Disco Unusual Social Club's Podcast

TIME OUT CHICAGO MAGAZINE Disco Unusual Social Club DJ Mixed By Lono Brazil(Disco Unusual Social Club) Clubs Time Out Chicago / Issue 198 : Dec 11–17, 2008 He’s so Unusual Lono Brazil revives the spirit of the Loft in Bucktown. LOFTY GOALS Expert party-thrower Lono Brazil digs disco. Photo: Marzena Abrahamik The most reliably tasteful dance party in the city, Disco Unusual Social Club, has been running for just over a year now. Indie kids pack the compact Danny’s Tavern floor to the distinctive bass lines of disco edits while DJ Lono Brazil blows whistles and passes out tambourines. Things get a little nuts. “I’ve been lucky. Most of the things I’ve dreamt about, I’ve been able to do,” says fortysomething Gold Coaster Brazil without exaggeration. Raised in the South Shore/Windsor Park section of Chicago, Brazil spent much of the ’80s as a downtown New York personality, throwing parties with Pete Rock and Red Alert for Russell Simmons and Def Jam Records in New York, England and Tokyo. At the suggestion of his chums the Beastie Boys, Capitol-EMI hired him as a marketing director, then label executive. When he wasn’t exploring the dance halls of Kingston with Mad Cobra or working in the studio with Foxy Brown, he was picking up prominent DJ and modeling gigs. Brazil’s latest venture, the monthly DUSC at Danny’s, comes out of his life as a fervent clubber—which began at Tree of Life Health Spa’s disco on 95th and Jeffery in 1981. Brazil worked his way to the Warehouse (U.S. Studio) where Frankie Knuckles was making electronic-dance history. “That did it for me. I found my place and my music,” Brazil says. In mid-’80s Manhattan, Brazil stayed up all night at the Loft and indulged in dance marathons at the Paradise Garage. Over the course of the ’90s, Brazil was a resident at Tokyo megaclub Gold’s and hosted the popular Global Village radio show, bringing Fela Kuti and Nuyorican Soul to Los Angeles listeners on Monday mornings. Yet, he considers deejaying only a sideline. Back in Chicago, Brazil returned to party throwing with the Urban Renewal Project at Sonotheque, focusing on Afro, Latin and nu-jazz. Burned out on hip-hop a decade ago, he’s based DUSC on a passion for the free-ranging underground sounds of his early club years. He even sports a David & Nicky & Larry & Frankie T-shirt celebrating his DJ muses. It’s not just disco music; it’s the disco era he’s after. Brazil cites David Mancuso, the curator of seminal ’70s spot the Loft, as a role model. “I don’t say I’m a DJ; I say I’m a music host—the music, the place, the people are all a part of it,” he says. Like Mancuso, Brazil looks for an eclectic mix of music-focused people, not the look-at-me crowd that fancies bottle-service joints. At boho neighborhood joint Danny’s, he’s found his niche. The vinyl-oriented programmers there even allow Brazil to use his Serato and laptop rig. Paradise Garage great Larry Levan’s free-ranging style provides a stylistic sonic template—Brazil spins vintage dance music, mostly pre-’84 material, not just disco but also Italo, mutant disco and classics from the Prelude and West End labels, along with disco edits and nu-disco from Lee Douglas, perhaps with an Obama speech layered on top. Like Levan, he doesn’t fuss over beat matching. The night’s overarching mantra comes courtesy of Mancuso himself, says Brazil: “Disco just means come ready to dance.” Sweat it out at Disco Unusual Social Club every 2nd Saturday at 10pm at Danny’s in Bucktown and venues around the world.

Disco comes in various forms. All genres of music in some form or fashion qualifies and can be described as Disco. As you will hear on this mix Lono Brazil demonstrates vicariously Downtempo Disco. Designed for listening, lounging and dancing. After an all nighter at a loft party this would serve as the come down, chillout and coming back to your senses. One or more of these songs were played at one time or another by the likes of David & Nicky & Larry & Frankie although this mix does not in anyway represent what any of them did in there respected venues clubs & Disco's. Nothing compares to what each was able to create in regards to mood, vibe and energy. Nothing comes close. IT WAS AND ALWAYS WILL BE SPECIAL AND UNLIKE ANYTHING BEFORE OR AFTER. This mix represents a 2010 Post-Modern Disco aesthetic or ideology. The intent is to expose unusual dance music and present it in a Disco content. Weather or not this is accomplished here or with any of the mixes heard here on the site is open for debate. But one thing is sure and two things are certain. Lono Brazil is doing his thing & you can make of it what you will..... "KEEP ON DANCIN"

NU-JAZZ REVIVAL. ACID JAZZ/DOWNTEMPO, DANCE FLOOR JAZZ, Acid Jazz was a term coined in the late 80's by Gilles Peterson, Chris Bangs and Eddie Piller. It describes a funky music style which incorporates elements of jazz, 70's funk, hip-hop, soul, as well as other genres. Culminating soon afterwards in the creation of Acid Jazz Records. It's first signing was Galliano, featuring lead singer Rob Gallagher. Hot on Galliano's heels came The Brand New Heavies, The New Jersey Kings (an alias for The James Taylor Quartet), Mother Earth and The Sandals. In 1990, Gilles Peterson left Acid Jazz Records and started a new label called Talkin' Loud, which continued the tradition, signing acts such as Courtney Pine, Incognito, The K-Creative, Omar and MC Solaar. Jazzillmatic Arksetra pays homage to the original Acid Jazz mob. AND TAKING IT FORWARD..... Nuff Respect to United Future Organization, Young Disciples, 4hero, Jazzanova, Nathan Haines, Boozoo Bajou, Laurent Garnier, Gotan Project, Yesterday's New Quintet, Nicola Conte, UFO, St. Germain, Crazy Frenchman, Pal Joey, Special Acknowledgement: Lisa Koger Original Acid Jazz Diva

As Summer draws to a close, we are reminded of the summer that kinda was not. Global warming. Space exploration. Or whatever you wanna blame it on, Summer 2009 will long be remembered as the summer that didn't happen! In the Midwest & Eastcoast of the United States, we were teased and played with as the Sun was clouded by what else? CLOUDS! With that came rain & thunderstorms that made sun worshipers sad and grey. Like most of the days of Summer 2009. In this mix, Lono Brazil digs deep into his Disco bag of tricks and pulls out steaming hot Disco Donuts sure to heat things up for you & yours no matter where you are in the world. This mix brings the HEAT!!! Songs from Donna Summers, Vikki Sue Robinson, Eddy Grant & Ja Kii to name a few. All blended smoother than a Piña Colada sipped on The Beach in Ibiza Town! Download it into your iPod and enjoy what is left of the Summer of 2009 and as always, THANKS FOR LISTENING.... DISCO UNUSUAL SOCIAL CLUBTM