Back 2 Basics with Chez Damier & Kai Alce

Friday, July 3 • Bar opens 8PM, Club doors 10PM

Chez Damier has devoted his life to electronic music as a vocalist, DJ, producer, label manager and graphic artist. Splitting his time between Detroit, Chicago and occasionally New York, Chez set up the Music Institute with Derrick May while Alton Miller looked after its business affairs. He also managed the studio outputs of Kevin Saunderson’s KMS label while helping countless producers get a start in production. Chez and Kai Alce's paths have crossed throughout the years while Kai has worn many hats in the biz from DJ, producer, record store buyer, label owner, and many more. Kai Alce is a walking history of house music and we’re excited to have these two legends back at Flash this summer.

DC House Groove's Andy Grant begins the evening's programming, while #BODYFEEL's Throe & Dansman inaugurate their new series ear2ear on the roof. Select DC's Foot Therapy is back in the bar.

Advance Tickets: www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/889497

CHEZ DAMIER:

A legendary figure in electronic music, Chez Damier has played close witness to many of the pivotal moments in the history of house and techno. Jointly responsible with partner Ron Trent for both Prescription Records - widely recognized as one of the greatest labels of all time - and The Morning Factory - one of the most ethereal jams ever to rock a room - Chez Damier carries abound the soul of house music.

KMS, The Music Institute, The Bellville three: the Chicago DJ has played pivotal roles in the development of all three hallowed pieces of musical history. However his natural artistry and constant need to out do even himself has led to him passing off such seminal tunes as Can You Feel It as just a stage in his artistic development.

For as an artist Chez Damier represents a unique blend; he is as impetuous and daring as now as in 1989 and being able to qualify this with his own unique heritage makes his releases and DJ performances doubly formidable. When The Music Institute opened in Detroit in the late '80s it provided the home for a developing music scene. It proved just as important for the development of techno in the city as The Warehouse and The Music Box had been for house music in Chicago and the hedonistic experiences in that club have gone onto shape much of Damier's life ever since.

After a few years managing the KMS studio and label for Kevin Saunderson, he returned to his hometown of Chicago and, alongside Ron Trent, created the musical legacy that has guaranteed his legend. Immortal cuts like "Sometimes I Feel Like," "The Choice" and "Be My"-remain unparalleled examples of the genre. After taking an extended break from the music industry either side of the turn of the millennium, the house music impulse returned to Damier.

A handful of releases in 2004 and the odd DJ date hinted that a return was on the cards. In 2009, the last year of the decade Damier found a trusted outlet for his talents. A series of releases for the German label Mojuba signaled that he was on his way back to show the young pretenders the way. Taking up the torch of Prescription, Damier launched Balance Alliance as a home for some of the most forward thinking and talented producers he deems fit to join him on the imprint. With constant momentum building behind him, Chez Damier continues to explore fresh artistic avenues and legendary status as a DJ.

KAI ALCE:

There’s a humble power about Kai Alce. Perhaps it’s a combination of his Haitian roots, his youth spent in St. Croix, and his New York City upbringing. It is evident when he steps behind the turntables or CDJs, where he is at once clearly comfortable and believe it or not, just a tad bit nervous.

After more than 20 years in the business, yes, “The Kaizer” still gets butterflies.

That’s probably what makes Kai Alce (pronounced al-SAY) such a force: He doesn’t settle down, blend in or go along. That integrity comes through in every gig he’s worked – from his early days at Detroit’s Music Institute when he was just teenager, to the 10-year-long DEEP legacy at MJQ that he co-founded, to the production company, NDATL, that he created in 2008.