Awaited to spin tonite alongside Jellybean Benitez, Marlon D
and Osunlade at Ain’t Nuttin’ But A House Party comes quite an
atypical pal. A man who, to many of those who’ve never heard of him B4, might
stand as a cameleon, judging by his daytime activities
as… Supervising Health Inspector at the New
York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene ! As for the others, he’s the
one who’s put shape to this regular gathering of visual artists, song stylists,
photographers, disc-jockeys, poets and dancers known as The Melting Pot NYC…
Would you mind having a few words as an
introduction to where you're coming from, who you are and where you intend to
go.
Born in the
borough of B’kyn in the mid-60’s to parents of Grenada-W.I. background. Been
exposed to all types of music through my parents and relatives who were
musicians. My uncle, Gerard Mark was a jazz musician who would play most of the
jazz underground circuit in the late 60’s/early 70’s and introduced me to piano
at the age of 7. Got my first ‘official’ DJ gig 3 years later at a party fund
raiser to oust Granada dictator Prime Minister Eric Matthew Gairy. I got into
hip hop by the end of the 70’s and discovered club music at Ozone Layer " in
Brooklyn where an up-and-coming David Morales was a resident.and began being a
regular to clubs like the Paradise Garage, the Underground, Studio 54, etc. Been
introduced to Francois Kevorkian, Danny Krivit and Joaquin Joe Claussell in 1996
while attending a B-Day for the late at Club Vinyl and became a Body & Soul
head. I got invited to DJ there a couple of times and I have also spinned at
E-Man's "Bang the Party", The Underground Collective, "Soul-sa", Lil-Ray's
"Clubhouse Jamboree", and the list goes on incl. Roots with Kevin Hedge. I do
regular party under The Melting Pot NYC belt and currently work on a film
project documenting the underground house music scene in New York with Manuel
Josell Ramos. Our aim ?
Where to find you, and your current
environment in terms of local scene/nightlife ?
Last Saturday of every month at the
Nuyorican Poets Café, New York City
Your heroes ?
My parents, Larry Levan, Danny Krivit
and François K
The ones you feel the closest to…
Danny Krivit
The way you work and your source of
inspiration…
Observing, analyzing, understanding with
an open-minded attitude…
Your definition of a good piece of
music
Any song that evokes passionate
responses and stays in the deep recesses of the mind!
Of a good nite
When venue is still packed and jumping
close to closing time!
The way you'd like to be looked at
As a risk taker and groundbreaker
Your best/worst souvenir
Can’t recall any.
Your perception of the current situation
and the things which need to evolve
It’s is very interesting because vinyl
is REALLY being phased out, songs are readily swapped online and the DJ tools
are numerous!
Your current projects
Maestro-Documentary Soundtrack and mixed
CD
The way you see Miami and what you
expect from it
As an opportunity to meet new
colleagues, learn from one another, and leave invigorated about the industry.
Any secret weapon of yours over there ?
Of course, if I reveal it here it will
cease to be a secret weapon!
Your 3 favourite all time songs
The Chase (The Flying Machine) – War.
Jazzie Speaks (Joe Claussell Mix) – Tokyo Ska Orchestra. Melting Pot – Booker T
and the MG’s
Catch Kervyn tonight as
a part of Ain’t Nuttin’ But A House Party @ Ruby
INTERVIEW
