Residency is a four-part weekly journal entry brought to you by one of our favorite artists every month.
In their third entry, Sam Nobles gushes over Wilmington, Delaware’s annual DuPont Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, and Katie Dill shares a self-curated, hip-hop inspired mixtape called Back In The Day When Things We’re Cool.
Once the jazz fest rolls around, it really starts to feel like summer around here. It’s one of those things that makes me say “yeah Delaware…yeeeeah Delaware.” Every June, the free, week long festival takes place in downtown Wilmington in honor of the late jazz legend, Clifford Brown, who lived in Wilmington and is actually buried next to my high school (turns out my freshman Geology class studied the composition of his tombstone—I don’t remember what it is). Each night of the festival hosts two main acts and the lineup is always impressive and eclectic—past acts have included everyone from Chick Corea, to Christian McBride, to The Bad Plus, and so much more.
It’s totally a reputable jazz fest in the states and is totally the place to be. In addition to the incredible music acts, the place is stimulation central. Soul food stands line the street, their savory smoke billowing out to us hungry listeners. That cool evening summer breeze plays with the hairs on the back of our necks, as two people embrace after several months of separation, busy with the family and long work days. People bring their lawn chairs out and sit on the grass, or find an elevated spot on the Rodney Square staircase. I always like the staircase. It’s my perching spot—I can watch the music, I can watch the people—everyone from crackheads to senators, dancing, enjoying each other’s company, and enjoying the music.
Each night after the festival, a local jazz bar called The Nomad (another one of those “yeeeeah Delaware” gems) hosts a big open jam session, where people bring their horns or their guitars and sit in with the house band. This year the house band was a really fantastic organ trio. The place is small and narrow, and that entire week it is always packed with people, talking about the acts they saw that night, or “that tenor player”…”yeah where’s he been?”…”that boy can play—he’s a baaaad boy.” I usually try to hit the jazz fest as many times throughout the week as possible. And for me, a complete night of the jazz fest ends with a hang at The Nomad.
Man, I could live in those nights forever.
—Sam
I usually make mixes with a specific person in mind, but this time I decided to make it with myself in mind! And I really felt like listening to some hip-hop, some stuff you can dance to. A lot of it is very nostalgic of my childhood, middle school dances included. So please feel free to grind, and don’t listen to this if you’re a baby. I love you guys!
Tracklisting:
01. Jimi Hendrix - “Voodoo Child”
02. Blackstreet ft. Dr. Dre - “No “Diggity”
03. 112 - “Peaches & Cream”
04. Daft Punk ft. Panda Bear - “Doin’ It Right”
05. Real McCoy - “Another Night”
06. Aaliyah - “Are You That Somebody”
07. OutKast - “So Fresh, So Clean”
08. Ciara ft. Ludacris - “Ride”
09. Flying Lotus - “Disco Balls”
10. Gorillaz - “Welcome to the World of Plastic Beach”
11. Mean Lady - “Bop Bop (Sends Remix)”
12. Erykah Badu - “Back In The Day (Puff)”
13. Biggie Smalls - “Mo Money Mo Problems”
14. Inner Circle - “Sweat (A LA LA LA LA Long)”
15. J Dilla - “Lightworks”
16. CocoRosie - “Smokey Taboo”
17. Ini Kamoze - “Here Comes The Hotstepper”
18. Merril Bainbridge - “Mouth”
19. Paul McCartney & Wings - “Let Me Roll It”
—Katie
Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4