January Profile:Jazz Hodges Crew: Collective Groove Culture + Phat Phamily + The Box Contact: jazzhodges@hotmail.com Real Audio: Listen to this mix now!

How did you get started?
I started throwing parties back in 1992. I grew up under the influence of Hazy Daze. After the break up of the party scene in 1992 by the formation of the RAVE squad, the parties and the Dallas scene was forever changed. I move to Tyler to go to school and get away from the parting. I chose an area that I knew where there would not be any distractions. I arrived in East Texas, Tyler to be exact and became so bored that I made that which I was missing. A scene. There was not anyone throwing any type of parties at the time, so I opened up a club venue called The Box. We threw Punk shows 3-4 times a month and held parties on the weekends. I found a group of djs namely who seemed to be led by Mark Foster, who is now as he was and has always been since I have known him, HOUSE. His music is what started the cravings again. He is also the person who showed me how to make my first mix. Others were his friends Kevin, who at the time played Intelligent and experimental or atmospheric and James Meadows, one of the old trance and goa djs of the time.

I have to stop for a minute and let you know I did not play music, and was not a DJ. I had no interest at the time. I had a list of DJ's who wanted to play for me so I didn't understand the point. I threw parties for 3 years before I ever picked up a record. Mark gave me my first dose of the addiction to wax which seems to only be matched to the addition to crack! Every dollar from that day forward went to records and equipment. This became a formation of sound. We all had a different taste for music, but the same common goal. I threw the parties and they were the djs. I threw parties at the time under the production company name Phat Phamily, and held them at my club called the Box, and club Excess. I quickly became frustrated with the bible belt restrictions of the area and moved back to Dallas where I started another production and sound company called Collective Groove Culture, which was also partially thought up by the previously mentioned individuals.

How much have you changed musically since you started?
I have thrown parties for 10 years now and been djing for seven. I started in progressive and break beat and slowly moved toward house, which is what I play now. I spin a unique blend of vocal deep House. This is my favorite. If it gives me goose bumps. I go back and forth from deep to bangin' house. I have change considerably since my first days

Name two of your favorite tracks.
I will give two examples and draw from old school record so as to give reference to my influence.
My first will be On Groove On Records- Mood II Swing - All Night Long - (j. Ciafone) - 8:13.
The second is off of Nervous Records - A New York After-hours, A later Shade of Deep Volume 1 Record 2 - Bellzbeha -Inhibitions - (Choco) - 7:13

What was your favorite event to play at? And why?
My favorite event to play at was a renegade I threw with Rob Mello. I played a set that had everyone there dancing with their hands in the air while playing next to Rob, near downtown underneath the waterfall (if you know where that is) with people screaming and dancing. As I reached for my last record Rob Mello looked to me and thanked me for throwing such an old school event. That was an amazing morning. We played till the sun came up.

What do you think of the current state of the Dallas Scene? What do you think we could do to improve it?
I believe that Dallas has bread some of the best house djs in the world and I am grateful to have become a dj in a city that has Robert Taylor, Rob Vaughn, Brett Johnson, Luke Sardello, Bonehead, Charlie Draper, Spencer Wade, Squirt, Paul Parades, James Oliver, Joe Castillo, James Patton, Sean Holland, Lance Desardi, JT Donaldson, Kelle Marie, Demarkus Lewis, Sean McAdams, and Frank Topp. Most of these djs are my friends, yet everyone has influenced my sound and has driven Dallas djs to acquire a real skill for mixing, beat-matching, and phrasing. These are key components to Dallas's dound. These are also some of the better mixing djs in the country as a result of their not just playing records, which by the way Dallas will not accept. You must have a talent for phrasing and record selection to compete in this overstocked environment of today's scene. The second part of this question is we can come together to better coordinate events so as to not split the crowds by having too much going on at once. We should support each other and not fight for the same customers.

When is your next gig? Any residencies?
I have played across the United States from San Francisco, California, New York, Miami, Florida to Boulder, Colorado. I have held residencies in Dallas, Texas at clubs and bars such as Micks, Green Room, The Pharmacy, J Pepe's, The Sandbar, as well the world famous Gold Bar. I have had special appearances at Milk Bar, Umlaut, Velocity, Red Blood Club, and The Dive as well as most recently Soul II Soul and M Lounge.
Currently: Velvet Hookah - 2712 Main St. Dallas, Tx 75214 - 214.747.6700

Do you want to thank anyone?
I would like to thank all of the people mentioned in this biography and especially Sarah Bennett who is responsible for so many promotional campaigns as well as being the love of my life. If it were not for her there would be a whole lot of people who would not know who Jazz is. And last but not least, Annesta for her steadfast dedication to the Dallas scene. Many people do not know she bears the responsibility of not only getting a good slice of our information out there, but she is directly responsible for this biography and I am only one of many she has done. This is not even mentioning her role in the female standing of Dallas' Scene. She has made the world sit up and listen to some of Dallas's female power. Thank you Annesta, you make us all proud.