:: If an event isn't on ATLANTAHAPPS.COM, it's not happening ::

Entertainment

By Entertainment Editor Ahmed Sirour

THE [right] FORMULA (06.24.04)

I never thought it wasn't possible, I just never bothered to think about it. But, as it happens, time flies by pretty quickly, and what was just an experiement back in June of 2003 when I asked the owners of Tarrazu to give me an opportunity to bring something different to their limited live music rotation, at the time, and unintentionally to Atlanta. Saturday was an open day that wasn't very busy at all except the odd special event here and there. I can't front but must admit that I felt that what live music already existed didn't quite move me and I felt that it was time for me to take another leap of faith and embark on a musical concept not quite heard of in public establishments already riddled with bands doing lounge-type performances, cover tunes, or "jam" sessions that were more forced than improvisational. Enter The Formula. I guarantee you that out of every performance we have done, know that we have only had ONE rehearsal ever! I initially wanted to showcase an up-and-coming vocalist each week, and did so the first few months. It went pretty well but I was hung up on the concept initially because I felt people would be bored just listening to a bunch of guys playing instruments with no lead...especially when it's only a trio. We've since proved the audience, and myself, wrong.

Little by little people started coming out on a consistent basis and began to realize that what they were hearing was ground-breaking--we didn't just play, we created at will! We were making live music on the spot, unrehearsed, just on the basis of how it felt and sounded and not where the stops and changes should be...we just had to wing those when the moment came. In the process, I started to compose original compositions to test and challenge us and to experiment to see how far we could take a song. Even when we did a cover song, we tried to see how far we could twist it up but still keep it intact. How many of you have seen a band play, "People Make the World Go 'Round", for instance, and hear it in Funk, then Jazz, then Hip-Hop, then Latin, then Reggae, then back to Funk all in one take? How many bands do you see that have the keyboardist call out to the drummer to make up a beat on the spot, then ask the bass player to add something to that, then have the keyboardist figure out chords to go with them and make a whole new song right before your eyes, or even throwing in a vocalist who makes up a song with the band and if they told no one, the audience wouldn't have known this was never rehearsed? How many times do you go to a place never knowing who will drop in and make a trio into a sextet with a full horn section...and it's all spontaneous? What about guest appearances by top musicians like India.Arie's bass player, or the Black Eyed Peas drummer, or Alicia Keys' keyboardist, or Angie Stone's saxophone player, or some of Atlanta's best vocalists like Phillippia, or Cleveland, or Marc Nelson, Maya Neida or many others, even artists who are visiting from out-of-town while on tour, who drop by and perform with the band just for the love of it and give a free show to the audience?

We have been blessed to have been a part of an underground movement right in the heart of Midtown where sometimes superficiality substitutes substance (alliteration at its best, huh). We have also been fortunate to provide our unique sound to events for Rolling Out, Martell, Absolut, the NFL, Sol Fusion, S.T.E.P.S. Events, the Superfriends, Hidden Beach Recordings, Roc-A-Fella Records, and many more, as well as performing with recording artists like Mike Phillips, Dwele, or Allen Anthony as a unit, or as individuals with artists like Julie Dexter, Russell Gunn, Rachelle Ferrell, Scar, Kim Burrell, Lizz Wright, and many others. This is not to necessarily impress you but to just to serve as validation of our skills that we bring as musicians dedicated not just to bring quality music to you, but to commit ourselves to stretch and take our gifts as far as we can and play from the soul and not necessarily by the book.

I want to take the time to recognize my core and honorary members/guest musicians of The Formula, besides myself who plays keyboards:

Andre' Bowman .........Bass guitar

Che' Marshall .............Drums

Kyle Williams .............Lead guitar and vocals

John Eley ..................Lead guitar

Reggie Starling ......... Bass guitar

Myron Carroll ............Bass guitar

Donna Hairston .........Bass guitar

Tres Gilbert ...............Bass guitar and vocals

Khari Simmons ..........Bass guitar

Jerome Brown ..........Drums and vocals

King .........................Percussion

Manny Martinez ........Percussion

Chris Coleman ...........Drums and Bass guitar

Dee ..........................Drums and Bass guitar

Pete Alexander .........Drums

Mike Phillips ..............Drums

(a different one)

Keith Harris ...............Drums

Marc Nelson ..............Keys and vocals

Eric Sinclair ...............Keys

Richard Johnson .......Keys

Reggie Carter ...........Keys

Reggie Hines ............Alto Saxophone

Mike Burton ..............Alto Saxophone

Ron James ...............Alto Saxophone

Tony Bailey ..............Trumpet and Flugelhorn

I also want to say thank you to all those who have been supporting us by telling your friends about us, referring us for future bookings, and especially those who help us raise "gas money" every week...you get a free show but donations are very appreciated!

I would like to extend an invitation to everyone who gets this and is able to come through to join us this Saturday, June 26th (9pm-12am), at Tarrazu Coffeebar as The Formula celebrates our One Year Anniversary as a band! Consistency is key!

Okay, so let's get back to what's happening this week: www.atlantahapps.com/upcoming_events.htm

Also happening this week/weekend that I approve of:

06.24.04

Otherside featuring Threefive Human & Science Fiction at Apache Cafe @9pm/ $7 cover.

06.25.04

"Rite of Strings" featuring Stanley Clarke, Jean-Luc Ponty, and Al DiMeola at Chastain Park Amphitheatre @ 8pm/ $14 - $58 cover. (then head over to Sol Fusion @ Formosa www.sol-fusion.com)

06.26.04

THE FORMULA's One Year Anniversary @ Tarrazu Coffeebar (www.tarrazucoffeebar.com). 9pm - 12am/No Cover (but donations accepted)!

06.27.04

Joyce Cooling and Alex Bugnon at Mable House Amphitheatre (Mableton) @ 6pm/$22 - $32 cover

In other news...

I highly recommend you all go see Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story! All I have to say is that Ben Stiller is STUPID and I love him for that! For those who just came out from under a rock check out: www.dodgeballmovie.com

Also just opening is White Chicks which I plan to see after writing this starring Marlon and Shawn Wayans...if it's as good or better than the trailer, I'm down! www.sonypictures.com/movies/whitechicks/site/

I've got the full tourdates for the Jill Scott "Buzz Tour" for her new album, Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. II (08/31/04) www.hiddenbeach.com/press/06-22-04.htm

In closing...

It's time to just "put up or shut up"...

peace2ya!

ahmed@atlantahapps.com

The views in this article are not necessarily the expressed views of ATLANTAHAPPS.COM or it's affiliates.

SESSIONS SATURDAYS at Tarrazu Coffeebar

Join us every Saturday
Time: 9 p.m. - 12 a.m. Eastern Time (US and Canada)

SUDARABAJAN Productions present...

"SESSIONS SATURDAYS"
(as a part of Tarrazu's Liquid Jazz Series)

Featuring a three-piece (keys/drums/bass) neo-jazz band,

THE FORMULA

Enjoy a sensual atmosphere of candlelight's, chill conversations, cool sounds, and good food as you leave the stress of the work week behind you. As an extra treat, each week will feature a different up-and-coming vocalist to sit in with the band and grace the mike, for your listening pleasure. The dinner and dessert menu is definitely for the discriminating palate...and you won't need any reservations.

Time:
9pm-12am (NO COVER!)

Address:
265 Ponce De Leon Avenue (around the corner
from Old Spaghetti Factory)
Suite D
Atlanta, GA 30308
404.815.2077

Dress:
Comfortably Fly!

Ahmed Sirour writes a weekly journal for ATLANTAHAPPS.COM

Ahmed Sirour is a Georgia Regional Representative for Hidden Beach Recordings

-- Archive

Gotta Make Moves	The Absolut Show	You Want More	A Weekend to Remember	Off Notes
Changing Seasons	Just Getting Started	Non-Stop Action	Ideas to Flirt With	Pursuing Purpose
Will Play For Food	Lasting Power	Rebound	For The Love Of Music	PURSUING PURPOSE (Pt. II)
ABSOLUT-LY OVER!!	A Weekend to Remember	The Absolut Show Round 3	Absolut Show - Round 2	The Lina Interview
Chicago on my mind	Ja Rule talks about beef with 50 Cent	Die Empty	Giving Back	Tis the Season
Life's Purpose	And We are off	A Dream Deferred	A special interview with Rachelle Ferrell	Super Weekend

Tit for Tacky	The Grammy Rocks the Love's Below	Click This	It ain't over	survivor
Stuff on my mind	Represent your hood	April Foolishness	MY STRANGE WORLD...Part XXVII	Just keep Moving
The Ying and the Yang	Industry Rule 4080	Back on Track	MILESTONES	Memorial Day Hangover

Ahmed Sirour -A Product of a Sudanese-Arab (Muslim) father and a Bajan-Caribbean (Christian) mother. Ahmed was a "diamond in the rough" hewn from Brooklyn, now undergoing "polishing and re-cutting" in Atlanta. This serves as a premise to his diverse nature that comes from a diverse background. His poetic style is influenced by his love of music...specifically, jazz improvisation. He sometimes uses a rhyme form he calls "Broken Word"; basically, the rhyme scheme alternates between words and phrases but with a definite flow just like a jazz jam session where the art of freestyle takes place. Although it would seem that hip-hop, another of his influences, would seem to be a more apt description of his style, it is the marriage of youthful innovation paired with classic refinement. He is also moved by the Harlem Renaissance, which he feels is resurfacing, in spirit, throughout many major metropolitan cities, especially Atlanta. More importantly, he is moved by his belief in spirituality, believing that he is merely a vessel of God to bring forth the talent that he feels he has been blessed with.

Ahmed's goal, this year, to finally publish his first collection of work entitled, "This Would Be A Love Song...If Only I Could Sing"; a collection of poetry, essays, and short stories based on his life's experiences in the area of love and life. Ahmed is also a musician (keyboardist) and plays for and with many talented artists in Atlanta (and those who travel through the city from abroad). He currently represents for Hidden Beach Recordings (www.hiddenbeach.com), so he keeps one foot in the business and one foot (and two hands) in the art, itself. It is his hope and prayer that beyond enjoying his work, that people are actually moved, emotionally/intellectually/spiritually, by the words they read, and to know that this is merely a power that is coming through him and not from him.

SOULFUL HAPPS - A SPOTLIGHT ON URBAN MUSIC & CULTURE

Imagine for a moment if Marvin were still alive and able to record with the Roots... Or what about Pete Rock breaking-off a track for Minnie Ripperton or Donnie Hathaway. What kind of energy would these collaborations create??? The answer is found in a new Soul Music Series entitled SOULFUL HAPPS, and it's unlike anything you've ever heard. This section features artists who produce the sounds of 70's Soul, Acid Jazz, Hip Hop, and Rare Grooves appreciated by music lovers around the Atlanta area. But it's more than a sound... It's a feeling... bringing the past and the future together in a rather unique way. Click here for details

WHAT THEY ARE SAYIN...

Mr.Sirour,

I live in LA and was recently in your wonderful city and love reading you're column, Very nice. Miles...

Mr.Sirour,

I would like to begin by saying I enjoy your weekly "HAPPS" commentary. I look forward to it every Monday evening when I have down time at work. I appreciate you keeping us 'Atliens' abreast of the goings of Atlanta and upcoming music artists. Please keep doing what you are doing!

Mr.Sirour,

Now, I would like to comment briefly on your commentary for this week. Kudos to you for being honest and candid! How refreshing to hear such positive and thought provoking thoughts. I agree with you in so many ways. Just as a smile can be contagious, so can positivity.

P.S-- I saw the plug on your site for the Tarrazu Coffee Bar. It sounds like a great place. I will be trying it out this week.

Thank You,

Brettina Burney

I feel you 100% when you stated you feel a shift in the wind of this industry. I have been told by enough shallow producers to change my singing style to sound like this one or that. I was fed up of hearing this over and over so I took out my keyboards and produced myself. I am looking for people with a true vision of taking real music into the future to either assist me in promotions and possibly management. If you get a minute check me out at www.zuudiakusentertainment.com . Keep doing what you do, I will too.

Peace

Jas Tunica El

KATHLEEN BERTRAND

Visit the Website http://www.kathleenbertrand.com

Subscriber Kathleen Bertrand, her riveting performances combine contemporary R&B grooves with jazz riffs that keep audiences wanting for more...

No Regrets sets an elegant new standard for contemporary soul, and Kathleen Bertrand brings an inspiring new voice to the world of music. Look for future features on this dynamic singer in future ATLANTAHAPPS listings.

Ahmed -- Recently I read your column for "ATLANTAHAPPS.COM" As I was reading, I kept trying to listen to this very haunting melody that was playing in the background...and then finally I had to stop reading and just listen. You generously praise so many artists in your column, but your gifts are special too. I look forward to hearing more from you. "Without You" is just beautiful - I could listen to it all day.

I also am a singer/songwriter here in Atlanta. Last year, I released my "No Regrets" CD. Your words about a change in the music industry are so true and great encouragement. Thank you and keep spreading the truth. God bless you!

Kathleen Bertrand

A Collection of Poetry, Essays, and Short Stories from the life of Ahmed Sirour. A new movement in poetry, descriptive essay writing, and innovative story-telling.

Ahmed writes the way a jazz musician plays during an improvisational jam session paired with the way a lyricist freestyles in hip-hop form. It is a marriage of the past and present that creates a fusion to set the tempo for the future. His writing surpasses his racial makeup and simply becomes a unique American story by a unique American writer.