A Night To Remember. theLIFT Presents CHURCH.

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Jody Watley

It went down April 27, 2013 at a very secret location in downtown Los Angeles. You needed to RSVP before being given the address. This is an ultra groovy music affair. If you’re not hip to internationally renowned DJ/Producer/Jazz Musician/Classically trained pianist/ Mark de Clive-Lowe you need to update your musical palette. His event CHURCH is a must attend night on the town if it ever pops up in your city – anywhere in the world. The framework and atmosphere were laid by an eclectic range of DJ’s including Jeremy Sole and KCRW’s Aaron Byrd mixing tunes on a stellar sound system inside the warehouse. I’m not talking the glut of the same Top 40 songs being spun in clubs around the world now. If you’re old enough to remember what it was like going out to dance and you heard songs that made you go “Whoa..what’s that?!”

This was handpicked music ranging from jazz, soul and house all woven together amidst a first class lighting designer to create the right type of ambience. Mark de Clive Lowe’s set is a combination of DJ and musicianship – with vocal pieces and musical bits being created on the fly accompanied by a tight knit band that included an esteemed cast including Freddy Washington (Herbie Hancock,Patrice Rushen on bass; Derf Reklaw (The Pharoahs, Ramsey Lewis) percussion, Dexter Story (Kindred Spirits, Lifeforce Trio), drums Bob Reynolds (John Mayer) on saxophone, , as well the gifted Nia Andrews (Common, Janelle Monae) on vocals.

Food trucks, full bar and a packed house of music devotees not worried about trend or popularity – rather the type of night of music and dancing that’s all about substance. Legacy artist/songwriter producer Leon Ware (Marvin Gaye, Quincy Jones, Maxwell) did a memorable brief set that included Minnie Ripperton’s classic “Inside My Love” to which I joined him on a sublime and sexy rendition of one of his classic penned tunes “I Want You.” I felt as if I were in a dream. It wasn’t one of those generic ‘old school’ moments – this was born of the moment to a packed house of primarily 20 and 30 somethings that appreciate the music and vibes enough to be in the ‘know’ about an evening like this. They also seem to know the history not as nostalgia (like some older fans tend to do) but true modern appreciation rather than what’s force-fed ad nauseam in today’s commercial scene. After coming onstage to join Mr. Ware, I returned in the second set of De Clive-Lowe to perform “Tonight’s The Night” one of our club gems as well as the new “The Dawn” – it was the first time he and I had performed that one. My guys Rosero McCoy and John “Havic” Gregory went in with me on both.

It’s a pleasure to be a legacy artist with history myself while continuing to be a part of something fresh to those who really understand – as an alternative to some of the more straight up shows and events I do with my own band. It’s a continued evolution which is an element and one of the many unique things about what I do and the variety of ways I choose to do it. Being an artist for 3 decades in this crazy business, it’s always important for me to find ways to remain authentic though never staying the the ‘box.’ The vibe of ‘CHURCH’ is one of the elements of the underground that I’ve loved since I discovered and began to embrace back in 1999; a quality mixture of soul, jazz, dance, electronic – just happens to be ‘club.’ There is a wealth of great music and artistry – you may have to work harder to find it, but it’s there for the open-minded. I had so much fun – it was another night to remember for all involved.

Mark De Clive-Lowe and Jody Watley (c) 2013

Backstage. Mark De Clive-Lowe and Jody Watley Photo: Jody Watley 2013 (c)

Backstage. Mark De Clive-Lowe, Jody Watley, Leon Ware. Photo: Jody Watley 2013 (c)

Jody Watley “LIVE” theLIFT presents CHURCH Spring 2013 Photo: Jody Watley 2013 (c)

Backstage. Limited edition Jody Watley T-shirts!

Backstage VIP Lounge. Limited edition Jody Watley T-shirts!

Pre-Show – Always staying “in the light!” Photo: Jody Watley 2013 (c)

Meeting Leon Ware backstage for first time. Photo: Jody Watley 2013 (c)

UPCOMING CONCERTS:

CHENGDU NIGHT OF GLOBAL FORTUNE AND GRAMMY WINNING ARTISTS; CHENGDU, CHINA SPORTS CENTRE JUNE 8, 2013.

ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL, NEW ORLEANS, LA MERCEDES BENZ SUPERDOME SUPERLOUNGE, JULY 6, 2013

NEW MUSIC COMING:

“NIGHTLIFE” PRODUCED BY COUNT DE MONEY

”THE DAWN” PRODUCED BY MARK DE CLIVE-LOWE – Coming Summer 2013!

NEW Video Post! Dance Rehearsal.

Posted on April 7, 2013 by Jody Watley

We’re off to Japan for concerts at Billboard Live in Tokyo and Osaka tomorrow – a trip my band and I always look forward to! I had fun with Rosero, Havic and new understudy Eric McCoy – son of Rosero. Eric told me before joining us onstage in Oakland he had been waiting to dance onstage with me since he was little and his Dad brought him to our show in Las Vegas. His revelation and quiet dream was priceless, very sweet and a joy to know that it had come to fruition as I had no idea! We’ve added a Shalamar medley to the show with some nice dance breaks. It’s always tricky when I’ve included Shalamar songs because the majority of Jody Watley fans still don’t connect with that part of my repertoire resulting in mild crickets – to this day people will say they never knew I was in a group. In the early days of my solo career I really went out of my way to establish myself as a separate and distinct entity – and succeeded. Because some of my upcoming new music has a soul disco funk vibe I’ve decided to try a new approach to incorporating a few Shalamar songs in the mix.

Rosero is currently very busy with Disney’s “Shake It Up” and other countless shows and artists as a choreographer as well as the perfectly chiseled John ‘Havic’ Gregory. Anytime they can be a part of the concerts is always extra special and we have a lot of fun with great chemistry on and off the stage.

Upcoming Concerts / Appearances:

BILLBOARD LIVE Tokyo – April 10-11, 2013

BILLBOARD LIVE Osaka – April 13, 2013

BROOKLYN BOWL, NY – April 19, 2013 –Special Guest with French Horn Rebellion

CHURCH, Los Angeles – April 27, 2013 –Special Guest with Mark de Clive Lowe

ESSENCE FEST Mercedes Benz Superdome – July 6, 2013

Another Nightlife Preview.

Posted on March 17, 2013 by Jody Watley

This is another snippet of my forthcoming new single “Nightlife.’ “Princess Lockeroo” Samara Cohen is supreme in this dance video directed by Yak Films one of the most popular dance channels on YouTube.

Another Musical Pivot.

Posted on December 27, 2012 by Jody Watley

“I enjoy the diversity of my musical range and feel comfortable in various genres. I can go with ease from R&B/Pop, dance/disco, funk, ambient electronica to a more smooth out jazz vibe – finding total joy and passion in all of it. The versatility is something that also separates me from a lot of artists and songwriters and defies the box that some have tried to put me in over the years.” – Jody Watley

Jody Watley. Song of the Day from ‘The Makeover’

Posted on December 9, 2012 by Jody Watley

The makeover of the CHIC classic ‘I Want Your Love’ written and prodcued by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards. #1 Billboard Hot Dance Club Play, earning Watley her 14th career #1 (13 as a solo artist) in 2007; the second single from the iTunes Top #3 Top Electronic Album (2006).

Jody Watley. Soul Train Awards Weekend 2012.

Posted on November 12, 2012 by Jody Watley

The Soul Train Awards will air on Centric TV on November 25, 2012. Check your local listings.

In addition to being a presenter on the show, I was a part of various activities for the first annual Soul Train Awards weekend. At the Golf, Peace and Soul Golf Tournament I had the opportunity to meet NBA Hall of Famer and legend Julius “Dr. J.” Irving -if you know how much I love NBA basketball you’ll understand this made my entire trip! Being honest, I was hurt and disappointed with my participation – as it wasn’t what it was pitched to me to be with regard to the video package which wasn’t the one I approved; I’ll leave it at that but left the show feeling a bit like Rodney “I Don’t Get No Respect” Dangerfeld from the R&B gatekeeper powers that be. That said, it was still nice and an honor to be a part of the show especially to speak on Don Cornelius which is what it was all about for me. I believe the producers did a great job stepping it up with the production elements and moving the show to Las Vegas which gave it a more high end feel than recent past years. Raphael Saadiq and the assembled band and orchestra including Joi Gilliam on backing vocals was a nice funky touch. I came loving the song ‘Adorn’ by new singer Miguel who is a total cutie pie and sounded great live. I never had an opportunity to meet or take a photo with him. As a longtime fan of New Edition, I was happy to see them receive their lifetime achievement award, it’s hard to believe they’ve been in the music 30 years. In concert they were great and total pro’s as always.

In Grey Ant Matte Black shades, casual, checking out the shopping atrium over the weekend. The sign with various languages of the word “Peace” caught my eye.

An Ensemble Preview. Loving The Silent Tears.

Posted on October 14, 2012 by Jody Watley

A look at some of the kids from the ensemble from our cast of ‘Loving The Silent Tears’ – international cultural dance!

A bus advert featuring Jody Watley from the musical seen in Los Angeles.

Jody Watley. Waacking Freestyle Dance

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Jody Watley

I’m not a trained dancer, singer nor writer – I do them all from my soul with my own distinct feel and style much like an improvisational jazz musician. There is a joy in dancing no matter the style. I’ve always loved it and always will – watching and doing.

It’s so incredible to see ‘Waacking’ continue to grow with a younger generation around the world. You just search Youtube, ‘Waacking’ and you will find battles and performances going on globally; fused with other elements including Hip-Hop, Propeller (created by Princess ‘Lockeroo’ Samara Cohen), Voguing, Punking and so on. The origins of ‘Waacking’ date back to the 70′s, my teen era. I was amongst a few girls who were doing it on the show; and was a member of dance troupe ‘The Outrageous Waack Dancers’, along with other Soul Train alums Tyrone Procter, Cleveland Moses Jr., and my former Shalamar colleague Jeffrey Daniel.