DJ Le Spam & the Spam Allstars blend improvisational electronic elements and turntables with latin, funk, hip hop and dub to create a sound that is unique – an electronic descarga. It’s not a known genre. It’s hard to describe. It attracts many types of people. But as we look out and see people dancing salsa, next to break-dancers, and festival-goers driving for hours to catch a show -- we know something very special is going on.
Spam Allstars are road warriors -- a touring band. Perhaps one could say they are taking an “old school” approach to sharing their music. For each performance they have, every music lover they meet, every time they bring yet another musician into the fold for a collaboration – Spam Allstars celebrate their opportunity to work as musicians and be creative each day.
The band’s upcoming release – electrodomésticos
(Spamusica Records, 3/2007) -took roughly
18 months to record. Most of the sessions
were done at the City of Progress studio
in North Miami, FL, and produced
by DJ Le Spam. All of it was recorded
while working around a 200+ yearly
performance schedule. DJ Le Spam wanted
to capture certain moments with musicians
that the band had played with over the
last three years. The outcome is a refreshing
collection of recordings featuring each
of the Spam Allstars
– Andrew Yeomanson/DJ Le Spam
(turntables, samplers, guitar, bass),
Adam Zimmon (guitars), Tomas Diaz
(timbales, vox), AJ Hill (saxes, vox),
Steve Welsh (saxes), Mercedes Abal
(flute, vox), Chad Bernstein (trombone,
Conch shells, vox), and Lazaro Alfonso
(congas). [click here for more info on the band]
In addition, the band welcome special guest
musicians including Pee Wee Ellis (saxes), Page McConnell (keys), Martin Perna (saxes), Sammy Figueroa (percussion), Jim Payne (drums), Albert Menendez (keys), Brendan Buckley (drums), Jose Elias (tres), Michel Diaz Fragoso (keys), Juan Carlos Valdivia (violin), Spencer Garn (keys), Ben Hovey (trumpet) and Carlos Averhoff, Jr.(saxes).
In December 2006, Spam Allstars released their third vinyl - 12” #3. This recording features the two songs that Pee Wee Ellis collaborated on for electrodomésticos. Pee Wee did the horn arrangements, and co-wrote Aranitas & Joe Drives Through. The 12” also includes two electro mixes by DJ Le Spam.
Artwork for the vinyl & CD release provided by EMILIO PEREZ courtesy of Galerie Lelong.
Previous releases by Spam Allstars include: Spam Allstars Contra Los Roboticos Mutantes(2004); Fuacata Live!(2002); Pigs in Space(2000); Pork Scratchings(1999), and two vinyl releases - vinyl #1 & vinyl #2. Each of these titles have been released in the US independently on Spamusica Records. In addition Fuacata Live is available in Japan on Amsys Records, and in the UK and France on Spamusica Records and distributed by New Note and Moradisc respectively.
Spam Allstars over the years have had the opportunity to work with some amazing talent. In the last two years, the band has had the privilege of performing and recording with the aforementioned legendary saxophonist, Pee Wee Ellis (JB Horns). They performed together in select US cities, and in the UK. Also in 2006, Spam Allstars were invited to appear with superstar Daddy Yankee for his MTV2’s $2 Bill series. In 2004 they were honored to collaborate and tour with Page McConnell's (Phish) side project - Vida Blue. The two bands recorded and toured together nationally as a 10-piece ensemble.
In an effort to introduce their music to
new fans, Spam Allstars established
residencies in select markets. Originally
this got started in their hometown with
weekly performances in Little Havana,
Miami, and Miami Beach.
In 2002, they began a monthly
residency at SOB's in New York City.
They went on to have residencies in
Atlanta, Tampa, Gainesville,
New Orleans and Ft. Lauderdale.
In the summer of 2005 the band
headed to Europe sharing their
version of electronic funk in
everything from an underground
Moroccan club in London, to the
prestigious Roskilde Festival in Denmark.
There have been moments with this band in the last couple of years that communicate what makes them special…
- Spam Allstars third album Fuacata Live! was nominated for a Latin Grammy in 2003. Spam Allstars were surprised and proud of this achievement considering that the album had been recorded live to a CD burner during one of their weekly shows at Hoy Como Ayer in Little Havana.
- In the recap of an interview with the BBC’s Charlie Gillet and DJ Le Spam, Charlie says “only now and again does he meet someone that make him proud of his profession (being a DJ) - meeting DJ Le Spam is one of them.”
- Daddy Yankee decides he wants his fans to understand where the roots of his music come from, and select the Spam Allstars to present this on his $2 Bill performance for MTV2.
- Fernando Gonzalez, Editor/Journalist, decides to feature DJ Le Spam as a writer/producer in Jazziz. He typically “does not favor the DJ-thing”, but says DJ Le Spam’s approach is that of a musician, a creator…he takes technology and makes it musical.
- When collaborating with Pee Wee Ellis his manager looks at [me] and says Pee Wee hasn’t had this kind of musical experience since the 60’s [that was when he played with James Brown & the JB Horns -- the legendary creators of funk]. How cool!!
Please join us in celebrating Spam Allstars’ newest release, and spreading the word about their music.
For more info go to:
SPAM ALLSTARS EPK
SPAM ALLSTARS ON MY SPACE
SPAM ALLSTARS AT ELEVEN:11
SPAM ALLSTARS FILM/TV PLACEMENTS & COMPILATIONS
More on DJ LE SPAM....
DJ Le Spam, also known as Andrew Yeomanson, was born in Montreal to an English father and Venezuelan mother. In his youth he moved with his family – London, Tampa, Bogota, Toronto and finally to Miami which he has called home for the last 12 years. The international homes certainly have contributed to his musical career. Beneath it all is a talented musician who has a great love and commitment to exploring all types of music and bringing them together in new ways. He has experienced diverse musical offerings, studied them, and shared with anyone who was interested their history. This passion about music has lead to the evolution of DJ Le Spam.
Andrew began his musical career in 1991 playing with a Haitian political roots group – Lavalas Band – for whom he recorded one album. In 1993 he formed the Spam Allstars and began recording and gigging. In 1995 he had the opportunity to play guitar with Capitol recording artist Nil Lara, and recorded and toured with Nil for 3 years.
Upon his return in 1998, Andrew began working with a pirate radio station who broadcast "beach radio" shows. These pirate radio programs included ½ hour improvised sets by the Spam Allstars using samples and live instruments in the studio. These performances segued nicely to the release of Spam Allstars first CD Pork Scratchings in 1999.
The momentum had started and with a grant from Miami Light Project, Spam Allstars participated in the "here and now" festival. There were residencies at Snowhite's hip hop open mike night "faatland", Brandt's Break , and weekly webcasts on Eyeqradio.com.
By 2000, it was time to release the Spam Allstars follow up CD, Pigs in Space. Simultaneously, DJ Le Spam & the Spam Allstars began a residency at Lola bar. DJ Le Spam also had a residency as a DJ at Pop Life. The audience was growing. They received a second grant from the Miami Light Project for the 2000 "here and now" festival. DJ Le Spam worked with Brazilian choreographer Giovanni Luquini on soundtrack for "flagrante delicto" performed at the Colony Theater. It was also time to start thinking about expanding to other cities, and the Spam Allstars did a summer residency at Galapagos in Brooklyn, NY.
In 2001, some local promoters approached DJ Le Spam to start a club night in Little Havana. They launched the party as “Fuacata” at Hoy Como Ayer on Calle Ocho (8th Street) in the heart of Little Havana. The night became one of the most talked about club nights in Miami, as it attracted a diverse crowd of latins, anglos, hip hop kids, artists, young and old. All were brought together by the music and dancing that moved them.
Spam Allstars have appeared on Good Morning America, Mun2's The Roof, CBS This Morning, NPR's All Things Considered, CBS-4's Making of the Latin Grammy;s, NBC 6's Trendtrackers, and a a variety of regional and interantional radio programs.
Other accomplishments for Spam Allstars include developing music for the MIAMI HEAT; Spam Allstars selection as an ASCAP “emerging artist”; Spam Allstars’ Ochimini was featured on MTV's Advance Warning Compilation: Volume 5 Miami Edition; Spam Allstars being featured in the NALAC/Galan Productions series Visiones: Latino Art & Culture on PBS; DJ Le Spam was featured in Adidas' Bedroom Rockers book, and DJ Le Spam composed music for Giovani Luquini's Performance Troupe's A Poem: the battle between fear and desire .
Over the years the band have welcomed several guests to their stage including inspirational moments with percussionist Sammy Figueroa, Larry Harlow of Fania Allstars, John Medeski of Medeski Martin and Wood, Clarence Reed a.k.a Blowfly, Page McConnell of Phish, the late Wildman Steve, various members of AntiBalas, Pee Wee Ellis of the JB Horns, Daddy Yankee, Jose Conde, Brimstone 127, Mr. Haka, Cabas and many more talented musicians.
