Love City #23: Larry's Release Party in NYC, Greg plays the Boom-Boom!
Bart Van Hemelen
sends out to subscribers...
Note the announcement of a single, "Free"...
---------------------------------------------------
Thursday, Feb. 4th, 1999
"I don't start the riots. I do my best to stop them. You should
ask Nixon more about the riots than me. I don't know the man ... he
might be a nice guy."
-Sly Stone
Sounds, July 27, 1974
Hello to the members of Love City....!
The biggest news bubbling in this little City of ours (pop. 2250+) is
this week's release of Larry Graham and Graham Central Station's new
album, "GCS2000." For those of you who don't know already, it
features (and is co-produced by) O(+>, as well Chaka Khan, Jerry
Martini, Cynthia Robinson, Robert "Butch" Sam, Hershall "Happiness"
Kennedy and members of the NPG. Already the single "Free" is starting
to raise some eyebrows, and there are more on the way...the raves are
pouring in, including a nice one from USA TODAY earlier this week:
"On his first release on O(+>'s NPG label, Graham is still bringing
musical thunder. The newest GCS incarnation includes original organist
Robert "Butch" Sam and Family Stone alums Jerry Martini and Cynthia
Robinson on saxophone and trumpet. Cuts such as the driving "Love 4 1
Another" and the jazzy "Groove On" give Graham plenty of space to
unleash his distinctive string-thumping statements. Labelmate Chaka
Khan and O(+> himself join the fun n the expressive "Free." Graham
also nods toward his career as a solo crooner, soulfully reworking his
1981 hit "Just Be My Lady." Not bad, eh? :)
If you are in the New York area, you would be a party-pooper were you
not to attend Larry's CD release party Feb. 5th (this Friday)! Come to
"Club NV" in New York City (289 Spring St.) at 8 PM. Larry, family,
friends and guests will be there ... no word yet on whether a jam is
expected though...! And if you are ready for this funkdafied audio
experience, you can order the CD online through either O(+>'s
1-800-NEW-FUNK as part of the 3-CD "NewPowerPak" or through Music
Boulevard. And don't forget to check out the fat sound samples at
http://www.gcsweb.org/gcs200.html !!!
Visitors to the GCS web site will notice something "eye-catching" to
say the least ... that's right, on the main page there is now an
animation created by Ronald Stozo (AKA Stozo da Klown) the well-known
P-Funk artist! This cute little animation features Larry, Jerry,
Cynthia, The Artist and members of the NPG decked out in some stylin'
duds, doing what they do best! I plan to incorporate some of Stozo's
fine details in the animation throughout the site ... if you would
like to contact Stozo for your projects, you can send him e-mail at:
stozod...@hotmail.com. Thanks Stozo!
Since my last edition of Love City I have received a slew of e-mail
inquiring as to which faith Larry and his family adhere. As you may
have already learned by reading my 1995 interview with Larry, Larry
and his family are indeed devout Jehovah's Witnesses and have been so
since the mid-70's. It is a topic Larry and I discuss often ... in
fact several nights ago Larry was ecstatic on the phone after reading
the January issue of Sports Illustrated, a Michael Jordan feature, and
seeing a photo in which Michael had a copy of the brochure "When
Someone You Love Dies" printed by the Watchtower Bible and Track
Society (distributed by Jehovah's Witnesses) on his desk. "Now I know
that he knows what I know, that he will see his father again, just
like I will see my mother again, in God's new world."
Also exciting news for the Graham Man: last Wednesday, Larry was
inducted with other innovative bass players into the Rock & Roll Walk
of Fame outside Los Angeles' Guitar Center (7425 Sunset Blvd.).
Alongside Stanley Clarke, Bootsy Collins, Tim Bogert and the families
of James Jamerson and Jaco Pastorius, Larry made an imprint of his
hands (no, not just his thumb!) in the cement and answered questions
from the press about his new album. Larry said it was an unforgettable
experience. I have been in touch with the Walk of Fame people and
they have told me they plan to update their website to include video
clips of the induction. I will post information on that once I hear
back from them ... so stay tuned!
Also newsworthy: Greg will be returning to The Boom-Boom Room with
Carl "Good Rockin'" Robinson on the 12th and 26th of February. These
are dynamite shows and a great opportunity to see "Brother Handsfeet"
do his thang live! The club is located near the Fillmore West in San
Francisco. Greg and I have been exchanging music recently ... I've
been trying to convince him that it it is indeed his drums playing
behind Alanis Morisette's recent hit "Thank U" (any other believers?)
... and he sent me some outstanding rough mixes of a world music group
he's producing called "1 Positive Nation." He is also continuing to
put the finishing touches on his forthcoming drum instructional
videos, more news on that when the time comes ...
Also, I just spoke to Jerry in Honolulu, Hawaii last night. He
sounded great, well-rested from the touring he's been doing with
Larry, Cynthia and GCS2000. In fact, to keep his chops in shape he's
started performing regularly at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Waikiki
with Augie Rey, his old bandmate from Nicholas Nicholas. Jerry, as
always, has several projects in the works including a new partnership
with Cynthia which might lead to some new recordings, including one of
Cynthia's classic trumpet rendition of "Saint James' Infirmary" which
used to be a highlight during Sly & the Family Stone performances! I
also hear they're teaming up to do a "rockumentary" for the Rock &
Roll Hall of Fame ... Also, Jerry has been talking about reuniting
some of his old Rubicon bandmates (Dennis Marcellino, Jack Blades) ...
exciting stuff!
Well, that's about it for this edition. I hope to see many of you at
the GCS2000 release party in New York City this Friday ... if you do
go, please make a point of introducing yourself to me (and Larry!).
I'll be the short black-haired white dude with dark round glasses
wearing a long-sleeved black button-down shirt dancing like mad to
Larry's jumbo-sized funk!
Take care,
Jon Dakss
This reality check was brought to you by...
Bart Van Hemelen
http://www.geocities.com/~tenthousand/
--------------------------------------
Life would be a lot easier if we could take a look at the source code.
- [some dude]
Ignorance ain't bliss. Information is power.
- Bart Van Hemelen, 1999