11/15/14

Citywide: James Chance, James Brown, Punk, Funk and the Free Jazz Connection

James Chance at CBGB by Eugene Merinov
As a sort of sister piece to James' recent guest DJ spot on WNYU's Shake 'Em On Down,  he also sat down with the station's Micah Loewinger, and discussed some of his musical influences - specifically James Brown, and the point where punk met funk via free jazz - on the show Citywide. James' interview is the first half of the show.



James Brown

11/13/14

Review: James Chance/Melt Yourself Down at Illuminations Festival


"...any reservations concerning the potentiality of loss of bite and fire were abruptly extinguished as he took to the stage..." Continued on The Ransom Note.

11/6/14

James Chance & The Contortions BUY to see deluxe vinyl reissue in early 2015 on Futurismo


Word just in from the UK: The Futurismo label will be reissuing the Contortions BUY album in a deluxe 180 gram vinyl edition in early 2015!

What they say: Come contort yourself…the New York No Wave classic from the CONTORTIONS is back! It’s just over 35 years since James Chance first assaulted turntables with the juddering jazz punk fusion that permeate the tracks immortalised on BUY. Continued here.

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11/4/14

London, Warsaw & Paris gigs


Besides the London show James will be playing Wednesday night with Melt Yourself Down, he'll also be playing a couple of other European shows on this short trip.

On Thursday, Nov. 6, he'll be making a super-rare appearance in Warsaw, Poland! Details can be found here.

On Saturday, Nov. 8, he'll be playing in Paris. Details for this gig are available here.

Designed To Kill: James Chance & Melt Yourself Down's Pete Wareham


James sits down for a chat with Melt Yourself Down's Pete Wareham for the Quietus
Read it here
Both artists play in London tomorrow night the Village Underground.

11/2/14

James' WNYU show is now streamable

 
In case you missed James' recent appearance on WNYU's Shake 'Em On Down, the show is archived & streamable. You can see the playlist, and listen to the entire thing here.

10/16/14

James The Selector: James Chance to DJ on WNYU Thursday, 10.23.14


James will be appearing on, and making musical selections, on the long running show, Shake 'Em On Down, on WNYU next Thursday, Oct. 23. You'll have to tune in at 7:30PM to hear what James picks, and I'm sure it'll be interesting! 

You can live-stream the broadcast directly from the WNYU website.


6/11/14

James Chance & The Contortions "Buy" 35th Anniversary Edition Now Available!


Out this week digitally, the new & improved Buy by the Contortions! It includes 5 bonus tracks, and still sounds ahead of its time 35 years later. Check it out at the following stores:

4/11/14

Robert Aaron in today's NY Times


“At some level it’s like the Salem witch trials,” he said. “You can’t have a witch hunt without a witch. I’m just unlucky enough to be the guy. You gotta have a human sacrifice, and that’s what I am.” - Robert Aaron in today's NY Times.

The NY Times published an excellent article today on James' close associate, Robert Aaron. It includes some quotes from James, and we suggest you read it.

4/10/14

James Chance and The True Groove All Stars: "I Don't Want Nobody" at the Cutting Room, NYC



March 11, 2014: James Chance and The True Groove All Stars performing "I Don't Want Nobody" at the Cutting Room, NYC. Video Produced by Larry Blumenstein Video Productions. A studio version in audio-only form is available for listening & sharing here.

3/13/14

Gigs: James Chance's Molotov Cocktail Lounge (DJ sets w/live sax & vocals) in Brooklyn March 18 and March 27


James has two DJ gigs coming up at a new place in Williamsburg called Baby It's All Right

The first one is next Tuesday, March 18. The headliner is a funk oriented band from London called Melt Yourself Down, who are named after one of his songs. James will be sitting in with them as well as doing his DJ set. 

Then on Thurs March 27 he'll appearing with Australian group, NOZUBeat.

Baby It's All Right is located at 146 Broadway in Brooklyn. 


      

James Chance: The Aurora Sessions (Nov. 2013)

Here are two versions of the same session which James just passed on to us. The Aurora Sessions were taped taped last November by Dean Loren, and it was shown on a Manhattan Neighborhood Network show he has called Are You a Star? (I think we know the answer to that question.) It was recorded in the rehearsal room at the Aurora.

Aurora Sessions, Version 1:

1) That Old Black Magic take 1 (composed by Johnny Mercer/Harold Arlen, arr. James Chance) 
2) Peggy's Blue Skylight (Charles Mingus) (take 1) 
3) Sapphire's Safe Spot (James Chance) 
4) Don't Smoke In Bed (Willard Robinson, arr. James Chance) fragment 
5) That Old Black Magic (take 2) 
6) Sapphire's Safe Spot (take 2) 
7) Yesterdays (Jerome Kern, arr. James Chance) 

Aurora Sessions, Version 2:

1) That Old Black Magic (take 3) (composed by Johnny Mercer/Harold Arlen, arr. James Chance) 
2) Peggy's Blue Skylight (take 2) (Mingus) 
3) Sapphire's Safe Spot (take 2) (James Chance) 
4) That Old Black Magic (take 1 including false starts) 
5) That Old Black Magic (take 2) 
6) Peggy's Blue Skylight (take 1) 
7) Sapphire's Safe Spot (take 1) 
8) Yesterdays (Jerome Kern, arr. James Chance) 
9) Odd Man Out (James Chance) 
10) Don't Smoke In Bed (Willard Robinson, arr. James Chance) 
11) Strictly Confidential (Bud Powell)

3/11/14

New James Chance recording! I Don't Want Nobody to Give Me Nothing (Open Up the Door, I'll Get It Myself)



Here's a smoking new recording by James & the True Groove All-Stars. Its a great version of James Brown's "I Don't Want Nobody to Give Me Nothing (Open Up the Door, I'll Get It Myself)". This is just a taste of what you'll get if you're going down to the Cutting Room tonight.

Turn it up...

2/25/14

True Groove All Stars, featuring James Chance, at Cutting Room, March 11


“Not since Paul Simon has an American artist so expertly brought an international sound to mainstream, popular music. ...By fusing a variety of genres, cultures and sounds, Tomás Doncker's True Groove All-Stars are elevating music to its highest possible level..." (veggiefans.net) 

Featured performers include: 
- Tomás Doncker, the Godfather of Global Soul 
- experimental post-modern rocker Marla Mase 
- Kevin Jenkins, A-list singer/songwriter/bassist 
- pop-soul diva Lael Summer 
- legendary downtown NO WAVE Icon James Chance 

PLUS these fabulous True Groove Artists: Heather Powell, Sam Claiborne, Natalie Smith, Charlie Funk, Lola Danza and Mamadou Diaite. 

To stream the show live:  
8:00pm-9:30pm 

Website: