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By Entertainment Editor Ahmed Sirour
WILL PLAY FOR FOOD (09.15.03)
This has been a slow @$$ month where live music is concerned, because gigs have been sparse, although Tarrazu is still a mainstay on Saturday nights. >>Insert sarcastic tone>> It makes sense that great innovative music has to struggle to surface while carbon copy, computerized Pop and R&B milk the money from the masses who aren't being exposed to true artistry. Maybe I should bring a portable pole and hire an exotic dancer to accompany my band at gigs and generate more revenue as well as double our bookings. Hmmm...or maybe we could incorporate pyrotechnics at our outdoor gigs and work on some dance moves to add some pizzazz! Yeah...and maybe I could give a lap dance to one of our female audience members while playing the keys at the same time (that would be hot)! And I've also been thinking, playing Gospel music could definitely open up more opportunities for us, but with so much competition out the re already, you have to up the anty...what could be more innovative, as well as appropriate, than getting an alcohol sponsor to put on some Gospel showcases and go on tour! Think about it...the Lord had a taste every now and then (he turned water to wine, right), but he knew when to say when (keyword: moderation), and wouldn't that be a great way to win sinners back to the house of God while still making some pocket change?
Before
I go to far and lighting strikes me mid-sentence, just know I'm venting
because it's a bit frustrating but I do understand that this is a hustle
and if I'm going to make it, it will not be easy. But
hey, you didn't want to read all that, you wanted to know what's
been going on right? This weekend was insane...no, this
Sunday was insane! I was all hyped up to go to the "Day
of Diversity" thrown by the Hushbox.com at the Chukkar
Farms & Polo Club, but never got there. A friend of mine
(who shall remain nameless to spare him of any public clowning he
may incur by my public account on here) said he was going and asked if I
wanted to hitch a ride with him, which I was cool with. From the
jump, something was wrong when he kept mentioning streets that didn't
exist (or we didn't see) as we kept getting further away from the city.
Then he tells me he forgot to print out the directions but
"remembered them" so we should be okay--BIG MISTAKE! Something
was definitely wrong when we had to stop to ask for directions and we
ended up at some "pet grooming farm" (i.e. dogs in a stable).
We started to pass horses, cows, goats, and even a sign that said
"Chikins 4 Sale"! His consolation to me was that at
least we weren't in Forsyth County, for those who are familiar with the
one county in Metro Atlanta that isn't aware of any of the Civil Rights
Acts, or at least do not seem to recognize them. I
started to see a LOT of Confederate flags on people's doors and pickup
trucks before we passed a sign confirming that we were, in fact, in
Forsyth County...I mean, wasn't the place we needed to get to was in ALPHARETTA?!!
We decided that stopping at the log-cabinnish General Store with a small
cannon out front was probably not the best place to stop for
directions. We finally made it to the "Polo Club" only
to find out it was the wrong Polo Club and we were the only Black people
within a 10-mile radius and I really wasn't trying to be around there
after sunset. Bad enough when we made a sudden stop to turn onto a
road we needed to get on, that a van almost rear-ended us as this large,
redneck woman with 8 teeth (no lie) yelled at us, just barely
missing us as she swerved into the gravel, going off about us not
having any brake lights to warn that we were stopping. I was gonna
get defensive (though I rethought that course of action considering
where we were), but then I asked him if she was right only to find
out that there were NO tail lights!!! I had enough adventure for
one day so I told dude it was time to "get the hell outta
Dodge" (actually the area was called Duck town) and go home.
I'll always remember the pleasant country breeze of horse manure as we
cruised on the back roads of rural Georgia that had only one street sign
per intersection with no sign to mark the crossroad (I suppose you'd
just have to know where you were). We were definitely grateful to
the "Hot Boiled Peanuts" vendor man who finally showed us the
quickest way out of the wilderness and back into civilization. All
that for nothing, although my boy was getting mad play from the
"Pet Farm Grooming" lady who was out there by herself...she
was tryin' to holla, man--what happened?!!
And straight from the HQs of Hidden Beach Recordings
You've never heard anything like this before...Ahmed puts his STAMP OF APPROVAL on this one (well, if not an actual stamp, than just the words in all caps as seen above). I want everyone to keep Tuesday, October 7th open on their calendars because something exciting and innovative is coming your way...more details next week!
peace2ya!
P.S.--if you're a restaurant, venue, or any type of local attraction that wants to bring some flavor to your particular establishment, you need to contact me to book my band, THE FORMULA to provide live music at your events. To date, we've played for Virgin recording artist Dwele, the Tuesday Networking Session thrown by S.T.E.P.S Event Planning, Rolling Out Urbanstyle Weekly event, Black Cinema Cafe', and are currently available for events the remainder of this month, though we will soon begin hitting the studio to start recording, so serious inquiries should contact me via e-mail. Those who wish for a sample can catch our jam sessions at Tarrazu Coffeebar every Saturday night from 9pm-12am (see below).
Feel free to e-mail me at: ahmed@atlantahapps.com
The views in this article are not necessarily the expressed views of ATLANTAHAPPS.COM or it's affiliates.
Ahmed Sirour writes a weekly journal for ATLANTAHAPPS.COM
Ahmed Sirour is a Georgia Regional Representative for Hidden Beach Recordings
-- Archive
If you’re looking for a new spot to kick back and chill, meet up with old friends (or new ones), a place to unwind and network after work with young urban professionals, someplace to commune after a jazz/r&b concert, movie, or a night of theatre, a cozy place to kick it with your sweetheart, or a place to flirt and engage in seductive conversations with beautiful strangers, then I highly recommend Midtown’s newest place to be and be seen…
Tarrazu Coffee Bar! Only some months up & running, Tarrazu has already begun hosting a number of functions and has served as a sanctuary for the "buppie" and "yuppie" crowds. Named after a mountainous region of South America famous for some of the world’s best coffee, Tarrazu can match Café Intermezzo with its diverse offerings of decadent beverages and treats while separating itself from comparison with a smaller more intimate setting—I would especially recommend this as an ideal spot for your private party needs (be a "baller" and rent it out for the night like Boris did for Sanaa in "Brown Sugar"—LOL).
Located at 265 Ponce de Leon Avenue (around the corner from Old Spaghetti Factory and right next door to MF Sushi Bar), Tarrazu takes centerstage with its eye-catching terrace and black awning…and then you walk in! I’m no interior decoration expert, but with beautiful hardwood floors, artistic lighting, assorted candles throughout the establishment, very cool, classy, and comfortable dinner/lounge furniture, very clean bathrooms (hey, ya know), ambient table settings, great food, coffees, and desserts, and a great wait-staff…what more could you possibly ask for?! How about "live" music on Thursdays and Fridays (sometimes, Saturdays)? Did I mention this is a solely Black-owned establishment, run by partners Nathan Horne, Robert Beckham, and Terrance Gattis? Did you know they are even preparing the groundwork for yet another location in Phipps Plaza? Did you know that entire block (from MS Sushi Bar to Nancy’s Deli) is Black-owned? Did you know that they play Hidden Beach music on a regular ;) ? Did you want me to give you anymore reasons to go there or are you wise enough to act on my suggestions with any more cajoling?
Tarrazu Owners and ATLANTAHAPPS.COM subscribers
Robert Beckham (left), Ahmed and Nathan Horne
SENSUAL SATURDAYS at Tarrazu Coffeebar
Date: Join us on Saturday, September 27 ,2003
Time: 9 p.m. - 12 a.m. Eastern Time (US and Canada)
SUDARABAJAN Productions present...
"SENSUAL 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!
Contact info:
Ahmed @770.374.3537
Visit their website for upcoming events, lunch specials, and a preview
of their dinner menu at:
www.tarrazucoffeebar.com. Tell them Ahmed sent you…no, you won’t get
any discount on your dinner check, but it just sounds like a cool thing
to say—LOL! Seriously though, I might make a deal with them about
discounts if you do mention you heard about them from this article! Or,
maybe a free CD sampler from Hidden Beach (while supplies last). 
Ahmed Sirour - Eclectic. 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
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 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.
www.authorsden.com/ahmedasirour
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