Monthly Archives: June 2012

Maria’s Package Goods & Community Bar, Strut Records & Dusty Groove
America presents

DIGGIN’ DUSTIES: Sofrito – International Soundclash Record Release & Listening Party

Raw dancefloor rhythms from Africa, the Caribbean and South America
Featuring Global Groove Merchant Joe Bryl
Wednesday, June 25 – 8PM-2AM – Free, No Cover

For our Wednesday, July 25 installment of our “Diggin’ Dusties”
residency, Maria’s Package Goods and Dusty Groove America is
showcasing the latest Strut Records release titled “Sofrito -
International Soundclash: Raw dancefloor rhythms from Africa, the
Caribbean and South America”. Hosted by global groove merchant Joe
Bryl, the evening will kick off at 8PM with a listening party of this
highly anticipated compilation. There will be giveaways of this
release made available through Strut Records. So, arrive early before
they disappear!

Strut link up again with Sofrito, leading lights in the new generation
of collectives celebrating heavy Tropical music. Fuelled by the
unquenchable thirst of DJs Hugo Mendez and Frankie Francis to turn up
new music and explore sounds from across the ages, Sofrito has built a
unique reputation since it began life in the warehouses of East London
in the mid 2000s.

Now, following the success and critical acclaim of their debut
compilation in association with Strut, Sofrito: Tropical Discotheque,
Hugo and Frankie bring the long-awaited follow-up, Sofrito:
International Soundclash.

The new selection effortlessly mixes the old with the new, plucking
dusty gems from Trinidad, Colombia, Dominica, Congo, Cameroun and
beyond. Exclusives include the deep Pacifico sound of Grupo Canalon’s
“La Zorra y El Perol” – a new project from Nidia Góngora, singer with
Quantic’s Combo Barbaro – a previously unreleased track by UK/Kenyan
sensations Owiny Sigoma Band, and a Tropical Treats edit of Haiti’s
dynamite Les Difficiles de Petion-Ville.

Other highlights include an incendiary lesson in Soca groove from Lord
Shorty, stunning up-to-the-minute carnival sounds from Guadeloupe’s
Mas Ka Klé, all backed up by deep bassline Cadence, synthed-out
Soukous and other Afro Latin encounters.

Over the last year Sofrito have brought their inimitable vibes to
clubs across the world – sharing the stage with Haitian Ra Ra
collectives in Paris, running all-night sessions in Bogota alongside
Quantic, warehouse parties with the Owiny Sigoma Band in London and
sweaty parties in illicit lofts in Brooklyn.

Their “Sofrito Super Singles” vinyl series continues to make waves on
the underground, unleashing raw dancefloor edits and attracting the
likes of Daphni (aka Dan Snaith), DrumTalk and Sweden’s Tropical
Treats to contribute guest re-works.

For this release, visual maestro Lewis Heriz interprets Sofrito’s
fresh perspective on the world with a specially designed cut-out globe
on a pull-out poster to accompany the CD and Double LP.

The record release will be followed by our own international
soundclash featuring the hottest global sounds available at Dusty
Groove America (1120 N Ashland Ave, Chicago) including African,
Brazilian, Caribbean, Latin, Reggae and other burning world beat
rhythms.

The event is free. The Sofrito release can be purchased at Dusty
Groove (http://www.dustygroove.com/).

- Joe Bryl
http://sonothequesoundgallery.wordpress.com

Maria’s Package Goods & Community Bar and Global Soul Productions presents
JUNGLE BOOGIE: BIG BEATS FROM THE TROPICS
Featuring Global-trotting DJs Joe Bryl and Clark Quente

With the temperatures reaching record highs in Chicago; so does the
dancefloor action heat up at Maria’s (960 W. 31st St.) with the
monthly world beat residency titled “Jungle Boogie: Big Beats From The
Tropics”. Taking place on Wednesday, July 18 (and continuing every 3rd
Wednesday of the month) “Jungle Boogie” will focus on the funky,
soulful and dynamic diaspora dance rhythms of the Caribbean, South
America and Africa.

Headed by global soul specialists and world beat ambassadors DJs Joe
Bryl and Clark Quente, “Jungle Boogie” will be a tropical and topical
overview of the wide ranging jamming sounds that fill up the hot-spot
discos in the tropics. We begin our excursion from the crescent-shaped
Caribbean islands of Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba and Trinidad to the lands of
the subcontinent South America of Columbia, Venezuela, Brazil and
Argentina and cross the Atlantic touching down in its motherland of
Africa in Ghana, the Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Angola and South
Africa.

This polyrhythmic passport to adventure will feature the captivating
and percolating rhythms from the soulful sounds of Rocksteady, Reggae,
Dub, Calypso, Zouk, Soca, Steelband and Ska; the Latin-tinged tones of
Rumba, Salsa, Son Cubano, Mambo, Cumbia and Reggaeton; the uniquely
Brazilian styles of Samba, Bossa Nova, Axe, Choro and Funk Carioca to
finally the street style grooves of Highlife, Afro-beat, Makossa,
Township Jive and Afro-funk.

But the main purpose of the night is to elevate your feet while we
educate your mind into the spirit of this tropical discotheque that
we’re dubbing “Jungle Boogie”. As the Kool & the Gang song says, “Get
down, get down, Jungle Boogie (Get it)”.

Each evening will feature a revolving series of select rare videos
from our archives featuring live performances from the southern
hemisphere. Maria’s expert mixologists will also concoct some tasty
treats to put you in the right mood and groove to quench your thirst
after putting on some sweaty south of the border dance moves.

Festivities begin at 8PM and continue until 2AM. There is no cover.

For further information contact Joe Bryl at 312.493.5807 or joebryl54@gmai.com

Wednesday, June 27, 2012 @ 4:30pm

In the past, Bridgeport was the center of Chicago political power and a symbol of black versus white racial tension. Today, our mayor lives north of Roosevelt, and the racial make up of Bridgeport is divided as much Hispanic and Asian as white. These changes have come as Chicago continues to be one of the most segregated cities in the country.

On June 27, Richard Steele heads to Bridgeport, to Maria’s Package Goods and Community Bar, to talk with residents and visitors about what it used to mean to be a black person in Bridgeport after dark and what it means now. Can a place change?  What does it take? We’ll talk about those questions and hear your reflections on how change–or not–in Chicago’s neighborhoods affects us all.

This event is another conversation in WBEZ and Vocalo’s “Race: Out Loud” series.

You know that this is the best day of the week. Saturday. From 6-9pm we get the best food trucks in Chicago to visit our little part of town. Join us for the goodness.

Bridgeport Pasty, Taquero Fusion, Sweet Ride, Pleasant House, Tamale Foodie, Sammich Box will be in the parking lot from 6-9pm.

Dj Stan Woo on the decks..