Tonight is the Giant Step Annual Holiday party of 2009, with music from Turntables on the Hudson and Melting Pot Global. 7pm to midnight, free with RSVP. See you there!

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Check out Danny North's interview with Tommy T to learn a little bit about the inspiration behind The Prester John Sessions and enjoy the view from above. Also head over to SoundRoots.org for their CD review.

From the first second to the last downbeat, the band played nonstop. There were no pauses, there was no break. Raphael Saadiq was flying a fully packed time machine to the ’60s, and it was a smooth ride. If you missed it here are a few pictures that captured the feeling.

On their 2010 debut for A&M/Octone records, Paper Tongues embraces elements of rock, funk, rap and soul. Guitarist Devin Forbes says, "Our music is extremely eclectic because we're all coming from different places. Aswan grew up with hip hop, Clayton grew up with electronica and I grew up with rock, but it all comes together fluidly in Paper Tongues."

Working on Ride To California with producers Brian West (Nelly Furtado, K'Naan, Bela Fleck), Mark Endert (Maroon 5, Gavin DeGraw, Madonna), John Fields (Switchfoot, Jimmy Eat World), Billy Hume (Ying Yang Twins, Bone Crusher, David Banner) and up-and-coming producer, Nicolas Balachandran, Paper Tongues have crafted an album that's bustling with energy. Ultimately, for Aswan and company, Paper Tongues is a way of life. "We want fans to walk away from our music with that good feeling. We think our music can bring healing for a group of people, a society, bad politics and artists that feel hopeless. Paper Tongues' music should heal you and make you take a chance again."

Preview the music here: papertongues.ning.com

Tomorrow at 7pm, National Geographic Live presents a one-of-a-kind evening with some of hip-hop's most legendary figures. The event will feature Nas and Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley in a discussion about the often under-appreciated evolution of and deep-rooted connections between reggae and hip-hop.

Hip-hop, now a multibillion-dollar industry, originated as a vital form of cultural expression in Africa that was translocated by the slave trade to the Caribbean and the American colonies. It blossomed a half century ago in the dance halls of Kingston, Jamaica, and soon migrated to the parks jams and recreational centers of New York City, where the culture became known as hip-hop. This evolution forms the basis of the Distant Relatives music project, a collaborative effort by Marley and Nas, which will comprise of an album set for release in early 2010, a documentary film, performances and a series of public discussions.

Joining Nas and Marley for this conversation, moderated by MTV VJ Sway, will be key players in the development of both musical genres, including Kool Herc, Rakim, Daddy U-Roy, King Jammy, Jeff Chang, Pat McKay, Waterflow and DJ Red Alert.

You can watch the event live streaming here.
Saturday 12, 7pm EST