| If you spent any time out in the San Francisco club or warehouse party scene in the 21st Century, then you are likely to have experienced the live sounds of SF’s own 100% improvised Electronica ensemble, Playground. Playground has performed at nearly every club in SF and at countless amazing festivals and functions here, there, and beyond. What began in the winter of ‘97-’98 as a live hip-hop/reggae rhythm section underscoring songs, rhymes, and poetry about universal love, quickly evolved to become a showcase for dynamic live performances representing all forms of music familiar to underground DJ/dance culture. The Playground ensemble’s list of collaborators also grew quite rapidly, and to-date includes close to 100 Bay Area, nationally, and internationally acclaimed artists, musicians, poets, emcees, singers, and deejays. While the Playground unit continues to feature guest performers, since 2000, the group has focused on refining the interplay between its core members in order to better explore and further expand the possibilities of groove based music. Playground successfully plays live what most listeners have previously only heard coming from records on a DJ’s turntables. The Playground sound of today is best described as "a live improvised fusion of Breakbeat, Brokenbeat, Dancehall Reggae, Deep House, Nu-Jazz, 2-Step Garage, Afro-Beat, and Downtempo (Hip-Hop, Ambient, and especially Reggae Dub)." These performances are affectionately referred to as "Live Dhub Experimence." Currently, Playground is working on a follow-up release to their acclaimed album, Playground People, a full length studio release that received extensive club and radio play and features renowned guest musicians, emcees, and vocalists on every track. The Playground People Album touches contemporary styles while anticipating future directions of world dance floor and pop musical currents. With the release of Playground People, Playground transmuted their underground sound status into a new genre hence forth known as "The Playground Sound." Playground’s SF Bay Area underground acclaim, widespread embrace and gracious SF Bay Area reception can be attributed to the following four core players: Neiel D Cavin- vocals, sampler, bass, percussion, etc.- (man_from_playground, Channel Be, Fullness, etc) Robin Livingston- keys/analog synth, drums, engineering- (robinlivingston.com (w/MC Yogi), Ursa Minor) Jason Williams a.k.a JasWho?- drummachines, synths/keys, guitar- (Temple Music Group, Live House PA) Jomial Allen-Jones- electric bass, lyrics- (Black League, B-1 Players) Some of the Bay Area venues that host/hosted the playground include: Golden Gate Park (Earthdance 2002), Elbo Room, 1015 Folsom, 111 Minna, Club Six, BetaLounge, Burning Man Decompression, Studio Z , Cell Space, Kelly's Mission Rock, Amnesia SF, Black Cat/Blue Bar, Werepad, Hush-Hush, East Side West, Royale, Galia, The Sweetwater,19- Broadway Fairfax, Santa Cruz Vets Hall, Blind Tiger, Urban Groove Lofts, Danz Haus, Bayview Winery (Luna Groove), The Noodle Factory- Oakland, Black Box- Oakland Some of the Parties/Functions are/were hosted by: Earthdance International, Burning Man/Anon-Salon, Future Juju, Mystic Family Circus, Lo-Rise/Blue, San Francisco Late Night Coalition, Red Bull Ascension, Gathering for Good, Raise The Frequency, Save the Earth, Cellspace, Dub Mission, Mystic Vibration/Dub Beautiful, You are Hear, Ursa Minor, False Profits, BetaLounge.com. Here is a list of the majority of past participants, both instrumental to the playground core/lore and respected in the greater musical/performance community: Mika Robinson- trombone- Burning Spear, Steel Pulse. Ras Leon- guest vocals- JahHiya- Jamaica- (w/ Anthony B., Sly & Robbie, Yami Bolo). Jameo Brown- drums- Bobby Hutcherson, Q-Tip (of Tribe Called Quest). Dusty (D.U.S.T.) Herman- vocals- Zion I, Black League Noah Waldman- drums/percussion- Vinyl, Con Clave. Dayna Stevens- saxaphones- Chick Corea, Thelonius Monk Conservatory Vir McCoy- guitar- Hamsa Lila, YOU, Foxgluv Mikal J. Hameed- Fable-ist- N.Y./Ca.-Evolution(Balazo), Living Word,(La Pena, 111 Minna). B-Love- deejay- NY, Redlight (Up&Down, Nickie’s, Justice League). Noah Moskofian- drums- Stomp-off broadway. Lost at Last. D.J. Soulsalaam (Randall Kress)-d.j.+percussion- Hypnomadic, Future Juju. Jim Owen- tabla/ tarang- Tabla Rasa, Swapan Chaduri, Zakir Hussain Tom Finch- guitars-Tom Finch Group, Big Brother & The Holding Company. Otto John Schroeder- horns/winds- Hamsa Lila, Dr. Abacas, Church of You Aima Paule- vocals- The Mamas, Sisters of the Underground, J-Boogie AzaLove- vocals- * R.I.S.E, Herstory, MooreMapp Records Sun Ru Skywalka- vocals- Mystic Family Circus, Dj Lorin Robin Sukadhia- tabla- Ali Akbar Khan, J-Boogie's Dub Tronic Science David Jenkins- synth/guitar- U.K.- Foxgluv, Blane Lyon and the Real Abai- ragga emcee/drum kit/beats- Ben Ben Stone Productions Suga aka Janaysa- vocals- (ritual priestess), DJ Lorin Swan (a.k.a. Sierra Swan Grace Palermo) - vocals- Eggplant Casino, Quaketrap, Vela Vela. Paris King guitar - Crossroads, Keepers of Tym. Kimiko Joy- vocals- Cross Roads Harlan Isaac Glatt- flute/harmonica/vocal harmony- Windcave, Fullness Danny Uzilevsky- guitar- Chrome Johnson Krishan Abeyatunge- vocals- Hamsa Lila Sage Sorrentino- bass- Matt Butler, Jazz Iguanas Jay Ferrera- guitar- Bohemian Highway Marcos Bittel- drums- Maudib Dave Keller- percusssion- Windcave Emsley- drums- Sister I Live, Della Grant. Jason Gonzales- guitars- Honest Buck, Windcave, Channel Be. Matt Montgomery- bass- V.U. (variable unit). Beqsu Ankh Neter (a.k.a. Papa Hook)- vocals- CROOKS, Fullness. Muziki Robeson- piano- Mingus Amongus, S.F. Mime Troupe. Paul Johnson- drum kit- Skullfunk, Preacherboy, Psychofunkapus. James Mosley- guitar- James Mosley R&B Band. Zach I Thompson- didgeridoo/bass/ pope-smasher drum- Soul Majestic. Lion Sanford- bass- Horace Andy, Justin Hines, Frankie Paul, Sister Carol, Sugar Minott. Graham Richards- keys/synth- Quartet of Doom. Trevor Kinsel- upright bass- New Morty Show. Zack Mack- guitar- Future Jazz Quartet. Matt Mengarelli- drum kit- Rage of Eden. Mark Adams- drum kit- Black Furies, Petrol (aka The Aktion). Paul Schneider- trumpet- Sky Machine, Channel Be. Sia Yambire- talking drum+ djembe- Burkina Faso. UNET (a.k.a. Ryan Carlson)- guitar- UNET, Oxygen 22 Renick Turley - sitar- Ali Akbar Khan School of Music. Eddie I- drum kit- Earl Zero. Jahnni Baba (a.k.a. John Krause)- electronics/ loops/ engineering- Intuition. |
For booking and info please contact:
Neiel D. Cavin
Email: neiel@neiel.net
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