September 5, 2007
Opening Riff
Senior prom. Easily one of the most memorable experiences of high school. For Adam Dorn—aka Mocean Worker—especially, but for different reasons.
“While most of my friends were having drunk and awkward sex, I was in the studio with Miles Davis,” he explains.
Gettin’ his early groove on in Philadelphia as the son of famed Atlantic Records producer Joel Dorn, Adam had some pretty cool run-ins—Miles, Vandross, Roberta Flack—while he was still rockin’ the Underoos. It’s little wonder that he’s grown up to create big-beat mosaics featuring samples from the old school spliced with live snippets from the new guard through the magic of studio trickery.
His latest Cinco de MoWo is an unmined amalgamous gem of scattered beats and underground samples that succinctly illustrates his history as one raised under the umbrella of jazz juggernauts.
From Herb Alpert to Marcus Miller, the artists featured on Cinco run the gamut of jazz and funk. And although the album is mostly a reflection of Dorn playing with samples and altering live beats, he has a more sweeping vision of his live performances. “The latest version of my band is a six-piece that plays electronic compositions. They’re like a little funk machine. They’re so tight—kind of like a modern-day Kool & the Gang.
This isn’t your average electronic show,” explains Dorn. “It’s not two English guys with lights on their heads pushing buttons. In fact, it’s not an electronic show at all. Lately we’ve been shocking people. The real band is the focus. It may even change the way I make my next record.”
The local connection isn’t lost on Dorn. “Philly is my hometown,” says Dorn. “The band has been served notice that there will be no messing around. This will totally groove.”
Mocean Worker performs Thurs., Sept. 6, 9pm. $13-$15. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. 215.222.1400. www.worldcafelive.com
No comments:
Post a Comment