A collection of sets from some of my all time favorite djs hailing from Orlando, FL - USA or Early International DJs playin in the US for the first time (Sasha & Digweed) in the heyday of the full blown rave decade that was the 90s. Good times were had by all. We were lucky to have been apart of it. If you we there then you surely know what a special time it was and these sets are sure to inspire memories of late nights that often bled into the next morning.

Orlando, Fl -  DJ Legends (Aahz, The Abyss, The Edge, Firestone, Simon's)

break mixes

Had a great time playing out live at the old Edge Venue in Orlando on 9/17, now the Ace Cafe.  Got to dj the patio for my buddy DJ Soundamind's 50th Bday bash.  Here is my set track listing.   Modern tracks with a 90's vibe influence.

1. Shan - One Day (Earth Trax Remix)
2. Budakid, Ester Veen - Surga
3. Jody Wisternoff , James Grant, Boxer - Sunkissed (Extended Mix)
4. Iglesias - Where?
5. Tommy Farrow - Let’s Just (Extended Mix)
6. Duke Dumont - Therapy (Franky Wah Mix)
7. Marsh, Leo Wood - My Strips Featuring Leo Wood (Braxton and 
8. Martin Badder - Coming Back to You (Extended Mix)
9. Kendal - Basorexia 
10. Richie Blacker - 2 Late 4 Love

Grade - E - Live Set At Ace Cafe Orlando, Soundamind's 50th

Nothing like 2 years in between episodes.  While I still have been mixing all the  time  I haven't recorded a set outside of a guest mix for Joe Wink's Broken Essence. Which you can listen to here:  https://soundcloud.com/mr_wink/joe-winks-broken-essence-104-featuring-grade-e

And the live set I did at Ace Cafe: https://soundcloud.com/grade-e/grade-e-live-set-at-ace-cafe-orlando-soundaminds-50th

Episode 4 of BCB was definitely inspired by Joe's set he played the week I guest mixed. That set has been one of my favorites of 2022.  My set is a bit of a  throw back sound to a much earlier two-part series I did in the early 2000's called "BreakTrancing." Some of my DC friends may remember those tapes.  Getting breaks remixes was a bit of rarity back then and I was one of the few playing those remixes. I made a mix  of tracks that  straddled breaks and trance that was popular at that time.

This set will hopefully get your toes tapping. Grab a coffee and join me. 

Tracklisting:
1.  Private  / Taste  (Ashtrax  Ambient  Mix)
2. Bod Diana Miro  / Underwater (Sasha Carrasi Mix)
3. Hexadecimal  /The End
4. Richie Blacker / Atlantis
5. Selsi / Dust (Framework Electro Breaks Remix)
6. Olan / Contra 
7. Bicep  /  X  (feat. Clara  La  San)
8. Framewerk / Yeke Yeke  Rewerk  (Dub)
9. Flume , Emma Louise / Hollow  (Logic 1000 Remix)
10. Rochelle Jordan / Situation (&Me Remix)
11. Noel  Sanger / Falling  Upward
12. Diplo, Damian Lazarus / Don’t Be Afraid (DJ  Tennis  Remix)

Black Coffee Breaks - Episode 4

My latest Black Coffee Breaks mix, now up to Episdoe 5. A fresh serving of 90's inspired breakbeats, groove laden melodies with a bit of a melancholy tone that works so well in dance music. Maybe it's all the minor keys. 

All tracks are from the summer months of 2023, but it's amazing to me how much of a 90's revival is happening in the breaks scene these days. Recycled drums loops, pianos galore, but the bpms  have come down a bit. 

Tracklisting
1.  Framewerk - Mercury and Solace
2. John Gurd & Reset Robot - Ashen
3. Arlan - Flow through the canyon (Ran Kaler Remix)
4. Because of Art  - Circle of Light
5. Sasha  & Because of Art - Fused
6. Tim French - Veritas (Truth)
7. Matin HERRS - Do we love each other
8. Jeremy Olander - Hollow Halls
9. Matty Right - Realisation 
10. Digital Base & Andy Vibes - Darling
11. Ranj Kaler - Recovery

Black Coffee Breaks - Episode 5

Date: Saturday, November 26, 1994.
Time: The event was an all-night marathon, typically running from 9:00 PM to Noon the following day. Can you imagine that happening today? No. :

Venue: The Edge (More recently known as Ace Cafe), located at 70 North Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL. This venue was a former movie theater converted into a multi-level club and was the epicenter of the Florida Breaks movement. 

Lineup & Artists
Energy 2 was notable for combining high-energy DJ sets with live electronic performances:
Live Performances: Two bands from England performed live on stage, including Mix Factory (known for the anthem "Take Me Away") and Mother All Funked Up, both MASSIVE Orlando Anthems at this time.

DJ Lineup: The event featured legendary local and regional talent on the turntables, including:
DJ Icey: A pioneer of the "Florida Breaks" sound.
Baby Anne: Who began her career at The Edge.
Kimball Collins: A central figure in the Orlando scene known for his sets at nearby Aahz.
D-Xtreme (RIP)  and other local favorites. 

Vibe & Atmosphere
The Crowd: Attendees often wore "retro hippie-disco-surf wear," baseball caps, and sock-hats with tassels. The culture was defined dancing, glow sticks, and a sense of "group consciousness" and happiness. No phones was an absolute good thing on many levels.

The Music: The night focused heavily on high-energy Breaks and House music, with heavy basslines that "you could feel in your bones".

Visuals: The Edge was famous for its dark, black-lit interior, cinder-block DJ booths, and immersive visual effects.

Non-Alcoholic Focus: Typical of the 1990s rave scene, the bars focused on "smart drinks"—vitamin-packed concoctions of amino acids—rather than alcohol.  Interesting. ;)

Energy 2 Rave /  November 1994 / Orlando, Fl

In 1995, Passion 2 at The Edge in Orlando was a definitive moment for the Florida rave scene, occurring during what many consider its "Golden Age." While the Energy Rave series later became synonymous with 1994, Passion 2 helped cement the Orlando-Tampa-Jacksonville corridor as the world capital of "Breakbeat" and high-energy warehouse vibes.

The Event Profile

Venue: The Edge (Downtown Orlando - More recently Ace Cafe)

Year:  Sept of 1995

Theme: The "Passion" series was focused on the intersection of European progressive trance and the burgeoning Florida breakbeat sound.

The Vibe: Unlike the more commercialized club nights of the late 90s, Passion 2 was an authentic underground takeover. The club was transformed with massive scaffolding, UV-reactive tapestries, and "brain machines" (early light-sound synchronization) in chill-out areas.

The Sound: The arrival of Florida Breaks

1995 was the specific year when the "Orlando Sound" separated itself from the rest of the world. At Passion 2, you would have heard a distinct mix of:

UK Hardcore & Breakbeats: Heavy influence from British labels like Moving Shadow, but played at a slightly slower BPM that allowed for more "funky" breaks coming from Icey and his burgeoning label Zone.

The Kimball Collins Influence: As as the Orlando OG and resident at Aahz, Collins was the king of "House" before it splintered off into it many sub-genres. His set at Passion 2 were legendary for their emotional builds and "anthemic" feel.

DJ Icey: This was the period where DJ Icey was transitioning from a local favorite to a breakbeat icon. His set at these parties were the blueprints for the early Florida Breaks sound that he pioneered.

Key Highlights

The International Connection: These parties were famous for being the first U.S. stops for iconic acts. Just around this time (July 1993), The Dust Brothers (who later became The Chemical Brothers) played their first-ever U.S. gig at The Edge, setting the stage for the massive scale of Passion 2.

The Cultural Impact: This event occurred well before the "Rave Act" or the 1997 Orlando ordinances, but certainly was a leading indicator of what was to come as these events would run until 9 or 10am the next morning , spilling ravers onto there streets of downtown Orlando just as the families and normal people we're starting their days. It was common for these thousands of attendees at The Edge to spill out into the Florida humidity at sunrise, often continuing to "after-parties" in the industrial warehouses nearby.

The Aesthetics of '95

If you were at Passion 2, the "uniform" was a mix of:

Stüssy and Freshjive t-shirts.

Suede Adidas Gazelles or Pumas.

White gloves used for "light shows" (hand-dancing) under the club's blacklights.

Passion 2 Rave / Sept of 1995 / Orlando, Fl

Passion 3 was the third installment in a series of highly influential raves held at The Edge in downtown Orlando. It took place on Dec  9th, 1995

Event Details
Date: Dec 9th, 1996
Venue: The Edge, 70 North Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL.

Organizer: Part of the "Passion" series that became synonymous with the Orlando scene in the mid-90s.

Lineup & Artists
Passion 3 continued the venue's tradition of featuring top-tier electronic talent, often focusing on the evolving Progressive House and Florida Breaks sounds:

Andy Hughes: A legendary figure in the early Florida scene known for his smooth, melodic transitions.

Chris Fortier: A key resident who helped define the "Orlando sound" and went on to international fame in progressive house.

RAMP (Live): A high-energy live electronic act that was a frequent highlight of the Passion series.

Local Residents: The event typically featured support from Florida icons like DJ Icey, John Debo, and Kimball Collins, who were staples of The Edge's peak years. 
Vibe & Atmosphere

The "Sweat" Factor: Attendees from this era often recall the intense energy of the dance floor, where the heat and movement would cause the venue's walls and ceiling to "sweat".

Holiday Energy: As a Sunday night event on a holiday weekend, it drew a massive crowd from across Florida, with many driving from Miami and Tampa for the legendary "all-night" experience.

The Sound: By 1996, the music at Passion was shifting toward the darker, more atmospheric sounds of progressive house, though it remained anchored by the breakbeats that made Orlando a global dance music hu

Passion 3 Rave / Dec of 1995 / Orlando, FL

Event Spotlight: The Odyssey @ The Edge (Jacksonville)
The Details
Date: Friday, June 10, 1994
Venue: The Edge (Jacksonville)

Location: 845 University Blvd N, Jacksonville, FL (later became Plush).
The Space: A massive, cavernous venue famous for its booming acoustics. Unlike the converted movie theater of its Orlando counterpart, the Jacksonville location was a dedicated concert and nightlife hall known for a sound system where "the drums would really kick your ass". 

The DJs: Keoki , Icee (changed to Icey later on), Kimball Collins, Chris Harshman, Bruce Wilcox, Baby Anne, DJ Spel,  Robert Goodman, DJ Zane,  Ray Mueller

The Vibe & Atmosphere
The Era: Mid-1994 was the peak of the "Florida Breaks" explosion. The Odyssey series is known among collectors for its distinct sound, with surviving mixtapes from the era (including a verified 1993 Odyssey mix) featuring nearly 3 hours of driving old-school tracks.

The Crowd: This was the golden age of the rave scene—expect baggy JNCOs, beads, glow sticks, and a crowd energized by the sheer volume of the music. The venue was darker and grittier than many modern clubs, often lit by intelligent lighting rigs and lasers cutting through heavy fog.

The Music: While the specific lineup for this night is elusive, events at The Edge in 1994 were part of a tight circuit that regularly rotated Florida legends. You would typically hear:
Florida Breaks: The dominant sound of the night, characterized by heavy, syncopated basslines and melodic breakdowns.

Acid & Techno: Harder, driving rhythms that were popular in the Jacksonville underground. 

The Odyssey (Part 1)  / June 1994 / Jacksonville, Fl (the Edge)

Grade-E presents:
Black Coffee House and Breaks

1. Warung - Ilusive
2. Dusky - Cedar
3. Maya Jane Coles - Visionary
4. Icarus - No Sleep
5. Locked Groove - From Beyond (Alan Fitzpatrick Remix)
6. James Zabiela - The Healing (Tinlicker Remix)
7. High Heel Breaker - Come Easy (feat. Sarah Palin; Dave Aju Remix)
8. Rufus Du Sol - Lost in My Mind (Icarus Remix)
9. Boom Jinx, Fatum, Katrine Stenbekk - Coming Home (Einer K Five Chill Out Mix)
10. Adam Pits - Pest Control
11. DJ Seinfeld -  Galaxy
12. Lone - Pulsar
13. Mariel Ito - Lovely 
14. George Fitzgerald - Burns (DJ Seinfeld Remix)
15. Perdu - Sacrament0
16. Frost - Overtones   

Hi friends - I’m kicking off a new dj set series that allows me to release music in my two favorite genres of deep house and breakbeats. Over the coming months I hope to release at least one new set on a semi-regular basis. 

Inspiration for the music comes mornings, black coffee, my favorite DJs, good grooves, 90 breaks and much more. 

Some of you may know me more for progressive breaks that I’ve played for years and still love. While you’ll certainly hear that type of sound in the breaks set, I’ve gravitated towards breaks that were slightly more acoustic, heavily influenced by classic nineties vibes with some modern melodies.  This set is good for chilling listening or club dancing. 

I have borrowed a few tracks that I’ve heard in other recent sets from some of my favorite DJs, but hopefully found my own unique take on them by placing them in the mix in my own way. While not focused on the hottest latest tracks that are mere minutes old, I hope you'll still be hearing some tunes that maybe you're hearing for the first time. 

Thank you to anyone that gives these a listen. Your ears are always appreciated. Your comments are always welcome.

Black Coffee Breaks - Episode 1

After far too many months, here is episode 3 of my Black Coffee DJ sets. Episode three is back to the Breakbetats.

Soulful, Sexy, Tribal, Nostalgic from the Warehouse to the Coffee House Breakbeats on order.  Many of the tracks have some 90's vibes to my ear. 

Played @ 125 Beats Per Minute
Mixed in Ableton Live with an Akai MK2

Music to get you going in the morning, moving in the evening, chilling on the Sunday comedown and everything in between.  Good Coffee always welcome.

Tracklisting (Please Support the Artist):

1. Sergey Fors - Mercury (Patrice Baumel Remix)
2. Tender Games - Movim (Black Loops Remix)
3. Black Loops -Gwei Lo
4. Bicep - Atlas
5. Moff and Tarkin - Baby
6. Ross From Friends - March
7. Because of Art - Elevate 
8. Route 8 - All those DJs
9. Fio Fa - Fantasom
10. Art was Art - Grid
11. Objekt -  Them from Q
12. Seb Wildblood -Bad Space Habigs

Black Coffee Breaks - Episode 3

Once upon a time...

There was sleepy town in the middle of Florida. When Mickey Mouse went to bed the local kids would head downtown to dance all night to a new sound.  This was the early 1990's and the rave scene had just started to explode.  One of the best local clubs was THE EDGE. It hosted many epic events where the biggest dance acts and the best young djs would grace their sound system. DJ Icey started there and was the head promoter for the club. Acts including Rhythm Section, Chemical Brothers, 2 Bad Mice and All Boxed In played here.   The local rave crowd from around the state would come out by the thousands.

This amazing 14 HOUR set was posted by one of the visual performers - Laser Matt.  Click the download link to get the full 14 hours.  It was recorded in the main room from the second the club opened to late in the next day when the last person left.  See clubs didn't really close back then. They usually waited for the last person to leave. There is a reason why downtown Orlando closes at 2am now. This is it. We are guilty. Sorry kids.

For those that weren't there this music may sound old and strange. For those that were, it will surely inspire nostalgic memories of a time that will never be repeated.

Energy Rave 1 / Nov of 1994 / Orlando, Fl (the Edge)

Electronic music aficionado since 1991.   
DJ Since 94. 
Producer since  2001. 
Record Label Owner (Stellar Records), early 00’s.  
Collector of classic 90’s DJ Sets.  
Current purveyor of modern progressive breaks and deep house via Black Coffee dj mix series. 

Had the privilege of “being there” in halcyon days of the early US rave scene at ground zero - Orlando, FL.  Our  (at the time) small, Disney focused town become the launch pad for the American Rave scene via the amazing DJs and promoters that were ahead of their time led by Kimball Collins at Aahz  playing  upfront dance music (simply called house back then) that was generally only found across the Atlantic. Kimball and other local DJs mixed music expertly in our burgeoning underground clubs here to the late hours of the morning often bleeding into the next day igniting a decade long explosion of club music throughout the city.  If you were there, you know.   Aahz spawned a host of iconic clubs including Firestone (now Vanguard), The Edge, the Abyss, Barberella, Marz and on and on.  Huge one off raves like Trance Atlantic and Zen fast followed  setting the stage for todays EDC, bringing more global talent to our dancing city, laying down musical history that everyone that lived it will certainly “Rave” about for the rest of their lives. 

Being a part of that scene led me, like many others, to pursue my own path in creating electronic music.  A passion for DJing led to endless Orlando house parties in early 90s, before joining the Stellar Brand/team in DC providing a residency at Tracks nightclub and  opening up gigs at clubs throughout the DC, Northern Virginia and Maryland before returning to Orlando in 2004.  

Still listening, buying, spinning, sharing the music that moves me. It has been and always will be all about the music. 

I continue to post recent sets here on soundclould and I often steam live over at Mixcloud.com 


For contact please email djgradee@gmail.com