Shelton Hull
Words by Shelton Hull
Wine To Unwind is a new house music night taking place at Norikase, a very popular Japanese restaurant at 9734 Deer Lake Court on the city’s southside. These events take place every Tuesday evening from 6:30 to 9:30pm, with The Balance King providing sonic soundscapes as patrons network and nosh. The place is well-known for its sushi, and it’s particularly notable as Northeast Florida’s first omakase spot. The word “omakase” loosely translates from the original Japanese to mean “I’ll leave it up to you”. In this case, it refers to a dining experience in which the menu is left entirely up to the chef, who then prepares their own seasonal favorites based on their own ingredients, tastes and passions.
This Tuesday’s event, which starts at 5:30pm, will be an extra special one, as it features a meet and greet with two of the city’s most popular TV hosts, Rance Adams and Jana Angel, whom you’ll know from their stint hosting “River City Live” every morning on WJXT. (Adams also hosts his own trivia game every Tuesday at the Casbah in Avondale.)
“We are a team,” says Adams. “Jana is the engine. Hungry, eager and goes above and beyond. A true professional. She has a creative mind that is always focused on showing people in their best light. I’m the guide. I’ve been in the business of local TV, for decades, so there are things I know and have experienced that ensures that whatever Jana and our team come up with, we can get it done.” The proof is in the pudding, with over 2,000 episodes over the nine years it’s been on the air, putting a spotlight on hundreds of local artists, musicians, cooks and creators.. Mr. Adams was there from the start, while Ms. Angel is now in her third year.
“Our former producer Vaughn dropped by Nori Kase and loved the vibe,” Adams says. “He connected with [fire performer] Tokyo Moreno and we did a few segments with her and one with Nori Kase. Recently the fellas from New Company Presents came up with the concept for Jana and I to host a meet and greet at Nori Kase and boom, it’s happening. We do love connecting with our city and this is a way we haven’t ever done before.”
It’s a bittersweet occasion for Jana Angel, and her fans, as the meet and greet comes near the end of her run in Northeast Florida. Angel is moving onward and upward to WBTV in Charlotte, where her career momentum is only going to accelerate. As for Adams, he’s not going anywhere. “The opportunity presented itself, so to Jacksonville, I came,” he says. “It’s been an experience. I showed up and they gave me car keys, a camera, and they said to go discover the River City. I can’t believe it has changed so much, just since I got here in 2015. I didn’t expect to be here this long, but Jacksonville has become my home. I’m staying until they kick me out! Or I win the lottery.”
Wine to Unwind is a joint production between The Balance King, born Jeremy Nix, and New Company Presents, a firm run by Zaiche (aka Ulysses Prince) for the purpose of promoting arts and culture in and around this community. They’re a highly loquacious, detail-oriented bunch whose own words defy succinct paraphrasing, so here’s part of the interview we did with them recently.
How would you describe the vibe of Norikase, and the clientele and their musical tastes?
It’s a cosmopolitan ecosystem, that intertwines modern Japanese cuisine through a fascinating conduit of sonic amenities in collusion with dance floor majesty.
How did the association with Norikase begin? How many events have you done there?
The relationship blossomed from our initial magnificent meeting with the wonderful Social Media/Marketing Manager, Katie Yang, and brilliant General Manager, Justin Raulerson, in May of this year (2024). We forensically sketched the collaborative vision for our residencies at Norikase, which have included the monthly Wine to Unwind, and our late night series, Nori at Night, which this month are preceded by the Fire Show Goddess, Tokyo Moreno.
How long do your DJ sets last? How many songs will you play in a typical set?
The scheduled metric understanding is 3 hours, but our existential application meanders where the joy resides, and that can’t be incarcerated by time!
Who are some of the artists and creators you’ve worked with before, individually and together?
The list of cultural luminaries we have collaborated with includes Jean-Michel Basquiat’s band Gray (Michael Holman and Nicholas Taylor), Doodlebug from Grammy award-winning group Digable Planets, Vernon Reid of Living Color, international tabla player Suphala, world-renowned visual artist Liz Tran, global producer/keyboardist/DJ Mark de Clive-Lowe, multi-instrumentalist/producer Jneiro Jarel (collaborator of MF DOOM, Kimbra, Massive Attack, Damon Albarn of Gorillaz), underground icon King Britt (collaborator of Grace Jones, Michael Mann, Tori Amos, Miles Davis), mercurial collagist and sculptor Lisa Myers Bulmash, indie polymath Tunde Adebimpe of TV On the Radio (Actor: Rachel Getting Married, Star Wars Skeleton Crew, Twister), fashion photography genius Franklin Thompson, aesthetic pioneers Elizabeth Gahan and Kate Sweeney, and esoteric mavericks Dragons of Zynth.
When and where did you guys first meet, and where did you first begin working together?
It was a peculiar serendipity that in 2017, we were working on the same theater production. The Balance King was contributing to the scoring and sound design team, while Zaiche was a partner in Stephanie Reyes’ interior design firm Motif, which was developing the stage sets. From there, as Zaiche continued with his migratory nature from his residences in Austin, TX and NYC, he became the Creative Catalyst at art gallery and cultural institution Yellow House, while The Balance King served as the Resident Sound Curator. Congruently, we were meticulously crafting the remix of ShamShir, a project that includes Zaiche and King Britt.
How many different venues/settings have you worked together in the past?
The Seattle Design Festival, Boston ArtWeek, Chihuly Garden and Glass, Studio Hotel Allston, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Tom Ford Extreme Collection, St Simons Island Lighthouse, Mayo Clinic, Department of Health and Human Services, Haskell and their subsidiary Dysruptek, our STEAM curriculum at Montessori Tides School, West End House Boys and Girls Club (Boston), Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Hilltop Elementary (Seattle), Riverside Arts Market, Artist Corner on First Coast Living (NBC), Museum of Contemporary Art (Jacksonville), Museum of Science and History (Jacksonville).
What food items and/or drinks would you recommend?
Definitely the 17 Course Chef’s Tasting Omakase (reservation required), King Crab Clay Pot Rice, Miso Salmon, Luxury Roll, Hokkaido Scallop, Miso Eggplant, Crispy Brussel Sprouts, Truffle Enoki Mushroom, Mont Blanc Chai Tiramisu, Dark Chocolate Mousse Cake, and their entire vast array of enticing cocktails. We’re also very excited about their upcoming expanded vegan and plant-based menu options!
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