Terrence Parker returns to Liverpool…

This saturday night see’s the return of a djing performance that went down as Legend in the city of Liverpool. Terrence Parker, he of detroit house, techno, disco….well just about everything fame comes back to a city that has been lay in wait.

The night sees the T-Funkshun boys perform with the man himself @ The New Picket, just around the corner from were we run Leaf. Over to Scott McGill with the details…

T-FUNKSHUN – THE DARK NIGHT RETURNS
(SPECIAL ONE-OFF EVENT)
TERRENCE PARKER (PMW/Detroit)

SCUZZ MCBOOB (t-funkshun/archive)
MARK FORSHAW (t-funkshun/outofboundssounds)

THE NEW PICKET
61 NEW BIRD STREET, OFF JAMAICA STREET, LIVERPOOL L1 0BW
11AM-5AM

Facebook Event - http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=285822153012
Skiddle Tickets - http://www.skiddle.com/events/11355114/

Detroit has been credited as one of the Soul Music capitals of the world, spawning legendary artists like The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross just to name a few. Within the past decade Detroit’s Underground Music Movement has brought rise to new artists such as Derrick May, Juan Atkins, Carl Craig, Kevin Saunderson and a host of others. But unlike the aforesaid names, Terrence Parker has established himself as a producer, remixer and DJ of the classic sound of House Music, and is known as a pioneer of the Inspirational / Gospel House movement!

Terrence Parker has performed as a DJ in more than 100 cities throughout the world. Since 1988, he has released more than 100 recordings, and had top 20 hits with his songs “Love’s Got Me High”, “The Question” and albums like “Detroit After Dark” in the U.K. The Netherlands, Germany, and France. As one of the headliners for the 2004 Detroit Movement Festival (May 2004), TP (along with his friend & Detroit legend DJ Mo Reese) performed a stunning Tagteam DJ set on 4 turntables with 2 live vocalists for a crowd of over 100,000 people.

As part of the Detroit Historical Museum’s History of Techno International Exhibit, TP’s collective musical works and pioneering efforts have been recognized as a valuable contribution to Detroit’s music history, as well as the International History Dance Music. This exhibit is currently touring museums throughout the United States.

Between Scott and myself, we threw some questions his way. Here is what he had to say…

It’s only taken us 6 years to get you back after that wondrous party in the Masque! The best things come to those who wait. Looking forward to playing in Liverpool again?

Yes, I am very excited about returning to Liverpool after so many years!

Do you have a connection with the floors in the UK, or is the connection the same worldwide? I know you play Germany a lot so if so do things differ greatly?

One common ingredient in all the many places I’ve played is dance floor energy. There has to be positive energy and excitement on the dance floor for any event to be successful. My goal as a DJ is to provide the musical environment for that energy to flourish.

Being from Detroit, the city that gave the world techno, you were always tagged as some sort of an enigma being the first global house dj from Motown. Over the years since your pioneering footsteps the world has opened up it’s ears to a thriving scene of house producers a la Moodymann, Norm Talley, Kyle Hall, Keith Worthy, Theo Parrish, Rick Wilhite to name a few. Who is it that does it for you in the scene? Anyone special that we have to look forward to?

All the names you’ve mentioned are great. However the person I am most excited about is Kyle Hall. He is a young guy with promising talent! We played an event together last year and his set blew me away!!!

I asked Theo Parrish is there any kind of music you cant take something from and he said absolutely not – everything has an energy you can tap into. You echo this feeling?

I totally agree! There is always something positive that can be derived from any musical composition.

This is a question you have been asked many times I shouldn’t wonder but I think there are still a lot of people who still aren’t aware of the importance that the late Ken Collier had to this music. I know you are are a massive advocate of him, and like you I see Alan Oldham has just created a tribute EP to Ken, so it would appear many still do not know enough about him. Care to give us a quick insight and maybe a little of what he meant to you?

Ken Collier was the “godfather” of dance music in Detroit. He was legendary; known for his remixes of artists like Was Not Was. He was also a Dance Music Reporter for Billboard Magazine here in the USA. Each time I received a white label/promo copy for one of my releases I would bring it to Ken for his advice. Ken would give me great advice which helped me make better records.

And what parts of the world have you played that were an eye opener?

I would have to say DJing in countries like Japan, Russia, Germany, UK, and France have been the most eye opening experiences for me.

You have been djing for over 20 years, throughout the supposed rise and fall of house music, techno, et al. How do you manage to keep things fresh your own way?

Actually I have been DJing closer to 30 years now. I keep things fresh simply by doing my own thing yet embracing technology

To me things don’t change much, just the words that describe them. All these new scenes like dubstep, future-disco have been here before here before. I mean minimal house/techno was here along time ago, just Rob Hood was too busy making it, to name it. Do you feel you have to keep an eye on these media-driven fads to see which way the scene shifts, or do you tend to ignore them?

I am aware of the various genres but I don’t get caught up in the hype surrounding them because in the many years I’ve been DJing I’ve seen them come and I’ve seen them go. I simply stay true to what I feel is good music.

When I was fortunate enough to be at Movement 08, I was talking to Dwayne Jensen about your dj cohort Mo’Reese. Care to tell us a bit about him as he is another name we do not hear outside of the ‘D’?

DJ Mo Reese is a good friend of mine who I’ve known for many years. He is a very good DJ who now has established his own label called Mo House Records. He has been DJing 20+ years and is a well seasoned DJ.

Finally, a little over a week to go, what should the T-funkateers expect from TP?

Good music! Positive vibes! Lots of love!

Amen to that.

Below is a mix Scott passed to me to host on Cosmic Boogie. Stream it, download it, or just come and see the man do it for real this weekend. Makes sense.

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