- Moodymann
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Moodymann (aka KDJ) Birth name Kenny Dixon Jr. Also known as Moody, KDJ, J.A.N. ("Just Another Niggah") Born Los Angeles, California, USA [1] Origin Detroit, Michigan Genres House, Disco, Jazz, Deep House Years active 1992 – Present Labels KDJ Records, Mahogani Music, Planet E Communications, Peacefrog Records, Cutz.Me, MPT Recordings, Decks Classix, Ornaments Music[2] Associated acts 3 Chairs Website Mahogani Music Notable instruments DAT, Reel to Reel, MPC, SP-1200 Sampler, Rhodes Piano Moodymann also known as Kenny Dixon Jr or KDJ for short, is a Techno/House musician based in Detroit, Michigan.
He creates a thoroughly hybrid form of techno/house dance music, jazz, soul, disco and funk via his innovative use of reworked riffs, samples (including old movie soundtrack samples mainly culled from the old blaxploitation and b-movie genres), and grooves taken from Detroit's historically influential jazz, R&B, soul, funk, and disco scene.
He is outspoken on the current state of dance music, decrying the lack of black techno and the white domination of the genre.
His sets often feature him playing hidden from the crowd, the dj booth covered in white sheets.
He is also known to stop records while they are playing to talk to the crowd. In many of his gigs he would stop the music, scratch the vinyl on the decks then lift the record and speak to the crowd informing them how his women prefer 12".
Moodymann is a strong supporter of the Vinyl Preservation Society.
An outspoken voice in the normally non-confrontational world of electronic dance music, Moodymann (Kenny Dixon Jr.) is committed to keeping a distinctly black imprint on techno and house.
Moodymann worked at several Detroit record stores in the mid-nineties including a store owned by producer Blake Baxter. During the mid-nineties Kenny was also the resident DJ at the Detroit based Outcast Motorcycle Club. At that time he was known as "House". After his first several releases on Planet E Records Kenny became quite popular in France and from there his popularity grew.
Moodymann sound is a hybrid form of techno/house dance music arrived at via innovative use of reworked riffs, samples and grooves. While he may frustrate people with his refusal to be interviewed and insistence on reminding people of the genre's origins, the soulfulness of his output is unquestioned. Utilizing classic soul and jazz samples, low-slung bass lines and an approach to drum programming that is diametrically opposed to the tendency to push the tempo faster and faster, he has achieved classic status thanks to gems like "Sunday Morning", "Shades of Jae", and his remix of Innerzone Orchestra's "People Make the World Go Round". Following years of 12" only releases, he compiled his best work on "Silentintroduction", one of the most celebrated albums of the late 90s.
Kenny Dixon, Jr.'s outspoken views on the state of black techno and his aversion to publicity put him in a league occupied by few Detroit producers other than Underground Resistance supremo "Mad" Mike Banks, though his tech-house productions as Moodymann are soulful in a league few could expect. Dixon began producing early in the '90s, and inaugurated his own KDJ Records in 1994 with the Moody Trax EP. Following singles like "The Day We Lost the Soul" and "I Can't Kick This Feelin When It Hits" proved one of the best fusers of short, soulful disco samples to the harder minimalist Detroit techno. Further singles for After Midnight, Music Is..., and Carl Craig's Planet E Records (including the brilliant Dem Young Sconies EP) solidified Dixon's place in Detroit techno, though his stance on promotion remained firm. Much of his KDJ output appeared on 1997's A Silent Introduction, while the following year's Mahogany Brown brought much new material. Forevernevermore, released in 2000, collected more of his KDJ material and added several new tracks as well. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
Contents
Quotes
"I don’t make music for the masses to dance to, I make music for the small majority that listens." Kenny Dixon Jr. aka Moodymann
Discography
Studio Albums
- 1997: Silent Introduction
- 1998: Mahogany Brown
- 2000: Forevernevermore
- 2003: Silence in the Secret Garden
- 2004: Black Mahogani
- 2004: Black Mahogani II
- 2008: Det.riot '67
- 2009: Anotha Black Sunday
Singles & EPs
- 1994: I Like It / Emotional Content - KDJ
- 1995: Moodymann / Theo Parrish - Small Black Church - KDJ
- 1995: Long Hot Sex Nights / The Dancer - KDJ
- 1995: The Day We Lost The Soul - KDJ
- 1996: The Dancer - After Midnight
- 1996: Don't Be Misled! - KDJ
- 1996: I Can't Kick This Feelin When It Hits / Music People – KDJ
- 1997: In Loving Memory - KDJ
- 1997: Dem Young Sconies / Bosconi - Planet E Communications
- 1997: Silent Introduction (12") - Planet E Communications
- 1997: J.A.N. (12", W/Lbl, Promo) - KDJ
- 1997: Music Is ... Moodymann (12") - Music Is...
- 1997: Joy Pt. II (12") - KDJ
- 1997: Amerika (12") - KDJ
- 1998: Forevernevermore - KDJ
- 1998: Just Anotha Black Sunday Morning With Grandma (12", Promo) - Peacefrog Records
- 1998: Sunday Morning / Track Four (12") - Planet E Communications
- 1998: Black Mahogany (12") - KDJ
- 1999: Shades Of Jae - KDJ
- 1999: The Thief That Stole My Sad Days ... Ya Blessin' Me - KDJ
- 2000: Don't You Want My Love - Peacefrog Records
- 2000: Deleted Rehearsals - KDJ
- 2000: Analog: Live - KDJ
- 2001: The Telephone EP - Peacefrog Records
- 2001: J.A.N. - KDJ
- 2001: Nmywagon (12") - Peacefrog Records
- 2003: Sweet Yesterday - Peacefrog Records
- 2003: Shattered Dreams - Peacefrog Records
- 2003: Silence In The Secret Garden (12") - Peacefrog Records
- 2004: Untitled (12", S/Sided) - KDJ
- 2005: Ampapella (12", W/Lbl) - KDJ
- 2005: How Sweed It Is (12") - KDJ
- 2007: I'd Rather Be Lonely (12", S/Sided) - KDJ
- 2007: Technologystolemyvinyle (12", S/Sided) - KDJ
- 2010: Ol' Dirty Vinyl - KDJ
- 2011: Freeki Mutha F cker (All I Need Is U) - KDJ
DJ Mixes
- 2006: The Moodymann Collection
References
External links
- Mahogani Music
- Red Bull Music Academy
- Resident Advisor
- Moodymann Discography at Discogs.
- Moodymann Discography at Twoplayer.
Categories:- Living people
- American techno musicians
- American house musicians
- Club DJs
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