Maiesha &
The Hip-Huggers
Saturday, October 11, after having our share of the "Taste of DC," we took a ride up Georgia Avenue to a club called Bailey’s Café & Grill. Word had been circulating throughout the community that Maiesha & The Hip-Huggers had been performing there every Saturday night for the past year. We had already heard the scoop on this go-go flavored 70s retro act, such as, how not only do they perform the hits we all know and love from the 70s but how they actually dress in 70s gear and set a total 70s mood. Still, we had no idea just how much we would enjoy ourselves – that is until they took the stage. Let me paint the scene a little here. Bailey’s (formally TJ Remington’s) is a black-owned, upscale restaurant/club located at 1100 Wayne Avenue, directly across from the Silver Spring metro station. Stepping into the club, we were immediately snagged by the artistic clique, as the band were already swinging in old school soul jams that captured the raw elements of go-go (which in essence actually modifies the raw essence of the old school soul jams). At this point, the Hip-Huggers were basically drifting in first gear of their show which was led being led by Gregory ‘Sugar Bear’ Elloitt. Mostly known for his band EU and the hit single "Doing The Butt," Sugar Bear directed the group through a string of "oldies but goodies" arousing people at the bar to stroll towards the dance floor, while at the same time enticing the ones dining to settle their meals. The main course was unmistakably on the stage. The grooves began to glide into our bones, as the band took us back down memory lane refining our souls with hits like, "Before I Let Go," "Slippin’ Into Darkness" and "Fly Like An Eagle." The Hip-Huggers ultimately gained the assurance of everybody’s attention – that was when she stepped on the stage. With class and a smile -- from head to toe in 70s style, Maiesha grabbed the mike and shifted into second gear as the band followed her lead into party hits, such as, the Jackson Five’s, "I Want You Back," the Chaka Khan’s "Tell Me Something Good," and Chery Lynn’s "To Be Real." That did it! The moment her vocals poured out the speakers and waltzed into our ears, we knew right then and there that the best was yet to come. By this time, everybody was on the floor. Some people were singing along with her, while others simply kept their mouths hushed and let their feet do the talking. Regardless of how each person decided react, it was obvious that to stand in one spot wasn’t the option. However, that wasn’t enough. After pouring out her heart and soul with (my favorite) "Baby Love" by Mother’s Finest, Maiesha shifted into the third gear – the slow jams. Just as we have grown up in this community hearing a string of slow jams run, Maisha things off with Smokey Robinson’s "Quiet Storm." Then, she slid into "Betcha’ Bye Golly Wow," Now, that tune there was a ‘smoker’. Maiesha’s seductive voice range soothed gently into the atmosphere and reminded us all of the special gift we had in Phyllis Hyman. "That was my girl," said Maiesha, who has been likened to the late great singer. "She was my favorite singer. I studied her style while in high school."
With such an all-star cast, how could it go wrong? The fact that she has some of the greatest musicians to come out of the go-go community, how can it not be tight? She met drummer Ju-Ju House (EU, presently on tour with Roberta Flack) who sat in one night and "after playing so phenomenally" became a regular drummer when not on tour. Shortly thereafter, the band’s original bass player had to leave the group. That’s when Ju-Ju introduced Maiesha to Sugar Bear, whose personality, style and professionalism immediately won her heart. Ju-Ju also introduced Maiesha to vocalist, Juney (EU) while doing a gig at the Republic Gardens. "Juney is a tremendous asset to the Hip-Huggers,"
said Maiesha. "He not only sings lead and background, but plays congas
as well." (Must be the go-go in him.) While Ju-Ju is not presently ‘kickin’
the drums for Maiesha at the moment, that didn’t stop the strong force
of go-go to come across her path. Soon as Ju-Ju stepped off, in came
"Ricky, whom everyone knows has played for Chuck Brown and Miles Davis, recently returned from a tour with Carlos Santana," explained Maiesha. "He has been playing with me for almost a year now." So, between Ju-Ju and Ricky, the Hip-Huggers have two of the best drummers to come out of the community. Other members of the Hip-Huggers are guitarist Tony Cothran and keyboardist Cherie Mitchell. Tony, who is definitely an attention grabber with his dynamic riffs and chord progressions, has played with Melba Moore, Stephanie Mills and Lloyd Price to name a few. "He and I hooked up five years ago," said Maiesha. "That was during the time we played Manhattan’s in Georgetown as a duo. He also toured Europe with me in the winter of ’95." Cherie, who also plays keyboards with Maiesha’s
other all-female jazz-fusion group, Maiesha Rashad with Lavender Rain,
graduated from Howard University in ’94 and has also played with Jean Carn
and Tonya Blount.
With such an all-star cast feeling up one stage, there was no way I going to let it end there. We went tot the following Saturday, then, the Saturday after that. Not once were we disappointed. In fact, when there was someone missing on stage, they were still covered. "We are a self contained group," says Maiesha. "The quality of musicianship is so professional that one of our musicians could be absent from the stage and the group would still carry on." Maiesha adds, "Other musicians who we have had the pleasure of sharing the stage with are leader guitarist Tino (EU, Gloria Estefan) who fills in for Tony, Ivan Goff (EU) who fills in for Cherie, and on congas, Mo (Chuck Brown, Little Benny) and Little Beats (Redds & The Boys) and, on Sugar Bears birthday, we had Little Benny and the Godfather himself, Chuck Brown come on stage with us! That was a thrilling experience!" I might also add that when we entered the club last week, I spotted keyboardist Louie Oxley (Chuck Brown, Bits & Pieces). Man! I can’t wait to see what’s ahead for next week’s show.
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What would you get if you were to put together
on one stage, the go-go flavor and excitement of Experience Unlimited,
the funky rhythmic pockets of Chuck Brown’s Soul Searchers, blended behind
the blazing sounds of sultry female vocalist, Maiesha Rashad, with a potent
vocabulary of music history?
Maiesha
Rashad, the multi-talented, singer, writer and producer who has been singing
since the age of 7 and writing at age 14, started this flamboyant group
just one and a half years ago when she decided to do a one-time 70s show
at Takoma Station. "People enjoyed the show so much," says Maiesha, "that
I just continued the 70s theme for future gigs."