The story from last weekend repeats itself. I went back to the same flea market as the seller had promised to bring along some more records. I specifically asked for 12"s as I knew he had some, and sure he did. I picked up a few disco bangers and other stuff. I was specially pleased with this 12" from Wham - 'Lovemaker' in a Jim Burgess mix. Obviously not to mix with the UK pop sensation from the 80's. As I had no knowledge of them, I took a chance on it. Though, I briefly could remember, seing an LP listed on a fine sellers site so I realised I was on to something. And here we go, a nice piece of leftfield with a mature west coast feeling. Hope you dig too!
I went out diggin with a friend today. We popped into the local flea market. Actually I've never bought this many second hand records at the same time and from one place. I took a chance on few, but most of them we're really nice finds. It was this former dj sitting on some really nice wax. This was one of them. NYCC - New York community choir with 'I'll keep my light in my window'. An excellent piece of life affirmative music that certainly will lift any party through the roof. Hope you dig!
Things have been really busy for the past time. Obviously there's always time to buy the records and I've actually been playing quite lot (for me that is) during the last few months. But still no time, or energy rather, to enjoy the music. Now things are slowly getting back to normal, and I've also been upgrading my sounds at home. So this morning I felt the urge to try these new thing out, and here's the result out of all that. It's not full perfection yet (neither mixing or setup) but I very much enjoyed doing it. Obviously it's a bit strenous with mixing records and getting the mixes tight and all, but again - it's just really great to get into the music again. Apart from the more vintage sounding dance music, there's also quite a few new, or new-ish, tracks. Lately I've really been digging the stuff coming from the 100% Silk label, great leftfield-ish music going into some Arthur Russell territory. Maurice Fulton is another contemporary producer which I've always rated, somehow keeping it fresh and interesting but with the true old school boogie vibe kept. Otherwise some edits, original disco tracks and some slightly older (sounding) house tracks. I'll see if I'll be able to pin down a track list. Anyways, I hope you dig and thanks for checking!
A slow and sleazy heavy hitter from Barbara Mason. "Darling come back home" is off the Prelude LP "I am your woman, she is your wife". This is the sort of stuff I always love to spin early on in my sets. Well, whenever I can actually. Check the intro, it's baaad and screams for a sample or edit. Hope you enjoy!
I'm not much of a library record man but i've got the odd one. This is amongst the finest. From Brian Bennett in 'Solstice' and from the "Voyage (A Journey Into Discoid Funk)" LP. A really nice laidback, spacey and generally funky affair. Hope you dig!
This is ten and a half minutes of pure soul heaven. Dropped at the right time and place, it gets any decent party off the roof. Apparently they tried to take on The Supremes for the primacy of a soul super group at the time, but never really achieved that. Anyway, this is really nice and on the flip of the London 'Don't take away your love' 12". Lot's of music and love for a cheap price if you want the vinyl. Hope you dig!
Looking back on the music covered in this blog it takes a rather broad perspective. Anything from quite spiritual jazz to stuff like this. I guess, just different stuff for different occassions. As long it's got the swing there is a place for it here.
So this is from David Essex 'Rock on' LP. I can't say anything on his place in the field of brittish(?) popular music, but I guess he's musically gone totally different ways after this. And I can't recall I've heard anything else of interest from him. But this one certainly got some swing, some funk even the slow pace. And I try to squeeze it in when- or wherever possible.
Great to see this new package from Audika getting a release. It's about some rare mixes of Arthur Russell's 'Lets go swimming', seeing the ligt of the day. Here's one by Walter Gibson. Personally I'm really into the 'Make 1, 2' (Gem Spa Dub). Unteachable!
Another personal favourite from recent occasions which crosses over nicely from disco to slightly more modern, leftfield sounds. A fine tool that certainly does the trick when some heat is required. It's Jellybean Benitez at the controls on this dub version of Mascara's - 'Baja'.
Here's another heavy hitter! From the Bombers in 'Shake' released on West End and this rip being off the flip on the 'Lets' dance' 12". A few years ago some kids came up to me and commented the intro, apparently being sampled by Madlib. Can't say anything on that, but none the less a fine track on it's own. Touching some rocky, leftfield disco and obviously those sweet strings. Hope you dig!
Greets! Back again for a third come back or so. But you know, it's all been good, with a little rest and travelling. I actually went to the UK for a quick stop, and anyone into their retro glasses and jazz need to look at the Black Eyewear shop. It's in St Albans, not too far from London. I had to go and see myself and ended up with a new pair. I also listened to GP's jazz special some weeks ago and slowly but surely started to build up the urge for some jazz again. So here we go! An old favourite, a fine vocal piece from Vince Andrews in 'The one who needs you'. It's off the 'Love, oh love' LP, I believe there's a japanese reissue and it's been comped as well. I hope you dig and come back soon! It's certainly gonna back to normal here now. Thanks for checking!
Another come back from some great time off! Kicking off with a classic killer groove from Charles Earland in 'Coming to you live'. I was lucky enough to score a mint copy of the 12" some years ago, at a very reasonable price that is. Again, an old jazzcat going disco in his career. I've mentioned a few before - Jimmy McGriff and Doc Severinsen amongst others. Hope you dig!
Back again from some absence. Actually, I've been overloaded on music for the past weeks. You know sometimes you just need a rest from whatever you're into. For me it's been about quite a few gigs recently, they were all good, but too much music can wear you out. Even the finest. Anyways, here's good one from The Charlie Rose Band in "Backwoods Echo". Possibly not for everyone, but for the more adventurous jazz-funk dj's - certainly a fine tool. Dropped in the right context at the right time, it has huge potential. Hope you dig!
You probably heard parts of this loads of times. Sampled here and there, but very much a great track in it's own. "Faded Lady" by the S.S.O Orchestra is off the "Shine your ligth" LP on Shadybrook. I believe, last year, a BBE 7" sampler surfaced with an unreleased instrumental of the track. Enjoy!
I made this yesterday at a friends place. I wanted to do that as he got a nice set up with these rotary things and isolators. I must say I'm hooked on playing with a rotary mixer. As I'm not much of a technical virtuoso I get these smooth blends, but it's very much about the great feel turning the knobs. Obviously the sound quality is second to none. As always, a quite spontanious affair. It needs to be done when there's inspiration and flow. So here's one take, strictly vinyl down to file. Bits of soul, disco, house. Mostly original tracks, but a few edits here and there. Thanks for checking - enjoy!
This is such heavy and sweet tune! Proper jazz funk for serious dancers. There are some heavy weight players behind this, formerly known as The Jazz Crusaders. Played by the usual suspects, GP and TP et all, but I've also seen Dj's like Harvey spin this. It's Off the 1977 'Free as the wind' LP and if you like to mix up with some jazzy styles there are no reasons to ignore this tune! Hope you dig!
I was doing this jazz gig earlier this week. It was great! A bit like finding back to the essential bit of playing records out publically. Just letting the music connect you and the audience. In a very pure way. No hyped up or banging tunes, sure funky, but you know, still jazz. I guess I covered the most spectras, anything from Gainsbourg to Coltrane. Great fun, hard work though. Originally planned for 3 hours, the gig went up to almost 6 hours. So here's a little honour to all things jazz. Yusef Lateef has been a favourite since day one basically. Well, day one counting from my involvement in jazz that is. This song - 'Like it is' is off the 'The blue Yusef Lateef' LP. Hope you feel it!
Jimmy McGriff is an old jazz cat and organist with loads of releases on labels like Groove Merchant and Blue Note amongst others. And like many jazzers he went a bit disco-ish in the late seventies. This certainly have a cheesy moment or two, but wait till you get to the breakdown. Then we're talking breaks on an another level, and add some of Jimmy's organ skills to that. One for the serious jazz disco heads. Check & enjoy!
Nowadays news travels really fast. Unfortunately the first news this morning was about the passing of Gil Scott Heron. Truly one of the greatest, a genuine legend. Looking back on his work, there's so much fantastic and timeless music. This song is one I've been playing a lot recently. Peace go with you brother.
Back to the jazz, straight into some heavy dance stuff from Kamal Abdul Alim or Kamal and the brothers in 'Brotherhood'. It's off the 1988 LP 'Dance' on Stash, which possibly could be their only relese. I don't know. However, this one is certainly something to look for if you like your jazz dance stuff or are drawn to the more adventures side of dj'ing. Check out the 'Al Nafs' track too. That's it, hope you dig!
I came across this interview with the legendary Francois Kevorkian and as this blog somehow is about production, re-production of knowledge, on and about music, I'll share it with you. So listen and learn! François Kevorkian Audio Interview 20.08.09 by djmixes
