Smokin Jo Plays Cream's Christmas Party At C2 In Brighton
Published 5th Dec 2002 by Alison@c2

Saturday 7th Dec Cream Xmas Party. Smokin' Jo The Queen of Ibiza clubbing + Paul Hillyer (Southern FM) + Louis Edwards (Sony Minidisc Cream Resident 2003). 10.30pm - late. ?10 + bf in advance.

There was a day when ravers didn?t really care who was djing as long as the music was constantly pumping. Slowly the anonymous disc spinners became overnight legends, musicians, magicians and icons to be worshipped. When Trade fist opened their doors in 1991 to the all night twitchers, the resident jocks were ellevated to pop star status, they were the subjects of chill out gossip, and copies of their mix tapes were priceless testimonies to the ellusive sounds of a Sunday morning at the club. Before smoking Jo became a National name that many clubs wanted gracing their decks and flyers she became infamous for playing a record that nearly got her the sack. The track was Michael Jacksons Black or White which she dropped in the middle of one of her house sets. The club went wild, but the promoter went mad; he could deal with snatch of vocals but had to draw there line at a Jackson jingle. She became notorious overnight, for taking a risk and nearly playing the price.

Jo started her djing career after noticing a distinct lack of women behind the decks. She wanted to be one of the first. After buying some decks for her birthday in February 91 and practicing for a few months, Jo was lucky enough to get a set at Trade after one of the djs fell ill. After that first night Jo was given a residency which lasted 2 and a half years. Her uplifting, soulful, funky house style insured her a solid following. The name came from boxer Smoking Joe Frasier and from a wish not be hampered by a name that would be obviously female, as back then it was seen as a novelty.

Jo went on from Trade to become a regular Cream, Pushca, the MOS, Renaissance, Progress, Sign of the Times, and Miss Moneypennies; she also played for the infamous Boyzone, Betty ford Clinic Tribal Gathering to which she owes one of her most memorable experiences " Djing to 30,000 people all with their hands in the air was the most amazing feeling in the world".

Smokin Jo?s talent behind the decks has made her Internationally renowned as the one who is guaranteed to get the party started. This has led to bookings all over the world to play in places such as Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, USA, a tour of Austarlia, Russia and all over Europe not to mention regular trips to Ibiza each summer to play at Space, Pasha, Es paradis, el Divinio and Privilidge. This year Jo has a residency at Mannumission / Trade for the whole summer at Privilige in Ibiza, where her uplifting vocals sunrise sets are already becoming notorious with the likes of Danny Rampling, and Danny Tenaglia coming down to dance the night away.Danny Tenaglia describes her Dj-ing as "Awesome!"

Jo?s international credibility has led her to work alongside numerous celebrities:Dj-ing at the Pet Shop Boys end of tour party. Grace Jone?s concert,Skunk Anansie?s album launch party,Alexander McQueen and Michiko Koshino after show parties and top billing next to Todd Terry at the Albert Hall. Smokin? Jo is still the only female Dj to win the highly coveted award of"DJ OF THE YEAR".

These days any over-paid person with a pair of Technics under his/her arm can ?build a profile? in Min-Mix-Dj-Muzik-mag,but .But a book,that?s something else entirely! A book by one of the masters of American fiction has it?s deranged charcters name-drop you, well that lasts for ever.That Brett Easton-Ellis decided to refer to Smokin? Jo in his high octane thriller ?Glammarama? is proof of her cool credibility. Numerous articles have been written about Jo and her face has graced magazines such as
Interview(USA), Glamour(France), Moda(Italy). The SundayTimes,The Independent, Sky ,Mixmag and DJ. She recently had her photo taken by Rankin,photographer to the stars for Marie-Claire.Jo also featured in a huge billboard campaign for Sega video game"Mortal Combat".

Jo?s life on the road has meant she has played every major club in the UK but has found time to over the years to produce numerous remixes, ; these include the unforgettable "Make You Whole"by Andronicus,"High" by Hyper Go-Go and "Seduction" by Chrome Seduction.She has also recorded her own tracks under the name ?Bulletproof? for Ministry of Sound and ?Rude Culture? on Black Sunshine,Ashley Beedles label. Recent releases include remixes for Skunk Anansies chart topping ?Charlie Big Potatoe?,Dealers Da Funk on Sub-Lime,Dj Alan Thompson?s label and ?Bean Hut? on Remote with fellow Dj Malcom Duffy of Trade fame.

Apart from her usual hectic worldwide Dj schedule and residency for Defected @ Ministry Of Sound on Saturdays Jo flew off in November to New York to play with Erick Morillo at his night at Centrofly and was asked personally by Danny Tenaglia to play alongside him at his own night at Vinyl. She is in the process signing a development deal with Defected Records , which means she will be producing tracks , mixing CDs and playing at tour dates including WMC 2001. Storm model agency have taken her on their books in the celebrity section alongside Robbie Williams and All Saints , MTV have booked Jo to present and DJ on their snowboarding show "Snowball". Recent press has seen Jo voted No 26 in Elle magazines Hot 100 for 2001, Front cover of Hot Ticket?s Stars for 2001 edition, pieces in Ministry and 7 magazine " those who are going to be big this year" and Muzik mag have also done a two page spread on Jo for their March edition . Recently Jo has just finished two slammin tracks with house don Erick Kupper producing. Playing alongside David Morale?s at Pasha Ibiza last summer- Dave?s reaction to Jo? set was to say "Girl you are hot". Need we say more..watch this space !!

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