Blue Note Brunch

Citizen Vinyl presents Blue Note Brunch on Sunday, June 18. 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Menu specials + music from the most iconic jazz label, spun by guest DJ Ames_AF.

Q+A with DJ Ames_AF

Citizen Vinyl: What drew you to the Blue Note Jazz record label?

DJ Ames_AF: In the dawn of the CD era, my father came home with John Coltrane’s Coltrane Time (aka Cecil Taylor’s “Double Clutch”). In the end, a flawed record — I’m sure my dad, who knows nothing about jazz, just grabbed a name he’d heard, on sale because i said i was curious. But that was the seed.

Like so many, Blue Note drew me in by design. I’m an art school dropout who spent a decade in advertising. Their covers are irresistibly brilliant. The very definition of cool. After that, you follow that into the music. The trick is: it pays off. Their batting ratio was insane. I would love to actually have a perch to display the record covers as I play the tracks on Sunday.

What are some of the tracks you’re excited to share at the Blue Note Brunch?

So, I’m focusing exclusively on Blue Note in the ’60s. The coolest thing to me about that era is that, in the shadows, the sidemen would get turns as leaders with the same bands with any excess studio time. So I’m excited by the lesser known names, like Pete la Roca’s ”Basra,” Don Wilkerson’s churchified “Dem Tambourines,” or Johnny Coles’ “Hobo Joe.” I’ve actually used this event as an excuse to purchase a few missing items in my collection.

Also, this was the reign of Hard Bop, which was the extended blowing of bebop mixed with the emerging soul and R&B melodies and feels. It’s a sweet spot for me.

What goes into selecting music for an event like the Blue Note Brunch — how do you choose from such a rich collection of music?

Well, I’ve found creating a very specific theme helps. On one end, constraint can be the mother of innovation, on the other it can almost write itself. The trick for me is I had to have it on vinyl — I have a sizable collection, but it’s cursedly diverse, so threading a cohesive theme within that poses a challenge.

I do want a narrative arc. Picking songs so a story is told , even if just that each song hands off to the next with some sonic cue. It has to move forward but the changes shouldn’t feel jarring.

Citizen Vinyl	Mondays-Thursdays 9a-3p
14 O'Henry Avenue	Fridays-Sundays 9a-6p
Asheville, NC 28801

info@citizenvinyl.com

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THE LINER NOTES

Blue Note Brunch: Q+A with DJ Ames_af

- June 5, 2023 -

Q+A with DJ Ames_AF

Slow Runner drops new single, “Farthest Star”

- August 19, 2024 -

Historic Asheville Sessions Project

- August 6, 2024 -

SIDE PROJECT BY BAILEY

- July 30, 2024 -

VISIT US

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