07/05/2024
SIR JERRY THE CAT
No próximo sábado recebemos uma verdadeira lendas viva da música na nossa Nave:
JERRY THE CAT
Para abrir a noite temos o anfitrião Lothar Methouse!
Esperamos uma noite com muita groove em especial aquele som de Detroit que conquistou as pistas de Dança pelo mundo fora
Jerry the Cat - Detroit/ Dark River Collective
Electronic music producer Jerry the Cat (Jerrald James) was born in Detroit, Michigan, USA, in 1950. He is a respected percussionist and DJ, noted for his rhythmic feel and smooth mixing skills.
As a percussionist, Jerry gained particular recognition for his skill with congas. He has
played with many bands, musicians, and producers. His range of experiences spans several music categories: jazz, fusion, rhythm & blues, funk, gospel, blues, rock, disco, theatrical, classical, experimental and more. He has worked with Sylvia Moy, Leonard King, John Lee Ho**er, Parliament/Funkadelic, CJ & Company (‘Devil’s Gun’), gospel great James Cleveland and many others.
in 1987 Jerry happened upon Buy-Rite Records, Detroit’s pivotal underground electronic music shop. There he met Sherard Ingram (now known as DJ Stingray), who introduced him to many electronic dance music productions. “Strings of Life” by Rhythm is Rhythm initially captured Jerry’s interest, but Sherard played a succession of infectious tracks entrancing Jerry’s imagination and opening an inspiring new world of sonic/dance expression.
he met and witnessed many talented Detroit DJs, including Kenny Dixon Jr. (Moodymann), Kevin Saunderson, Derrick May, Alton Miller, and Terrence Parker.
In 1989, he gained wide spread recognition performing with Carl Craig’s BFC at the Majestic Theater in Detroit. He later recorded with Carl, and was featured in samples for Carl’s remix of Kenny Larkin’s ‘Sarena X’.
In 1992, Jerry, with three partners, Dana Keaton, Michael Smith and DJ Minx opened the Skyloft Gallery in Detroit. It became an underground cultural center, noted for its experimental art exhibits, poetry readings, musical/theatrical performances, and state-of-the-art dance parties. DJs on the bills for these parties included Jerry, business partner DJ Minx, Blake Baxter, Moodyman (Kenny Dixon Jr.), Derrick Carter, Jeff Mills, Carl Craig, Claude Young, Terrence Parker, Agent X (Mike Clark), Rick Wilhite, and many more.
Through 1995, Jerry performed regularly as a percussionist with DJ Munk (Alvin Hill), backing many poets and free style rappers at the Poureè Me Café in Detroit. In 1996, at Café Mahogany of Detroit, he combined his skills as DJ and percussionist to accompany poets, backing them with acid jazz, trip hop, drum & bass, etc. while embellishing with percussion.
In late 1996 Jerry was approached by the owners of the newly opened Amsterdam
Lounge in Windsor, Ontario, Canada to became their resident DJ. Here he developed a loyal following, accompanying himself on percussion while mixing house and eclectic music. This proved to be a combination which generated infectious excitement in an intimate environment, and created an atmosphere that attracted many talented DJs and musicians. Patrons were drawn from Windsor, Detroit,Toronto, Chicago, New York, and Montreal, making the Amsterdam Lounge one of the most respected dance venues in the area.
Noted as a uniquely skilled studio percussionist, Jerry has been recorded and sampled frequently in electronic and underground music. He has performed on projects for L.A. Williams, Moodyman, Theo Parrish, Scott Grooves, Derrick May, Gary Miller, and many others.
In 1998, Jerry established himself as a well qualified producer with his first release, ‘Mating Ritual’, on Soirée Records of Detroit. A hot percussive samba, it included remixes by Theo Parrish and DJ Minx. His tracks are rich in detail and deep in originality. His upcoming releases on 75 House Street Records have drawn praise from industry professionals including Patrick Vidal, Ciudad Feliz, Pépé Bradock, Rick Wilhite, Jeff K, and Scott Grooves.
Jerry’s association with Soirée Records and it’s founder, Derrick Thompson (DJ Drivetrain), led to performances in Paris, France at the What’s Up Bar. This was followed by engagements at the Gibus, the Man Ray, Follies Pigalle, and Café Oz’s ‘Harlem Hotel’ parties. He also appeared in Nice, Nancy, Toulouse, Tours, and Rennes. Outside of France he performed in Ajaccio and Porto-Vecchio of Corse, Liege of Belgium, and Singapore.
Other notable appearances include the Winter Music Conference in Miami Beach, Florida where in March 1999, Jerry accompanied L.A. Williams, Roger Sanchez, Little Louis Vega, DJ Pierre, Scott Grooves, Kevin Saunderson, and Carl Craig on percussion at various parties. In 2000 he played at the Detroit Electronic Music Festival with Agent X (Mike Clark) and Alan Ester.
On December 31, 2000, the New Years Eve of the millennium, Jerry and partners opened the Velvet Room, an intimate dance lounge in Windsor, Ontario. Noted for it’s elegance and warmth, the venue drew immediate attention and support, winning the ‘Best New Business of the Year’ award from Biz X magazine, a respected local business publication. Together with the neighboring Amsterdam Lounge, the Velvet Room is at the heart of a Windsor electronic dance district which has quickly impacted the Windsor/Detroit electronic dance scene in a very positive way.
In late 2000, Jerry formed the Dark River Collective, a much acclaimed music production group comprised of musicians, singers, poets, and electronic music producers. Following frequent appearances at the Velvet Room, the group appeared three times at the 2001 Winter Music Conference, creating quite a buzz. An expanded version of the group later appeared on the main stage at the Detroit Electronic Music Festival and again at the Capital Theater in Windsor. A virtual fountain of creativity, the Dark River Collective is meaningful art in music, crossing electronic and acoustic concepts with visual and verbal forms of expression.
In December 2001, Jerry returned to Paris, appearing at the Rex with Carl Craig, Jeff K, Ciudad Feliz, Didier Allyn, and I-Cube. He also performed with Robert Owens at the Global and Roch Dadier at the Batofar.
