Blowing Out The Candles For Jimi

[MuthaWit]

Hola, Loved Ones!

I mentioned the other day that I had something cool to announce and here it is. The URB ALT team has put together a very hip Jimi Hendrix Birthday Tribute that will be going down at Galapagos Artspace next Friday night, November 27th. Jimi's history, accomplishments and music have been pored over a million times I suppose so I won't bore you with another opinion. Well, yes, I will. LOL

Let's create some context. Jimi was quoted in 1966 as saying "I want to do with my guitar what Little Richard does with his voice." That desire was not an aberration. Hendrix played with Little Richard, the Godfather of this Rock thang, from 1964-65.

Little Richard Penniman's seminal influences can still be felt today in rock with the infectious hooks over propulsive rhythms, hyper sexuality, androgynous fashion/stage performances, wails/squeals of passion and cocksure attitude. "'Scuse me while I kiss this guy" indeed. :-) Without Little Richard there are no James Browns, Rolling Stones, Beatles, Bowies, Sly Stones, Bob Dylans, Elvis, Michael Jacksons, Princes, Madonnas, um, Al Sharptons...well you get my point. Little Richard set the tone and his student James Marshall Hendrix distended and distorted that tone to such a unprecedented degree that it literally fedback into another dimension. In my opinion the history of the contemporary music world can be broken down as BJ(Before Jimi: Genesis-May 11, 1967) and AJ(After Jimi: May 12, 1967 [UK release date of Hendrix's debut album "Are You Experienced"] - Forever). Hendrix not only impacted us with his guitar virtuosity and prolific songwriting but his unique way of hearing, generating, capturing and sculpting sound is the DNA of contemporary sound design, visual communications, architecture, computer systems and product design. Let's debate it. :-)

Photo by Ed Marshall

Okay, so what's this tribute all about? Just know that the MuthaWit Orchestra...the BIG 15+ piece version...will be doing a Hendrix song or two in our own special way on the night of November 27th. If you caught our appearance for Hopestock at Galapagos last Sunday you got an idea of what the vibe is like...but that wasn't the BIG band. The small group made it bleed last Sunday but we didn't make it rain. We'll make it pour for Jimi next Friday.

Even cooler, the magnificent New Zealander Leila Adu is flying into NYC from Italy to play on the bill. If you caught homegirl's blazing solo sets at the URB ALT Festival this past summer you know she brings serious drama and musicality to the proceedings. She will also be paying homage to Hendrix but on the piano in her uniquely avant garde fashion. Tell me that ain't cool? Check out the review of her recent release "Dark Joan" to get a feel for what will be going down.

That's it for now, folks. Check out the press release below for the gory details. If you want to buy the $10 tickets now(and they are selling fast!) go here.

Love,

B

******


URB ALT GETS EXPERIENCED WITH JIMI HENDRIX TRIBUTE

MuthaWit Orchestra, Leila Adu and special guests perform in celebration of the legacy of Jimi Hendrix.

Friday, November 27th, 10:30pm: Galapagos Artspace Brooklyn, NY

"URB ALT features artists that are exemplars of boundary crossing, synthesis and
 unification." – The Village Voice

NEW YORK, NY (November 19, 2009) - The URB ALT showcase of cutting edge multi-cultural music/film/visual/literary artists explores the musical discography of legendary rocker, Jimi Hendrix on his birthday Friday, November 27th. The night of alternative music presented at Galapagos Artspace in Dumbo features the avant-garde classical/blues vocal and piano stylings of New Zealand chanteuse Leila Adu and the polyglot big band musical incantations of the MuthaWit Orchestra. Both artists will be performing their original material as well as compositions from Jimi Hendrix's songbook. Digital video projections will be generated by the award-winning Bighead Scientists team.

URB ALT founder Boston Fielder, says "Hendrix’s influence as a guitarist/sound sculptor is beyond reproach. It’s comical, however, hearing artists- especially rock musicians-downplay his songwriting influence. Claiming Hendrix hasn’t influenced you is like claiming you don’t breathe air."

Both the MuthaWit Orchestra and Leila Adu are renowned for their idiosyncratic way of melding song-form with improvisation. Based in Rome, Italy, Adu is currently riding a wave of acclaim for her recent Steve Albini produced UK release “Dark Joan.” Ironically for the evening, her piano approach harkens back to a time when rock was not so myopically associated with the guitar. She states “I discovered Hendrix through my Mum's music collection as an early teen - she was amazed to walk in on me blasting her Hendrix records decades after they were recorded. However, when I listen and watch footage of Jimi now - I am struck by two things - love and voodoo.”

URB ALT: Jimi Hendrix Tribute
Friday, November 27, 2009 - 10:30pm
$10

LOCATION & DIRECTIONS
Galapagos - 16 Main St at the corner of Water Street in DUMBO, BK
F train to York Street, A train to High Street or 2/3 train to Clark Street


ABOUT URB ALT

URB ALT is Underground Railroad Broadcasting Alternatives, a music/film/visual arts/literary series and media company founded in 1998 to serve the creator and audience seeking unfiltered artistic expression. URB ALT has presented transcendent visuals and revolutionary art by creators such as Funkadelic, Kyp Malone of TV On The Radio, Melvin Gibbs, Arthur Jafa, Cody ChesnuTT, Res Farai Chideya and Dragons of Zynth to enthusiastic audiences throughout the United States, Europe and Canada. URB ALT's mission to cross-pollinate commercial and avant garde artistic experiences aims to focus artist and audience alike on how creatively expansive and socially resonant pop culture can be.

URB ALT is sponsored by Daisy Rock Guitars, The Sweatshop Rehearsal and Recording Studios, BossTon Communications, BigHead Scientists and Fusicology.

For more info and promo art: www.urbalt.ning.com, www.myspace.com/urbalt, www.myspace.com/muthawit or www.leilaadu.com

PRESS CONTACTS

4961 Polemics • Marketing • NYC • Atlanta

K’China at 404.313.5341 [e-mail]

[MuthaWit]

@Row! What a great idea. I think I will do that...like in the next few minutes. lol
@Pat! Please come out and help us amp up the Hendrix vibe. We have some cool things planned for the coming year at Galapagos. Want to make sure we represent in the best way. It'll be great to see you :-)

[Row]

Gawd, I wish I didn't have a gig that night! This show is totally up my alley!! You should post a questionnaire on the site of everyone's favourite Jimi tune, just for kicks, I'm interested to know wot everyone's response would be ;)