#CAFE BERLIN LIVING SESSIONS

[cristinabcn]

Jorge Pardo y Cristian de Moret: Flamenco, fusión y más...

Jorge Pardo and Cristian de Moret: Flamenco, fusion and more… TERESA FERNANDEZ HERRERA Periodista, Directora Gral de Cultura Flamenca. Prensa Especializada 11 de septiembre, Teatro Alcázar de Madrid. En concierto irrepetible, único, Jorge Pardo y Cristian de Moret, Cristian de Moret y Jorge Pardo: Tanto monta,  monta tanto Cristian como Pardo. ¡Que me disculpen los Reyes Católicos por…

[thejoyofviolentmovement]

Formed back in 2020, Austin-based shoegazers DAIISTAR (pronounced Day-Star) — Alex Capistran (vocals, guitar), Nick Cornetti (drums), Misti Hamrick (bass) and Derek Strahan (keys) — have established a narcotic blend of noise and melody that draws from the neo-psychedelic era of the 80s and 90s, but modernizes it with modulating synths, heavy guitars, bouncing bass lines and spiraling hooks.  The Austin shoegeazer outfit’s Alex Maas-produced full-length debut, last year’s GoodTime featured the fuzzy The Jesus and Mary Chain-meets- Crocodiles-like “Parallel” and revealed a band that paid a remarkable amount of attention to craft with a penchant for catchy hooks. The band supported the album touring across North America with The Black Angels, The Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Dandy Warhols, and included festival circuit stops at Levitation, Desert Daze, SXSW, Freak Out, Treefort, as well as a KEXP session.  The Austin shoegazers are currently on a European tour. Those tour dates are below. But they’ll be releasing the “Clear”/”Velvet Reality (Sonic Boom ” Remix 7 inch through Fuzz Club. Slated for a May 10, 2024 release, the 7 inch will feature “Clear,” a previously unreleased song recored during the GoodTime sessions. “Clear” is a reverb-drenched bliss bomb featuring shimmering synths, Capistran’s dreamily delivered falsetto paired with a slow-burning groove. The song, to me at least, brings road trips on glorious, sunny afternoons — full of hope, possibility, life-altering adventures and laughs.  DAIISTAR’s Alex Capistran (guitar/vocals) explained that “the idea behind ‘Clear’ was to write the perfect song for a perfect day. A song that comes to mind on a warm and sunny afternoon; inspiring thoughts of attainable bliss and encouraging you to dream up something nice for your future self.” Album track “Velvet Reality,” closes out GoodTime with a dreamy, washed-out haze. Spacemen 3 co-founder Pete Kember, a.k.a. Sonic Boom gives “Velvet Reality” the remix treatment, further deconstructing the song by making it even more ethereal and hazier than its original while also giving the oscillating and fluttering synths more of an emphasis. The result is an ethereal and narcoleptic bit of shoegaze seemingly informed by doo wop. TOUR DATES 4/19 ES BARCELONA – BARCELONA PSYCH FEST 4/20 ES ZARAGOZA – LATA DE BOMBILLAS 4/21 ES SAN SEBASTIAN – DABADABA 4/23 CH BERN – CAFE KAIRO 4/24 IT BOLOGNA – COVO CLUB 4/25 IT ROMA – GLITCH 4/26 IT FIRENZE – THE CAVE 4/27 IT LENO – PRIMO MAGGIO ROCK! 4/30 DE BERLIN – LOOPHOLE 5/1 DE VIECHTACH – ALTES SPITAL 5/2 DE STUTTGART – DIE WAGENHALLEN 5/3 DE FRANKFURT – THE UP CLUB 5/4 NL EINDHOVEN – FUZZ CLUB FEST 5/5 DE GIESSEN – PITS PINTE 5/6 NL AMSTERDAM – OCCII 5/7 NL WAGENINGEN – LOBURG LIVE 5/8 NL THE HAGUE – MUSICON 5/9 FR ROUEN – LE 3 PIECES 5/10 UK LONDON – STRONGROOM 5/11 UK HULL – ALOFT AT THE HAWORTH 5/12 UK GLASGOW – THE OLD HAIRDRESSERS 5/14 UK SOUTHAMPTON – HEARTBREAKER 5/15 UK BRISTOL – CROFTERS RIGHTS 5/16 UK FOLKESTONE – THE CHAMBERS 5/17 FR PARIS LE TRUSKEL – CLUB 5/18 FR LE HAVRE – FOUL WEATHER FESTIVAL 5/21 FR LYON – LE SONIC 5/22 FR BORDEAUX – I-BOAT 5/24 FR PORTSALL – O’DONNEIL IRISH PUB 5/25 FR ANGERS – LEVITATION FESTIVAL

[chrisryanspeaks]

Ethereal Psych Rock | DAIISTAR - “Clear” + Tour Dates

Emerging psych-rock band from Austin, TX, DAIISTAR, is set to enchant fans with their ethereal new single “Clear," which launched on March 19. Following the acclaim of their 2023 debut album, Good Time—a masterful fusion of narcotic sounds and melodies reminiscent of the 80s and 90s, crafted with the expertise of producer Alex Maas from The Black Angels and engineer James Petralli from White Denim—this release builds on their growing reputation. Accompanied by a Sonic Boom remix of the Good Time track "Velvet Reality" as its B-side, "Clear" will be available on a limited edition neon-pink 7" vinyl, scheduled for release on May 10th, 2024, through Fuzz Club. After a successful 2023 tour across North America with notable acts such as The Black Angels, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, and The Dandy Warhols, including performances at renowned festivals like Levitation/Austin Psych Fest, Desert Daze, SXSW, Freak Out, Treefort, and even a recent session on KEXP, DAIISTAR is poised for further success. With a seven-week tour of Europe beginning in April 2024, "Clear" presents the dreamy and echo-filled sound of a band ascending to new heights. Described as a previously unreleased track from the Good Time recording sessions, DAIISTAR's Alex Capistran (guitar/vocals) shared that "Clear" was conceived as the ideal soundtrack for a flawless day—a tune that evokes the warmth and brightness of a sunny afternoon, conjuring feelings of simple joy and spurring listeners to envision a hopeful future for themselves. TOUR DATES 3/21 AUSTIN, TX - SCOOT INN w/ THE LAST DINNER PARTY 3/22 - 3/24 BOISE, ID - TREEFORT FEST 4/9 IT TORINO - BLAH BLAH 4/10 FR MARSEILLE - INTERMEDIAIRE 4/11 FR ARTHEZDE BEARN - LE PINGOUIN ALTERNATIF 4/12 ES BILBAO - GROOVE 4/13 ES PAMPLONA - ZENTRAL 2 4/14 ES ALCALA DE HENARES - DIABLO CLUB 4/14 ES MADRID - FUN HOUSE 4/16 ES GRANADA - SALA PLANTA BAJA 4/17 ES VALENCIA - LOCO CLUB 4/18 ES TERUEL - LEBOWSKI ROCK & PUB 4/19 ES BARCELONA - PSYCH FEST 4/20 ES ZARAGOZA - LATA DE BOMBILLAS 4/21 ES SAN SEBASTIAN - DABADABA 4/23 CH BERN - CAFE KAIRO 4/24 IT BOLOGNA - COVO CLUB 4/25 IT ROMA - GLITCH 4/26 IT FIRENZE - THE CAVE 4/27 IT LENO - PRIMO MAGGIO ROCK! 4/28 IT TBA 4/30 DE BERLIN - LOOPHOLE 5/1 DE VIECHTACH - ALTES SPITAL 5/2 DE STUTTGART - DIE WAGENHALLEN 5/3 DE FRANKFURT - THE UP CLUB 5/4 NL EINDHOVEN - FUZZ CLUB 5/5 DE GIESSEN - PITS PINTE 5/6 NL AMSTERDAM - OCCII 5/7 NL WAGENINGEN - LOBURG LIVE 5/8 NL THE HAGUE - MUSICON 5/9 FR ROUEN - LE 3 PIECES 5/10 UK LONDON - STRONGROOM 5/11 UK HULL - ALOFT AT THE HAWORTH 5/12 UK GLASGOW - THE OLD HAIRDRESSERS 5/14 UK SOUTHAMPTON - HEARTBREAKER 5/15 UK BRISTOL - CROFTERS RIGHTS 5/16 UK FOLKESTONE - THE CHAMBERS 5/17 FR PARIS LE TRUSKEL - CLUB 5/18 FR LE HAVRE - FOUL WEATHER FESTIVAL 5/21 FR LYON - LE SONIC 5/22 FR BORDEAUX - I-BOAT 5/24 FR PORTSALL - O’DONNEIL IRISH PUB 5/25 FR ANGERS - LEVITATION Read the full article

[audiofuzz]

Ethereal Psych Rock | DAIISTAR - “Clear” + Tour Dates

Emerging psych-rock band from Austin, TX, DAIISTAR, is set to enchant fans with their ethereal new single “Clear," which launched on March 19. Following the acclaim of their 2023 debut album, Good Time—a masterful fusion of narcotic sounds and melodies reminiscent of the 80s and 90s, crafted with the expertise of producer Alex Maas from The Black Angels and engineer James Petralli from White Denim—this release builds on their growing reputation. Accompanied by a Sonic Boom remix of the Good Time track "Velvet Reality" as its B-side, "Clear" will be available on a limited edition neon-pink 7" vinyl, scheduled for release on May 10th, 2024, through Fuzz Club. After a successful 2023 tour across North America with notable acts such as The Black Angels, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, and The Dandy Warhols, including performances at renowned festivals like Levitation/Austin Psych Fest, Desert Daze, SXSW, Freak Out, Treefort, and even a recent session on KEXP, DAIISTAR is poised for further success. With a seven-week tour of Europe beginning in April 2024, "Clear" presents the dreamy and echo-filled sound of a band ascending to new heights. Described as a previously unreleased track from the Good Time recording sessions, DAIISTAR's Alex Capistran (guitar/vocals) shared that "Clear" was conceived as the ideal soundtrack for a flawless day—a tune that evokes the warmth and brightness of a sunny afternoon, conjuring feelings of simple joy and spurring listeners to envision a hopeful future for themselves. TOUR DATES 3/21 AUSTIN, TX - SCOOT INN w/ THE LAST DINNER PARTY 3/22 - 3/24 BOISE, ID - TREEFORT FEST 4/9 IT TORINO - BLAH BLAH 4/10 FR MARSEILLE - INTERMEDIAIRE 4/11 FR ARTHEZDE BEARN - LE PINGOUIN ALTERNATIF 4/12 ES BILBAO - GROOVE 4/13 ES PAMPLONA - ZENTRAL 2 4/14 ES ALCALA DE HENARES - DIABLO CLUB 4/14 ES MADRID - FUN HOUSE 4/16 ES GRANADA - SALA PLANTA BAJA 4/17 ES VALENCIA - LOCO CLUB 4/18 ES TERUEL - LEBOWSKI ROCK & PUB 4/19 ES BARCELONA - PSYCH FEST 4/20 ES ZARAGOZA - LATA DE BOMBILLAS 4/21 ES SAN SEBASTIAN - DABADABA 4/23 CH BERN - CAFE KAIRO 4/24 IT BOLOGNA - COVO CLUB 4/25 IT ROMA - GLITCH 4/26 IT FIRENZE - THE CAVE 4/27 IT LENO - PRIMO MAGGIO ROCK! 4/28 IT TBA 4/30 DE BERLIN - LOOPHOLE 5/1 DE VIECHTACH - ALTES SPITAL 5/2 DE STUTTGART - DIE WAGENHALLEN 5/3 DE FRANKFURT - THE UP CLUB 5/4 NL EINDHOVEN - FUZZ CLUB 5/5 DE GIESSEN - PITS PINTE 5/6 NL AMSTERDAM - OCCII 5/7 NL WAGENINGEN - LOBURG LIVE 5/8 NL THE HAGUE - MUSICON 5/9 FR ROUEN - LE 3 PIECES 5/10 UK LONDON - STRONGROOM 5/11 UK HULL - ALOFT AT THE HAWORTH 5/12 UK GLASGOW - THE OLD HAIRDRESSERS 5/14 UK SOUTHAMPTON - HEARTBREAKER 5/15 UK BRISTOL - CROFTERS RIGHTS 5/16 UK FOLKESTONE - THE CHAMBERS 5/17 FR PARIS LE TRUSKEL - CLUB 5/18 FR LE HAVRE - FOUL WEATHER FESTIVAL 5/21 FR LYON - LE SONIC 5/22 FR BORDEAUX - I-BOAT 5/24 FR PORTSALL - O’DONNEIL IRISH PUB 5/25 FR ANGERS - LEVITATION Read the full article

[gelatoaltonno]

Series of poster for “The Lefter Session“ a groovy vinyl only Dj Set

at the Lefter record store in Berlin + one Set at at Baobab Cafe'

Listen here the live recording of the dj set:

[chrancecriber]

Radio NET Bulgaria (October 22, 2022)

23:58 THREESTYLE, MAGDALENA CHOVANCOVA, ROBERT FERTL - Better Days - Single 23:54 MARCUS ANDERSON - Your Touch (Dedicated To Will & Maggie Shares) - Single 23:49 DARRYL WILLIAMS - The Doctor (feat. Michael Paulo) - Single 23:44 JACKIE'S NEW CAR - Jackie's New Car - Single 23:40 PETER WHITE - For The Love Of You - Single 23:36 RON OTIS - Miles Like - Single 23:31 DANNY LERMAN - Amadeus' Kiss - Single 23:27 KEITH SLATTERY - Love Is All You Need - Single 23:22 MARQUEAL JORDAN - Elevation - Single 23:17 JIM ADKINS - The Journey - Single 23:13 SAM BASSMAN JENKINS - Northbound - Single 23:08 ROD TATE - I Got U - Single 23:04 LIN ROUNTREE - FuSion - Single 23:00 2UNES - Rock Steady - Single 22:58 SIMON LE GREC, DENISE GUTTENBACH - Touch Me (Original Mix) - Single 22:52 DJ ARTAK SAMVEL, SONE SILVER - I Feel Your Body - Single 22:49 FILO, PERI, FISHER - Closer Now (Chillout Mix) - Single 22:45 THE UNDERDOG PROJECT - Summer Jam (Unplugged) - Single 22:41 GUSHI, RAFFUNK - Travel (Lemongrass Couch Remix) - Single 22:38 ATB. FLANDERS - Behind (ATB's Ambient Version) - Single 22:33 SUNLOUNGER, ZARA TAYLOR - Try To Be Love (Chill Out Mix) - Single 22:27 SMOOTH DELUXE - Boulevard Rouge - Single 22:22 FRED HYAS - Meet Dawn (Rework) - Single 22:18 NUERA - Breathing (Chillout Mix) - Single 22:14 MEHMET CEMAL YESILCAY - You And I - Single 22:08 LEO ROJAS - Brothers - Single 22:05 DJ SALAMANDRA - I want it all (Dj Alatiz Remix) - Single 22:00 THOMAS LEMMER - Is It Too Late (feat. Lena Belgart) (Stoned By Klangstein) - Single 21:57 SAGI REI - Rhythm is A Dancer (Verano Chill Out Mix) - Single 21:50 ANTURAGE - Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough (Original Mix) - Single 21:46 LOUNGE GROOVE AVENUE - Silk and Smooth - Single 21:42 CALAR DEL SOLE - Cafe Del Mar (Lounge Remake) - Single 21:39 SEAL - Ooh Baby Baby - Single 21:34 ALY, FILA, TIFF LACEY - Paradise (Original Mix) - Single 21:29 ANDY MOOR, SUE McLAREN - Trespass (Masoud Chill Out Mix) - Single 21:25 MARCELA MANGABEIRA - Don't Stop The Music (Lounge Version) - Single 21:21 PAROV STELAR - You Got Me There - Single 21:15 BOBINA, BETSIE LARKIN - You Belong To Me (El Gambrero Remix) - Single 21:12 ZARA, SNATT & VIX - No Angel (Zetandel Chill Out Mix) - Single 21:08 ERICK MORILLO, EDDIE THONEICK, SHAWNEE TAYLOR - Live Your Life (Eddie Thoneick Chill Out Mix) - Single 21:03 SEBA - Painted Sky (Imagine Chill Out remix) - Single 21:00 DASH BERLIN, JONATHAN MENDELSOHN - Better Half Of Me (Acoustic Mix) - Single 20:56 CUEBRICK - Safe (C-Systems Alternative Mix) - Single 20:51 BLANK & JONES - Risin' To The Top (Original Mix) - Single 20:48 DEEP'N PURE, RADBOY - R We Ever Gonna Be (Original Mix) - Single 20:44 FLORITO - Saigon Morning - Single 20:38 TRANZLIFT - Heaven's Shore (Magdelayna's Chilled Remake) - Single 20:33 DUBDIVER - Reverie - Single 20:30 KATO, JON - Turn The Lights Off (Bullytrax Campfire Mix) - Single 20:24 LOUNGE DELUXE - Beautiful Man feat Jeela (Sunset Session Edit) - Single 20:20 DAN BALAN - Chica Bomb (DJ Dan Karim Chill Mix) - Single 20:15 CHRIS B, LADY V - A New Direction (Original Mix) - Single 20:11 LEO ROJAS - The last ot the Mohicans - Single 20:08 MOKITA - Monopoly (Acoustic Version) - Single 20:04 CAFE DEL MAR - Mandalay (Beautiful) - Single 19:59 BISSEN, THE CROSSOVER - Washout (Piano Mix) - Single 19:54 ESSONITA, IRINA MAKOSH - Lift Me Up (Bryan Milton Chillout Remix) - Single 19:47 LERRY MULLER, ANETTA GRANT - Dreaming (Original) - Single 19:44 AREA CODE 51 - Chillout In Paris - Single 19:40 KIRSTY HAWKSHAW, TENISHIA - Reason To Forgive (Piano Mix) - Single 19:36 DJ G.ROS, IAN CAREY - Keep On Rising - Single 19:30 YANNI - One Man's Dream (Hi-Res Audio, 4K-Ultra-HD) Ledovskiy Valeriy Remix - Single 19:26 ROMA BABANOV - Flight - Single 19:23 INGO HERRMANN - Cumulus - Single 19:19 INUSA DAWUDA - Dreamily - Single 19:14 BLISS - Evening Sun - Single 19:10 MIA LEMAR - Colourful Life (Photo In Lounge Remix) - Single 19:07 JOEL HIRSCH, ROXANNE EMERY - Neon Dreams (Cinematic Version) - Single 19:04 MISS B.T. - Right Now (Sweet Lovin' Edit) - Single 18:59 MARTINIQUE LE SOUFFLEUR - El Guapo - Single 18:54 TRIANGLE SUN - White Song - Single 18:50 LEONA LEWIS - Dip Down (ReUnited Chill Out Mix) - Single 18:45 EVANESCENCE - My Immortal (Acoustic Version) - Single 18:41 THOMAS ANDERS - You're My Heart, You're My Soul (Acoustic Version) - Single 18:37 SARAH BRIGHTMAN - Beautiful - Single 18:31 GUENTER HAAS - Secret Diary - Single 18:28 MARIO BASANOV VIDIS, JAZZU - Give It A Try - Single 18:24 BERK & THE VIRTUAL BAND - You're My Heart, You're My Soul - Single 18:19 CONJURE ONE - Sleep - Single 18:14 MARGA SOL - Prayer For Love (Soul Avenue's Balearic Blues Mix) - Single 18:11 SYLVERING - True Faith - Single 18:07 LEO ROJAS - Flying Heart - Single 18:00 HALDO, GEORGIA CEE - Clouds - Single 17:55 NOMOSK - Don't Hold Back (Soty & Seven24 Chillout Remix) - Single 17:51 CAPA - Julian - Single 17:46 RUE DU SOLEIL - In My Heart - Single 17:42 SAJE - Lost Tonight - Single 17:37 ASTRID SURYANTO - Distant Bar (Original Mix) - Single 17:31 JES - Heaven (Orange Project del Sol Interpretation) - Single 17:28 COSMIC GATE, EMMA HEWITT - Be Your Sound (Live Acoustic Version) - Single 17:22 BARCLAY & CREAM - You're Not Alone (Alexander Metzger Mix) - Single 17:17 AQUASCAPE - Sunrise - 17:13 SUNLESS - Love A Touch (K.S. Project Remix) 17:09 SOTY - Circle (original mix) 17:06 UNCLUBBED, JUSTINE SUISSA - Missing 17:00 LOUNGE DELUXE - Beautiful Man feat Jeela (Sunset Session Edit) 16:59 NORMAN BROWN - Talk It Out 16:54 KIM WATERS - Love Story 16:51 KONSTANTIN KLASHTORNI - Make Room For Me 16:45 JOEL THIBAULT - Lover's Night 16:42 DEE LUCAS - All In (feat. George Freeman) 16:37 DOMINIC CAMARDELLA - Shine 16:33 LOWELL HOPPER - Passion 16:29 ROD TATE - Kool 16:24 NICHOLAS COLE - Let's Play 16:20 ROCCO VENTRELLA - Love 16:15 PAULA ATHERTON - Into the Night 16:11 EARNEST WALKER JR - Ordinary People 16:06 LOUIE FITZGERALD - Stars of Light 16:02 JOHN E. LAWRENCE - The Chase 16:00 496 WEST - Dilla Jw 15:59 MARQUEAL JORDAN - Mahogany 15:55 NORMAN BROWN - Late Night Drive 15:51 EUGE GROOVE - Hey Boo 15:46 DARREN MOTAMEDY - So Sweet 15:42 GARY MEEK - Shuffle This 15:36 KEITH SLATTERY - Duality 15:31 JEFFERY SMITH - Groove You Tonight 15:26 KIM WATERS - For Lovers Only 15:20 FRANK PIOMBO - Luv Dat Smooth Latte (Nicos Theme) 15:16 JOEL THIBAULT - Last Dream 15:13 SAM BASSMAN JENKINS - Take Me There 15:08 JEFF KASHIWA - Creepin' 15:04 BLUEY - Back Here Again 15:00 LOUIE FITZGERALD - Consuming Fire 14:59 JOHN E. LAWRENCE - Cool Jazz 14:56 496 WEST - Soul Catcher 14:53 MARQUEAL JORDAN - Come Ride with Me 14:49 NORMAN BROWN - Easy Livin' 14:45 PIECES OF A DREAM - Sway On 14:40 GREGG KARUKAS - Do Watcha Love 14:35 ROD TATE - Back Together 14:31 KONSTANTIN KLASHTORNI - Love So Right 14:27 ROCCO VENTRELLA - Say Goodbye 14:23 WILL DONATO - Groovolution 14:19 GARY MEEK - For a Long Time 14:14 LOWELL HOPPER - It Is What It Is 14:11 NICHOLAS COLE - 5th Avenue 14:08 J3 - Hela 14:04 CENTRIC, KENYA - Always On My Mind 14:00 JUSTIN KLUNK - Make It Real 13:56 LOUIE FITZGERALD - Hotlanta 13:52 JOHN E. LAWRENCE - Wake up the Groove 13:49 496 WEST - Cflat 13:45 MARQUEAL JORDAN - Elevation 13:41 NORMAN BROWN - Wes Side Story 13:36 DARREN MOTAMEDY - All About Love 13:32 KIM WATERS - Beyond The Horizon 13:27 JOEL THIBAULT - Night Sensation 13:23 PAULA ATHERTON - My Song for You 13:18 KEITH SLATTERY - It'll Be Alright feat. Everette Harp 13:13 PATRICK BRADLEY - Can You Hear Me (feat. Dave Koz) 13:09 SAM BASSMAN JENKINS - Northbound 13:04 EUGE GROOVE - Good Night 13:00 DENNIS MURPHY - Samba Monterey 12:56 RON KING - Cascade 12:50 JEFFERY SMITH - Southern Style 12:46 BRIAN BROMBERG - The Anticipation 12:41 WARREN HILL - Mojo 12:37 GARY MEEK - Monterey Groove 12:32 THE SAX PACK - Shine On 12:27 ROD TATE - Chillin' with Li Li 12:23 THREESTYLE - Adriatic Flow 12:18 RICHARD SMITH - First Kiss 12:14 TERJE LIE - Bail Out 12:09 JOEL THIBAULT - Daydream 12:04 DARREN MOTAMEDY - 50 Shades of Cool 12:00 ROCCO VENTRELLA - She's Ready 11:59 KEITH SLATTERY - Love Is All You Need 11:53 GREGG KARUKAS - Last Train 11:49 KONSTANTIN KLASHTORNI - Stay Romantic 11:45 WILL DONATO - Sax Drive (Feat. Blake Aaron) 11:40 STEVE COLE - Gratitude 11:35 THE SMOOTH JAZZ ALLEY - Bubba 11:30 GARY MEEK - Cannery Row 11:26 DAVID BENOIT - A Midnight Rendezvous 11:22 RICK BRAUN - Feet First 11:16 BRIAN BROMBERG - Mr. Miller 11:11 KIM WATERS - This Is It 11:07 GREGORY GOODLOE - Get'n It 11:03 NICHOLAS COLE - Whodat 11:00 SAM BASSMAN JENKINS - Give It To Me 10:56 ROD TATE - I Got U 10:52 LOWELL HOPPER - Flying High 10:47 JOEL THIBAULT - Miss Foly 10:43 PAULA ATHERTON - Getaway 10:39 DARREN MOTAMEDY - Last Flight to Vegas 10:34 JEFFERY SMITH - Groovin' (That's What I Like) 10:30 WILL DONATO - So Cool 10:26 KEITH SLATTERY - Round and Round 10:23 BROOKE ALFORD - Shine 10:18 DAVID BENOIT - Floating 10:14 GARY MEEK - Power Station 10:10 RICK BRAUN - Amor de mi vida (Love of my Life) 10:05 EUGE GROOVE - Cabolicious 10:00 KENNY NIGHTINGALE - New Day 09:58 BRIAN BROMBERG - Saul Goode 09:54 GEORGE JINDA - Lavish 09:49 KIM WATERS - Reaching Out 09:45 ROCCO VENTRELLA - Stay Close to Me 09:41 KEN NAVARRO - Into The Light 09:36 EARL KLUGH - Move 09:32 CHRIS STANDRING - Through the Looking Glass 09:27 GREGG KARUKAS - Floating in Bahia 09:24 WILL DONATO - Funkability (Feat. Darren Rahn) 09:20 JOEL THIBAULT - Summer Vibes 09:16 DAVID BENOIT - Pioneer Town 09:11 ROD TATE - Dinner And A Movie 09:08 JS FLOYD - Kukumo 09:04 RICK BRAUN - Back to Mallorca 09:00 SAM BASSMAN JENKINS - Movin 08:57 DARREN MOTAMEDY - All You Wanna Do 08:52 KEITH SLATTERY - The Last Minute 08:48 MELTON MUSTAFA JR. - Mosaic Love 08:43 KIM WATERS - Song Of Passion 08:39 KONSTANTIN KLASHTORNI - Walking on Dream 08:35 ROCCO VENTRELLA - Hypnotic 08:30 NICHOLAS COLE - Secrets (Remix) 08:27 JACKIEM JOYNER - Kineen 08:22 GREGG KARUKAS - Uptown Rendevous 08:19 WILL DONATO - Main Squeeze 08:13 JEFFERY SMITH - In the Moment 08:09 DAVID BENOIT - Long Journey Home 08:05 LOWELL HOPPER - Between The Lines 08:00 RICK BRAUN - Far Away Places 07:57 EUGE GROOVE - Sneak A Peak 07:52 SAM BASSMAN JENKINS - Among Friends 07:48 HIROSHIMA - China Latina 07:44 PAULA ATHERTON - Turn It Up 07:40 JS FLOYD - Foundation Funk Video Single 07:35 PATRICK BRADLEY - Intangible 07:31 JACOB WEDD - With You Tonight 07:26 ROCCO VENTRELLA - Mediterranea 07:22 NAI SOUNDS - Can't Deal 07:18 STEVE OLIVER - Slingshot 07:14 KONSTANTIN KLASHTORNI - Pure 07:11 GREGG KARUKAS - Elegant Nights 07:07 WILL DONATO - What IT Takes (Feat. Steve Oliver) 07:04 DAVID BENOIT - @Home 07:00 RONALD BOO HINKSON - How Can I (Smooth Instrumental) 06:57 RICK BRAUN - The Color of Love 06:52 NICHOLAS COLE - Dreams 06:46 JEFFERY SMITH - Visions of Love 06:43 TONY LINDSAY - Maybe Someday 06:39 PAULA ATHERTON - Say Goodbye (Instrumental) 06:36 SAM BASSMAN JENKINS - Bassin 06:32 JACKIEM JOYNER - Born to Fly 06:27 LOWELL HOPPER - Hold You Tight 06:23 JS FLOYD - Sunrise 06:19 EUGE GROOVE - Truly Emotional 06:14 PEET PROJECT - City Lights 06:10 ROCCO VENTRELLA - Swagger 06:05 GREGG KARUKAS - Simone 06:00 BLUE SIX - Aquarian Angel 05:56 DAVID BENOIT - The Bones 05:52 GIL - You're Beside Me 05:48 RICK BRAUN - Playin Around 05:45 CAL HARRIS JR. - Bridges 05:40 TONY LINDSAY - Soul Soldier 05:35 KONSTANTIN KLASHTORNI - Emotion 05:31 ROD BEST - An Uptime Groove 05:28 DAVID BROUSSARD - Stardust 05:24 PAULA ATHERTON - Can You Feel It 05:20 SAM BASSMAN JENKINS - Between The Sheets 05:16 ADAM HAWLEY - Risin' Up 05:12 ROD TATE - United 05:08 VINCENT INGALA - On The Move 05:03 JS FLOYD - Walk The Dog 05:00 NELSON RANGELL - Look Again 04:55 JEFFERY SMITH - The Chill Zone 04:51 NICHOLAS COLE - Secrets of the Heart 04:47 JACKIEM JOYNER - Round The World 04:42 GREGG KARUKAS - Always 04:38 ROCCO VENTRELLA - On the Road 04:33 LOWELL HOPPER - With You In Mind 04:28 EUGE GROOVE - Homie Grown 04:22 JAMES SAXSMO GATES - Sweetest Taboo 04:18 PAULA ATHERTON - Without You (Instrumental) 04:14 SAM BASSMAN JENKINS - Feel So Good 04:09 PATRICK BRADLEY - Sierra Feat. Dwight Sills 04:04 REZA KHAN - The Way 04:00 MARK JAIMES - Heads Up (feat. Rick Braun) 03:56 PEET PROJECT - Let's Do This 03:52 KONSTANTIN KLASHTORNI - Walking Away 03:46 NATHAN EAST - Love's Holiday (feat. Philip Bailey) 03:42 JEFFERY SMITH - Spring Time 03:38 PHIL DENNY - Crossover 03:34 OLI SILK - Eva's Song 03:30 NICHOLAS COLE - Crank It Up 03:26 JACKIEM JOYNER - Europa (feat. Keiko Matsui) 03:21 LOWELL HOPPER - It All Comes Back 03:17 EUGE GROOVE - Say My Name 03:12 MEZZOFORTE - It's a funk thing 03:08 BRIAN SIMPSON - Can't Tell You Why 03:04 SAM BASSMAN JENKINS - On My Way 03:00 DEAN JAMES - Can You Feel It 02:59 PATRICK BRADLEY - Shoreline Feat. Eric Marienthal 02:55 MARK JAIMES - 6 After 8 02:51 JESSY J - Fly Away (Jonathan Fritzen feat. Jessy J) 02:47 NICK COLIONNE - Right Around The Corner 02:44 PEET PROJECT - Dark Corner 02:39 GREGG KARUKAS - Soul Kisses 02:35 QUINTIN GERARD W. - Air Beneath Your Wings 02:31 JEFFERY SMITH - Natural High 2020 02:26 GINO ROSARIA - Funkin' 02:21 KONSTANTIN KLASHTORNI - Here We Go 02:17 LEBRON - Undeniable 02:13 RHYTHM LOGIC - You Know I Will 02:09 NICHOLAS COLE - Summer Groove 02:05 JACKIEM JOYNER - Let Me Love You 02:00 LOWELL HOPPER - Wondering Aloud 01:58 DEAN JAMES - To Hold You Again 01:53 EUGE GROOVE - Slow Jam 01:49 MARK JAIMES - Hear At Last 01:45 SAM BASSMAN JENKINS - Don't Look Back 01:41 GEREY JOHNSON - You Didn't Know 01:37 JAREZ - Wait a Minute 01:32 JWHITE - Girls Around the World 01:28 QUINTIN GERARD W. - Candlelight Flight with Me 01:23 PAUL MESSINA & MARK R. HARRIS - A Sultry Summers Night 01:19 PEET PROJECT - Anything for You 01:12 JEFFERY SMITH - Smooth Jazz Soul 01:08 KONSTANTIN KLASHTORNI - One Call Away 01:04 PATRICK BRADLEY - Blue Skies Feat. Eric Marienthal 01:00 PAUL TAYLOR - Seize the Day 00:56 DARRON COOKIE - Your Smile 00:52 DEAN JAMES - Loving You Forever 00:48 NICHOLAS COLE - Can You Stay 00:44 MARK JAIMES - Midnight Rendezvous 00:40 JACKIEM JOYNER - Close 2 You 00:36 SAM BASSMAN JENKINS - That Moment 00:32 LOWELL HOPPER - All Or Nothing 00:27 EUGE GROOVE - Forever And A Day 00:23 GERRY SMOOTH - So It Begins 00:18 QUINTIN GERARD W. - Roundtrip LAX 00:14 R. HARRIS - Blu Twilight (feat. Andrew Nixon, Ignacio Nunez & Dean Rickard) 00:08 PIECES OF A DREAM - Hindsight 00:05 LOUIE FITZGERALD - Rejoice 00:00 ROB MALETICK - Give It Back

[rayj-drash]

Berlin Sketches pt 1

by T. Frank

My grandmother cannot fathom entering Germany. She was a child of the Great Depression and lived through the war safely from the Catskill Mountains of New York while her husband fixed radios on home turf. However, Germany represents a taboo in history for my grandparents as Jews. They would no sooner visit the Brandenberg Gate than they would try scuba diving without an oxygen tank.

 I constantly reflect on the trusted feeling of Home since I lived in Berlin for six weeks in fall of 2018. Previously, the longest trip I took was a ten-day tour of Israel through the organization Birthright: from the peak of a mountain overlooking three desert countries, to the crowded rush of the Jerusalem shuk, and my aversion to a display of American-Israeli nationalism on a military campus. The scenes and feelings form a whirlwind of hazy memories, much like any experience on new land. 

A few days after I arrived back in the Bay Area, I sat in Strawberry Creek Park watching the sun go down and the light blue sky grow faint as night approached, seeking those moments of "awe" that came so suddenly in Berlin. This bright green park reminded me of the open recreational space I loved over there, even though the grass was literally greener on this side of the pond!  I distinctly remember the moment when I scarcely had to look up at the street signs and felt like whichever path I took, I would find my way. Nevertheless, five months ago, I had sent in an application for an unusual art residency, an immersion into the study of grief. I reflected on those periods of my life that had led to some of my deepest creations. Drawings of cancer cells and lungs, struggles to breathe and heal in the midst of choking emotion, flowers and vines winding through the dark themes. I yearned to express my observations of the world through whatever moved me, again.

~~~~~

The journey to Berlin was a three-legged trip with two layovers, leaving Friday evening and arriving at 10:00PM on Saturday. A huge, crowded economy flight, cheap and minimal. I tried to rest as the crew turned off all lights on board. No sooner did I close my eyes than it seemed like the sun was creeping over the horizon, and we touched down to a windy, barren tarmac. It was 9:00AM, as all the passengers disembarked in Reykjavik, Iceland, we felt the chill burrowing through our thin layers and shivered.

On the second leg, as the plane glided to the lowlands, I appreciated the bucolic farmland. I was alone in the Copenhagen airport. The crowds in Reykjavik were more diverse, like a burgeoning metropolis.  By contrast, everyone arriving in this Danish terminal looked alike: tall, blond, and, permit me, Aryan. They traveled in clusters of family groups, chatting, gesturing, smiling. I dragged my suitcase past designer boutiques to a desolate, unfinished terminal, where passengers awaited their flights without customary notice; but learned to say, Takk, Danish for "Thank you". When I finally reached Germany, I connected to the U-bahn, the underground subway. The ride was over an hour long, and I gazed at the subterranean signage, lost once more. Until I arrived at Rathaus Neukölln, and my new roommate Shimon met me outside in the rain.

The next day, I left the mattress that our hostess Amelia had set up on the floor, staggering about with jet lag. Luckily there's oatmeal, my favorite companion. Shimon and his friend Devorah from Tel Aviv are home. We discuss the neighborhood. ‘What if I get terribly lost, not only physically, but mentally, too?’ I thought. ‘Is this a dream? Why am I so far from anyplace I know?’ Devorah suggested a walk to the canal, with a Sunday flea market. Late afternoon, I ventured outdoors and discovered a slice of paradise.

At the end of the block, a large mosaic mural adorned a staircase which I took to have the impression of a rooftop. A large concrete lot surrounded a beautiful community garden. Raised flower beds were home to a bounty of colorful flowers, tall green vegetables grew under the sunshine and painted poles flanked handmade structures. I spotted a concrete ping-pong table, and mustered up the courage to join two men playing. One of them wore a baseball cap with "Cal" emblazoned in blue and yellow; by chance, he attended law school at UC Berkeley, and lived several blocks away from me! After a few rounds of ping-pong, the Germans drank beer and suggested that I check out a nearby landmark before sunset.

Cheered, I walked along and found an "I Love SF" sweatshirt at a pop-up flea market. More surprises awaited. I heard music, and pushed aside brambles to emerge in Hasenheide Park, where a large circle of guitarists and drummers jammed for casual onlookers. I saw an ornate mosque with blue and gold trim, a wide courtyard, and an outdoor faucet for washing hands or drinking cool, crisp water. Next door was Tempelhof Field. A former airport utilized during World War Two to fly-in supplies from the West, the unused tarmac was reinvented as an open recreational wonderland. I entered the gates and was met with flocks of activity: bicyclists, joggers, even a pair doing synchronized roller-skating. Dry, dull grass covered the fields, but a victory garden shined under the setting sun, and the barista of an on-site cafe recommended finding a good perch. 

I joined two boys from Afghanistan, Hasan and Muhamed, watching the sky from tall ladder-seats. Muhamed and I grinned, struggling to hold a conversation between the lack of a common language. Google helped, but broken English got us farther. "Do you know there are still American police in my country?,” he exclaimed. My conscience bristling, I say that most people do not speak of the Afghan-American war anymore. The sun set in deep purple and vivid pink hues. Hasan saw my eyes light up at the sight of his bicycle, and offered me a ride--so, I sat sideways on the frame, clutching his black leather jacket, and answering "Ya" when asked, "Alles Gut?"until I grimaced from discomfort and Hasan laughed--"Kaput!" The two friends saw me off at a bus stop, and I stumbled on board as the passengers stared.

~~~~~

The following Monday, I walked twenty minutes from the apartment to arrive in front of a white-painted gallery, and no one around. Feeling nervous that the entire program was a hoax (just like my parents thought when they read the acceptance letter from the dubious-sounding organization),  I noticed a middle-aged man at a computer in the corner. I knocked on the window, and he let me inside. Here was a room devoid of decoration, save for a long rectangular table and six chairs, three of which were filled by women. Soon, another man entered the room and offered tea, introducing himself as our "mentor". We never referred to him by any name other than his own, even when I suggested “Alek”. He's over six feet tall, shaved head, and wore all black from his long-sleeved turtleneck to his sturdy dress shoes.

The participants introduced themselves. Sarah researched environmental grief, such as the devastation left behind from man-made disasters. Gwen studied grief theories in graduate school. Jasmine hoped to connect to refugees of war. And Sara--no error, there are two--prepared to make an installation honoring a departed friend. Linda would join us the following afternoon and plunge into an exploration of feeling othered through found objects. After we went over studio policies, we shared a bit on why we study grief, bringing several girls to tears. It felt like a group therapy session--and it wouldn't be the last. 

~~~~~

Dear Talya, Gone to synagogue. It's a short walk from the canal. I forget the street name-'Pflug'-something. Come join me for Yom Kippur services. Love, Devorah. Without consulting a map, I asked for directions from three different shopkeepers to find the synagogue. Luckily, they understood English and didn’t express unsavory reactions to my Jewish-ness. Once I found the path parallel to the Canal, the temple came into view: a large building curving around a tranquil block, with stained glass windows and a grand façade. Security officers were stationed outside, and I was screened before entering. "Are you Jewish?" they ask.. "Yes." Unmoved, they question, "Do you pray?" 

In August, I went to Washington, DC for my cousin’s wedding. Her family and friends are modern orthodox, or, religious. The day before the wedding, we were in shul for Shabbat services. During the long morning prayers, I read the English version of the Torah portion. The text alluded to the treatment of rape by virtue of marriage or the punishment of execution. By coincidence, this was the same chapter I studied for my Bat Mitzvah twelve years ago, but I must have been too young to grasp such explicit content. I left the room and spent the rest of services out in the hallway, tending to the potted plants as a distraction. 

Did I pray? Not willfully on that day in the synagogue. Internally, yes, throughout my life: the inner dialogue between my spirit and the spirit of a G-d. But in practice, only with family over Shabbat blessings. So I answered, "No. But my Israeli friend is in there, can I go in?" 

Yom Kippur services were surprisingly welcoming in Germany. Although the congregation was divided amongst the men and women, the dress code was more relaxed (jeans, white t-shirts), and several of the men held babies on their shoulders as the rabbi sang in Hebrew. I found Devorah and stood beside her. I recognized the somber prayer, "Avinu Malkeinu", and it felt no different than my family's congregation. The prayer books here were German on one side, and Hebrew on the other.

 After the ceremony, we passed by plenty of people enjoying the balmy weather at dusk. Devorah was reminded of holidays in her country, riding her bike freely while everyone took time off to relax. Shimon met us to break the fast with noodle phơ. I was lucky to connect with "my people", thousands of miles away from home. As a child, I remember feeling like my relatives’ religious differences divided us. However, my cultural upbringing is something I've retained and appreciate. Joining Israelis in Germany for Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, was akin to sharing a secret amongst friends.

~~~~~

  As the weeks went by, I developed a habit of visiting the community garden, mornings before heading to the studio and nights on my way home. One weekend, I felt antsy as I read a book called The Truth Will Set You Free by Alice Miller. There was a campfire at the garden as they observed summer changing to chilly Autumn. I surveyed the party scene before resting into a corner of a homemade wooden bench under the dim glow from industrial lights around the lot.  Although the setting was not condusive to reading, I was shy to join the group. But, when I repositioned myself next to the fire, it was apparent that these young, hip, multinational guests preferred to speak in English. Rosa asked what I’m doing in Berlin. When I told her I’m studying grief, her voice got excited and she invited her friends into the conversation.

Annika was vivacious and full of life. I noticed her wisps of fuzzy blonde hair, bright in the glow of the fire. She was working on a memoir, and was also the subject of a photoshoot documenting her journey with cancer. As she spoke, I folded a paper crane and gave it to her, provoking a sense of delight. My idea for the residency then was to make a handmade book for participants to share their experiences of grief, and to make origami together. Annika agreed to be interviewed the following week.

~~~~~

I took the S-bahn, the above-ground trolley, several miles northwest where the buildings  are close to the city center. Annika told her story: how, at age 26, she discovered the cancer in her breast and rushed into several months of intensive treatment including antibody therapy, anti-hormone medicine, and chemotherapy. She ultimately received a double mastectomy and chose breast implants. For a month after surgery, Annika couldn't lift her arms over her head. It was painful, but her energy was focused on how to function normally again. Now, she was in recovery, undergoing radiation and daily physical therapy. She wholeheartedly embraced her body, and I felt a mixture of awe and love for her resilience and positive attitude.

I encouraged Annika to leave her mark in a communal scrapbook of stories. She drew a breast in pastel colors with words circling the nipple, such as "soft"-, "round"-, "hope"-, and "loss".- After I left the apartment, I boarded the train and closed my eyes. In the dark, I envisioned a bare, cream-colored orb, shiny and wet, like a peeled lychee fruit. Perhaps, I reasoned, this represented Annika's true self.

Back in the studio, I was at a loss to contribute during our group discussion. I almost broke down, overcome with emotions that arose from the interview. So I took a break from the sterile white walls, and sat under the chestnut tree in the courtyard. I picked up a spiny shell, cracked it open to reveal a creamy-brown belly. I wrote a meditation on the seed of the tree. I reflected on impermanence, on patience, on Annika taking her time to heal yet reveling in every healthy moment. I like taking my time.

"Hey Aleksander," I remarked in the midst of studio time, "Since the interview with Annika, I’ve been feeling down.” My mentor was sitting at a desk, drinking tea and writing in one of his many small notebooks. "Do you feel your own grief surface?," he replied. "No, more like I put myself in her shoes, and feel compassion." He advised, "Keep a journal--one just for yourself, your thoughts and daily experiences. And one for your work in the residency; write down everything you're thinking. It'll help, trust me."

----- Talia Frank lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She contributes to the Donut Club, an East Bay writer’s group. Visiting Berlin in 2018 inspired a love of community gardens and allowed her to re-examine Judiasm within a global context.

Reach the author: tfrank@cca.edu 

Visual art: www.cargocollective.com/taliafrank

Blog: https://wanderlustblumen.wordpress.com

[sarahtaylortraveladventures]

Week 1 (Jan 6 - 13)

Hallo aus Berlin!! 

I’m so excited to share with you what I've been up to the past week! It’s been pretty crazy getting adjusted to my new dorm, learning how to get around in Berlin, going to the store, and meeting new people. I can already tell I’m going to love Berlin and I’ve had such a great time so far. This post is so much longer than I anticipated,  but I hope you enjoy reading about my first week!!

Last Sunday, I took one plane from Charlotte to London and then a short flight from London to Berlin. Everything went smoothly with with the flights and I got a few hours of sleep which was good! The meal I got on the plane was a pasta dish, which was pretty delicious. Here’s a picture of the airline meal and a picture of me with my suitcase for proof that I packed light!

I met up with some people in my same program who were on my flight from London to Berlin. Once I got to the Berlin airport, I met up with my roommate, who is also named Sarah, and then the program provided a bus that took us from the airport to the program center.

The place where I’m staying is a center for study abroad students from the US. The bottom section has a lobby and cafe and classrooms and then the top floors are the rooms where students live. My room is dorm style with bunk beds, a desk, a wardrobe, a mini-fridge/microwave set, and then a bathroom. Here are a few pictures!

The first day we were in Berlin we had a welcome toast to the semester, then we went on a short walking tour around the neighborhood, and then dinner with some people in the program.

One the second day, we had morning sessions that covered helpful information about our classes, the center, and the culture in Berlin. Then in the afternoon, we went on one of those bus tours of Berlin, which was cool because we saw the main tourist attractions (pictures below!) and learned about their history in addition to getting a better feel for the layout of the city. And by that I mean realizing just how big Berlin is!

The first stop was the East Side Gallery, which is the longest remaining piece of the Berlin Wall. After it was torn down, the city preserved this section and asked local artists to paint what peace and unity meant to them, so it’s covered in really cool murals. This picture is probably the most famous section - it depicts Leonid Brezhnez (Leader of the Soviet Union) and Erich Honecker (East Germany Leader) kissing and was based off of a photo taken when the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) was created.

Then we went to the Brandenburg Gate, which was pretty cool just because you see references to it everywhere in the city (including on the fabric in the seats in the U-Bahn) But the history of it is super cool - it’s actually pretty old (18th century) and was a part of the old Berlin Customs Wall, which was a literal wall around the city that regulated people to pay taxes on the goods they brought into and out of the city. The Brandenburg Gate was one of many gates in the wall, but it was used for people of higher nobility or special occasions. Then it was used later for triumphal processions by Napoleon and the Nazis.

The last stop was the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. It’s hard to get a good picture that shows the whole memorial because it’s so big, but it’s a large open space with grey concrete-looking boxes of various heights. There’s apparently a lot of controversy about this memorial, but the artist, Peter Eisenman, was also very intentional in his design. The monument resembles a cemetery and walking through the stone boxes makes you feel somewhat uncomfortable and trapped. Eisenman didn’t want to label the monument or label the boxes because he wanted viewers come to their own realization and form their own opinions about the meaning behind his work. The monument is one of the largest public spaces in Germany and was really moving. There’s also an underground documentation section, but we didn’t see that on our tour.

That night we went to a German/Austrian restaurant, and I had my first schnitzel of the semester! This was a veal schnitzel that is popular in Austria and it was incredible. I’ve also been trying different beers at restaurants because Berliners are obsessed with their beers.

P.S. the beer glass was smaller so don’t use it as a size comparison to the schnitzel which looks ginormous in this picture

On Wednesday we started our first day of class! I only had my International Finance class that day, but I think the class will be really interesting. The professor is also really awesome - he was discussing a concept in class and mentioned this tea beverage but no one in the class knew what he was talking about because it’s only made in Berlin, so during our break (they’re 10 minutes since the class the 3 hours) he went a bought one and had some plastic cups so we could all try it!

We also went to Real, which is kind of like Germany’s Walmart or Target. It was my first experience going on the U-Bahn (Berlin’s subway/metro) and to the store in Berlin and it was a wild experience. The U-Bahn is pretty simple, especially given my experience in New York, but it’s big and all the names of the stops have at least ten letters. At the store, they have a lot of the same brands as the United States, but it was definitely an experience. I just got some notebooks for class and other things that I didn’t want to worry about packing like a bigger shampoo bottle. The whole trip was a little overwhelming but my friends from the program were there too so we struggled together and are now laughing about how confused we were. 

On Thursday, we went to the grocery store for the first time! It was super fun and we got stuff to make dinner and lunch since there is a communal kitchen at the center. I have a picture just because I was proud that we went and were cooking. Also, in the German grocery stores they only sell half loaves of bread and I think that’s genius. Also their cheese is way better than deli cheese from Harris Teeter. 

It was also a slightly warmer and sunnier day, so we went for a walk around the neighborhood. The river was super beautiful and we also saw some interesting apartments too.

Afterwards, we went to a super cute cafe where we had some coffee and cherry cake.

On Friday, I don’t have any classes which means I got to spend a full day doing whatever I wanted! We went to this mall and got some more items that we needed and also just walked around to the different stores to see what they were like.

That afternoon we also went to the Berliner Dom, which is the big Cathedral in Berlin. It was super beautiful on the outside and it sits on what they call “Museum Island” because it’s an island in the middle of the Spree River that runs through Berlin and is where a lot of the main museums are. The inside is also really pretty and you can go to the top and see an awesome view of Berlin! It was foggy and dark outside when we were there but I’d like to go back when you can see more.

This is the view from the top! The TV Tower is to the left.

Also, a little bit of winter-y decorations were still up from Christmas and I thought they were really pretty!!

That night, we went to Curry 36, which they say at the program is a late-night staple. It’s a currywurst place, which is a fast-food dish consisting of sausage, French fries, curry-flavored ketchup, and mayonnaise. It is honestly life-changing and I would consider Curry36 similar to the Cookout of Berlin, which as many of you know is a pretty bold statement coming from me. 

On Saturday, I went to an all-day German Survival Course that the program put on. It was somewhat helpful because we learned a little about ordering food and how to say some phrases. It’s definitely a hard language though so I can’t say that I have a large German vocabulary as of now. 

Today (Sunday), we went to a brunch place and then a museum called Urban Nation, which is a contemporary art museum that focuses a lot on street art too. It was super cool.

And then tonight I’m just finishing up some homework!

Wow - it’s been a really busy week but I’ve loved being able to explore and experience new things, even if it was sometimes intimidating. Berlin seems like an amazing city and I’ve loved making new friends who are studying here with me too. 

I miss you all!! Auf Wiedersehen!

the view from my dorm!

[saturdaysound]

(via A Greek Summer Hit Fills A Generation With Hope : NPR)

Until last year, few Greeks had heard of Marina Satti.

The architecture student-turned-classically-trained singer had performed in musicals and ancient Greek plays, but her music career was largely under the radar. She played what she calls "blender" music — a combination of jazz, funk and rock — with musician friends at home.

"I grew up influenced by Björk and Moderat and the Berlin electronic scene," Satti says. "And then, while I was studying at the Berklee College of Music, I looked to my roots."

Satti's father, a doctor, is from Sudan. Her mother, a chemical engineer, is from the Greek island of Crete. So she grew up biracial in a largely homogeneous Greece.

"I was afraid that I would stick out, 'cause I'm a little darker in the skin," she says. "And sometimes, I remember myself being shy, and I remember I didn't want my dad to come and pick me up from the school."

At Berklee, she immersed herself in traditional Arabic and Greek music and realized the treasure of her heritage.

"What I loved about the States was that there, you can co-exist with something, someone, who is different than you," Satti says. "It's a state of mind I got into there that I carried back with me to Greece."

When she returned home to Athens, she incorporated Greek and Arabic folk music into her jam sessions with friends.

Then, one night last year, after a pasta dinner at her apartment, they recorded a cover of "Koupes," an old Greek rembetiko song, and uploaded it to YouTube. It went viral.

"YouTube can be a fair playing field for artists," she says. "Your music is there, it's free; whoever wants to listen to it can, and whoever doesn't, that's fine, too. I'm happy it was someone's choice to listen to this song."

So this summer, Satti offered an original song, "Mantissa" ("Seer"). She wrote the music and a friend wrote the lyrics.

"The whole song is about a fortune teller, basically, but it has its roots in ancient mythology, like Pythia," Satti says. (In Greek mythology, Pythia is the high priestess of the Temple of Apollo in Delphi.) "Every verse is like an oracle: vague enough to be open for interpretation, like Pythia's predictions. So, to me, it is a love song — but I like the fact that it doesn't focus on the human pain; it's not about being self-absorbed or self-pitying."

The chorus is about taking charge, about spreading your wings and flying through winds and storms to find what you need.

"That's the story of my life," Satti says. "My dad had to come to Greece from Sudan to study and be who he is. And, me, I had to go to the States and embrace who I really am."

"So," she says, "it's like a love song to yourself."

Mantissa was released along with a music video featuring Satti and a posse of girlfriends dancing, flash mob-style, down Athinas, a street in Athens that's seen better days.

"It's one of my favorite streets," she says. "There are people from Pakistan and Arabs who live there and work there. There's a market or a bazaar. You can really see the Eastern influences, and then there's the graffiti — and, in this video, a bunch of girls in our jeans and our jumpsuits, dancing."

The video received more than 5 million views on YouTube in just a week. Fans made tribute videos. A male comedian in drag filmed a parody of it.

It also helped Satti, who describes herself as a D.I.Y. artist, get a deal with a record label in a country where the music industry, which hangs on to its aging stars, is hard to break into. She is signed to 314 Records.

"Mantissa" is the song of the summer in Greece: one of the most downloaded tracks and always on the radio. I hear it everywhere — in cafes, in taxis, on my balcony as my neighbors sing along while putting their washing on clotheslines to dry.

I meet a couple of thirtysomething statisticians dancing to "Mantissa" at a recent Satti concert at the gardens of the Athens Concert Hall. Savvas Giovanni and Giorgos Samaras sing the chorus so loudly they drown out the tweens next to them.

"I'm trying to remember the dance steps from the video," Samaras says, hopping from side to side. "I'm a really good dancer."

"I love this song," Giovanni says. "It puts me in such a good mood. It makes me forget my problems."

The song has especially resonated with young Greeks, who face a grim future as the economy has yet to recover from the debt crisis and austerity.

"There are so many miserable people in my age, and that's so bad," says Melina Chronopoulou, a 21-year-old university student in French literature. She's also one of Satti's backup dancers, and performed in the "Mantissa" video. "It's hard for many of us to just get out and enjoy being young. Many times, I wish I had been born in a different generation just so I could experience real optimism."

Chronopoulou says she appreciates "Mantissa" for its optimism.

"Greek songs usually talk about being hurt, and being in love, but in a really negative way," she says, "like suffering, and there is no hope anywhere. Not this song. It's full of hope."

Satti smiles a little when she considers that her runaway hit has lifted the spirits of other young Greeks.

"It's hard out there," she says, "but we are good at hope."

[theworldband]

THE WORLD EURO & UK DATES

22/10 – Manchester, UK @ Soup Kitchen with Carla dal Forno, Vital Idles 23/10 – Nottingham, UK @ Stuck On A Name with Rattle 24/10 – Salford, UK @ BBC 6 Music Live session with Marc Riley 25/10 – Glasgow, UK @ Transmission with Current Affairs 26/10 – Cardiff, UK @ Undertone with Bellies, Perfect Body 27/10 – London, UK @ The Dome with John Maus and Gary War 29/10 – Toulouse, France @ Les Pavilion Sauvages 31/10 – Lyon, France @ Grnd Zero 01/11 – Bern, Switzerland @ Cafe Kairo 02/11 – Vienna, Austria @ Venster99 03/11 – Krakow, Poland @ Warsztat 04/11 – Berlin, Germany @ Schokolade with nunofyrbeeswax 06/11 – Leipzig, Germany @ TIFF 07/11 – Strasbourg, France @ La Laiterie with John Maus 09/11 – Paris, France @ La Mechanique Ondulataire with Youth Avoiders, Exit Group 10/11 – London, UK @ Kamio with Shopping & Gauche 12/11 – London, UK @ Static Shock Festival (New River Studios) with Lumpy and the Dumpers, Apostile, Beta Blockers, Sarcasm, Pink Grip

[detourscotland]

Last summer, with the shocking loss of our friend and musical hero Scott Hutchison of Frightened Rabbit, we felt helpless, yet compelled to try our best and raise some money in his honour. With the help of some incredible prize donations, we raised £1,500 in two days, which went towards a fund in his honour.

Scott's family have recently announced that this fund will become Tiny Changes, a charity dedicated to raising awareness, promoting initiatives, advancing understanding, and supporting the voices of children and young people's mental health.

We are proud to be raising money for such an incredible cause, and thankful to the local artists, businesses and organisations who have offered such generous prizes.

We will draw names on the night of The Hug and Pint's birthday on 14th June, and then we will deliver, including free postage, your prizes to wherever you are in the world.

Tickets are £5 and ON SALE NOW --> http://bit.ly/2HIIPyX

So, without further ado, here are the prizes:

________________________________

• Two weekend camping tickets to Doune The Rabbit Hole festival • 19-21 July, Cardross Estate - featuring The Damned, Sister Sledge, The Wailers, Battles, John Grant, Blanck Mass, Kathryn Joseph and many many more.

• Two weekend camping tickets for Skye Live Festival • 5-7 September, Portree, Isle of Skye - featuring Peatbog Faeries, Optimo, Leon Vynehall, Niteworks, Elephant Sessions, Lau, Tide Lines and many many more.

• Hidden Door 2020 Festival Tickets • Hidden Door are excited to contribute two tickets to a night at next year's festival. Expect a stunning smorgasbord of visual art, performance, film and music as well as new and exciting Edinburgh locations to discover. The lucky winner can choose their ticket once HD20's dates and line up is announced later on in the year.

• Rock Action Records vinyl and merch bundle • Includes signed vinyl and merch from Mogwai, The Twilight Sad, Kathryn Joseph, Sacred Paws, Swervedriver, Aidan Moffat & RM Hubbert, and Rev Magnetic.

• Three coloured lapel pins by Cecilia Stamp Jewellery • Commissioned by Local Heroes for Made in Glasgow, these glossy, coloured lapel pins take their inspiration from Glasgow’s subway system - the third oldest underground system in the world. “Cecilia utilises the industrial technique of powder-coating to bring her nuanced flair for colour to the pieces and to reflect the aesthetics of industry and transport at the heart of her commission. Wearers can combine the three complementary colourways of yellow, pink and blue with Cecilia’s lapel pins and earrings.“ Local Heroes in partnership with Glasgow Chamber of Commerce brings together a selection of the city’s leading designers for a public exhibition to coincide with the hosting of the Berlin / Glasgow 2018 European Championships.

• Two vouchers for Deviltown Tattoo • Acclaimed tattoo artists Stephen Speirs and Ross Shields will each offer up a voucher to be tattooed.

• Two tickets to the National Whisky Festival • Two tickets to 2020's National Whisky Festival, part of Celtic Connections - featuring over 40 exhibitors from some the most exciting names in whisky and with over 130 different whiskies to try - all of which are included in the ticket - it's truly a whisky lover's paradise.

• Two tickets to Mac DeMarco at Kelvingrove Bandstand • Two tickets to see the heavily sold out Mac DeMarco show at Glasgow's iconic outdoor venue the Kelvingrove Bandstand, part of his Here Comes The Cowboy tour.

• Two tickets to Kathryn Joseph at City Halls • Two tickets to see Kathryn Joseph's biggest headline show to date on 9th November at Glasgow's beautiful City Halls.

• Two tickets to see Aldous Harding at Summerhall • Two tickets to see Aldous Harding at Summerhall, Edinburgh on 1st December.

• Two tickets to see The Spook School at The Art School • Two tickets to see Glasgow legends The Spook School's last ever show at The Art School, Glasgow on 7th September, with support from Leggy and Happy Spendy.

• Braw Wee Emporium voucher and goody bag • Voucher for bottle lamp workshop, plus Braw Wee goody bags.

• A night out at The Blue Arrow Jazz Club • Two tickets to a show of your choice, plus two cocktails each, at Glasgow's only jazz club - the Blue Arrow.

• £40 voucher for Lagom Kitchen •

• £30 voucher for The Hug and Pint •

• £30 voucher for Hen of the Woods food at The Glad Cafe •

• £30 voucher for Bloc+ •

• £20 voucher for Dennistoun Bar B Que, plus 2 tote bags •

[hollywarburton]

Photo by Aleksandra Zegar

BUTOH-TECHNO

We have invited musicians and dancers to participate in this spectacular project that links two cultural worlds. Butoh-Techno is a spectacle that combines improvised and techno music, visuals and dance movements to tell a fable of man living a life as journey. Both dancer and musicians are characters in this performance playing on the metaphorical stage of life. Butoh dancer uses his body to tell stories of falls and uprises while struggling against odds of life. Muscians take role of his friends as well as his adversaries. They build obstacles or make it easier for him to overcome them by creating multilayer abstract spaces filled with improvised and techno music and live visuals. The idea for the spectacle originated from collaboration of Shepherds of Cats with Japanese musician Ayako Ogawa and polish artist Filip Zawada. The stream of mutual intuitions and understanding, various aesthetical and cultural roots and need to share different ways of looking at the same world led us 3 years ago to create Butoh-Techno. The spectacle flourish each year with new ideas and it will be third year we will perform it.

Shepherds of Cats

They use improvisation as working method to create sonic stories and worlds, drenched in incredulity at their own existence. Plethora of instruments, found sounds and moving images allow them to layer contrasting sounds to create haunting and mesmerising soundscapes. Bells chime, bows scrape, moans and groans weave in and out, found and synthesized sounds intermittently warm the pieces sonically while their colaboration with VJ add visual dimension to their intriguing performances. They explore the outer boundaries of sound, pushing it to the limits of what can be considered acceptable in the realm of so called music. Their compositions are created in real time, though sometimes time as well as good taste and other senses maybe suspended. In 2015 and 2017 Shepherds of Cats toured Germany and UK to play concerts in places such as at Kreuzung an St. Helena for In Situ Art Society in Bonn, Das Gespinst in Essen, MK Gallery in Milton Keyens, The Kazimier Gardens in Liverpool and the legendary Cafe OTO in London. They colaborate closely with Manchester-dwelling saxophone swinger and Tombed Vision Records headmaster David McLean, german trombonist Gunter Heinz, japanese pianist Ayako Ogawa, composer and Lisbon experimentalist Pascal Ansell AKA Panelak. Maciek Piatek AKA VJ Pietrushka, experimental live video maker. In collaboration with their Japanese and Polish friends they created Butoh – Techno spectacle. Shepherds are:

Aleksander Olszewski - ethnic percussion

Adam Webster – cello, voice

Jan Fanfare – guitar, loops, voice

Dariusz Blaszczak – synthesizers and electronics

http://www.shepherdsofcats.com/

Ayako Ogawa 

Pianist, educator and artist who lives in Hakodate, Hokkaido. She has played the piano since 1968 and has been involved in theatre since 1970. While she has been working as an educationalist she has continued to write songs, organised poetry readings and published original picture books. These experiences inform her improvisations, which include work with recognisable figures such as: Sabu Toyozumi, Peter Brotzmann, Deku Ogawa and Butoh dancers Hal Tanaka, Mushimaru Fujieda and Tukasa Kamidate.

https://soundcloud.com/aya-ogawa-3 https://fanfarefanfare.bandcamp.com/album/ogawa-gerber-webster-zawada-fanfare

https://www.ayaogawavoicepiano.com/home

Mushimaru Fujieda

born in Aichi Prefecture of Japan, 1952. He began drama in 1972 and then belonged to drama company "Ishin-ha" in 1978-89. He later became independent performer from 1989. Thereafter he is a solo performer with numerous performances inside and outside of Japan. After receiving a highest praise from a poet, late Mr. Allen Ginsburg in N.Y. Mushimaru gave himself a name as the "Natural Physical Poet", and has produced with the unique style, pieces of dance work. He was awarded with the "Most Excellent Improvised Dance" the prize of Tobita Drama Award in 1997. His other activities have included: a mask dance-drama for Himalayan religious ceremonies, collaboration in theatrical presentations with musicians and most famously with the American poet Allen Ginsberg, appearance on stage at “Rainbow 2000” techno festival in Japan, performances with Finland’s master musician Eduard Vesala, appearance at the Juksan International Arts Festival in Korea and on television on the Kyoto Satellite Channel, producing and performing in "Asian Performing Arts Now” in Japan with dancer Edwin Lung and with the Korean company Paekche under Professor Sung-Sik Chang.

http://www.notus.dti.ne.jp/~mushimal/E.top.htm

http://thephysicalpoets.wixsite.com/tpp-official

Matylda Gerber 

Composer and saxophone player from Wroclaw, Poland. She is a regular to the jazz scene in her hometown as well as London, where she participated in projects such as London Improvisers Orchestra, Skronk and Exploratorio. Matylda also spearheads two musical projects in London, which focus on mixing compositions with free-jazz improvisations. In 2015, Matylda played at the esteemed Jazztopad Festival in her native city after which she was featured in the music portal All About Jazz. Establishing her career with the band Kolega Doriana, the group released an album in 2015 to positive reviews from The Free Jazz Collective as well as Redbull Tour de Polonia. 

https://soundcloud.com/matylda_gerber Maciek Piatek

Video artist based in the UK working mainly on experimental video projects & short films but also collaborating with various local and international musicians, exploring closely improvised and electronic scene. His films has been screened & exhibited both nationally and internationally in places such as: Art Gallery of SESI-SP in Sao Paulo, Babylon Cinema in Berlin and ICA in London, Arnolfini in Bristol, The Vienna Kunstlerhaus and The Embros Theatre in Athens. Vj Pietrushka shared the stage with artists such as Isnaj Dui and Ben Nigel Potts performing fully improvised live vj sessions and closely collaborate with Shepherds of Cats.

http://maciejpiatek.tumblr.com/VjPietrushka

[blackkudos]

Alberta Hunter

Alberta Hunter (April 1, 1895 – October 17, 1984) was an internationally known African-American jazz singer and songwriter who had a successful career from the early 1920s to the late 1950s (she was a contemporary of Ethel Waters and Bessie Smith) and then stopped performing. After 20 years of working as a nurse, in 1977 Hunter successfully resumed her popular singing career until her death.

Early life

Hunter was born in Memphis, Tennessee, to Laura Peterson, who worked as a maid in a Memphis brothel, and Charles Hunter, a Pullman porter. Hunter said she never knew her father. She attended Grant Elementary School, off Auction Street, which she called Auction School, in Memphis. She attended school until around age 15.

Hunter had a difficult childhood. Her father left when she was a child, and to support the family her mother worked as a servant in a brothel in Memphis, although she married again in 1906. Hunter was not happy with her new family and left for Chicago, Illinois, around the age of 11, in the hopes of becoming a paid singer; she had heard that it paid 10 dollars an hour. Instead of finding a job as a singer she had to earn money by working at a boardinghouse that paid six dollars a week as well as room and board. Hunter's mother left Memphis and moved in with her soon afterwards.

Career

Early years: 1910s–1940s

Hunter began her singing career in a bordello and soon moved to clubs that appealed to men, black and white alike. By 1914 she was receiving lessons from a prominent jazz pianist, Tony Jackson, who helped her to expand her repertoire and compose her own songs.

She was still in her early teens when she settled in Chicago. Part of her early career was spent singing at Dago Frank's, a whorehouse. She then sang at Hugh Hoskin's saloon, eventually singing in many Chicago bars.

One of her first notable experiences as an artist was at the Panama Club, a white-owned club with a white-only clientele that had a chain residing in Chicago, New York and other large cities. Hunter's first act was in an upstairs room, far from the main event; thus, she began developing as an artist in front of a cabaret crowd. "The crowd wouldn't stay downstairs. They'd go upstairs to hear us sing the blues. That's where I would stand and make up verses and sing as I go along." Many claim her appeal was based on her gift for improvising lyrics to satisfy the audience she was in front of. Her big break was when she got booked at Dreamland Cafe, singing with King Oliver and his band.

She peeled potatoes by day and hounded club owners by night, determined to land a singing job. Her persistence paid off, and Hunter began a climb from some of the city's lowest dives to a headlining job at its most prestigious venue for black entertainers, the Dreamland ballroom. She had a five-year association with the Dreamland, beginning in 1917, and her salary rose to $35 a week.

She first toured Europe in 1917, performing in Paris and London. The Europeans treated her as an artist, showing her respect and even reverence, which made a great impression on her.

Her career as singer and songwriter flourished in the 1920s and 1930s, and she appeared in clubs and on stage in musicals in both New York and London. The songs she wrote include the critically acclaimed "Downhearted Blues" (1922).

She recorded several records with Perry Bradford from 1922 to 1927.

Hunter recorded prolifically during the 1920s, starting with sessions for Black Swan in 1921, Paramount in 1922–1924, Gennett in 1924, OKeh in 1925–1926, Victor in 1927 and Columbia in 1929. While still working for Paramount, she also recorded for Harmograph Records under the pseudonym May Alix.

Hunter wrote "Downhearted Blues" with Lovie Austin and recorded the track for Ink Williams at Paramount Records. Hunter received only $368 in royalties. Williams had secretly sold the recording rights to Columbia Records in a deal where all royalties were paid to Williams. The song became a big hit for Columbia, with Bessie Smith as the vocalist. This record would almost 1 million records. Hunter learned what Williams had done and stopped recording for him.

In 1928, Hunter played Queenie opposite Paul Robeson in the first London production of Show Boat at Drury Lane. She subsequently performed in nightclubs throughout Europe and appeared for the 1934 winter season with Jack Jackson's society orchestra at London's Dorchester Hotel. One of her recordings with Jackson is "Miss Otis Regrets".

While at the Dorchester, she made several HMV recordings with the orchestra and appeared in Radio Parade of 1935 (1934), the first British theatrical film to feature the short-lived Dufaycolor, but only Hunter's segment was in color. She spent the late 1930s fulfilling engagements on both sides of the Atlantic and the early 1940s performing at home.

Hunter eventually moved to New York City. She performed with Bricktop and recorded with Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet. She continued to perform on both sides of the Atlantic, and as the head of the U.S.O.'s first black show, until her mother's death.

In 1944, she took a U.S.O. troupe to Casablanca and continued entertaining troops in both theatres of war for the duration of World War II and into the early postwar period. In the 1950s, she led U.S.O. troupes in Korea, but her mother's death in 1957 led her to her seek a radical career change.

Retirement: late 1950s–1970s

Hunter said that when her mother died in 1957, because they had been partners and were so close, the appeal of performing ended for her. She reduced her age, "invented" a high school diploma, and enrolled in nursing school, embarking on a career in health care, working for 20 years at Roosevelt Island's Goldwater Memorial Hospital.

The hospital forced Hunter to retire because it believed she was 70 years old. Hunter—who was actually 82 years old—decided to return to singing. She had already made a brief return by performing on two albums in the early 1960s, but now she had a regular engagement at a Greenwich Village club, becoming an attraction there until her death in October 1984.

Comeback: 1970s–1980s

Hunter was still working at Goldwater Memorial Hospital in 1961 when she was persuaded to participate in two recording sessions. In 1971 she was videotaped for a segment of a Danish television program, and she taped an interview for the Smithsonian Institution. That same year record producer Chris Albertson asked her to break an 11-year absence from the recording studio. The result was her participation (four songs) on a Prestige Bluesville Records album, Songs We Taught Your Mother. The following month, Albertson recorded her again, this time for Riverside Records, reuniting her with Lil Armstrong and Lovie Austin, both of whom she had performed with in the 1920s. Hunter enjoyed these outings but had no plans to return to a career as a singer. She was prepared to devote the rest of her life to nursing, but the hospital retired her in 1977, when it believed she had reached retirement age (she was then 82).

In the summer of 1976, Hunter attended a party for her long-time friend Mabel Mercer, hosted by Bobby Short. Music public relations agent Charles Bourgeois asked Hunter to sing and connected her with the legendary owner of Cafe Society, Barney Josephson. Josephson offered Hunter a limited engagement at his Greenwich Village club, The Cookery. Her two-week appearance there was a huge success, turning into a six-year engagement and a revival of her career in music.

Impressed with the attention paid her by the press, John Hammond signed Hunter to Columbia Records. He had not previously shown interest in Hunter, but he had been a close associate of Barney Josephson decades earlier, when the latter ran the Café Society Uptown and Downtown clubs. Her Columbia albums, The Glory of Alberta Hunter, Amtrak Blues (on which she sang the jazz classic "The Darktown Strutters' Ball"), and Look For the Silver Lining, did not sell as well as expected, but sales were nevertheless healthy. There were also numerous appearances on television programs, including To Tell the Truth (in which panelist Kitty Carlisle had to recuse herself, the two having known each other in Hunter's heyday). She also had a walk-on role in Remember My Name, a 1978 film by the director Alan Rudolph, for which he commissioned her to write and to perform the soundtrack music.

As capacity audiences continued to fill The Cookery nightly, concert offers came from Brazil to Berlin, and there was an invitation for her to sing at the White House. At first, she turned it down, because, she explained, "they wanted me there on my day off," but the White House amended its schedule to suit the veteran artist. During that time, there was also a visit from former First Lady turned book editor Jackie Onassis, who wanted to sign her for an autobiography but was unhappy with the co-author assigned to the project. The book was eventually done for another publisher, with the help of writer Frank Taylor.

Hunter's comeback lasted six years. She toured in Europe and South America, made more television appearances, and enjoyed her renewed recording career as well as the fact that record catalogs now once again contained her old recordings, going back to her 1921 debut on the Black Swan label.

Personal life

In 1919, Hunter married Willard Saxby Townsend, a former soldier who later became a labor leader for baggage handlers via the International Brotherhood of Red Caps, was short-lived. They separated within months, as Hunter did not want to quit her career—and officially divorced in 1923.

Hunter was a lesbian, though she kept her sexuality relatively private. In August 1927, she sailed for France, accompanied by Lottie Tyler, the niece of well known comedian Bert Williams. Hunter and Tyler had met in Chicago a few years earlier. Their relationship lasted until Ms. Tyler's death, many years later.

Hunter is buried in the Ferncliff Cemetery and Mausoleum located in Hartsdale, Westchester County, New York (Elmwood section; plot 1411), the location of many celebrity burials.

Hunter's life was documented in Alberta Hunter: My Castle's Rockin' (1988 TV movie), a documentary written by Chris Albertson and narrated by pianist Billy Taylor, and in Cookin' at the Cookery, a biographical musical by Marion J. Caffey that has toured the United States in recent years with Ernestine Jackson as Hunter.

Hunter was inducted to the Blues Hall of Fame in 2011 and the Memphis Music Hall of Fame in 2015. Hunter's comeback album,Amtrak Blues, was honored by the Blues Hall of Fame in 2009.

Discography

Early work: 1921–46

Hunter, Alberta. Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order. Volume 1: May 1921 to February 1923. Vienna, Austria: Document Records, 1996. DOCD-5422. OCLC 35186454.

Hunter, Alberta. Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order. Volume 2: February 1923 to November 1924. Vienna, Austria: Document Records, 1996. DOCD-5423. OCLC 35186490.

Hunter, Alberta. Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order. Volume 3: 6 November 1924 to 26 February 1927. Vienna, Austria: Document Records, 1996. DOCD-5424. OCLC 37591743.

Hunter, Alberta. Volume 5: The Alternate Takes. 1921–1925. Vienna, Austria: Document Records, 1997. DOCD-1006. OCLC 38880479.

Hunter, Alberta, and Jack Jackson. The Legendary Alberta Hunter. The London Sessions with Jack Jackson & His Orchestra.New York: DRG, 1981. Recorded at the Dorchester Hotel, September–November 1934. OCLC 178720357.

Featuring Fletcher Henderson, Eubie Blake, Jimmy Lytell, Phil Napoleon, Elmer Chambers, Don Redman, Frank Signorelli

Featuring Fletcher Henderson, Joe Smith, Fats Waller, Tommy Ladnier, Jimmy O'Bryant, Lovie Austin, Elkins-Payne Jubilee Quartette

Featuring Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, Buster Bailey, Charlie Irvis, Perry Bradford, Clarence Williams, Mike Jackson

Featuring Ray's Dreamland Orchestra, Eubie Blake, Original Memphis Five, Fletcher Henderson, Paramount Boys, Lovie Austin

Collaborations: 1961

1961: Chicago: The Living Legends. Alberta Hunter with Lovie Austin's Blues Serenaders (Riverside), recorded September 1, 1961, in Chicago.

1961: Songs We Taught Your Mother: Alberta Hunter, Lucille Hegamin, Victoria Spivey (Bluesville/Original Blues Classics), recorded by Rudy Van Gelder on August 16, 1961, in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

Comeback: 1978–83

1978: Remember My Name, the original soundtrack recording of the Robert Altman film Remember My Name, (Columbia), OCLC 894368622

1980: Amtrak Blues (Columbia), OCLC 191945612

1981: Downhearted Blues: Live at the Cookery, a concert from the documentary Alberta Hunter: My Castle's Rockin, recorded in December 1981 at The Cookery, New York (Varèse Sarabande), OCLC 74155365

1982: The Glory of Alberta Hunter (Columbia)

1983: Look for the Silver Lining (Columbia)

Filmography

Santee, Clark, Delia Gravel Santee, Willis Conover, Alberta Hunter, and Gary Allen. Alberta Hunter Jazz at the Smithsonian.United States: Shanachie Entertaintment, 2005. Live performance at the Smithsonian Institution's Baird Auditorium on November 29, 1981. ISBN 978-1-561-27270-9. OCLC 58996219.

Goldman, Stuart A., Chris Albertson, Billy Taylor, Alberta Hunter, Jack Churchill, Robert M. Cohen, and Mary Alfier. Alberta Hunter: My Castle's Rockin'. New York: View Video, 2001. 1988 performance documentary. ISBN 978-0-803-02331-4. OCLC 49503904.

Wikipedia

[theclarinetguy]

April Classical Revolution

Classical Revolution was formed in the fall of 2006 at Revolution Cafe in San Francisco.On Sundays, musicians gather at the cafe for the informal "Chamber Jam Sessions" where we read down the standards of the chamber music repertoire and invite musicians from the community to perform pieces from their repertoire. These informal open mic sessions are very popular for both musicians and audience.Classical Revolution has spun off and started chapters in New York, Berlin, Reno, Portland, Chicago, Philadelphia, Melbourne, Ann Arbor, Toronto, Cincinnati, Washington DC, Banff, Belgrade, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh... Come play or listen in at the new Classical Revolution in Indianapolis! You will have the opportunity to perform and jam with many different people in a venue other than the concert hall, and meet local musicians and live music fans.

[djs-party-edm-italia]

HAI VOGLIA DI FAR FESTA AD UN FESTIVALONE & O IN UN TOP CLUB? Qui trovi: Ibiza, Olanda, Austria, Montenegro (dove c’è pure Samsara), Austria...

Discover some of the best party hotspots on the planet this summer, make new friends and dance the night away under the stars in the most exciting international destinations imaginable.

From a vibrant festival scene in The Netherlands, to the spiritual home of dance music in Ibiza, plus party and festival hotspots all over Eastern Europe, Spain, Morocco and beyond there’s plenty to keep you busy this summer. Why not combine your memorable party moments with a city break or beach holiday? Mix idyllic coastlines, picturesque views, unique architecture, culture and gastronomic delights for the perfect festival break. Here’s 10 of the best places to party in 2017!

IBIZA It goes without saying that Ibiza is a paradise for party-goers, this sunny oasis has long been the spiritual home of dance music and club culture. Enjoy the warm sunshine and sun-drenched days pool side and party into the night at some of the world's best clubs and parties. For those looking to balance out the party life with some much-deserved r&r, there’s a wealth of yoga retreats and tranquil sandy beaches on the island, making for the most picture-perfect party location.

This summer Ibiza enters an exciting new chapter with the much-anticipated launch of Hï Ibiza, the brand new superclub by Ushuaïa Entertainment. The club formerly known as Space will be elevated to new heights, with a fresh new look and the most advanced sound and technologies on the island. From May through September Hï Ibiza will play host to the finest selectors from the global electronic music scene, including Apollonia, Black Coffee, Joris Voorn, Kölsch, Luciano and Nic Fanciulli. Don’t miss the club’s Opening Party on Sunday 28th May, which promises to be a historic moment in club culture and one of this year’s essential party destinations.

Be like a local… Drink: Hierbas Eat: Sobrasada Say Cheers: Salud!

Hï Ibiza parties all through the summer from May - September. To book tickets visit hiibiza.com

THE NETHERLANDS There must be something in the water in Holland, with the sheer number of festivals that take place in the country every year! Whether you’re into rock, pop, indie or electronic music there’s literally hundreds of events to choose from. With a flourishing Dutch music scene too, it’s the perfect time to look out for emerging acts like Klangstof and Amber Arcades or Dutch DJs Tom Trago, Mirella Kroes, Hunee, Steve Rachmad and more. Why not combine a festival with a city break to Amsterdam, where you can take in the laid back atmosphere, wander the cobbled streets and canals and check out one of the most cutting-edge nightlife scenes in Europe?

Join one of the biggest parties of the year at the 25th edition of Lowlands festival! The Dutch answer to Reading & Leeds, has an extensive multi-genre line-up featuring over 250 acts including Mumford & Sons, The xx, Editors, alt-J, Bastille, Cypress Hill, Michael Kiwanuka, Ben Klock, Dixon, Glass Animals, Talaboman and more. When it comes to electronic music, the world’s longest running dance music festival Mysteryland has it all. Over 346 acts, criss-crossing house, techno, disco, African beats, vinyl-only, hardstyle, hip hop and feel-good bands, plus an extensive arts and culture line-up. For the underground heads there’s also Welcome to the Future festival, a celebration of underground electronic music culture with a cutting-edge house and techno lineup, featuring Audion, Claptone, Jackmaster, Lil Louis, Loco Dice, Ross From Friends, Sandrien, Tom Trago and many more.

Be like a local… Drink: Kopstoot Eat: Stroopwafel Say Cheers: Proost!

Lowlands takes place from 18th - 20th August. To book tickets visit lowlands.nl Mysteryland takes place from 26 - 27 August 2017. To book tickets visit mysteryland.nl Welcome to the Future takes place on 22 July. To book tickets visit welcometothefuture.nl

MOROCCO Few countries hold as much dreamy fascination for travellers as Morocco. From the Sahara desert, Berber towns and sandy coastlines there is so much to be explored, especially in the ‘Red City’ of Marrakech. The winding alleyways of the Medina give way to the bustling souks, filled with brightly coloured silks, spice baskets and the most delicious local cuisine. Relax and unwind at the hammam and indulge yourself with massage or take in the breathtaking views of the Atlas Mountains, the Jardin Marjorelle and stunning architecture that the country has to offer. The city also has a growing music and festival scene, thanks in part to Oasis festival, which kick-started the festival scene there back in 2015.

Nestled on the outskirts of the bustling city of Marrakech in the luxurious surroundings of the Source music resort, Oasis brings a slice of festival paradise to Morocco, shining the light on North Africa as the latest must-visit festival destination. In addition to the cutting-edge music programme featuring Richie Hawtin, Nicolas Jaar, Marcel Dettmann ,Charlotte De Witte, Chloe, and many more, there is ample opportunity to nourish the mind, body and soul with daily yoga, massage and reflexology. Guests can also experience Moroccan culture on-site with authentic local street food, a wide selection of locally produced and organic products, market vendors, henna artists and more. There’s no doubt Oasis is one of this year’s most unique party experiences!

Be like a local… Drink: Mint Tea Eat: Pastilla Say Cheers: Fe sahetek

Oasis takes place from 15-17 September 2017. To book tickets visit theoasisfest.com

SPAIN Spain is a mix of old and new, modern and traditional. Think cathedrals, world-class art, stunning architecture, beautiful sandy beaches, a buzzing nightlife and a thriving festival scene. It’s no wonder Spain has long been the go-to destination for British travellers and the Basque country’s Bilbao has everything to offer, and more! This culture-rich city is full of character and there’s plenty to keep you busy. Visitors can head to one of the many museums and art galleries, including the world-famous Guggenheim, take a street art tour, check out the world-famous Basque gastronomic scene or sample some of the region’s famous Pintxos and Kalimotxos (Cola and Red Wine!) along the way.

The Spanish sure know how to party too! When it comes to Bilbao, it’s fiesta time when Bilbao BBK Live festival comes to town, taking over the stunning Kobetamendi Hill with breathtaking views across the city. This year’s line-up features acts including Depeche Mode, The Killers, Justice, Phoenix, Two Door Cinema Club, Fleet Foxes, The 1975, Sundara Karma and a whole host of Spanish musical talent. Plus, Basoa, the festivals carefully curated dance music space will also play host to uninterrupted party sessions from many of the most-respected names in electronic music including Dixon, The Black Madonna, Andrew Weatherall and Motor City Drum Ensemble.

Be like a local… Drink: Kalimotxos (Cola and Red Wine!) Eat: Pintxos Say Cheers: Salud!

Bilbao BBK Live takes place from 6-8 July 2017. To book tickets visit bilbaobbklive.com

SERBIA This friendly, warm and welcoming country is a hell of a lot of fun. Capital city Belgrade has become one of the most happening cities in Europe rivalling Berlin as the go-to party destination but the best place to get your music fix is Novi Sad’s Exit Festival which sees music fans from all over the world descend on this cultural hotspot. Visitors can take in the beautiful, scenic views across the River Danube, wander through pretty parks, outdoor cafes and its bustling bars. Nicknamed the ‘Athens of Serbia’, this vibrant, creative city oozes history and it’s laid-back liberal vibe makes for the perfect festival spot.

Just a short ride away from Belgrade, the magical Petrovaradin Fortress set high on the banks of the river Danube in Novi Sad provides the perfect setting for EXIT Festival. Started as a student protest in 2000 fighting for political change and freedom, EXIT continues to spread positive vibes, promoting change and positive education, supporting many community and humanitarian missions, while throwing a damn good party. The award winning festival has something for music lovers of all genres with a diverse mix of artists performing on numerous stages connected by cobbled streets, ramparts and tunnels. Also renowned for it’s amazing atmosphere and energy the Dance Arena champions the who’s who in the electronic music world set in the awe-inspiring moat of the fortress! With acts including Liam Gallagher, Solumum & Dixon B2B, Paul Kalkbrenner, Hardwell, Rag’n’Bone Man, Jake Bugg, Hot Since 82 and more this is set to be a huge year.. EXIT. Where hedonism meets activism.

Be like a local… Drink: Rakija Eat: Sarma Say Cheers: živeli

Exit Festival takes place from 6-9 July 2017. 4-day tickets from £79 available at exitfest.org

LATVIA Best described as a quaint unspoilt parkland with its cosmopolitan city of Riga, Latvia has retained its charm whilst also offering the best in nightlife. Riga is the perfect pre-festival pit stop, take in the stunning art-nouveau architecture, wander the winding cobbled streets of the old town and dip into the city’s burgeoning nightlife scene before you escape to one of the country’s biggest summer party destinations - Positivus Festival.

Taking place in the picturesque coastal town of Salacgriva, Positivus is the largest music and arts festival in the Baltic States, transporting chart-topping headliners, underground emerging talent and exciting art and dance stages to their unspoiled atmospheric coastal setting amid stunning woodland. Festival goers can dip their toes in the baltic sea or take in the atmosphere in a hammock beneath the trees while enjoying a rich diversity of international chart toppers and underground emerging talent in this idyllic holiday location. Positivus also offers art and dance stages giving festival goers a variety of activities and stalls selling locally made designer clothing and accessories, giving festival goers plenty to see and do during the 3 day event.

Be like a local… Drink: Riga Black Balsam Eat: karbonāde Say Cheers: Priekā

Positivus takes place from 14th to 16th July. 3 day festival passes from £67 positivusfestival.com

POLAND Poland offers the perfect getaway for party people wanting to get their culture fix. Steeped in history, travellers can explore museums, monuments, castles and the country’s well known club culture. Made famous in the 90’s, the underground techno scene was compared to that of Berlins with a pioneering outlook on electronic music. This has been culminated today through the curation of some of the most interesting and unique festivals on the scene including Katowice’s OFF Festival..

OFF is a festival for the discerning music fan and the place to discover the best alternative acts from around the world. A truly unique boutique music festival, OFF Festival takes place in ‘Three Lake Valley’, Katowice – a beautiful green oasis in the heart of industrial Silesia. OFF Festival’s reputation is growing year on year driven by the festivals forward–thinking, eclectic music policy and it’s bold and eclectic lineups. From the greatest alternative music stars from around the world to the increasingly strong Polish scene, OFF festival has inspiring music in abundance and the organisers and crowd have one serious finger on the pulse when it comes to music, this year will see Swans, Daniel Johnston, Shellac, Jessy Lanza and many more take to the stage.

Be like a local… Drink: Balsam Pomorski Eat: Bigos Say Cheers: Na zdrowie

OFF Festival takes place from 4-6 August 2017. 3-day tickets from £52 available at off-festival.pl

HUNGARY Famed for its architecture and romantic scenery, Hungary has become to be known as ’The Paris of the East’. Wander through the sunny streets making pit stops at local eateries to sample the delicious local cuisine and visit the Palatinus Baths to relax and unwind the mind. At night the vibrant city comes alive, explore the special ‘ruin pubs’ and if you want the best tips on where to go ask the friendly locals who are always happy to help! After a night in Budapest you’re sure to be in the party spirit ready for a week long adventure at Sziget festival which offers the ultimate party holiday experience.

Proud winner of the ‘Best Major European Festival’ award in 2015 and 2011, and ‘Best Festival Line Up’ in 2016, Sziget Festival is one of the biggest multicultural events of Europe. Taking place on the picturesque Óbuda Island in Budapest, Sziget welcomes over 490,000 visitors from over 100 countries to express themselves at the week long party on their self-proclaimed Island of Freedom. Sziget is not just about music, with more than 50 program venues offering festival goers the chance to experience many different things including; circus, theatre and dance, art and installations, yoga and sports and a huge variety of food. There is also has a beach area where fans can truly enjoy the summer and the Danube. Acts for 2017 include PJ Harvey, The Kills, Alt-J, Major Lazer and many more!

Be like a local… Drink: Pálinka Eat: Goulash Say Cheers: Fenékig

Sziget takes place from 9-16 August 2017. 7-day tickets from £175 available at szigetfestival.com

MONTENEGRO Recently listed by Skyscanner as the number 1 cheapest holiday destination for 2017 this country is well worth checking out. Montenegro has towering mountains perfect for hiking and mountain biking as well as some of the world’s best unspoiled beaches on the Adriatic Sea. And if that wasn’t enough Montenegro featured in the James Bond Film Casino Royale and if it’s good enough for Bond, it’s good enough for us!

Award winning Sea Dance festival gathers each year fans from over 50 countries from all over the world, and impressive line up of more than 100 hottest international music stars. This year, fourth edition of the festival, will be held in Budva from 13th to 15th July, in Budva, Montenegro with acts including John Newman and Sean Paul. Voted best European medium-sized festival, Sea Dance has proven much within just three short years. Stunning location, world renowned artists and outstanding productions make this festival a must see. Save the date and experience Sea Dance festival on Europe's hottest summer destination, city of Budva, Montenegro.

Be like a local... Drink: Prvijenac Eat: Punjene paprike Say Cheers: Zivjeli

Sea Dance Festival takes place from 13-15 July 2017. To book tickets visit seadancefestival.me

AUSTRIA The famously beautiful Austria offers the most stunning alpine scenery, incredible architecture and also plenty of museums, bars, cafes and a buzzing club scene. Fading between the cultural capital of Vienna and the natural beauty of the Austrian Alps there’s so much to be explored. Home to the annual Snowbombing festival, the Alpine village of Mayrhofen has even earned the title of ‘Party Capital of the Alps’!

When it comes to snow and music festivals, Snowbombing is the reigning king of the scene. A festival up a mountain 8,497ft above ordinary, in one of the finest ski resorts in Europe, showcasing world class acts in the most unique venues imaginable - think igloo raves, enchanted forest parties and mountain-top stages! The world’s no. 1 festival on snow takes place from 3-8 April, with acts including Run The Jewels, Chase & Status, Giggs, Dixon, Blossoms, Slaves, Novelist, Grandmaster Flash, KiNK, Groove Armada, Eats Everything, Stefflon Don and many, many more. All this plus, luxurious spas, rooftop hot tubs, authentic alpine cuisine, 650km of unadulterated piste and not a tent in sight, make Snowbombing a piste and party lover’s paradise.

Be Like a Local... Drink: Schnaps Eat: Wiener Schnitzel Say Cheers: Prost!

[newyorksportstours]

This Broadway Joe Revolutionized Bowling

  New York City's first public indoor bowling action in months started today, with the state allowing bowling alleys to roll out under social-distancing measures. The development is the latest in a long lane of bowling advances in the sport's kingpin city. 

  [caption id="attachment_5737" align="alignnone" width="1536"] Thum appears in New York on May 19, 1926, to promote an international bowling tournament in Sweden[/caption]

  Joseph Thum, a late New Yorker widely known as Uncle Joe, long been regarded as the father of both ten-pin and international bowling.

  Thum was a guiding force in the revolution of the indoor sport. In Manhattan 125 years ago next month, he co-created bowling's national governing body, 300 as the maximum match score and other bowling standards. Starting six years later, when he opened a 24-lane operation on Broadway in Midtown Manhattan, he transformed bowling from an activity relegated to saloon basements to a sport played by millions of men and women.

  Thum met many doubters on  this road to respectability. When he built his Broadway establishment as an above-ground, street-facing bowling center with the goal of attracting a mainstream and more wholesome audience, friends warned him that the place was a "white elephant" that would render him bankrupt. Buoyed by optimism, the good-natured Thum called the business White Elephant Bowling Academy.

  [caption id="attachment_5730" align="alignnone" width="1771"] Dutch settlers bowling in 1732 in Manhattan's Bowling Green are depicted on a 1914 postcard[/caption]

  The vanguard of bowling's development had arrived 175 years earlier, at the southernmost end of Broadway. There in 1732, Bowling Green became the city's first public park, named after the nine-pin bowling played there by Dutch settlers.  

  In 1840, bowling's public transition to indoor venues and ten-pin setups was driven by so-called bowling saloons. Although the alleys were customarily in bar basements as a gambling-heavy diversion for men, private bowling alleys in the city drew a more upscale clientele.

  [caption id="attachment_5732" align="alignnone" width="2560"] Bowling Green appears during a New York Sports Tours visit on August 15, 2020[/caption]

  An 1843 news story amplified this divide. That March, outside a bowling saloon on Broadway near Leonard Street in Lower Manhattan, proprietor Charles Corlis was shot and killed over a dispute about a mistress.  The New York Daily Herald noted that Corlis "kept two bowling saloons in Broadway, one of them was strictly private, and appropriated to the use of fashionable ladies, who went there to play ninepin between the hours of 10 and 2 o'clock."

  The world would follow the indoor model, and Thum would help forge ten-pin bowling as the public standard. After he immigrated from Germany to Manhattan as a teenager in 1876, Thum found work in a German cafe on Greenwich Street in Greenwich Village. After the cafe's owner decided to return to Germany in 1880, Thum was deeded the eatery.

  Like some other German immigrants who brought turnvereins to the city, Thum was inspired by sports. He installed two bowling lanes lit by kerosene lamps in the cafe's basement for use by the upstairs patrons.

  [caption id="attachment_5740" align="alignnone" width="1996"] A bowling saloon at Gotham Cottage on Manhattan's The Bowery is depicted in an 1862 lithograph[/caption]

  Thum's bowling operation was a hit. By 1891, Thum saw bowling as his future. That year, he opened a six-lane bowling business with wooden balls and pins in the basement of the Germania Assembly Rooms building, on on Broadway near Houston Street on the Lower East Side, and called it Germania Bowling Alleys. At the venue, Thum organized the annual American National tournament as the nation's leading bowling event.

  In January 1992, New York's The Sun reported that at an event at the Germania alleys, "the excitement was quite as great as that occasioned by the gentle passages at arms in the days of chivalry."

  During the 1890s, Thum was regarded as a talented bowler, and was on the New York team that won multiple annual Tristate Bowling Championship titles during that stretch.  He worked with leaders of New York bowling leagues form the United Bowling Clubs, the nation's first powerful regional bowling group.

  [caption id="attachment_5761" align="alignnone" width="7371"] Thum (far right, seated) poses in 1899 with his New York club teammates Gus Sievers, John Schilling, Charles Wilckens (front row, left to right), Berman Kahlsdorf, Fred Clinch, and John Moje (second row, left to right) after the club won its fourth straight Interstate Bowling Championship title[/caption]

  United Bowling Clubs went to work to form more universal rules and regulations for the sport. In 1895. the effort went national. That September 9, during a 15-hour meeting at Beethoven Hall in a building still standing on East Fifth Street near where Thum had opened the Germania lanes, Thum and some fellow bowling enthusiasts created the American Bowling Congress (following some mergers this century, now known as the United States Bowling Congress).

  During the Beethoven Hall session, many standards were established for the game that continue today, including the 300 high score and 12 inches between standing pins.

  [caption id="attachment_5756" align="alignnone" width="19725"] Two advertisements, as published in 1892 ((left) and 1913 (right), promote Thum's Bowery and Broadway bowling businesses[/caption]

  Before the turn of the century, Thum and a teammate on the Tristate Bowling title team, Berman Kahlsdorf, were operating another Manhattan bowling venue on Lenox Avenue in Harlem. With another business partner, Herman Ehler, Thum would also manage lanes after they opened to the public in 1900 at Brooklyn's Fulton Street and Jay Street intersection.

  In 1901, three months before he opened his White Elephant lanes at 1241 Broadway, The Sun reported of Thum, "He is today almost at his best and can roll down the ten pins with the accuracy of a sharpshooter at target practice... for years has been champion of all bowlers, and who today is not quite so active because there is younger blood in the field."

  [caption id="attachment_5750" align="alignnone" width="1524"] Part of outdoor signage for Thum's bowling and billiards operation appears near the upper righthand corner of this photograph taken of the west side of Broadway between 30th and 31st Streets on September 13, 1914[/caption]

  The White Elephant lanes were opened on April 1, 1901. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported that day, "The alleys have been finished in the latest style and, being so centrally located, should prove very popular."  A tw0-man team tournament was staged on opening night to determine Greater New York's team champion,

  Five months after the White Elephant's Broadway debut, the American National moved from Thum's former bowling venue to the Broadway lanes. And as Thum added tournaments and leagues in New York and beyond, so did the sport. 

  [caption id="attachment_5754" align="alignnone" width="8339"] Part of the outdoor signage for Thum's bowling and billiards operation appears in the upper righthand corner of this May 26, 1920, photograph taken of Broadway between 30th and 31st Streets, across the street from the Grand Hotel[/caption]

  By 1915, Thum's thriving White Elephant occupied the second, third, fourth and fifth floors, with some of the room devoted to a restaurant and billiards action. The pins were reset by "pin boys," as automated pinsetters were not introduced until the 1950s.

  Thum had pinned his business hopes to bowling's entertainment potential. Before he launched the White Elephant, he wrote passionately about bowling achievements.  Strikes "arouse spectators to a burst of enthusiasm," Thum noted, but not as much as as a difficult spare, which "will awaken the most sleepy individual."

  [caption id="attachment_5775" align="alignnone" width="4892"] Thum shows his bowling form in 1926 (left) and poses wearing his trademark cap and bowling pins (right)[/caption]

  Thum attracted many ladies to the sport, as spectators and participants. In a spring 1922 all-comers event at the White Elephant — "jammed to the capacity," reported The Sun, with "close to 1,000 bowling fans" — 15 of the entrants who bowled 90 or higher were female.

  Thum also courted a larger following through fundraisers at the lanes, including during World War I for such organizations as the Jewish Welfare Board, National Catholic War Council, Salvation Army, YMCA and YWCA.

  [caption id="attachment_5696" align="alignnone" width="3213"] Thum Bowling signage (top, center right) is displayed on the southwest corner of Broadway and West 31st Street[/caption]

  Thum left an indelible mark on international sports. He formed a host of competitions between American and European bowlers. In 1926, he was the driving force behind the creation of the International Bowling Association, for which he served as the first president and helped standardize bowling in Europe.

  Thum went on to successfully campaign for a bowling tournament to be staged in conjunction with the 1936 Olympics in Germany. In Berlin, some 5,000 bowlers from 14 countries took part in the demonstration. As with several other ventures, Thum attached his name to the event, calling the Berlin bowlers members of the Joe Thum Sport Club.

  Often sporting a JTBC (Joe Thum Bowling Guard) mark on a sailor's cap and bowling medals pinned military style on a blazer, the white-mustached Thum enjoyed courting attention as a way to gain more public traction for the former dark-alley sport.

  [caption id="attachment_5749" align="alignnone" width="1651"] The international tournament Thum created as a demonstration sport for the 1936 Olympics in Germany is shown with a pin created for participants that displays the United States and Germany flags[/caption]

  Thum did not live to fulfill his goal to make bowling an Olympic sport. On January 19, 1937, six months after the Berlin tournament and 15 days before his 79th birthday, he died in New York City.

  The day after his passing, The New York Times described Thum as "the father of American bowling... inspired by his tremendous love of the sport of bowling and his desire to see the representatives of his adopted country lead the world in it. Today, as a result of the spark 'Uncle Joe' set off, 7,000.000 men play the game in the United States, Canada and Hawaii... 1,000,000 women play the game in church clubrooms, in schools and in public academies."

  [caption id="attachment_5747" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The location of Thum's Broadway bowling business was where the white building under construction stands in this photo taken during a New York Sports Tours outing on September 15, 2020[/caption]

  Through his death, Thum clearly proved that the White Elephant was not a white elephant. He had provided a tailwind for the sport, a legacy that would remain strong even after the closing of the White Elephant in 1945. Tournament bowling would capture viewers' interest in television's pioneer days and create a thriving professional circuit. In 1964 for a bowling goods company, champion bowler Don Carter would become the first athlete of any sport to score a seven-figure endorsement deal.  

  The rise of tournament play can be traced to Thum. "Uncle Joe,  The Brooklyn Daily Eagle concluded in a 1915 editorial, "brought tournament bowling into vogue."  

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source https://newyorksports.tours/joe-thum-on-broadway-revolutionized-bowling/