MIAMI: MY FIRST TIME AROUND
Everything has a beginning and I guess, like almost each of us, the first time of doing this or that keeps on havin’ that particular flava alive as years go, such as my first trip to Miami some 10 years ago (already). Souvenirs, souvenirs...
THU, MARCH 20
Clock’s ringin’ at 06:00 am (CET) in order to be in time to proceed to the 10:10 Northwest Airlines flight going to Detroit. Arrival scheduled at 06:30 pm meaning 00:30 pm local time with a 4 hours wait to catch the correspondance to Miami with a landing at 08:00 pm. I’m taken by the lead warmth around while steppin’ thru the terminal’s door. I still gotta take a shuttle to go to the rent a car company. 30 minutes later, I’m on my way, jetlagged and quite lost, confronted for the very first time with the American gigantism. Quite unable to find the slightest landmark at this precise moment, it’ll take me another 2 hours to find my hotel, havin’ me close to make a U-turn which, to me, would also happen to be a brand new feeling!!!
FRI, MARCH 21
Wakin’ up at 06:30 am. I discover Miami Beach under the dullness. Quite upset, I get back to bed while watching BET and remembering about the nice weather around when I arrived in Detroit... A biiiiig breakfast and I’m on my way for some scouting session in order to know who’s doin’ what and where, experiencing my very first tropical thunderstorm while passing in front of the Fontainebleau-Hilton where the WMC’ is to start the day after...
I’m goin’ down to South on Collins Ave. with a feeling of an endless drive. Miami looks even bigger in the day time, with everything lookin’ like 1 ½ time to twice bigger than in my native Europe. From the enormous buildings by the seaside to those customized vehicles which the Americans are crazy ‘bout, not to mention that local record shop where I decide to make a stop.
Spec’s Music proudly stands on 2 floors at Collins & 5th. The opportunity is given to realize how Uncle Sam’s country has become the homeland of marketing while steppin’ thru the big alleys of the shop where everything’s conceived to make people buy. Here a CD, there some DJ gear. Further on, a vinyl, a T- on floor # 2. I’m given a flyer while eating some fajitas between two purchases. Promoting the release of the Nuyorican Soul album, ‘Little’ Louie Vega and Kenny ‘Dope’ Gonzalez are awaited later at 11:00 pm for an in-store live performance. The place is quite crowdy as they arrive at 11:45 in front of some familiar faces such as Stephan Mandrax, Boris Dlugosh, Mike Delgado and a few others...
SAT, MARCH 22
The time is now. Only 02:00 pm and the bar close to the pool is already taken by storm and that’ll be the case each afternoon til the followin’ Wednesday! Kinda hard to choose the one to talk with in front of so many celebs. Here, Brian Tappert & Marc Pommeroy chattin’ with WBLS’s Tony Vaughn about their latest 12’’ featuring Michael Procter ended almost the night before. There, Cassio Ware in conversation with JoVonn. Further on, Stonebridge with Hi Bias label head Nick Fiorucci and on & on... Test pressings and acetates (for the luckiest ones) goin’ from a hand to another with the circumstancial business cards around the bar with Piña Coladas runiin’ in streams. Each new comer being greeted under an endless crowd of braces. And life to be goin’ like this til ’bout 05:00 pm with everyone preparing his program for the nite out of a selection from 6 to 7 events per day (better say for all kinds of tastes) in almost every club around. And because of havin’ them mainly regrouped in the same area, it makes the things easier for chill outtin’ in the streets while on the way from a party to another.
Mixmag & DMC open the festivities at Liquid with Cevin Fisher, Johnny Vicious and Waxman, as a sort of taster on what’ll happen to be a strangely quite Saturday as a matter of fact...
SUN, MARCH 23
DJ Deep and DJ Gregory who’ve just flown over the day before discover the pool under a radiant sunshine, adding their voices to the little French speakin’ colony featuring Claude Monnet, label headz Pierre Forgacs and Thierry Rueda respectively of Happy Music and Omnisonus), DJ Morpheus and Parisian promoter Fred Phi alongside the late Sex Toy. Todd Terry equally makes his arrival, surrounded by a cohort of tanned groupies seeming like pilot fishes around a shark!!! Dinner at the Hilton’s restaurant with Byron Stingily. Featuring on that night’s menu the Def Mix 10th B-Day bash (Morales, Knuckles & Co) at Liquid before ‘goin’ off English’at the Rex to attend the Freeze party starring Bobby & Steve and Rick Morrison alongside Paul ‘ Trouble’ Anderson. There, I’m litteraly hypnotized by Chrissy T whose magnetic mix sounds much like a reminder of Tony Humphries back in da daze @ the Zanzibar!!! Meanwhile, the Poly Esthers would launch the night with a very first strong line up featuring Gerideau, Cassio Ware and SuSu Bobien live alongside DJ Camacho, Gusto, Kevin O and 95 North behind the decks. Elsewhere, Benji Candelario, Cevin Fisher, Kriss Needs and Ross Allen rock the floor under the Minimal Records banner at the Living Room. As in regards to the Ovum Recordings party, the noise is being left to the good hands of Josh Wink, King Britt, DJ Sneak, Doc Martin and the Wamdue Kids at the Groove Jet. There was also a techno party at the Paradise with a live I’ve forgotten the name of, but there’s almost no one in and time has come for me to get some well deserved recovery.
MON, MARCH 24
The tension is slightly growing with Nuyorican Soul’s live due to start at 02:00 pm. I’m gettin’ there by the end of the afternoon alongside Wave Music PR Aurélie Cotugno, label head François K and Madame. The place is packed. Giant tent, Cuban food, cigars, promo T-s and the famous ‘It’s Alright’ double pack with remixes courtesy of Armand Van Helden and Roni Size. Everyone’s here, from Frankie Knuckles to Braxton Holmes, Kevin Hedge and Ron Trent, attending the live performance with a passionate India and the evergreen Roy Ayers on his vibraphone. I then stop at the Cameo to see a non really convincing mix by the likes of Daft Punk followed by an explosive set by young Canadian turntablist Kid Koala before finishing my marathon of the day at the Groove Jet for the Twisted party featuring Kevin Aviance singing live and maestro Danny Tenaglia who’s imperial as usual, being the cause of quite some hysteria on the dancefloor. This being fair enuff for me for the nite...
TUE, MARCH 25
I’m getting back at DJ Morpheus somehow disappointed by the poor assistance attending his set the night before (at 09:00 pm) at the Cameo. Meanwhile, everyone around starts being affected by the accumulation of sleepless nites and all the cocktails that come with an ever growin’ temperature. I come to cross the path of Marshall Jefferson who introduces me to Kevin Saunderson before hookin’ up with Sundiata OM...Dinner with the latest and a few pals before warmin’ up at the Siwrl for the Wave party with François K providin’ us with quite an outstanding selection + Kevin Aviance performing his cover version of the classic ‘Din Da Da’. By midnight, we get to the Liquid where Louie Vega keeps on promoting the Nuyorican Soul’s album before leavin’ the driver’s seat to a quite uninspired Tony Humphries at this precise moment.
WED, MARCH 26
‘La der des ders’ in French... or if you prefer the ultimate of the ultimate! As for a little bit, we would be happy with all of this comin’ at last to an end. Another night rich in events is comin’. Ann Nesby live at the Warsaw. Some ‘kaos’ in perspective at the Groove Jet with Kerri Chandler, Frankie Knuckles, Marques Wyatt (who’s nearly gone 24/7 during the Conf’). Lenny Fontana, DJ Smash and King Britt for the King Street party. Roger S, Ralphi Rosario and Abel Aguilera at the Salvation. Spring Heel Jack, Rockers HiFi, Talvin Singh and Bruno Guez at Zep Tepi for the Quango nighter. And 3 different line ups at Liquid, with Ralph Lawson, Chang and Farley & Heller on the main floor + Goldie, Grooverider, Lemon D and Cleveland Watkiss droppin’ jungle in one of the 2 satellitte rooms.
THU, MARCH 27
Last dive in the sea at 07:00 am before packin’ with an x-tra 35 kgs of goodies despite a camera stolen inbetween under the threat of a biiiig gun but Miami is also reknown for being one of the capitals of the vice, isn’t it. MFSB
MIAMI’ 97 TENNERZ
NUYORICAN SOUL featuring JOCELYN BROWN – It’s Alright – Roni Size Remix (Blue Thumb/GRP/Promo)
USG featuring D’BORA RIVERS – NCameu (Clairaudience/Promo)
GEORGE BENSON – Song For My Brother (GRP)
ULTRA NATE – Free (Strictly Rhythm)
CLUB ARTISTS UNITED – Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (Le Millenium)
GROOVE COMITTEE – If You Want It (Come & Get It) (Phuture Trax)
JAY WILLIAMS – Testify (Soulfuric)
MUTINY – Bliss (Siunflower)
BOBBY D’AMBROSIO featuring MICHELLE WEEKS – Moment Of My Life (Definity)
RUFFNECK featuring YAVAHN – All That Jazz (MAW)
INDAMIXWORLDWIDE.COM: Only the best, No time for the rest!
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