Music
Bands
Inner City Blues Band
If you were at the first CBUS, you may remember these guys as the "downstairs band" at the Finish Line. That's right, we finally got THAT band to come back and play for us! Full of grit, soul, stank, grease - whatever you want to call it - ICBB will move you. 'nuff said.
The Silky Ray 4tet
We're thrilled to have the aptly named Silky Ray Macklin and his band of merry men return to the CBUS. Columbus dancers have been Silky Ray fans for years, and the band seems to get better every time we hear them! Ray will have the ladies (and maybe a few of the men too) swooning as he works his magic. From jump blues, swing, R&B and soul... and yes, some good old-fashioned greasy blues, you're sure to hear something you love, no matter what your tastes.
DJ Lineup
Heather Adams - Knoxville, TN
Heather began listening to blues music in the womb, thanks to a mother with excellent taste. Unfortunately for her mother, that's also when she began dancing to it. She is an unpublicized member of the Justice League of America who honed her craft in a Tibetan monastery before joining the [redacted] in their fight against [redacted]. When she's not studying, she knits. While listening to music, of course.
You may have seen her spin at the inaugural Austin Blues Party, Enter the Blues, MezzJelly Blues Weekend, Buenos Aires Blues, or at other events throughout the Southeast or Midwest. She's also playing at the upcoming Blues Collective workshop in NYC. If you're lucky, you can catch one of her sets on www.bigblueswing.com. And she definitely wants to dance with you, so just ask.
Mihai Banulescu - San Francisco, CA
Mihai started DJing at a clandestine blues room in August 2003 and has since DJ'ed an average of two sets per week at house parties and venues in San Francisco and all around the United States. He specializes in blues and tango fusion, but has also entertained lindy hop and classical tango audiences.
Mihai gets easily bored, so he will never play more than three songs without smoothly transitioning to a different mood, style or tempo. Any given playlist might include: Chicago/electric guitar blues (Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker), acoustic blues (Lightnin' Hopkins, Memphis Slim), soul blues (Etta James, Bobby Bland), jazzy blues (Sidney Bechet, Nina Simone) and even some bluesy pop and trip-hop (John Mayer, Portishead). The proportions of each depend on the blues venue or house party, but will probably include no less than 50% "real" blues and no less than 25% "jazz and soul" blues.
He likes to educate his audiences, but with good measure, and never at the expense of an enjoyable dance.
Loreto Agdinaoay - Cleveland, OH
Slow and moody, black 'n' bluesy. That's how Loreto rolls. One of the few beacons of blues in Cleveland, an otherwise "fast" dance town, Lo welcomes any chance to play for dancers who want music with a little grease and a whole lotta soul. He promises to give you the "Blues Face" - you know, that look you get when you hear a song with so much stank, you wanna go home and slap yo' mama.
Patrick Warren - Austin, TX
Gen Herres - Los Angeles, CA
Gen started dancing back in late 1999/early 2000 and ever from finding lindy hop she's loved it. She discovered blues at a college workshop back in 2001 and once she had a little, she wanted more. In 2004 she moved from upstate NY to central Ohio and started DJing house parties. Since then she's DJed in various cities including a few exchanges. She now resides in sunny LA where she continues to DJ house parties and blues dances.
Gen's musical style follows her dancing, she likes movement. She's picked up nick names from Swivels to Genundulate, the latter being the name she acquired while in columbus. Her goal is to provide music that makes you want to get up out of your chair and dance. From slow and steamy to jump blues to the occasional R&B, hip hop, groove, funk, soul and gospel.
Russell Maltempo - Dayton, OH
He's smooth as silk, and plays like a brotha. A transplant to the Ohio Valley from Denver, he brings western civility to the nitty gritty. He's got the been-there-done-that vibe with hot and dirty blues, but gives you some breathing room with groovy and funky tunes. He's been around, definitely, in more places than worth counting. He will get you hopping, jumping, bumping, and everything in between.
Erwin Amurao - Columbus, OH
DJ'ing, dancing, and everything Swing music related has brought Erwin to more cities than he can remember. Hailing originally from the Windy City, Erwin has settled in Columbus and brings a piece of Chicago's business of blues to his well balanced DJ sets. With a love for the Swing standards and a penchant for ANY music that can groove and move dancers feet, you can bet that derriére of yours that it won't be doing much sitting. Bring an extra shirt and towel... "Big E" is in the CBUS house.
Eduardo Rozo - Columbus, OH
Eduardo knows what you want to hear, and he's not afraid to play it! He started dj'd swing and blues in Chicago and now he's puttin' it down here in Columbus. Eduardo's sets deliver energy regardless of tempo- and a good measure of humor as well. You can expect to hear the classics: the great swing and blues of Ella, Basie, Ellington and the rest of those cats. You'll also catch a few tunes you've never heard before- he once played a three hour dance entirely comprised of halloween related songs. Lets see your dj do that.