the johnny otis show
cuttin' up
1970 / epic
listen :: download
funky, bluesy track - with cruisey xylophone. born in california as john veliotes, a greek-american who in his teen changed his name to the blacker sounding 'otis'. wore many musical hats in his career as performer and producer, disc jockey and author. thanks to the ggc for the headsup on this brother.
belleruche
turntable soul music
2007 / tru thoughts
listen :: download
great band out of the uk on the very reliable tru thoughts label. lead singer kathrin deboer has moments of husky funkiness, similar to alice russell (another tru thoughts connection) all the time delivering vocals reminiscent of beth gibbons from portishead. very cool and fresh.
skeewif
private funktion
2006 / jalapeno
listen :: download
skeewif are described as the "retropolitan sound of swinging london." this is a cool take on quincy jones' 1962 brazilian jazz classic, cut from the born the jazz movement mix over at royalgroove - check it out here.
wilmer & the dukes
wilmer & the dukes
1969 / aphrodisiac records
listen :: download
originally a cover band (steve miller, rolling stones), wilmer and the dukes formed in the late 50s. except for wilmer, all the members were white, making the band stand out in the all-back clubs they mostly played in. the band only recorded one album, with wilmer providing the sax and vocals, except for this instrumental number.
bobby matos & the cuban jazz ensemble
chango's dance
1995 / ubiquity (cubop)
listen :: download
a latin legend, bobby matos is one of the best examples of today's latin jazz scene. released on ubiquity's latin arm CuBop, chango's dance is a classic album, filled with wonderful music moments. definitely seek it out and grab a copy when you find one.
the last minister
tribute to jb family 12"
1992 / rec in pause
listen :: download
funky dance track here from italian artist the last minister, full of jb samples with a juicy, thick groove. similar to jestofunk, and more like it can be found at the very delicious irma records.
sound assembly
the acid jazz test - part 2 [compilation]
1994 / moonshine music
listen :: download
funky acid jazz with a hip hop feel, this record is a good compilation of 90s jazz/funk. nice and laid back.
mr. president
45T / 12"
2006 / favorite recordings
listen :: download
french producer patchworks delivers the funky stuff as mr. president. this is a collaboration with favorite recordings, however patchworks impressively wields most of the instruments on the track himself. hard funk in the same contemporary style as the bamboos or quantic.
blue mitchell
pulp fusion: return to the tough side [compilation]
1998 / harmless
listen :: download
had to keep with the trumpet theme. and well, the dorado theme. here's a long, hot serve from the incomparable blue mitchell. originally from the classic 1973 album graffiti blues.
natural self featuring alice russell
i don't need this trouble e.p.
2006 / breakin bread
listen :: download
natural self is a producer of some pretty kick arse funk and hip hop, his sound distinctively atmospheric, with hard drums and crazy percussion. the awesome alice russell applies the vocals on this great, break-beatin' funk soul treat!
the procussions
parisdjs release
2006 / -
listen :: download
i've recently discovered this l.a. hip hop outfit - the laid back old school vibe is right up my alley. the track is a fine dose of reggae/hip hop, with lots of percussion - courtesy of grand phabao. check out the album 5 sparrows for 2 cents, and a great live mix here.
the ballistic brothers
the ballistic brothers vs the eccentric afros (volume 2)
1994 / delancy street
listen :: download
the ballistic brothers were ashley beedle, rocky and diesel. their sound was jazz-influenced dance, not quite acid jazz, with great samples and a hip hop feel. the "vs eccentric afros" compilations were in particular very innovative and supremely cruisy. listen out for the gil scott-heron sample.
ronnie keaton
keb darge's legendary deep funk vol 1 (compilation)
1997 / bbe
listen :: download
another killer funk-soul cut where i don't know anything about the artist. this track is lifted off the supremely funky keb darge's legendary deep funk, a series of compilations unearthing awesome and obscure 45s. well worth checking out.
ray frazier and the shades of madness
old 45
? / stanton
listen :: download
not much info can be found on ray frazier - nevertheless what an awesome funk track. the label, stanton, was run out of california, and features one of atleast two recordings by this artist. cheers to a.k. over at soulshower for background on the label.
patti drew
blue note trip - saturday night (compilation)
1968 / blue note
listen :: download
what is it about blue note tonight? brilliant version of the ol' standard (there's also a great elvis version on the funky 15 jukebox). not sure where the original recording of this track comes from, but definitely check out blue note trip [saturday night/sunday morning], which has this and many more from the great jazz label. also keep an eye out for the upcoming patti drew compilation, workin' on a groovy thing.
grant green
alive
1970 / blue note
listen :: download
another blue note joint (in fact, lou donaldson introduced grant green to the label), green is one of the great, unsung jazz guitarists. i love everything about this track - the sprinkling of latin percussion, the keyboard and sax solos, the howls of delight by the musicians as they get their groove on. awesome.
lou donaldson
everything i do is funky
1970 / blue note
listen :: download
i regard this as donaldson's best album, accompanied with the usual funky suspects idris muhammed, melvin sparks, lonnie smith and blue mitchell. one of the great jazz alto saxophonists, I found this quote by him...aww brother, yes - i dig...hope you enjoy the track.
"I don't care what kind of style a group plays as long as they settle into a groove where the rhythm keeps building instead of changing around. It's like the way an African hits a drum. He hits it a certain way, and after a period of time, you feel it more than you did when he first started. He's playing the same thing, but the quality is different -- it's settled into a groove. It's like settin' tobacco in a pipe. You put some heat on it and make it expand. After a while, it's there. It's tight."
the flamingos
flamingo serenade
1959 / end records
listen :: download
after reminiscing with a friend, i had to go diggin for this doo wap treat. though not the original (that was dick powell in 1934), i think it's the best version - a veritable soul classic. so lay back, close your eyes, and think ponytails, diners and old chevrolets...
war
why can't we be friends?
1975 / avenue records
listen :: download
an old-skool favorite of mine...i love this track. it's been sampled quite a bit, most notably by the beasties on "slow ride" from licensed to ill. it also features in the cinematic cheech & chong classic, up in smoke. ah yeah.
nicole willis and the soul investigators
keep reachin up
2006 / timmion
listen :: download
I think I got it right this time ;). i'm diving into brooklyn born, finland living soul sistah nicole willis. the album is nicely polished and this track is killer. great article about her and the band here and another one here. cheers to bobbalin' hot ... mama feel good!.
ex-press
the definitive article
1994 / yellow
listen :: download
uk rapper ex-press was released on the french label yellow productions back in '94; i can't find much info at all about him, but "the definitive article" is a solid hip hop release.
richard cheese
unreleased?
2005 / -
listen :: download
cheesy as he can be, dick delivers his swinging take on the duran duran hit.
the beastie boys
ill communication
1994 / capitol
listen :: download
the original recording of this song has rap vocals, from the hip hop nugget ill communication. i dig this instrumental version, clearly showcasing the trio's genius in fusing their musical influences into "the nu jazz."
the bamboos (with alice russell)
step it up
2006 / ubiquity
listen :: download
alice russell is prolific as she is talented, regularly involved in collaborations with the likes of quantic soul orchestra, tm juke, and the bamboos, as well as being a solo artist in her own right (check out under the munka moon). this searing-hot serve of raw funk is the title track off the latest album from melbourne outfit the bamboos. i've also included a live cover of "crazy" by cee-lo (he of gnarles barkley fame). while not as good as the original, it showcases russell's sweet, soulful vocals.
crazy (gnarles barkley cover) - live
alice russell (w/quantic)
breakestra featuring chali 2na, soup, double k / kelis
family rap 12" / rebtuz ep3 12"
2006 / ubiquity / tru thoughts (?)
listen :: download
a double hit of funky hip hop. the first is another blazing funk track from breakestra, a version of which can be found on their essential hit the floor album. this particular remix is from the limited vinyl 12" single release, and features the unmistakable baritone rap of charli 2na (jurassic 5). the other is a great jazzy rehash by tm juke of the kelis track "trick me." thanks goes to djouls for the smooth mix.
