and by Metropolitan Community Church London.

We hope to begin a process to improve and increase services to the GLBT Community:  read more »