Vision Dance Jus-Ed

If you want to write an explicit story about the life of the American producer, label owner, and DJ Edward McKeithen aka DJ Jus-Ed you will need much more then just one leaf of white paper.

At the tender age of six he was backing up his grandparents in a Jazz duo called "Tomi & Eddy" touring from the East to West coast of the United States as a drummer. Later he studied percussion instruments for some time on the University of Bridgeport with the young age of 10. His main influences around that period been Soul preacher James Brown, Jazz drummer Buddy Rich, and a while later Jazzrock legends Chicago and the sensitive R&B crooner Luther Vandross.

In 1982 he embarked his DJ career, called himself DJ Jus-Ed and played the freestyle rhythms of the times from harsh Funk to early House, and rough R&B. Due several intricacies of life that emerge when you party strong DJ Jus-Ed already retired on the New Years Day of 1985 caused by a combination of substance abuse and other life-threatening factors.

After more then fifteen years doing and listing music mostly by and on his own in 2001 he finally reappeared as a producer and DJ with an adventurous, energetic and spiritual style of quality House music that is likewise to such scruffproff deepness heroes such as Theo Parrish, Moodymann, or Omar-S. Beside the revitalization of his own DJ career and work as an artist he also lounged in 2005 his own label Underground Quality – a base for truely original Deep House with an edge that don’t follow any business plan – just the beat of DJ Jus-Ed’s heart and soul. After numerous 12 inches and the two highly acclaimed longplayers „Carnival House“ and „Next Level“ on Underground Quality he now cheat on his own company and releases his third longplayer „Vision Dance“ on the famous incalculable Tokyo based label Mule Electronic.

As usual for the passionate part time landscape gardener from Bridgeport, Connecticut all of his ten arrangements are uncorrupted House gems that avoid to get dressed with heavy make-up in order to give classic House music lovers some undiluted bass pleasure.

This time on non of the tracks DJ Jus-Ed disclaimed his voice that regulary enriches some of his productions and his DJ sets with a personal, human touch. Instead only instrumental tracks are kicking a blend of tough, syncopated percussions and ethereal, melodic synthlines that spread pure dance energy. Whipping handclaps here, dark string looped atmospheres, minimal piano melodies and euphoric hi-hats there, and a warm seducing bassline underneath: the formula of the live wire that still throws some of New York’s finest underground House parties regularly is simple and effective. Some of the tracks are already produced in 2006.

Others like “Stuck in a train to Berlin” or “Train Ride to Offenbach” he composed in the last years while traveling through Europe to play in such clubs like the infamous Robert Johnson in Offenbach. “The concept of the album is what I see when I play my tracks out on tour” the friendly family man confesses about “Vision Dance” and adds: “I also made this album for dancers and club heads!”

That the only instrument he ever learned to play is the percussion is audible in any kind of speed – from more dark laidback arrangements to inescapable airy party bombs DJ Jus-Ed swings ever unique and heartfelt beyond conventions while steadily grooving earthly. And this with a fine balanced variety of atmospheres that can inflame smooth summer outdoor love dances as well as dark sweaty late-night club hours. So clap your hands, shake your hip: this man just wants nothing more then see you smile while grooving around in your current position.

And this no matter if it is in front of your little home stereo or underneath the turning mirror ball: his string of pure House showbags is just made to get your butt in gear.