Category Archives: the Freshness

January 31, 2012

Darkjive’s February Dance Card

By ayanacontreras

Brown Sugar Bakery’s Artist Market

Saturday and Sunday February 4th and 5th
328 East 75th Street (75th & Calumet)
Chicago Il 60617
773.224.6262

Come have some fun if you are stepper, you like to spank… How about a lil Al Green?  Real music off of Real records!
All Artist’s work is Handmade, Original, & One of a Kind!

DJ Ayana and Simeon Viltz return to Morseland for Groove Conspiracy

Thursday February 16th 10pm      no cover.

Morseland    1218 West Morse, Chicago

Simeon Viltz (of The Primeridian) and Ayana Contreras are the “Groove Conspiracy…”In the land of 10 million grooves only a few can grab a hold of the people’s aural senses and captivate their chakras. Spinning cutting edge beats juxtaposed with gritty, get down gems from the cradle of soul. Their weapon of choice: vinyl.

Nicole Mitchell Black Earth Ensemble / David Boykin Expanse / DJ Ayana

Friday February 17th, 9:00pm  $10 donation.

Heaven Gallery 1550 North Milwaukee 2nd Floor, Chicago

I’ll be opening up for a night of avant-garde Chicago Jazz beaming from high up in the clouds.

Nicole Mitchell Black Earth Ensemble
Josh Abrams, bass; Marcus Evans, drums; Leon Q. , trumpet; David Boykin, saxophone; Nicole Mitchell, flute

David Boykin Expanse
- Josh Abrams, bass; James Baker, piano; Marcus Evans, drums; Mike Reed, drums; Nicole Mitchell, flute; Alex Wing, guitar; David Boykin, saxophone

Leave a comment | posted in the Freshness

August 17, 2011

Garland M. Taylor: Chicago’s otherworldly metalsmith

By ayanacontreras

When I met Garland Taylor recently, it was at a Jazz concert held on the lawn of Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art. I commented on his sandals (brown leather that appeared to be custom), and he proceeded to tell me about how he blew all of his money on them some years back while interning with a metalworking artist in Italy. So far, they were still holding up, he said. The investment had not been in vain. Shoes do, in fact, tell stories.

Speaking of stories, Taylor says of his work:

“[It is] informed by characteristics of people, and designs in nature. My sculptures are short stories that illuminate the evidence of my labor, that is, my struggle to create logic, balance, and harmony with welding electrodes and tiny pieces of steel discards from railroad maintenance crews, the construction trades, and the manufacturing industry.”

According to his website, his works “deal with improving that which has fallen into decline.”

Unassuming and friendly, Taylor has a studio not too far from Bronzeville on the South Side, and he creates otherworldly metal sculptures utilizing reclaimed materials, slick finishes suited for an automobile, and organic yet mechanical forms. Jive on!

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Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , | posted in Art, Arts & Culture, Jive Culture, the Freshness

January 5, 2011

Bon Bon Vie: good good life…

By ayanacontreras

The line is designed by Shari Neal, who explained to Afrobella:

“I always wanted to design tee shirts, but I just never sat down to do it until fairly recently. In the past I had done tee shirt designs for other people and I finally decided to do something for myself.

The name of the company comes from the T.S. Monk song Bon Bon Vie (Gimme The Good Life)”, especially the lines below:

The man promised me a raise (I said who?)
Who’s gonna raise me when I’m dead?

Oh, I’m so tired of putting that clock every day (Working every day)
All day skatin’ on thin ice

Lord knows we could use a holiday, baby
Just the two of us would be so nice…

I feel like those lyrics sometimes, as I’m sure a lot of people do. I like my job, but at the same time, I really want to truly be self-sufficient one day. It’s a really amazing feeling to have something you created (whether it be a blog, t-shirt business, whatever) do well and be able to sustain you financially.”

I love the word-based graphics, and the messages of the line (many of which are Chicago-centric).  Plus the prices are just right.  Jive on!

http://www.wearbonbonvie.com/

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in Printed Matters, style, the Freshness

September 17, 2010

Pics from the Groove Conspiracy’s inaugural night.

By ayanacontreras

Pictures, above, from last night’s affair.  Join us TONITE for a special night of musical madness, and monthly every Third Thursday at the Morseland (1218 West Morse, Chicago).

1 comment   |  tags: , , , | posted in Events, Local Chicago Music, Music, the Freshness

August 7, 2010

The Makings of Groove

By ayanacontreras

Xraydio 2 Disc Table [2009]
Diesel for Moroso

This coffee table is almost as cute as my boombox throw pillow…  It’s made by printing the X-ray of a dj console on glass.  The glass is still transparent, which adds dimension.  I’m thinking it’ll look fresh in my record room. 

2 comments   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in Art, Arts & Culture, the Freshness, the Goodness

August 6, 2009

Mos Def Performs Billie Jean in Chicago

By ayanacontreras

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Recorded at the House of Blues here in Chicago a few days back.  It’s Mos Def, and his homage to the gloved one:  a fresh interpretation of “Billie Jean”.  Somehow, it works.  Invention isn’t dead, after all. Jive on!

1 comment   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in Arts & Culture, Events, Jive Culture, Live Music, Music, Musical Performance, Staged Affairs, the Freshness

July 31, 2009

Hebru’s Flyboys: ready to play?

By ayanacontreras

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Below is the studio work for the upcoming Fly Boy toy line by local visual artist Hebru Brantley (pictured above). A resident artist at Bronzeville’s Little Black Pearl Art & Design Center, illustrator Hebru has created everything from T-shirts and custom Adidas to wall-bound glory.  Now comes his first toy line, as much for grown-ups as for the kids.  Jive on…

flyboys

flyboy2

More about Hebru, in the video interview below, courtesy of Moore Image Productions

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , | posted in Art, Arts & Culture, Jive Culture, the Freshness

July 23, 2009

Digital wolves in warm, fuzzy sheep’s clothing

By ayanacontreras

45cases2

I know a lot of the Darkjive faithful are also among the analog faithful (some, if only in spirit).  The clicks and pops old records afford make our hearts skip a beat (even recreated on digitized copies).  Well, get ready for a digital wolf in warm, somewhat fuzzy sheep’s clothing: 45iPodcases.com.  Their tagline even heralds ”Digital meets analog” (very, very literally).

Very clever, I say.  Using old vinyl, labels and all (and old cassette tapes for iPod nanos) their collision of chips and skips is definitely a statement maker.  As a 45 collector, I hope they use records that are unplayable (no reason for the babies to suffer). 

And speaking of a new birth of wax, both iTunes and Amazon are  selling digital 45s!

Apple’s iTunes Music Store is taking digital music back into the groove, offering two-song packages known as ”Digital 45s“: which feature an A-side and a B-side. For $1.50-$2.00, you can purchase a single along with a lesser-known track you might not already have (that can be difficult to find elsewhere on iTunes).  Great ideas never really die.  They just get remixed.

Jive on…

 

 
 
 

 

 

2 comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , , | posted in style, the Freshness

May 28, 2009

On Vacation, so I’ll leave this in the fridge for you…

By ayanacontreras

Courtesy of okayplayer, it’s the video for

New Jack Hustle’s “Lionel” feat. Ohmega Watts

Check out how the album covers coincide with the lyrics.

Bananas.  Absolutely Bananas. Be back in two weeks.  Jive on.south-pacific-hammock

1 comment | posted in Arts & Culture, Film and Television, Music, the Freshness

May 21, 2009

The Shrine is Here!

By ayanacontreras

shrinelogo

02_The_Shrine_Doug_Fogelson

Just what the doctor ordered, as far as I’m concerned…  It’s the long awaited club, The Shrine.  Tonight, a star is born in the South Loop.  Created by Joe Russo (the man that brought us nightlife legend The Funky Buddah Lounge), The Shrine combines top shelf live entertainment, dancers, and music, like the clubs in the days of old.

See you there!

04a_The_Shrine_Doug_Fogelson

The Shrine

2109 S. Wabash Ave. 60616

Chicago

photos by Doug Fogelson

Leave a comment | posted in Arts & Culture, Dance, Events, Jive Culture, Live Music, Music, Musical Performance, Performance, Staged Affairs, the Freshness

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