I think it was Ken who was talking abut Blaze not playing out - well dont know how I ended up on this mailing list but it looks as though they are playing Turnmills on the Saturday of the bank holiday weekend......
On Saturday 27th August Blaze make a rare UK performance as they make their debut at Turnmills. Blazes contribution to House music is epic boasting one of the most impressive bodies of production spanning from Lisa Stansfields' pop dance hit "People Hold On to their own classic "Can't Win for Losing" they have been at the forefront of the house music. Blaze aka Josh Milan, Kevin Hedge and Chris Herbert started writing music together in 1984. Childhood friends who met at their local church choir, Chris was a vocalist who wanted to record, Josh was a natural musician who played with the church choir and Kevin was a DJ who spun locally at parties around their native Newark, N.J. The three decided to form a production team after Chris introduced Josh and Kevin and encouraged them to became a recording group. Blaze has influences that run from Stevie Wonder to James Taylor to John Coltrane and beyond. But it is the deeply soulful melodies, their blend of Afro, Jazz, Soul and Gospel added with, the positive world view in their lyrics, influenced heavily by their childhood heroes Earth, Wind & Fire. While their older friends danced the night away in NY clubs like Zanzibar and the Paradise Garage, Blaze began to lay down the prototype of their sound assimilating the music of the day and adding a more electronic and fundamentally R&B based spine. With "DJ" Kevin at the controls, Josh "the piano man" on the synthesizer and the "lead vocal" stylings of Chris, they turned out song after song for other artist and producers to record. Some included "This Time" by Colonel Abrams knock off Hunter Hayes, "One Man" by Chanelle and "Reachin' " by Phase II. The three ultimately signed their first record deal with the newly formed Quark records in '85, producing three major club hits of the time; "Whatcha Gonna Do", "If You Should Need A Friend" and "Can't Win For Losing". After 19 years on the scene Milan and Hedge are still producing relevant hits today as they did back in '85. In their own words they see themselves as " tools being used by the universe helping to bring lyrical messages and melodies to the world, music is communication. Ideas come to us from the spirit of creation.". Over the past year they have come out of their self imposed exile to in NY for some exclusive dates and Turnmills represents the last time to catch Blaze this year! Joining Blaze is another of New Yorks musical luminaries Kenny Dope Gonzalez. Together with recording partner Louie Vega there has been no greater presence in house music for over a decade. As producers, their style and stunning polished production saw them remixing dance acts and pop starts alike, utilising their soulful DJing style, whilst as individuals their DJ performances continue to enthral crowds. Whilst Louie comes from a soulful, Kennys versatility is his talent. Fusing dirty Chicago and Hip-Hop beats to his house music sound with sunning technical ability, Kenny is a Master at Work. Get down for this monumental sound clash. Cheers BT
