Tag Archives: Black Rock Coalition

Greg Tata

Greg Tate Remembered: “Godfather of Hip-Hop Journalism”

Text by Dawoud Kringle

Greg Tate

Vernon Reid, Bruce Mack & Greg Tate (photo by Petra Richterova)

On Tuesday, December 7th, 2021, musician, journalist, author, activist Greg Tate died.

Tate was one of the most unique and influential individuals in the New York Music scene. As a brilliant guitarist, leader of Burnt Sugar (a.k.a. Burnt Sugar the Arkestra Chamber, where he employed Butch Morris’ process of “conduction” – a method of conducted improvisation), he synthesized the entire spectrum of African American rock music. His music had a quality that held the suggestion of a man who did music out of love, and who was a man of peace who could be a formidable warrior when necessary.

Continue reading

Event Review: A Night of Funk to Drive Away the Winter Chill – Burnt Sugar Smokehouse

Burnt Sugar SmokehouseDate: February 15, 2015
Venue: The Delancy

Review by Dawoud Kringle

On the coldest night of 2015, musicians and listeners crowded into the blessedly heated basement if the Lower East Side’s Delancy. Burnt Sugar Smoke­house (in solidarity with the Black Rock Coalition) presented a night of NYC’s finest funk rock.

Continue reading