Distant Relatives double-header this Saturday

Ultra heavy lineup this Saturday, first at the National Geographic Grosvenor Auditorium, then at Zanzibar:

(from the Nat Geo events page)

Nas and Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley present “Distant Relatives”

WATCH ONLINE

Tune in for free and watch live online starting 7 p.m. ET on December 12, 2009 at Natgeomusic.net.

SEE IT IN PERSON

Nas and Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley explore the origins of the deeply-rooted reggae and hip hop genre, tracing both sounds back to African music. They will debate and celebrate the implications of this culture’s impact on the global community with a panel of pioneers—from DJ Kool Herc, DJ Rakim and DJ Red Alertto Jamaican dancehall legend, Daddy U-Roy, King Jammy, and moderator Sway Calloway of MTV. The event at National Geographic is being filmed for an upcoming documentary.

This event is now sold out, but it will be streamed live and broadcast online for free starting 7 p.m. ET on December 12, 2009 at Natgeomusic.net.

Tickets are still available for the after-party and open-mic show at Zanzibar, a Washington, D.C. nightclub, that will feature all event participants. Doors open for the after-party at 9 p.m.

Disco Devil

Lee Perry a.k.a. the Upsetter, Scratch, Lee King Perry, Pipecock Jackson, Lee Scratch Perry, Rainford Hugh Perry a.k.a. the chief architect of the Jamaican space program and a musical genius on a par with George Martin, Brian Wilson and Phil Spector will be at DC's 9:30 club next Monday, December 14. I'm chuffed!

Here is a short video with a greeting from Scratch and dates for the forthcoming US tour.

Reason enough to bask awhile in the ray of pure shining light that is the Congos' "Solid Foundation" from Lee Perry's masterpiece production Heart of the Congos.