You thought that I was gone….MUWHWHWHAH! I’m not

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I LOVE my Skinny jeans. I love, I love, I love them to death. No question about it. I think I’ve mentioned it before but Sweden is known to be the denim-country. JEANS JEANS JEANS! everyone wears jeans. The skinny-jeans label “Cheap Monday” holds the country in a strong, firm grip.

The tale of Swedes and their love for jeans goes way back, back to the 70s. One of the labels that caused this is; Gul & Bla (the “a” has a ring ontop= and is said oeweeh )

When my father was young (he has told me this tale many times) people used to wait in long lines outside their two stores, one in Stockholm and one in Paris. They all wanted to get their own famous Sailor-bell-bottom jeans. This company was one of the first ones that could offer it in europe back in the days. Imagine the lines outside game stores when GTA is launched. It is said to have been almost as hysterical! People, as my father, used to drive from way up north all the way down to Stockholm to get hold of a pair of these trousers… (about 400 miles). He also tells about the “downside” of jeans from this era… Denim material that was so stiff that it gave your inner thighs the “awfull” burning-red rash and that you had to lie on the floor to button them (beacuse the material was non-strech and had a tendancy to expand so,so much whiles using the,) …that so typically that I can’t find an image of these. Only a simular from Grey Ant’s collection this season.

I have a nice secret side-love for bell bottom jeans. Especially when they are Sky-high waisted (prefarbly so high that you choke, higher than in the pic). And I love to walk around in my nerdsters and pretend that I’m in Dolly Parton’s movie 9-5.

So why am I japping about this?

Tonite me and my sister are going to the relaunch of the Gul& Bla brand and I became nostalgic…maybe I might even get me a oldschool pair.

Loves and hughs and see you in NY next month

//K

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read about music and life on Kissey Asplund’s- SomeWhatStrangeLife ,listen to her music.

Big in fish- notably Herring, Oil and Rap Music and of course The Beatles ‘Norwegian Wood’- Well tons of electronic, dance music and rock but…..There is a burgeoning Hip Hop and Urban scene in Norway for sure and the audiences love it. In fact– I had booked a Mixtape Riot/Beatards show with Bi Jules NYC a couple years back at Blaa in Oslo and people went crazy.

I knew Gisle back when he was working for Stress- a big Hip Hop site and now Gisle started 730. He turned me on to Mona at Rise- big TV star in Norway who I hear now has moved to San Diego. Then Gisle turned me on to Tommy Tee who had a dream of a Norwegian Hip Hop showcase in NY and approached me to help him produce it– we still never did it but there’s always the present and future.

I must say- I helped produce a very successful Swedish Hip Hop showcase at Joe’s Pub a few years ago. This was awesome- had Loop Troop, Dainja, Matthias, Timbuktu, Form One and others.
Ok– so here I am and I’m mad at myself for not knowing this Norwegian act sooner but they’re called MADCON and they’re HUGE in Norway and big in Europe and have a huge hit on UK Charts right now called “Beggin” - Thanks Gisle for making me aware…..Ok- So they’re entertaining offers from U.S Labels– so who says there’s no audience for International Hip Hop– You kidding- the market is so prime and the time is so right……..

Check them out!

Speaking of International Hip Hop- My partner Ben of Nomadic Wax and I are producing a fresh Hip Hop showcase hosted by Pharoahe Monch at DROM on Thursday, October 23rd….. This is a special program during CMJ. Oh and speaking of more International Hip Hop- The French are bringing in Hip Hop by way of a mission and program called I Kiffe NY which brings Les Nubians, Wax Tailor, Mangu, and La Caution here too…

Lastly– BEATARDS just did a gig in LA and guess who was chilling in the audience and loved them! Quincy Jones! Do ya thing boys!

Dirty Fuzz’s Elida saying this:::
I’ve been young and now am a little older. I can say am beginning to understanding that there is a reason for everything under the sun. Rather than spend a lot of time getting pissed off about a bad situation, I try and see some kind of good side to it….
WHAT THE HUMAN MIND MAY SEE AS A DISAPPOINTMENT MOST TIMES IS A BLESSING IN DISGUISE.
Do I sound like a hippy?  Check this out:
I must have been about 8 yrs old, when I missed the school bus. I remember trying to get onto the bus so hard but somehow I failed. I cried so much, when I missed that bus cuz I had reassured my parents that i would take the bus and asked them not to pick me up that day. School was closed. Home was some 2 hrs walk away.
Then I realized some wild kids (who were older than me) had missed the bus too and so we started the long trek home. They knew the way, so I followed their lead.
When I finally got home, I found my mum hysterical, crying on the phone. She had not noticed me get into the house.
I asked her why she was crying and she gave me the biggest hug and said she thought that I had died.
The school bus I was meant to be on had been involved in such a bad accident, that all the kids on it had died. No survivors. My mum had assumed I was on it.
In all things good and bad, am learning to be grateful…..

So the other night I went to see Nicholas Payton, Christian McBride and Mark Whitfield at Jazz Standard. I had waited for this night all week and it was a delight! These musicians playing together is a rarity. It’s been ages since they recorded and performed on one stage. What a treat.

I was going to go the Saturday night also but Hanna put me off and I ended up staying home watching Law and Order re-runs feeling terribly guilty. Especially since I texted Nicholas and told him I was coming!

After the 11:30PM set- we stuck around for a bit— saw a few young kids sitting at the table behind me. Turns out they were 15 years old and musicians and one of the boys- Mark Whitfield’s son- Davis. A pianist– he gave us a treat at the end of the set- played a tune for us. This kid is going places… Look out for Davis….

So Hip Hop Howl got rained out- - I heard that Maya Azucena performed and then the torrential downpour….Hurricane Howl! But there is the mixtape release party on Tuesday at Element- Emily King will be performing.

Go Britney Spears!!!!!!

Those of you who read Elida’s posting (Dirty Fuzz)  yesterday got a bird’s eye view or some clarity on the Black British Scene.   Elida’s story  ‘Young, Gifted and Black British’ has come at the right time-  now the mainstream media is starting to pay some attention and articles like the one in The Guardian which came out today is very enlightening and I hope this continues to raise questions and bring more light to these talented artists and the scene over there and the lack of industry to support it.    Read here:    Invisible in Plain Sight .   Thanks Will Page - he sent me this story early this morning and I felt a need to link it here so you all can read it.   It was written by a correspondent who lives here.  Lola Adesioye.     The only thing non-factual was that Dizzee Rascal’s home in U.S is Def Jux.  He hasn’t been on Matador in a couple years.

When I saw Dizzee a couple months ago at Highline Ballroom with Kissey Asplund- he was very proud about having the #1 song on radio over there- and why wouldn’t he….That’s a big accomplishment for anyone…

So the article rings true and things need to change—– what about BET in UK.  Aren’t they trying to make breakthroughs and build a path that’s a little less challenging for these very talented black artists….Didn’t even see BET mentioned…

My boys Ras Kwame and Ty were quoted all throughout!!!

On another note-  my lovely friend Paloma in the Bay Area did a nice post on UK Soul Tribute Mixes– again- in perfect time.   Her blog PapaLodown

Ok–  I’m off my horse!

Need to get some work done……

Oh how I love Table Tennis otherwise known as Ping Pong - at least over here.

So I stumbled upon ‘Pong’ last weekend. It was my girl Lisa Ferreira’s birthday shindig… We had brunch at Essex- hot spot… Across the street was the famous cup cake spot so we stopped in afterwards and got like 3 dozen cupcakes- we were going back to BK to have a cup cake champagne party….Lovely!

On the way to the car - on Norfolk street I spotted Table Tennis- - yay!

Now - I have a spot to warm up and get great again. Guess you didn’t know I used to be a Ping Pong pro!

Well almost…..

So ‘PONG’ - just opened.

Pong.

The prices are great— There’s 1 table so I would imagine it gets packed and a waiting list but I’m sure is worth the wait!!!

UK’s Dirty Fuzz’s Elida at it again!!!
Yes, yes…. black folks exist in the UK and we call ourselves … er..British(Black British)
Next month is Black history month here in the UK and I would like to big up the artists who have opened up the door in the arts for crazy singers like me:
Omar, Sade, Billy Ocean, Desiree, Naomi Campbell, Thin Lizzy, Jazzy B, Soul 11 Soul and all the reggae bands that inspired the Ska movement in the UK…..sorry to the ones I have forgotten. I could have done a better job had I been boozing…..feeling too edgy right now!!
It’s not very easy to break through in the UK music business because as black people in Britain, we have a long way to go compared to say African- Americans, who have been in the USA for centuries.
However, what I like about the UK music scene is that as long as we are not trying to sound like US artists (but only get influenced by them), we tend to bring something quite different to the table. Here are some acts I have discovered in recent years and they are bloody good when they play live too. It’s a work in progress but good nevertheless.
Noisettes
Sam Amant
Bianca Rose
Visitor Q
Rox
Tawiah
The list is not complete without Dirty Fuzz - Wish I could bring all these acts with me over for CMJ, New York!!!!
Uuuugh, 4 days in tha alcohol free zone and feeling almost good. …

This is another from our dear friend Dred Scott.

hello citizens.
trying to get into the election season mood and am having a hard time.  i don’t know if it’s the long preseason that wears me out or i’m just flat from the lexapro.  i’m sure i can get motivated enough to vote when the time comes but for now i’m just blase about it all.  i mean, it was exciting to think of either a woman or a black man being in the white (man) house.  but that was like what a year ago??  i’m just saturated.  speaking of…
looks like new orleans escaped a direct hit and what’s left of it will continue to remain.  it’s like they want a fucking pat on the back for doing their jobs.  nice work, guys.  you didn’t fuck up and the whole town didn’t get destroyed.  oh let’s down low the convention to show how concerned we are.   should’ve had it in new orleans.
so this is just a test.  i’m trying a new email program so i can more efficiently send these tepid tomes to the people who actually want to receive them.  if this is not you, apologies.  just type ‘666′ in the subject heading and i will remove you with a little ritual i learned from master severin at the academy.

TONIGHT
THE DRED SCOTT TRIO
ROCKWOOD MUSIC HALL
MIDNIGHT
BEN RUBIN, BASS
TONY MASON, DRUMS

NEW RECORDING
LIVE AT THE ROCKWOOD
NOW AVAILABLE
FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE
in your face, radiohead.

‘this disc (live at rockwood) demonstrates that scott’s vision of bop is a deeply personal one, which can be either cozily swinging or devilishly tricky.’ time out, ny

‘Live at the Rockwood Music Hall is a beautiful showcase of this dynamic piano trio.’ allaboutjazz-newyork

‘a restless trio.’ ny times

Dred Scott on Myspace.