Psssst… David Boykin Expanse with DJ Ayana. It’s a righteous situation at a secret location. RSVP info@perpetualrebel.com for more info.
Tag Archives: DJ Ayana
Melodic Expansions: David Boykin Expanse with DJ Ayana… pass it on.
Dance Dorchester!
dance locally to vintage sounds culled from Dorchester Projects’ Dr. Wax Collection heavily leaning on music that ‘jus grew’ out of our community: this friday, june 24th, 7pm til 10pm.
bring your favorite summertime dish to share with friends
100% wax spun by dj ayana
from The Dr. Wax Collection
Darkjive’s May 2011 Dance Card
Calendar of Events that Darkjive’s Ayana Contreras will be featured at. All are free and open to the public.
Brown Sugar Marketplace @ Brown Sugar Bakery
Friday May 6th, 5-8pm
328 East 75th Street, Chicago
Featuring deep old school cuts by Ayana Contreras, The Marketplace has handmade jewelry, leatherwares, clothes, and more. Come for the caramel cake… stay for the soul.
Dance Party @ the Dorchester Projects
Sunday May 8th, 5:00pm-8:00pm UPDATE: Sunday May 15th, 3-6pm
6918 South Dorchester, Chicago
Enjoy Music spun by DJ Ayana Contreras as a prelude to a series of talks about the history of Chicago Soul.
Groove Conspiracy, 2nd Thursdays @ Morseland
1218 West Morse, Chicago
DJ Ayana and Simeon Viltz (of the Primeridian) spin old school gold, gritty gems, and silvery stepper madness. Their weapon of choice: vinyl
Dorchester Sessions I @ Dorchester Projects
Sunday, May 29th (location and time above)
Exploring Quintessential Gospel, Soul, Blues, Jazz, Rock,
and Pop sounds that were born in Chicago, and the people who created them.
Essentially, the live version of Darkjive. Come for the talk, stay to get down.
Get down! three chances to be a part of the movement…
Join DJ Ayana and selected friends and celebrate the music that moves us!
Brown Sugar Soul: This Thursday 6:00pm-8:00pm
Where: Brown Sugar Bakery
Music spun on wax. Real 45s cut to make you move. Soul & Funk classics and rarities… plus caramel cake! You bring the drinks, DJ Ayana will bring the grooves.
Friday Night Heights: This Friday 10pm-2pm
Where: Morseland
Let’s get UP Friday Night with DJ Ayana and special guest Simeon from local hip-hop group The Primeridian. Funky Disco, Jazz, Gritty Bluesy Movers… Good Music.
The Get Down. Thursday Aug. 12th 10:00pm -1:00pm
Where: Morseland
DJs Gaucho brings you soul on wax (45s to be exact). Soulful rarities, Bluesy Groovers… and funky movers. Play a game of pool, have a drink, or just plain get down (Ayana’s on hiatus this month).
(above, “There it Is” by Tyrone Davis. Brunswick Records, 1973)
photos from the get down.
A couple of photos of me at work, taken by Taras Tymchuk (a visitor in town from the Ukraine). You should visit, too.
Brown Sugar Soul! cupcakes + old school soul = BLISS
Brown Sugar Soul is a monthly after-work set where I spin a natural sugar high of old school funk and soul with no filler every 1st Thursday at the renowned Brown Sugar Bakery (which is, in fact a bakery… not a club with a clever title). Tip: they are famous for their caramel cake.
Join me and get down!
Brown Sugar Soul, spun by DJ Ayana (and graciously hosted by Stephanie Hart)
1st Thursdays at Brown Sugar Bakery
328 East 75th Street
6pm – 8pm
Dakar by Way of Chicago: omar pene & yassa
This Saturday, Senegal’s Omar Pene is in Chicago performing at Martyrs (3855 N. Lincoln). A former member of Super Diamono, a 70s Senegalese band that addressed social issues with funk, he is now solo… and in fine form. His voice has been described as both muscular and “islamic”, and the concert promises to be a treat.
Opening act is yours truly, DJ Ayana.
Omar Pene at Martyrs (presented by portoluz)
When: Sat., March 20, 9 p.m. at Martyrs (3855 N. Lincoln Ave.)
Phone: 773-404-9494 or 800-594-8499
Price: $25
To get you in the mood, visit Yassa: savory Sengalese food here in Chicago. African flavors with an emphasis on sauces, seafood, lamb, rice, and cues taken from Islamic and French cuisine, Senagalese food is DOPE! Try the freshly made juice – any of them (they have tamarind, sorrel, ginger and baobab)- or the Dibi Lamb (grilled lamb chops) which comes with red rice. The plantains are delicious, as is the Yassa Fish.
The spot is BYOB, and personally, I’d bring Malta India or a spicy ginger beer, but if you must have an alcoholic beverage, try a stout beer.
Yassa:
716 E 79th St
(between Evans Ave & Langley Ave)
Chicago, IL 60619
(773) 488-5599
the get down! this thursday at the morseland
It’s about that time… and I’ve got more heat. Soulful dynamite. Killer funk. Local Chicago gems. Bluesy groovers. Polyrhythmic madness. The stuff that hip-hop was built upon. And, as always, no cover. Join me and Gaucho at the Morseland: 1218 West Morse, this Thursday at 9:30pm.
Below, rare groove stone-cold gangster lean goodness by The Impressions (of our fair city), “Sooner or Later”. Jive on!
The Get Down: keep on singing
The Get Down is back! This Thursday, February 11, let’s celebrate what we love: feel good music! Soul, Funk, Disco, and Bluesy Groovers spun with love by yours truly (DJ Ayana). Expect a healthy helping of both rare and classic homegrown monsters, plus all the darkjive featured music you’ve come to love.
Thursday, February 11 @ the Morseland (don’t forget to check out their revamped menu… their kitchen is open late!)
1218 West Morse Avenue / 9:00pm-1:00am
No Cover!
Sneak Peak music:
Chicago’s own Keni Burke (of Five Stairsteps [“Oooh Ooh Child”] fame) released his self titled debut on George Harrison’s Dark Horse Records in 1976. “Keep on Singing” keeps me high to this day. Enjoy and see you soon!
Stand With Haiti!!
Stand with Haiti!! An Evening of Food, Poets (including Lady Terror), Musicians, and Dancers Gathered to Support Those Devastated by the Earthquake in Haiti. DJ Ayana on the tables.
Thursday, Jan. 21, 6:00pm – 8:45pm
Thorne Auditorium 357 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL
Free admission, donations requested.
Food/Drink: 6-7pm
Program: 7:15-8:45pm
ALL Proceeds will be donated to the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund
to support the relief effort in Haiti.
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word on the street
Francis Thaddeus Ray on Sweet Flypaper of Life: 1950s… izzy on Wilbur Holmes: images of the W… Monisa Cole on La Cade: The little hair care… Christian on Captain Sky on Soul Train 
