Friday Night at Zentra Nightclub has always been dedicated to Music.  Jack Fridays concentrates our main dance floor to Chicago’s own style, Jackin' House Music.  Over the years we have managed to bring in the largest deejay talent the world has to offer, layering it with the best local Chicago talent.  In our main lounge area we start it off with some old school House, slowing it down to Hip Hop to finish out the remainder of the night.  In our VIP Lounge we feature Chance.LocalChicago, a program that showcases only local up & coming talent.  This smaller room features all areas of music; House, D&B, Techno, Break Beat, Hip Hop, etc.  Last, but surely not least, our outdoor patio garden, for a hint of fresh air or a break from any type of music.  Friday Nights has always been a perfectly, well-rounded theme of music… Something for everyone.  ATTENTION : We recently added a ALL NEW LIGHTING SYSTEM WITH UPGRADED SOUND on the 2nd Floor Main Room and a FUNKTION ONE SOUND SYSTEM on the 1st Floor.  Check it out!!!



Friday July 4th, 2008
INDENDANCE DAY PARTY

Behind the Decks
Cajmere aka Green Velvet
Featuring
Lego
New Jack Resident Launch Party

House Arrest  Events Residents  
Lego   Dysqo    E&G

Chance.LocalChicago Lounge
Artist TBA

Light Jockey
Josh Zeitler (Blue J)

3 Rooms of Sound
HouseMusic | HipHop | Classics | MashUps

Cajmere Biography
Green Velvet (aka Cajmere) studied chemical engineering at the University of Illinois, where he exposed himself to the energetic culture and lifestyle of house. In 1991, midway though graduate school, Cajmere returned to Chicago to pursue his dream of producing house music.  In 1992, after surviving on cheese sandwiches and maximizing credit limits, Cajmere finally made an imprint on the dance community with his infectious experiment, "Coffee Pot" (It's Time for the Percolator) – Clubhouse Records. Then he moved on to more complex musical and lyrical arrangements with songs like Lidell Townsell's "Get With U" (Mercury Records).

The Cajmere and Dajae collaboration resulted in a #2 Billboard Dance Chart and International dance hit - "Brighter Days". It was at this point that Cajmere decided to start Cajual Records. Having his own label gave Cajmere the autonomy to attain his goal of developing a sound that was representative of Chicago - thus, putting Chicago back on the map. In 1993 Cajmere created Relief Records. The label became an outlet for he and other producers' more track-oriented work.

The Relief label also gave birth to the experimental and eccentric, afro wig-wearing entity we know as Green Velvet - a Cajmere alter ego. Green Velvet produced the first release on the Relief label, "Preacher Man." He followed up the debut release with "Flash" and "The Stalker", both of which brought about unexpected praise and worldwide recognition. In 1997, Green Velvet's attempt to combine 80s electronic funk with Chicago's cult of a perfect track led to his creation, "Answering Machine" - with the more humorous but rather contagious hook - "I don't need this shit!" For 1999 Green Velvet has crafted "Constant Chaos", an electronic trip over a lyrical landscape or as Green Velvet muses in a recent Muzik interview, "I guess it's sorta like folk music for the rave scene."

Among his original material, Grant put out numerous remixes on labels such as Guidance, Deep Soul and Silk Entertainment between 1997 and 2000. The distinctive "Jazzy Kinda Sum'n" on Cyclo Records was licensed far and wide. From Ben Watt's "Lazy Dog" continuous mix CD to the Café Del Mar ChillHouse mix CD, "Jazzy" made the tracklists of no less than six international mix compilations.  And although Grant has developed a standout production resume, he notes he still enjoys performing live.  "I've always loved DJing, because I love music," he notes. "DJing allows me to extend my creativity on top of the creativity that is already in the songs, through programming and technique. Also, it's a very good feeling for an audience to appreciate what you do."  In 2001 Grant took his production career in a fresh new direction by joining forces with famed San Francisco house label Om Records. Home to celebrated artist Mark Farina, the label is known worldwide for its top-quality house releases. Grant's first release for the label was 2001's, "Sound Design V2". As part of a continuous mix series following Sound Design V1 with LA's Marques Wyatt, the CD runs the full spectrum of house, weaving deftly into the mix influences ranging from jazzed-up, funky vocals to slow, moody house and Latin-tinged beats.   Showing no signs of stopping in 2002, Grant offers the original vocal, "Hey You" on OM Records as well as the track, "MG's Groove" for Los Angeles imprint, Deep Funk Records, both slated for Fall releases.  As his original material, remixes, and CDs continue to be released to global acceptance and praise, Grant remains a very popular subject with the electronic music press. The topic of numerous features in some of electronic music's most respected print outlets - URB, Mixmag, DMA and BPM, to name a few. Grant has also been profiled in several Web media outlets including GROOVEPARLOR.COM  Grant's newest project is the formation of his own record label, Blackstone Recordings. With the label still in the planning stages, Grant plans to continue his rigorous production schedule and extensive world touring.  "I love to spread mylove for House music," he says simply. "I love to share it with an audience."

Lego Biography
Inspired by his family and the surroundings of Chicago's Latino community of Logan Square, Rafael Rodriguez, Lego, committed himself to music at an early age. His career began when he was 19 years old with his first club residency at Kaboom. Kaboom led to his 9-year (and still going strong) residency at Red Dog's "Boom Boom Room", one of the longest running nights in Chicago club history. Red Dog gave Lego the musical freedom that he needed to gain respect from his peers and fans alike. Being part of a night that has received worldwide attention opened the doors to production. Drawing from a wide spectrum of musical tastes (Latin Jazz, Jazz, Hip Hop, R & B, Salsa, Meringue, House, Disco and Funk) and influenced by Chicago's DJ legends (Frankie Knuckles, Ralphi Rosario, Farley "Jackmaster" Funk, and Edward "Get Down" Crosby), Lego pursued his musical passion.