Q-Bert, DJ as Musician Virtuoso

Club Bonbon, Shanghai Saturday, December 1, 2007

For over 15 years DJ Q-Bert has been “owning” even the harshest critics in the DJ-is-not-a-musician argument. Now in his 30s, Q-Bert carries a vast, library-like knowledge of music. In performance, his understanding of pitch, tempo, rhythm, harmony and melody -- the traditional elements of musicianship, are combined with the elements of modern DJ'ing: mixing, cutting and scratching -- many of the techniques that he himself created. Add the live, interactive aspect of moving a crowd -- an animated audience of hip hop devotees and newbies alike to elevate a Q-Bert performance to a completely unforgettable experience.

Q-Bert has been instrumental in drawing international attention to the art of turntablism, where the vinyl record player is used or “played” just as any other musical instrument is played by a musician.

Q-Bert, or simply Q, began playing records in the mid-1980s in San Francisco where he was influenced by local hip hop street-performers and graffiti artists. He was just 15 years old at the time -- old enough for his talent and ability to carry him through to his first DJ battle while still in high school against Mix Master Mike: he lost. But rather than quit upon defeat, he took it as a challenge to learn and improve.

Learning and self-improvement continue to be at the foundation of Q-Bert’s approach to music, and his fascination and genuine interest in learning about new people and things not only ignites his creativity but also provides a much-needed balance to counteract the trappings of the very heady world under the spotlight. This humble approach frees his mind and makes his performances even more special, as witnessed in his previous event at Club Bonbon in summer 2006 where he shared the decks with local DJs and often reflected attention outwards, back into the crowd interspersed with MCs, b-boys/b-girls and full on breakdance crews.

But reaching the top of his game was not easy, and if anything it was quite simply practice that he credits in his succession through the ranks of DJ battles following his first defeat to Mix Master Mike in High School. Soon after, he, Mike and DJ Apollo formed the group FM20 and began to do shows, leading them to New York City where Crazy Legs, a 10-year veteran and current president of The Bronx legendary Rock Steady Crew, invited them to join as Rock Steady DJs -- a title they would use through a succession of DMC DJ competitions which they won World Titles. To this day, Q-Bert still practices with discipline and determination, and is quick to pass on the simple advice of regular practice to new and aspiring DJs.

Unselfishly passing knowledge and just having a good time -- Q-Bert and the Invisbl Skratch Piklz, the famed Bay Area crew which he formed in 1997 along with D-Styles, DJ Disk, Mix Master Mike, Shortkut, and Yogafrog, were instrumental in furthering the art and science of turntablism. Besides touring extensively, The Piklz created TurntableTV, a series of videos with mixing and scratching demonstrations, skits and a glimpse into the world of battle and performance DJing and turntablism. Even though the Piklz have since disbanded, they remain recognized as having elevated the craft of hip hop turntablism and in doing so garnered similar respect of a recognized, accomplished musicians.

Q-Bert’s personal and professional development have brought him around the globe both performing for audiences as well as learning from other cultures and participating in a celebration of the universal language: music. As technology advances and digital music literally floods the airwaves, Q-Bert continues to drop the needle on the record, working his analog magic. He has had an impact on the evolution of the record player itself, lending his experience to the design and development of the Vestax QFO, an advanced scratch product and new breed of instrument for the modern turntablist.

Since his last visit to Shanghai, Hip Hop in China has experienced phenomenal growth in poularity. Different styles and offerings are now as abundant as venues themselves. Whether you are a casual listener or diehard supporter; in the thick of the scene or deep in the underground, there is no disputing the raw talent and pure musical genius of Q-Bert. As the saying goes “Talking/writing about music is like dancing about architecture...” and this applies to a Q-Bert performance -- best witnessed to be fully enjoyed.

Q-Bert performs in Shanghai at Club Bonbon on Saturday, December 1st, 2007. The first night of an incredible tour of China and Asia that includes stops in Beijing, Shenzhen, Taipei, KL, Bangkok and Singapore before extending through Australia.

Club BonBon
1329 Huahai Road, 2/F Yunhai Tower
Reservations: 133 2193 9299
www.clubbonbon.com