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| Volume 11, No. 49 |
September 1-7, 2010 |
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| | Mark Farina Returns to El Paso | | By Lorenzo Alba, Jr. | |  Staying power would be an understatement. Iconic is closer to the truth. Mark Farina is one of house music’s most honest artists – he manages to stay faithful to the true essence of original house’s sound and vibe.
“I feel lucky, honored and certainly appreciative just to be a part of such a great sound,” said Mark Farina of his legendary status. “I was born in Chicago and grew up during the birth of house. I’m an old ‘househead’ and always will be. To me, the legends were people like Frankie Knuckles.”
Farina’s “Geografitti” Tour is bringing the legend back to El Paso on Thursday, April 22. He’ll bring his sound to Dominic’s Piano Bar on the Eastside.
“Geografitti” is his latest EP release on his imprint, Great Lakes Audio. This release is unique because it’s his first digital-only release.
“There is a little bit of everything on this, even going back to the Chicago jackin’ style,” Farina said in a phone interview. “The EP features remixes by Chuck Love, Sonny Fodera and many more.”
Farina’s funky sound as a producer/DJ and musician are influenced by early Chicago house and jazz.
“I’m a trumpet player, been playing since I was a kid – that’s why I tend to gravitate toward horn players, like, Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie,” Farina said.
Farina’s storied career took a turn for the best, when he befriended another legend from Chicago, Derrick Carter.
“Derrick is my brother from another color,” Farina said. “Hopefully, we can get together soon to work on some tracks or at least schedule some gigs together.”
Farina began to build his signature sound in the late 1980s, and it got deeper, fatter and slick-smooth jazzier with each production. The infusion became his trademark sound, coined mushroom jazz.
In the mid-’90s, the sound became the basis for a series of productions entitled just that – “Mushroom Jazz.” Farina has produced six unique versions in the series.
“‘Mushroom Jazz 7’ is in the works,” he said. “The plan is to release it sometime this fall, we’re still working it all out, but yes this fall.”
The DJ star has performed for literally millions of people around the world throughout his career.
“Recently, I opened for Kraftwerk at Coachella, that was thrilling for me because they have been so influential to my career,” he said. “Also, going back to Chicago and playing at the Red Dog – that’s an old legendary house club in Wicker Park that’s been around forever – it was pretty cool going home.”
Farina, who is now based in San Francisco, said he misses Chicago.
“It’s a great city, from the architecture to the people to the scene,” he said. “I miss my friends, J-Dub, DJ Heather and many more – all my old househead friends are there.”
Though house has evolved into many subgenres in the last decade, Mark Farina seems to enjoy how the music has infiltrated life outside the club scene.
“Twenty years ago, you couldn’t experience the music or club life without being at the club,” he said. “Now that we’re in the digital aspects of music being very strong, you can experience it from the luxury of your own home. You can actually listen to live DJ sets and live video streams from actual nightclubs.”
El Paso has always been one of Mark Farina’s favorite stops. His shows have always been successful in the Sun City. All the old and new house fans recognize his talent.
“El Paso can expect a lot of new music,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of new promos fresh from WMC in Miami. I’m looking forward to coming back out to El Paso.”
Mark Farina
a GO BANG production
Dominic’s Piano Bar
6901 Montana Ave.
Thursday, April 22 – 8 p.m.
Tickets $25, available at Dominic’s
($20 tickets already sold out)
For info call (915) 778-0011
Comments or questions about this story? E-mail Secret@whatsuppub.com
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