BrentCrampton.com

loom Weaves MLK Tribute Jan 7

█▓▒░ I have a dream . . . ░▒▓█

Join us in our annual tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. as we bring to life his socially-binding vision through dance and celebration. Music selections by loom co-creator, Brent Crampton plus an early evening poetry performance by Love's Jazz & Art Center's Administrative Director, Michelle Troxclair alongside Felicia Webster and Christine Loehr.

MLK is America's peaceful racial integrationist icon. The proponent of "content of character over the color of skin." The figure that integrated Mahatma Gandhi’s civil disobedience through non-violence into the West. Martin Luther King, Jr. serves as an idealist, an activist and a past, present and future leader of social progress and justice. On this loom, we pay homage to the man that rose up in America's history at a pivotal time, lead millions to be of one mind, one voice - and changed a nation, and subsequently the world, in his march for freedom.

█▓▒░ Complimentary EARLY admission for ladies ░▒▓█
Ladies can enjoy España's Thursday night specials of discounted tapas until 9, discounted drinks until 10 and FREE admission into loom until 10:15 pm.

Hosted by Jay "rhythmSOULdier" Kline, Dancin' Yogi, Julia Drazic, Keith Rodger, Chalis Bristol, Jason Redmond, Logan Crenshaw, Steve Winchell and more.

Stay connected to loom on Facebook and join our group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=21751068098

P.S. We won't have the loom lounge from here forth. Sorry for the inconvenience!
P.P.S. We know Jan. 7th isn't the actual date of MLK Day, but since we're a first-Thursday of the month event, this is the date we went with. :)

loom Weaves World AIDS Day Recap

Event pictures on Facebook & Flickr + Next loom Jan 7 @ España

For the month of December, loom held a fundraiser for NextAid.org in honor of World AIDS Day awareness. Thanks to the support of everyone who attended and made donations above and beyond we were able to meet and go beyond our commitment of raising $500! A big thanks is in order to all that came together and volunteered their time to make this happen! Including the debut of loom's newest resident DJ - Kethro.

NextAid.org is the official non-profit that loom has continually supported throughout the years. Because of their work, children left without a mother or father due to the AIDS pandemic in Africa are now getting a glimmer of hope. So it brings a smile to our face when people in Omaha can come together to party with a purpose to help others half way across the world.

On another note, this was the first loom at España - and last - where we used three different rooms for music and dancing. For awhile now, we've been utilizing Espana's Art Gallery under the guise of "loom lounge" to expand the party. This month we had the BANG! drum circle per usual, but we're also blessed to have Reece Varick DJ the basement with some deep and smooth house numbers. But alas, España will be handing over their lease as of January, so we won't be able to use the loom lounge from here forth. 

So unfortunately our monthly home base venue will now be down-sizing, leaving our often shoulder-to-shoulder parties even more so. To remedy this, we're looking into a series of one-off loom parties at unique venues around town, similar to what we did this past summer with the tour series. We'll keep our first-Thursday of the month party at España, but will sometimes be doubling up parties in one month to spread the crowd a bit more and give the dancers the real estate on the dance floor that they so desperately crave.

As for this month's party pics - our resident photographer, Daniel Muller, had an unfortunate crash with his computer. Before that occurred he had sent me four photos from the night, which I have shared in the links above, coupled with some photos that Nele Sudar took for ONL.

Next month, we're celebrating the legacy of MLK on January 7. We hope you can join us and many thanks for the continued support for loom!

Best of the Decade Survey on URB

It's hard to believe that, not only are we getting ready to rid another year, but we're about to pardon with an entire decade! I mean, I feel like it was only a few years ago that I finally made sense of the 90's. And now music and cultural historians and journalists will be traipsing through all the trends and record sales to neatly package this decade into a feasibly category that will eventually turn into a stereotype that we'll eventually all look back on and laugh at.

When we think of the '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s, etc., it all makes perfect sense in our minds; what was happening with culture at the time, the music people listened to and the way they dressed. But I think there's a lot of room for interpretation on just what occurred in the 2000-2009 years. Will it be known as the indie decade? 

Either way, URB Magazine is doing a public "best-of" survey. Makes me nostalgic to see all those album and track titles. Take it for yourself here.

Music Spotlight on Carl Craig

Carl Craig is lauded as the second generation of Detroit Techno pioneers, first studying and working under Derrick May. He was the co-founder and artistic director of the Detroit Electronic Music Festival in 2000 and 2001 and is returning to the artistic director role for 2010. He's a producer that for two decades has consistently remained not only relevant, but boundary breaking. I've heard DJs and promoters from multiple spectrums of dance music - deep house, techno, etc. - speak about him as if he's on some sort of mythical level of artistry.

So this week I wanted to share some music of his with you. Directly below is a Fireside Chat with Red Bull Music Academy Radio. Interspersed between selections of his music is an interview with him.

As for the tracks you can download below, the first track is the one I've had the most significant experience with out of his body of work. When deep house started to become influenced by the techno and minimal surge a few years ago, "Sandstorm" became a classic in the New York soulful house scene. I remember being at a Body&Soul party in NYC with Bill Graves and Chris Gooris while Joe Claussell took the thousand or so dancers that were there into a deep valley with the track. 

The second is my favorite edit by him. It's a light and funky Amp Fiddler track called "Ridin'" that Carl did a nice do-over on; one that's gotten great feedback for me time and again on the dance floor.

And lastly to give you somewhat of an idea of the versatility of his music, I've posted "Home Entertainment (Caya Dub)," a track I've acquired for SSoBB events and that I used once during a collaboration with Shiver Shiver. 

Download: Carl Craig - Sandstorm

Carl Craig - Sandstorm

Download: Amp Fiddler - Ridin' (Carl Craig Edit)

Amp Fiddler - Ridin' (Carl Craig 12_ Edit) 1

Download: Carl Craig - Home Entertainment (Caya Dub)

Home Enterambient (Caya Dub)

Julius the Mad Thinker feat. Desla out now

I've been working with Julius up in Chicago on some different projects for awhile now. I'm currently writing the promo verbage for the releases on his label, Aid to the SouLLess Music. Check the video below featuring the track and download it on Traxsource . . .

This track has everything you love about uplifting deep and soulful house music - a strong positive message carried by a strong vocal and a driving beat and melody. From the woman who brought brilliant vocal performances on tracks such as this year's anthems, "After The Rain" and "So Special," Desla is back to beckon dancefloors across the world by naming cities such as Chicago, Detroit, London, Toyko, Paris and New York to, "STAND! . . . Join hands . . . Make plans . . . Make some friends."

It's a song that was originally conceived by Aid to the SouLLess Music creator Julius the Mad Thinker during a dream one night. The underlying message in the song is all about dancing to relieve the pressures of everyday life. It's a call to action that no matter your state of mind or life circumstances, now is the time to come together and unite in the music.

And indeed this is another classic effort by Aid to the SouLLess that will undoubtedly evoke dancefloors across the globe and stand the test of time.

Recommended events this week & NYE gig announced

Tuesday Shoot Your Mouth Off brings spoken word phenom The Unreal.

Wednesday Omaha's spoken word scene keeps pumping them out, this time at RNG Gallery with Katie FS and crew.

Thursday loom's back, joining NextAid's World AIDS Day campaign.

Friday Axiom debuts their First Friday art frenzy. Lowercase sounds bring the deepness to Nomad. 

Saturday the Waiting Room is host to punk rock/avant-garde/metal movers, Melt Banana. If you're checking out Night of a Thousand Stars, I'll be DJing Jackson Artworks pre-party. Hit me up for details.

Coming up & NYE Nomad is celebrating their b-day with 3-day festivities - I'll be DJing there Dec. 11 for a James Bond theme. For New Year's Eve, I'll be at Slowdown accompanying the GOO cast. Get your tickets online as this will sell out!    

Black Friday with Roy Ayers' music gifts

While accolades of people are running around for that intangible discount, I'm offering the best deal here: Priceless music at no price.

Roy Ayers is a living legend said to be the most sampled artist in hip hop under James Brown. He's released 86 albums and is 68 years old. Think about that. So many records that in an interview on Red Bull Music Academy's Radio, there's some records of his he has to go to Japan to find.

Below I've posted a sampling of Roy and his works. First you'll find the Fireside Chat he did with RBMA Radio, sampling his music and Roy himself telling tid-bits of info and anecdotes about his life and music career. Below that you can listen to and download probably his most notable hit, Everybody Loves the Sunshine. Next is a dancefloor heater mash-up that the now defunct Afrodisiac Sound System put together. The mash-up takes the keys and rhythm from a very significant collaboration between Fela Kuti and Roy Ayers on a song titled 2000 Blacks Got To Be Free and puts it together with the bassline from Michael Jackson's Billie Jean. And lastly is a soulful house collaboration-turned-underground-classic between Masters At Work and Roy Ayers with vocals by Jody Watley titled I Love To Love. 

Roy Ayers - Everybody Loves the Sunshine

Everybody Loves The Sunshine

Afrodisiac Sound System - Roy Ayers & Fela Kuti vs. Michael Jackson

Roy Ayers and Fela vs. Michael Jackson

MAW & Roy Ayers feat Jody Watley - I Love To Love (MAW 12")

I Love To Love (MAW 12_)

Rhythm Mixed by Brent Crampton circa 2004

Last night was incredible. I had the most nostalgically inclined excursion with music. It wasn't in some sweaty basement or even with a crowd of close friends. It was just me and my vinyl collection in my living room.

It's a shame to admit, but I haven't DJ'ed on my turntables at home in years. Shelves of vinyl just sitting with memories that grow fainter by the day. Going through the ranks, I was pulling out tracks that were staples in my sets back when I had a Wednesday night residency at Bricktop in Lincoln alongside Dr. Zhivago (in the pre-loom days) called Rhythm.

Because of this, I thought it would be an appropriate time to pull out a mix I recorded originally to promote the Rhythm night back sometime in 2004. Strictly DEEP house selections.

Click here to download: Rhythm Mix by Brent Crampton, January 2004

SADE to release new album, Soldier of Love

As one comment I read on Facebook said, there's bound to be a mini baby-boom with the onslaught of this new album. Set to be released internationally on Feb. 8, 2010, this will be Sade's first album since Lovers Rock in 2000. 

Very excited for this one! Read more on the story at Billboard.com.

loom Weaves World AIDS Day Dec 3

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Join the loom FB group to stay up on events:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=21751068098
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Fundraiser for NextAid.org info
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loom is part of NextAid’s World AIDS Day Campaign. Proceeds go towards the creation of an ecological multipurpose facility for the "Kawangware Street Children and Youth Project" in Nairobi, Kenya, and for the education of South African children through the loveLife goGogetters program. Kicking off on November 25th and running till the end of the year, the campaign already includes over a dozen events in LA, San Francisco, Charlotte, Boston, Omaha, NYC, and Philly dance music communities (& counting)! Sponsors and partners include Giant Step, Fusicology, The MML, URB Magazine, Wantickets, Rhythmism, Green Galactic, Homemade LA and more. NextAid channels the positive energy of the dance floor to make a tangible difference in the lives of children halfway around the world, believing that beats can build hope. Learn more about the campaign at http://www.nextaid.org/wad2009.

Check out Funk Aid for Africa: A CD that embodies NextAid’s mantra of “using the beats of our generation to provide hope for the next”! Purchase this charitable compilation produced by Dubspot and DJ OBah at http://www.funkaid.com. 100% of the proceeds benefit NextAid.

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Main Room (restaurant side of España) | 21+
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To celebrate the cause, we're debuting loom's newest resident DJ, Kethro throwing down the world-weaving flavors alongside loom co-creator, Brent Crampton. Percussion by Shif-D.

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loom lounge (art gallery of España) | all ages
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AIDS is a pandemic that has left no nation untouched by its grip of death. And because we're coming together tonight to help those affected by the repercussions of AIDS, the BANG! drum troupe is hosting an ALL-NATIONS open music ensemble circle. Bring your drum, bring your instrument, bring your brass and bask in the ad-lib jam session in the loom lounge.

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NextAid t-shirts and swag will be available in both rooms. Purchase of these items will also be directly donated to NextAid.

Hosted by Jay "rhythm SOULdier" Kline, Julia Drazic, Paddy Dancin' Yogi, Steve Winchell, Chalis Bristol and YAMBUKA Clothing.
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NextAid's World AIDS Day Events 2009

Check out what your favorite electronic music artists have to say about music and making a difference! The video features clips from Electric Daisy Carnival and Winter Music Conference of Z-trip, DJ Dan, Ultra Nate, Samantha James and more. Campaign Sponsors: Dubspot Debuts Funk Aid for Africa Dubspot, New York City's one-of-a-kind electronic music production and DJ training institute, has undertaken its first nationwide philanthropic project with a series of charitable mix CDs. The first one, Funk Aid for Africa, benefits NextAid! An inspired collage of Funk, Soul, and Latin tunes created by DJ OBaH, it features songs by twenty different artists including Ticklah, Ursula Rucker, King Britt, J. Boogie, Chico Mann, The Lions, Ocote Soul Sounds, Nappy G, and Pleasuremaker. Buy it today! www.funkaid.com MUD Cosmetics gives 100% of Eye Make up Purchase Price to NextAid MUD introduces a limited edition, four-holed palette with 100% of the $25 palette's proceeds going to NextAid. By selling just 1,000 pieces, MUD will fund the construction of a home for orphaned children in Africa. The limited edition palette features four MUD eye shadow colors: Spanish Gold, Moss, Cashmere and Dulce de Leche. Buy a palette here.	Join NextAid in our annual awareness and fundraising campaign around World AIDS Day! Kicking off on November 25th and running through December 31st, in cities across the country! Los Angeles – San Francisco – New York – Boston – Omaha – Philadelphia – Charlotte Funds are going to assist children in Kenya and South Africa. Read about our current programs and projects here. Check out our Featured Event on December 1st at Marrakesh House with Louie Vega, DJ Rap, Nickodemus and Nappy G from Turntables on the Hudson, Marques Wyatt, Raul Campos and Comedians Ben Morrison, Whitney Cummings, Ben Gleib and more!
	Become a member of our Facebook Group RSVP to the WAD Facebook Event Follow us on Twitter Sign up on our mailing list to stay posted on NextAid events. Help us spread the word! Download Banners and Press Release.
	World AIDS Day Event Details
	Nov 25 – supperclub presents the World AIDS Day Official Kick-Off – San Francisco D:Fuse (DJ Set) djdfuse.com / facebook.com/djdfuse and Sen-Sei (live) sen-sei.com Rooz djrooz.com Dj Bo Deep Blue Underground/Back2Basics Fil Latorre Stap[e Dmitri SFC The Sexicanz, COA, Groove the movie DJ Dom myspace.com/deejaidom 657 Harrison St, San Francisco 9pm-2am $10 b4 10pm / $10 w/ RSVP to worldaidsdaysf@nextaid.org flirtyflirty.com | abcey.com | nitevibe.com | ybrpromotions.com | www.themml.com
	Nov 27 – Giant Step and Turntables On The Hudson presents: Give Thanks! A benefit for NextAid – NYC With DJs Nickodemus and Nappy G plus special guests The Sullivan Room 218 Sullivan Street- NY 10012 10pm-4am turntablesonthehudson.com | giantstep.net | nickodemus.com
	Dec 1 - NextAid - WORLD AIDS DAY – LA Louie Vega -Vega Records vegarecords.net DJ Rap - Propa Talent / Impropa Talent djrap.com Marques Wyatt - Deep- LA deep-la.com Turntables on the Hudson with DJ Nickodemus + Nappy G & Brazilian Drum Troupe + Todd Simon on trumpet turntablesonthehudson.com Raul Campos - KCRW 89.9 FM kcrw.org Hosted by Comedian Ben Morrison benmorrison.org Comedians: Whitney Cummings - Chelsea Lately / Comedy Central Roast of Joan Rivers whitneycummings.com and Ben Gleib - Chelsea Lately / NBC's The Real Wedding Crashers gleib.com Blacklight dancers from ArcheDream For Humankind adhk.org Special guest: Stephan McGuire, Producer of Leonardo DiCaprio's “The 11th HOUR” csafrica.org Marrakesh House - Culver City, CA marrakeshhouse.com For full event info, visit: www.nextaid.org/wad2009/dec01.html
	Dec 3 - loom – Omaha Brent Crampton with percussionist Shif-D España Tapas Bar 6064 Maple Street, Omaha, NE Cover $5 loomweaves.com
	Dec. 4 - Charlotte House Music Society presents a World AIDS Day Benefit – Charlotte NC Mr. V and more Dharma Lounge 1440 S. Tryon St., Suite 105 Charlotte, NC 28203 9:30pm - 2:15am; $10 cover myspace.com/djmrv
	Dec. 4 - Alive 315 presents a Benefit for NextAid – L.A. Elevaters myspace.com/elevaters Miguel www.myspace.com/miguel Dakota Lounge 1026 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA, 90401 8:30pm – 1am alive315.com
	Dec 11 - PEX vs. Playloop – Philadelphia Lee Mayjahs? DJ Everyday Justin Paul Silk City 435 Spring Garden St. Philadelphia 19123 9-2am; $5 on the list playlooprecords.com
	Dec 11 - Tropical 11 Year Anniversary – LA Christian Martin myspace.com/christianmartinmusic Dj Adnan djadnan.com Ben Annand tropical-house.com, moontribe.org More TBA 10pm-5am Cover, venue: TBA tropical-house.com
	Dec 12 - Uhuru Afrika – Boston DJ Adam Gibbons facebook.com/adamgibbons DJ Max Pela afrobetabodega.com Malian Master Percussionist: Sidy Maiga facebook.com/smaiga All Asia Bar 344 Mass Avenue, Boston 9pm-1am, Cover: $10 uhuruafrika.com
	Dec 15 - Technique – Santa Monica Mark Lewis Michele Bass And more TBA Tuesdays at Zanzibar 1301 5th Street, Santa Monica $10 before 12am, $15 after Follow us on Twitter for more info, bookings, or guestlist e-mail mthart@metastar.net
	Dec 20 - DEEP – L.A. BODDHI SATVA Offering Recordings, Vega Records – Central Republic of Africa boddhi-satva.com Marques Wyatt (DEEP, Om Records) Vanguard 6021 Hollywood Blvd Los Angeles 10pm-4am; Cover: $20 www.deep-la.com
	Dec 23 - Free Thinking Toy Drive – LA Jordan Strong - Uniting Souls , Nice and Smooth - L.A. Michael Tello - Uniting Souls, OM - SF Aaron Byrd - KCRW Mal's Bar 2331 South Hill Street, Los Angeles 10pm til 2 am 21 + w/ID
NextAid © 2009 | For more information about NextAid and our projects please visit NextAid.org. Art Designed by Rafael Picco - www.rfpgraphics.com. Site Designed by calvinphoenix.com.

Sorting Fact & Fiction in Healthcare Debate

I like to be politically active and consciousness when I feel it's necessary, but wow, this health care reform talk has got me like a mouse in a maze. So I was thankful and slightly amused by the format the St. Petersburg Times' PolitiFact.com formed to break down the dialogue. Enjoy digestible tid-bits of statements and claims about health care reform and their validity judged on a scale of "true" to "pants on fire."

November Top Ten

And since I'm in the mood for sharing music, below are the top ten tracks this month I've recently acquired or have been playing out. Much of it reflects the music I tracked down for this month's loom Weaves Strange Disco theme, so you'll find a bit of early 80's disco and post-punk sprinkled with some deep house and even a jazz album that caught me by surprise.

November Top Ten

1. A Certain Ratio - Do The Du
2. Toby Tobias - In Your Eyes (Tensnake Remix)
3. Muscles - Sweaty (Shazam Remix)
4. Pure Energy - Too Hot
5. The Freddy Turner Project feat. The Three Kings - Spread Love (Danny Krivit Concise Edit)
6. A Certain Ratio - Si Fermir O Grido
7. Rahsaan Roland Kirk Quartet - Rip, Rig and Panic (album)
8. Kebekelektrik - War Dance
9. Todd Terje vs. Sade - I Never Thought I'd See You Glittertind
10. Liquid Liquid - Optimo

Most of this music (except for the ACR stuff) can be found on iTunes, dancetracksdigital.com or traxsource.com.

Domu ends his music career

A prolific producer/DJ and important character in developing the UK broken beat scene abruptly ended his music career a few days ago. Read the full story on inthemix.

DJ Offbeat in NYC promptly responded by creating a tribute mix in honor of Domu, selecting just a taste of Domu's wide spanning production credits. Check the link to download the mix here.

And I've posted three tracks below giving a range of his work. The first one, Point of Entry is an abstract sound-scape that's become a staple in my sets at SSoBB events. The next, Something New is a great example of his soulful broken beat work. The lyrics kind of give an insight into his unsettled feelings about music at the time. And the last, Impending Doom is a wicked Domu remix tailored for the faster and darker dance floors.

Much respect to Domu and I hope he finds what he's looking for.

Domu - Point of Entry - Discotech EP

05 Point of Entry

Domu - Something New - Domus One Offs Remixes And B Sides

Something New - Domu

Daedelus - Impending Doom (Domu Remix) - Domus One Offs Remixes And B Sides

Impending Doom (Domu Remix) - Daedelus