Ayana Contreras
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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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DJ Ayana: Ready. Set. Spin.
I’ll be spinning at two public events this week (and just picked up a whole bunch of records…): Reclaimed Soul at Maria’s Tuesday November 13th, 10pm-2pm Spinning groovy classics and rarities with a heavy Chicago accent (not unlike my weekly Radio Show, Reclaimed Soul) 96o w. 31st Street, Chicago No Cover. Genius of Jazz and…
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Never Records… the Reclaimed Soul Interview cut on wax.
Fresh from New Orleans, it’s my interview with Ted Riederer…. that he cut by hand on clear wax. It’s the first Reclaimed Soul interview that was played directly from a real record to play on the radio show! Ted Riederer is a New York based artist who is in New Orleans running a pop-up record…
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Donny Hathaway: more than we could ask for.
A short piece on one of my favorite artists of all time. He was an amazing vocalist, as well as an expert arranger. In fact, the majority of songs on his Greatest Hits compilation album were popularized by someone else in completely different forms (i.e. “Giving Up” and “A Song For You”). Featuring audio from…
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Listen to Streaming Archives of my Radio Show: Reclaimed Soul.
Here in Chicago, Reclaimed Soul airs Thursdays 8-10PM (CST) on Vocalo.org 89.5fm. You can stream live at http://vocalo.org/player. Now folks can listen anytime to radio featuring sound rich interviews and an all-vinyl playlist (courtesy of host Ayana Contreras). Reclaimed Soul is about taking old materials (records, buildings, ideas, et al) to push us all forward.…
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Waxing Poetic at Dorchester Projects.
Above, a bit of video from my Artistic Residency last year with Theaster Gates’ Dorchester Projects, in which I wax poetic about Chicago’s own Mercury Records, Jerry Butler, and the Impressions. I love sharing the stories behind the music I love with the general public; and was reminded of that as I embark on Hosting…
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Announcing Darkjive on the Radio…
Coming this Thursday (and every Thursday) Darkjive.com’s Ayana Contreras hosts “Reclaimed Soul” on Vocalo.org (89.5fm in Chicago). The music you’ve come to expect from this site, plus stories from people moving forward with what’s been left behind. Below is an excerpt from the first episode. Jive on!
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The Listening Room: at Seattle Art Museum, the artists’ medium is wax.
Record Store — an installation presented by Seattle Art Museum in collaboration with [storefront] Olson Kundig Architects (MacDowell architect Tom Kundig’s firm) — on December 13th in Seattle attempted to remove the barrier between artist and audience, Record Store encourages the community to participate in the curation of this Olson Kundig Architects-designed traveling installation. Record…
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Tomorrow, we groove.
Below, one of the grooves I’ll spin: “Love so Strong” from the Lovelites (pictured, left). Fronted by Patti Hamilton, the group of ladies from Chicago’s South Side recorded a gaggle of groovin’ steppers (including one of their biggest hits, “My Conscience”). The Lovelites are, in my humble opinion, one of the most consistent female groups…
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Melodic Expansions: David Boykin Expanse with DJ Ayana… pass it on.
Psssst… David Boykin Expanse with DJ Ayana. It’s a righteous situation at a secret location. RSVP info@perpetualrebel.com for more info.
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