My name is W. E. Smith, and I thank you for visiting “myspace.”   I am a musician, author, professor, lecturer, and producer who can make some mean pancakes J .  

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Check my website www.h2productions.net   and my other myspace page www.myspace.com/thewesgroup

  for my upcoming performance and lecture dates and be sure to sign the guest list.   You can also buy my three CDs and my new book from the site as well through our secure connection with PayPal .   Below is the information on my latest projects.

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Hip Hop as Performance and Ritual:  

Biography and Ethnography in Underground Hip Hop

Hip hop has had a fertile and exciting life in the underground scene There are several clubs that have nurtured the music and many individuals who have upheld the art.   Priest da Nomad is one of these formidable MCs who has kept the torch lit.   This is his story in historical, musicological and anthropological context

By looking at hip hop historically and culturally, the text investigates the apparent links between the Africanisms that exist in all other forms of Afro-Diasporic expressions such as jazz, blues, reggae, calypso, Latin Music and compares and contrasts them with hip hop.   Most intriguingly, however, the text takes a musicological approach to understanding hip hop through rhythmic transcription and syllabic analysis.

This text is full of information and fresh perspectives and is sure to be a sought after reference for hip hop scholars and lay-readers alike.

The book is available at:

www.clspublications.com

www.trafford.com

www.karibubooks.com

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A Jazz Mass

The CD is available for purchase.  

Visit our website: www.thewesgroup.com

and purchase the CD through our secure connection with PayPal.

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Under the direction of Dr. William Smith, Assistant Professor of Music at American University, The W.E.S. Group performs A Jazz Mass:   the liturgy of the worship service framed in a jazz setting with vocal interpretation of the traditional text and improvisational expression of the reverent mood.

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The CD is available at:

www.thewesgroup.com

www.karibubooks.com

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Experience the Episcopal and Catholic Liturgy in a lush jazz arrangement that will invigorate your spirit and warm your heart.

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If you have interest in sponsoring a presentation of the mass at your church please contact us at 202-526-5929 or by email at info@thewesgroup.com .   If you know of any other congregations that would like to present this work, please let us know and we will contact them as well.

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