Please note: This article is published as an archive copy from Philadelphia City Paper. My City Paper is not affiliated with Philadelphia City Paper. Philadelphia City Paper was an alternative weekly newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The last edition was published on October 8, 2015.
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January 18–25, 2001
six pick
Organic Grooves
What was, for five years, just a legendary weekly party in New York City has developed into an improvisational live act that tours and plays for packed houses all over Europe and the West Coast. But outside of NYC, Organic Grooves’ East Coast recognition is, oddly enough, only getting started. Two DJs and five musicians (two percussionists, guitar/synth, keyboard/trumpet and melodica) all originally from places like Yugoslavia, Japan, Israel, Ireland and the U.S., drop a mishmash of styles which they refer to as cosmic — where the vibe and sound is spontaneous and utterly dependent on the crowd. While the DJs spin their own breaky, repetitive rhythms, the live instrumentalists jam with a non-traditional jazz flavor mixed with a reggae-ish dub-iness that’s tripped out and drenched in echoes and delays. It’s mellow, yet danceable. The end result is a unique blend of trip-hop, hip-hop, tribal, folk, afro-beat and a gritty side of contemporary urban-funk. With two timeless CDs already out on Codek Records, Organic Grooves is hitting up Philly for the first time.
with Julian, Crasta and Milkweed, Sat., Jan. 20, Silk City, Fifth and Spring Garden Sts., 215-922-8157, 21+. Organic Grooves will also do an in-store appearance at Cue Records at 5 p.m. that day.
