Blog Archives

NEW Mix: DJ CENTER X BOBBITO

Center + Bob

Brand new mix on Mixcloud from back in 2014 where DJ Center and Bobbito Garcia were rocking live in NYC! This live mix captures that special night- Bobbito debuted his 7″ vinyl release and Vinia Mojica sang live! Check out the funk here.

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Sly5thAve X Kendrick Lamar X Major Lazer

Sly5thAve_BDKMV

Brand new and good for you too!

Following the success of their Uptown Funk! vinyl debut,  Sly5thAve and The ClubCasa Chamber Orchestra return with gorgeous brass versions of Kendrick Lamar and Major Lazer classics!

Sly’s version of Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe completely smashed the internet when it dropped, garnering thousands of plays and nods from the likes of Gilles Peterson of the BBC, amongst others. Now available for the first time, mastered and pressed onto thick, beautiful, collectors vinyl, with an unreleased studio version of Major Lazer’s Get Free.

Listen and purchase the limited edition vinyl or digital release from Kooyman Records here.

 

 

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Roots + Soul December

Roots & Soul

What a joy it’s been presenting Roots & Soul to NYC on a monthly basis!

Since it’s conception, Center’s guests have included Rich Medina, Bobbito Garcia aka Kool Bob Love, Ian Head, Underground System and the funky sangin’ Vinia Mojica. Jimmy Lopez has kept the percussion pocket funky, alongside Center eclectic crates on those nights! It’s been a soulful music lovers paradise.

This month we welcome the genius of composer, producer, arranger and all around bad man on the winds, Sly5thAve, along with his 11-piece Clubcasa Chamber Orchestra! To make the cypher complete, the legendary DJ Spinna joins Center and together they will be taking the dancefloor everywhere possible, no limits! It’s about Roots & Soul!

You’ll know it’s right when this one drops on 12/19, courtesy of the Clubcasa Chamber Orchestra –

 

 

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Introducing ROOTS + SOUL- a new NYC Monthly Event

ROOTS + SOUL AUG 15

Very excited to share the news of a new monthly series I have the pleasure of curating right here in NYC!

The festivities take place at the new music venue Meridian 23. Every third Friday of the month, catch yours truly in the mix with a hand picked lineup of the most global and soulful DJs and live acts!

Next Friday, August 15th, we launch the series with live Afrobeat flavors from Underground System and special guest DJ sets from Bobbito Garcia aka Kool Bob Love and OBaH. Not to be missed! 10PM, $10.

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In Session on The Bobbito Garcia Radio Show

tear drop wax

Got the call to fill in for Bobbito Garcia on East Village Radio yesterday, 12/9 and what a session it was!

Played beautiful records from Erykah Badu, Roy Ayers, Marc Mac & the Visioneers, Bosq of Whiskey Barons, Tall Black Guy, Lord Echo and DJ Day, amongst others!

It’s always an honor to fill Bob’s shoes and he called in three times during the program to comment on the treats and talk sh*t! Lots of laughs and vibes. Shout out to my brother Andrés!

Listen to the broadcast here

*playlist can be found here

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Kaleta on the Bobbito Garcia Radio Show

DJ Center on EVR

Was back on East Village Radio this week for the Bobbito Garcia Radio Show! Always an honor to fill Bob’s shoes and this week’s show was pretty special.

Sat down with Kaleta, the afrobeat ambassador behind Zozo and Akoya Afrobeat Ensembles. Talked with him about his musical upbringings playing with both King Sunny Adé and Fela Anikulapo Kuti, amongst others!

Then, played new/timeless music from D’Angelo, Quantic & Nidia Góngora, Louie Vega & Elements of Life, Kev Brown, Quadron and the Boogaloo Assassins!

Listen to the broadcast here

*playlist can be found here

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Eddie Palmieri on the Bobbito Garcia Radio Show

Eddie Palmieri on EVR

Had the honor of playing records this past Monday on The Bobbito Garcia Radio Show with none other than 9x time Grammy Award winner and living legend Eddie Palmieri in studio.

I’ve been a fan of Mr. Palmieri’s works for years and still remember the day I came across “Azucar Pa”Ti“. My collection was forever changed!

I drop new/timeless music from Quantic & Nidia Góngora, Lord Echo, Dennis Brown and more!

Listen to this incredibly special broadcast here

*playlist can be found here

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The Bobbito Garcia Radio Show on East Village Radio

Center at EVR

Had the pleasure of filling in this afternoon on East Village Radio, alongside Sucio Smash, for The Bobbito Garcia Radio Show. Bob is out of town promoting Doin’ It in the Park and invited Suc and I to come co-host the show.

We had a ball playing records and chopping it up on the air. Lots of jokes and incredible selections throughout!

In case you missed the show, you can stream it here

*playlist can be found here

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Push the Fader Radio – Brazil Special August 2012

PTF Radio Brasil Special August 2012

*All Brazilian Vinyl Mix | Disco É Cultura

Welcome to the August edition of Push the Fader Radio – Brazil Special.

Earlier this year I took a trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. While in town, I was no doubt searching for the perfect beat!

What I found was a sea of beautiful records and a tremendous amount of music to go through when I got back to NYC, endlessly combing the crates for those forgotten gems. And really, I’m still just at the beginning…

This mix is put together entirely from records purchased during that trip. On this podcast you’ll hear some of my favorite Brazilian artists, classics and versions in Soul, Jazz, Samba, MPB y more!

From Brazil to Brooklyn, with love.

*you can download every Push the Fader Radio Podcast on iTunes for free by subscribing here

 

For Complete tracklisting –

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Center Bumps – Paris DJs Special (Download)

Center Bumps - Paris DJs

* All Vinyl Mix | Cover Artwork by Andrés Jiménez

This month’s podcast mix comes to you courtesy of the Paris based website for all things soulful, funky and deep – Paris DJs.  I’ve been checking for Paris DJs for a number of years now, always updated with the latest info on some of my favorite artists and releases.

When the opportunity came to do an exclusive mix for their site, I was more than happy to put this together. Below are a couple questions you may have regarding the mix and you’ll find the link to download it straight to your digital player here.

What are Center Bumps?

Center Bumps are tunes that I’m feeling that particular week and/or month. They are songs in constant rotation and highlight new and old music that I’ve dug up in that respective time period. I use to include charts in my mailing list emails and people would always write back asking how they could hear that music.  Well, now you can courtesy of these monthly mixes.

Why did you choose to do an all Vinyl mix?

To be honest I’m still high off of Everything in Time being released on vinyl. Vinyl is still my favorite way to listen to music. I have so many gems that haven’t been released digitally, so it made sense to spread love the analog way.

Why Paris DJs?

Djouls and crew been putting it down for years on that side of the Atlantic, always keeping it fresh. With so many people in common, it was only a matter of time til we connected online for a release!

DJ Center – Center Bumps (Paris DJs Spécial) (Download)

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One for Gil- A Tribute to Gil Scott-Heron (Download)

DJ Center - One for Gil

*All Vinyl Mix  | Cover Artwork by Haylow for the Roy Ayers Project

It’s been just over three weeks since Gil’s passing. Like all death, it is extremely hard to initially get the news, but as time goes on, we find ways to move on and the reality of someone passing fades, deep into our memories.

Well, to me, this one is different. The reality of Gil’s passing and the void that has been left with his absence, has been hanging over me since Friday, May 27th. Gil had a voice and spirit like no other- beautiful, soulful and real, with every word he spoke. Whether it was through his critique of America and the ‘deals in back alleys where politicians often hide’ or his call to unify the Black community, shining light on the injustices done to people of color, Gil did it like no other and to the death.

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