AmbokileRevolution

Spoken word artist and singer takes center stage at BB Kings House of Blues in Universal City, Hollywood Hollywood


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The City Walk/City Loft at Universal City has something for everyone. A brilliant-lit carnival for grown-ups, there are dance clubs, movie theaters, and restaurants of every kind imaginable, including- be still my heart- a Starbuck's combined with a gourmet bakery. (Can you spell "double yum"?) Said Starbuck's was still open at 11:30 p.m. on the Saturday night I visited. There are also a number of very interesting retail shops, including a store devoted to the sale of all things chocolate and a children's bookshop.

BB Kings House of Blues is upstairs in the City Loft area. A jumpin' hot night spot featuring fine music and good libation and eats, the club's top floor offers bar style seating looking down onto the stage three floors below. It's from this vantage point that I watched spoken word artist and singer Ambokilé and her group "Ambolism" in action.

The house was so packed, I had to ask someone to save my seat so that I could pop downstairs to shoot some photographs. Coincidentally (although we know there are no coincidences) the person I asked for this help was none other than the husband of Diane Carter, one of Ambokilés back-up singers. Thanks, Donovan!

With Bowens having taken her under his wing as vocal coach, and a new CD, "Simply…Ambokilé," just out, the buzz for Ambokilé's 9:00 p.m. performance was predictably amazing. The sold-out audience was ready for the main treat and they were not disappointed.

Ambokilé all six feet of her- strode gracefully onto the stage, her long, long legs clad in hip hugger jeans topped with a wide belt, her buff arms left bare by a spaghetti strap top. Her long dark hair was pulled into a ponytail and topped with a cap that stated perfectly "I am Ambokilé." Her diamond hoop earrings sparkled and sent light everywhere as she took the mike into her hands like she'd done it a million times and greeted the crowd and began to move with the drummer's backbeat.

The only thing is, this performance was the first time Ambokilé had stood in a place like this with her band. "Do you remember that I screamed and then jumped up into the air once I was on stage?" Ambokile asked me a few days later. "I can only explain it that it was the Spirit that came over me. Something came over me on stage." Indeed, despite a remarkably calm exterior and a seemingly effortless performance while on stage, Ambokilé claims that she was restless and worried about this first of Ambolism's performances two days prior. The group had had minimal practice time together, and while a strong and self-sustaining singer on her own, Ambokilé had not before worked in harmony, live, with backups.

Midway through the performance, Ambokile popped off stage for a moment for a wardrobe change and her two back-up singers launched into a soulful version of "Voulez-vous Couchez Avec Moi," a number much appreciated by the crowd. When they'd finished with that, Ambokilé returned to the stage in a new outfit- short shorts and a low-cut, long-sleeved blouse- but with the same energy that thrilled during the first half.

"It only took one martini to get me up there," Ambokilé had joked as she stepped off the stage. "Well, okay, one and a half." She was thrilled, radiant, even, as she spoke with me post-show. "That was my first 'real' performance," she'd told me as she threw her arms around me.

"It felt great," back-up singer Carter told me as we all compared notes. "Ambokilé is really great to work with." Carter and Foley, the other singer in the Ambolism backup dynamic duo, used to sing at BB Kings during their gospel brunches. "It felt good being back, seeing some old faces. It was like being back home for us," Carter added.

If Ambokile had had prior thoughts about possible technical disasters, timing mishaps, and the like, it certainly didn't show. From beginning to end of the show, every part of her was absorbed in what she was sending out to her appreciative audience. "I wrote this song for all my sisters," she announced when she began. "It's to remind you to never allow yourselves to become victims of anyone's rage." The singer penned the words to that song, her newly released single, "Bitch" to encourage.

Ambokilé, which means "one who God has redeemed"- offers encouragement in everything she does whether it be on stage or in "real" life. Ambokilé and I spoke later in the week, and she had much to say about her new combination of musical talent and her source of inspiration- a connection to God. "Those singers are phenomenal! They sang with Brian McKnight, Tina Marie, Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, Rick James, you name it, and tour all over the world." Now they'll be touring together, a neat Ambolism family.

And as to God in her life? "As a creative person, you are tapped into some infinite power. A person who does scr - SPLASH WORLDWIDE MAGAZINE (Natl. Publication)

In 2006, often it seems enough simply to walk through your words as an MC, it seems any part of your conversation will make the cut for many contemporary MC's vocal parts on their records. As long as the six-pack or booty is there, it seems true poets and lyrical percussionists need not apply. It is this climate that makes MC artist and entrepreneur Ambokile' stand out like a shining beacon in what some understand as the genre of Rap music. Ambokile' leads the light in a Renaissance of skilled, lyrical rhythmical orators of the calibre of Bahamadia, Rakim, Gil Scott Heron, and the Last Poets.

From her first release in late 2004, Ambokile's notoriety and repp as a skilled and serious MC, artist and performer has been steadily building in coffee houses, poetry readings and cable television shows of LA, USA, across California State and now her effect is rippling out across the globe to Europe and beyond as airplay and a following builds.

Working with a variety of producers, Ambokile' has produced contemporary classics such as "Journey" incorporating Neo Jazz Funk instrumentation and lyrical flow that Gil Scott Heron and Brian Jackson could easily have been behind.

With the ground work and foundation set, Ambokile' is now set to take things to another level.

Performances nationally and european dates are now being planned. Using her expertise found from working in other aspects of the music business such as its legal side. Ambokile' is now applying her "Ambolism" musical philosophy channeled via her fellow artists.

Ambokile's latest single is a more minimal electro funk work out, the flow still unstoppable with head tipped towards the Bay area renaissance about to explode worlwide. The West Coast has been slept on for too long. Ambokile' seems poised to reposition the area sound as thee sound others wish to copy. For the model, actress, songwriter, lyricist and poet Simply....Ambokile', the future seems bright.

2006 - Paul Aaron
Paul Aaron, CEO
WARRIOR FM
Groove Lineage Radio
Soul Connection FM
House FM 88.6 FM
Cafe Radio
UF Radio Network, digital-djs.com
Universal Vibes
FUTURE CREW
Music Week Mag UK
Grind Mode Mag - LINEAGE RECODINGS - UNITED KINGDOM - WARRIOR FM RADIO

If you like Ersula Rucker, Sara Jones, the Brooklyn Funk Essentials...

Cool, smooth, funky, ambient, soulful . . . and that's just the music.

The euphonious sounds of a drum snare, high hat, bass lick, guitar drum, muted horn, and much more can be heard over and under the sexy soothing voice of one of the brightest songstress, spoken word artists and lyricists to come out . . . her name is Ambokile'.

Titled "Simply . . . Ambokile'" this six-track EP feeds your mind and soul lyrically and musically, providing you with the audio/spiritual substance missing in an industry oft times driven by form alone.

This project is a double threat of deep, fluid, lyrically luscious, poetic prose drizzled over equally colorful, soul grooving tracks.

Ambokile' (pronounced "Am-boe-key-lay" - meaning GOD HAS REEDEEMED ME) takes us on a spiritually conscious journey through a world seen by the eyes, felt by the heart, and contemplated by the mind of a "woman of expansion". She flows seamlessly over each track, touching on everything from life, love, relationships, intellectual and spiritual enlightenment, and the evolution and revolution of the mind, body and soul.

On each of the soul searching "cerebral trips" Ambokile' uses a sultry smooth, introspective flow to move visual words and clever rhymes over a canvas of melodically liquid beats and well placed instrumentation.

Her intricate passionate lyrics paint a vividly fresh picture of the life, times and the world of one of the most exciting new voices out.

Review supplied by Robb Jackson
Soul Cafe

- SOUL CAFE

MY LIVE AIR INTERVIEW WITH WARRIOR FM RADIO


For audio listening please refer to:

www.clickcaster.com/warriorfm
or
www.MySpace.Com/SimplyAmbokile

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my live interview with DJ Johnny Blaze - Warrior FM Radio; compliments of Paul Aaron of Lineage Recordings/United Kingdom is up! For those of you who missed it, it aired like two weeks ago. Click on the link above and scroll down to my name or the pictures of me - my interview portion doesn't start until about 33 minutes into the show so catch it there - post me comments and let me know what you think! MAJOR LOVE to DJ Johnny Blaze and Paul Aaron for this. Fellow artists, if you don't know who they are you should click on my top friendZ list - they are wonderful and very supportive!

Love ya DJ Johnny Blaze (smile) and Paul! And oh yeah DJB wait till you hear the remix babeeee! (SMILE)

Maddest artist love n aloha

Ambokile

- DJ JOHNNY BLAZE - WARRIOR FM

AMBOKILE-VOTED 1 OF 10 TOP 2006 ARTISTS-PAUl AARON GROOVE LINEAGE RADIO BEST OF 2006 CHARTS
Category: Music
(Alsosongs on rotation)


Wow he's done it again - and yes, he's on my Top Friends list. Me, top ten up and coming artist of 2006? Thanks Paul sooo much! Thanks for playin my songs on rotation and it's because of you that I'm movin and shakin . . . all because of you. So thank you for your universal support, on behalf of all artists! We love you! Here goes and please jump over to his page if you want to read about it check out his blog and comment friends!:

Groove Lineage Show with Paul Aaaron Show times:
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CLICK HERE TO READ FURTHER INFO ON PAUL AAARON'S GROOVE LINEAGE RADIO SHOW, GUESTS & EVENTS...

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- PAUL AARON, CEO