Listen to Taste Test Live for an exclusive interview with R&B Diva and singer-songwriter Charity Linique who joins hosts Damien Lamar and Blue Franswa to discuss her debut "Sweet Nothings". Charity talked about balancing work and artistry, dancing, the inspiration process and being inspired after Blue Franswa gave her the opportunity to perform live. Since beginning a solo career, Charity Linique allows herself to get uncomfortable which lead to her learning how to adjust to the changing music styles. C. Linique also shares one of her favorite songs from her debut, "Love Down". She considers herself to be an advocate for women where she's currently working on a women's empowerment event along with a new mixtape, tentatively titled "Beautiful Chaos".

Also discussed during the "Put This in Your Mouth Segment":

DJ Maseo of De La Soul stopped in Jacksonville, Florida off his tour and performed at 1904 Music Hall, did a podcast interview with DJ Al Pete and DJ Guru

Travis Scott set to headline Pepsi pre-Super Bowl party in Atlanta

Soulja Boy's interview with The Breakfast Club went viral

J. Cole released a new album called "Middle Child"

Chris Brown in hot water again with rape & narcotics allegations

 

About Charity Linique

Charity Linique born and raised in Jacksonville, FL believes to be destined for artistry. Her debut project "SWEET NOTHINGS" is a small, yet profound glimpse inside her mind. As a singer/songwriter Charity Linique expounds on being focused, not losing sight of one's true tunnel vision. The intentions for “Sweet Nothings” project was to shed light on everyone, especially creatives who are working on their dreams, in hopes to remind them to AVOID BEING DISTRACTED --- BUT TO STAY FOCUSED.Before pursuing music, C. Linique catered to many gifts. Freelance modeling, professional dancing for Jacksonville Giants, and even exercising her intellectual skills by working for corporate America. Like many creatives who are called for a bigger purpose, she never felt fulfilled. This process was not an easy one. It was one that ensured the strip-down of who she thought she was, to become who she now is. Charity Linique has gracefully experienced tough storms and sunny days which has lead to her to write every piece of content on her Sweet Nothings debut album. Relatable, the lyrics she has put out allow listeners/viewers in on who Charity Linique really is, without the gimmicks. This soulful diva gives us class and a sprinkle of hood as she is true to her Duval-culture and home training.

 

Follow Charity Linique on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and check out her website www.charitylinique.com for more information and info on new music.

Taste Test Live, your new weekly “music digestion” podcast. Each week, the hosts sit down to talk to some of Jacksonville Florida’s my prolific culture creators and artists. This week, Ace Winn dropped by to discuss the beginnings of his music career, recording with Christian reggae band, “Christifari”. Ace also shares their hit single from my years touring with the band. He toured and recorded 5 albums with them from 1997-2005. The album entitled “ Word Sound and Power’ achieved a Dove award, which is the equivalent of a Grammy in the gospel community. Later Ace Winn shares two intimate acoustic performances for Taste Test Live exclusive.

 

About Ace Winn

"Drifting, ascending guitar figures formed from the elemental tones of wood and wire that sing out acoustic music" is how North Florida's Folio Weekly describes the unique sounds of Ace Winn. Creating acoustic music for as long as he can remember, Ace made his solo debut more than fifteen years ago. Since then, loyal fans have been enjoying his captivating performances in coffeehouses and clubs throughout Florida. In the early 90s, before performing solo, Ace was frontman for the psychedelic funk rock band, Piewackit. Deciding to move in a different direction, he opted for the alternative - thoughtful lyrics over the unbelievably full sound of his acoustic guitar. Influenced by such performers as Sting, Bill Withers and Cat Stevens, Ace's inspired, original compositions call upon virtually every genre of music, including rock, folk, reggae, gospel, jazz and funk.The Florida Times-Union wrote, "The basics. An acoustic guitar, naked lyrics and a voice that climbs the scales in magnificent style, nothing shy about it, stretching syllables out as if each word is being torn from him". The songs speak of everyday life; experiences of a musician raised in a southern town.”

Winn’s superb songwriting skills are clearly evident in his music. He was featured on a 1993 album of local acoustic musicians titled "The Kitchen Sessions" and a similar follow-up album titled "Mystery Date" which was released in November 1995. His own acoustic albums titled "25 years and a Day", "Half Way There" and "Music For The Soul" were released and immediately sold out. In 1997, while working on his unfinished album, "Masterpiece", Ace was approached by the international Reggae band, Christafari. After an extensive national tour with the band during the 1997-98 season, Ace returned to Florida to continue his solo career, even though he occasionally performed with the group and provided lyrics for several albums including "Word, Sound and Power" (Lion of Zion/Diamante).

Ace has shared the stage with names like Green Day, Kirk Franklin, 247 Spyz, Living Colour, Newsboys and Follow For Now. He has performed at major benefits for the Aslan House, Ronald McDonald House, and has played for frequent Florida Poet Society events.

Taste Test Live is back into a new season with this week's guest interview: Christopher White, leader and founder of The Katz Downstairz. Christopher stopped by to talk about updates with The Katz Downstairz, how the name came about, what sets them apart as a band and who are now expanding original music which they plan to release by summer 2019. Be sure to listen in for an exclusive first listen at the new song "Beautiful", released last year - which is the first single from the band and that also serves as a reminder to black youth that they are beautiful just as they are.

Christopher also brought his wife Jihan along who joined us on our Put This In Your Mouth segment where we discussed:

Tiffany Haddish’s New Year's Eve comedy fail

MTV reported the new Coachella lineup - Gambino, Ariana Grande, Tame Impala the new headliners

Beyonce's and Jay-Z's daughter, Blue Ivy had a birthday on Jan 7th

Golden Globe winners - The Green Book, Bohemian Rhapsody, and more

Chris Brown just gained ownership of his masters with a deal with his new label RCA

Toni Braxton may have called off the engagement with Birdman

R Kelly is MUTED. Reports say that he is now under criminal investigation after the release of Lifetime Network's "Surviving R Kelly".

The Oath of Manifestation

 

About The Katz Downstairz

Over the past 9 years, The Katz Downstairz has become a household name in their native city of Jacksonville, Florida. Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an amalgamation of Jazz, Hip Hop, Neo Soul, Rock and Rhythm and Blues with an unmistakable Urban undertone, they are unrivaled on the city’s current music scene. Their bi-weekly “Live Basement Party” is one of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville. Reminiscent of a “back in the day” type house party, the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale.

The band members – Christopher "Professor” White, Ernest "e.don" Jackson, Cearrow "Ce Ce” Muri, Don "D.G.” Green, Rashard Lavender, Victor "IamBizzzy” Harris, Kevin "KJ" Leonard, Jr., Trini "Lil Jimi” Farrow, and Ivan Ray – have a wealth of musical training and foundation between them. Their years of experience and discipline show unmistakably when they take the stage. Working together has afforded them a sound like no other and their loyal, ever-growing fan base proves that.Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011, The “Katz” have set themselves apart from the typical, run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a “grown and sexy” yet fun reprieve for Jacksonville’s professional, career-minded, family-oriented crowd.

MJbaker returns Taste Test Live with hosts Damien Lamar and Blue Franswa to discuss her latest project “This Time of Year”, a holiday EP.MJbaker also discussed worked alongside Jacksonville-based, underrated producers Bishop Jones & Orlando "Twenty8" Woods, Jr, who also co-produced and engineered songs from the new EP and the growth behind the project which will lead to another record in the coming future. 

Tune in to hear two new Taste Test Live exclusives: “This Time of Year” and “Night Out” - Stream her new albums at http://mjbakermusic.bandcamp.com/

"PUT THIS IN YOUR MOUTH" segment features a discussion about: the newest inductees to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Teyana Taylor and Wu-Tang Clan remix, the recent passing of jazz vocalist, Nancy Wilson & Famous Dex - who fell asleep during his Instagram live broadcast.

Taste Test Live, your new weekly "music digestion" podcast. Each week, Blue Franswa and I sit down to talk to some of Jacksonville Florida's my prolific culture creators and artists. This week, Mal Jones dropped by to discuss being the "Cultural Ambassador" and creator, growing up in Jacksonville, using his platform to enhance the lives of youth through conscious, non-violent rap, The Lyricist LIVE, how he feels about Hip Hop in Duval.

 

Mal Jones Of The Lyricist Live even brings 2 BRAND NEW EXCLUSIVE TRACKS: "She Movin' It" and "Pull Ya Heel Out".

Mal Jones is a Recording artist, Arts educator, Visual artist, Master Folk Artist, and documentarian who curates and host The Lyricist Live at the Jacksonville First Wednesday Art Walk. The Lyricist Live is an all-inclusive community youth Cypher that has been taking place in downtown Jax every month consecutively since 2011. The number 1 rule is NO CURSING and this cipher has seen NO VIOLENCE in its 6-year history keeping the youth of our community inspired and safe. Mal also runs a state-funded apprenticeship through the Florida Folklife Program and Division of Historical resources and has placed his educational programs in several Title 1 Schools in Duval County. in November 2016 Mal traveled to England to represent Jacksonville Arts and culture, becoming the 1st Cultural ambassador of the Arts in Jacksonville History.

Follow Mal Jones on Facebook, Instagram and visit his website at www.maljones904.com to learn more.

------------ 

"Put This in Your Mouth" segment

Cardi B and Offset split

Frank Ocean - went online to tease some new music

Tierra Whack - whack world

questlove interviews Michelle Obama

We’re back and are a day late with another episode of @tastetestlive !! Hear the full 1hour exclusive interview with this week’s guest – Jacksonville‘s favorite crooner and the winner of 1st Place: Best Jazz Band, Best Cover Band & 1st Place: Best Male Vocalist in Folio Weekly Best of Jax! It's Chris Thomas, who joined us to discuss his career in dance and music.

A native of Chicago and longtime resident of Jacksonville, Florida, vocalist Chris Thomas has performed with various bands within Florida for the past 15 years. In June of 2014, he formed The Chris Thomas Band in order to bring the highest level of quality and showmanship to his fans and audiences.

Chris Thomas lost his hearing at 6 years old and started singing to records his parents owned. He discussed starting off playing sports with big names until his senior year when he got into a scuffle with a ref which ultimately led him to began dancing after going out to nightclubs to dance for fun. Chris later opened his own studios and recently became began performing live music all over Southeast Florida.

Chris Thomas also shared stories of his life in dance, “a day in the life” - “where gratefulness is there is no fear”, marriage, raising three kids, balancing life between being a father, meditating and teaching dance all while playing gigs too.

Taste Test Live is your weekly conversational podcast!!  Each week, we discuss the highlights and happenings of the music and entertainment. We also highlight local artist, singers, producers, entrepreneurs and more right here in our own backyard in Jacksonville, Florida!

Taste Test Live returns with another full-length exclusive! Damien Lamar and Blue Franswa sat down with Duval Soul Legend, Patrick Evan, who brought along our friend Overstreet Ducasse to discuss 20 years as a solo artist, the ups and downs of writing, grief and love and conflicts with bandmates over the years, as well as the beginning his music career where he sang background vocals for the likes of Mariah Carey, Brian McKnight, and Michael Bolton. The interview looked back on the last 20 years of Patrick’s career, filled with personal stories and a recounts working with his early life in the music business, based in New York, with the likes of Trey Lorenz, Kelly Price, Michael K. Williams & Donovan Frankenreiter, Batsauce and Lady Daisey (Spooney).

We also talked with guest, dangerously eclectic Overstreet Ducasse who also plans to return to Taste Test Live in 2019.

Patrick Evan McMillan is a Vocal Musician, Songwriter & Project Producer. Toured for three years as a background singer with Mariah Carey at the beginning of her career. Currently based in Jacksonville Florida and lead singer of several bands in the Southeast Region, notably Aerial Tribe (whose album “Aerialistic” is available on iTunes) - other groups include VibElement, Co-Alition, & Caron Marcelous & The Big Band Theory.

Have a taste this week, as we feature legendary Saxophonist Tracy Morris. As founder and director of the Morris Music Academy, Tracy was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida where he excelled in music at a very young age and earned numerous musical honors while in middle and high school.

Tracy graduated from the University of North Florida jazz program where he studied with legendary alto saxophonist Bunky Green and the late euphonium master and jazz pioneer Rich Matteson.  He performed with and composed for the top jazz ensemble there and was the featured baritone saxophone soloist on UNF’s critically acclaimed debut CD, “Have You Heard?” Tracy has performed in concert with many notable artists including Dr. Billy Taylor, Louis Belson, Marcus Printup, James Moody, Rich Matteson, Vincent Gardner, Kevin Bales, Cassandra Wilson, Clark Terry, Elian Elias, and others.

Tracy has taught at Florida State College and Duval County Public Schools and performs regularly throughout the Southeast.

A firm believer in equal access to the music and arts for all, Tracy remains very active in the cultural arts community and currently serves on the board of Beaches Fine Arts Series in Jacksonville Beach, FL.

Don’t miss out on his exclusive audio interview where he discusses how he began playing saxophone, working as a music educator which ultimately led him to start his own school, the Morris Music Academy. In December 2017, Morris Music Academy had the dubious honor of performing during a student and faculty showcase at the world-renowned Carnegie Hall.  Tracy also shared his love for educating students from age 3 to 73 and recounts his numerous performances with other Jacksonville greats, to sharing the stage with Damien Lamar - where the two also recall stories growing up in a musical family. 

For more about Tracy Morris visit www.morrismusicacademy.com

In the latest episode of “Taste Test Live”, hosts Damien Lamar and Blue Franswa is joined in the studio Hip Hop polymath, DJ, radio host, actor DJ Al Pete. Take a journey through the eyes of Duval's most prolific home-grown producers. Mister Pete shares growing up in Jacksonville, what inspired him and his work with artist and promoters. Also, hear two exclusive cuts from his debut LP "Mister Peterson's Neighborhood".

Hosted by @damien.lamar and @bluefranswa, this week's show, Damien and Blue welcome “The King of Grooming” and media visionary @iamcoreyduval. Corey Duval drops by to recant his stories from “the barber’s seat”, mentoring young black males and brings a moving message everyone should hear about moving the city of Jacksonville forward. Discussion and favorites from the week in the “Put This In Your Mouth” segment include news about Jaden Smith & Tyler the Creator, H.E.R., Ye, Bruno Mars and more.