The Bird House

Category: Photo

  • Art Week(end) Pt 2 + Sant Joan!

    So after a fun session and meetup on Thursday, I made my way up to Basel the next afternoon to play my usual spots, Amber Bar & Grenzwert. The staff always looks after me and their clients enjoy the music I play.
    I was really fortunate that Friday one of my DJ buddies (actually, the person who got me started playing in Basel by introducing me to Grenzwert and owner Cecile), Kat LaLuna, was spinning for Radio X in Soft Space. DJ Feline, who has also hooked me up, was in the house too.
    I recorded Friday\’s session at Amber and you can listen to part one above! I\’ll be adding the other parts to my Mixcloud page over the next few weeks. After my session at Amber Bar, I went to see Alma Negra playing at a cool venue, Schall und Rach, that appears to be a jazz club! Unfortunately, I didn\’t last long there–though Diego & Dersu were playing stellar tunes–I was just wiped out.
    Saturday afternoon, I went to visit Klara (another spot I often DJ) and saw my buddy Nik, who was quite busy–due to the popular football matches being shown that weekend. That evening I spun at Grenzwert, had a great time and went to bed quite early so I could be on my game to catch the train Sunday midday…
    Upon my return to Geneva on Sunday, I dropped off my bags, changed my clothes and \”settled\” for a short while before heading back to Le Cormoran to play a sunset session by the lake as pictured above…

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    On Monday my host took me to meet an old friend of his in Fribourg. We had lunch with the old friend and his husband (a character) and then the 3 of us (the husband was busy after lunch) were taken around Fribourg on a personally guided tour by the old friend. These pictures are from the Cathedral of St. Nicholas (yes, that one!) First is a stamp (a room & board discount ticket, essentially) for pilgrims on \”The Way\” (El Camino) of \”Saint Jacques\” (Santiago) of Compostelle (Compostela.) Second are figures near the entrance of the cathedral. Is it just me or does the one on the right look like they\’re holding a mobile phone? Unfortunately, because I was concerned about time, we didn\’t get to see the old town of Fribourg–which sounds amazing to experience. Hopefully, I\’ll return another day and get to see that.
    Upon return to Geneva, my buddy Moez met me at Le Cormoran and then we headed off to Le Petite Reine for a last minute session before my return to Barcelona!

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    A few days after my return to Barcelona was a very popular holiday here, Sant Joan. Essentially, it\’s the celebration of the Summer Solstice and is full of fireworks, firecrackers and parties until late… We had planned to see Nickodemus of Wonderwheel Recordings at Nómada Beach Club in Sitges. Unfortunately, he needed to stay in NYC that weekend and had to cancel his engagements. Being the good guy that he is, he recommended me to the owner of Nómada since I was already in Sitges and we have a lot of crossover in our DJ style. Via Los Chicos Altos (me & my production partner Maxey Blaze) I have some releases on Nickodemus\’ label. Above are some pictures from that night courtesy of my \”ride or die\” (who also played a hand in getting me booked for Sant Joan.) Center photo is a fabulous percussionist and sweet human, Miguel Guerrero. Photo to the right is me with DJ Diego DeLippo (Bongo Lounge/Dope Brothers) who played before my set and Big Papi\’s Abraham Figueroa (formerly of Dos Trece.) Unfortunately, we didn\’t get any photos of Jade Rolt who opened and closed the night, but her music is featured in the video below with the \”winged\” dancers.

    Diego DeLippo (Bongo Lounge/Dope Brothers) dropping George Benson\’s cover of Donny Hathaway\’s classic \”The Ghetto\” accompanied by percussionist Miguel Guerrero.
    One of the few quick jam sessions featuring Nathan Hunter on vocals, Juanlu Leprevost on bass, Miguel Guerrero on percussion and T-Bird looping a beat.

    Another interesting element of the Sant Joan event was the jam sessions that would happen from time to time during the evening. The leader was local legend and one of the more important members of the live music scene, bassist/bandleader/producer Juanlu Leprevost. Juanlu was an original member of Ojos de Brujo, who were so big that some USA labels were licensing their albums. He also founded Calima and is an important member of Fabrica de Colores–which platforms local music artists. At one point Dani Macaco, another former member of Ojos who has gone on to do great things (including collaborating with Michael Franti on a tune with a video shot in Sitges), joined in!

    Let\’s close this entry out with a video of people having a good time to some music…

  • Upcoming…

    There\’s some events coming up REAL SOON that I\’m excited about!

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    The first is this Saturday 25 May in Sant Pere de Ribes – Artistes x Palestina (Artists for Palestine) presented by La Alfombra Voladora (The Flying Carpet) – a benefit featuring music, dance, theater, poetry & live painting! A few of the performers are former members of legendary local group Ojos de Brujo, vocalist Dani \”Macaco\” Carbonell & bassist Juanlu LePrevost. I\’ve been hearing great things for years about the venue, Bar Social Ger (c/ del Pi, 25, Sant Pere de Ribes) and I\’m stoked to check it out.

    The second is my return to Marula Cafe (c/ Escudellers, 49, Barcelona), Friday 31 May!
    I\’ll be following local live act OyeSebas, on at 22h, whose music seems to be rooted in Colombian elements. I\’m warming up from 00h for Blanquito DJ who comes on at 03h.
    While the set will be eclectic, you can expect to hear classic and deep cuts from the legacy of Music of Black Origin. I\’m sure a few newer tracks will be played too, but things that call back to classic sounds will be the focus. To dispel any confusion about the venue, Marula does NOT serve food–just hot beats (it\’s a discotheque!) See you there?

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  • 2023 Catch-up… (pt 2)

    On my last trip to Switzerland I was blessed to play a new venue in a new city, La Petite Reine (The Little Queen) in Geneva! I have some lovely friends who live in the city and I\’d been going there to see them, but as a DJ, I was always hoping to pick up some new gigs. Finally, thanks to some good timing and well-connected DJ colleagues, I managed to get in touch with the talent booker who needed someone the weekend I wanted to be in CH (Confederation Helvetica, the official name of Switzerland.) Unfortunately, Moez wasn\’t going to be around when I was there, but I was well looked after by Matt & Cecilia. I have to thank Yann H (aka Ian Ash of Boogie Butt Records), Nickodemus & Nappy G (Wonderwheel Recordings/Turntables on the Hudson) who were my door and golden ticket… It\’s a fun little spot and if you happen to be in Geneva, you should definitely stick your head in!

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    More travel memories! I finally broke my (self-imposed) ban on traveling to the UK. I\’d been a bit apprehensive about going there post-Brexit. It just seemed like there were so many hurdles that the country was dealing with and I was thinking I would wait until they sorted all of that out. A wise British person I\’d met the previous year said to me, \”That may be a long wait, mate–go now.\” My true destination was Exeter, where some dear friends live, but the airport I flew into/out of was Bristol. If you know my music tastes, you should be aware of how important Bristol is in my music collection–Smith & Mighty, Roni Size/Full Cycle Crew, Up Bustle & Out, Cup of Tea, Massive Attack, Nellee Hooper, Stanton Warriors… I couldn\’t be that close and not at least take a peek at the town responsible for all of this fabulous music! My buddy and I headed into town and I snapped a few pictures before we wandered around a bit and eventually met with my friend Ollie, who I knew from his time in Barcelona, and Dave Cridge of Up Bustle & Out. Dave was great and very generous with his time, knowledge and wisdom. First picture is in the Bristol airport, the second is a street sign on the way to Bristol, third is a mural Dave showed us and the fourth is a mosaic next to our first parking spot in town. The mosaic touches on another of my fascinations, mythology. The subject are two ravens, Thought & Memory–servants of the Norse All-Father, Odin.

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    Speaking of the north…
    Thanks to Vibe Select Entertainment, I was invited to Stockholm, Sweden to assist with their event featuring guest DJ, Mr Thing (next to me preparing to tear the roof off!) Marc (aka Mr Thing) is a terror on the decks and the sweetest person you\’d ever meet off them. It was a gas to hang out with my buddy R.D. on his home turf, see a new part of the world (Finland & Iceland remain to complete my bingo card for the Nordics–apologies to Greenland & Faroe Islands) and get treated to the Cane Rum Society–a FABULOUS Caribbean restaurant with an astounding collection of rum. Did I mention that I got to open for the headliner? You can listen to what I played below.

    The next picture is something I saw during \”Art Week\” in Basel. I finally made it to the festival when the whole city seems to become an art gallery!

  • Switzerland!

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    Unfortunately, Equilibrium Festival was postponed. However, my Swiss trip went as planned: a few days in Geneva, a few days in Basel. The pictures above are of a synagogue I noticed in the center of town and vegetables from a weekly market my friend in Geneva frequents. Shout out to Grenzwert & Klara.

    I recorded most of my first session in Basel at Amber Bar, a new spot with a rooftop terrace and great view of the Rhine. Part 1 (above) is jazz-funk, hiphop & acid jazz.

    Part 2 (above) gets into the latin bag, some more jazz & funky business and flirts with disco.

    Part 3 (above) wraps up the session with various flavors of house, including broken-beat.

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    Here\’s a few pictures of the Swiss countryside taken from the train on my way back to Geneva. Below are more pictures from a previous trip.

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  • Vibe Select Classics – UPTOWN!!

    Click for event info HERE


    The latest fruit of the tree that is Vibe Select is Vibe Select Classics.  This Friday we\’re taking the Vibe uptown for a swanky get-down on Diagonal.  R.D. will be in the house and I will be joined on turntables by veteran Barcelona DJs Guille de Juan & DJ Switch.  Super-excited to be in Blue Boite Barcelona, a gorgeous place away from the craziness that is central Barcelona in the summer…

    R.D. & I had wanted to do an urban event that represents the classier, finer elements of that scene and this venue is definitely in line with that vision.

    Get your tickets HERE and we\’ll see you on the dancefloor!

  • Friday Gig and New images!

    Above is one of the new images I was sent by the \”Master of Disaster Behind the Lens\” aka Pepe Pujol Carabantes. My Photo page features shots he\’s taken of me.  His work can be quite stunning…

    As previously mentioned, I have a gig Friday!  \”Back In The Celler\” at my favorite craft beer bar in the Born, Celler Ceres!  The tapas are quite delicious and I\’m very happy to be providing the sonic ambiance.  If you\’re new to artisan beer, there is a taster tray (6 small beers for 9