A Deep Sugar Moment with Ultra Naté and Louie Vega - March 8, 2020

Much Respect. Rest Well My Friend - My Personal Thoughts On Sam 'The Man' Burns

Talk about a return from an extended hiatus. This entry comes to you after a period of reflection. I hope it marks my return to this form of expression...we shall see. In the meantime, I must talk about my friend, Sam 'The Man' Burns.

On Saturday, March 7, 2020, I received the heartbreaking news that my longtime friend, mentor, and fellow music lover, Sam ' The Man' Burns, had transitioned into heavenly heights. This dreadful news sparked sadness and countless dedications from fellow DJs and devoted followers all over the city and world. I found myself in a deep reflection of his influence and spirit. Most of all,  I thought about how he had enriched my life, through his humor, music knowledge, and overall, wisdom. Sam brought extra life and enthusiasm to this thing we call House Music. He was Washington DC's own Godfather of House. Yes, Chicago had its beloved Frankie Knuckles, but DC had Sam Burns. For over four decades he was a fixture, banging ear-catching tracks to those eager to hear and dance, all over The District.

My friendship with Sam extended back into the early nineties when I would visit DC.  I met him while purchasing records at Twelve Inch Dance Records, where he worked. Twelve Inch was the haven, that destination for DJs in Washington DC and THE place to get the latest in music, more specifically House music. After admiring my selected stack of records to purchase, he enthusiastically began to suggest even more gems that I had missed. From that day on, every time I visited Twelve Inch, it was like a family reunion. Sam would immediately lead me through the store, pushing records into my hands. He was always eager to answer my questions and always knew the songs I would attempt to sing...lol. He just became a big brother to me and when I shared one of my mixes with him, our bond seemed to strengthen even more. Every meeting picked up from the last one.

When I made the move to Washington DC in 2002, I was super excited to finally get to experience the city's House Music culture. DC had mad flavor then and there were multiple places one could go, during the week, to get a House fix. Around this time, Sam presented Soul Solution at a place called Red. THIS spot became home for me every Sunday night! I would leave there every Monday morning with a list of songs to purchase later in the week, armed with stronger motivation to continue honing my mixing skills. I guess you could say that I was on my grind to be heard as a DJ too and Sam inspired that. I would play at various events around the city. Sam would always provide continuous encouragement, emphasizing my ear as a gift. I truly appreciated that.  When Sam started playing at Eighteen Street Lounge (ESL) he invited me to play an opening set. I will never forget that experience, which was exciting and enlightening all at once! Sam was always so giving of his time and energy to the extent that it seemed he knew no strangers.

Sam 'The Man' Burns will always remain my big brother ambassador to the culture. Memories of his residencies at ESL, Red, and the DC Sanctuary will remain in my heart. I will miss the feeling I'd get when he would drop the beat of a banging tune or how he made my belly ache with laughter from one of his outbursts. I will also miss hearing his perspective on worldly events, (I can only imagine what he would say about this COVID-19 situation). He was just a memorable kind of guy that people looked up to. I will continue to honor his memory and will do my best to continue bringing people together through music.

Much respect to you, my friend. A job well done. Rest well.

The Last Dance

It is Saturday, August 27, 2016...the last dance is upon us. This last dance is for the legendary epicenter of House music culture in Baltimore. This last dance is for The Paradox.  1310 Russell street will soon be the home of a different type of venue, planned to "hopefully" attract the masses of money chasing patrons of the nearby Horseshoe Casino. As many posh facilities are pushed to he forefront, presenting a clean, polished presentation to what may have been seen as grime, I stand in reflection. I am never one to resist change, I actually welcome it. But with this round of transformation, I can only wish them (the developers) the best. But, from a personal viewpoint, this stance on "progress" is a loud signal of a step backwards in many ways.

The closing of the Paradox, ahead of further commercial development, is not unusual to any of us living in these metropolitan areas. But what it signifies is that this change comes with loss and sacrifice. By now we have seen and realized the loss of the sense of community as certain areas gentrify. Those moving into areas "less developed" are missing the mark by not acknowledging the established legacy of what is in front of them. The same thing is the case for the underground culture. An old warehouse provides the perfect playground environment for House music and its related offspring to thrive and grow. The Paradox is/was the last of its kind, that gem in the rough, housing all of the  treasures and best kept secrets a House Head could find. The acoustical value of its architecture that allows sound to resonate or BANG  perfectly, along with the space to accommodate the masses seeking to "turn it" on the dance floor, is all quickly fading away. Above all of this, the people are affected. The community of like-minded party goers, those patrons and enthusiasts seeking to be up close and personal with the classics and latest sounds within a culture that has thrived for over thirty years. They, those who make the party,  are displaced like immigrants, forced to squeeze into make shift party settings hosted by inexperienced, money-hungry promoters. Forced into a state of conformity that ultimately isolates and eliminates. This is our state of change...our reality.

Deep Sugar, Ultra Nate's long-running after hours Deep House party,  provides the anchor leg with Part 4 of its"Demolition Series." This will be THE place to be as we all gather to enjoy this beautiful facility and its massive sound system for one last time. From the perfect tag team of Deep Sugar's Girl Squad (Ultra Nate and Lisa Moody), the bang effect of The Elders, wizardry of sound man and DJ supreme, Mookie Wizzo, and memorable vibe sets of Baltimore's House Big Papa himself, Wayne Davis, the scene is set for the ultimate climax! We saw the masses flood through the doors during the official closing events in May. The silent reprieve of the following months, due to development issues, has brought us to this point, so we celebrate, in the NOW. This is a special time.


  This change should not be met with all doom and gloom as described earlier. Deep Sugar will continue on in a major way. The House community will continue to plan and thrive, just as the new music flows. But, we must  take a moment, to pause and think about how we shall proceed. The game has changed in a major way, so it is up to everyone, that has been involved in House music culture, to do their part in reserving what has been and cultivating what will be. This is the only way our culture will survive. Just as many wise people say, we must give our loved ones their roses while they are here, we must support our venues and events. Our outlets for expression can be gone with one swing of the wrecking ball, so let's not squander our opportunities.

Decipher Power Hour House Mix 6.28.14

Summer is here and the beats are flowing! There is always time for a quick mix!! My latest offering is from a monthly show I host on WPFW 89.3 FM in Washington DC. The show is called The Decipher Power Hour and it airs every 4th Saturday, 10 pm until midnight.  This mix features tracks currently moving dance floors plus a few classics. This mix also served is a mini tribute to Michael Jackson.

Download is available!
 
Enjoy!!



Decipher Power Hour House Mix 6.28.14 - Playlist

1. Love Never Felt So Good (Frankie Knuckles Remix) - Michael Jackson
2. Waiting On You (Director's Cut Unreleased Bootleg Mix) - Ultra Nate' and Michelle Williams
3. Yuki (Deeper Dub) - Eric Ericksson
4. Won't Love, Can't Love - Shur-I-Kan
5. Find Away - Maurice Joshua feat JV
6. I Gotta Get To You (Zepherin Saint Edit) - Ledisi
7. Feeling Love - Gamat 3000
8. Back to My Roots (Original Bootleg Mix) - Gianni Bini
9. Smoky - Steve Huerta
10.Let Nobody (Terry Hunter Main Mix) - Chantay Savage
11. Never Stop (Main Mix) - Louie Vega and Duane Harden
12. Ah Yeah (Zepherin Saint Edit) - Robert Glasper Experiment feat Musiq Soulchild
13.Afrika Vs NYC - Marlon D
14.Butterflies (Underground Mix) - Michael Jackson
15.The Horn Song - The Don

 

Beat Nation Ep46 - Frankie Knuckles Tribute 2 - 4.18.14

This month has been dedicated to celebrating the life and legacy of Frankie Knuckles. I know for me, through any outlet, whether it's a live set in a boutique, or on the radio airwaves, Frankie has been getting my love and gratitude. I was thinking to myself about the last time I actually saw Frankie, which was at Deep Sugar in Baltimore. I can recall being in the booth, observing him work the crowded dance floor with his magic. Precious moments like these we tend to take for granted. I can recall heading home after the event and literally screaming because I forgot to take pictures with him...lol. I was so caught up in the moment of feeling the groove and helping with the event that I forgot, I guess assuming there would be other opportunities.  I decided to post another tribute session presented via my  Beat Nation radio show. This session was a turn-up because I featured a lot of my favorite bangers from the mind of Frankie Knuckles! Basically anything he touched, whether through a remix, edit, or original composition was fair game. Take a listen and check out the playlist!!

Beat Nation Ep46 - Frankie Knuckles Tribute Pt. 2 - 4.18.14 by Byron B-Note Brown on Mixcloud

Thank You Frankie Knuckles: A Tribute

What can be said about the Godfather of House, Frankie Knuckles, that has not already been expressed? Well, from a personal standpoint, Frankie Knuckles represented the "top shelf" quality of production that injected so much energy into our House Culture. For starters, his spirit, ethic, and attention to intimate details, applied to every remix and production, inspired me as a DJ and producer. Any time I learned of a Frankie Knuckles remix treatment for a track, I was digging in the crates at the record store! The style of Frankie Knuckles and Def Mix Productions, stood alone and was, in most cases, easily recognizable. He had a way of transforming a song into a dance floor masterpiece, without losing its integrity. He always managed to keep some original element of the track, which would conjure a dramatic epiphany from the listener. Any artist blessed to have a track remixed by Frankie, in my book, was placed into an elite category.


There have been, and will continue to be, tributes to our beloved Frankie Knuckles. I wanted to briefly share a different perspective because it was Frankie that truly inspired me. From the days of jamming to his groove at The Sound Factory Bar to the countless mixes delivered to the NYC radio airwaves, it was all about Frankie Knuckles! If you ever experienced him live, you KNOW what I am talking about! During a recent conversation with a friend, we found ourselves almost speechless when we realized that our 20-plus year friendship originated from our mutual groove with Frankie Knuckles in the mix. So, technically he was our Godfather because he brought us together in friendship!
 
Episode 45 of the Beat Nation was dedicated to the legacy of Frankie Knuckles. Take a listen and reflect back to where you were when a particular track was current or on the airwaves. Tracks presented are some of my favorites, but limited to a two-hour time frame. Trust me there are more to share!


Thank you, Frankie Knuckles, for sharing your gifts with us. Knowing you was a blessing and your legacy will continue to inspire and unite the world on the dance floor!   Enjoy.


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The Beat Nation Ep 45 - Frankie Knuckles Tribute - 4.4.14 by Byron B-Note Brown on Mixcloud

Deep Sugar's Big TEN!!

Saturday, September 14, 2013 marked a milestone in House Music! Ultra Nate's monthly Deep Sugar after hours party celebrated its tenth anniversary!! And what an evening it was. Party goers and House Heads were treated to an exciting evening of soulful Deep House Music, supplied from the Wayne Davis, Jerome Hicks, and Deep Sugar's own, Girls Squad (Ultra Nate' and Lisa Moody). The Elders, along with Mookie Brock, JMack, and Matt Short,  kept the court yard super festive with their funky brand of Deep, Electro House!!

The main event consisted of performances from a stellar line up of House Music royalty. Quantize recording artist, Typheni stepped to the stage and performed her underground hit, "Is It Love." Things truly began to heat up when House Legend, Darryl D'Bonneau took the stage and performed several of his hits. We are talking "Revenge," A Better Way," and a few other jams had the dance floor rocking, while Darryl's showmanship thoroughly entertained those too captivated to move. The celebration became legendary when another Legend grabbed the mic. Kenny Bobien immediately pulled the crowd into his groove with his rendition of "You Are My Friend." He then took the Paradox on a musical journey with his biggest hits while also paying homage to Ultra Nate' and her major achievement.

Deep Sugar's Tenth Anniversary celebration was one for the history books. Congratulations to Ultra Nate', Lisa Moody, and Jonathon Knox, the originators of this now legendary event!! Thank you to Wayne Davis and the Legendary Paradox, for continuing to provide a haven for House Heads!! Kudos to the Paradox staff and Deep Sugar Team for always delivering a memorable evening!!

I can not emphasize how important it is for everyone to experience Deep Sugar. It is an event that truly frees the soul and brings a smile to the face. You just can't beat a vibe of this inclusive event. Don't take my word for it....experience for yourself!!!