With so much emphasis on making a dollar in the record label business, it is refreshing to see a CD that donates part of its proceeds to a worthy cause. Blue Ball is an weekend event held in Philadelphia annually to raise money for the good of the GLBT (Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgendered) community. Blue Ball has raised over 1 million dollars since its inception over 14 years ago and it strives to make a difference in HIV/AIDS research, education, and advocacy.
This third volume in the Blue Ball series is cunningly mixed by DJ Susan Morabito. Her mix of tribal and vocal house music is full of life and charisma. She rocks the decks with a eclectic blend of ten tracks from such stars as Peace Division, John Ciafone, ATFC, Johnny Vicious and a pair of tracks from Layo & Bushwacka. They open the show with the track “Deep South." It samples Bessie Smith’s “Moan,
You Moaners” and Nina Simone's “Cotton Eyed Joe." To jazz it up Susan begins it with a sample of the orginal “Moan, You Moaners” by Bessie Smith. She does it with class and sophistication, and it gives you a feel for what this disc is about from the start. The always clever Peace Division chimes in with “Groove Me." On this track they present the Doped Out Kings, but it definately has the Peace Division feel. The up-and-coming producer and remixer DJ Gregory, lends some knob twisting to the John Ciafone song “Everyday." It is everything house with the smooth Balearic drum patterns that has made DJ Gregory such a hit. The second dose of Layo & Bushwacka comes in the form of the hit song “It's Up To You (Shining Through)." The club mix darkens it up a bit from the orginal, but it blends perfectly with this set. The breakbeat bassline pounds, with the sounds of bells and one of the coolest vocals to come around in a while. Next up is ATFC asking the question “Ya Dig?”
This track gets a little funkier than the previous tracks but it still stays with the overall tribal feel. It has some acoustic percussion with dollops of chimes and cymbals. The piano solo gives off a sexy and soulful feel that strikes you deep in the mind. Jan Solo featuring Gary Low brings out the track “White Exploitation” right before the end of the disc. This song is full of a funked-up R&B bass part with more drums and cymbals. Right here it feels like it is taking a disco turn on the CD. The effects are retro and fit nicely in the flow of the track. It is a nice selection to have right before the final tracks on the disc. It’s too funky. Taking me “Back to Brazil” is the man himself, Johnny Vicious. With a name like “Back to Brazil,” you would expect it to remind you a lot of carnival and such, with hand percussion and horn solos. It has those two things, but does not really make me think of Brazil at all. It sounds more like a techno song with some reverse bass lines and fog horns blaring. Regardless if it reminds me of Brazil or not it is still a killer song. It is a great way to round out such a cool compilation as this.
If deep, funky, tribal house is something that your are into this is a super cross-section of hot thing in the house world. Thanks to Party Groove, Blue Ball, and Susan Morabito for dedicating your time and efforts to do something good for a change with money made from CDs.
