Saturday, October 31, 2009

Client Showcase: Strands by Chris


Strands by Christina
Christina Crump, Head Tressetter
1127 N. High Street (Short North)
614-299-2614

A lot of people say they do hair. But most are not stylists. Stylists have an eye for trends, yet turn out manes that look effortless and healthy. Christina Crump, owner and operator of Styles by Christina takes pride in being a hair stylist. Because, let’s face it, everyone wielding scissors and combs do not have style.

Crump has been styling hair professionally since 2001, working for some of the biggest chain salons including First Choice, Sheer Creations, Styles Studios in downtown Columbus and Salon Lofts. In 2008, she decided to branch out into a new beauty concept, a place where ladies can receive fresh hairdos, boutique-original clothing, glamorous makeup and a martini all in the same place. With fashion designer Samara Collins, Crump founded the High & 4th Hair and Fashion Studio in the heart of Columbus’ arts district The Short North. “I wanted to bring Hollywood to Columbus,” says Crump. “The women in Columbus are always beautiful and always have their whole look together. The High & 4th Hair and Fashion Studio will be a part of that movement.”

Styles by Christina, Crump’s namesake salon located in the High & 4th Hair and Fashion Studio, is an intimate salon that ensures clients are swiftly attended to and provided with quality products and customer service. The fusion salon/boutique has already been featured in Columbus Alive, and U Weekly magazines, and hosts a monthly open house coinciding with the city’s infamous Gallery Hop the first Saturday of every month.

In the meantime, Crump is on her quest to build a brand and contribute to the lifestyle of the metro, confident woman who flock to her for styles that range from sexy to conservative.  All of her clients, whether they have funky afros, sleek relaxed styles or colorful tresses can attest of her versatility and focus on the client. “I want all my clients to walk with extreme confidence in their hairstyle, whether it is short, natural and weaved down their back,” she says.

RIP Pamela Glason Thornton




Pamela Glason Thornton's Obituary

Dispatch Story on Pamela Glason Thornton

Ms. Pam was not just a co-worker. She was a mentor to me and a great woman in the eyes of Columbus, Ohio. My years I worked alongside her at The Columbus Post, I learned the ins and outs of the newspaper business, photography, and how to get everybody's phone number in the city. She was a treasure to many and will surely be missed.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

L.E. & Living Color in The Urban Trendsetters Magazine

Read stories about Columbus rapper L.E. and legendary rock group Living Color, click below!

http://issuu.com/urbantrendsetters/docs/uts101509/28?mode=a_p

Monday, August 31, 2009

Client Showcase: Eddie Bayard




It’s rare to come across a jazz cat who can recite John Coltrane’s tenor sax riffs with the same eloquence as a Rakim verse. Eddie Bayard is that cat who sees Jazz’s patronage over Hip Hop and reveres both as Black art.

Being born just a few months after Hip Hop, Bayard was raised by a jazz musician and was just a kid in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania when legends like Dizzy Gillespie drank coffee with his father. He picked up the saxophone at 14 years old, around the same time It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back by Public Enemy and Milestones by Mile Davis hit the streets.

He attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music in 1993. He then attended The Ohio State University, and under the apprentiship of Pharez Whitted began a relationship that he himself calls “The EPMD of Jazz.”

Bayard has played alongside Jazz legends including, Betty Carter, Gary Barts, Benny Mauplin, David “Fathead” Newman, Nancy Wilson, Ralph Peterson, Wes Anderson. He has also worked with Dr. Dre, Chuck D and Bootsy Collins, to name a few. If you see Eddie playing live, you would notice the horn he plays with was a special gift from his good friend Wynton Marsalis.

He has been featured on albums by Azur Lawrence, The Movement, Pharez Whitted, Mark Lomax, Mike Wade and many more. In 2001, he started working with J Rawls and featured on several of his projects.

Known in the Jazz world as the next coming of John Coltrane, Bayard doesn’t mimic Trane in his performance, but studies the man, the era and the science behind what makes Jazz tick.

Bayard steps to the front of the band stand with his new album, Current Events, which seamlessly melds Jazz, Hip Hop and groove in an expression of his own unique love of Black music.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Client Showcase: Rob Riley



A drummer with a Hip Hop/Soul sensibility, Rob Riley’s main goal is bringing that boom pap back into Soul music. Having played since the age of 10, Riley has been gigging since he was 19-years-old. The method to his madness behind a drum set is simple…a mix of musical control and individual wildness, that gets heads nodding in or out of the pocket.

As a touring musician, Riley has played for and with a dynamic list of artists, including bassists Victor Wooten and Steve Bailey, Cam’Ron and The Diplomats, Rick Ross, Shareefa, Roy Ayers, K’Naan, Raheem DeVaughn, Dwele, Eric Roberson and Bone Thugs N Harmony. He is a 10-year member of The Charles Cooper Quartet, and has drummed on The Liquid Crystal Project 2 and The Rawls & Middle Project, both spearheaded by international producer/deejay J Rawls, released in 2008. He has also played for the Cleveland Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame, the Regional Emmys in Columbus, Ohio and the Cincinnati and Columbus Jazz Festivals.

Riley has parlayed understanding of rhythm into production work, working with upcoming Sony Records group Fatty Koo, and was even featured on their high-rated BET reality series, Blowing Up: Fatty Koo. Their 2005 hit Bounce Bounce, in which Riley was the drummer, was the NBA Finals theme song and was featured on the Fat Albert Movie soundtrack.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Client Showcase: Brandon "B Jazz" Scott




Though anyone can see the passion in his face behind the keys, Brandon “B Jazz” Scott is more than your average piano man. The writer/producer/musician is a perfect storm of creativity, simplicity and eagerness that has some of the biggest names in Soul music buzzing about his unique sound.

As a music producer, B Jazz has been inspired by the new wave of Soul acts that blend Hip Hop rhythms with traditional Jazz to create flavorful music. That inspiration led to collaborations with many artists, including producer J Rawls on his internationally acclaimed series The Liquid Crystal Project in 2006. The second part of the series, released in 2008, provides even more Jazz/Hip Hop fusions for its legions of fans, and spawned a 2009 European tour. B Jazz has forged an innovative connection with singer Eric Roberson, with production credits including If I Had A Chance on 2007’s Left and Roberson’s highest selling iTunes single to-date, Head To Toe, on his 2007 compilation album, The Collection. He shares production credits with J Rawls on singer Middle Child’s highly anticipated sophomore album, The Rawls & Middle Project. B Jazz has also produced work for Nu Springs Records recording artist Isaac Simpson, and Toronto rapper and has produced and toured with A&M Records recording artist K’Naan.

B Jazz has been infatuated with the keyboard since he was nine-years-old. That love for performing live has led him to play alongside his idols, upcoming stars and chart staples. Isaac Hayes, Aaron Hall, Selena Johnson, Rance Allen, James Moody, Fantasia, Shareefa, Bone Thugs N Harmony, Roy Ayers, Howard Hewitt, Bobby Valentino, Dwele and John P. Kee are just a few of the artists he has played with in his professional career. He has been a member of The Charles Cooper Quartet, a Hip Hop/Jazz fusion band, for more than a decade. As a touring musician, he has played around the world at venues in Germany, Prague, the Netherlands, Budapest, Belize and Portugal. He has also played for Carnival Cruise, Howard University, Ohio State University’s graduation ceremony, the Cleveland Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame, the Regional Emmys in Columbus, Ohio and the Cincinnati and Columbus Jazz Festivals.

His latest venture, Dezoul Meet Productions, matches B Jazz with his long-time collaborator, drummer/producer Robert Riley. The production company has B Jazz planning to infuse the music industry with even more good music, as a touring artist and a much sought-after producer.

The passion behind Brandon “B Jazz” Scott is evident in anything he touches, whether it is a Triton Extreme or LogicPro. No matter how you experience his music, the passion is what makes this composer stand out in a sea of beatmakers.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Client Showcase: J Rawls




www.j-rawls.com
www.myspace.com/jrawls

Since 1997, J Rawls has been perfecting a sound that seamlessly merges two of Black America’s most expressive art forms: jazz and hip hop. The prolific deejay and producer has christened artists across he globe with his stylish music sound, producing critically acclaimed albums and some of the most well known acts around.

Rawls is known best for producing “Brown Skin Lady” from the short-lived super group BlackStar (Mos Def and Talib Kweli). However, Rawls has enjoyed a career working with Masta Ace, The Beastie Boys, Wordsworth, Jonell, us3 and Venus Malone.

His own discography includes an eclectic mix of grown soul, golden age hip hop and sophisticated jazz hybrids. The Essence of J Rawls (2001), his first solo producing project, brings together J Live, J Rawls and others rapping over that signature jazz hop sound. The Essence of Soul, released in 2006 is a groove heavy collection featuring Eric Roberson, Aloe Blacc, Sol Uprising and several tracks from Middle Child. The album spawned the 2008 released Rawls & Middle, featuring soul, rock and hip hop by the Columbus-based songstress, that made waves across the U.S. and in Europe. The Liquid Crystal Project, Rawls’ instrumental Jazz-Hop group, has released two albums that generated two European tours. He is also one half of Lone Catalysts, who have released and have enjoyed tours in the U.S., Europe and Japan. His latest release Jay Are with rapper John Robinson pays homage to jazz forefathers in a way no emcee and producer ever has.

As owner and CEO of Polar Records, Rawls has enjoyed a 10 year relationship with Germany’s Groove Attack Records, J Rawls is constantly on the cusp of what’s new and hot in Hip Hop, Soul and Jazz hybrids and with new projects always in the pipeline, he is showing no signs of stopping.