Bobbito Garcia, Creative Powerhouse :: Axis

Bobbito Garcia, Creative Powerhouse :: Artist Profile from friendswelove.com on Vimeo.

About Bobbito:

Manhattan, NYC native and world-renowned DJ Bobbito Garcia is the Creative Chief at Project 2050 (an ideas and solutions shop). The former Bounce Magazine Editor In Chief is also the critically acclaimed author of Where’d You Get Those? NYC’s Sneaker Culture: 1960-1987 (Testify Books). In recent years, “Kool Bob Love” has done live on-air halftime reports for the NBA’s Knicks franchise on MSG Network, voiced NBA 2K video games, and hosted ESPN’s It’s the Shoes series. In ’07, he designed seven signature Nike Air Force 1 25th Anniversary shoes. Currently, the renaissance man is the annual Boost Mobile Elite 24 HS All-American Game play-by-play commentator, has a CD compilation out titled Connection (R2 Records), and will collaborate with the PRO-Keds sneaker brand on the Royal Flash hi-top re-issue dropping in Fall ’09!

You may wonder when Bobbito has time to breathe, but in the last 20+ years he has been relentlessly pursuing his passions in music and basketball. After playing pro ball in Puerto Rico and graduating from Wesleyan University (CT) in ’88, he began working at Def Jam Records. He met DJ Stretch Armstrong there, and in ’90 the two started an on-air program at WKCR 89.9FM. By ’98, the Source Magazine voted it the “Best Hip Hop Radio Show of All Time.” The duo introduced the world to unsigned acts like Nas, Jay Z, Biggie Smalls, Big Pun, Wu-Tang, Mobb Deep, and many others that would go on to change the face of the industry.

Although Bobbito a.k.a. Kool Bob Love is a bonafide Hip Hop legend, any former reader of his Vibe Magazine column would know that his musical passion goes way beyond just Rap. As a club DJ, crowds worldwide from China to South Africa have celebrated his unique blend of Rare Funk, Latin, Afro-Beat, Soul, Jazz, House, and Ballads. He’s opened up concerts for Latin Music legend Eddie Palmieri (5-time Grammy Award Winner), Afro-Funk progenitor Tony Allen (formerly Fela Kuti's drummer), Jazz-Funk legend Roy Ayers, and Soul singer D'Angelo.

What’s next? Who knows, but who would’ve ever expected a kid who started out in the music industry as a messenger to have accomplished so much, or a student-athlete who got cut from his college basketball team to one day get paid to play? Bobbito is a true renaissance man, a walking example of how it is possible to love what you do and pursue it without compromise.

Links:

http://www.somosarte.com/bobbito/

http://www.myspace.com/bobbitogarcia

José James, Vocalist + Lyricist + Songwriter :: Axis

Critically acclaimed and world renown artist, Jose James invites us to witness the Black Magic of his new record with an intimate studio session that reveals the many facets of his creative process.

José James, Vocalist + Lyricist + Songwriter :: Artist Profile from friendswelove.com on Vimeo.

About Jose:

Since his arrival on the international scene in 2008 vocalist José James has consistently dazzled critics and audiences alike with his deft combination of soul, hip-hop and jazz. Using his musical mentors John Coltrane, Marvin Gaye and Billie Holiday as compasses, he continues to successfully blur the lines between musical genres through his love of connecting to audiences worldwide and in the sheer joy of creation.

Blessed with a warm rich baritone reminiscent of artists of the caliber of Terry Callier, Jon Lucien and Gil-Scott Heron, José has toured internationally at venues such as the North Sea Jazz Festival, the Vitoria Jazz Festival, Billboard Live Tokyo, Centro Cultural Sao Paolo, the Hermitage St. Petersburg, Central Park Summerstage New York and London's Royal Festival Hall.

Signed to Gilles Peterson's Brownswood Recordings, his debut album "The Dreamer" was released in 2008 to worldwide acclaim, including 21 of JazzTimes Top 50 Jazz Albums of 2008. As a recording artist and guest vocalist José has worked with Junior Mance, Chico Hamilton, Gilles Peterson, Bassment Jaxx, Nicola Conte, Toshio Matsuura, Elan Mehler, The Heritage Orchestra, SOIL & "PIMP" SESSIONS, Jazzanova, Flying Lotus, Christian McBride, J.A.M., Robert Mitchell, Jazzy Sport and Simbad.

For more info on Jose: http://www.josejamesmusic.com/

http://www.myspace.com/josejamesquartet

http://friendswelove.com/video/jj-fwl-fest-envivo/

http://friendswelove.com/video/jose-james-120-secs/

http://friendswelove.com/blog/summer-concerts-in-nyc/

http://friendswelove.com/blog/articles-we-love-connecting-dots-from-bird-to-michael-jackson/

Albert Xavier, Filmmaker :: Axis

Film director Albert Xavier recounts how his artistic background prepared him for filmmaking and the development of his latest release, Hermafrodita, which is the first Dominican film to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival.

Albert Xavier, Filmmaker :: Artist Profile from friendswelove.com on Vimeo.

Albert Xavier is a prodigy of New York City with the additional benefit of being raised in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.  Fused with a sense of diversity and culture, Albert has used his talent in an eclectic mix of artistic expression. Albert Xavier earned his first credits as a television producer with "Fashion Emergency" for E! Entertainment Television and "GalaScene" for Univision Networks in the US and the Caribbean.  Albert was also added to the directorial roster of Latin episodic series hit, Resurrection Blvd. (2000) for Showtime Networks.

He produced and directed "Red Passport," which screened at film festivals in more than 45 countries, including Italy, Cuba, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Poland, France, Dominican Republic, Japan, Argentina, Central America and the US. The Dominican feature won the Audience Award at the LaCinemaFe Film Festival at Lincoln Center in New York, and a Special Mention Best Director Award at the Cambridge International Film Festival.   Albert has also been awarded the Best Short Film Award for "A Different Man" at The International Film Festival of Belize.

Adding to his success, he has produced and directed a series of short films in 35mm/S16mm film.  His short films have been picked up for television broadcast on BET and Bravo networks.  In the Latin music recording market, Xavier directed Latin music videos for various artists like: La India, Frankie Negron, King Chango, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Fulanito, Amarfis, Oro Solido and others.   His work was honored with The Latin Billboard 2006 awards for “Best Tropical Airplay” for the music video "Lamento Boliviano” performed by merenguero recording artist Amarfis.

The future holds potential for upcoming projects such as the release of the long awaited 35mm short Dominatrix short film, “Closure” starring Michelle Mendez (All My Children, Wake of the Fallen Sun) and Tara Stiles (Enchanted) at film festivals in the fall of 2007.  Xavier is in development with screenwriter Sheila Grullon on his second independent feature, “Maria”, a psycho-drama foreign film slated for production this November of 2007 in the Dominican Republic. (Via AlbertXavier.com)

Links: http://www.albertxavier.com