Posts Tagged ‘funk’

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Video: Sa Ra VAMPD Interview

Thursday, August 13th, 2009

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Sa-Ra Creative Partners are a huge inspiration to me . There was a time a few years back when I felt Hip Hop and its associated genres had stagnated. I was hitting the shops with money in my pocket (ah those were the days…) and coming out with bags full of everything but that Boom-Bap flavour. When I heards Sa Ra’s earlier work, I was blown away. Without wanting to sound too deep, I felt their sound embodied and somehow reconciled opposing forces. They were raw, ragged, experimental and mainstream all at the same time…I liked that. In fact, for me anyway, they provided a road into that LA beat music we’ve all grown so fond of.

Their most recent full length offering Nuclear Evolution, The Age of Love is still heating up my hard drive on a regular basis and what i’ve heard Shafiq Husayn’s forthcoming solo project has got me excited also.

Anyway enough chat. Check out one of my previous posts for some free SRCP goodness and peep this interview they did for VAMPD magazine…

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News: Get Shook!

Thursday, August 6th, 2009

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Sorry for the break in transmissions. Real life got in the way of my virtual existence….probably a good thing really…balance is key….anyway,now i’m back, I feel it’s my duty to spread the word that the Summer edition of Shook Magazine is ripe and ready for purchase.

With a feature on filmmaker & all-round good guy B+ (whose work appears on the cover above), a chat with Raekwon from the Wu about an album more hotly awaited than the second coming, ghetto-turismo in Morò de Providencia, the oldest favela in Rio, with French artist JR. a freeze frame on UK’s premier ‘house dance’ crew InDaHouse in full effect. an interview with 9th Wonder and his True School crew, Rashad Smith (if you don’t know who that is, check the back of your ‘Woo Hah’ 12-inch or CD-single) a feature on the Eglo crew represent (Floating Points, Alex Nut & the whole 9 yards), the story behind the 1974 concert in Kinshasa when James Brown, Bill Withers and Celia Cruz lined up alongside Miriam Makeba and Franco – it’s the subject of the new Soul Power film, words and mixes from Rahaan & the Chuck Brothers, the crate diggers outta Chi-city, words from Karizma who has a new album out via R2, deep words about Freddie Hubbard, as remembered by Creed Taylor (of CTI and Impulse! fame). a short story by Charlie Dark (‘The God of Road’), memories of French novelist Boris Vian and a revamped back section where they cover anything from Congolese sapeurs to boutique stores in the heart of Hoaxtown you really would be stupid not to at least blag your friends copy….but that kind of situation soon gets strained, we recommend you teleport to www.shook.fm and buy your own….

News: G&D back in the Funkmosphere…

Thursday, July 30th, 2009

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I’m a big fan of artists whose work is clearly motivated by a higher source. Don’t get me wrong, my tastes run wide and deep. I don’t get on tracks just because they mention spiritual concepts, but if they’re hot, and their gaze is inward, then it’s me all the way. Both Georgia-Ann Muldrow and Dudley Perkins tick those boxes in my book. They’ve been bringing that spiritual funk from the mothership for a minute now and show no signs of giving it up.

Heads amongst you will be aware that both Dudley’s recently dropped Holy Smokes long player and Georgia’s Umsindo album are currently in stores. I stopped over at Fresh Selects and found a couple of previews from Dudley’s mammoth 26 track offering which I think you should hear. I also found this download for those in the mood for some freeness:

Dudley Perkins – Boogie (ft.Georgia Ann Muldrow & Darryl Moore

If you like that, its all about supporting by putting your money where your mouse is and clicking these links to cop both offerings. Both albums are released on their indie imprint SomeOthaShip so if you like what your hear please complete the cycle and give so you can continue receiving.

Georgia Ann Muldrow – Umsindo

Dudley Perkins – Holy Smokes

Also, you might wanna click here and here for nice, in-depth interviews with Dudley and Georgia respectively courtesy of the LA Record.

For the throwback crew here’s that ‘Money’ vid from way back when….I know Mr Segundo is on this one…

News: Keziah Jones – Nigerian Wood

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

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Ok, enough Hip-Hop for one day…..but because I know how deep your affection is for it, i’ll ween you off slowly. How about a Karreim Riggins produced ‘Blu-Funk’ album courtesy of Nigerian via Brooklyn innovator Keziah Jones. What is ‘Blu-Funk’? I hear you ask….read on….

I’ll start with an admission. Before receiving the press release for Keziah’s UK shows, I had never heard of him. As I started digging around for more info, I rapidly felt more and more ashamed of my ignorance. Five albums deep in the game, Mr Jones is a diaspora artist representing his homeland Nigeria in a purposefully contemporary cultural context. Citing Fela Kuti and Jimi Hendrix as influences, Keziah’s ‘BluFunk’ sound is a slick blend of Afrobeat, Blues, Rock and Pop.

Hitting London after a five year gap to promote his ‘Nigerian Funk’ EP, KJ will be performing at the Jazz Cafe on 6th August and the following day at the Tate Britain for a ‘LATE at the TATE Britain: LATE NIGHT RADIO’ session curated by Max Reinhardt (BBC Radio 3/The Shrine). The EP is a preview of the forthcoming ‘Nigerian Wood’ LP produced by Karreim Riggins and recorded at the world famous Electric Lady Studios NY. Check out this clip of his collaboration with Nneka ‘Long Distance Love’ and follow the links for all the info you need…..

Thursday, 6 August – Jazz Café, 5 Parkway, Camden, London NW1 7PG,
adv tickets: £15 from Ticketmaster (0844 847 2514), Seetickets (08700 603777), http://www.jazzcafe.co.uk

Friday, 7 August – Tate Britain (room 9), Millbank, London SW1P 4RG,
LATE at the TATE Britain: LATE NIGHT RADIO, free admission, http://www.tate.org.uk/britain
http://www.because.tv

Long Distance Love – Keziah Jones


Event: The RH factor

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

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jus’ heard that roy hargrove’s gonna be stoppin’ by london for a show at ronnie scott’s… for those of you that are not too familiar with this guy, he’s a trumpeter with his fingers in many pies. not only does he have 2 grammys under his belt, he’s constantly pushing his game to new heights. whether u catch him moonlighting in an afro-cuban side project or lending a hand on an unsuspecting funk track – this guy never fails to impress.

i stumbled across his ‘rh factor’ hard groove in 2003, (which is quite late on in the game considerin’ he’s been on the circuit since the 80’s). anways, after zappin’ up the jazzy/funky/soulful/hiphop vibes on that album – i pretty much copped his entire discography (the stuff on verve) + was left still wantin’ more.

catchin’ him live is gonna be heavy duty stuff… merely cos we don’t really know what we’re gonna get. considering he’s collaborated with pretty much every tom, dick + jazzy harry from veterans such as herbie hancock to hip-hop maestros q-tip and common, the only thing we can know for sure is that: whatever we do get will be pure, undiluted, quality sounds.

either way, i think its safe to say that he’s pretty much gonna tear the place apart with his mad grooves… i’ll eat my cat if i’m wrong.

nuff said… c u there.

details:

Roy Hargrove @ Ronnie Scott’s

Wednesday 29th July – Thursday 30th July (Doors open 6pm)

Roy Hargrove (tp)
Justin Robinson (alto sax)
Jonathan Batiste (piano)
Ameen Saleem (bass)
Montez Coleman (dr)

£20.00 – £36.00

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Smooth like Silk…

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009

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Fans of the, synthed-out, half-step, funked up Purple ocillations oozing from the likes of Joker, Gemmy et al have been down with Silkie from time. I gotta admit, I stepped in the party late. Having heard some of the formative Purple Wow joints, I kinda wrote off the sound save for the future classic 2000F & JKamata piece on Hyperdub and Silkie’s limited edition one sider ‘Purple Love‘ on Mala’s Deep Medi. Now, i’ve been in the music thing long enough to know that writing things off is never smart. They almost always come back to bite you…..step in Silkie with hs debut long player ‘City Limits Vol 1′.

I’m not gonna draw for some long description. Suffice to say that anyone feeling electronic music with soul should check this out. Now, I know it’s late notice but London dwellers can catch Silkie alongside Deep Medi heads honcho Mala, Quest, Chef, Harry Craze and the Anti Social Ents. crew down at Corsica Studios for the launch party tonight (Thur 23rd Jul) from 9pm til 3am. Blao!

Oh yeah, for those of you that like words to go with their sounds, check out FACT Magazine’s Silkie interview for the fullness…

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