12 Questions With Legendary Musician/Producer Mr. Boyd Jarvis and DJ Fred Mann

Few producers are as well-rounded as Boyd Jarvis is. Even fewer have been as unique, prolific, and influential as Boyd has. Yet, he isn’t nearly as known outside (and arguably inside) House music circles as his obvious talent and marvelous accomplishments might suggest. It’s my honor and pleasure to tap into this New York City and New Jersey Legend’s mind for another installment of 12 Questions With Fred Mann.

What/who were the earliest influences that have led to your love for music today?

Piano, Synthesizers, Organ. Chic Corea, Stanley Clarke, Herbie Hancock, George Duke, Lenny White, Alfonse Johnson, Sly and the Family Stone, Mandrill, Osabisa, Isley Brothers, Santana and many more.
Which was your first favorite song?

Sex Machine by Sly and the Family Stone.
How has music affected your life?

MUSIC IS MY LIFE. Music has transformed me.
Describe yourself as a musician – what is your essence?

I like to think of myself as a formulist, my essence is sound and its effects.
What are you involved with now?

Music productions, remixing, sound design, Foley, film scoring, voice overs, engineering, Mac and PC tech support and learning.
Who are your favorite artists and producers on today’s music scene?

Artist: Somi, Pharrell – Producer: Timbalin/Pharrell
Where do you acquire most of the music you listen to today and in what form?

I have collected so much music in my life I still listen to mostly everything I own whether it be on cassette, reel, .wav, ,aiff, mp3, vinyl.
Which genre of music is most challenging to master?

Jazz and Classical
Where do you see current trends in music taking the industry?

In the toilet!
Where do you get your motivation from today?

From old music!
What would you change about music and the music industry today if you could?

I would get rid of the slouchers and the thieves. I would fight for more control over where my music goes and who controls it. I would crack down on pirates and try to gain some sort of equilibrium to the market so that real artist and musician can get paid. Regulate internet sales and crack down on illegal websites that sell our music without permission.
Who has been the most talented artist you have worked with?

I don’t care for words like “the most”. There are many. To name a few I would say Caron Wheeler, Chaka Khan, Bohannon, “M” Maddwoman, Leslie Glover, Roy Ayers, and many more But no “MOST”. They are all very talented.
Thanks for your time! I hope to meet you in person one day to thank you for your contribution to the music I love and for answering my questions.

12 Questions (-1) With FIGO bassist/DJ Paul Daly and Fred Mann

It’s my honor and pleasure to tap into the mind of this artist, rock star, DJ, and Hammers supporter for another installment of 12 Questions (1) With Fred Mann.What/who were the earliest influences that have led to your love for music today?My Dad is a musician, I started following him to gigsWhat is the greatest effect music has had on your life? It has helped me connect with people and picks me up when I am down. Describe your first official DJ gig. The first one that involved me being paid was about 18 years ago at a bar called Back Star in the East Village that is now call Kabin. My mate and I played a late after-hours party on a Sunday night. The crowd was a mix of bar industry and cops who were getting off shift. We played from 8PM till around 9AM the next day. The place was shuttered and there was all kinds of crazy things going on. One of those nights I ended up dancing on the bar, falling and pulling the light out of the ceiling. The owner showed me the CCTV footage and we laughed our asses off. What’s going on with FIGO at the moment? Not a whole lot to be honest, we’ve been busy with families and businesses. I have also been refining my cooking skills. We just recently stated playing rehearsals again so you may hear something happening soon. Who are your favorite artists on today’s music and DJ scenes? Depends on my mood, can be anyone from The Prodigy to Mark Knight and Steve Lawler.  Underworld will always have a place in my heart. If you could DJ at any venue in the world, which would it be? Red Rocks or somewhere in a field in Lancashire. Where do you acquire most of your music today and in what form? I am part of a great music sharing group that has a lot of different artists involved. The group was set up by one of the big NYC promoters to help us all get in contact with each other and help one another get our tunes out. I look at a lot of blogs for new DJ tunes, if I find something that I really love I usually get it on vinyl to play at home Which group, producer, and DJ do you follow more than any other? I’m always on waiting for new Underworld. Sometimes I have to wait a few years, but its usually worth it Where do you see current trends in music taking the industry? Away from EDM and back to the roots of good old house music. Where do you see current trends in DJing taking clubbing? Hopefully away from bottle service and “look at me” clubs Do you have any stories from the music conference this year to share with us? O god there’s so many. Thanks for your time! Let’s meet for a match and meal soon. You bet! COME ON YOU IRONS!

12 Questions (-1) With DJ Taz and DJ Fred Mann

What/who were the earliest influences that have led to your love for music today?

My mother is my biggest music influence. She played her Piano a lot. But also she would listen to Funk, Disco, Soul and RnB. In the early 90’s i started listening to Hip-hop. It became a lifestyle. All I was doing was listening to Hip Hop. We used to get cassettes with mixtapes on them and let them go around from friend to friend.

Talk about the moment you knew DJing would be a part of your life.

The moment that made me want to Dj was when I went to a Party in France and saw Dj cutKiller (Double H Crew) scratch, I was amazed. He was playing with the music and had me wondering how does he do that? I wanted to learn so much. A friend of mine had turntables so I started going to his house to play a little bit.

Describe your first official DJ gig.

My first official Gig was in Boston at Avalon. Before that night all I had done was being a bedroom Dj and did a few house parties. I remember that day like yesterday, I was so anxious that I almost called it out. The place was packed and it scared the crap out of me. It took me a good hour to be able to zone out into my music. Once I was in the zone, It felt like the crowd was leading me. And I loved it. Since then I can say that I play as good as my crowd is.

What does music mean to you?

Music means a lot to me, it’s a sanctuary of peace and meditation to me where I can relax and really enjoy the moment and forget about all problems. Digging for good music is the best part of my day. I dig for music 2 hours a day. that time is dedicated to relax and look for tunes. Even though, I listen to music about 8 hours a day.

What are you involved with now?

Today I am involved in a few parties, but my main concentration actually goes to “It’s A Feeling”  a group that I started with 3 other friends about a year ago. We invite a different Dj every other week. The concept is to play music that is not so common nowadays. We really try to bring all around Djs, guys that play it all!

Who on today’s music and DJ scene do you admire?

I have different influences depending on the genre. This is a breakdown by genre:

turntablism= D styles

Disco= Danny Krivit

Hip-Hop= Dj Numark

Funk/ Breaks= Dj Fleg

House= Kerri Chandler

But really for overall Djs. Rich Medina and Dj Spinna

Where do you acquire most of your music and in what form?

I get my music from various places, the internet is obviously the most efficient. Music sites (Soundcloud, Traxsource, beatport, blogs, Juno…) have a very extended collection of music. But also sharing with fellow djs and producers is big. And yes, I do buy a lot of records. You can find stuff on records that you cannot find anywhere else. I’m always gonna love records.

What do you listen to when you’re in chill mode?

In chill mode i’ll tend to listen to Jazz, Soul and Hip-Hop Beats that have a jazzy touch to them( J-dilla, Madlib, Pete Rock…).

Where do you see current trends in music taking the industry?

The industry of music scares me these days, It’s like good music is dying. Us as Djs we must be very careful on what we make the audience listen to. EDM is being confused with house music and Hip-Hop is being destroyed by negative gangsta music. Music is supposed to make people happy, make people dance, make people love each other.

Where do you see current trends in the industry taking the DJing?

Nowadays you go to a club and all you see is people getting drunk in VIP sections, or stare at the DJs. People don’t share or love anymore. I started to really want to be eclectic a few years back because of that. I used to dig for the songs that were sampled in Hip-Hop songs, and that move open the doors of all kingdoms.

What are your goals for 2015?

My goal for 2015 is to spread “it’s A Feeling” party to a different city. I’m not trying to be personally famous, but I want good music to be exposed to all souls out there.

Thanks for your time! I hope to see you soon.

Tony Speaks – My Two Cents Part 2

Someone from the audience told a story about how while driving through Newark, she came upon a barbecue where 50 to 60 year old women were singing along to House cuts word for word. Add Tony’s memories of Jersey High School kids requesting the Trammps and Love Committee and that’s Newark. Once I was old enough to get through club doors, I understood why folks in Newark and surrounding areas loved the music they grew up with so much. The underground flavor of New York City left an equally indelible mark on me. Both sounds were big influences on Chicago – full credit for creating “House” but know that its roots are largely New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. We just didn’t call what we played House. It was Club Music.

If you have it, play “Aw Shucks” by Jackmaster Funk. You’ll hear “Beat the Street” dressed in Chicago garb. Around the same time, another New York classic, “Moody”, was given the Windy City treatment by Chip E with “Like This”. Essential House!

The rattling awnings outside as you waited on line, the crispness of the bongos in “Caught Up” as you walked upstairs to the main room, the almost surreal effect when Tony broke “Running” by Jovonn, and the power of “East Street Beat” are a few emblematic memories – Zanzibar’s sound system was all dat and then some. Finally, when asked to select cuts to play during the interview he chose the following:

“Dancefloor” Phalon

“Voodoo Ray” A Guy Called Gerald

“Emotional Disguise” Peter Godwin

“Where Will You Go When the Party’s Over?” Archie Bell and the Drells

DJ Fred Mann

Kick Off

Hi all,

Circa 1988, Manny Lehmann’s liner notes for Republic’s “The Garage Sound Of Deepest New York” (see link below) spoke about an era, a venue, and a sound that I love. I’ll attempt to keep that musical legacy going here with mixes and posts that pay homage to the best dance music around, then and now. Meanwhile, the link to what Manny wrote is below. Also, check out a Fred Mann mix here .

DJ Fred Mann

http://www.discogs.com/Various-The-Garage-Sound-Of-Deepest-New-York/release/418130