DaKAH Hip-Hop Orchestra goes off

By Desdemona Bandini
On-line Forty-Niner

The orchestra pit emerges from the dark of the dimming house lights to shine in a warm glow like a pearl in a clam, smack dab in the center of the new home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the new Disney Concert Hall.

Emerging from the spot light a young man a tuxedo with long dark hair in two French braids rolling down his back announced, "It's DaKAH ya'all.  My name is Double G and let's make some noise!  Don't worry about turning off your cell phones, because your not gonna hear them anyway!"

When the crowd saw the conductor Double G and the 23 classically trained bohemian musicians getting down led by two DJ's dropping beats they erupted into loud applause. The crowd was a mixture of hip bar-hoppers, funkadelic souls, and happening divas. Definitely not your grandparents' night out at the symphony. The shouts and hooting expressed the energy and excitement of the young creative artists ready to take the more traditionally used stage and turn it into their own thing.

This is the experimental musical fusion of DaKAH led by Double G. Founded in 1999 by a diverse group of young funky hip-hop loving musicians, DaKAH united the classically trained, self taught, freestyle, jazz and contemporary artists to create one unique orchestra accompanied by DJ's and their turntables, house singers, MC's and beatboxers.  This isn't P. Diddy's hip-hop.

This is tradional old school with covers of classics by Gang Starr, The Roots, Parliament and sounds reminiscent of the The Brand New Heavies and The Pharcyde.

The house singers and MC's really made it that much cooler.  If you have never heard or seen violinists grooving and moving while playing P-Funk, do not despair.  Although this performance was for one night, a smaller version of the orchestra plays regularly at the Temple Bar in Los Angeles.

More information and CD's can be bought at http://www.dakah.com.