As with all things truly significant and foundational in my life, I cannot recall when music first became so essential to my existence. It seems to me that is has been present since birth, with the only change being that which manifests itself as the progression of my aural preferences and tastes. I can trace my audiophilic development throughout the years across many genres, with each new musical door being opened by a key artist. When I was 11 it was 1960′s rock & roll and it was The Doors; when I was 14 it was punk and it was the Sex Pistols; when I was 16 it was trance and it was John Digweed, when I was 18 it was electroclash and it was Felix Da Housecat, and when I was 20 it was modern techno, house and the future of electronic music, and it was James Zabiela.

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I personally can’t imagine a better way to work up an appetite for a Thanksgiving feast than dancing the night away with one of my all-time favorite producer/DJs James Zabiela. Good thing I’m being given the opportunity to do just that, as on Wednesday  November 24, Dance.Here.Too. brings the legendary electronic artist to Santos Party House, with an opening set from Sleepy & Boo.

Hailing from the UK, and mentored by Sasha, James’s sets and releases are strongly influenced by tech house, electro house and breakbeat stylings. His unique capitalization of all available mixing aid “utilities” give his performances characteristic depth and professional production quality. Knowing what a great track should sound like – and the place it can be taken by warping and twisting it – is James Zabiela’s forte. Layering different sounds with the aid of two Pioneer CDJ-2000s, a Pioneer EFX-1000, Korg Kaossilator, MIDI controller and a laptop, his hands and ears don’t let up for a second. James’ style is trippy, bleepy and deeply groovy. Oh, and watch out for a few gnarly basslines along the way, as those nasty, dirty sounds have become an inherent part of Jame’s signature sound. Scratches, loops, and fluttering chord changes are all par for the course in a Zabiela set.

Advanced tickets can be purchased HERE and will also be available at the door.

German DJ and producer Timo Maas delivers more than enough surprises to fuel a revelry fit for an Armageddon.  Exhibiting creativity behind the decks and mixing with a unique selection of tracks, Timo Maas is a hybrid of an artist within the commercialization of Electronic Dance Music. DJs like Timo are the fresh air relieving from the cycle of methodology that often stifles the stigma of expectations when it comes to popular music – all while progressively pushing the threshold of familiarity. The Grammy-nominated producer emotes originality and a sense of his surroundings and audience. Timo Maas has worked with Kelis, Sweden’s Neneh Cherry, Placebo’s Brian Molko and contributed to soundtracks like The Italian Job (2003), Riders, FIFA Football (2003 and 2004) and a Budweiser commercial.

For the grand opening of Dance.Here.Too. at Santos Party House, Timo Maas created an electronic carnival, supported by a style and grace, that is nothing short of an enchantment. With treble and base on rectors that reformed faces in “the House,” it was an unfamiliar Santos. Fitting, his hash of a style combines familiar and unfamiliar tracks (some yet to be released) to hook the audience along with melodies and effects at the turn of knobs and twists to a frenzy of pure sounds sparking enjoyment. From ethnic Indian to Argentinean/Brazilian tracks, Timo’s capability on the stage is like a force of wind through a tunnel. The room was packed, yet everyone found some space to dance – dipping to the ground and rising while reaching up in the air. Timo inspired a dance of unison that only a ritual could conjure.

While he is considered to be a house DJ/producer,  Timo Mass’ progressive style blows the roof off the house. Keeping the fires of a party ablaze in full force is very hard to do in New York City, yet Timo managed to keep the room alive until close. After a splendid eclectic set, our hope is that he will return to New York with another delivery soon.

Click here for photos by Kenroy George from the grand opening of Dance.Here.Too., and click through to check out Timo Maas’ interpretation of Tron for his video “Ubik”, featuring Martin Bettinghaus.

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