A selection of originals and remix's by Ahmed Sirour

Ahmed Sirour

Grand Groove Radio-March 19 2021-Get Sun

Buy it here: https://orcd.co/brianjacksoninstrumentals

Legendary American musician Brian Jackson announces his first solo album in over 20 years, ‘This Is Brian Jackson’, produced by Phenomenal Handclap Band founder Daniel Collás and released on BBE Music.

Brian Jackson earned mythic status among music fans thanks to his pioneering work with Gil Scott-Heron in the 70’s, where his flute and electric piano performances on ‘Pieces of a Man’ and ‘Winter In America’ virtually defined the sound of an era. From the 80s onwards he went on to record with Kool & The Gang, Will Downing (whose debut album he produced), Roy Ayers and Gwen Guthrie among many others, and while many veteran musicians tend to stick with the sounds they know best at some point in their careers, Jackson remains an unusually adventurous, vital and broad-minded artist to this day.

When the Phenomenal Handclap Band’s Daniel Collás first met Brian Jackson at a performance in New York, right off the bat he said “I think I could produce you”. “I wasn’t sure why he thought that,” says Jackson “but I considered it a challenge to find out. Turns out that he was right.”

Early on in their friendship, Brian mentioned that he’d embarked on a solo project right around the time he recorded ‘Bridges’ with Gil Scott-Heron in 1976. There were even some unfinished demos, but the album had never materialised. Daniel leapt on the idea, asking “what would a Brian Jackson album sound like if the 21st century Brian were to complete that 1976 album today?” Completed in a series of twice weekly sessions over 11 months in Daniel’s Williamsburg studio, ‘This Is Brian Jackson’ provides the answer.
“We sketched out musical ideas, drank way too much coffee, consumed way too many tacos and sampled perhaps a few too many exotic whiskeys while talking about things that were important to both of us personally. The lyrics for the songs are a result of those conversations” says Jackson.

Contributors to the album range from Jackson’s guitarist, bassist and longtime friend Binky Brice (Billy Ocean, Evelyn Champagne King, Roy Ayers), Collás’s occasional writing partner Morgan Phalen, Latin Grammy-winning flautist Domenica Fossati, drummers Moussa Fadera and Caito Sanchez, and Phenomenal Handclap Bandmates Juliet Swango and Monika Heidemann.

And the music? Vintage, soul-stirring Brian Jackson, with the great man’s warm vocals, distinctive flute and lyrical keys taking centre stage. The songwriting feels timeless, the arrangement effortless, the production human and analogue. From golden-era soul-funk opener ‘All Talk’, through soaring Afrobeat-inspired dreamscape ‘Mami Wata’ to compact groover ‘Little Orphan Boy’ which closes the album, ‘This Is Brian Jackson’ is simply some of the veteran artist’s best work yet, subtly and lovingly framed by Daniel Collás.

Brian Jackson - All Talk (Instrumental)

So in this new challenge, I wanted to play around with my MPC Live 2 and sample stuff again. I took songs made in Italy and sampled them. This was track 9 of 9. 

Pranzo a Roma

Moon Over Ibiza (Cafe del Mar) - DJ Dyablow

tracklisting- https://h3reforareason.bandcamp.com/album/20bonuz-heavenly-home

buy at your own price!

env². - 20bonuz. (heavenly home.) - 03 lightz_II.

I recorded this in one take, so this arrangement was very raw and emotional in the moment that I was recording it...I can still hear and feel the sadness I had coming through this. This was created the same week of the news of Whitney's death and only days after I came up with the initial version on the night of her death, as told to me while I was on stage, in Brasil, after the Sun Ra Arkestra had long finished playing and their drummer came over with a heavy voice to tell me the news and ask me to "play a song for Whitney". This was the first thing that came to my mind and heart for one of the greatest vocalists of our lifetime...

"I Believe in You & Me" (an acoustic tribute to Whitney Houston)

This was created shortly after the tragedy that was (and STILL is) the Trayvon Martin murder in 2012. Some Hollywood people wanted to remake Chaka Khan's re-make of the classic and tapped me to come up with a new arrangement literally overnight. My version was eventually not used, but I decided to still post it because hey...I did it in half a day and was proud of it. The original co-writer of the song (Ricky Rouse) came after me earlier this year thinking I was trying to get publicity for something I had up for over 3 years and wasn't even trying to push so *shrugs* whatever. No disrespect intended and definitely no infringement caused as this is simply my original take/rearrangement and nothing more, and was requested by reps for Chaka herself, even if it wasn't used.

Anyway, enjoy, for those who do :)
____________________

SUPER LIFE lyrics (Chaka Khan, Ricky Rouse)

A mama's cryin'
'Cause another young man has gone and died
He's not some statistic
He's another awesome destiny denied

So I've got to stand tall
I'm gonna live a super life
For the rest of my life
I'm gonna live a super life
Super life, super life, yeah

We take it all so lightly
How did we get so 'climatized
On the 9 o'clock news nightly
Genocide of babies
I can't believe my eyes

Right or wrong
I'm gonna live a super life
For the rest of my life
I'm gonna live a super life
Super life, super life, yeah

You know the wrath of a woman
Is gonna bring about hell to pay
Everyone together come on get with me
Or get on out my way

I'm gonna live a super life
I'm gonna live a super life
(For the babies)

I'm gonna live a super life
I'm gonna live a super life
(For the babies)

Super Life  - Chaka Khan (Ahmed's New Instrumental Arrangement)

The lead single for the album COLLABORATIONS VOL. 1, featuring the beautifully-voiced (and soul) Jae Franklin, that is very relaxing every time I hear it (even as I contributed to it, of course); her soprano is so sweet that she could be straight dissing you while singing and you could still be okay with it lol

Go check out the rest of the amazing artists on this compilation which is the first of my series of collaborations: 
https://ahmedsirour.com/album/1773066/collaborations-vol-1

"Beautiful Soul" feat Jae Franklin (from COLLABORATIONS VOL. 1)

Partnered with Freestyle Records label mate Omar Lyefook (on vox) here the duo offer a fresh interpretation of Herbie's classic track, Butterfly.  The single is taken from Pine's new album, Black Notes From The Deep - out October 27th.

Butterfly

Pre-Order

Premiere: Courtney Pine feat. Omar - Butterfly

This is the first song I am debuting in what is my forthcoming album, 'Follow the M.A.P.'. What is unique about this album, for me, is that it's the first time I've ever released a project tuned at 432Hz, which is said to be a frequency that is aligned with the Earth's vibration and thus vibrates to the listener more naturally, and raises their level of consciousness and peace.  Also, it's my first time showcasing just me on piano, acoustically, as this was recorded in a studio with me on an actual full grand piano.

Most of our modern music and instruments are tuned to the standard 440Hz, and some say it limits the fullness of what the listener can receive from a song. To give an option, when the album drops on June 1st, I will also be offering it in the standard 440Hz (in other words when you buy the album, you'll be getting it in both versions...but one price, of course). You decide which feels/sounds better to you.

Lastly, for those who pre-order the album now and until the release date, I will actually send you a full, complimentary copy of my first album ever (The After 2am Sessions LP) converted to 432Hz, as a thank you for believing in and supporting my work!

Hope you enjoy what you hear, thus far, and stay tuned for another preview soon...

Follow the M.A.P.

Finding the Path

Finding The Path (from the forthcoming album 'Follow the M.A.P.')

FREE download of this remix at: https://ahmedsirour.com/track/2537090/dreams-solange-ahmed-sirour-lucid-remix

So, Solange drops this surprise album, 'When I Get Home' (https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/when-i-get-home/1454595364), and upon reaching track no.7, entitled "Dreams", I immediately knew I wanted to remix it. It had subtle movements in it so I decided to accentuate them and make more pronounced...Lucid 😉 (added keys, drums, bass, synth pads, percussion, lead synths, editing, mixing, and mastering). 

Intro - Duke Ellington explaining how he dreams

1st movement - jazz/swing

2nd movement - r&b/soul

3rd movement - deep house/soul house

Don't know how long IG will allow this to stay up (Youtube wouldn't even let it post) so enjoy it while it remains and @saintrecords, if do you take a listen, hopefully you'll enjoy a variation of your beautiful original 😊

Solange - Dreams (Ahmed Sirour Lucid Remix)

Liquid Beat Radio is live every Friday 8-9pm on XRAY.FM with DJ Roane & Matt Nelkin.

Playlist
Aru-2 - Bonker
Mulu Music - BusCrates Joint
Devin Morrison - With You f/ Joyce Wrice
Stro Elliot - Marvin’s Mood
Don Leisure - Mango Season
Fredfades - All I Do
~~~
DJ Deena Bee https://soundcloud.com/thesoundbox - guest mix

Liquid Beat Radio 04/05/19 - w/ Deena Bee

The release last autumn of Reel People’s first full studio album in 10 years was, it’s fair to say, a moment. Retroflection stylishly recreated soul, disco and boogie classics behind the collective’s formation nearly 20 years ago and exposed its rarefied DNA like never before. Now band leader Oli Lazarus widens the collective, inviting the world’s finest producers and remixers to add their funky splices to the Retroflection blueprint. Retroflection Remixed, featuring Mousse T., Osunlade, DJ Spinna, John Morales, Atjazz, Terry Hunter, Sebb Junior, Scott Diaz, Da Brownie, Tall Black Guy, Matt Cooper’s OUTSIDE, BusCrates and Art Of Tones, is a majestic rebooting of the soulful flow that swept us away in 2018.
	
Art Of Tones get’s his sparkly mitts on Don’t Stop The Music, swaggering synth ‘n’ bass riffs further underlining Angie Stone’s classy strut through Yarbrough & People’s 1980 hit, whilst Buscrates – true to the name of his remix – pumps irresistible funk bounce into I’m In Love, a truly lowdown re-skinning of Reel People’s Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King tribute where Navasha Daya’s vocal sounds sassier than ever.

Osunlade eases us in with an elegant re-interpretation of Reel People’s Pleasure cover Joyous, deep throbs of electronica and rippling percussion carrying loops of the vocal and that iconic sax solo to stunning new heights – or depths. Similarly, Atjazz dims the lights and intensifies the mood for his take on Twilight. Where Reel People played impressively close to Maze’s original, Atjazz treads to shuffling jazz drums, double-bass and piano. The build of parts is spine-tingling stuff. Matt Cooper and his outstanding OUTSIDE project also take on the mantle of Joyous, and serve us a full fat disco jazz funk odyssey.

There are a number of uptempo treats too. Take Sebb Junior’s snappy piano-house routine for the Mica Paris-fronted I Want To Thank You – a sparkling turbo-charge to Alicia Myers’ early Eighties gospel-R&B vibe – or NYC mix legend John Morales’ ecstatic nine-minute mirrorball twirl of Geraldine Hunt-anthem Can’t Fake The Feeling complete with epic drum and vocal (Daya once again) breakdowns. Respected UK house DJ-producer Scott Diaz gives the Sharlene Hector-led cover of Side Effect’s Always There greater guitar-licked urgency but without compromise to the song’s soulful poise and power, and revered Chicago veteran Terry Hunter is a match made in heaven for Tony Momrelle, who soars through the former’s soulfully-charged remix of Buttercup (Carl Anderson’s mid-Eighties, Stevie Wonder-penned gem) with all of its funky drums, b-line twists and warm musical arrangements. German maestro Mousse T. hands us a nostalgic rework of Teena Marie’s I Need Your Lovin’  featuring the female powerhouses Vulu Malinga, LaDonna Harley-Peters and Sharlene Hector.

Elsewhere, South African talent Da Brownie dresses Reel People’s peppy, Omar-fronted update of Skipworth & Turner treasure Thinking About Your Love in sharp, finely-detailed deep dance threads, and Detroit star Tall Black Guy (TBG) sprinkles considerable amounts of summer samba magic over Momrelle’s other Retroflection outing Can We Pretend - a stunning re-awakening of the Bill Withers and Jose Feliciano collabo for the second time in mere months. There’s room yet for DJ Spinna to expand the reaches of Keep It Up (Anthony David’s luscious rendition of Milton Wright’s deep-soul bomb) with another of his transcendental space-funk remixes. Mind-blowing.

Retroflection Remixed

Reel People feat. Navasha Daya - I'm In Love (BusCrates Remix)

Please help yourself to a FREE copy at: https://ahmedsirour.com/track/2537590/a-beat-supreme-john-coltrane-flipped and just enter "$0" when checking out to download this track :)

I think I had as much fun redesigning this iconic album cover as I did flipping this classic–"A Love Supreme: the Acknowledgement Part1"–to make this beat. It's one of my all-time favorite jazz songs...period!

Hey, I don't take lightly what it seems like to dare touch this beautiful, spiritual, sacred song, but I hope this opens the ears of those, especially the younger generation, who wouldn't ordinarily listen to John Coltrane or discover his legacy and how he is essential to the DNA of Hip Hop, let alone modern music, period...especially when he created this masterpiece 55 years ago, from today, on December 9th, 1964 (FYI, the track is exactly 5min and 5sec to commemorate the 55th anniversary of this prolific recording...a little thing I sneaked in if y'all didn't notice ;)

I hope you enjoy my beatmaking/Hip Hop flip of one of the greatest [Jazz] songs ever created!

A Beat Supreme

"A Beat Supreme (John Coltrane flipped)" - Ahmed Sirour

"memoir" represents the broad spectrum of emotions that I've experienced moving through life.

1. Jon Lucien - Kuendo
2. Terry Callier - What Color is Love
3. Kutiman - Once You Near Me
4. Stevie Wonder - The First Garden
5. Alice Coltrane - Turiya & Ramakrishna
6. Ramsey Lewis - Gemini Rising
7. Jon Lucien - Luella
8. John McLaughlin - My Foolish Heart
9. DJ Rogers - Love is On The Way
10. Lonnie Liston Smith - Peace 
11. Bobbi Humphrey - You Make Me Feel So Good
12. Patrice Rushen - Before The Dawn
13. Roberta Flack - Ballad of The Sad Young Man
14. Donny Hathaway - Sunshine Over Showers
15. Syreeta - Heavy Day
16. Chico Hamilton - The Morning Side of Love
17. DJ Rogers - Saved By Love
18. Stevie Wonder - Power Flower
19. Lonnie Liston Smith - Love Beams
20. Hilton Ruiz - 'Round Midnight
21. Me'Shell Ndegeochello - The Chosen 
22. The Robert Glasper Experiment - All Matter
23. Curtis Mayfield - When Seasons Change
24. Gino Vanelli - Where Am I Going

memoir.

MIMS is delighted to premiere “Come Inside”, the second single lifted from Italian pianist, composer and producer, Nicola Guida’s forthcoming ‘Speleology’ album, due for release early next year on Inner Circle Music, the prestigious US label headed by sax legend Greg Osby. 

“Come Inside” is a laid back exploration of jazz and hip hop, featuring Karnival Kid on MC duties. His nonchalant yet powerful delivery recalls Loyle Carner, and flows beautifully over Guida’s delicate playing, melting the notes of his piano into a seamless harmonic stream. Soothing flutes provide the melodic line throughout, with additional production adding layers of sonic richness.

A disciplined virtuoso and a freethinking, genre-bending pianist, Nicola Guida is a London-based Italian jazz pianist, composer and producer. Academician at heart - he's the author of two respected thesis on jazz and holds a Masters in Philosophy. On “Come Inside”, Nicola tells us "I'm so delighted to release this tune which contains a sample of one of my heroes, legendary Italian composer Piero Piccioni".

“Come Inside” will be released on November 27 on all digital platforms.

Pre-Save

Exclusive Premiere: Nicola Guida "Come Inside" (Forthcoming on Inner Circle Music)

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...

Global music lover. No genres that I stick with exclusively, I listen to what I like without exception. 

Prime areas of interest as follows but I don’t limit myself like I sometimes did in my youth. It's whatever hooks my ear these days, it’s all good. 

Lounge, chilled electronic. soulful house & garage, deep house, Jazzy House but overall and in any genre, I'm always seeking creative mix's with good track selections captured (a crucial aspect to this guy) 

Other likes are Hip-Hop & Jazz Fusions, 70's rare groove, D&B, reggae, dub & lovers and many others per my musical & life open-mindedness.
 
I'm really into any DJ's or Artist that can take me on a musical journey, hold the vibe throughout the mix/their work, that's what my favorite DJ's, Artists as well as life-memorable nights have all been made of so, these ears are always eager for more of the same.

Keep your musical faith music lovers & creators, forward people, one life, one love...music

Darren Emilio, London

Super Life - Chaka Khan (Ahmed's New Instrumental Arrangement)

Ahmed Sirour

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