Katalyst Entertainment

Archive Dive 1.2: When I first started working with The Art Ensemble, this was one of the recordings that stood out to me as having "legs". I had just come from working with polygram and had worked with a wide range of records and I could see the marketability of this record was there. It could easily be just as popular as some of the recordings that major labels were putting out. The original version had a beautiful cover that had a color photo of Moye by Joan Hackett. The image was and still is powerful. After we did Afrikan Song, I was evolving in my role with the group and Moye to the point that I was given the opportunity to develop a re-issue series centered around their recordings that were out of print. Moye let me re-issue this one first but wanted to use new artwork. I think he was just testing the waters with the whole reissue thing and didn't want to commit the original artwork. Either way, I was just grateful to have the chance to grow the label in that direction. We ended up having new artwork done by Rafi Kushmir and Sparrow was instrumental with putting everything together. The business model worked out as well. Since we were touring around this time, I was able to make a profit on a project for the first time and it was clear that the new direction presented possibilities. My objective was to build catalog and try to get wider distribution but in the meantime, on the road sales became a viable vehicle for progress.

Archive Dive # 1.1: somehow my last post doesn't appear to have posted so I will try again. This recording is not actually a Katalyst recording but it set the stage for the new direction the label would go. Around the same time I left Polygram to start my own label, I also began working for The Art Ensemble of Chicago as a roadie and assistant with the office. This opened up a whole new world to me both literally and figuratively. I was working under the leadership of Famoudou Don Moye, possibly the hardest working being I have encountered. That experience gave me the opportunity to evolve in my experience with studio recording. Up until this point, I mostly got tracks from groups and decided which ones to release but this was the first time that I was actively involved with all aspects of the process and started working closely with actual musicians. I was given credit as the project coordinator and it was released on AECO / Southport and was recorded at Sparrow Sound design. I set out to try to get my label involved with these activities.

Archive dive #3: The 3rd release on the label was a 12" single by Main Frame called "Her, Her, Her, and You". After failing to get exposure in the world of R&B, I decided to put out a single from Main Frame to see if we could get the ball rolling on what was happening in the business with hip hop. The group was somewhat active and getting a decent name for itself. I was starting to work a lot on the road with the Art Ensemble of Chicago and when I came back from a tour and heard this cut, I knew that was it. We were able to get a video done and got rotation on "the box", which was a video channel that ran a lot of independent music. I also got a little radio play and club play. The group was doing live shows here and there and was recording an album that I intended to release. They added a new member named Tru Indeed and Just Ro went on to do a solo project. Shahid began doing some solo stuff too. Unfortunately, the group could not seem to get organized to take advantage of some of the opportunities presented to them. I released a cassingle of the song as well with one of the songs from the compilation as a b side. I will send a pic of that if I can find one. A lot of people have told me that "Girls, Girls" by Jay Z sounds a lot like it and Kanye may have gotten inspiration from it for that song. It is possible. The group did not seem focused and the album was never released. I still have the tracks and have considered putting them out a few times.