Arts & Culture
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Ready. Set. Spin: DJ Ayana out and about.
Here in Chicago, summer is wrapping up. But, before it ends, come to one of the FREE-fifty events I’ll be spinning at (many of which are outside). Click here for more info….
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A bit about Black Rock Bands out of Detroit.
This weekend at Chicago’s Music Box Theatre, I caught a documentary about Death, a 1970s all-black proto-punk band out of Detroit. The documentary, titled “A Band Called Death” chronicled the group’s forming, brush with success, and descent into obscurity. The master tapes of their sole album, recorded under Don Davis’ Groovesville productions languished…
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Merri Dee: Media Legend On Chicago Radio Again.
Many Chicagoans know Merri Dee as a personality on WGN-TV; but her roots on Chicago Radio are undeniable. She hosted a popular program in the late 60s and early 70s on WBEE (a station out of Harvey). The above ad for her show, “The Merri Dee Magic Sound” ran in the Woodlawn Booster back in…
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Join Ayana Contreras: Monkey Hustlin’ in Chicago.
I will be hosting a film screening of 1976’s Monkey Hustle at the Black Cinema House on Sunday, June 9th at 6pm. We will watch the film (which was shot mere blocks from where we’ll be watching it), and then discuss it. Monkey Hustle – hosted by Ayana Contreras Black Cinema House 6901 S. Dorchester…
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Black Radical Imagination: Landing in Chicago’s Woodlawn Community this Sunday.
This Sunday, a film screening called Black Radical Imagination will happen at the Black Cinema House in Chicago’s Woodlawn community. Black Radical Imagination stemmed from a series of discussions around the boundaries and limitations that are historically given to people of color. Specifically, in the film industry these restrictions are often digested and kept to propel a…
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Opera-Matic’s New Moon on the Lagoon
In this audio piece, I eavesdrop on rehearsals for Opera-matic’s very cool New Moon on the Lagoon, an “evening lullaby parade”, featuring a 15 foot tall giant moon that will be lit up from within by projections of facial expressions. It’ll be happening Friday May 10th and 11th, 2013 at the Humboldt Park Lagoon in…
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DJ Ayana: Spinning in the Park.
…Hyde Park, that is. This Saturday at 7pm CST, I’ll be spinning at an In-Store at Hyde Park Records (1377 E 53rd St Chicago, IL 60615). It’ll be cool. For more on Hyde Park Records, listen to my interview with the owner, a Frenchman by the name of Alexis Bouteville that originally aired on my radio…
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David Boykin Trio: Live at Dorchester Projects Album Release/Listening Party.
Saturday February 16th at 8pm, join local Chicago Jazz combo The David Boykin Trio (Boykin on sax, Alex Wing on bass, and James Woodley on drums) at the new Washington Park Arts Incubator. They will be playing work from the new album “Live at the Dorchester Projects”. I (also known as DJ Ayana Contreras) will…
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Otis Clay: Live at S.P.A.C.E.
Otis Clay performs this Saturday night (January 5th, 2013) at S.P.A.C.E. in Evanston. He’s a Chicago-bred deep soul artists I’ve profiled before on Darkjive. He’s recorded on a ton of labels (including Kayvette, Dakar, Hi, One-Der-Ful, and his own Echo imprint since his beginnings in the 1950s), but it’s his consistency that stands out. This…
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Fontella Bass: In Memorium.
Fontella Bass was an amazing lady who passed away on December 26th, 2012. In memorium, Darkjive revisits a post from 2011 that touches on her legacy on the Chicago Soul scene. Not only [was] the trajectory of her career fascinating, but she’s arguably the archetype for what Aretha Franklin was to become: a sassy, soulful…
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