DJ Le Spam & the Spam Allstars blend improvisational electronic elements and turntables with latin, funk, hip hop and dub to create an electronic descarga. It’s not a known genre. It’s hard to describe. It attracts many types of people. But as they look out and see people dancing salsa, next to break-dancers, and festival-goers driving for hours to catch a show -- they know something very special is going on.
Spam Allstars are road warriors -- a touring band. [click here for more info on individual band members] 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.
In August of 2008, Spam Allstars have their first world-wide release on World Music Network. World Music Network (WMN) are the company that does the famed Rough Guide travel books, and also have a record label. In 2007, Spam Allstars licensed material to their Rough Guide series including The Rough Guide to Latin Funk, The Rough Guide to Latino Nuevo, and The Rough Guide to Salsa Clandestina. WMN then proposed doing an Introducing Spam Allstars release. This is a compilation of Spam Allstars material from the band’s last three CD releases (electrodomesticos, contra los roboticos mutantes, and fuacata live!). Introducing Spam Allstars will be released on August 25th, 2008 around the globe.
The band has five CD and three vinyl releases on their own label – Spamusica Records. The last release electrodomésticos (4/2007) was recorded at the City of Progress studio in North Miami, FL, and produced by DJ Le Spam. The sessions were done while working around a 200+ yearly performance schedule. DJ Le Spam wanted to capture moments with musicians that the band had played with over the last few years. The outcome was a refreshing collection of recordings featuring each of the Spam Allstars – and a variety of guests. These guests included 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). Pee Wee also co-wrote and arranged the horns on a couple of songs. Artwork for the vinyl & CD were provided by EMILIO PEREZ courtesy of Galerie Lelong.
Other releases by Spam Allstars include: Contra Los Roboticos Mutantes (2004); Fuacata Live!(2002); Pigs in Space (2000); Pork Scratchings (1999), and three vinyl releases - vinyl #1, vinyl #2, and vinyl #3. Fuacata Live! is available in Japan on Amsys Records, in the UK distributed by New Note, and France distributed by Moradisc. Electrodomesticos is available in Japan on Bomba Records.
Spam Allstars have had the opportunity to participate in some special projects outside their regular work with the band. DJ Le Spam has been producing some new to be released projects (Eymarel, Spencer Garn Trio), as well as recording a new “yet to be tilted funk project” which he’ll release on vinyl-only later this year. DJ Le Spam was thrilled to compile his favorite selections from the Fania Records catalog for their Fania Live Series released in the fall of 2007. Spam Allstars had the privilege of performing and recording with the aforementioned legendary saxophonist, Pee Wee Ellis (JB Horns). In 2006, Spam Allstars were invited to appear with Daddy Yankee for his MTV2’s $2 Bill series. In 2004, the band created music for the Miami Heat to be used as intro music at every game. In 2003-2004 Spam Allstars collaborated and toured with Page McConnell's (Phish) side project - Vida Blue. The two bands recorded and toured together nationally as a 10-piece ensemble.
Spam Allstars were surprised and honored to have their third album Fuacata Live! nominated for a Latin Grammy in 2003. This achievement was exciting because the album had been recorded live to a CD burner during one of their weekly shows at Hoy Como Ayer in Little Havana.
In an effort to introduce their music to new people, Spam Allstars have 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.
Spam Allstars are 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, vox), Jose Elias (guitars/tres) and Lazaro Alfonso (congas).
Please join us in celebrating Spam Allstars, 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.