Lets go to fly

i-sha feels through a deeply personal session of emotional resonance and cathartic intensity for this week’s Fact Mix.

https://www.factmag.com/2023/04/03/fact-mix-i-sha/

Fact Mixes

Fact Mix 902: i-sha (Apr '23)

Esperanto - Night Of The Wolf

If you've listened to Top 40 radio or flipped through the video channels during the past few years, odds are pretty good you know something about John Legend. He played piano on Lauryn Hill's "Everything Is Everything" and might as well be considered Kanye West's sidekick, having assisted the producer and MC on several sessions — Jay-Z's "Encore" and Slum Village's "Selfish" being two of the more prominent 2004 singles featuring his work. A former choir director, he has also released a handful of energetic live discs, some of which are credited to his less hubristic birth name, John Stephens. And though he claims "I've got something new," you've also heard substantial chunks of Get Lifted in records made decades ago by Sly & the Family Stone, Curtis Mayfield, Quincy Jones, and Bill Withers. This might not be a problem for listeners who crave anything that recalls the music they first heard in their youth, but Legend's over-reliance upon his inspirations is an impediment as much as a slick way to grab attention. That's because he has more than enough talent and charm to get by on his own. His own lyrics and hooks are unique and clever enough to get the point across that he's no everyday R&B artist and, just as importantly, he has a personable and instantly fetching voice you could listen to all day long. However, the association with West — whose Sony-distributed boutique label released the record — is very helpful. Without it, Legend would likely be zoned into neo-soul (2003's Live at SOB's New York City really makes this notion apparent), thereby standing little chance of reaching the ears of anyone younger than 30. The production work supporting his songs strikes a fine balance between soul and hip-hop, allowing him to appeal to those who are coming from either angle. This is a very good record. It's a given that Legend is destined to make at least two others that top it. 

Get Lifted

John Legend - Used to Love U

John Legend - Tonight (Best You Ever Had) feat. Ludacris
Check out my new single “Tonight (Best You Ever Had)” available on iTunes 1/31 from the “Think Like A Man” movie soundtrack on Epic Records!

Tonight (Best You Ever Had)

Tonight (Best You Ever Had) feat. Ludacris

3 hour set in Soho, London. Starts off mellow building to a groovy, disco-funk-house vibe heading back to a mellow finale. 

Tracklisting:

The Style Council - It's a Very Deep Blue Sea
Ohm Guru - Tokio Station
The Main Ingredient - Eupharates
Goldie - State of Mind
Rodney Franklin - The Groove
The Younger Generation - We Rap More Mellow (Joey Negro Remix)
Norman Collins - Stella (Joey Negro Remix)
Donald Byrd - Love Has Come Around
Randell & Schippers - Love Jam
Escort - Cocaine Blues (Greg Wilson Version)
Psychemagik & Navid Izadi - Mink & Shoes (Greg Wilson Edit)
Samson & Delilah - I Can Feel Your Love
Candi Staton - Hallelujah Anyway (Larse Vocal)
Fantasy - You're Too Late
Radiance - You're My Number One
Rich Cason & DJ Flash - Still Can't Stand It (Extended Mix
Antoniou - Sound On Sound
Santuary - I Am Going to Love Him
Golden Girls - Make It Right
Crown Heights Affair - Dancin'
Kleer - Open Your Mind
Lisa Hill - I'm On the Real Side
Brand New Heavies - Dream Come True (Joey Negro Reality Mix)
Escape From New York - Save Our Love (Dub Instrumental)
I Level - Give Me (American Mix)
Ralph Myerz and the Jack Herren Band - Think Twice
Chris Rea - Josephine (French Edit)
Ned Doheny - Prove My Love
The Style Council - Iwasadoledadstoyboy
Sugardaddy - How Long Has This Been Going On (Tensnake Vocal Remix)
Nelly Furtado - Say It Right (Main)
Bryan Ferry - Don't Stop the Dance (Greg Wilson & Derek Kaye Mix)
Blow Monkeys - La Passionara (12" Version)
America - Tin Man
Louis Armstrong - Mack the Knife

Sun & 13 Cantons 2 November 2018

Funky House Disco Set at Soul Box, Old St Records, Old St, London 
3 November 2018 

Tracklisting:

Wanda Walden - Don't You Want My Lovin' (Joey Negro Back To '81 Mix)
Wilton Felder and Bobby Womack - Inherit the Wind (Extended Mix)
Jimmy the Twin - Bad Mamma Jamma
Change  - A Lover's Holiday
Jimmy the Twin - Midnight Shuffle
Lisa Hill - I’m On the Real Side
The Far Out Monster Disco Orchestra - Step Into My Life (M&M John Morales Mix)
Brand New Heavies - Dream Come True
Thelma Houston - I'm Here Again (Joey Negro Ready To Roll Mix)
Eli Escobar feat. Steven Klavier - Back 2 Luv
Jimmy & Fred - I See Lights (Karmon Remix)
New Experience - Frisco Disco
Sandy Barber - I Think I'll Do Some Stepping (On My Own) (Opolopo Rework)
Donna Summer - I Feel Love (Patrick Cowley Mega Edit)
Crown Heights Affair - Dancin’
Sugardaddy - Love Honey (Acid Version)
Fire Island - There But For the Grace of God (feat. Love Nelson) (Roach Motel Mix)
Doug Willis - Crystal Lover (Joey Negro Dub Disco Mix)
Billy Nichols - Give Your Body Up To the Music (2014 Remastered Version)
Aquarium Dream - You’re a Star

Disco & Boogie at Eddie Piller's Soulbox - 3 Nov 2108

This is a portion of a Johnny "Hammond" Smith song entitled "Dreams." Johnny is on piano and Grover Washington Jr. is on saxophone. This is just a sample from the song for the purpose of this remix contest. Enjoy.

Dreams-remix

▶ Preorder on iTunes UK/Europe/ROW: http://itunes.kud.li/fsrcd099
▶ Preorder on Amazon UK: http://kud.li/12DcY6C

<b>OUT: 24 June 2013</b>

"When I grow up, I wanna be like Omar" - Stevie Wonder

There are precious few, if any contemporary UK artists whose creative credentials and influence extend as far and so consistently wide as Freestyle Records' most recent signing Omar. Since first breaking through to worldwide renown all the way back in 1991 with his first releases on Gilles Peterson's seminal Talkin' Loud label, and since going on to work with all manner of musical legends including a certain Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, Angie Stone, Syreeta Wright, Common, and Carleen Anderson.

Omar returns with a brand new album that many say is without doubt the strongest of his entire career. The buzz generated by the single release of the album's title track, The Man, confirmed beyond doubt that Omar is very much at the top of his game, with everyone from BBC 6 Music's Gilles Peterson, BBC Radio 2's Trevor Nelson and Jamie Cullum giving both major support and high praise for the simply magnificent new high point for Omar's renowned ability to write devastatingly catchy melodies.

Across the rest of this new album, opener Simplify sets the template, with its luscious and majestic string backed introduction raising the curtain on this deep, hard grooving number. Omar also joins forces with Germany's Hidden Jazz Quartett on High Heels - growling organ spars with the tough, jagged drumbeat on this tough, funk driven collaboration. Elsewhere, latin textures and rhythms have always been part of Omar's far reaching musical vocabulary, and on Come On Speak To Me and Ordinary Day restless south American beats underpin the crisp and fresh melodies.

Soul II Soul's Caron Wheeler offers her distinctive voice on the duet Treat You, allowing these two legendary voices to unite beautifully. Completing the circle that began all the way back in the early 1990s, Omar has re-recorded his classic love song There's Nothing Like This, which this time features bass player to the Gods Pino Palladino. The touching sentiment remains undiminished, but the addition of soaring strings, soulful, jazzy horns, a vibrant live and acoustic feel, plus an extended and new arrangement.

This album will surely become known as the most eclectic, confident, mature and soulful album of his career. After all, Stevie Wonder knows, Erykah Badu knows... and now everyone knows; Omar is The Man.

13 Omar - Ordinary Day (feat. Stuart Zender)

Releasing the best in funk, jazz, soul, reggae & more since 2003

13 Omar - Ordinary Day (feat. Stuart Zender)

Freestyle Records

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