Digital Music Service

July 29th, 2010

Digital Music Service Can Gain The Interest Of Even Those Who Normally Would Not Enjoy Such A Thing

Digital Music Service

Some people that you would normally never imagine listening to any type of digital music service for any reason at all are even enjoying their little wonderful digital music devices that have been out on the market for quite some time now.

People of all colors, ages, sex, etc, are listening to digital music and loving every minute of it, there is just no doubt about that, music is our life, music is everything to so many of us! Yes, even the high and mighty or uppity people in life enjoy their digital music, just like me and you.

Is digital music really worth all of its hype that it constantly receives? Digital music is quite unique and yes, it does make things easier and more convenient. What about the old record players that played those huge records? No matter how incredible digital music is, I am still an avid observer of what pertains to good music and what type of device really deserves all of that fabulous talk that has been going on with the whole digital music thing. Digital music does rock but what about when you listened to your all time favorite bands on 8 track players. How freaking awesome were 8 track players?

Digital music is a great way to help pass the time and a fun way to pass it as well.

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Blues Music – Reflecting the Atrocities

June 14th, 2010

Blues music has its inclination to African-American community of the USA. It is a kind of vocal or instrumental music which is generally based on blues notes. The concept aroused from the spirituality, chants, work songs and ballads. The African influence is greatly felled in the notes and call-and-response patterns of music and lyrics. The American and Western music is more inclined to this music genre. It became the foundation stone for the different music forms namely jazz, rhythm and blues, heavy metal, bluegrass and hip-hop.

The blues mainly reflect the mood of the singer i.e. depression, down hearted feeling or sadness. The Blues word was used for the first time in George Colman’s farce’s ‘Blue Devils’. It was in the 1912 that Hart Wand’s ‘Dallas Blues’ came and it was the first Blues Music to describe the depressing mood. There is common distinctiveness in the music genre. Showing the individual peculiar habits, the music elements were earlier call-and-response shouts. They were just individual’s performance with no harmony or formal music structure. These pre-blues were simply a solo song with emotional touch. They were often heard in shouts and hollers.

The present day music form has harmonic base and call-and-response format of African and European communities which gave new structure to the Blues. The voice and guitar were incorporated in the songs. The elements reflected the songs of Africa. The most common instruments, Diddley bow and Banjo were used in the early music. The Diddley bow belonged to South America whereas the Banjo was mostly used in Africa to increase the instrumental vocabulary.

With each passing days it adopted Ethiopian airs, Negro spirituality and minstrel shows together with instruments and rhythmic supplements. The blues are rewarded for preserving the melodic patterns of African music. The songs from this genre have distinct musical structure. The songs recorded by Lead Belly’s and Henry Thomas reflected twelve- and sixteen-bar structure with tonic, sub-dominant and dominant chords. The modern form has 12-bar structure with influence of sheet music.

The lyrics of the blues were based on repetition. Each line was repeated four times. Currently, the lines are repeated once with a standard single line conclusion. They are sung in the form of rhythmic talk than a melody. The Blues music has given great artists like Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker and Bessie Smith. The credit can be given to the hollers and calls without which this genre would not have evolved. It is based on the changing lives of the post slavery era of African-Americans. The music is quite popular amongst blacks and generally reflects on the atrocities faced by the community.

More popularly considered as secular songs, the Blues lyrics highlighted singer’s inner shelf. Thus it was not an innovative approach but simply a presentation of oneself. It describes the condition of African Americans communities. It has descriptions related to slaves’ freedom, Booker T. Washington’s teachings, and the famous Horatio Alger model, who once said that man is the creator of his/her destiny. Lawrence Levine stresses on the fact that national ideologies affect the individual’s behaviour and the blues music reflect this relationship. Blacks were badly treated during the slavery era and were socially and economically exploited. The secular songs reflect this psychological oppression.

The music was earlier treated as folk blues and was sung during leisurely periods. These songs were mostly sung in shows and carnivals. Due to close contact with country singers, the blacks learned to sing professional Blues which are often called classic blues. In the 20th century, African Americans migrated and played the songs in Texas, Chicago, Louisiana, New York, Arkansas and Detroit. Later the classic blues singers introduced this genre to clubs, vaudeville halls, and theaters with the help of New Orleans and Fast Western musicians. It was in 1895 when George W. Johnson recorded the first blues song called “Laughing Song”. The genre gained popularity in 1920 with Mamie Smith’s evergreen songs namely “Crazy Blues” and “It’s Right Here for You”. Online music shop have varied array of latest blues music for the fans.

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Hello world!

June 2nd, 2010

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

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Best Tips in Running a Karaoke Contest From the Professionals

February 28th, 2010

As a karaoke host one of your tasks aside from hosting a karaoke party is also running a karaoke contest. Since its birth in Kobe, Japan, the karaoke has become a popular form of entertainment so much so that many competitions have been held in its honor.

Running a karaoke contest is a very popular in fact there is even a world karaoke competition where different nationalities participate. This is evident that everybody loves signing competitions because it is a chance to show off talents and skills at singing plus the chance to be recognized for your talents.

As a karaoke host many joints or clubs will hire you to be their contest emcee. Different hosts have different styles of running a karaoke contest but the basic elements of competitions are the same and these are what will be discussed in the next section.

1. Know the exact plans of the organizers in this singing talent competition, from the purpose of the competition, contest rules, and prizes. Also know what sort of categories they are having, i.e. Best Female, Best Male, and Best Duet.

When you run show karaoke, its possible that other categories such as by age group or by genre of music, will be used by the organizers it is your business to know all of these. You also must know how to take care of tied scores for awarding of prizes and the number of places per category i.e. first, second, and third place.

2. Find an odd number of qualified judges preferably three so that the chance of a tied score among the judges is minimal. You must choose wisely when you run show karaoke because if there are accusations of unfair judging it is you the host and not the judges or the organization that hired you that gets the flack from the audience since you’re the one there.

The judges that you choose for the singing talent competition you are hosting should be people of unquestionable background and someone who doesn’t know any of the contestants personally or that they prove themselves to be unbiased. If the judges are provided by the organizers, you should ask to review the judges yourself to determine if they have certain biases.

If you feel uncomfortable and you value your reputation and your name, don’t use those judges. Of course they should have knowledge of music and karaoke singing itself.

3. The next consideration in running a karaoke contest is the scoring system. Opt for a scoring system that fits the amateur singers.

Criteria such as stage presence, musicality, and audience impact are in my opinion fit for a singing talent competition for professional singers. Karaoke singing is a different form of entertainment where those who join may not be the best of singers themselves and if they are pitted against a professional in a criterion fit for professionals then it’s clear who the runaway winner will be.

4. Have a registration both in the place where you run show karaoke there are enough forms would be contestants can fill up along with their song choice. Be sure that the instruction printed on the form says to print their handwriting legibly because you will want to avoid the embarrassment of not being able to read a contestant’s scrawl. Don’t forget to limit the number of contestants by setting a deadline or else you’ll be overrun by a lot of them and it becomes unmanageable.

In running a karaoke contest, the easiest way to avoid arguments in the order of contestants is to gather all the forms, folding them, and placing them in a bag and randomly picking a form from the bag as the contest progresses.

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In Turmoil Over Tap Shoes?

February 25th, 2010

Loads of people love to dance, though many do not stick to a certain branch of dancing. The majority of individuals will dance at parties, in clubs or other events in an improvised fashion. For some, however, the dances they choose to perform are very specific and disciplined, such as ballet. Tap dancing is very specific, but also allows for improvisation. Having developed in the United States of America during the nineteenth century, tap dance has been influenced by a number of styles from a variety of cultures and countries. Some of these influences are thought to be Irish, English, African and West Indian.

Tap dance has had fallen in and out of popularity over the years, but always has a following of enthusiasts who keep the spirit of the dance alive. There are several kinds of tap styles, ranging from hoofing to jazz tap. Anyone thinking of learning should do a lot of research into the varieties to see which suits them best, the history of tap is also a fascinating topic, and worth reading, as is information about famous dancers themselves.

The variety of tap shoes available can seem daunting to those who are new to purchasing them, but generally speaking the type of tap which is going to be learned will narrow down the options a bit. Choosing the right kind of shoe is very important, and choosing materials are one of the first decisions that should be made. Leather shoes are quite expensive and need to be broken in for a while before they provide optimum comfort, but are long lasting and are of a high quality. Canvas is not so expensive but is very flexible, but the shoes have a shorter life than leather shoes. Plastic tap shoes are the least expensive but also last the least amount of time. The height if tap heels is very important, and low heels tend to be preferred by beginners, especially children.

If there is ever any doubt in regards to which style of heels are most appropriate, a qualified tap instructor should be contacted and asked for advice. Some dance schools or classes actually specify which style of tap shoes they require, and can often recommend suppliers and brands that they find most suitable. It is important that tap shoes are comfortable and well fitting, to allow for the best performance no matter what the dancer’s level. Shoes which cause discomfort or are too loose can have a very negative impact on what is achieved in tap lessons. Kinds of taps themselves also vary, and it is worth researching which ones are needed for lessons.

As with any sort of dance, learning tap requires dedication and enthusiasm, as well as patience. Enjoying learning to dance is really important, those observing dancers can pick up on the mood of the performer, and their enjoyment will be marred if the dancer appears to be hating what they are doing! An audience can also catch the spirit of the tap dancer who clearly loves the dance.

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Myrtle Beach Vacations – 60 Miles Of Family Fun

February 25th, 2010

Myrtle Beach, also known as the grand strand has over 60 miles of beautiful sandy beaches stretching form the border of North Carolina south to historic Georgetown. If outstanding accommodations, friendly people, and fun in the sun are part of your vacation plans, the Myrtle Beach area is your vacation destination.

The Myrtle Beach area, commonly called The Grand Strand, consists of 12 separate communities, each with its own appeal. What they all have in common is the diverse entertainment whether you and your family enjoy the fun of amusement parks, water parks, race tracks, live entertainment theaters, nightclub activities, golfing, surfcasting, deep sea fishing, parasailing, surfing, ocean kayaking, nature walks, shopping, swimming or just lazing your day away in the sun on clean wide beaches, you are sure to find plenty to do in Myrtle Beach.

Dining Imagine, after your day in the sun, having your choice of 1700 restaurants to choose from, imagine the regional ingredients used to create authentic local flavors. If seafood is your pleasure you’ve come to the right place, how do you choose from shrimp, oysters, clams, scallops, crab, flounder, mahi-mahi, tuna, grouper, red snapper or the “catch of the day?” You may prefer a thick juicy steak grilled to your satisfaction, or the taste of Italy, the Caribbean, Mexico, China, or Japan. Take the whole family to Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede or Medieval Times Tournament for dinner and a show. Enjoy Southern cuisine at the House of blues, or treat yourself to elegant dining at the Litchfield country Club. Whatever your dining pleasure you are sure to come away satisfied.

It’s Showtime! The Grand Strand offers a show nearly every night of the year.

The 2,000 seat Alabama Theatre located in N. Myrtle Beach, (800) 782-2262, offers some of the best concerts featuring country western stars. Legends that have appeared there include George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Charlie Pride, The Oak Ridge Boys and Alabama to name only a few.

The 2,200 seat Carolina Opry, located in Myrtle Beach, offers a medley of country, pop, gospel, jazz, comedy, Broadway and dance shows. Call (800) 842-6779

Legends in Concert, located in Surfside Beach, talented performers give you the next best thing to your favorite legend…Live. Call (800)955-3436

The 2700 seat Palace Theater, located in Myrtle Beach, home to Spirit Of The Dance and Lullabies of Broadway, Broadway’s best musical theater. Call (800)905-4228

Dixie Land Stampede Dinner and Show, located in Myrtle beach, enjoy a four course supper while watching a fun show that includes horses, trick riding, comedy, singing and dancing, Call(800)433-4401

Medieval times Dinner and Tournament, located in Myrtle Beach, 11th-century tournament including pageantry, jousting and horsemanship.

House of Blues, Enjoy the sounds of t blues, jazz, gospel or rock while treating yourself to Southern cuisine.

Golf Anyone? Called the Seaside Golf Capital of The World and named “Golf Destination of the year” in 2000 by the International Association of Golf Tour operators, The Grand Strand offers 120 outstanding courses to choose from. Most are open to the public. Experience the challenge and beauty of one the areas unique courses. Visit myrtlebeachinfo.com for more info and tee times.

Grand Strand shopping 3 traditional malls, 5 factory-outlet centers, one, The Waccamaw Factory Shoppes on Rte 501 in Myrtle Beach is divided into 3 malls! Barefoot Landing and Broadway at the Beach specializes in 100’s of unique shops and boutiques and includes flea markets, beachwear and souvenir shops as well as art galleries and interior design. The faint of heart should go fishing!

Grand Strand Communities

Little River, Located just south of the North Carolina border along the Intracoastal Waterway, has a pop. of 7000. Known for it’s charter boat business and commercial fishing, Little River is a favorite for the seagoing at heart. You can watch the boats unload their catches or rent a charter boat to go deep sea fishing. In May, come and experience the Blue Crab Festival which features a variety of delicious blue crab creations, as well as, crafts, entertainment and educational exhibits.

North Myrtle Beach, less populated than Myrtle Beach, famous for Shag Dancing clubs, home of the Barefoot landing with over 100 unique shops, 14 factory direct stores, 15 waterfront restaurants, the House of Blues for hot food and cool music, the Alabama theater for spectacular variety shows, Alligator Adventure for those who prefer the wild side of life. Golf courses include the Eagle Nest which boasts the 3 toughest finishing holes on the Strand.

Myrtle Beach, the best known town along the grand strand has a population of 23,000 and is the most developed area along the Grand Strand. Family Attractions include the Family Kingdom Amusement park and Water park on the ocean front, Myrtle Beach State Park, Broadway at the Beach, Family Mini Golf, South Beach Adventure, Myrtle Beach Pavilion Amusement Park, Myrtle Waves Water Park, Carousel Park, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Haunted Adventure and Moving Theater, as well as Ripley’s Aquarium. The main center for theaters, shopping, nightclubs, and restaurants, Myrtle Beach also offers popular beaches for sunbathing, surfing or parasailing.

Surfside Beach, Known as “the family beach,” is located 4 miles south of Myrtle Beach, offers the proximity to Myrtle Beach’s attractions without the hustle and bustle of crowds. Sunbathe, swim, hunt for shells, fish off the Surfside Pier and enjoy the quieter pace of Surfside Beach. Eat at one of the local restaurants, visit Hudson’s Surfside Flea Market, or see a show at Legends in concert. Attractions include Adventure Falls miniature golf, Tupelo Bay Golf Center, Wild Water and Wheels Theme Park, 5 local parks, or go parasailing at Shoreline Watersports, and don’t forget to sample one of the seven local nightspots.

Garden City Beach, 8 miles south of Myrtle Beach, ends on the peninsula of Murrel’s Inlet, Garden City Beach offers peaceful, sandy beaches. Enjoy great swimming April through October. Fish off The Pier at Garden City, go crabbing, rent water sports equipment, or rent a fishing charter from the Marlin Quay Marina.

Murrells Inlet, has dozens of seafood restaurants. Visit Huntington State Park, while there, see a 30 room Moorish style castle, walk along the pristine beach looking for shells, hike a nature trail, have a picnic, or go bird watching. Sports minded? See Captain Dick’s or Express Watersports for parasailing, Banana boat rides, kayaking, scuba diving, Jet skis, or deep sea fishing. Go to Unusual Tours for land and water tours, they say no two are alike. Dive Myrtle Beach’s wide variety of live reefs at Mermaid Diving. Visit Brookgreen Gardens, view 500 sculptures amidst formal gardens, take a creek boat cruise or see the wildlife exhibit and learn how wildlife influenced 19th century plantation life.

Litchfield Beach offers beautiful, uncrowded sandy beaches made for swimming, sunbathing, or watching the sunrise. Enjoy a round of golf at the Litchfield country Club, Willbrook Plantation or River Club. Play tennis, racquet ball or take a charter on a fishing boat. Dine at the Calypso Beach Bar and Grill for a taste of the Caribbean.

Other Information

Equipment Rentals

There are several rental companies that offer everything from linens to beach chairs, TVs/VCRs to golf carts etc.

Vacation Equipment Rentals (800) 516-9886

Surfside Rent Mart, Inc. (800) 807-3681

Beach wheelchairs are available at most life guard stands.

The communities along the Myrtle Beach area have the ocean water tested all summer long to ensure the safety of swimmers. Swimming after a rainstorm should be avoided, as there may be runoff of pesticides and fertilizer.
Most Grand strand Beaches have lifeguards.

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Touring through Barcelona; Part II – Tapas Bars and Bookstores

February 18th, 2010

During the short duration we were in Barcelona, people looked serene and appeared to be having fun, for there are lots of public parks and outside cafes where one can sit, eat, drink, or just enjoy life watching and petting the stray cats that beg for food around the caf?s.

Talking of food, I put on several pounds enjoying the immense spread of food on the tables. My favorites are the tapas, like appetizers. In the evenings, one can go to a tapas bar and enjoy his drink and an unbelievable variety of food.

Some of the evening wanderers top the tapas by going to a restaurant afterwards. No wonder dinnertime never finishes in Spain, because people start around six or seven in the evening with tapas and bar hopping, and finish at a restaurant with main courses and deserts, eating late until after midnight.

A kind of sandwich they serve at tapas bars is called a montadito, which can be a slice of French bread with a gourmet topping of ham, tortilla, tunafish, anchovies, etc. The array of montaditos are served together with drinks and just the view of them are more than enough to fill any stomach.

The tapas bars are meeting places for poets, writers, painters, musicians and artists. This is where the real action is and where the heart of Barcelona really beats.

The most popular multicultural meeting place is Plaza de Catalunya with the well-known El Corte Ingles department store, which reminded me of Macy’s on 34th and Herald’s Square in New York city, except this department store was a more sociable place for its clients than being shopping oriented.

The most magnificent street equivalent to Park or Fifth Avenues is the Passeig de Gracia. On this street, several designers, such as Vincon and Cartier, as well as The Majestic Hotel are situated.

Since I refused to go to the bullring, deflating some of my Spanish friends’ egos, they refused the Picasso Museum to me. They politely said the Museum was very close to the Monumental Bullring and it wouldn’t be fair to go to one and leave the other.

Instead, they took me on a tour to Gothic Quarter, the one where the Barrio Chino is. They even managed to get a Spaniard in costume with a scary base voice to guide us through the medieval streets of gray cobblestones, talking of true ghosts and old legends that remained to haunt the imagination and the folklore surrounding Barcelona. The Spanish are a very demonstrative sort.

When we travel, we find out that the world is different. We can also travel without moving from where we are, by reading. Reading is not just for passing time but it is also for breaking the iron bars of thought and dogma the society has enforced upon us. So when I travel I look for bookstores and libraries to get the feel of the intellectual capacity of the town I’m in.

From that point of view, Barcelona really impressed me. Aside from being an artists’ city, I also found Barcelona to be a readers’ city.

A book store named Laie had to be the haven or rather a heaven for a book lover, because compared to its small size, it had everything that would make a person not want to leave it. In Laie, everyday, they had an event, a jazz or a musical performance, a cultural meeting, a lecture, a debate. The store even had a caf? upstairs, and of course, it had quite a few books.

So did the others. Once I came across a small bookstore that sold all English books. Later I found out that there were many large or small bookstores that catered to the English speaking readers.

There were larger bookstores, also. One was borne from a church built in the seventeenth century and it had books in several languages.

Each bookstore had a theme. Where one was well stocked with travel and adventure books, another had all the current titles, yet another had lots of historical books on its shelves.

Yet, all these stores had one thing in common. They carried art books or books about Barcelona and how this city fits into the art world.

Barcelona had been a delight.

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The Best Way To Learn To Play Guitar For Everyone

January 15th, 2010

There are as many reasons why people want to play guitar as there are guitar players. The best way to learn how to play the guitar for everyone who wants to play, is going to be a course of study that targets each person’s own musical aspirations.

The first step to learning how to play the guitar, is to decide what one wants to do or accomplish by learning how to play. Once a person knows what they want to accomplish by learning to play the guitar, then they can target a specific course of study to help them reach their musical goals.

To simplify things, I will separate people who want to learn how to play the guitar into four groups, A through D. I will then offer suggestions for what approach each group should take to reach their goals.

Group A – Amateur. People in this group are those who want to play for fun and recreation. Included in this group are those who just want to strum chords and play songs.

Group A – Suggested course of study. First, choose an acoustic guitar rather than an electric guitar. A beginner guitar that plays well and stays in tune can be purchased new for about $300. Only a basic knowledge of music theory is required to learn how to strum chords and play simple tunes. One year of lessons is plenty for people in Group A. One year should be enough to learn how to string, tune, and play the common chords one needs to know to begin playing songs. On average, guitar lessons will cost about $15. for a thirty minute lesson.

It should be noted that learning a handful of the most commonly used chords will allow one to learn thousands of songs. There is enough easy guitar music available to keep a person busy for a lifetime of learning simple tunes. If a person cannot afford lessons or a teacher is not available, then online instruction is the next best thing. I still highly recommend that a new player get at least a few lessons from a teacher to make sure that they are pointed in the right direction and not developing bad habits and incorrect technique. A live teacher is always going to be better than a book or video because a teacher can be asked a question, and a teacher can tailor a course of study that meets the needs of each individual student.

Group B – Semi-Professional. This group includes people who want to get to the semi-professional level. People in Group B are those who want to play acoustic and electric guitar. This group consist of those who want to play some lead guitar in styles such as blues, pop, rock, and country. People in this group may want to perform solo or play in a band to have fun and make some extra money playing parties or clubs on weekends.

Group B – Suggested course of study. People in this group should also choose an acoustic guitar to begin learning, however to play lead styles an electric guitar will probably be helpful once one has a basic grasp on making chords, strumming, and picking. Those in this group only need a basic knowledge of theory, however more emphasis should be placed on chord and scale theory than those in group A. People in group B should learn how to read guitar tablature. One year of lessons should be fine for this group, however some online courses will be helpful in addition to formal lessons with a teacher.

Group C – Professional without a music degree. This group would include those who want to be professional guitar players. These are people who want to make a living playing guitar. Players in this group are those who are mostly self taught, have little or no formal training, play by ear, and read tablature but not music notes. Most of the people in this group want to perform and or record music as a solo artist or as a member of a band.

Group C – Suggested course of study. People in this group should get at least one year of formal music study with a teacher. A basic grasp on music theory is essential for Group C, and a thorough knowledge of chord and scale theory as well. Those in this group will benefit by being very good with tablature and lead sheets. Because people in Group C are not music readers, they will need to develop their “play by ear” capabilities to a very high level. Players in this group need to polish their playing. Polish comes from concentrated practice sessions for a minimum of two hours a day. Many professional guitar players practice six hours a day or more.

Stage performance and business savvy are required skills at the professional level, and in many cases can be the difference between those who crack the big time and those who do not.

Group D – Professional guitarist / musician. People in this group want to become professional guitarist and musicians. This group would include those who want to play and perform complex forms of music such as classical and jazz. People in this group may want to play in the symphony orchestra, become session musicians, or perform and record as a solo artist or as part of a band. People in group D are those who want to pursue a classical musical education and gain a music degree. People in this group would have a thorough understanding of music theory and would be able to read traditional music notes flawlessly. People in this group will likely be proficient with a second instrument, most often piano.

Group D – Suggested course of study – Those who fall into this group need a solid foundation of music theory and composition, so traditional music study with a teacher is imperative. Those in this group need to be excellent music readers and the training should start at an early age, elementary school age or younger would be best. A working knowledge of piano is recommended for those in Group D, because most major music programs require piano as a primary or secondary instrument as a prerequisite for acceptance into their programs.

Many musicians in this category continue concentrated areas of specialized study with master instructors after college. For people in this group the study of music and their instrument never really ends. It should go without saying that a major commitment is required for anyone looking to become part of this group.

Well, I hope this article helps those looking for the best way to learn how to play the guitar to know the best course of action to take to realize their musical goals. with all of these groups it is important to practice everyday. It is better to practice thirty minutes every day then to practice for hours one day and then not to pick up your instrument for a day or a few days. It is daily repetitions that produce the desired results and eventual success in learning how to play the guitar.

Visualization is a powerful tool and should be used by everyone.

Finally, associating with other players who are at or slightly above one’s own level is a great way to learn regardless of skill level. More discussion on this topic can be found at my blog at http;//hillbillyadvocat.blogspot.com Good luck everybody!

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Adams-Morgan – Diversity DC Style

January 13th, 2010

Centered at the intersection of 18th Street NW and Columbia Road NW, the diverse and vibrant Adams-Morgan neighborhood is considered the heart of Washington’s Latino community. The area’s history dates back more than a century to the late 1800s when famous politicians and socialites dominated the hills beyond the city of Washington. The neighborhood was then known as Adam’s Mill, named for John Quincy Adams, who owned a large estate there.

In the late 1880s, an ambitious developer, Mary Foote Henderson purchased land in the area, evicting African American families who been living there since the Civil War. Ironically, Henderson was married to Senator John B. Henderson, who introduced the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery. Although she was unable to persuade city planners to build the Lincoln Memorial at the top of the hill, the land was developed into a site that is now Malcolm X. Park. Henderson built mansions along 16th Street, attracting a number of foreign governments to occupy the mansions as their embassy. Because many of the initial governments were from Spanish-speaking countries, their diplomats and domestic help settled the neighborhood in the early 1900s, paving the way for the neighborhood’s mix of residents.

By the 1950s, Adams-Morgan was known as Lanier Heights — a mix of tony townhouses home to largely white residents. The Brown vs. Board of Education ruling irrevocably altered the neighborhood’s history. Until then, the practice had been to build new schools for white children as demand increased and give the old schools to black children. Not surprisingly, the schools left for the black children were in terrible shape. The 1955 ruling ended segregation in the area, peacefully integrating two previously separate elementary schools – white-attended Adams and black-attended Morgan. Washington became the first major city to successfully implement the integration ruling. As a symbol of hope, city planners renamed Lanier Heights to Adams-Morgan.

The influx of Latino, Caribbean, and African immigrants in the 60s looking for cost-effective housing drove the neighborhood’s ethnic flavor. The major commercial strip, beginning at 18th Street and Columbia Road reflects this history. Popular eateries include no less than three Ethiopian restaurants as well as a mix of Asian, Cuban, Portuguese and Tex Mex joints. Some of the more popular clubs feature jazz, Latin sounds, as well as African hits. Small shops and sidewalk markets sell a mix of clothing, jewelry, crafts and antiques. A burgeoning art colony with galleries and showings is a recent entrant to the community. The popular Adams-Morgan Day Festival every September highlights the neighborhood’s diverse charms with food and performances.

While the aura is rich in flavors, the prices are also rich — reflecting much of the gentrification that was driven in during the late 80s and 90s. To showcase the neighborhood’s charms, the City opened the Adams Morgan Heritage Trail in 2006 to allow visitors and residents to walk the neighborhood. Walkers can view the former homes of three presidents – William Howard Taft, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy, as well as view the former Lanier Heights section of the neighborhood while glimpsing the embassies on 16th Street.

Long a symbol of hope, Adams-Morgan continues to emit its own unique rhythms.

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Marrakech Nightlife – Live Jazz, Rhythm & Blues and Piano Bars

January 9th, 2010

Marrakech nightlife is vibrant and varied and offers countless opportunities to enjoy all kinds of live music in different settings and decors. One of the musical elements that contribute to the city’s cultural wealth and to its elegant and fashionable atmosphere is its live music in restaurants and piano bars. There are various venues that showcase jazz, rhythm n’ blues and other beats, where you can enjoy the music together with a meal and a drink. Here is a list of some of those sonic havens:

Le Lawrence Bar

Le Lawrence Bar is set on the terrace of the high-class Hotel Sofitel in Hivernage. Elegant, convivial, animated, original and thematic, this bar invites you to discover a variety of upscale alcoholic drinks and cocktails with a most pleasant musical background of international standards. On a weekly basis, the duo Pile ou Face will delight you with their nostalgic rendition of jazz and pop classics, on guitar and piano, in a cordial and exclusive atmosphere.

Lotus Club

Located at the heart of the Hivernage neighbourhood, the Lotus Club is a chic and cosy restaurant rooted in the 1930s Villa Eva. You will be warmly welcomed in its refined and comfortable decor and its elegant lounge atmosphere. The choice of inventive and colourful cocktails is very wide, and its cuisine is innovative and playful. Let yourself be charmed by the finger-food and sushi’s menu while listening to the jazzy and soul rhythms of the resident singer and his band, dancers and DJs.

Kosybar

This charming riad, located at the very heart of the medina, right next to the Badi Palace, is a bar and restaurant open day and night and offering, living up to its name, the cosiest of atmospheres. On the ground floor, you will be greeted around a piano and a wine cellar offering the best vintage local wines. The light Japanese-inspired menu, the elegant and intimate ambiance and the amazing views from the terrace will be animated with the classic melodies sung by lovely and amiable singers.

Le Montecristo

Le Montecristo’s motto is ? one place, four ambiances ?. Located in the Gueliz neighbourhood, this place is at the same time a restaurant, a bar and a nightclub where you can drink, eat and dance at your ease. The ground floor’s African bar is calm and relaxed, and it features a live pub, where two different bands with different soul, jazz and funk vibrations play every night.

L’Epicurien is actually the Es S?adi Gardens & Resort Casino’s restaurant. It is a place where you will find yourself immersed in the nostalgia of a 1950s Marrakech, thanks to its distinguished Italian art-nouveau decoration. Although it is quite close to the Casino’s main hall, the restaurants’ atmosphere is relaxing and intimate and quite inviting to relish in the chef’s delicate and tasteful creations. A singer and a pianist will discretely animate your dinner with North and South American rhythms.

Churchill’s Piano Bar

This is probably the most glamorous of all piano bars in Marrakech. It is the bar of the Hotel La Mamounia, currently still under renovation and a veritable institution in the city. It has a sumptuous, epic Moorish art deco interior, and requires an exclusive and strict dress code in order to maintain the elegant and fashionable atmosphere. The soft leather armchairs merge graciously with the grand piano, which brings out the jazziest and most stylish of sounds.

Le Blokk

This restaurant, located in the Palmeraie, offers an international cuisine animated with the fantastic voices of several male and female singers intoning jazz, blues, country and pop music. Too bad they sing over a karaoke instead of live music. The decoration is elegant and comfortable, but the ambiance often turns to vulgar and loud, the sound is rather awful and the singing cadence is that of an assembly line rather than a classy restaurant. Excellent singers, good potential, badly managed.

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Tags: Jazz Rhythm, Live Jazz, Nightlife
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