45x45 Sessions feat. Keb Darge, Matt Fox & friends

Keb Darge (BBE / London), Matt Fox (Cologne)

When in April 2024 ben* (turntable JAZZ), legendary resident of Cologne's STECKEN and also the even more legendary UNIQUE CLUB from Düsseldorf, now official DJ of hip hop heavyweight YASIIN BEY (aka Mos Def), completed his second European tour under the 45 x 45 banner with Japanese turntablist DJ KOCO aka SHIMOKITA, they started their journey at the new SOUNDBALL #1 event at STADTGARTEN & JAKI.

Organized in cooperation with Cologne-based producer, DJ & GROOVE ATTACK co-owner TWIT ONE, the two gathered for a night dedicated to vinyl DJ culture. On two floors, they offered the live premiere of SOUL SUPREME & BAND, a surprise performance by the British SUMMER SONS and an army of DJs & friends with many small (and big) records to the completely sold-out audience and created an evening and many memories to come.

Following on from this success and at the request of many guests, ben* is now organizing a regular monthly Thursday at JAKI dedicated entirely to the theme of 45 x 45, before planning live premieres and more surprises with TWIT ONE for the next SOUNDBALL #2 on 14.12.2024

Starting October 17, ben* will invite various guests from his international & national circle of colleagues to JAKI one evening a month and present the range of love for 45s (7inch singles). He will not play himself every evening, but rather present the various genres & scenes that have dedicated themselves to the Seven Inch Game or 45 LOVE.

Whether Northern Soul, Rare Groove, Deep Funk or Rockabilly & Popcorn Keb Darge is considered a legend and has not only provided a home for the then still unknown Amy Winehouse and other soul fans through his Madame Jojos evening in London, where international DJs such as Kenny Dope, Cut Chemist, Madlib, DJ Shadow etc. mixed their small rare records. His dancing skills have gone down in history and are synonymous with the generally dance-friendly Northern Soul Scene, where crowds of up to 60-70-year-olds dance wildly until the early hours of the morning. He will be accompanied on the first evening by local collector, dancer & soul boy Matt Fox, who also makes people of all ages dance all over the world with his rare records.

Its a new Thursday Night in Town.