Local Collective SunTzu Sound Celebrate Five Years of Funk
The crew has been able to make true clubland magic (i.e., dancing) happen in
places other than Pioneer Square.
By Rachel Shimp
March 12, 2008
Seattle Weekly
On a humid night last July, I stood outside my apartment building on
Bellevue Avenue, debating whether or not I should go to the Baltic Room
alone. I was all dressed up, and tired of flailing around to Amy Winehouse
with only the voyeur in the building across the street for company. It's
only a block away. Don't be lame, I told myself. So I walked that block to
Safari, a monthly party hosted by local crew SunTzu Sound, and ended up on a
journey I would've regretted missing. Detroit-based producer Waajeed, of the
Platinum Pied Pipers, was DJing a set list of astounding randomness and
quality, moving the crowd through hip-hop to a house or nu-jazz groove
effortlessly. That's what SunTzu's Safari audience—a core of about 150
people—might've expected, but Waajeed's set was uncommonly good. I forgot
about ordering another drink and commenced dancing with strangers. The
capper: "Take Control," by R&B songbird Amerie, as the lights on a roomful
of frenzied dancers went up to a chorus of boos.
It's the kind of vibe I'd always been after in Seattle. One crew that's been
able to make true clubland magic (i.e., dancing) happen consistently outside
of Pioneer Square is SunTzu, a collective of DJs, producers, and musicians
who've been playing and creating together since 2002. As they gear up for
their five-year anniversary show, featuring BBC Radio 1 DJ Benji B, I sit
down to get the stories of producer/DJs AC (Aaron) Lewis, Atlee, and Dr. J
(aka 1 Luv, who lives in Vancouver, B.C.), DJ J-Justice, and percussionist
Jayson Powell. We are gathered at Smith over sweet-potato fries and whiskey.
The only rule: drink every time someone says "soul."
READ ON!!!!
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http://seattleweekly.com/2008-03-12/music/local-collective-suntzu-sound-celebrate-five-years-of-funk.php
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