Jan 7, 2021
Join us on February 13th at 5pm for an Artist Talk: Table Wizard Spinny Spin and the Separate 5 Mcs: The Untold Story of the beginning of Ossining Hip Hop Culture with Spencer Thomas
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The year was 1979 we formed our group The Separate 5 MCs. The group consisted of DJ Table Wizard Spinny Spin aka Roosevelt Keemer, Little Tee aka Spencer Thomas, Mic Master Gee aka Wayne Gillespie, and Dazzy Dee aka Daniel Hawkins. We were known as the Jazzy 3 emcees. Along with MC Drew Za B aka Andrew Bazemore and Lord K Whan aka Stephen Daniels. They were called the PlayBoy MC‘s and together we formed the Separate 5 MCs. My family, relatives, and friends back in High School called me Spinny Spin, and some family, relatives, and friends called me Little Tee. Even though DJ Wise was called Table Wizard Spinny Spin back then, it was because he would spin the records for us. However, the name Spinny Spin originated from me Spencer Thomas back then. I eventually took my name, Spinny Spin back and Roosevelt our DJ who began practicing the Muslim faith became DJ Wise. As the Separate 5, we performed at our Ossining High School events including the African-American Day Festival.
We performed at the Club Cortland Lounge, the Ossining Sportsman Club, and in the local parks and local venues. After we performed as a group getting our name out there, we begin to perform throughout West Chester, the Peekskill Canteen, the White Plains Slater Center, Mt. Kisco Community Center, the Yonkers Polish Community Center, Mount Vernon, the Spring Valley Camelot, and in Portchester. Finally, it was my cousin Carl Lucas Jr, a DJ pioneer of Ossining and most well-known for his massive sound system called Music Master Production. He decided we needed to go down to New York on the big stage, so he brought us down to Harlem World and that is where we performed in front of a huge crowd that included some of, we’ll know Hip Hop famous people of today. The FORCE MC’s are now called the Force MDs. Kool Moe D, DJ AJ among others. We gave such a great performance at that point we felt we had made it to the big time. However, more shows meant adulation and bigger egos. That would lead to our group as the Separate 5 returning to our two individual groups the Jazzy 3 and the PlayBoy MCs. Unfortunately, as the group the Separate 5 we did not get a chance to record a record or put any of our rhymes and routines on a record. We also, unfortunately, did not perform on any records, and to this very day, we regret that.
With Thanks and Acknowledgement:
This program is sponsored by Cravin Jamaican Ossining, NY
Bethany Arts Community is supported by The National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, Arts Westchester and donations from our community.
Jan 7, 2021
Join us Feb. 27 at 5pm for an evening of music with KJ Denhert, award-winning songwriter, guitarist, vocalist and bandleader.
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Sister Songs
Pandemic Reflections
When the world locked down, life’s day to day distractions diminished. Existential questions arose with new license to frighten, inspire, inform and bemuse. The Sister Songs are a collection of brand new works from singer-songwriter KJ Denhert, reflecting the voices and music of her rich past. Growing up as a first – generation American with parents from the island of Grenada, she shares stories of love, loss and hope.
About KJ Denhert
KJ Denhert is an award-winning songwriter, guitarist, vocalist and bandleader living in Ossining, New York. She is a consummate artist with a rich history; a legend of Urban Folk & Jazz who channels a wide range of influences to create something completely unique. She performs regularly in New York and around the world and has shared stages with internationally renowned jazz and pop musicians such as GRAMMY Award winners Alicia Keys, Roberta Flack and many more. KJ has a residency at The 55 Bar in New York City’s West Village performing with her all-star band when she is not touring. She has released 10 albums including her latest “Destiny”, and is at work on 3 new original projects set for 2018-19. Learn more at kjdenhert.com.
With Thanks and Acknowledgement:
This program is sponsored by
Cravin Jamaican Ossining, NY
Bethany Arts Community is supported by The National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, Arts Westchester and donations from our community.
Jan 7, 2021
Join us Feb. 20 at 5pm for an evening of music and talk with Ted Daniel, acclaimed American jazz musician and composer.
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FREE – Donations Welcome
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Ted Daniel is an American jazz trumpeter and composer.
He studied trumpet in elementary school, and began his professional career playing local gigs with his childhood friend, the legendary guitarist Sonny Sharrock. Daniel briefly attended Berklee School of Music and Southern Illinois University, before joining the army. In 1966, Daniel was drafted in the army, and served with the 9th and 25th Infantry DivisionBands in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam during the Vietnam War.[2] After his discharge from the Army in 1968, Daniel attended Central State College, Ohio, on a full music scholarship, where he met and studied with Dr. Makanda Ken McIntyre. After a year, Daniel returned to New York City and eventually received a bachelor of music degree in theory and composition from the City College of New York. Daniel had begun his recording career while studying in Ohio. He returned briefly to New York to record Sonny Sharrock’s first album Black Woman. His second recording was with a band he co-led (Brute Force) with his brother, Richard Daniel. The recording was entitled Brute Force on the Embryolabel, produced by Herbie Mann. Since then, Daniel has participated in more than 30 published recordings with such artists as: Archie Shepp, Dewey Redman, Andrew Cyrille, Sam Rivers, Billy Bang and Henry Threadgill.
With Thanks and Acknowledgement:
This program is sponsored by
Cravin Jamaican Ossining, NY
Bethany Arts Community is supported by The National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, Arts Westchester and donations from our community.
