Kenny Dixon Jr aka Moodymann, you are being redirected

http://www.allthingsdeep.com/dge/moodymann.htm

Moody Man A Silent introduction (Planet E records)
This piece of electronic soul is a true masterpiece of music in any way, shape or form. Moody Man is actually Kenny Dixon Jr, one of the 'new school' of techno producers, and A Silent Introduction is his first full length album as an artist. The cover has a weird photograph of Kenny himself, looking like some sort of Afro-John Lennon(!), this bloke has grooves which could easily cause you to dislocate yr lower vertebrae. With its tempo sitting in warm confines of the 4/4 house beat, Moody Man makes a sound that is as pure and smooth as a blow job on a Sunday morning - concepts that would tickle the willies of you. The 2nd track on the CD - "I Can't Kick This Feeling When It Hits" - takes a sample from Chic, slaps down a deep-deep kick & beat, and washes down the concoction with a sonic wash that wouldn't sound too far off the 'ecstasy' sound of Spacemen 3/Spiritualised. By the time the perfect rhythm has peaked, you haven't realized that you've gotten of yr arse and you're dancing, even if it is like a grooveless spastic. There are tracks on the CD, that I know, many listeners will say "gee that sounds gay" - the dippy jazz of "The Third Track" or even "M Traxx" and "Music People" - but for dance pop, they still work better than anything by Armand Van Helden. Before you can say "but I thought he was...," you will have your mind fucked and twisted by the minimal squash of "Oceans," the filtered fuck of 'In loving memory' and the concrete ugliness of "Dem Young Sconies." For you 'purists' - which most of you Mojo motherfuckers are - slap your willy around to the mod-Gospel of "Answer Machine" or the jazz-fusion of "Sunday Morning" Listen to this fucken' CD, which is already two years vintage, and you will get some idea of where dance music will be heading for at least the next 8 years, give or take.

http://www.furious.com/perfect/mofotechno.html

Delicious house moments from Kenny Dixon Jr. on Peacefrog, one of the few house albums I have heard that exist for other places than "just" the dancefloor. Opening with seven minutes of radio scanning from home town Detroit, this LP sets itself a mile apart from those who can only focus on dancefloor hedonism by putting itself in some kind of context. This not only puts house up there in it's rightful place amongst other forms of black American music (where it's often ignored), but it relates to America today by adopting hip-hop metaphysics and production tricks, splicing the music with slices of reality. Glossy dance music becomes plastic when there is nothing to compare it against - rough and smooth blend together here, fantasy and reality bounce off each other and give each other distinction.

This LP also shows whence it came - despite the contemporary production techniques it shows it's roots with heavy soul, funk and gospel influences, blended with panache and exemplified with the sleek cosmic funk of the title track. Musically, this makes me think of what I've read about those small sweaty house clubs in the states that pioneered things all those years ago. What you need to know is that the grooves are good, the beats are chunky and warm strings make this a summer evening essential. Given the state mainstream house has got itself into recently, this comes as a cool breeze through the miasma of cheap perfume and bad aftershave. [Jonny]

http://www.fused.com/house/lance3.htm

Moodymann
Long Hot Sexy Nights After Midnight/Holland
Holland's After Midnight has churned out an impressive series of twelve-inches this year. "The Dancer" comes from Chicago's Moodymann (aka Kenny Dixon Jr.). The original mix chugs along nicely in a tracky Chicago style, while the DJ Tonka remix is more on the progressive tip. But the real gem on this release is the B-side, "Long Hot Sexy Nights". Smooth sax and vocals from Norma Jean Bell round out this deep, jazzy house track.

MOODYMANN
A Silent Introduction
(Planet E)
Moodymann is a mysterious man. He doesn�t give any interviews, doesn�t want to be photographed. He�s real name is Kenny Dixon Jr, that is as much as we know about him.

In a perfect world the music of Moodymann would cause as much rumble as any Cassius or Stardust. A Silent Introduction an apt title for a man shrouded in as much mystery, is a compilation of his best moment on the rare KDJ label. Moodymann�s sound is embedded in simple based twisted disco, abstract jazz and the unmistakable sound of Detroit techno. He�s retro but future, minimal but groovy.

On I Can�t Kick This Feeling When It Hits built on Chic�s I Want You slick guitar riffs are woven to a warbling bass line and looped vocal, making it hypnotic and addictive.

Answering Machine shows his humorous side as he laces together a mish mash of previous KDJ releases. Sunday Morning is a chill out classic. Abstract jazzy keys, horns, bird flutter, and on top of it all the soul voice from Norma Jean Bell counterpointing a soprano sax.

1. Kenny Dixon Jr. � "Shades of Jae" � Moodymann
Simply put, the most inspiring Detroit cut of the 1999. Perfect party music, with its tease and suspense, drama and funk � this is the way a DJ who knows how to work the crowd makes a record. I heard the crowd scream every time this was played this year, from Fran�ois Kevorkian�s set to Theo Parish rocking this at Sharif�s. An instant classic.

Norma Jean Bell "I Like The Things You Do For Me" (1996)

Balance Prescription (BP13) 12"

Quite retro sounding soulful disco track by Kenny Dixon Jr. aka Moodyman. There are two vocal mixes on the A-side but it's the B-side's jazzy "Moodyman Mix" with its live keyboard jamming that does it for me.

techno + Detroit

http://www.mich.com/~planete/moody.html

http://www.twoplayer.net/kdj

http://www.bassics.de/pandamonium.html

SHOPPING:

Forevernevermore - Kenny Dixon Jr [Amazon US]

Silent Introduction - Kenny Dixon Jr [Amazon US]

2001, dec 22; 14:20:

Norma Jean Bell - Come Into My Room[UK] UK only, very good Detroit House release on Peacefrog.

jahsonic@yahoo.com