africa

* Well known avantgarde jazz guitarist Marc Ribot and other musicians were protesting the closing of world famous experimental / indie / avantgarde music venue Tonic, NYC by showing up for an improvised concert while the workers dismantled the stage!

I did grew a little tired of jazzy-go-lucky shows which i always do and go for a little something different this time. Since summer is here and we’d spent the previous weekend watching Rockers and trying to sound Jamaican, i started things off with a little dub-ska-reggae icing from Skatalites & King dubby, Leroy “Horsemouth” Wallace who’s also the star of the movie.

Here’s Part 2 of our deep house selection for summer, including the funk induced dancer by Move D on Compost, as opposed to his usual minimalistic style, Marvin Belton’s deep summer tune from 2005, which is a appropriately titled an Early AM Mix and more.

Mr. Texier is one of France’s well known contemporary jazz musicians especially with his partnership with Aldo Romano and Louis Sclavis, which I’ve talked about before here.

Bubulcus Ibis

I’m feeling pretty happy today because it’s around 15C here in Istanbul and it feels like spring after a strange winter with no snows and barely a few days of rain, phear the summer!.

Here’s a few happy (at least for me) songs to enjoy before I leave for the park. Forro in the Dark’s album is out on Ilhan Ersahin’s Nublu, a spectacular album rooted in Brasil but actually with much more to offer, featuring guests like Miho Hatori and David Byrne. Swedish vocalist Lina Nyberg’s 2006 album Tellus is out on Moserobie, one of the coolest scandinavian jazz labels out there. I always love Lina Nyberg’s playful voice and songs and this album is no different.

Gregsky - Souffle Lunaire
Forro in the Dark - Forrowest
Lina Nyberg - Itaparica
Men-an-Tol - Orange Juice and Vodka

I came across this one while searching for some nice afrobeat pieces to play on the show (and i have to admit that’s mostly because fela kuti songs are neverending stories between 8 to 13 minutes…too long for the show) Anyway i’m very happy to have stumbled on this compilation since every song is a gem of spicy afro-funky taste for all Africa 70’s fans out there. If, you’re content with Fela, Tony Allen, and Manu Dibango on the afrobeat subject like me, you shouldn’t be. At least that’s the conclusion I reached after i heard these.

African music whether it’s jazz or ethnic or otherwise, has always been different (from a western perspective anyway) and it’s not really my place to say how African musicians have offered a lot originality and divergence; but i find the 70’s afrobeat scene a special era, totally black roots & African and all that, but also in tune with the western ear and the awakening movement worldwidely acclaimed throughout the 60s and 70s. I find it a universally noteworthy combination much like our Turkish Anatolian Rock scene from the 70’s and just like Turkish Anatolian Rock, it’s unique qualities make 70’s afrobeat scene great listening pieces and great collectibles, also great reminiscents from a time of massive change and rebellion against stagnation.

Ebo Taylor - Heaven
Oscar Sulley & The Uhuru Dance Band - Bukom Mashie
Honny & The Bees Band - Psychedelic Woman

found image from the wonderful bighappyfunhouse

After the Larry Heard post, it’s about time I get a few selected house tracks off my “feature it” directory. The Haaksman & Haaksman remix of Stereotyp’s Keepin’ Me is as massive as it gets, with a muted guitar at the back, female vocals and a funky steppa rhythms, I’m pretty much sure this is one of the biggest dance tunes I’ve listened this year. Newcomer Sam Irl’s track is a likeminded soulfool afrobeat inspired steppa on Pulver.

I normally don’t like tech house at all, but Natural Rhythm’s jazzy tech house is something I can more than tolerate. Buscemi’s Bollywood inspired vocal track gets refined by Solo Moderna while Frankman gives us a refined deep but driving minimal tune with sax & rhodes. Finally Langoth’s Grounding is not really a house tune but jazzy hiphop in the vein of old Ninja Tune. It reminds me of some tune that I can’t put my finger on and watch that great keychange in the chorus part!

PS : I’ve found it, (at least the tune I was thinking, let’s see if you think I’m sure, I’ve added it as well.)

Sam Irl - African Dance feat. Anya
Francisco Foo - Everything (Frankman Remix)
Natural Rhythm & Trap Groove - Dancefloor Jazz
Buscemi - Bollywood Swing King (Solo Moderna Remix)
Stereotyp - Keepin’ me (Haaksman & Haaksman Remix)
Langoth - Grounding
Moondog - Bird’s Lament

* A hard to find cassette rip of the Bulgarian virtuoso Ivo Papasov on Dalston Oxfam Shop.

* a ripping dnb track off label boss Iaka’s release on Plain Audio netlabel which specialize in Dnb & Electronica.

Iaka - Rumpelkiste

* Chicks on Speed - Myspace and Mark Ronson (feat. The Daptone Horns) - God put a smile upon your face (Coldplay instrumental cover) on Italian indie hipster blog Inkiostro. Unfortunately we don’t get what he’s saying!

* A few rare 80’s synthpop on the best oddities blog WFMU. Conceputol is pretty hip considering it’s from 86 and what about the raw madness of The Stupid Set!.

* A banquet of great tunes from January at Feed Me Good Tunes. Don’t miss Nina Simone - I Can’t See Nobody [Daniel Y mix], Medeski, Martin and Wood - Where’s the Music?, Max Roach - Garvey’s Ghost.

* Kings Of Convenience @ KCRW Radio Session, March 2005 on Sonorama

* Terry Lee Brown Jr @ Promo Mix I Love Deep Plastic City 2006.

* Âme @ Resident Advisor Podcast 24.1.2007

* Originally the “best barber in town”, Marrakech native Kodssi starting devoting himself to music in the late 70s. Abdeljalil Kodssi on Benn Loxo, the entry is from December so be quick as it might disappear suddenly.