Jazz Only Vinyl Listening Session Event
I hosted another session of the Vinyl Listening Lounge Club at Sost Lounge in DC. With Rhythmlingo Records DJ, Zach McCants, on the turntable. We had a small intimate gathering wherein we listened to a list of varied Jazz artists and particular musical selections, introduced by those that brought in a few of their vinyl. We listened, enjoyed, vibed, chatted. Good food and drink. A wonderful time was had by ALL. Hope you can join us next time.
The Mid Atlantic Jazz Festival (MAJF)
Opening Day of the MAJF, a three day (Fri-Sun), all day and late nite, Jazz Music event. Held yearly, this year the event was held at the Marriott Hotel, in Bethesda, MD. This is the 17th year of the MAJF. This year’s festival was programed around the heroes of the music, John Coltrane and Miles Davis. There were at least twelve different venue spaces where music was being played.
I wanted to get a feel of the various venue rooms and to see a few live sets. There was also honor of Black History Month, as well as multiple vendors with quality products. I drifted from room to room throughout the hotel to see many local and some national musicians and bands, including singers. The restaurant / Bar area was open all three days of the event with live entertainers. This was adjacent to the hotel entrance, therefore the music emanated all over the lobby.
Jill Scott Album Listening Party - "To Whom This May Concern.”
We met at a pizza restaurant across the street from HR Record store in DC. Word got around about Jill’s new release. Enough to fill the tables, with standing room only. The host introduced herself and we started with the listening. I met with friends and Fam there. A great friendly crowd. There were separate conversations going on in the room while the music, on vinyl, was playing, which didn’t give me a clear sound of her music. However, the sound of Jill from the speaker was greater. As I heard certain selections, I could get in on the vibe, the mood, the message, and the feel of the crowded room. What was distinct was the diversity of the tracks. Each was a different music genre. Some of Jill’s smooth cocktail jazzy sound. And then there was a Rap tune. Then R&B. It was then that a very close and dear person in my life gave me one of the new Jill vinyl albums. What a joyous surprise. As we continued to listen to other Jill selections, I opened the album to see the cover and inside. To my new surprise, I see that it is a double album. Side A, B, C, and D. There was a great deal of collaborations with numerous artists on this album, which is why the selections are so different and great. There was not enough time to play all four sides. But I will. Another great evening was had by all.
Feb 14, Sat. Happy Valentines Day, Afternoon, The Mid Atlantic Jazz Festival (MAJF)
Back at the MAJF to see more Jazz sessions. Again, multiple rooms, ticketed or free, depending on who I wanted to see. This also included performances by some of the best high school and university jazz band groups in DC. Big band rooms, small set of musicians, singing performers. A lot of Groove(s) to consume.
I leave early evening to get something to eat at That’s Amore, in Rockville. Pleasant atmosphere, small crowd at the time, great food. While eating, a band came in to prepare for performing. Before I ended my dinner, I saw another fabulous band with a singer to extend musical adventure. As great as they were, I had to go.
Feb. 14, Sat. Evening, The Howard University sensational jazz vocal ensemble, Afro Blue, and the talented Cyrus Chestnut
I could not miss this opportunity. A great evening at the Black Rock Center for the Arts in Germantown, MD. A nice venue for entertainment. The legendary great pianist Cyrus Chestnut opened the set along with his upright Bassist and his Drummer with a few songs for a very entertaining opening set. He then introduced Afro Blue.
It has been years since I last saw Afro Blue. It was great to see them again. This is a group of around ten male and female college students harmoniously singing rich, jazz-influenced tones, mostly a capella with a wide range of instrumental voice pitches from remarkably high to incredibly low. They are a blend of traditional jazz with contemporary Black musical styles. Cyrus blended in lightly in the background on a few selections.
Feb 15, Sun. Afternoon, MAJF
Back at the MAJF. In addition to all the musical performances over the past few days, there was a particular room used for Dancing Only: Line, Hand, Free Style, Steppin, Open.
The MAJF ended with a midnight Jam Session, a little too late for me. A Music Marathon.
I Had Fun All The Way
Our Last Vinyl Session
What a wonderful fall evening we had at our first session at Sost Lounge DC. Thanks goes out to everyone that came out to share and listen. Sost Lounge is a great space for vinyl listening, meeting people, and having an enjoyable time.
The room was full, with a good crowd. We had some celebs in the house from the acting and film industry.
The set was started with DJ Zach McGant of Rhythmlingo Records with varied sounds from multiple musicians. We went around the room and guests introduced their vinyl music selections with some background of themselves and the music selection and artist.
Some of the selections played during the evening included:
· Treat’em Right - Chub Rock
· Listen Here - Eddie Harris
· Trust Me - Herbie Hancock
· Haute - Janelle Monae
· No Ordinary Love - Sade
· Joy - Teddy Pendergrass
· Every Time He Come Around - Minnie Ripperton
· Tomaas - Miles Davis
· Te Amo Corazon - Prince
· Two Occasions - The Deale
· You’re So Good To Me - Curtis Mayfield
Downstairs To The Vinyl Lounge
Our Last Vinyl Session
What a wonderful fall evening we had at our first session at Sost Lounge DC. Thanks goes out to everyone that came out to share and listen. Sost Lounge is a great space for vinyl listening, meeting people, and having an enjoyable time.
The room was full, with a good crowd. We had some celebs in the house from the acting and film industry.
The set was started with DJ Zach McGant of Rhythmlingo Records with varied sounds from multiple musicians. We went around the room and guests introduced their vinyl music selections with some background of themselves and the music selection and artist.
Some of the selections played during the evening included:
· Treat’em Right - Chub Rock
· Listen Here - Eddie Harris
· Trust Me - Herbie Hancock
· Haute - Janelle Monae
· No Ordinary Love - Sade
· Joy - Teddy Pendergrass
· Every Time He Come Around - Minnie Ripperton
· Tomaas - Miles Davis
· Te Amo Corazon - Prince
· Two Occasions - The Deale
· You’re So Good To Me - Curtis Mayfield
Downstairs To The Vinyl Lounge
Vinyl Day, Sat. August 9, 2025 at the Silver Spring, MD
Vinyl Day: Just for the Record BYOV August 9, 2025 Silver Spring Library
Another fine day in the VINYL listening world. The worst part of the day was getting through the road closures around the library due to construction of the new metro Purple line. Many session events. One of the highlights of the day, for me was attending the keynote speaker event of DJ GI Joe, also known as Joseph Rivera, a celebrated figure in hip-hop culture whose life and career embody the power of music to educate, inspire, and connect. He has a very inspiring story of his life and how it led him to becoming a well-known and respected DJ.
DJ GI Joe
We had a wild and wide mixture of selections and artists today.
· In Da Club – 50 Cent - I thought I would start the set with a tune that would get listeners in the mood. This particular album has many versions of this hit song (clean, dirty, instrumental, a capella)
· Let’s Dance – Donna Summer
Speaking of Summer, the next tune played was:
· Summer Madness – Kool & The Gang
· What’s Going On – Marvin Gaye – This one of my All-Time favorite albums. It was very instrumental in my life during the 70’s and showcased the reflection of the country during this time.
We were introduced to the vinyl recordings of The Voyager Golden Record introduced by a celebrity guest, movie actor Clayton Lebouf. This was a unique box album that contained over 100 images and a variety of sounds on a 12-inch gold-plated copper disk. NASA chose this recording in 2012 to showcase Earth's life and culture to extraterrestrials.
· HOT – Roy Ayers – A Jazz-funk vibraphone tune that’s really HOT. Roy erased the boundaries between various genres.
· Mellow Kisses – A track by the M.E.B. (formerly Miles Electric Band) led by Vince Wilburn, Jr. collects a progressive all-star ensemble featuring Miles Davis alumni and Miles inspired players. This brand new, never-released studio recording captures a multi-generational who’s who of acclaimed artists performing new Miles-inspired compositions. The album, produced by Miles’ alumni Lenny White and Wilburn, features music legends including Ron Carter, Marcus Miller, Stanley Clarke, Donald Harrison, Darryl Jones, Vernon Reid, and John Scofield. This was a 12-inch vinyl record that should be played at 45 rpm. We started out not realizing that it was playing at the wrong speed. However, at the 33-1/2 rpm speed, this tune still sounded mellow. The speed was changed to 45 rpm. The MEB crew still had a smooth vibe.
· Beyond the Frontier – Lam Fung - Now this was Different. Another interesting musical selection. This was a pipa concerto. Do you know the pipa instrument? It’s a Chinese lute, often featured in traditional Chinese music. This song is a well-known example of contemporary pipa music. The good and bad news was that the beginning of the song was being played at the 45 rpm because of the previous selection. At that speed and the unfamiliarity of the song, it had a pleasant vibration. Somebody mentioned rpm and we realized that the speed was incorrect. The rpm was changed back to 33-1/2. The updated version and sound was great as well.
· Buck Jump – Trombone Shorty – Paying tribute to the contemporary New Orleans style of music combined with the traditional brass band sound with modern jazz-funk beats and rhythms. Recorded in 2011, this track combines the traditional brass band sound along with modern electronic beats and rhythms. The tune is played in the key of D minor.
· Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground– Willie Johnson aka Blind Willie Johnson was an American gospel blues singer and guitarist. who displayed a combination of powerful chest voice singing and slide guitar skills that influences generations of musicians. He was a dominant player of the type of music which conveyed religious themes in a blues style.
I later discovered that song was also included as part of the vinyl recordings of the NASA Voyager spacecraft mentioned earlier.
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· String Quartet #13 in B-Flat – Budapest String Orchestra
Beethoven's String Quartet No. 13 in B flat major, Op. 130, is a complex and highly regarded work. The Budapest String Quartet's recordings of this piece are considered some of the best interpretations, known for their musicality, passion, and commitment to the composer's spirit.
· James Brown Dark live at the Apollo Theatre – This live album recorded at the Apollo Theater in Harlem and released in 1963 is considered one of Brown’s most convincing albums and it has become one of the most influential R&B soul albums ever, with the live band showing its tenacity for tightness and the frontman of course showing why Mr. Dynamite was one of the greatest showman ever.
June 26, 2025 at Crooked Run Restaurant
Curated Vinyl Selection Just For You
We had a great evening at the Crooked Run. In addition to a few of our regulars, we shared the room with others having other celebrations. We needed a private room. The vinyl selections we played kept the room vibing. To avoid multiple . We decided individual selections
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