Recap – Page 7 – ChanteSez.com

Sometimes actions speak for themselves. In a room full of people talking, more can be said through gesture than words. With art to back them up, the signals at the eighth annual Gentleman Jack Art Beats + Lyrics last Friday were at once wild, thought-provoking, sexy and simply fun.

***

OTL-ArtBeatsLyrics1 — For more photos from Art Beats + Lyrics, check out Carlos Bell’s Facebook album.

One of the best things about AB+L is seeing city slick Compound turned into an outpost for culture seekers and sanity savers. Events like AB+L make me feel good. And founders Jabari Graham and Dwayne “Dubelyoo” Wright do it well. Just thinking about how much preparation must have gone into the installation earns respect. And thinking about how I ran into them at Octane on the Westside back in June, planning. But also knowing that these two have perfected the process, enabling them to take the multimedia extravaganza from Atlanta to cities such as Charlotte, D.C., Houston, Miami and St. Louis over the last four years.

***

The text got you in, but the cards were intentional, passing from one hand to the next in anticipation of hearing Shock G say, “the one who put the satin on your panties,” and watching everyone nearby say the same.

That’s when we walked in. Or shortly before. Enough time to order and sip one of my first $8 Jack & Cokes. That’s part of the price you pay for sweetly skipping the line where we’d have received drink tickets. According to Jabari, there were probably 800 or so who ended up on queue, while another 4,000 total made it inside.

***

I am thankful for Art Beats + Lyrics because I am at once entertained and exposed. Comfortable and just the right amount of nervous. Crunk and completely uncertain of what I will hear or who I will meet next. In all ways, it is nice.

Especially with DJs such as House in the Park’s Ramon Rawsoul and WRFG’s Tabone taking charge. How “The Soul Chamber” host went from house music to trap boy anthems before I stopped dancing long enough to notice, I don’t know. Once I did, I couldn’t help but share my praise with a friend, pause for enjoyment, and keep dancing.

***

I sometimes wish more Atlanta gatherings had the AB+L vibe. Yes, I love days like this. But these kinds of nights are way cooler.

Robert Glasper Experiment, with Chrisette Michele, and surprise guests Bilal and Musiq at Variety Playhouse, Sun., March 4, 2012.

Thirteen highlights:

Hosts Jamal Ahmad of WCLK-FM (91.9) and Derek Harper of WAMJ-FM (107.5/97.5).
Opening song: Radiohead-esque riff that runs right into “A Love Supreme.”
Lots of stories from Glasper, including one about Ledisi taking just five minutes to write “Alright” during one 3 a.m. session.
Chrisette Michele’s supremely jazzy voice on “Afro Blue,” and every other song she laced that night.
Chrisette Michele’s green dress.
How Glasper’s haughtily humorous introduction of Bilal — “Well, actually, he sucks!” — is indicative of Glasper’s personality in general. “Letter to Hermione” shined nonetheless.
The Experiment jamming out while waiting for Bilal to return to the stage for more singing.
Electric bass player Derrick Hodge’s solo leading into Floetry’s “Say Yes” — not a stretch considering Hodges was on the original recording.
The crowd’s enthusiastic response when Glasper asked if there were any J Dilla fans in attendance.
Recognizing the Experiment’s take on rock classic “Teen Spirit” by Nirvana. It took a minute.
Surprise guest Musiq harmonizing with Michele on “Ah Yeah.”
Glasper acknowledging the blessing it is to have seen Dilla make “Reminisce.”
Bilal grabbing his mic out of the stand once he realized Musiq had joined him on stage, like a nonverbal “Oh shit! Let’s do this!”