the hum / By Bob Doran

Man From MARZ

Jesse J’s busy weekend, plus Shpongle, Devin The Dude and Girlyman

(April 29, 2010) Jesse Jonathon‘s name pops up often in this column, and for good reason: The HSU music grad is central in the world fusion band WoMama, leads the Brazilian-style drum/dance troupe SambAmore (along with other less formal drumlines), he’s still a member of Humboldt Calypso Band and most recently he’s been working for AmeriCorps overseeing the MARZ Project, an Ink People DreamMaker program for teens.

He explains that MARZ is an acronym for Media and Arts Resource Zone. “We provide access to the digital resources kids need to develop skills in video and audio editing and design.” As with many arts programs and the Ink People in general, money’s tight, so he’s been doing benefits to keep things going.

Jesse Jonathon and The Humboldt Calypso Band

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The latest is an all-ages thing Friday night at Redwood Raks. “We’re calling it Cirque du MARZ,” said Jesse, explaining that the show was conceived as a collaboration between the jugglers of Poetic Motion Machine and “a faction of drummers” he calls Seismic Activity. “We use samba drums, West African and Middle Eastern drums, steel pans, anything we can get our hands on, but it’s more contemporary in style with experimental soundscapes and groove-oriented rock ‘n’ roll.”

The Seismic rhythms serve as a soundtrack for a dozen pieces by acrobats, aerialists and jugglers, “some black-lit, some using mirrors and projections. It’s a benefit for MARZ, so the students will be adding a multimedia aspect, projecting what’s going on on the walls and adding new dimensions.” The rhythmic circus business will be followed by reggae by the local band Synrgy.      

Jesse has a full weekend. In addition to the MARZ thing, he’ll be at Humboldt Brews Thursday night with SambAmore, one of three bands playing for the last in the KHSU 50th Anniversary Showcase series. This one represents the station’s world music programs:“Ethnic Excursions” with Halimah the Dreamah, (Thursdays 2-4 p.m.) and two Sunday shows, “In the Tradition” with Dan Chandler (9 p.m.) and “Pagan Dance Music” with Ramona, (10-midnight). Filling out the show: the excellent a cappella group AkaBella (who are about to head out on a U.S. tour) and the all-women West African drum troupe Guinea Gbe.

As noted, Jesse also plays steel drum with the Humboldt Calypso Band. They share a show at the Van Duzer Saturday with the HSUPercussion Ensemble highlighting rhythms from Africa, Hawaii and Mexico with a special tribute to Led Zeppelin, “Bonham” by drummer Christopher Rouse.

When UK-based DJ/producer Simon Posford joins forces with flautist Raja Ram, they call it Shpongle. Their fourth disc, Ineffable Mysteries from Shpongleland, came out recently, so Shpongle is touring the U.S. laying down mystical music with visuals bydigital artist, VJ Zebbler and ArcheDream from the theater company HUMANKIND, merging ancient ritual with modern technology. Shpongle plays Thursday at Arcata Theatre Lounge with the like-minded Phutureprimitive, aka Rain, a trance/chillout pioneer from Portland who’s with a full band including vocalist Alyssa Palmer. Opening, Arcata-based electro-artist Dojo, aka Andrew Juarez.

ATL’s electro-dance boom continues Friday with another GeT TuFF: Electro Dubstep Dance Party with the Helicopter Showdown crew, plus Ultraviolet, up from S.F. and locals Sam Supa and Psi-Fi.

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