Taste Test Live

Have a taste of last week's "Put This in Your Mouth" segment with our guests Stank Sauce who joined us for our "music digestion" session and later performed "I Know Who I Am".

Can the full-length interview on our Taste Test Live Youtube Channel. 

About Stank Sauce Band

The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville, Florida in 2011. This group of musicians have grown and played around each other for many years, some as early as elementary school. But, it wasn't until they decided to come together with one goal: Make great music for the world.

Under the leadership of Jawren Walton, Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz, blues, funk, reggae, pop, hip-hop, and rock, and fuse them together to bring a unique experience for the music listener. After formation, It didn't take Stank Sauce long to gain traction.

Our endeavors over the years have given us the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take our talents across the world. Performing in places like the United Arab Emirates and China as well as across the USA. With all of the flavors and excitement, this band has to offer. Stank Sauce has the kick everyone needs for all of their entertainment offerings.

After a full day delay of our podcast, we are proud to present a special 2-hour show with guests: two managing directors, Christina Parrish Stone from Friends of Hemming Park and Ebony Payne-English with The Performers Academy. These influential women joined the hosts to discuss collaborating with Hope At Hand and the Florida Humanities Council on National Poetry Month, Jax Poetry Fest kickoff at Downtown Jacksonville's First Wednesday Art Walk and a closing ceremony with Peabody & Emmy winning poet and writer, Al Letson on April 27th in Hemming Park.

 

Put This In Your Mouth segment

Jussie Smollett case dropped of all 16 charges.

Justin Bieber posted that he was stepping away from music to focus on his marriage and his personal life.

There was a surprise proposal on American Idol

Cardi B admitted to robbing and drugging men when she was a stripper

 

Interview Notes:

What is Christina doing now? She says "working with Hemming Park has been one of the best experiences"

Jax Poetry Fest - partnering with Performers Academy and Hope at Hand, Inc.

This year a lot of events will be held in Hemming Park

What is it like living in Springfield? She’s loved it. A friend of hers wrote a piece for HuffPost about how Jacksonville has so many distinct neighborhoods but nothing going on downtown

She’s always loved art, she studied art as a child. Her mother was a writer and artist but Christina didn’t get super into art till she became part of SPAR

Sculpture Project in Hemming Park: 3 separate sculptures being put into the park this summer. Hemming Park teamed up with UNF, all three sculptures are made by students

Collaboration is key

 

Ebony Payne English is a literary artist with several awards. As acting Managing Director of The Performers Academy, she has been featured in many different types of digital media. She has a discography of 5 albums to date

Ebony’s involvement with Jax Poetry Month, a lot of nationally recognized poets are Jax natives

Performance Academy teaches troubled kids poetry much like Hope at Hand

What to look forward to in April? Festival kicks off on April 3, in the Jax Makerspace inside the main library in downtown Jacksonville. There will be poetry performances all night. On April 7, MOCA Jacksonville a performance of “The God MC” will be held in their auditorium

As two women in leadership are there any struggles?

Christina says there is one advantage of being a woman: we tend to be more collaborative

Christina faces more struggles being a woman when she was in the banking and law workforce.

Ebony says: she has the ability to be a master creator not because she has a womb

Ebony recently became a mother, how has being a mother changed her? “There is no good like motherhood” It has changed her completely. Her child is the most important and closest person in her inner circle.

 

About Christina Parrish Stone

Christina is a long-time advocate for Jacksonville’s urban neighborhoods, with significant experience in historic preservation and the use of arts and culture as tools for community development. A resident of Historic Springfield, she retired from a twenty-year career as an attorney specializing in real estate law, served as executive director of the Springfield Preservation and Revitalization for 7 years and now serves as Managing Director of Friends of Hemming Park, a nonprofit organization contracted with the city to revitalize the park in the center of Downtown. Christina was responsible for founding Jacksonville PorchFest, an annual music festival that brings thousands of people to Springfield to enjoy dozens of performances on porches and in parks throughout the historic district. A board member or chair of several other civic organizations, Christina recently completed her goal of visiting each of the fifty United States and believes Jacksonville is poised to end its reign as America’s most underrated, unappreciated, and misunderstood city.

 

About Ebony Payne-English

Ebony Payne-English is a literary artist

We’re back and are a day late with another episode of @tastetestlive !! Hear the full 1-hour exclusive interview with this week’s guest is up-and-coming producer and multi-instrumentalist, Devin Way.

Put This In Your Mouth (segment)

DMX is out of jail

A new BioPic - Jennifer Hudson is going to be playing Aretha Franklin

Cardi B is starring in a stripper film called "Hustlers" with Jennifer Lopez and more

Tierra Whack release three new singles

MySpace lost 50 million songs because they were updating their server and something went wrong 

SXSW in Austin, Texas happened this week

 

GUEST INTERVIEW: DEVIN WAY

plays dumbs, bass, piano, guitar and a vocalist

first started playing the drums at the age of 4, then at 12 - usher came out with the song let it burn so he started singing usher and john legend songs

pianos were the instrument he picked up after drums, took on the responsibility to play the piano at church

Prince is his favorite artist - he had a lucid dream about Prince playing drums while he was playing the guitar in a church

Anytime after midnight is when he thinks the music feels the best

TASTE TEST LIVE - Exclusive "Room 404"

2 muses inspired that track

He has two albums releasing this year and planning to move to Atlanta later this month

Put This In Your Mouth- Colorism debate about Will Smith’s new role, the debate started because of the complexion of Will Smith compared to the role of Venus Williams’s father - AP press sited the Jaden Smith is working with a church to bring water to Flint - Leaving Neverland omitted details, Michael Jackson was already investigated, ‘Leaving Neverland’ and “leaving out” details how the investigation was dropped, settled and expunged - breakfast club reported that empire could face cancellation due to Jussie Smollett

Have a Test (segment)- MJbaker’s favorites: ”Wifeable” by Masego and Somi’s “Ginger Me Slowly” - Damien Lamar’s favorites: “Imma Be a Boss” by Young King Jai, “Like Really” by Oddisee, Losing interest and Afrocentric

New Releases - Carlos Santana - “In Search of Mona Lisa” EP

 

Kim Reteguiz is the lead singer for Kim Reteguiz & The Black Cat Bones, which includes Music Director Bernard Johnson, Kent McKinney, Ihlan Martínez,  Tish López, Alexander Hernández, Diego  Herrada-Ventura, and Luis Ocasio.  She is a graduate of the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s in Mass Communication and a minor in Education. Before she turned into a Gator, she attended the University of Mississippi on a full vocal scholarship where she studied opera, classical music, piano and music theory.  She is a top 3 winner of the 2018 Folio Magazine Annual Best of edition, a Semi-Finalist winner of the 2017 International Blues Challenge, Memphis, TN, The 2016 Jax IBC winner and the 2015 Jax Idol winner.The Black Cat Bones are currently wrapping up their LP titled 'No More Lettuce', produced by Christopher Flowers.

Interview with Kim Reteguiz- Kim Reteguiz is the lead singer of Kim Reteguiz & The Black Cat Bones. - As a child was full of energy, began singing (and harmonizing specifically ) at the age 3 in a church choir to harness her energy- Her biggest influences are her father, mother and great uncle. Music is in her family - Kim didn’t become comfortable with her voice until she was about 23- An incident at 14 caused her to feel suppressed because she let go singing and an older kid in the same choir made her feel judged - Kim Reteguiz and The Black Cat Bones was started 7 years ago originally with an Ex- Challenges as a woman being a band leader? When she was first starting there were challenges because she didn’t know the technical side of being the leader. - Culture appropriation? “Our generation has grown up in a world where other cultures are comfortable.”- The next release is relatable and is a change for people to forgive themselves - Forthcoming album “No More Lettuce: is about loving yourself - “I’m not going to eat lettuce for anyone but me”

Taste Test Live hosts welcome Philip Pan, violinist and former concertmaster with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. Philip dropped by to share some really insightful stories & favorite memories during his tenure with JSO, growing up with musical parents, being an Asian guy in a Mariachi band and also shared two exclusive songs from his work with Folk is People andMariachi Primera Costa:  "Jesusita en Chihuahua" and "The Siren Song", respectively along with his work with the Bold City Contemporary Ensemble.

About Philip Pan:

Philip Pan was born in Schenectady, NY to Chinese immigrants. He began studying the piano at age six and violin at eight. His teachers include William Kroll, Felix Galimir, Jens Ellerman and Dorothy DeLay. After receiving his M.M. from the Juilliard School he became Concertmaster of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and held that position for thirty-two years.

Philip performs extensively throughout the Southeast and beyond. He founded many concert series including Bach and Beyond and Sound Effects at MOCA.  He works in diverse musical styles from bluegrass to prog metal as a performer, arranger and composer. He was a member of indie bands Canary in the Coalmine and Folk is People, and currently plays in the Bold City Contemporary Ensemble and Mariachi Primera Costa.

His instruments include an 1837 August Bernardel, a five-string violin by Barry Dudley, a seven-string Viper by Wood Violins, and bows by David Forbes.

A sports enthusiast, he enjoys running, hiking, cycling, kayaking and skiing.

Follow Philip Pan on Facebook / Instagram: @fiddlingpanda  / Twitter: fiddlingpanda

 

During the "Put This in Your Mouth" segment, the team discussed:

Solange’s new album

“You’re not Beyoncé”

Unpacking the awkwardness of the new Solange album

Mask Singer - TV shows

Brian Bishop Jones is the bass player of MJ Baker produced some songs on T Pains album

T Pain was on it and can actually sing without autotune

T Pain dropped an album

BET Social Awards

The basis of the show is to highlight the titans and most popular social media users

Blueface performed "Thotiana"

Soulja Boy playe

On this week’s episode, we are joined in the studio with the incomparable, soulful and everybody's favorite - Mama Blue who dropped by to share her journey through song, sharing her love for music and connecting with the people with her voice. She also performed an exclusive live set of new music she's working on and gives Taste Test Live listeners a taste of "Brown-Skin Blues"  and "No Need" originally performed by Orcastratum featuring Eric Bibb & Shaneeka Simon.

And of course, we laughed during the funniest  (and intentionally not-raunchy) ‘Put This In Your Mouth’ segment where Blue Franswa, MJbaker and Damien Lamar discussed hot topics of the week including The Oscars, Iggy Azalea and more.  

 

SONG CREDITS: "Brown-Skin Blues" and "No Need" - Keyboards: Andre Martins & Krishna Achath on percussion

 

GUEST BIOS: 

ABOUT MAMA BLUE

Mama Blue is an original.

She brings the “live” in live performance. Her connection with her audience, whether they’ve ever heard her before, or even heard of her, has to be experienced to be appreciated.

The songs that Mama Blue has written are the core of her performances. Her songs are unsparing in their self-examination, but compassionate and supportive of those around her. Mama Blue’s originals are destined to reach an audience far beyond the area in which she has, until now, performed live.

Mama Blue’s songs are about her own life, the lives of people she’s known, and the lives of everyone. They’re about the joy and pain of love, about being a mother, about the social forces that influence our lives. And she sings directly to her audiences … not just figuratively, but walking out with a wireless microphone to sing to them close-up.

Combine that original material with a selection of songs by artists who’ve inspired Mama Blue – ranging from soul sisters Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Alicia Keyes and Nina Simone to rock bands like Queen and The Rolling Stones – and you have a musical journey through modern American life.

Born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, Mama Blue graduated from the city’s prestigious Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. She earned a scholarship to Jacksonville University, where she majored in vocal performance and drama.

Mama Blue and her crew have performed at festivals from Springing the Blues, Dancin’ in the Streets and Porch Fest in Jacksonville, to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, and at events and nightclubs across Northeast Florida and beyond.

With a signature flower in her hair as the finishing touch to her visual style, and a unique ability to reach people at the center of their souls, Mama Blue brings the warmth and understanding of an irresistibly genuine person to the stage.

You can get an idea of her talent from the videos and audio clips on this website. But to truly experience the magic of Mama Blue, hear her live – the first chance you get.

Follow Mama Blue on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1mamablue/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamabluesings/

 

Credits:

Damien Lamar (Host, Executive Producer & Audio Engineer)

Blue Franswa (co-Host)

MJbaker (co-Host)

Autumn Lee – Production Assistant

Intro/Outro Music – Stéphane Pitois

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Here is the podcast schedule for the next few weeks!

In March and April, we’ll be joined by violinist and vocalist Philip Pan, performing artist, Kim Reteguiz, multi-instrumentalists and studio masters Devin Way & Orlando” Twenty8” Woods Jr., managing director of Friends of Hemming Park, Christina Parrish Stone and award-winning poet Ebony Payne-English and so many more!

 This and More Episodes at TasteTest.live

Tuesday night was jammed packed with fun and the most interesting conversations! On this week’s episode, it’s the first time we featured TWO GUEST!!!  Latina Motivational Coach & Journalist, Carliana Harris and founder of Ronan School of Music and singer-songwriter Darren Ronan — who also gave us an advance exclusive from his forthcoming album, “Good Things”.

#HaveATaste - Damien Lamar and MJbaker reviewed highlights from music played on the air during Taste Test radio show which on aired on Saturday night, February 16, 2018, on WJCT 89.9 FM.

And of course, we tasted the highlights of Saturday night’s show and laughed during the funniest 🤣🤣🤣 (and intentionally not-raunchy) ‘Put This In Your Mouth’ segment where Blue Franswa, MJbaker and I just want to know . . . “Why Jussie?” There are too many questions surrounding the developments with the Jussie Smollett investigation. Since we recorded the episode, Jussie Smollett arrested for allegedly making up hate-crime attack.

 

GUEST BIOS: 

ABOUT CARLIANA HARRIS

Carliana was born in Puerto Rico and spent almost all of her life in the small town of Jesup, GA. She now resides in Jacksonville, FL. She is the sideline reporter for the Jaguars Spanish broadcast, a reporter for a show called Se Habla Español en Jax and the owner of an online boutique called Azúcar. Carliana is one of the founders of the Fairy Godmother Project, an initiative to help low-income high school girls obtain a prom dress. She enjoys quality time with family and friends, do-it-yourself projects, travelling, drinking wine, eating chocolate and she enjoys listening to the stories, jokes, journeys, adventures, and antics of the people she meets. “I want to empower and inspire Latina women. I want them to understand that we are all filled with unlimited possibility, regardless of age and social class. If your heart desires it, go for it. Nothing can stop you, but YOU.“

ABOUT DARREN RONAN

Darren Ronan is a professional musician who has been teaching at Grace Episcopal Day School since 2008. He graduated from University of North Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in Music in 2002, served as Band Director at St. Johns Country Day School '00 -’07, and founded Ronan School of Music in 2010. While at UNF he was fortunate to study percussion with Charlotte Mabrey and drum set with Rick Kirkland. He has also toured the southern and eastern United States playing in a variety of musical settings; opening shows and sharing stages with such notable performers as Booker T., Diane Schuur, Linda Purl, Elvin Bishop, Dwight Yoakum, and so many more.

Darren also has provided percussion for local productions of musicals Pippin and Bye Bye Birdie, and along with respected Broadway pianist Eugene Gwozdz as music director, backed Theater Jacksonville executive director Sarah Boone on her show, "The Double Threats: A Celebration of Composer/Lyricists.” He currently performs as a solo acoustic act and also with his rockabilly band, The 77ds. "Good Things," his album of all-original music, was released in 2009.

Follow Darren Ronan on Facebook 

 

Credits:

Damien Lamar (Host, Executive Producer & Audio Engineer)

Blue Franswa (co-Host)

MJbaker (co-Host)

Autumn Lee - Production Assistant

Intro/Outro Music - Stéphane Pitois

 

Here is the podcast schedule for the next few weeks!

Next week, we'll be interviewing Folio Weekly's Best of Jax 2018 Female Vocalist Mama Blue, and next month, we'll be joined by violinist and vocalist Philip Pan, performing artist, Kim Reteguiz, multi-instrumentalists and studio masters Devin Way & Orlando”Twenty8” Woods Jr., managing director of Friends of Hemming Park, Christina Parrish Stone and award-winning poet Ebony Payne-English and so many more!

 This and More Episodes at TasteTest.live

It’s “new podcast release day”. We're releasing this episode a day early --- Hosts Damien Lamar and Blue Franswa are back for another week of music digestion with a new co-host, singer-songwriter and return guest MJbaker who will now be featured on the weekly "Have A Taste" segment where Damien and MJbaker will review highlights from music played on the air during Damien's Taste Test radio show which aired the previous Saturday night.

On this week's show, the "Put This In Your Mouth" segment, the hosts discussed the winners & highlights of "music's biggest night" - The Grammys, black-face concerns with Gucci, news about 21 Savage, forthcoming unreleased music from Marvin Gaye, new faith-based music from John Legend and more.

Here is the podcast schedule for the next few weeks! We are looking forward to hearing more from these upcoming guests: media maven Carliana Harris, musician Darren Ronan, Folio Weekly's Best of Jax 2018 Female Vocalist Mama Blue, violinist and vocalist Philip Pan, performing artist, Kim Reteguiz, multi-instrumentalist Devin Way and managing director of Friends of Hemming Park, Christina Parrish Stone and award-winning poet Ebony Payne-English!

New podcast episodes are distributed weekly on Thursdays at 11:00 AM. Be sure to head over to your favorite podcast app and hit "SUBSCRIBE" to be notified the moment a new episode hits the web.

Search "Taste Test Live" and subscribe on Apple Podcast, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher,  Podbean and more!

If you want to be guest on the show, please email [email protected] for consideration and instructions.

Got new music you want to be played on Damien Lamar's radio show or on the podcast? 

Send music: https://send.mu/damienlamar

We're back again this week with mixed media artist, Overstreet Ducasse who shared his experiences growing up in a hard-working background which led him to become an artist. Overstreet is an unorthodox creative and who turned to art to release frustrations. Creating art as a social experiment, Overstreet's work is also visually controversial. He hopes that it will bring awareness to and make fun of serious and political issues through his work. Overstreet Ducasse refuses to be locked-down by own kind of art style. He's now creating shoes for Colin Kaepernick. Overstreet also brought prints of his work as gifts to Damien Lamar, Blue Franswa and our production assistant, Autumn Lee! Check them out on the website at www.tastetest.live

“I don't want to sell art I want to sell ideas” - Overstreet Ducasse

Be sure to check out Overstreet Ducasse's next show which will be held at Bold Bean Coffee Roasters on Stockton Street in Jacksonville from 7-8pm on Friday, February 8th and on the 11th, and hear him speak at St. Mark Episcopal Church (4129 Oxford Ave, Jacksonville FL 32210) at 5:30-7pm.

 

ARTIST BIO:

Born in Haiti, Overstreet Ducasse came to the United States at the age of six.  Faced with the challenges of an unfamiliar environment, a new language, and a different culture, Ducasse turned to art as a means of expression and communication.  He deems art the universal language and a way to release frustrations and aggravations.

The art of Ducasse goes beyond the visual.  His work is captivating, direct, and abundant is filled with metaphors and meaning. As an artist, Ducasse refuses to be locked down by one particular style. He creates using a variety of materials and mediums, including found objects.

Inspired by the desire for reason and understanding, Ducasse's work is the expression of his lived experiences and his intellect.  Ducasse describes himself as a "Deepressionist," a term he conceived to express both his frustrations and the depth of thought and imagination his work exudes.

 

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This week's Put This In Your Mouth Segment included topics such as The Superbowl LIII and half-time performances, Adam Levine of Maroon 5 and how the City of Philadelphia is passing a bill to ban R. Kelly from their city.

Damien Lamar's "Taste of the Week" goes to Black Focus Records, guitarist, Mansur Brown

Check out Overstreet’s show at Bold Bean Coffee Roasters on Stockton Street in Jacksonville from 7-8pm on Friday, February 8th and on the 11th, and hear him speak at St. Mark Episcopal Church (4129 Oxford Ave, Jacksonville FL 32210) at 5:30-7pm.

Each Week on our podcast, Taste Test Live, we have heartfelt and insightful  “music digestion sessions” and highlight the happenings in the music and entertainment industry. On our show, you’ll hear artist interviews AND exclusive music you won’t hear on other podcasts! 

We want to keep our podcast subscribers happy by offering new fresh content. We are also now booking guests into April 2019. So, if you’d like to be a guest on this podcast, Taste Test Live - head over to www.tastetest.live and contact us so we can talk about having you on.

This week, Damien Lamar and Blue Franswa invited production assistant, Autumn Lee to the mic for our "Put This In Your Mouth" segment:

Jussie Smollett was attacked in a possible hate crime and assault by MAGA supporters in Chicago, sending him to the hospital with injuriesAccording to the Taylor Glascock with New York Times: 2 men “who yelled racial and homophobic slurs and wrapped a rope around his neck”, the Chicago police said he took himself to Northwestern Hospital after the attack and was described as in “good condition.”

Fyre Festival was a "luxury music festival" created with the intent of promoting the Fyre music booking app. It was scheduled to take place April 28–30 and May 5–7, 2017, on the Bahamian island of Great Exuma.

Reports say that Lil Uzi Vert is quitting musicHe posted a graphic a couple week ago: “I wanna be normal, I wanna wake up in 2013,”

James Blake dropped his fourth and brand new album “Assume Form” with guest appearances from Metro Boomin, Travis Scott, Moses Sumney, Rosalia and Andre 3000He told Apple Music, the plan is to become reachable, to assume material form, to leave my head and join the world.’

Reports say Rihanna, Beyonce and Offset all have albums in the works and could possibly have their albums released this year.

If you like what you heard, please follow us on social media on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at “Taste Test Radio” @tastetestradio