Filmwerk :: Once Upon A Time In New York: The Birth Of Hip Hop, Disco and Punk [Full Length BBC Documentary]

In the 1970s the Big Apple was rotten to the core, yet out of the grime, grit and low rent space emerged new music unlike anything that had gone before. Once Upon A Time In New York chronicles how the squalid streets of '70s New York gave birth to music that would go on to conquer the world - punk, disco and hip hop.

Inspired by the Velvet Underground, a new wave of 'punk' rock emerged in lower Manhattan including The New York Dolls, The Ramones and the Patti Smith Group. Meanwhile, downtown loft parties held by gay New Yorkers heralded the birth of disco, which would eventually spawn the ultimate club for the privileged few: Studio 54. The swanky mid-town discos were out of bounds to black New York so in the Bronx DJs such as Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash and Afrika Bambaataa created their own parties, heralding the birth of hip hop.

Film features David Johansen, Patti Smith, John Cale, Richard Hell, Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa, Kool Herc, Nile Rodgers, Chuck D, Tommy Ramone, Chris Stein, Fab 5. Freddy, Lenny Kaye, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, Syl Sylvain, Nicky Siano, David Mancuso, DJ AJ, David Depino, Jayne County, Leee Childers, Nelson George, Victor Bokris and Vince Aletti.

Alice Smith is 'SHE' - Her Kickstarter Success

It's been a few years since we've heard from Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Alice Smith. We were introduced to her debut album, For Lovers, Dreamers and Me, via BBE Records in 2006. Since releasing her debut Alice Smith spent the last few years growing, searching, learning hard lessons and ultimately finding her way in this thing called "The Music Business". Because things are not always what they seem and everything that glitters ain't gold, Alice Smith has finally reached a point in her life where she is able to make her own career decisions and move forward with her plans to release new music, tour and connect with the people who mean the most....her fans.

After making some solid connects and crunching some numbers, Alice figured out a way to "make a dollar out of 15 cents." She decided to turn to Kickstarter to open up about her need for financial assistance and to raise the funds needed. She exceeded both goals! Who better to understand your journey and fund your project than your fans and supporters right?!?!

With all the heartbreak and frustration that is an artistic life, Alice is finally at a very exciting place! 'SHE' is about to get funded on Friday Sep 28. With just 14 days left 'SHE' Kickstarter has exceeded its goal of $15,000.

You still have time to make a contribution. More is always good and will be put to brilliant use. Click here to contribute and to read Alice's very open and honest story about her journey from major to indie. It's a very inspiring journey and we wish Alice and her team so much success with the new album 'SHE' scheduled for release in early 2013. We Can't Wait!

Visit Alice Smith's Official Website

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Blue Note Records Launches Innovative New Spotify App

EMI Music’s legendary Blue Note Records has announced the launch today of an innovative new app within the popular online music streaming service Spotify. The Blue Note app provides a rich user experience by creating a space to explore and discover music spanning the entire history of the label from 1939 to present.

The Blue Note app traces the label’s evolution from the early jazz of Sidney Bechet to the trailblazing bebop of Thelonious Monk, from Art Blakey’s quintessential hardbop thru Ornette Coleman’s avant-garde flights, from Jimmy Smith’s grinding organ soul jazz leading to Donald Byrd’s funky R&B fusion and on into today’s modern explorations such as Robert Glasper’s unique blend of jazz with hip hop, and beyond. The app’s design and functionality allow the listener to discover by performer, album, style, instrument or year, providing several easy entry points into the music for jazz novices, as well as the ability for jazz aficionados to dive deep into Blue Note’s unrivaled catalog. The app also incorporates Spotify’s trademark social features such as building playlists and sharing favorite tracks with friends.

Key Features:

TIMELINE – Explore the Blue Note catalog chronologically from the label’s very first recording session with boogie woogie pianists Albert Ammons and Meade Lux Lewis in 1939 to the most recent album, Heritage by African jazz guitarist Lionel Loueke, which was released last month. The app features every Blue Note title available in Spotify.

FILTER – Explore the catalog by musical style, era or even by instrument. The Artists and Blue Note 101 sections offer a filter to help guide the user through the label’s different styles of music: Tradition (Thelonious Monk, Jason Moran), Groove (Lou Donaldson, Robert Glasper) and Voices (Dianne Reeves, Norah Jones).

BLUE BREAK BEATS – Blue Note partnered with the website Who Sampled to take the user on a tour of music that contains samples from the Blue Note catalog, placing the original versions alongside the sampled versions by artists such as Beastie Boys, Chemical Brothers, Common, Madonna, The Roots, A Tribe Called Quest, Usher, and Wu-Tang Clan.

SHOP – Peruse Blue Note merchandise that riffs off of the label’s influential visual style, including t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, bags, and more.

DOWNLOAD APP FOR FREE

Robert Glasper Experiment - Black Radio Recovered: The Remix EP

On October 9th music lovers worldwide can expect a treat from The Robert Glasper Experiment in the form of a remix EP. The eclectic jazz, hip hop, soul collective spearheaded by jazz pianist Robert Glasper will release Black Radio Recovered: The Remix EP on Blue Note Records. The 6 track collection will feature remixed and previously unreleased tracks from his acclaimed album Black Radio. The remixers include Robert Glasper himself, as well as ?uestlove, 9th Wonder, Georgia Anne Muldrow, and Pete Rock, with additional contributions from rappers Black Milk and Phonte, The Roots band, and vocalist Solange Knowles. The remixes reinvent tracks that originally featured Bilal (“Letter to Hermoine”), Erykah Badu (“Afro Blue”), Meshell Ndegeocello (“The Consequences of Jealousy”), and Yasiin Bey (“Black Radio”), as well as Robert Glasper Experiment’s cover of the Little Dragon song “Twice.” Also included is “Dillatude #2,” the Experiment’s tribute to the late, great hip hop producer J Dilla which is a previously unreleased track from the Black Radio sessions.

Tracklisting

1. Afro Blue feat. Erykah Badu / 9th Wonder’s Blue Light Basement Remix feat. Phonte

2. Black Radio feat. yasiin bey / Pete Rock Remix

3. The Consequences of Jealousy feat. Meshell Ndegeocello / Georgia Anne Muldrow’s Sassy Geemix

4. Twice / ?uestlove’s Twice Baked Remix feat. Solange Knowles & The Roots

5. Letter to Hermione (feat. Bilal) / Robert Glasper and Jewels Remix feat. Black Milk

6. Dillatude #2

Filmwerk :: Doin' It In The Park - Pick-Up Basketball, NYC a film by Bobbito Garcia & Kevin Couliau

DOIN' IT IN THE PARK: PICK-UP BASKETBALL, NYC is an independent documentary directed by Bobbito Garcia and Kevin Couliau. The film explores the definition, history, culture and social impact of New York's summer b-ball scene, widely recognized as the worldwide "Mecca" of the sport.

In New York City, pick-up basketball is not just a sport. It is a way of life. There are 700+ outdoor courts, and an estimated 500,000 players, the most loyal of which approach the game as a religion, and the playground as their church.

"You can play high school or college for four years. You can play Pro for a decade. You can play pick-up ... for life."

DOIN' IT IN THE PARK: PICK-UP BASKETBALL, NYC lovingly uncovers this movement through the voices of playground legends, NBA athletes, and most importantly the common ballplayer who all day looks forward to calling "next" game at their local schoolyard.

Co-directors Bobbito Garcia and Kevin Couliau visited 180 courts throughout NYC's five boroughs to create their debut documentary. They traveled to a majority of the locations by bicycle, carrying camera equipment and a ball in their backpacks. The film's title refers as much to the subject matter as it does to the method of filmmaking, providing an unprecedented perspective on urban America's most popular, and accessible, free recreation.

Main film characters: Julius "Dr. J" Erving, Kenny Smith, "Pee Wee" Kirkland, "Fly" Williams, God Shammgod, Tim "Headache" Gittens, Corey "Homicide" Williams, Kenny Anderson, Jack Ryan, Richard "Crazy Legs" Colon, Niki Avery, Milani Malik, and the Park Pick-Up Players of NYC.

DOIN' IT IN THE PARK: PICK-UP BASKETBALL, NYC - Trailer from Doin' It In The Park on Vimeo.

For More Info Visit: Doinitinthepark.com

For Screening Cities and Dates Click Here

Follow on Twitter @doinitinthepark

Filmwerk :: Last Shop Standing - The Rise, Fall And Rebirth Of The Independent Record Shop [DVD]

LAST SHOP STANDING: THE RISE, FALL AND REBIRTH OF THE INDEPENDENT RECORD SHOP

Last Shop Standing inspired by the book of the same name by Graham Jones takes you behind the counter to discover why nearly 2000 record shops have already disappeared across the UK. The 50-minute documentary film charts the rapid rise of record shops in the 1960's, 70's and 80's, the influence of the chart, the underhand deals, the demise of vinyl and rise of the CD as well as new technologies. Where did it all go wrong? Why were 3 shops a week closing? Will we be left with no record shops with the continuing rise of downloading? Hear from over 20 UK record shop owners and music industry leaders as well as musicians including Paul Weller, Johnny Marr, Norman Cook, Billy Bragg, Nerina Pallot, Richard Hawley and Clint Boon as they all tell us how the shops became and still are a part of their own musical education, a place to cherish and discover new bands and new music.

Not long ago there was a record shop on every high street, but over 500 independent record stores have closed during the last few years. Record shops were always more than retail outlets, they are part of our culture; they support new bands and local talent. A place for musicians and music fans to congregate, to browse away a few hours, to walk away with music they didn't know existed.

Last Shop Standing is a celebration of the unique spirit of comradeship and entrepreneurial ingenuity that has enabled so many shops to keep operating successfully against the backdrop of massive changes in the music industry, the biggest recession in years, the growth of online file sharing and the explosion of choice in music consumption.

For More Info Visit: LastShopStanding.com

Follow On Twitter: @LstShopStanding