By TUREKA TURK
Mlchlg.n Citizen
I can remember the first
thing I'd do before going to
parties back in high school.
My friends and I would be on
the phone for a good hour be­
fore w 'd leave to s what
the other was wearing and
what we should wear. Fi­
nally, after, being satisfied
with real "urban gear" (back
in th e days it was the baggy
jeans, hanging off the butt
and tight shirts with big
black boots) on Our bodies,
we'd make our excursion to
the party of the night.
There was a set schedule at
each party" meaning the
nigh t would be predictable.
First, everyone would stand
against the wall until some
brave souls, usually girls,
would hit the dance floor,
then everyone else would fol­
low. At the heigh t of the
party, the time when you
were just about to get that
phone number you wanted all
night, some guys would ttl
fighting (leading to shooting)
over something silly.
At first, my girls and I
would run the opposite direc­
tlon of the gun fire, naturally
wanting not to end up under­
neath the crowd. After a
while, we started running in
the direction of the commo­
tion to see what was going on.
These were the days when
the end of the party happened
w hen the pol ice showed up or
the hall owners kicked us out.
No more love songs signifying
• the end of ajam packed night.
thing as a "bullet-proof' vest,
The Shell makes one that is
armor-filled with an inter­
changableleather outer shell
and can flatten even a hollow­
point shell, also known as the
"cop killer."
The Shell founder, Gavin
Kogan, says that Spec­
trashield is guaranteed for
ten years.
"We tested it and, hands
down, it was obvious that this
is what we should go after,"
Kogan told The Source maga­
zine about Spectrashield.
"It's just much more light, it's
much more effective, it's wa­
terproof, it's just the cutting
edge of the market, and it
makes Kevlar (the tradi­
tional bullet resistant vest)
look ridiculous."
KOGAN BEGAN AS an
assistan t to former Uptown
Entertainment mogul Andre
Harrell, who was responsible
for the image of Mary J.
Blige, Jcxleci, and Heavy D.
Kogan d ignlng for the
future, "battle gear" he calls
it.
"That Bladerunner, rub­
berized, 2010 shi-t," he says.
"Look at fashion and what
people are wearing - people
are into their environment
and wearing gear that is re­
flective of their environ­
ment."
Kogan then developed pro­
totypes with partners .Sean
SantAmour and Erock Oden.
The vest weighs eight to 12
pounds and goes for about
$800 ..
"We feel that is someone
NOW, THE WORLD has can go spend $700-$800 on a
come to a supply attire for TEe-9, they should be able to
just such occasions. Consid- try to protect themselves too.
ering the facts that someone We're encouraging people to
is shot ,every 88 minutes in step up an protect them­
New York and 23% more ci- selves, to save themselves,
vilians died in gun related you know. We're not in this to
homicides than in traffic fa- promote any type of vio­
talities in Los Angeles, a lence," Oden says.
Brooklyn-based rn anufac- This is what the world has
turer, The Shell, Inc., has de- come to. Thinking of my high'
signed gear made specifically school pa�ty ritual, � shudder
for the tim s. The line of when I think that kids nowa­
clothing is made of Spec- days, will inc,�ude a Sp��­
trashield, the lightest and , trashl�ld vest, b�ttle gea� If
most ffectiv anti-ballistic you. will, 10 their dressing
armor on themarket, routine.
The com pany's motto: "We Kids are dressing. to pro-
gotcha back", is the very secu- teet themselves while they
rity that urban youth are in gr�w up. The '7'ests are sol.d
search of. With tensions be- strictly on mall order basts
tween th m �nd the police presently· from The Shell
.. and each other flying through headquarters (718�596-
the neighborhood as often as 7377). �og':ln h?pes you 11 see
bullet security through them hanging In the depart­
growing up is what the world ment stores soon.
has come to. ,
. And while there i no such
South Centr'l LA.' G-Len want
you to ttlink before thinking about
getting involved with drugs. Hi
new single ·Why You Wanna Be A
Basenead' is in tores now on Tan­
dem Records. For more information
call: (415)344-3640.
I
Miller salutes' American Black Achievers'
One of the highlights of the 15th annual' American Black Achieve­
ment (ABA) Award ceremony held recently In LA wa the pres­
entation of the prestigious Thurgood Mar hall Scholarship Fund
Award to Dr. William B. Delauder, pre ident of Delaware State
University. Virgis W. Colbert, enior v-p operation for Miller
Brewing Company (far left) i pictured h re ext nd ng 'hi con­
gratulations to Dr. Delauder (center) along with: Vane a Wil­
liams (2nd left), ABA Awards host; ong tre s Glady Knight.
(2nd right), and Noel Hankin, Miller' .dlrector corporate r lations.
By JERYL BARGINEAR
Mlchlf/..an Citizen
In a culture where Rap has
adulterated th airwaves of the
music industry, Modern Jazz
has somehow managed to re­
main unsoiled. On a new CD en­
titled Black rph us, the Ray
Brown Trio, like vintage wine of
fine old k gs, is robust as ever
and ms to have gotten better
with a .
An alumnus/luminary of the
Oscar Peterson Trio in the 50's
and 60's, Brown, now 67, has
always been an au horitative
figure of th bass-fiddle having
recorded in the workshops of
Charlie "Yardbird" Parker and
John It izzy" Gill pie during
th 1940's and 50's, th burgeon­
ing days of Jazz.
Brown showcas his forte on
the ti le track Manha de Car­
na val- translated: A Day in the
Life of a Fool, ercising his bow­
ing technique, depicting a Sicil­
ian recital one moment,
expre sing an impassioned
poem the next, leaving listen 1'8
with th f ling t.hat Ray Brown
is reminiscent of having "walked
the av nue."
But he doesn't walk alon , for
he' among good friends.
G
HARRIS, P
extraordinaire, a compatible
comrade with florid fingers has
surpassed polls and attained
popularity with his own trio,
Gene Harris & The Three
Sounds, during the 1960's and
70's. 'Yesterday, Today & To­
morrow' was a favorite among
followers.
Gene, now 60, brings to 'Or­
pheus' the same clu terfu l
chords and dazzling dexterity
that has attributed to his mass
appeal. Through his work., he
projects the imagery of smoke­
filled rooms and church-house
choirs as Gospel and Blues has
pervaded his style of play since
he emer on the seen in th
late 50's.
Drumm r Jeff Hamilton, the
youngest of th three at 40, is
embellishing yet unassuming,
en rgetic but subdued, and an
underlying ingredient of the
groups special blend. He's pol­
ished, a pro, and a master of
rhythms that ring and swing as
. his ethereal brushwork elevates
a tune to a nebular level.
Recorded live in Tokyo, Japan
at the Good Day Club in 1989
and 91, the Black Orpheus et is
full of surprises, Modern Jazz
with a twist.
'HOW INSENSITIVE:
WRITTEN by Br zilian com­
poser Antonio Carlo J bim,
tune traditionally don in
Latin flavor is play d in tand­
ard 4/4 wing ins d. Conv n­
tiona} jazz love are impre
by the diversion. Not Hamil­
ton's refined brushwork and
Brown's extensive solo.
The theme song to Fats Wal­
l r's Bro dway play, "Ain't Mis­
behavin '" displays Harri '
ingenious appro ch to the oth r-
wi.se-ragtime composition h
adds' a touch of romantici m,
transforming the Dixie/Folk
c1 ic into an sri tocratic pi
of art.
'My Foolish Heart' is a ballad
on which Ham
ously creating I rger ound
than ms po ibl for pe on­
nel of thr , a nsitive tun u­
perbly played in that j zzm n
are often criticized for being par­
tial to the more intricate up­
tempo melodic lines, lacking­
dive ity.
All in all, th Black Orph
CD itt and treasu ,
uniqu collaboration to dd to n
eclectic collection.
ST