House Music – Page 4 – FAMILY HOUSE COLLECTIVE

RHEJI BURRELL from Burrell Brothers – NU GROOVE RECORDS interview by Dax DJ (Year 2008)

1. First tell us about Nu – Groove.
Nu Groove was an outlet for music lovers by music lovers… it just happened to be Uptempo Music and majority Dance / house style at first. But we all were interested in great music first!

2. Describe your sound and your music future vision..
I tried to make something that I “wished” that I did. Again I love music first, all types… so putting a 4 on the floor behind it, in most cases was the no brainer part of my productions.

3. Describe whats happening in Club Culture and life, 1989-92 and now?
It became extra worldly and over-saturated… some good and some bad. Money and opportunity put a lot of people in the game, instead of talent. In short, in my opinion, too many fake deep people got through! and it never was about posing, just real!

4. Talk about Nu – Groove Records family.
Frank – One of the smartest, funniest men I’ve ever known. I respected him and his business right up until the end. Karen – a sweet heart, Judy – Knows this game inside out and is funny as hell too. Artist, DJ’s and Producers – The music is our legacy, it speaks for it’s self!

5. Your “House Music” theory.
Make music first..push the tempo and make sure you love it yourself. Impress yourself! That’s a “Theory” it translates to music, house music, polka music whatever!

6. Melody or Beat oriented?
Both and More. I care about everything!

7. Analog? Digital?
It don’t matter. Digital is easier to work with of course, but the end result is what comes out of them 2 speakers. I never saw a dance floor clear cause someone used protools or logic instead a rack of keyboards and a 16 track.

8. 25 West 38th.
Could’ve been a church site.

9. Your coming new web site Burrell Brothers.
It will be the place to get everything Burrell… records, classic and new. Previously released on indies and majors. A Talent Agency, Management & Consulting and Filmed Entertainment, Merchandising too. We’re no taking back and control of Burrell Property. Sorry Bootleggers

10. Your best all-the-time favourite five trax/titles.
ALL of them. Like I said, I love them all or I would’ve let them out of the basement!

Burrell Brothers pix

www.burrellbrothers.com coming soon…

Thanks to: Rheji Burrell and Brothers, Frank and Karen Mendez at Nu Groove Records, Judy Russell, Daniel Wang, Little Louie Vega and Moises at Vega Records, Silvia and all Nu Groove Records Music Lovers! dax

Extra questions by Daniel Wang (New York/Berlin – Balihu Records)

A – What was your inspiration for doing “SONG OF THE SIREN”?
Rhano did it… but I would guess.. to do something that he’s never heard before and hopefully neither has anyone else.

The Utopia Project

B – …. “UTOPIA FILES?” these are my 2 favorite burrell grooves.
Thank you very much Sir… I can take credit for that!

C – HOW DO THEY FEEL ABOUT CHANGES IN NYC DANCE MUSIC SCENE?
You may or may not be surprised but I’m not a scene kinda guy.. never have been! Most people in the industry don’t know whether I’m dead or alive until a record comes out…
I stay in contact with a couple of close, high profile friends and associates just to be connected but “scene”… I’ find by not being around keeps my mind clear and my creativity from being influenced.. all I ever needed was inspiration and that comes from life!

We got the pleasure to ask some questions to Mr Little Louie Vega:

New York Underground – The Nu Groove Years

> Talk about your experience and collaboration with Burrell Brothers, the legendary Nu Groove Records

1. Nu Groove was one of the hottest Underground Dance labels back in 89. They had a raw style with music and touched on all flavors with their style of house music. You heard r&b, reggae, jazz & street influences all through many releases. Example “The Poem” produced by Bobby Konders, one of my favorites was jazz, reggae and house all in one, a classic!

> New York Underground “The Nu Groove Years” mix CD you did.

2. I know the Burrell Bros. Many years, they asked me years back if I would do a mix cd of their classics. Of course I said yes. I played much of their music and respect them as producers. They brought lots of outside musical elements to house music that was not there at the time. They created many classic songs for the dance community and are pioneers of vocal house, bringing jazz, r&b, soul to the helm of house music at that time.

New York Underground – The Nu Groove Years – In The Mix With Little Louie Vega

A really interesting video: Nu Groove Records (Early 90’s)

Nu Groove Records history contributions:

from 25 West 38th – Compilation

from Secret Codes – Compilation

Nu Groove Compilation Volume One

Rheji Burrell: the set up of the Burrell Brothers 1990 circa

LINKS:

– Nu Groove label discography www.discogs.com/label/Nu+Groove+Records

– Rheji Burrell www.myspace.com/rhejiburrell

– Ronald Burrell www.myspace.com/burrellbros

– Nu Groove forum feat. interview with Frank and Karen Mendez by John McCready

– Black Music Collectors nu_groove

– Jahsonic about Nu Groove

– The Ransom Note: Metro

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https://youtu.be/GsmxlPu609k

4 years in the making for the first time in a motion picture
The Movement that became dance music of today.

starring:
Larry Levan, David Mancuso, Frankie Knuckles, Nicky Siano, Francis Grasso, Francois K., “Little Louie” Vega, Danny Tenaglia, Jellybean, Tony Humphries, Danny Krivit, Joaquin “Joe” Claussell, Richard Long, Alex Rosner, Keith Haring, Derrick May, Kenny Carpenter, Jose Padilla (Spain), Sven Vath (Germany), Mr. Mike (Switzerland), Dimitri From Paris (France), Boyd Jarvis, Fantastic Plastic Machine (Japan), Mark Oliver (Toronto), Frankie Bones, Danny Rampling (UK), Albert Assoon (Toronto), Alex Neri (Italy), Pete Tong (UK), Gregory Gray (Chicago), Bobby (UK), Fabrice (Italy), Ralf (Italy), Ron Carroll (Chicago), Craig Loftis, Benji Espinoza (DJ International, Chicago), Nori (Japan), Tony Desypris (Montreal), Ivan Iacobucci (Italy), Yukihiro Fukutomi (Japan), Billie (Artist), Robert Ouimet (Montreal), Steve D’aquisto Alan Thompson (UK), Antonio Ocasio, Patricia Field, Mike Stone, Ricky L & Sauro (Italy), Cosmo, Original Loft And Garage Dancers, Rene Hewitt, Smokin Jo, Robert Clivilles (C&C Music Factory)

SYNOPSIS
Maestro, a feature documentary, tells the story of how a group of people found refuge and a call for life outside the mainstream, what evolved was a scene that set the ground work for what was to come in dance music culture worldwide.
A film 4 years in the making, a rare insight into the underground world as it was.
It’s the first time this story is told in a motion Picture, included in the film are pioneer dance music DJs and producers, ”founding fathers”, its center being Larry Levan, as well as high-profile DJs of today.
It vividly portrays the world that spawned today’s dance music from 2-step, to the eclectic sounds of tribal, to pop artists. Parties from Ibiza to Philly, all are influenced by the quintessential elements that made New York City’s Paradise Garage and The Loft such a powerful cultural force in people’s lives.
DJs Larry Levan (Paradise Garage) and David Mancuso (The Loft) continue to be revered today as the leaders of dance music culture worldwide.
This seminal movement—encompassing dancers, patrons, artists, DJs, sound designers, and more—gave birth to DJ pioneers in the film and contemporary dance club parties across the globe.
Most film documents of this historical movement have fallen short of its true story and impact to the world, providing us with a glossed over account of the time. Opting for a more personal and candid approach, MAESTRO shows the true history of the people through a realistic creative aesthetic. Tracing the underground’s dance origin, MAESTRO brings out a real understanding of this intense lifestyle, and the lives they lived and died for. It is far from mere nostalgia, this film is like the music and experiences it chronicles.

THNX to: Gaia Somasca (2003)
www.maestro-documentary.com

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

NU GROOVE RECORDS – RHEJI BURRELL

MAESTRO