Get Down with Illa J and Amp Fiddler. Introducing Illa J’s second single “Get Down.” This track offers a glimpse into the creative life of John Yancey, a versatile artist known for his skills as both a rapper and singer-songwriter. “Get Down” is from his upcoming album “No Traffic,” which is entirely written and produced by Illa J himself.

On this soulful track, Illa J is joined by Detroit legend Amp Fiddler on the hook. Fiddler’s contributions to the music industry are vast, having worked with some of the biggest names in the business, including Prince, Moodymann, and J Dilla. Speaking of J Dilla, it’s a ‘Fantastic’ fact that Amp Fiddler is credited with introducing Illa J’s older brother to the Akai MPC in the ’90s? That revolutionary moment changed the direction of music forever.

But let’s get back to Illa J’s lyrical prowess. In “Get Down,” John’s playful style and delivery are on full display as he runs through various aliases from JohnClef to JohnDWayne. With this track, Illa J showcases his musical versatility and gives listeners a glimpse into his world and creative processes. As the chorus says: “They Don’t Know,” and this is your chance to find out.

If you’re a fan of Illa J, don’t miss the chance to pre-order “No Traffic,” his first solo album on the iconic label BBE Music. And if you’re new to his music, “Get Down” is the perfect introduction to this talented artist. Finally, you can rest assured that this track is mastered with love by the Carvery Studios. So what are you waiting for? Get down with Illa J and Amp Fiddler today!

Illa J - Get Down (Instrumental)

Named in direct reference to arguably one of the greatest albums ever created, "Giant Steps" by John Coltrane, "Giant Stops" pays homage to the rich legacy of jazz while pushing the boundaries of the genre with a contemporary twist. The album seamlessly blends jazz, hip-hop, and electronic elements to create a unique sonic landscape that is both nostalgic and modern.

For Minus & MRDolly, "Giant Stops" represents a new chapter in his evolution as a musician, showcasing his growth and commitment to pushing boundaries in his genre-bending style. Taking inspiration from the creative process of Makaya McCraven, the album features dynamic instrumentals backed by a live band, with Minus & MRDolly's signature lyricism and storytelling shining through both the instrumentals and the lended work of guest musician such as Meta_ or Luca Argel. By using this production method the album takes a bold stand for the importance of sampling as an art form hoping to encourage listeners to appreciate the rich history and evolution of hip hop and to recognize the essential role that sampling has played in shaping the genre.

As a nod to his Portuguese roots, "Giant Stops" represents a deeper exploration of the artist's identity and a commitment to looking inward to find creative inspiration. With this album, Minus & MRDolly hopes to inspire others to embrace their own unique perspectives and use them to create art that connects with audiences on a deeply emotional level.

In a world where technology threatens to replace human creativity, "Giant Stops" is a reminder that the power of art to connect with people on a fundamental level is enduring and will continue to shape our world for generations to come.

Artist: Minus & MRDolly
Title: Giant Stops LP
Label: Jazzego
Cat: Jazzego
Format: Vinyl + Digital
Genre: Jazz / Contemporary / Electronic / Hip Hop
Release Date: June 2023
Buy / Pre Order: https://www.juno.co.uk/products/minus-mrdolly-giant-stops-vinyl/949511-01/

Giant Stops

Exclusive Premiere: Minus & MRDolly "Home Again" (forthcoming Giant Stops LP)

I'm by no means super deep on Brazilian jazz, but figured it was a good time to play a few favorites! This is a mix of mostly Brazilian legends with one or two covers of Brazilian classics played by U.S. artists sprinkled in. Enjoy! 

Tracklist: Baden Powell, Dom Salvator, Tania Maria, Dom Um Romao, Joao Donato, Tamba Trio, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Manfredo Fest, Azymuth, Moacir Santos, Deodato, Sergio Mendes, Freddie Roach

July 26 2023

Subscribe on Apple!

Pullin from the Stacks - Episode 232 - Brazilian Jazz

Curating and ordering the tracks for a Mr Bongo Record Club is always special. You’re reminded of the feelings you had when sitting at home with a cassette player on pause trying to compile the perfect mixtape to impress the latest object of your affection, or that friend with whom you share a musical kinship and spark off each other’s latest discoveries. Hearing old tracks for the first time or diving into the most upfront selections keeps the fires burning and passions alight. 

Here, for volume six, we present recent finds and treasured classics from Brazil, Sweden, the USA, South Africa, Portugal, Japan, Trinidad and Tobago, and Canada. We have included selections by the Brazilian rising star Dora Morelenbaum as well as from heritage-Brazilian musicians and vocalists Haréton Salvanini, Copa 7, and Mirna. There’s also the wonderful Brazilian-not-Brazilian take of 'Ye Me Le' by Hazel Scott And The Braza Brasil, plus sublime gospel from the New York Community Choir. We’ve picked disco and soul rarities by General Lee and Ash Soul, Inc., and for the first time on vinyl, an incredible psych-pop song by the illustrious Matthew Tavares. There are cuts from some of our favourite contemporary Swedish musicians, Sven Wunder and Dina Ögon too. This compilation is packed full of gems that are plucked from differing times and spaces, but somehow all gel together beautifully. We hope you love them too. 

Artwork illustration by Nicolas Burrows.

16. Philip Melala And The Movers - Intandane

12. Mirna - A Volta

10. Haréton Salvanini - Estrada

7. Mave & Dave - Do You Really Want My Love

Japan has produced some exceptionally talented jazz drummers and among them is Tatsuya Nakamura, who joins the BBE Music J Jazz Masterclass Series with his album ‘Locus’ from 1984, a session covering several bases, from heavy percussive samba to meditative avant-ambient. This is the album’s first ever reissue, although a track from ‘Locus’, ‘1⁄4 Samba’, was included on J Jazz vol. 3.

Nakamura began his drumming career as a teenager, inspired after seeing the documentary film “Jazz on A Summer’s Day” and listening to his idols Art Blakey and Miles Davis. By his early twenties, Nakamura was working with such luminaries as free jazz guitarist Masayuki Takayanagi, pianist Masaru Imada and band leader & composer Mitsuaki Kanno. In the mid-70s, like several other Japanese jazz players, Nakamura decided to make the move to New York where he studied drumming with Roy Haynes, and performed with members of the AACM and players from the loft and free jazz scenes including Richard Davis, George Adams, John Hicks, and Pharaoh Sanders. Returning to Japan, Nakamura continued playing as leader of his Japanese band The Jazz Fellows and in 1979, he went into the studio as leader for the classic “Where Is The Quarter” session featuring Masaru Imada, Hideto Kanai and Kenji Mori. This session includes the original percussion heavy version of ‘1⁄4 Samba’ and was followed by a period back in NYC during which he recorded the funky/free session ‘Rip Off’ in 1980. 1984 saw Nakamura working as leader of a heavy-duty fusion septet and in February of that year he led them in a performance at Audio Technica Hall. The album ‘Locus’ on Sea Horse Records is the label’s one and only release.

On ‘Locus’, Nakamura is joined by a stellar line-up. On trumpet is Shinobu Fujimoto and he’s joined by seasoned bass player Hideto Kanai (1931 -2011) who began playing in the mid- 1950s, appearing on King Recs All-Star Jazz Series before going on to be a regular fixture on the legendary Three Blind Mice (TBM) label, backing many of its leading artists. He even released his own album on TBM, ‘Ode to Birds’ in 1975. On guitar is Kazumasa Akiyama. Born in Tokyo in 1955, he taught himself guitar at 10 years old and was influenced initially by The Beatles and Ray Charles, and later Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Chicago Blues, and jazz. When he was a student, he got a chance to appear on Sadao Watanabe's radio program ‘My Dear Life’, which led him to join the Isao Suzuki Group and Mikio Masuda Group. Akiyama released his first leader album ‘Dig My Style’ in 1978 and is still an active musician. On keys is the incredible Jun Fukamachi (1946-2010). Born in Harajuku, Tokyo, Fukamachi started playing the piano at the age of three, showing an extraordinary talent, recognised as a child prodigy. He became a professional musician while still in school and released his first album ‘Portrait of a Young Man’ on Polydor in 1971. A pioneer of synthesizer, and among the first to popularise fusion in Japan, Fukamachi has composed and produced numerous recordings embracing jazz, fusion, funk, rock, and classical. An internationally recognised figure, Fukamachi worked with Anthony Jackson, David Sanborn, Randy and Michael Brecker, Mike Mainieri, Steve Gadd, and Richard Tee. Percussionist Tatsuji Yokoyama has worked across Japanese jazz and fusion since the 1970s appearing on albums from the likes of Masahiko Togashi, Takao Uematsu, Mikio Masuda, Toshiyuki Honda, Yuji Ohno and Shigeharu Mukai.

Tatsuya Nakamura continues to record and play live with many musicians including The New York Unit, and has toured extensively across Africa, Senegal, Morocco, Turkey, Australia and Indonesia. He remains active to this day, recording and touring with his band Japan Jazz Unit.

The J Jazz Masterclass Series is curated by Tony Higgins and Mike Peden for BBE Music.

Tatsuya Nakamura - Ballad (Edit)

We are extremely exited to premiere the psychedelic meets Spiritual Afro Latin jazz sounds of "Ojos 22", by a new artist to our ears, GOkU aka Glasgow based Daniel Ashton - the latest release and artist on the Bristol UK based Worm Discs.

Here GOkU guides us through a cold, still, desert night spent in the shadow of the moon. Shimmering movements and meandering trails of guitar and trumpet, with warnings, lessons and stories for the ages!

GOkU tells us: "This tune's inspirations come from my experiences in New Mexico where my mother is from. It's a culture formed by the meeting of Spanish and Native American influences, in an expansive landscape where desert meets mountain. The interacting percussive and melodious improvisations of Chief Chebe (djembe), Ben Boswell (trumpet) and Norman Willmore (sax) over the trance of the groove reflect these things perfectly to me. My first encounter with the flute was finding old native american style flutes in my Grandmother's house in NM (she lives in a tiny mountain village called Los Ojos hence the name). After cleaning the cobwebs out of them and playing them walking through canyons and valleys, I met an old Navajo man playing in the streets of Santa Fe. The guy was blind and had a shopping trolley which he wandered the desert with... after playing flute with him for a long time he stopped and told me that 'my breath would be my guide' and I need to 'follow my wind'. When I came back to the UK that week, I met my soon to be partner who gave me my first silver flute and taught me how to play it. I realise now that these kinds of synchronicities in my life are what had the biggest influences on the narrative of this first album. "

"Ojos 22" is taken from '11:11' - the debut album from ‘GoKu’ to be released in full digitally via Worm Discs Nov 3rd. An album that connects the dots. Light and darkness, reflections of many kinds.

11:11

Exclusive Premiere: GOkU "Ojos 22" (Worm Discs)

Once there was a little soul band with horn section from a 130.000 people town in the middle of Germany... It's me on the bass by the way.

From the CD „Potatoes and Alligators“ (2002)
Recorded by Tom Spötter at Out-O-Space Tonstudio, Göttingen

Potatoes and Alligators

Papa's got a brand new bag

Luiz Mendes Jr or "Junior Mendes" was a ubiquitous figure in the
Brazilian Soul / Funk scene of the 70s and early 80s, contributing to
compositions for bands such as Banda Black Rio , Tim Maia, Sandra de Sá and many more. This, his only solo album has remained fairly off the map (unless your a collector of rare Brazilian vinyl). Despite his huge contribution to Brazilian music the LP has remained unissued until now on anything but the O.G LP, 35 years after its recording. So Athens of the North are putting that right with a remastered CD and LP.

3. Junior Mendes - Que Signo Voce E

Record label. Record shop. Film label. Since 1989.

16. Philip Melala And The Movers - Intandane

Mr Bongo

Related tracks