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Post by Lloyd Dev on Apr 14, 2006 7:55:54 GMT -5
The Mix Masters April 7, 2006
Jesse De La Pena
JESSE DE LA PENA Jesse De La Pena is back with a band, but this time he's keeping it simple. A decade after DJ-ing for Liquid Soul, a nine-piece rise to prominence in the 1990s, the longtime DJ has put together a trio comprising himself on turntables, Evan Coleman on sax and flute, and Kai Alexander on keyboards. "I like that I can direct it as the DJ. We've all seen bands with DJs, but with this I'm like the drummer with the turntables. I'm directing things," Jesse says.
He characterizes the project as a "return to simplicity, a return to basics." While a descendant of acid jazz, he says the new trio also likes to include Latin, down-tempo, and drum and bass. In addition to his turntable, Jesse also uses a laptop.
"I just love having a ton of music with me," he says.
"I'm experimenting live as a DJ but with musicians as a band," Jesse says of Trio De La Pena. "I like that we can take something like 'Night in Tunisia' by Dizzy Gillespie -- which people know because Gang Starr sampled it for 'Words I Manifest' -- and turn it into something totally different."
Darkroom, 2210 W. Chicago, (773) 276-1411; 9 p.m. first Sunday of every month.. No cover (21+over).
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