.. Superb Ahmed, well done Sir! #MaximumKudos magnificent and majestic in both scope and execution, I already adore

Smooth@JazZ

Reposting my groove to Miles Davis 'Blue In Green' I did last year, if you've heard before apologies :) If not hope you like :)

A Late Night Groove to 'Blue In Green' - Miles Davis

(FYI: This song is available on my website at: https://ahmedsirour.com/track/2996468/midnight-melanin-manhattan-a-score-for-ivy as well as Bandcamp at: https://ahmedsirour.bandcamp.com/track/midnight-melanin-manhattan-a-score-for-ivy)

I created this based on a scene from the 1968 film, #ForLoveofIvy, which was a story written by the recently departed, late/great #SidneyPoitier and featuring the also late/great #AbbeyLincoln. The music you hear is an original score I created, inspired by this scene (not one of Quincy Jones', who beautifully scored the rest of this movie, although his style was an influence I wanted to partially emulate). I was actually surprised he left so much room open in this bedroom scene you're watching now, because the original scene had no music at all until after Ivy (Abbey) joins Jack (Sidney) in bed for Round 2 of their lovemaking. 

Inspired by the great cinematography and sexiness of this moment, this is an all original arrangement of my own, and even chopping up and editing the royalty-free horns that I used for the trumpet and saxophone solos (which was very difficult to do because it's a combination of many different real horn player samples that I had to edit/pitch/re-arrange/EQ just for it to sound like two players to add to the grand piano, upright/double bass, and horn parts in the hook/chorus that I manually played and myself on keyboard (via Logic Pro instruments) to make it into a Jazz "quartet", then finally mixing and mastering the whole thing for it to come out finally as it did, which you can hear in full from the link at the top of this description.

Like many, I took a trip down memory lane, watching #SidneyPoitier films, since his recent passing at age 94. However, not many people know of/have seen this particular film called  "For Love of Ivy", which is kinda surprising since Sidney was THE biggest movie star in Hollywood at the time this film came out in 1968.

To put it in perspective, he started filming this movie (an original story he wrote, himself) in the Autumn of '67, but just a few months earlier that year, #ToSirWithLove dropped in the Spring, followed by #InTheHeatoftheNight that Summer, and #GuessWhosComingToDinner was up next in December to close out his undefeated year as the King of the Silver Screen. While each film in '67 was a blockbuster hit (and all dealt with #racism in some form), "Ivy" was very different as it was a rare mainstream film showcasing two Black romantic leads–Sidney, and the magnificent Jazz singer/activist Abbey Lincoln (who had a dope afro but they gave her a wig, instead 🙄 )–and it even featured the very first (though not explicit) Black lovemaking scene in a Hollywood movie. Perhaps that's why it didn't get much publicity over time as those others did, because more radical than a 1967 film with an interracial couple is a 1968 one with a Black couple being intimate on the big screen.

Ivy's character looked so serene, looking through the window, out over Manhattan late at night, in the afterglow of their tryst, before taking the throne and looking over her sleeping "conquest" 😉 It's a sexy scene without music, but I wanted to hear what it would sound like with some, and so I take this moment to celebrate the memory and legacy of Sidney Poitier, of Abbey, and this wonderful moment of #BlackLove on film with it!

This song will be included in my upcoming project I'm releasing on my bday, Tuesday, the 22nd of February, 2022 (or 22/02/2022). That's also the title of the project: 22022022 (the only palindrome b'earthday I'll have in my lifetime). I hope you enjoy and Happy #BlackHistoryMonth.

#AhmedSirour

Midnight, Melanin, & Manhattan (a score for Ivy)

"Midnight, Melanin, & Manhattan (a score for Ivy)"

From the album 'Umakhulu' (AFS052)

Ayanda Sikade on Drums
Nduduzo Makhathini on Piano
Simon Manana on Alto Sax
Nhlanhla Radebe on Bass

Produced by Ayanda Sikade
Recorded by Peter Auret at Sumo Sound
Mixed and Mastered by Gavan Eckhart at Soul Fire Studios
Artwork: Michael MacGarry
Cover photo: Vuyo Giba

© Ayanda Sikade 2021/22
℗ Afrosynth Records 2021/22 - www.afrosynth.com

Distributed by Rush Hour, Amsterdam - www.rushhour.nl https://www.rushhour.nl/record/vinyl/umakhulu

Umakhulu

'Imithandazo Yeengelosi' (prayer of angels) - Ayanda Sikade

Let It Ride

Let It Ride (From "Norah Jones is Playing Along" Podcast)

I wrote this tune on the piano immediately after a Gospel choir rehearsal in June, 2014.  It flew out of nowhere & I knew I only had minutes to capture it...  I soon ran home excited & spent the evening piecing my words together.  

MUSIC VIDEO:   https://youtu.be/B0_lEGRXJks

Stories & Rhymes

Step into the world of Don Antonio, a New York City-based DJ and vinyl aficionado who seamlessly blends the timeless energy of the disco era with the innovative, futuristic vibes of deep house music. Known for his unparalleled vinyl collection and a deep appreciation for both fashion and art, Don Antonio is a true connoisseur of culture—curating experiences that are as much about the vibe as they are about the groove.

NºBetween Bar

DJ Big Jacks - Snacks, Crackles, & Bops! Episode 001 (SCB!001)
70s & 80s Modern Soul | Slow Burners | AOR | Samples | 
All original vinyl mix (7" - 45s)

watch full video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaUbY278x3I&t=22s

https://instagram.com/djbigjacks
https://www.tiktok.com/@djbigjacks 
https://soundcloud.com/bigjacks
https://x.com/bigjacks

photography : Mara Valenzuela

Snacks, Crackles & Bops! Episode 001 (SCB!001) | Modern Soul | Boogie | Slow Burners

Two legends have passed on recently - Roberta Flack and Gwen McCrae, both of whom had records that have been important to me for many years. Unfortunately some of my Roberta Flack records were damaged in a flood years ago, and so I tried to pull a few favorites from what I still have, and mostly less obvious pieces from both artists catalogs. That being said, I still included two big hits on here because of the impact that each song had on me - McCrae's "90% of Me" is such vintage funk, a record I got in my earliest days of digging, and I will always cherish. And Flack's amazing duet with Donnie Hathaway, "Back Together Again" - I will never forget when Bobbito dropped this at APT in late 2001 and DJ Center and I lost our minds. RIP to these incredibly amazing women.

Pullin from the Stacks - Roberta Flack & Gwen McCrae Tribute

https://basementmembrane.bandcamp.com/album/good-morning-neighbours

Basement Membrane - 'Stepzz'

Deep Rooted

Deep Rooted (Mixed by Atjazz)

1. JazzedMontage - Freedom Jazz 
2. Fizzikx	-  After Hours (Unreleased)	
3. Lerato BeGood - Simply Living
4. MoreSoul - The Revival
5. MoreSoul & Dav Risen - Samba Praise
6. Fouk - Tapioca (Crackazat Remix) 
7. Luis Radio - The EWF Theme
8. The Principal - Mnandi Nice
9. Close Counters - FREEDOM WE'RE NEEDING (feat. Shiv)
10. Distant People - What Is Love (feat. MissFly)
11. DFRA Experience Jazz Band - Latin Note (Tribute to St. Germain)
12. Nicola Conte - Umoja (Joaquin Joe Claussell Sacred Rhythm Music & Cosmic Arts Remixes)

Jazzy Mood Vol.9

Ed Nine @ The Goods 4:24:2025

back at it with another terminally chill hour of eclectic downtempo grooves for @radioalhara <3 

slow radio baby, enjoy x

Yasmin: Slow Radio Vol. 6

Ep. 834 - June 20, 2025

KALW 91.7 FM | SF Bay Area Radio (7.04.25)

Bedroom beats & dancefloor treats

FRIDAY NIGHTS
10pm-12am PST
91.7 FM Bay Area
KALW.ORG Worldwide 

*COMMENT FOR TRACK ID*

Check out the show page & playlist here ---> 
www.kalw.org/jboogie
@kalwmusic
@kalwradio
@tunein & @npr : KALW

KALW app available in App Store and Play Store


KALW 91.7 FM | SF Bay Area Radio (7.04.25)

THE OFFICIAL SOUNDCLOUD ACCOUNT FOR AHMED SIROUR

Well, after having many tracks on Soundcloud, include various remixes that were up for years without any issue, SC started throwing strikes at me left and right, even with those I had proof I had permission to post, but they decided to take down my former page: (at)22music, inclusive of the thousands of wonderful followers who've joined me over the years.

So now I start back from the very beginning, the ground up, and hopefully many of you will find me again as well as newcomers who are hearing my work for the first time--and this time it will only be MY original work (or remixes that are verified)! lol Either way, I hope you take yet another journey again with me as I push the envelope with even more music, more positive vibrations, and more influences from around the world as I infuse my travels into my sounds...

"Midnight, Melanin, & Manhattan (a score for Ivy)"

Ahmed Sirour

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