COVER STORY .

The Ring Master

DJ Lee Jones and Sundae


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Published: Sep 23, 2009

Jessica Kourkounis

Considering that Lee Jones has been spinning records since the death of the Big Band era, it might seem odd to gift him now with a CP Choice Big Vision honor.

His Judy Boots, Love Deluxe and Ruby Lounge parties in the '90s were certainly raunchier affairs that made him lots of DJ ducats. And even his Sundaes (indoor/outdoor daylight dance affairs) have been going on for several years. They don't net guest spinners such as King Britt and ?uestlove (who calls Sundae the city's best party) much money. There are children playing, so adults can't get much chill time. Why this party? Why now?

Because its shift to the Piazza at Schmidts in NoLiberia was the perfect marriage of space, time and concept. Maybe it was the glare from the condos' big windows, but Jones' universal idea of what Sundae should be seemed more radiant than ever; the towering immensity of the Piazza seemed to cradle the crowd.

And even though the party got abruptly booted from the Piazza in September to show football games and reduce noise levels, in its move to Octo (early) and Silk City (late, and starting in October, all day) Sundae didn't lose the feeling of connectivity between its minions and Jones. And that adoration is universal: Sundae does events in Brisbane, Australia, and Los Angeles (with sponsorship from Urban Outfitters and Snackbar). The city and its spinners can learn and profit from Jones in so many ways - getting along has its benefits.

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Kurt Vile
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The Roots
This year, The Roots crew took their place on the national talk-show stage as Jimmy Fallon's house band/street cred.

Illinois
Ambitious indie rockers turned a series of digital audio/vid EPs into 'Adventures of Kid Catastrophe, 'one catchy album (and one really bizarre movie).

Weathervane Music
Brian McTear's nonprofit envisions a music community that can fairly compensate its practitioners.