Grandmaster Flash

We would like to think that WTB is itself a legend in the making. We also like to think that we have developed some really unique creativity on the NY water front. But we are truly humble this week as we prepare to welcome Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Grandmaster Flash.

Born into the tail end of the baby-boomer generation, and an immigrant to America, Joseph Saddler aka Grandmaster Flash helped define a music genre that today defines contemporary American music. He is also credited with inventing "cutting" a turntable technique which is at the very core of turntableism. Turntableism is the difference between a DJ who just plays songs and a DJ artist who uses the turnable to perform.

Cutting is a method of looping a "track" using two identical phonograph records as sources, two turn tables to play the records and a mixer to switch between the two sources; using this setup a turn table artist plays the track on the 1st turntable, and then on the 2nd turntable using the mixer to seamlessly switch between the two. While the 2nd source is playing the DJ artist manually reverses the other source. By repeating this technique a skilled DJ artist can play the same track continuously. It's a lot of work and it requires good manual dexterity. Today of course, its' very easy to do with computers.

Grandmaster Flash will be performing this Saturday, July 28th 2007, as a special guest at The Beach Party. Cover is $3. ID is required for all admissions.