Orkestar MÉZÉ at the Bordello Bar!

Another killing MÉZÉ gig on Thursday, September 23rd...we've got some new tunes and are ready to groove! Here's a little endorsement from our hosts, Malabomba!

"On September 23rd MALABOMBA! orchestrates a peasant uprising! We’re proud to present the down and dirty proletarian sounds of ORKESTAR MÉZÉ at the Bordello Bar on Thursday, September 23. This ensemble features 10 hot dudes and 1 hot chick from five different countries, all united in their love of Balkan brass music and... funky rhythms that liberate the asses of the workers.

ORKESTAR MÉZÉ plays “peasant funk,” a musical goulash of their own creation. Bandleader Milen Kirov knows that the best music comes from the salt of the earth folks from all over the world, so he draws on the folk and pop music of his native Bulgaria and mixes it with Eastern European brass band music, American soul and a splash of low-down funk to create a uniquely danceable urban turbo-folk sound. When ORKESTAR MÉZÉ strikes up a crooked dance in their insane Boban Markovic-meets-the Meters style, it’s enough to make the peasants of the field and the peasants of the cubicle throw off the shackles of oppression and shake it!

MALABOMBA! beat-chefs DJ Jason Savvy and DJ Cat Hair will be on the decks all night, serving up their spicy blends of tasty international cuts for the dance floor. Balkan beats, Romany rock, Turkish garage, Soviet disco, Bollywood funk, and more... they've been slaving away in the backwater kitchens of the world cooking up mixes of the best music you've never heard and will be dishing it up it as hot as ever! In your face!"

Thursday September 23rd, 9 PM until last call

Bordello Bar, 901 E 1st St, LA 90012

$5 admission; FREE before 9:30 PM. *NEW* $5 drink specials until 10 PM!

Celebration

I played a short duo gig with my friend Brice Albert today at Cal State Northridge. It was a small outdoor reception for the Microbiology Student's Association, with some tasty catered food and nice weather. While Brice chunked away on guitar (no power for us!) and I played some quiet alto sax, I came to a realization: being a musician has allowed me to be a part of many celebrations. From something as simple as a school reception to my good friend's wedding, I've witnessed a great deal of ceremony and smiles and had the opportunity to be a part of it all, to add something to the occasion. And very rarely has my presence gone unappreciated; people love good music, even if they aren't listening all the time, even if they don't realize I slipped in a chromatic ii-V7, there will always be a few people to thank us for the music or to offer us a drink or some conversation.

As was the case today, it's nice sometimes to play these gigs that, at first thought, might seem silly or random, but then they remind us how fortunate we musicians are to be doing what we love and bringing a touch of something happy or new into others' lives. It can be a struggle as a creative musician to remember that not everything we do has to be groundbreaking, or technically dazzling, or deeply thought-out. While we should all push ourselves, it's also okay to just make good music, whatever that means to you and your ears.

Played Take The "A" Train before? Good. Let's play it again.