With a devoted fanbase, countless live recordings, and the will to tour the country year round, Ohio-based jammers The Werks have established themselves as a staple in the jam world over the last decade, and have recently announced a special late-night show on April 29th at Howlin Wolf in New Orleans during Jazz Fest. The group will perform in The Den at the Wolf before, during, and after sets from Break Science Live Band and The Russ Liquid Test, plus purchasing a ticket for Break Science lets you access both sides of the venue (get tickets here).With the recent release of their latest LP, Magic, The Werks have continued to evolve sonically and from a songwriting perspective. Drummer Rob Chafin discussed the band’s latest effort, saying, “This is a recording of the music that’s in our souls. . . . In a way, the past decade has been leading to this moment. We play and write together so seamlessly now. We’re able to channel the inspiration in our hearts out into our instruments and come at this from a pure place.”[courtesy of FunkItBlog]Break Science has deep roots in the rich musical culture of New York City, and Adam Deitch and Borahm Lee’s music mimics the city’s diversity as they blend elements of hip-hop, dub, jazz, and trip-hop effortlessly to create their unique sound. With Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff, Eric “Jesus” Coomes, Eric “Benny” Bloom, and Ryan Zoidis of Lettuce rounding out the live band lineup, Break Science’s music will be elevated to another level for this special late-night Jazz Fest performance.EXCLUSIVE: Adam Deitch on Break Science Live Band, Voltron-level Lettuce, His Jazz Quartet, DRKWAV, and the Next Generation of NOLA Drummers, and MoreWith the October release of the 80’s-infused electro/funk album 1984, The Russ Liquid Test continues their exploration of modern dance music, all the while keeping their New Orleans vibe alive and well. Russ Liquid teams up with producer and accomplished brass player Russell Scott, guitarist Andrew Block, and drummer Deven Trusclair to deliver a groove-oriented sound that evokes classic funk/soul/R&B stylings, but with its own futuristic spin.[courtesy of Davon Johnson]With Break Science, The Russ Liquid Test, and The Werks, their lineup is a guaranteed recipe for a serious late-night get-down. Together, these groups will bring the non-stop vibes to you on Saturday, April 29 at the Howlin’ Wolf. Tickets for this special late-night performance are currently on-sale here. For show updates and additional information, join the Facebook event page here.[cover photo courtesy of Greg Homolka Photography] read more

To access this article REGISTER NOWWould you like print copies, app and digital replica access too? SUBSCRIBE for as little as £5 per week. Would you like to read more?Register for free to finish this article.Sign up now for the following benefits:Four FREE articles of your choice per monthBreaking news, comment and analysis from industry experts as it happensChoose from our portfolio of email newsletters

Newsroom GuidelinesNews TipsContact UsReport an Error Those on the inside insist it was pretty darned boring.“I feel like I need to come up with a better story,” Paul said Friday at Clippers media day. “Because the truth isn’t good enough.”Said Jordan: “We just had a sit-down to tell them I was going to be in a Clipper uniform this year.”Or, as Griffin explained: “I always hear this over and over, and I always stress the same thing: I don’t think the situation and the things that people see from the outside are quite the same as how we feel about each other. We’re all very close and we’re all in this together, and I don’t think there was any moment in Houston where we had to sit down and clear the air. We just talked. We told DJ this is why we’d love to play with you.” The bottom line is, it all worked out.“I’m not in Dallas. I’m in Los Angeles with the Clippers and these guys, I’m going to be here for a very long time and we’re going to be here a very long time,” Jordan said. “All I’m concerned about is us getting better as a unit.” The Clippers, on paper anyway, are a better team today then the one that fell one game short of reaching the Western Conference finals last season.And as they gathered Friday at media day, it was impossible not to look at all the talent they’ve assembled and pencil them in as a legitimate threat to dethrone the Golden State Warriors.I like the feel and the vibe around our organization and our team right now,” Rivers said. “This is clearly the most talent that we’ve had since I’ve been here. I don’t even think it’s close. We’re deep and we’re multi-positional, and that was the goal going into the summer. It gives us more options when you have injuries, which you’re going to have during the season.”“With our versatility, we should be able to match up with about anyone. It’s a good collection of guys, and now we just have to figure out how we’re going to use it all. We have a lot of ball handlers, and I think that will make us better than worse, honestly. But we have to be a better defensive team.”No matter how turbulent the lead-up was to Friday — the epic playoff collapse against the Houston Rockets and the drama of the breakup and eventual reunion with Jordan — everyone arrived safely.Whatever beef Jordan had with Paul — as was widely speculated in the aftermath of the post-season crash and burn — sure seemed squashed as they sat together with Blake Griffin on Friday at Clippers media day, laughing and carrying on like three college buddies getting together for Happy Hour.“These guys are my brothers. I talk to them every day,” Jordan said, “Yeah, there’s times that we bump heads on the court, but five minutes later, we’re good because it’s constructive, it’s for the right reasons: We want to win.”We’ll probably never know what really went down that night in Houston.But this much we do know: It saved the Clippers’ future. We’ll probably never know what really went down that crazy night in Houston last July. Or how close DeAndre Jordan really was to leaving the Clippers, or how truly deep his supposed fallout was with Chris Paul.And from the outside looking in — almost literally — it sure seemed like a Clippers contingency of Paul, Blake Griffin, Doc Rivers and Paul Pierce, among others, commandeered Jordan’s Houston home, locked all the doors and held him against his will until he officially signed a new long-term contract.And in the process, kept him out of the hands of the Dallas Mavericks while talking through the various issues, problems and conflicts that prompted Jordan to even contemplate leaving the Clippers for the Mavericks in the first place.The Clippers could not afford to lose Jordan. No way, no how. He means too much to them and carries too much clout for a team with legitimate championship aspirations. With Jordan in the fold, the Clippers have a chance to beat any team in the league in a seven-game series.Without him, they are a middle-of-the-pack team in the power-packed Western Conference.So yeah, it behooved them to be there in Houston and never let him out of their sight until he signed the contract.It all seemed so dramatic at the time. Like some real-life scene out of Key Largo playing out minute by minute over social media.From the outside, anyway. read more

FILE PHOTO: Cristiano RonaldoPorto, Portugal | AFP | Portugal’s meeting with the Netherlands to decide the first ever winners of the Nations League on Sunday sees the unstoppable force of Cristiano Ronaldo face the immovable object in Virgil van Dijk.Ronaldo sat out the early stages of UEFA’s new competition to save his 34-year-old legs for his first season at Juventus, but returned in time to ride to the host nation’s rescue once more in Wednesday’s semi-final against Switzerland.The Swiss enjoyed the better of the game in Porto, but the five-time world player of the year was lethal in scoring his 53rd career hat-trick with three exquisite finishes.“It’s the preparation – my work ethic. I still feel good despite being 34 years of age,” Ronaldo told UEFA.com.“The most important thing is your head, to feel motivated and happy, and to follow my path as a player, because I think I still have a lot to give.”Portugal’s run to the last four without their all-time record top goalscorer showed why hopes are high the European champions will remain a force even when Ronaldo does eventually depart the international scene.The talent of Bernardo Silva, Joao Felix, Ruben Neven and Bruno Fernandes among others promises much, but Ronaldo remains Portugal’s X-factor.“We know sometimes it is impossible to have good defending against Cristiano Ronaldo,” said the Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman.“I think the best that we can do is keeping the ball, to have good ball possession because when we have the ball he can do nothing in attack.”– Van Dijk transformative –However, Koeman is blessed with the man most capable of keeping Ronaldo quiet in world football at the moment in Van Dijk.The world’s most expensive defender has more than justified his £75 million ($95 million) price tag since swapping Southampton for Liverpool 18 months ago.His transformative effect has brought back the glory days at Anfield, capped by winning the Champions League last weekend.And now Van Dijk is also leading his country back to where they belong as a European powerhouse after failing to even qualify for the last two major tournaments. Koeman boasted about having the best central defensive partnership in Europe even before the tournament with Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt lining up alongside Van Dijk.Yet, while the 19-year-old may well succeed his skipper as the world’s most expensive defender in the coming weeks, Holland’s 3-1 semi-final victory over England showed why he is not yet the finished article.De Ligt’s error in conceding a first half penalty could have cost his side a place in the final.Van Dijk was first to console his young teammate and that assurance helped De Ligt to atone in perfect fashion as he scored the Dutch’s equaliser before easing past an error-strewn England in extra-time.Ronaldo may be keen for revenge against De Ligt as he also scored the winner when Ajax shocked Juventus in the Champions League quarter-finals this season.Despite the Italian champions’ elimination, Ronaldo scored his side’s two goals in that tie.But he is yet to net when faced with the more imposing and composed figure of Van Dijk.In their only two previous meetings, Real Madrid beat Liverpool in last season’s Champions League final thanks to two calamitous goalkeeping errors from Loris Karius and a wonder goal from Gareth Bale in what proved to be Ronaldo’s last ever game for the Spanish giants.The last time the two nations met, it was Van Dijk who was on target in a 3-0 friendly win for the Netherlands last March.A five-time Ballon d’Or and Champions League winner, who has also won league titles in England, Spain and Italy, there is little left for Ronaldo to prove.Yet, the chance to win an international tournament on home soil and avenge the pain of defeat in the Euro 2004 final as hosts will not come round again.Fifteen years on, Portugal’s hopes still rely Ronaldo rising to the challenge of overcoming the world’s best defender.Share on: WhatsApp read more

During Wednesday’s press conference Gov. Ron DeSantis announced he will be signing an executive stay at home order for the state of Florida.All Floridians are to stay at home unless they are doing essential activities.“I’m going to be doing an executive order directing all Floridians to limit movements and personal interactions outside the home to only those necessary to obtain or provide essential services or conduct essential activities,” DeSantis announced.