Thought you might be interested

Long time dead.

2007-10-08T20:57:00.000+01:00

Jeez. Didn't realise it'd been so long since I left this blogger thing behind. I cut a few of my presences loose, to concentrate on maintaining my main site and my various social profiles. Now my main site is down for refurbishment, and I'm tumbleblogging at jslr.tumblr.com. Get that. Tumbleblogging. Always up for a brand new thing, natch. TYMBI is dead. Long live the tumbleblog...

Amplified Pre-New Year's Eve Party - December 20th, 2006

2006-12-27T09:37:00.000Z

(old codger's voice:) You young whippersnappers. I remember wot Amplified wuz like back in the old days. When it wuz at the Spot in Covent Gahden - that place don't even exist no more. Still, musn't grumble. They still know how to have a good knees-up... [flyer]

Don't call it a comeback...

2006-12-27T09:22:00.000Z

Survive the xmas spirit? Good. Time to get back on the treadmill. If you're hitting Oxford St for the sales this week, you might want to take a load off by heading to Market Place on Thursday evening (December 28th, 2006) for a Mahogany revival. If you don't know Mahogany, it became part of the quintessential Sunday evening experience for slick 20-to-30-something neo-soulites and lovers of good music and lazy Sunday afternoons off Oxford Street. The night no longer runs, though it's been replaced by something that I'll probably mention here when I've had a chance to check it out. This Thursday is a chance to catch a piece of "the vibe that once was". Enjoy. [Great flyer, isn't it? And the Market Place is a very nice venue... ]

Hip-Hop Karaoke

2006-12-20T10:32:00.000Z

Oh, this sounds like SOOOOO much fun... ;)

In other news: I'm currently reviewing all of my web services. My current host has done me well up until now, but I think I've outgrown it. I'll hopefully be making a move over the next week or so, which may well mean a new home for TYMBI... Watch this space.

Stellar Bodies - Science Fiction and Black Female Perspectives (16.12.06)

2006-12-12T11:52:00.000Z

The ICA hosts a sci-fi event dedicated to black female perspectives. Cool. From the website:

"Amidst the expanded galaxies of science fiction and Afro-futurist cultures emerges the starship Black Female. From Brides of Funkenstein to Octavia Butler, Zoe Whitley delves into her unique voices and representations."

Click image for further info.

'Tis the season...

2006-12-07T09:41:00.001Z

Howies are in London for a sample sale. Says the email: "We are bringing a van full of end of line, last on the shelf, one off samples, returns, stuff that needs a new button or a new zip, shrunk and plenty of size 8 and XL."

They'll be at The Well, Dray Walk, The Old Truman Brewery, Off Brick Lane, and Whitechapel E1 - along with 11 other ethical brands. Sounds like a cool place to escape the Xmas spirit and self-indulge for a bit. Dates: Thursday the 7th of December 6pm till 9pm (today!), Friday 8th 10am till 8pm, Saturday 9th 10am till 7pm, Sunday 10th 11am till 5pm. The email only came out today, hence the last minute notice - has nothing to do with the fact that I've been skiving off email and lounging on a Hawaiin island for the past two weeks... ;)

Resfest 10!

2006-11-13T11:29:00.000Z

From the site: "RESFEST is a global, travelling Festival of innovative film, music, art, design, fashion, culture and technology. We're ten this year, and we're throwing special birthday celebrations in Bristol (Watershed and Arnolfini 25-29 October) and London (14-19 November).

"RESFEST is an explosion of creativity that manifests itself through a dynamic series of events. Festival activities include screenings of shorts and features, seminars, educational sessions, live music and A/V performances, parties and interactive entertainment."

Mmhmmm...

Ooze...

2006-11-13T10:55:00.001Z

Ah, a new category. First, I'm not a restaurant reviewer. Second, I haven't been coerced or persuaded into a favourable write-up. I'll simply say that, if you're in town (anywhere near Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Oxford St etc) and you're looking for a bite but you want to avoid the usual suspects (Wagamama's, anyone?) Ooze is a great alternative. Coming back from Chicago, I'm usually more than disappointed with the general range (or lack) of dining experiences in London - at least until my palate readjusts. Contrary to the usual post-Chicago blues, I came upon Ooze via a favourable Time Out review, and I can personally recommend the Sea Bass. Muted blue lighting and clean, unfussy decor make it the perfect place for an after-work relaxer or an intimate dinner-meet. It's just a shame the seasonal crumble wasn't available that evening...

Black:creativity works - Networking and Showcase - 09.11.06

2006-11-08T13:24:00.000Z

(Long time no update. Still here, thought. Just got back from Chicago - catching up on a few things. Here's something that might be interesting...)

B3 presents...

BLACK:CREATIVITY WORKS a networking and showcasing event for a mashed up generation...

Creativity Works, produced by B3, features a great selection of short films by some of the best emerging filmmaking talent unseen by the mainstream.

Creativity Works aims to demystify the creative process from a multi-ethnic perspective by some of the movers, shapers and practitioners in design, digital filmmaking, music, new media, visual arts and literature.

Each event is curated based on a 'mash up' of cross-media projects, which will range from viral shorts (30secs) to shorts (up to 10mins). The next event takes place on:

Thursday, 9th November, 2006
7.00 pm

Venue:
Curzon Soho,
Shaftsbury Avenue,
99 Shaftsbury Avenue,
W1D 5YD.
Tickets: free.

And now for something different - Photomonth...

2006-09-15T14:01:00.000+01:00

So I've posted a lot of music and film so far, but what about the other arts? photomonth (with a small 'p') runs from October through November 2006. The blurb proclaims over 50 exhibitions and events in 35 galleries and spaces in East London. The season features fotofeast on 3,4,5 November- East London's Contemporary Photography Fair offering the opportunity to buy original prints from emerging and established photographers at the Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane.

"Images discuss the complexity of racial identity, social inequality, conflict, ritual sacrifice, street children in the Congo,
violence in South Africa, the sex trade in Iraq, HIV/AIDS in Rwanda, downtown Las Vegas, industrial Teeside, Hurricane Katrina, devastation in Pakistan and protest in the East End.

"Exhibitions can be found in a wide range of accessible locations from major international galleries to a shop off Brick Lane, a cafe on Bethnal Green Road, a church, community centres, a hospital, a university, a therapy centre, an hotel, a club, an old brewery, a steamship, a pumping station, a library and artists studios, as well as many East End galleries. The line-up of photographers is international."

For more deets and a free brochure call 020 7375 0441 or see http://www.alternativearts.co.uk (check the events page.)

Wonderland

2006-09-15T13:51:00.000+01:00

It's been far too long since I went dancing. Proper kick up yer heels and shake loose. Garth and Seymour unleash another Wonderland session next Wednesday (20th September) - featuring guest DJ Cypren (Soulbrother Records, Solar Radio, CoOp...) with residents Garth, Seymour for "musical freedom and good vibes", as he calls it. Venue: Ruby Lo's, 23 Orchard Street, London, W1 (next to Selfridges and M&S). Doors 8pm-2am, free before 9pm, £3 after. Expect the jazz dance crew to be in attendance, and go with the intention to move.

New Soweto Kinch album...

2006-09-14T13:53:00.001+01:00

Soweto Kinch. Diamond geezer. And talented, to boot. In a freestyle session between me, Benji Reid and Soweto, Soweto had no competition. Now, seeing as I hadn't hit a freestyle sesh for years, and Benji's no emcee, that may not be saying much, but trust me - 'kid's got skillz'. Got the following info from a Dune Records mailer:

A LIFE IN THE DAY OF B19: TALES OF THE TOWER BLOCK
Dune Records DUNECD014

On iTunes 12 September
In stores 25 September

The NEW ALBUM from the sensational young sax star and MC, Soweto Kinch breaking new ground in hip hop and jazz.

The first of a two-part album follow-up to Kinch's Mercury/MOBO/Urban Music Award-winning album, Conversations With The Unseen featuring explosive jazz with innovative rap and hip hop beats.

A distinct and commanding way of looking at jazz, at hip hop, and at the whole performance situation. Mr Kinch demonstrates what England has to teach [the USA] about narrative hip hop. Don't sleep on Mr Kinch.
THE NEW YORK TIMES

A rawness and power that mark him out from his peers in British jazz.
THE INDEPENDENT

--- end quote ---

Plenty tour date information available at either http://www.sowetokinch.com or http://www.myspace.com/sowetokinch. A couple of London dates:

14 Sep LONDON Cargo LAUNCH PARTY! 0870 060 0100 http://www.cargo-london.com
* hosted by Jonzi D
* + DJs Mark de Clive Lowe / Part Time Heroes
* + live support by Lyric L

19 Nov LONDON Jazz Festival Queen Elizabeth Hall http://www.rfh.org.uk 0870 264 9988
* Double bill with Abram Wilson + The Delta Blues Project

Casino Royale

2006-09-11T01:28:00.000+01:00

Completely forgot about the new James Bond until I saw this. I opted out of the Bond franchise around the same time I grew out of watching terrestrial TV on bank holidays. This might just draw me back into active service...

FAVELA FEVA @ Guanabara - 05.09.06

2006-09-05T00:30:00.000+01:00

From the Caferecordings mailing list:

"On September 5th, UK and Brazilian artists and DJs come together for FAVELA FEVA, a one-off event to raise money for a radio station to be built on behalf of AfroReggae in one of Rio 's toughest favelas.

"Guanabara plays host to DJs Gilles Peterson (BBC Radio 1), DJ Marky (Innerground, Brazil), Bryan G (Movement/V), Benji B (1Xtra BBC), Bongo DJs (Mr Bongo), DJ Limão (Jungle Drums Sambatralia) plus guests. They will be joined by MCs Dynamite and Skibadee . Dancing will be courtesy of Quilombo de Samba (Basement Jaxx) and Capoeira Canal. There will be an exclusive live set performed by Bembe Segue (Goya Music). The UK' s own Ty (Big Dada) and Estelle (V2) will be the hosts for the night.

All proceeds will go towards providing the favela's youth with training and equipment to build and run a new community radio station.

"Doors open at 8pm. Tickets on the door. £6 before 10pm / £8 after. Dress however you want.
Guanabara is at Parker St., corner of Drury Lane, London WC2B 5PW,
Tel: 020 7242-8600 / www.guanabara.co.uk
For more information call Izzy on 07976 638586"

Lyric L @ Soul Power - Wednesday 6th September...

2006-09-02T13:07:00.000+01:00

It's a little known fact, but I used to emcee. With my teenage crew Pure Cut Productions, we hung with British Hip-Hop stalwarts Son Of Noise and Kobalt 60, got a little attention from Blade, and even got the chance to do a little guest slot on Choice FM, which was a big thing for me as a 17 year old rapper living my dream. Ah, the good old days...

My relationship with hip-hop is a little more tenuous these days - don't get me started - but I still have an ear for it, and particularly the UK reps. Not only does Lyric L rep UK Hip-Hop, but she's incredibly versatile, having risen to (international) renown on the back of the seminal Seiji-produced Loose Lips - a classic slab of broken beat. Props n' kudos to her. Get down to Soul Power and support if you can. Check the myspace page for more deets - myspace.com/thesoulpower

Sequins, Soca and Sweat...

2006-09-01T11:57:00.000+01:00

No, I didn't make it down to Carnival this year. And it's only yesterday that I found out I had a press pass waiting for me to take pictures. Foo. Next year, maybe?

While I'm waiting for the opportunity to come round again, I might check "Sequins, Soca and Sweat" out for a bit of Bacchanal flavour... From the site:

"Sequins, Soca and Sweat is the debut documentary by award winning filmmaker, Stephen Rudder. His interest in Carnival was first sparked in 2003. Whilst at the Notting Hill Carnival he saw a young boy with a horn in one hand and the other around the shoulder of his grandmother as they danced together in costume. He was intrigued at how this spectacular art form had the power to bring together generations in this way.

"When Carole Morrison, the film’s Executive Producer, was looking to commission a documentary about the ‘Mas’ in Notting Hill, Stephen’s initial seed of interest had the chance to grow.

"What he found when he looked behind the mask of the masquerade, was a small group of artists, designers, innovators and pioneers who somehow managed to nourish their communities and inspire the younger generations, whilst also forming the backbone of the largest street festival in Europe. Sequins, Soca and Sweat is their story."

It'll be screening at the BFM Festival on the 13th of September, 6.30pm...

(Oh, and by the way, the poster looks hot. You can't really see it in all it's glory here, or even on the site, but the design's real tasty... Love to get my hands on a full sized version... ;)

BFM Film Festival

2006-09-01T11:48:00.000+01:00

The Black FIlm Makers Festival runs from the 8th – 15th September 2006 at the ICA, Pall Mall. A programme for the festival can be found here.

Film round-up - mid-August

2006-08-18T15:55:00.000+01:00

A few other films that look as if they might be worth the price of a cinema ticket...

13 Tzameti
Fast Food Nation
Who Killed The Electric Car. Forgive me: I know docu-features have been fashionable for a while now - I'm only just getting into them...
A Scanner Darkly - for the sheer geekiness of it...
10th and Wolf
The Science of Sleep
Babel
The Departed
Running With Scissors
Little Miss Sunshine
Children of Men
The Prestige
Heart of the Game

...

Half Nelson

2006-08-18T15:20:00.000+01:00

Okay, I haven't seen it yet, but Half Nelson looks like the kind of film I'd get excited about. It's about a young inner-city junior high school teacher whose ideals wither and die in the face of reality, and an unexpected friendship that grows with one of his students. I'm not going to say much more than that - just go check the site and view the trailer.

Half Nelson was preceded by a short film - 'Gowanus, Brooklyn', which was used as a way to workshop a key scene from the full-length screenplay and raise interest in the feature.

Charlie Dark plays Mothership Connection Party @ SLG - Saturday 19th August

2006-08-18T11:37:00.000+01:00

Charlie says:

"Calling all South London Crew. I'm spinning at the South London Gallery in camberwell on Saturday night. Mothership Connection Party. 6-12pm Free.
Reach down, check some art and listen to some musical selections."

South London Gallery

Blacktronica @ the NFT - Friday 18th August 2006

2006-08-18T11:34:00.000+01:00

If you don't know Blacktronica, check www.blacktronica.com

Tonight: Full crew alongside Dj Supreme on the tables and his excellent film 'Turntable Trixsters' in the cinema. Film kicks off at 8.30 music spins from 10pm.