Connie Price and the Keystones featuring Wildchild of the Lootpack, MC Daakir/Soup of Jurrasic 5 and Percee PConnie Price and the Keystones are a modern-day deep funk group from Los Angeles throwing in elements of '60's and '70's soundtracks, Jamaican production aesthetics, psychedelia and hip-hop. Though the name connotes a female lead, Connie Price & the Keystones is in fact a project helmed by Los Angeles-based guitarist/producer/multi-instrumentalist Dan "Connie Price" Ubick (of Breakestra fame).
In 2004 the Keystones put out an EP, Blood's Haul, on the Stones Throw imprint Now Again with UK drummer Malcolm Catto, and that same year the instrumental Wildflowers was released featuring members of Funk Inc., Poets Of Rhythm and L.A. Carnival. Another EP, Sticks & Stones, hit shelves in 2005, and three years later the band issued Tell Me Something on Ubiquity Records, which featured guest appearances from MCs like Percee P, Ohmega Watts, Wildchild, Soup/Daakir from Jurassic 5, Aloe Blacc and Freestyle Fellowship's Myka Nyne, among others.
From 2007 to 2009 Connie Price & the Keystones became one of two main bands (along side L.A. fam Rhythm Roots All Stars who now back De La Soul) to back hip-hop legends like Big Daddy Kane, EPMD, Slick Rick, Redman, M.O.P., Brand Nubian and Too $hort live on Scion's coast to coast Live Metro series. The Keystones struck a bond with Big Daddy Kane, becoming his full time backing band, and have been in the studio with NYC's finest recording a brand new full length called The Last Supper due out in late 2010/early 2011
Connie Price & the Keystones is proud to emerge from Los Angeles' bustling music scene and is proud to have included a revolving cast of players including members of Orgone, Breakestra, Beck, DJ Z-Trip, Rhythm Roots All Stars, David Holmes, David Garibaldi Band, Macy Gray, The Rebirth, The Lions, Greyboy Allstars, Greasy Beats, etc.
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From 2007 to 2009 Connie Price & the Keystones became one of two main bands (along side L.A. fam Rhythm Roots All Stars who now back De La Soul) to back hip-hop legends like Big Daddy Kane, EPMD, Slick Rick, Redman, M.O.P., Brand Nubian and Too $hort live on Scion's coast to coast Live Metro series. The Keystones struck a bond with Big Daddy Kane, becoming his full time backing band, and have been in the studio with NYC's finest recording a brand new full length called The Last Supper due out in late 2010/early 2011
Connie Price & the Keystones is proud to emerge from Los Angeles' bustling music scene and is proud to have included a revolving cast of players including members of Orgone, Breakestra, Beck, DJ Z-Trip, Rhythm Roots All Stars, David Holmes, David Garibaldi Band, Macy Gray, The Rebirth, The Lions, Greyboy Allstars, Greasy Beats, etc.
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“The Rebirth is prepared to fully represent the return of the quintessential soul band”, says Carlos “Loslito”, the leader and creator of the group. The original keyboardist for the L.A. underground funk troop, Breakestra, Loslito has been conceptualizing The Rebirth since the Acid Jazz movement in the early 90’s. Groups like Soul 2 Soul, Brand New Heavies, Jamiroquai, Omar and the underrated Young Disciples,” inspired Loslito to write and perform similar soulful music. From this era came the studio project turned live act known as Mesh of Mind. After making their statement around Los Angeles and releasing music on Planet Earth Recordings and Dorado records, the group soon learned that the U.S. wasn’t quite ready for a band of its kind. D’Angelo was just releasing “Brown Sugar” and the Philly sound were still finding its unified voice.
The project persevered and while recording the full-length album several key members started a side project that became the Grammy Award winning Ozomatli. In turn, Mesh of Mind went their separate ways and the concept and music had to be put on the shelves, hence The Rebirth. “Though it was hard to let go, I do find solace in my belief that situations happen for a reason,” said Loslito. “Mesh of Mind was the learning grounds for what The Rebirth is today and what it will become.
The project has matured and all the current members have synchronicity not only on a performance level, but most importantly on an instinctual level. Leonard Bernstein once said ‘You are the sum of your listening experience’ and in The Rebirth’s case we have been influenced by the same types of music and it helped us to achieve a complimentary state without force in our music”.
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Jeremy Sole's Musaics
For the past 20 years, Chicago-born Jeremy Sole has been making beats since the MPC 60 was born, deejaying since rotary crossfaders were the standard, and playing clubs since he was too young to (legally) get in. As a teenager, Sole's underground loft parties were packed with sweaty bodies - a culture clash at the birth of Hip Hop and House music. He matured as a turntablist in Jazz, Dub and experimental hybrid bands before the phrase "Acid Jazz" confined that sound. The rich Chicago history of Blues, Jazz, Disco and Funk were all part of his upbringing, and like a true music lover Jeremy has always reveled in the place where they all blend together. “When I was young, I spent many a night in the alleys behind blues clubs, listening to cats like Buddy Guy through the air vents. Those same nights I would be mixing with legendary Disco deejays at our downtown loft parties." Since then his obsession grew to include music from around every corner of the world.
Musaics
As a musician and producer, Sole uses the word "Musaics" as both an artist alias and a conceptual approach; sampling seemingly unrelated world rhythms and melodies from old records, writing original music utilizing his 9-piece ensemble, and juxtaposing it all as a form of mosaic music. Sole has pulled together his dream team of musicians including members of The Lions, Quantic Soul Orchestra, Antibalas, Mayer Hawthorne, Build an Ark and many more projects. With Jeremy on MPC, turntables and guitar, they keep an experimental-yet-steady groove that hybridizes elements of Afrobeat, Cumbia, Spiritual Jazz and dubbed-out dancefloor beats. In his own personal productions, Sole has done remixes for Afrobeat heir FEMI KUTI as well as NATURAL SELF, ZAP MAMA, Latin Funk group BROWNOUT and Ghanaian Reggae artist ROCKY DAWUNI. ...................................................................................................................................................
BabyStone“Those who think that Classic Funk and Soul songwriting with live instruments by this generation is over need to look past their Top 40 and MTV stations for a reality check.”
~ Cazembe Abena, LA2Day
BabyStone is anchored in the funk, but the fun only begins there. This debut musical amalgamation by lead singer and songwriter, Novena Carmel, with heavy contributions by co-writer / guitarist / producer, Itai Shapira, has a fresh sound; a swaggering, sultry mix of funk and soul with a dash of swing and samba. Often quirky, usually clever lyrics and powerful vocals by Ms. Carmel (sometimes smokey, sometimes sassy) will penetrate your memory and maybe your heartstrings. Novena credits her eclectic cultural and musical upbringing as influential in her sound -- her mother was raised in Brazil, a country rich with unique musicality... and being the daughter of funk legend, Sly Stone, may have rubbed off just a tad. It certainly gives insight into how the name, BabyStone may have come about.
BabyStone live, which typically comes hard with a tight 9-piece band and improvisational theatrics, will rock you just as much as the recorded works. A recent performance was rated as one of the best shows of 2008 by The Urban Network Magazine. Whether on wax or on stage, BabyStone is ushering a new era of funk and soul with an undeniable combination of melodies, energy and stimulating songwriting.
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Simple CitizensA hype MC over a funky sample is the simple formula that makes even the most uncoordinated booty move. As a result, the live band has always been a rarity in hiphop. But when a group can approach hiphop from the needle's groove, playing themselves like the tastiest sampling of funk, jazz, or reggae, with an MC who flows like cats did in hiphop's golden age, then you find yourself permeated by a musical energy that is a rarity in itself. This is the energy of the Simple Citizens.
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The hard penetrating, self-reflective vocals of this MC poignantly illustrate that true school hip hop is alive and well. Born in the Midwest, raised in Maryland, and schooled in the business in NYC, E Reece is unlike any artist you have ever heard or seen. This talented and hard-working lyricist, songwriter, poet, and musician keeps your attention at every turn and will make you challenge yourself.
His music speaks of love, life, and staying true to yourself.
E Reece and his live band "Core Elements" mix new school hip hop, east coast wisdom, and west coast love of life. His music transcends all cultures, and with a love for rhyming that’s deeply rooted in the essence of the genre, it’s going to be hard to stop his star from rising. “Once they’ve heard my music or seen my live show, I want people to believe in the power of positive music and to know that real hip hop isn’t dead.”
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Main Stage Hosts - KCRW's Jeremy Sole & Anthony Valadez
KCRW, 89.9 FM, a community service of Santa Monica College, is Southern California's leading National Public Radio affiliate, featuring an eclectic mix of music, news, information and cultural programming. KCRW is a recognized tastemaker for new music from around the world.
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Main Stage Schedule:
2:00pm The Remitch {DJ Set}
2:30pm Jeremy Sole {DJ Set}
3:00pm E Reece and Core Elements
3:45pm Jeremy Sole {DJ Set}
4:00pm Jeremy Sole's Musaics
5:00pm The Remitch {DJ Set}
5:45pm Anthony Valadez {DJ Set}
6:45pm Simple Citizens
7:45pm Anthony Valadez {DJ Set}
8:00pm BabyStone
9:00pm Michael Barnes {DJ Set}
9:30pm The Rebirth
10:30pm Anthony Valadez {DJ Seet}
10:45pm Connie Price and the Keystones feat. Percee P, Wildchild from The Lootpack & MC Daakir/Soup of Jurrasic 5
11:45pm The Remitch {Closing DJ Set}
12:00am - 2am Free After Party at The Grand Star Jazz Club (in festival grounds) 21+
