Loving this joint ... Clyde Stubblefield lives on, always.  Aside from the dope break, digging the vocals and lyrics, great production.  Thanks, guys. 🔥🔥🔥 Supported @rhythmicity

Fatima - Technology Prod. Oh No

4Hero - When She Smiles

Quick Flip STBB# 897

Written, Produced, Recorded, & Mixed by Dolphin
All Instruments (Vocals, Piano, Strings, Bass, & Drum Programming) by Dolphin

Mastered by Doc Adam
Artwork by Rob Lewis

As heard on Spike Lee's 'She's Gotta Have It' season 2 (episode #8, 2019)

 
Lyrics:

Mom worked two jobs to make sure we had
She never took a day off, even though she can
Long days and nights, she never cried in our face
When you lead by example, you do it with grace

Help me find a healthy way out of here
Somewhere safe where I can save my mind

"If this world is mine, I design this world,"
said a young black boy and girl
Did we come from the sun, or beyond the skies?
What will become of the young black mind?

Father had problems, he lived on his own
Stepfather became father, choice of his own
He’d tell me stories about wars between Egypt and Rome
He said there’s loves in these projects, but the rest of the globe -
you must know, you must go as far as you can go

Help me get healthy and get out of here
Somewhere safe where I can save my mind

"If this world is mine, I design this world,"
said a young black boy and girl
Did we come from the sun, or beyond the skies?
What will become of the young black mind?

As far as you can go…

Help me get me healthy and get out of here
Somewhere safe where I can save my babies and my mind
Living in this system that wasn’t designed for you at all
From the moment you’re born, till the moment that you fall

She said "I can’t give you much, but I’ll do what I can
One day you’ll be a family man, you’ll understand"
Life moves so fast, the future becomes the past
The day becomes the memory that barely lasts

But I have to thank you
You gave me everything that I needed to survive,
to survive...
And I know you’re watching

Dolphin "Young Black Mind"

JAZZ RE:FRESHED LIVE VOLUME ONE is FREE and is attached to the front cover of the first edition of our publication - the jazz re:freshed scrapbook 2003-2014.

All tracks were recorded live at the jazz re:freshed weekly residency at Mau Mau Bar. 
Featuring:
Cory Henry // www.coryhenry.com
Emmanuel Franklyn Adelabu // soundcloud.com/emmafranade
Myriad forest // @myriadforest
Zara McFarlane // www.zaramcfarlane.com
TURTL // @turtlmusic
Dominic J Marshall // www.dominicjmarshall.com
Femi Temowo // www.femiguitar.com
Peter Edwards Trio // www.peteredwardsmusic.co.uk
Astral travel // www.facebook.com/astraltravelmusic
JD73's Electrio // www.jd73.co.uk
Resolution 88 // www.resolution88.com
Abdul Shyllon // @abdulshyllon 
Thousand Kings // 
Moses Boyd Exodus // www.mosesboyd.bandcamp.com

To buy a copy of the jazz re:freshed scrapbook and get this album free please head to https://jazzrefreshed.bandcamp.com/merch/jazz-re-freshed-scrapbook-2003-2014

JAZZRE:FRESHED LIVE VOL ONE - SAMPLER

flying

Hear the track live on #TightSongs hosted by @freshselects https://www.mixcloud.com/FreshSelects/tight-songs-episode-108-july-2nd-2016/

** FREE DOWNLOAD : https://www.toneden.io/cosmic_children/post/marvin **

This Ain't Livin (Marvin Edit)

As one third of SA-RA Creative Partners Shafiq Husayn helped change the world, producing, writing and collaborating with a diverse cast of artists, from Common to Kanye, Jill Scott to J Dilla . Here he links with Anderson Paak (formerly know as Breezy Lovejoy)for 'It's Better For You', the first song lifted from forthcoming album The L∞P.
Buy: http://eglorecords.bandcamp.com/album/its-better-for-you-ft-anderson-paak
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/its-better-for-you-single/id923700994

Shafiq Husayn ft. Anderson Paak 'It's Better For You'

Album available here: https://bbemusic.lnk.to/clrswrld
Renowned crate digger, respected producer and talented DJ, Chris Read has been releasing and compiling music on BBE for some years, both as a solo artist and with electronic soul outfit Maylight. Created alongside Chicago rapper and vocalist Pugs Atomz, 'Colours Of The World', started life when the latter was in London recording and touring with BBE label- mate and mutual friend DJ Vadim's group The Electric. Initially collaborating on just two tracks which were both featured on Chris Read's 2015 retrospective 'All Night', the pair continued to work remotely after Pugs returned to his native Chicago, enlisting several guest vocalists and musicians from the area.
A true hip hop renaissance man, Pugs Atomz has travelled the world several times over, always making a big impression thanks to his energetic stage performances, forward-thinking attitude and highly relatable lyrics. Mix-tape maestro and curator at whosampled.com, Chris Read's beat-making credentials simply cannot be overstated. 'Colours Of The World' lays out solid boom-bap beats while making use of obscure jazz fragments to create dazzling sonic mosaics; smooth, sumptuous and soulful throughout. Pugs' dextrous flow switches seamlessly between classic rap styles and more abstract, 'OutKast-esque' vocal acrobatics. Made in the image of progressive, life-affirming 90's hip hop and containing a unique blend of UK/US influences, 'Colours Of The World' is almost as nostalgic as it is original.

Chris Read & Pugs Atomz - Baby Don't Go

"I love The Expansions their futuristic leanings inject new life into the form. Fresh material!" Ian Merchant (Black Acre)

“Exudes all the qualities I cherish most in music, warmth, integrity and a dedication to the groove… it’s a hard road to travel when you step in the footprints of giants, The Expansions are treading that path with ease and assurance.” Patrick Forge

"Coming off something like the UK's more jazz-funk fueled answer to BBNG, all four quarters of this monstrous unit are on point on this hugely anticipated release. There's got to be a very special long-player in the works, and I for one can't wait to immerse myself in that!" Dom Servini (Wah Wah 45s) 

“The Expansions, very funky! Headhunters/Weather Report inspired, and definitely worth checking out. My new favourite band.” Steve White (Style Council, Paul Weller)
=========
When The Expansions self released their first single in 2013, the laid-back jazz funk of Lavender, it quickly gained strong support from soul and rare-groove aficionados including Kenny Dope, Dom Servini, Patrick Forge and Andy Smith. A run of shows followed and before long, when someone was asking if there was a soul-jazz band around to play with, “The Expansions” was the answer. 

Although this popularity meant a hiatus in releasing music, the band have been constantly busy, playing around Europe with legendary British-Ghanaian soul singer, Andrew Ashong and the exceptional, upcoming talent Connie Constance. 

Murmuration, recorded over three days at Big Noise in Southend, is constructed of single takes, with minimal overdubs, as the band attempt to capture the feeling and energy they create live. 

Debut single Breakthrough introduced the insanely catchy but deeply soulful blend of synths and groove, but here on the album that is explored to the fullest with longer breakdowns and more expansive, experimental solos. Pocket 5 displays the, possibly unexpected, influences of broken beat and almost combative rhythm playing – particularly in the complex guitar and keys breakdown where Koor and O’Keefe layer conflicting time signatures and battle to ride it out to the heavy drum return. 

Cannonball brings warm mellowness that delicately evolves through beats, touching on bossas alongside their fundamental hip-hop sensibilities. But even here there is a raucous zenith before the band sublimely recede into the silence of the a-side ending. 

Colossal album highlight Ivory Mountain is truly an epic. Evoking moments of 4Hero, there is a lightness of groove in the first half of this soulful exploration. But at the halfway point, all restraint is let go as a live string section joins the four quarters of the band for three glorious minutes of soulful disco. Evoking sounds of Quincy Jones, George Benson and Johnny Hammond, all the way through to a beautifully cacophonous finale. 

Dragonfly undoubtedly reflects on the work of Herbie Hancock and is the most direct throwback to the band’s earlier work, which is a welcome marker of how far they have come. A quintessential jazz funker. 

The album closes with the thoughtful and introverted shuffle of Miles Away. In the final eight minutes of Murmuration, The Expansions allow space and time to take precedence, with once-more-restrained peaks and developments. It becomes clear though, that the band cannot resist one last explosive finale, as they rise with screeching synths, strings and dubs for a perfect race to the finish line. 

You can hear the influences of Idris Muhammad, Grover Washington, even parallels with South London peers Yussef Kamaal and Ruby Rushton. But The Expansions have tirelessly worked to create a sound of their own and are very proud, along with label Albert’s Favourites, to finally share it.

Murmuration

The Expansions - Cannonball

Taken from 'Meghalaya' EP, released 29th March 2019 on Soul Has No Tempo: https://tianakhasi.bandcamp.com/album/meghalaya-ep

Follow Tiana Khasi -
Facebook: http://facebook.com/tianakhasi
Twitter: http://twitter.com/TianaKhasi
Instagram: http://instagram.com/tianakhasi
Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/artist/6kM1b2Ze9w94VPfq4KhJF3

Whole Lotta Shine

Join the BBE Mailing List: http://eepurl.com/yfBFX

Founded in 1996 by Peter Adarkwah, Barely Breaking Even (BBE Music) started life as a London club night, taking its name from the eponymous Disco record by the Universal Robot Band.

The label grew from the vibrant early 90's club scene with its first release, Stop & Listen compiled by Dr Bob Jones in 1996, opening the door to iconic series' such as All Back To Mine & Late Nite Tales.

A tonne of releases followed, ranging from Disco to Funk, Jazz to House. In the year 2000, the label celebrated Masters at Work's 10th Anniversary with a mighty box set that featured near 80 tracks.

A year later BBE Music spawned the Beat Generation Series of artist albums, notably introducing J Dilla (Welcome 2 Detroit) & a young Will.I.Am's first solo outing, alongside DJ Jazzy Jeff, Madlib & DJ Spinna, all of whom contributed to this seminal set of long players.

A quarter of a century and well over 500 titles later, having worked with Mark Ronson, Roy Ayers, Questlove, Hugh Masekela, DJ Premier, Dimitri from Paris, Joey Negro, Kon, RZA, Laurent Garnier, Black Coffee, DJ Shadow, David Rodigan and John Morales among many others, BBE Music looks to the future, celebrating its rich heritage while continuing to release a bounty of fresh titles.

The label’s most recent projects include an expansive reissue series from pioneering Nigerian label Tabansi, new imprint ‘Batakari’ in association with Boddhi Satva and the critically acclaimed ‘J Jazz’ Japanese Jazz multi-album project, not to mention the recent landmark 500th label release: a brand new version of 'Barely Breaking Even', featuring Leroy Burgess, Patrick Adams and Louie Vega.

In 2021 BBE Music is celebrating its 25th anniversary. To mark this milestone, the label is offering up some special projects, from the 20th Anniversary edition of J Dilla’s ‘Welcome 2 Detroit’, through David Bowie tribute album ‘Modern Love’, to a special new ‘Worldwide’ compilation from old friend Gilles Peterson. BBE Music will also be looking to the future with more exciting original artist projects, plus merch collaborations events and more...

Chris Read & Pugs Atomz - Baby Don't Go

BBE Music

Recent comments

WK01.

Rhythmicity

Buss Da Husslah

Related tracks