The cards don’t lie

by SCOTT C

Some people don’t even know when they’ve got it good. I was surprised that many people had no idea that Oscar Peterson was born and bred in Montreal, and only found out the origins of his storied life after the tributes started rolling in. Peterson’s humble beginnings as a young piano player growing up on Montreal’s Delisle St. propelled him to international heights, and by his passing this past Dec. 23, he was regarded as one of the world’s greatest jazz pianists. Coming up on Feb. 2, Conscious Groove Productions presents Young, Gifted and Black at Concordia’s Oscar Peterson Concert Hall, a Black History Month celebration of drama, music, dance and spoken word for audiences of all ages. Check out the city’s next batch of young stars performing on the stage that was made for them. The $20 tickets are available at the box office and Admission.com. Oscar would be proud.

Speaking of big fish in a small pond, Blizzarts duo Lexis and Kobal welcome Inbeat Records owner and music aficionado Christian Pronovost as their guest on Friday, Jan. 18. Pronovost’s legendary sets, spanning underground disco, future soul, deep house, Afro-Latin rarities and more, have graced some of the greatest sound systems in the world, but you get to check him out for $5 at Blizzarts this Friday night. Don’t front.

Feb. 2 is also the date slated for the Pays Playz Supa DJs’ Hommage à Jay Dee at Inspecteur Épingle. It’s the first Dilla tribute on the calendar, but I’m sure it won’t be the last. Next month marks the second anniversary of the untimely death of J Dilla, a Detroit native and one of hip hop’s most prolific and respected producers. With Ephiks and Naes on the decks, you know it’s gonna be nice, so don’t forget to make time for this one. Free before midnight, and $5 after.

NYC Afrobeat band Kokolo continue their love affair with Montreal with “100 % sabor de Nueva York” at Club Lambi on Jan. 25. They just keep coming back because you keep coming out, and this time around they’ll be joined by Montreal’s own Afro-Kats Sound System. The $7 show starts at 9 p.m.

Maybe they’re not the holy trinity, but holy shit! Kudos to the minds who cooked up DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist and Kid Koala collaborating for the Hard Sell Tour at Metropolis on Jan. 29. The Kid joins the tour for 18 dates, where he’ll warm up the crowd with his usual wit and charm. Shadow and Cut will rock eight turntables, four mixers and two effects pedals, showcasing the third installment in their mix series which began with the much bootlegged Brainfreeze and Product Placement records. This one will run you about $30.

Don’t forget that Montreal’s own indelible MCs Narcicyst and Loes will be opening the show for Cali hip hop duo Faculty and former Lootpack MC Wildchild on Wednesday, Jan. 23 at Saints Showbar. Narcy and Loes? Sake, get your camera ready...

Psychology is my hobby... fathead@videotron.ca