Fede4Real -
We begin the Fresh Batch section with an R&B artist, songwriter and producer whose music has R&B melodies with a classic sound and urban beats with a touch of jazz.
Please check out their video channel. The Rippingtons featuring Russ Freeman
Yes, The Rippingtons are back with an album where every track is simply jaw dropping in nature! The current line up includes: Russ Freeman, Dace Karasony, Rico Belled, Bill Heller, Jeff Kashiwa. In addition, there is a great track on the CD entitled: Love Story with guest musician: Rick Braun.
Soul Sensation: Seal from the CD Soul
We featured this new release from Seal a few months back but this track is simply amazing in so many ways. Originally performed by Al Green back in 1972.
New York City
This track is from 1973 which hit the top 20 in the UK and the United States,
This week’s Bring it Back segment incluides:
Modern Sound Corporation Bradley Leighton from the CD Back to the Funk
I’m not normally big on flute as this track heavily features it. However, the ancillary supporting instruments really complement it. From his website bio we read that: Bradley Leighton brings a unique and powerful sound to flute. His style of swing evolved from listening to the big, hi-octane bands of Kenton, Herman and Ferguson in the 60’s-70’s. Lighthouse Family
Sammy Peralta
Cannon Ball Adderley and Joe Zawinul and we end the show with: Largo
The latter is a wonderful interpretation of the well known Freddie Hubbard tune taken from a 2003 album entitled, ‘Fables Of Lost Time’
That’s it for this week’s show.
Until next time, enjoy the fun!
TrizzonaMcLendon with My Special
(Track listing Approved by Artist)
This is the brand new single and we learn that there will be a new album in the summer of 2009.
Firefly Soul with Holiday Town from the CD On the Edge and Beyond
(Track listing Approved by Artist)
The music is certainly a fusion of vocals and complex harmonies. A lush and captivating orchestration with that combines the sound of a club, live bass, guitar and vocals.
Cook Daniel with Full of Joy
(Track listing Approved by Artist)
Cook Daniel is from the Netherlands who produces great sounds of relaxation, lounge, dance, chill music, easy listening.. with some jazzy flavours.
In this week’s Soul Sensation we have:
Keni Burke
From Soulwalking.co.uk we read that Keni Burke began his career in the 1960’s with brothers James, Clarence, Dennis and sister Aloha in his family group the Stairsteps. Keni was the bass player and when they split up in 1971 he moved to Los Angeles in search of session work. In 1974, he toured with Billy Preston who was a friend of ex-Beatle George Harrison. George met Keni at a time The Stairsteps were discussing a reunion album, and signed the group to his Dark Horse label.
Will Downing / Mica Paris
A wonderful choice from the Prof - A nice duet from a UK soul singer whos also worked in radio and television and has a new album coming out in June 2009, perhaps its available by the time you hear this show. The duet is sung with an American singer-songwriter and producer and is a cover version of a chart topper from a 1972 album by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway.
In this week’s Bring It Back Section we have:
Acoustic Alchemy Boney James Spyrogyra
We finish with an awesome track with an african-Jazz-dance feel with a saxophonist and vibraphone player from Cameroon whose style includes the fusing jazz, funk and traditional Cameroonian music, its Manu Dibango
We hope you enjoyed the show this week and look forward to your love and feedback!
James Colah and Rachael Bell with Say it Back!
(Track listing approved by Artist)
James started playing piano at the age of 4 and has years of experience making music in bands, working with other artists and on projects in Television and Video. Enjoy this excellent recipe of smoothness with a nice soul full vibe.
MarioBiondi
Here’s a track that the Prof has been eager to play for a while, It knocked him out when I first heard it on Jazz FM and it knocked him out even more when he hears it again and again!
Lionel Richie Feat. Akon Another great track from Lionel’s latest hit CD entitled, Just Go
You will be interested to know that Lionel’s self-titled debut was back in 1982. The ‘82 album hit #3 on the music charts and sold over 4 million copies. His 1983 follow up album, Can’t Slow Down, sold over twice as many copies and won two Grammy Awards including Album Of The Year, propelling him into the first rank of international superstars. The album spawned the #1 hit “All Night Long”, a Caribbean-flavored dance number that was promoted by a colorful music video produced by former Monkee, Michael Nesmith. As a singer, songwriter, record producer Lionel has sold more than 100 million records
This week’s Soul Sensation Segment features:
Smokey Robinson
Smokey is noted for being one of the primary figures associated with Motown Records, second only to the company’s founder, Berry Gordy. Robinson’s countless hits, and consistent contributions to the Motown label earned him the title of the ‘King of Motown’. As both a member of Motown group The Miracles and a solo artist, Smokey Robinson recorded thirty-seven Top 40 hits for Motown between 1960 and 1987, and also served as the company’s vice president from 1961 to 1988.
The Real Thing
This British soul group had lots of hits in the seventies. Based in Liverpool, in North West of England they are still touring today - when we last checked at: www.theofficialrealthing.com,
News Update:
We’ve heard some disappointing news via emails from Candid JazzBlast, reporting that KKSF FM radio, the Bay areas Smooth Jazz station changed formats. In addition, 2 weeks earlier Dayton Ohio’s Smooth Jazz station, 106.5 smooth jazz flipped to country music!? Apparently, ‘The decision to change formats was based on the minimal appeal the station had reaching a large number of listeners and consumers. Also, they report that for the first time in 37 years there will be no major summer jazz festivals in New York.
DAVE KOZ - from the CD Saxophonic
Dave graduated from UCLA with a degree in mass communications in 1986, and only weeks after his graduation, decided to make a go of becoming a professional musician. Within weeks of that decision, he was recruited as a member of Bobby Caldwell’s tour. For the rest of the 1980s, Koz served as a session musician in several bands, toured with artists such as Jeff Lorber & Richard Marx, and with Tom Scott as bandleader.
Wayman Tisdale
Starting out initially as a Basket ball player in the NBA, Wayman also won a gold medal as a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic basketball team. His best season was in 1989–90 with the Kings, when he averaged 22.3 points and 7.5 rebounds a game. Tisdale and Mitch “The Rock” Richmond combined to form one of the most dynamic duos in the NBA.
In terms of his music career, her launched his music career with Power Forward in 1995 on the Motown Label. Primarily a bass player, he recorded eight albums, with the 2001 release Face to Face climbing to No. 1 on Billboard’s contemporary jazz chart. In 2002, he was awarded the Legacy Tribute Award by the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. In an ESPN Internet chat, he described his musical influences included funk bands of the 1970s.
His most recent release, Rebound, was written and released after he had been diagnosed with cancer.
In August 2008, Tisdale had part of his right leg amputated because of the bone cancer. On his web site, Wayman said removing a portion of the leg would be the best way to ensure that the cancer would not return.
Unfortunately, we learned that on the morning of May 15, 2009 at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa Wayman was lost to the world. Wayman’s agent described his death as a ‘great shock’ and noted that Tisdale had been planning to go into the recording studio the following week for a project with jazz guitarist Norman Brown. We wish his family sincere sympathy.
Hiroshima
We feature an amazing tune from a band formed in 1974 and named after the Japanese city, Hiroshima. This track is from their first album entitled Hiroshima.
Paul Jackson from the CD Still Small Voice
From his website we read…Though Paul never got to meet or work with Wes Montgomery, one of his chief guitar influences, he has forged professional relationships with all the others who touched his formative years, including Earl Klugh, George Benson, Ray Parker Jr., Al McKay and Lee Ritenour. Since breaking into the Los Angeles studio scene at age sixteen, he has contributed his multi-faceted guitarisma to the biggest artists of pop,R&B, jazz and rock music:
Atmosphere by Alien Chatter from the CD Satellite Orchestra
Alien Chatter is the duo of percussionist Satnam Ramgotra and keyboardist Rodney Lee. Their sonic emissions are a sophisticated blend of atmospheric electronic textures and exotic rhythms. It is an eclectic mix of Indian tabla drums, acoustic jazz piano, synths, beatbox, spoken word in a primordial soup of electronics. The resulting experience is what happens when Massive Attack meets Tabla Beat Science and chill with the Martians.
Lonnie Liston Smith
From another one of our favourite keyboard artists who’s blessed our ears with some awesome space and spiritual music combined with funky beats and Jazz, this particular one had its place in the dance floors as well. The track is from the 1978 album entitled, ‘Exotic Mysteries’.
Jamiroquai
Jamiroquai are an English acid jazz/funk/soul/disco band. Jamiroquai were initially the most prominent component in the early-1990s London-based acid jazz movement, alongside groups such as Incognito, the Brand New Heavies, Galliano, and Corduroy. Subsequent albums have explored other musical directions such as pop, rock and electronica. Jamiroquai has sold over 21 million albums all over the world.
We eagerly await their new release expected in 2009, according to Wikipedia.
Bennie Maupin
This is an amazing track from a 1977 LP by Saxophonist, flutist, and bass clarinet player.
Atmosfear
From the 70s to the 80s, we had a local phenomenon that is known to many as the Brit-Funk era , where we had an emergence of some great Jazz-funk music from bands from here in the UK. These sounds have never been forgotten and they are remembered now more than ever.
Marvin Gaye
From the 1978 LP Here, My Dear. Marvin scored 41 Top 40 hit singles on Billboard’s Pop Singles chart between 1963 and 2001, 60 Top 40 R&B singles chart hits from 1962 to 2001, 18 Top Ten pop singles on the pop chart, 38 Top 10 singles on the R&B chart, three number-one pop hits and thirteen number-one R&B hits and tied with Michael Jackson in total as well as the fourth biggest artist of all-time to spend the most weeks at the number-one spot on the R&B singles chart (52 weeks). In all, Marvib produced a total of 67 singles on the Billboard charts in total, spanning five decades.
Deodato
Again, in searching for a space themed track this time the Prof found another gem deep in his collection. It is an early seventies interpretation of part of a familiar classical piece by Richard Strauss.
E W & F
One of the Docs all time funk blasters. EW & F formed back in 1969 !!! The band has won six Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards. They have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. They have sold over 90 million albums worldwide earning them a place on the list of best-selling music artists. Rolling Stone Magazine has described Earth, Wind & Fire as “innovative, precise yet sensual, calculated yet galvanizing”.
Earth, Wind and Fire were also ranked at number 60 on VH1’s list of the 100 Greatest Artists of Rock and Roll.
Down to earth for a second…
A wonderful form of highly innovative entertainment that kids aged from 6 right up to 160 can enjoy is taking place in New York starting May 13th 2009. It is described as a Unique Live Jazz Opera, that involves an all star ensemble including Jazz Singer and songwriter - Nancy Harrow. Nancy has teamed up with Culture Project, a new-york based organisation who blend prize-winning theatre with urgent moral drama, and bring the national political conversation to life on the New York Stage.
The event is a Jazz Puppet Show based on the award-winning book , ‘The Cat Who Went to Heaven’ by Elizabeth Coatsworth. The Story is told through Contemporary Jazz and the traditional Japanese art of Bunraku Puppetry
The six performances will take place at The Harlem School of the Arts Theater, 647 St. Nicholas Avenue between West 145th and 141st Streets, New York, NY 10030 starting Wednesday, May 13th 2009 at 7pm.
It has had some great reviews, ‘The show is a perfect introduction to jazz for children’, said Allan Buchman, Artistic Director, Culture Project. ‘For more seasoned jazz lovers, the show is an opportunity to enjoy Harrow’s beautiful score while soaking in the visual feast of Japanese Bunraku Puppetry’.
Thank you Amy for supplying the information on this special event.
Incognito
The enduring success of Incognito is one of the great stories of UK music during the last 20 years. Look at the recent history of soulful UK artists and you will find any number of short-lived acts that have achieved pop success. Narrow the list to those that have created a uniquely British sound and that have endured as a global phenomenon on their own terms and the list becomes short. Dues, then, to Jean-Paul ‘Bluey’ Maunick and Incognito, formed in 1980 and celebrating 25 years of positive vibes and undiluted jazz funk in 2005. Wow! It’ll be 30 years for genius music in 2010 !
Dexter Wansel
Our final offering for this galaxy quest podcast shares its name with a popular tv show and The Voyager spacecraft, launched in 1977 to explore the outer planets, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune,- having made many discoveries, including a possible ocean of liquid water on one of Jupiter’s moons.
We really hope you enjoyed this special and forward to your correspondence whether it be from Earth or from somewhere out there in the great expanse.
