Web: cutchemist.com
Contact: leah@champagnehousemedia.com
At a fabulous intimate gem in Venice Beach, deejay Cut Chemist (Lucas MacFadden) is dropping knowledge on passionate vinyl enthusiasts young and old. In the cozy patio space of the club, audiophiles were treated to a great set of ‘edutainment,’ with Cut sharing insights of his journey into the deejay world on his portable setup (using Technics MK7 turntables, a Pioneer S11 mixer, Accuphase E-380 Integrated Amplifier, and Tannoy Stirling III LZ Special Edition loudspeakers).
Night two (Tuned In, Comped Out) of four-part live listening series “Expert of None” navigated Cut’s early education from movie soundtracks, radio and word albums, emphasizing the power of compilation records to expand his music taste (despite negative connotations within the vinyl community). Anecdotes included insights from Star Wars, The Wizard of Oz, and Chopin Op 28, to Laurie Anderson’s Big Science and word jazz from Ken Nordine.
After a Led Zeppelin transition, discussion moved the hip-hop, with Double Dee and Steinski, the connection to Zulu Nation, Afrika Islam, Zulu Beats, and the park jams of the 1970s. Sonic inspirations behind Prince Paul, Public Enemy (Fear Of A Black Planet), Dr. Dre, and the rise in deejay storytelling (like Kid Koala and DJ Shadow) were also explored. Vinyl Dogs had Cut delving into Ethiopian music (Ethiopiques series, Addis Sheckler Explosion Mix by Quantic and Miles Cleret, and the music of Mahmoud Ahmed). References also included In the Jungle Groove (James Brown), K Tel’s Dancer, Breakdancer, Pebbles, The Meters (Charlie Records), Pure, Dusty Fingers, and Alternative Funk Vol. 1 compilations.
As a member of Ozomatli, Cut contributed to the combination of funk, hip-hop, Latin, reggae, and world music and as the founding sound behind Jurassic 5, helped define the group’s sound, with classics including “Concrete Schoolyard,” “Quality Control,” and “Jayou” showcasing his creative sampling. Performances feel improvisational, and collaborations with DJ Shadow produced classics (1999’s “Brainfreeze” and 2001’s “Product Placement”) built live and almost entirely from lesser-known recordings. A champion of live vinyl performance, Cut’s narratives are built around sound fragments, creating a collage of sound.
Cut’s humble, engaging demeanor fosters a palpable atmosphere of genuine creative curiousity for fellow artists and audience members alike. Presented by Dust & Grooves, Episode four of the Expert of None series (August 2) covers “Building The Garden.”
