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Arts and Entertainment
Funk+Jazz = what else? Funkjazz
Funk Jazz is an unforgettable cultural arts experience.
L'Erin Donahoe
Contributing Writer
It was a freezing and
torrential October night the
first time I participated in the
Funkjazz Kafe
experience. It was my
first time in Atlanta
and as a high school
senior from Seattle, I
had never
encountered anything
of its caliber. After
escaping the rain, my
friend and I stood in
line with a few other
damp, cold bodies and
waited to be let into the
party of the season.
After getting inside
and beginning to warm up,
I was overcome by the scene
that unfolded in front of me.
The room was jam-packed
with eggplant, chocolate,
caramel and almond faces;
none more beautiful than the
next, all at peace, enjoying
the party.
The attire was unique
and stylish with the audience
wearing everything from
dashiki dresses to Mecca
sweaters. All kinds of the
delicious food was for sale
and consumption.
Underground poets and
musicians were displaying
their skills in a back room.
And on the main stage, The
Chronicle, one of the most
renowed local bands was
jamming.
Five years have passed
since Jason Orr, creator of the
Funkjazz Kafe, first let
Atlanta experience his
dream. It had been a
wonderful Wednesday night
in 1994 when Orr, then just 23
years old, first rented the
Royal Peacock on Auburn
Avenue. The house was
packed. Local artists Joi,
Arrested Development,
Laurnea and the Lyrical
Giants came through and
showed their support. House
DJ Kemit was on the
turntables. Orr recalls the
event being, "what I wanted
and more."
Orr and the owner of the
Royal Peacock have been
acquainted with each other
for a short while. When
Jason dropped out of Clark
Atlanta University after his
sophomore year and moved
to the St. Thomas to stay with
family
members,
he was not
sure what he
wanted to do
with the rest of
his life. After a
few months, he
returned to Atlanta
and began working as a tax
collector. It is in that office that
he and the owner first met.
"He would come in and pay his
taxes. We would talk about the club
and eventually he agreed to letting
me have the first Funkjazz Kafe
there," Orr said.
At the time, Orr was also
involved in many artistic venues
including visual arts, vending and
promoting the funk-jazz band,
"Vinnie Bernard & the Original
Man." The band would later
become Raw Material and
eventually, the aforementioned
Chronicle. The band's
drummer, LiL John, was
rooming with Orr at the
time, and between 1991 and
1993, they worked on creating venues
where alternative bands such as theirs would
be able to play.
Orr says Funkjazz Kafe was created with the idea of
"building an experience that will enlgihten people to what's
happening." He wants to expose audiences to new, interesting
and different things. But going beyond that step is also
important to him. Orr said, "showing that it exists is nothing to
trumpet. It's about being a ringmaster and bringing it all into
one house. Funkjazz has dance, artshows, fashion shows and
art."
Although the Funkjazz Kafe is becoming more of Orr's
total vision, he does not want the experience to begin and
end with the quarterly party. A television show, records,
apparel and magazines are yet to come. The Funkjazz Kafe
will be traveling to other cities, domestic and abroad.
"Every new day brings a new idea. When you open
channels for new ideas, you are kept alive, rolling and
happy," says Orr.
Music has always been one of the most influential
and instrumental things in Orr's life. It could be rooted
in his days as a child attending James Brown concerts
and the Jack the Rapper convention. It could have come
from his days hanging out in record stores listening
to the Beatles, Tori Amos, Joni Mitchell, Queen,
Stevie Wonder and Bobby Humphrey.
He believes the soon to be released
CD, Mr. Funkjazz — a collective of spirits
inspired by the soul , will exemplify
music "rooted in the rich spirituality
of great musical ancestors." Part of
creating Funkjazz Kafe deals with
recognizing the power of music.
"Everything helps the next.
James Brown helped every form of
music and every person in one
way or another." Orr continues, "A
lot of people took elements of
Prince. Everyone took something.
They can't help it. He influenced
both sides ...."
Orr is inspired by people thank
him. He is inspired when they
follow his example and start
companies of their own. He is
inspired when artists such as Karen
Wheeler (of Soul to Soul), Doug E.
Fresh and Erykah Badu say they wish
Funkjazz had been around longer
because there is a need for it. Orr said,
"it's so wonderful you almost feel like
you'll die when it's all over. Like there
is no other purpose in life."
As I anxiously awiait other
Funkjazz Kafe events, I also look
forward to other projects coming from
their camp.
Funkjazz Kafe Creator
E. Jason Orr
Photo by Shannon McCullom