DJ BLISSOM at Lee’s Palace (529 Bloor West), Saturday (June 9), 9 pm. $18/wristband, $8. 416-863-6963. www.nxne.com Rating: NNNNN
Phatjazz All-stars mixmaster Steph “DJ Blissom” Lefrançois was chuffed enough when local club DJs put his lively latinesque Tag Team Triangle (Spot) house jam into regular rotation. So you can imagine he was beside himself with glee when the track was picked up by the hip UK BBE label for inclusion on the second volume of their Beats And Pieces compilation series.
Suddenly, DJ Blissom and his sidekick, Mike “Merkin” Butler, were in the esteemed company of renowned discotheque dons like Carl Craig and Little Louie Vega. While there’s no threat of Blissom and Merkin joining the international club-hopping jet set just yet, the compilation appearance will unquestionably boost their profile and may even help them score a few choice remix gigs.
“It’s hard for me to understand what all the excitement is about,” laughs Lefrançois in disbelief. “I mean, I think Tag Team Triangle is cool, but I guess I’ve heard it so many times, it doesn’t seem all that special to me.
“One of the reviews I read of the Beats And Pieces comp said that our track was the highlight! Oh, my god! I mean, when you see the hugely talented artists who are on it — from Masters at Work to Pharoah Sanders — it’s crazy to think that a couple of loops that we put together in a bedroom could be on the same record.”
