DJ Ayana
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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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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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Listen Locally: DJ Ayana at Maria’s….
Reclaimed Soul’s host, Ayana Contreras, is perhaps best known for spinning classic Chicago Soul records, but on Tuesday, October 2nd, she plans to mix it up and play cuts from the trippier and (even) grittier side of her Chicago Music collection. She will also feature what she likes to call the “Rock Hand Side of…
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Darkjive Updates!
Greetings, Darkjivers. I’ve been on sort of a blog hiatus as I’ve been working on Reclaimed Soul (the broadcast radio version of Darkjive). I’ve also been ramping up for the fall, engaged in research and digging (all too often intertwined for me). But let me be the first to tell you: feel-good events, new content,…
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Archeologist and Architect: this Friday at the SSCAC.
This Friday, (aka DJ Ayana) am spinning at the Southside Community Art Center, an establishment originally founded with help from the WPA during the Great Depression. It is the nation’s oldest African American Art Center. Also on the bill is the David Boykin Trio (featuring Marcus Evans on drums, Alex Wing on bass, and Boykin…
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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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come get artsy/dance. dj ayana at the geolofts.
Gallery 400 and threewalls present a ceremony honoring the 15 winners of the 2011 Propeller Fund awards, which serve to promote informal and self-organized creative activity in the Chicago area. Come celebrate the grant recipients and the community with food, drink, and music at the Geolofts. The awards ceremony is presented in conjunction with the…
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Groove Conspiracy… coming this Thursday.
Join DJ Ayana and Simeon Viltz (of the Primeridian) as we stretch out musically at Morseland. I’ll be spinning with a Chicago accent, as always, and will be featuring local treasures including a cut or two by Leroy Hutson. A college friend of both Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack (all attended Howard University), Hutson was…
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Yesterday and Tomorrow (it’s a chicago thing): David Boykin Trio at Danny’s featuring DJ Ayana
Below, one of the great Chicago recordings that I’ll feature. check out a bit of David’s work below.
darkjive.com 