If you collect vintage 70's soul-jazz vinyl, there is a good chance that you already own a record that features the amazing vocal talents of Dee Dee Bridgewater. Whether it be Roy Ayers, Norman Connors, Billy Parker or Carlos Garnett - Dee Dee is the glue that fuses these artists together.

Although best known for her jazz work, Dee Dee has had a wonderfully rich and varied career encompassing soul, musicals, gospel, and underground disco from the 70’s to the present day. She is still active as a vocalist, composer, and producer and remains one of our favourite vocalists at Mr Bongo HQ.

We take things back to the early years of Dee Dee's career with her debut album 'Afro Blue'. Recorded in Tokyo in 1974, the album was released exclusively in Japan via two different Japanese labels (Trio Records in 1974 and All Art in 1985 respectively). Each release had unique cover art and we have opted to present the album in its original 1974 form.

'Afro Blue' features an exquisite collaboration of American and Japanese musicians, such as Cecil & Ron Bridgewater, Motohiko Hino and producer Takao Ishizuka.

The result is a sublime deep soul-jazz masterpiece with timeless versions of 'People Make The World Go Round', 'Love From The Sun', and 'Afro Blue’. It is arguably one of the finest albums in its genre.

This record has long been a sought-after item for DJs and collectors alike, so we are delighted to finally make this wonderful music from an understated great available to all.

Tracklist:
A1.Afro Blue
A2. Love Vibrations
A3. Blues Medley (Everyday I Have The Blues / Stormy Monday
Blues)
B1. Little B’s Poem
B2: Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head
B3: Love From The Sun
B4: People Make The World Go Round

Dee Dee Bridgewater – Afro Blue

Brighton-based musicians Glenn Fallows and Mark Treffel join forces for an ode to 60s and 70s soundtrack and library music on Mr Bongo.

Read More & Buy: https://www.stampthewax.com/2021/09/09/premiere-glenn-fallows-mark-treffel-who-knows-when/
Listen on Youtube: https://bit.ly/GlennFallowsMarkTreffel

The Globeflower Masters Vol.1

Listen on Youtube

Glenn Fallows & Mark Treffel - Who Knows When (STW Premiere)

PRE-ORDER: https://bfan.link/masters-at-work-harvey-sutherland

At the vanguard of Melbourne's bustling underground music scene you’ll find Surprise Chef. A band very much on the rise, who with two exceptional albums under their belts, are picking up a rapidly swelling fanbase across the world. Working out of the College of Knowledge stable (their home / studio / record label namesake), the band’s take on instrumental cinematic soul and funk has connected with listeners across multiple scenes and genres. Their intoxicatingly laidback sound, which pairs expertly crafted hooks with a seriously funky, watertight rhythm section, has earned them a wide appeal and made their tracks ripe for interpretation.

When floating ideas for potential remixers, two names came to the fore, Masters At Work and Harvey Sutherland. MAW have a long history with Mr Bongo having remixed the Brit-funk classic ‘Dancing In Outer Space’ by Atmosfear for the label in 1997, and releasing the original track, ‘Brazilian Beat’ in 2000. With their studio collaboration now back in full swing, it was the perfect time to inject the MAW magic back into the label.

They picked ‘Crayfish Caper’ from the band’s first album ‘All News Is Good News’ as their choice of track to remix. The ’Nuyorican Broken Remix' sees MAW stepping into their Nuyorican Soul guise. A Latin shuffle meets an afro-beat rhythm and some very chunky broken beats, which all underpins an infectious melody constructed around the original track’s bassline. They pair this with horns and synths that add a flourish and reveal new layers as the track develops. It’s a sound that is uniquely Nuyorican Soul and a welcome return for fans of this aspect of their phenomenal output.

Masters At Work & Harvey Sutherland Remixes

More exclusive music

Premiere: Surprise Chef 'Crayish Caper' (Nuyorican Broken Mix)

Buy link: https://bfan.link/masters-at-work-harvey-sutherland

At the vanguard of Melbourne's bustling underground music scene you’ll find Surprise Chef. A band very much on the rise, who with two exceptional albums under their belts, are picking up a rapidly swelling fanbase across the world. Working out of the College of Knowledge stable (their home / studio / record label namesake), the band’s take on instrumental cinematic soul and funk has connected with listeners across multiple scenes and genres. Their intoxicatingly laidback sound, which pairs expertly crafted hooks with a seriously funky, watertight rhythm section, has earned them a wide appeal and made their tracks ripe for interpretation.

Rounding off the package is the remix from https://soundcloud.com/harvey-sutherland. Having made international waves since 2013 with his unique take on dance music, Harvey has long been on https://soundcloud.com/mrbongo’s remix radar, but until now we hadn’t managed to get that ambition over the line. This time around the stars aligned perfectly. Surprise Chef and Harvey Sutherland are both Melbourne residents and they had already been working on projects together. The band set things up and Harvey chose to remix ‘New Ferrari’ from their latest album, ‘Daylight Savings’. His take on the track sees things venturing into dubby-disco territory. A dreamy, cosmic, bass-heavy, sweeping synth-led workout, that retains yet reinterprets the catchy-as-hell hooks from the original track. A roller with serious muscle!

PREMIERE: Surprise Chef - New Ferrari (Harvey Sutherland's Weird Flex)

Mr Bongo taps Harvey Sutherland and Masters At Work to remix tracks from Melbourne jazz and funk troupe Surprise Chef

More info: https://djmag.com/music/premiere-surprise-chef-crayfish-caper-masters-work-mix

Premiere: Surprise Chef ‘Crayfish Caper (Masters At Work Mix)’

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Artists: Surprise Chef, Masters At Work
Title: Crayfish Caper
Label: Mr Bongo
Release Date: 2021-10-22

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Surprise Chef - Crayfish Caper (MAW Dub) [Mr Bongo] [MI4L.com]

At the vanguard of Melbourne's bustling underground music scene you’ll find Surprise Chef. A band very much on the rise, who with two exceptional albums under their belts, are picking up a rapidly swelling fanbase across the world. Working out of the College of Knowledge stable (their home / studio / record label namesake), the band’s take on instrumental cinematic soul and funk has connected with listeners across multiple scenes and genres. Their intoxicatingly laidback sound, which pairs expertly crafted hooks with a seriously funky, watertight rhythm section, has earned them a wide appeal and made their tracks ripe for interpretation.

When floating ideas for potential remixers, two names came to the fore, Masters At Work and Harvey Sutherland. MAW have a long history with Mr Bongo having remixed the Brit-funk classic ‘Dancing In Outer Space’ by Atmosfear for the label in 1997, and releasing the original track, ‘Brazilian Beat’ in 2000. With their studio collaboration now back in full swing, it was the perfect time to inject the MAW magic back into the label. They picked ‘Crayfish Caper’ from the band’s first album ‘All News Is Good News’ as their choice of track to remix. The ’Nuyorican Broken Remix' sees MAW stepping into their Nuyorican Soul guise. A Latin shuffle meets an afro-beat rhythm and some very chunky broken beats, which all underpins an infectious melody constructed around the original track’s bassline. They pair this with horns and synths that add a flourish and reveal new layers as the track develops. It’s a sound that is uniquely Nuyorican Soul and a welcome return for fans of this aspect of their phenomenal output. The 'Masters At Work Remix’ is straight up vintage MAW in House mode. It takes many of the same elements found in the 'Nuyorican Broken Remix' and points things in a House direction. It’s 4/4, but the beats have that Kenny Dope trademark swing. Tough, but oozing soul. Add to that heavy bass, vocal cuts, fierce horns and saxophone, layered synths, and that undeniable MAW bounce. 

Rounding off the package is the remix from Harvey Sutherland. Having made international waves since 2013 with his unique take on dance music, Harvey has long been on Mr Bongo’s remix radar, but until now we hadn’t managed to get that ambition over the line. This time around the stars aligned perfectly. Surprise Chef and Harvey Sutherland are both Melbourne residents and they had already been working on projects together. The band set things up and Harvey chose to remix ‘New Ferrari’ from their latest album, ‘Daylight Savings’. His take on the track sees things venturing into dubby-disco territory. A dreamy, cosmic, bass-heavy, sweeping synth-led workout, that retains yet reinterprets the catchy-as-hell hooks from the original track. A roller with serious muscle!

PREMIERE : Surprise Chef - New Ferrari (Harvey Sutherland's Weird Flex)

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Hailing from Melbourne / Naarm Surprise Chef are a band who are creating a rather large buzz across the globe as well as their own backyard Working out the College of Knowledge stable which encompasses a studio as well as the record label, and is also their DJ moniker when playing out, they have a intoxicating laid back soulful sound which encompasses the funkiest of riffs, hooks and a seriously impressive rhythm section.

Their latest EP see's them enlist the unquestionable skills of Harvey Sutherland and Masters at Work who cook up both a MAW remix and a Nuyorikan Soul remix for the package. Safe to say it's a rather brilliant release which lands on the 22nd of October via @mrbongo.

We have a full interview incoming with Surprise Chef this week to talk about the release, the band and of course those remixes. In the meantime they have put together this rather outstanding mix for us. Check it out here and jump over to LV online for more on the mix including a quick chat with the men behind it and the full tracklist via: https://levisiteuronline.com/music/lv-disco-selectors-29-college-of-knowledge-surprise-chef-mr-bongo/

LV Disco Selectors 29

LV Disco Selectors 29 - College Of Knowledge / Surprise Chef

Afro Blue

Dee Dee Bridgewater - Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head

Dee Dee Bridgewater - Little B's Poem

Dee Dee Bridgewater - Blues Medley (Everyday I Have The Blues / Stormy Monday Blues)

Dee Dee Bridgewater - Love Vibrations

Dee Dee Bridgewater - Afro Blue

A Melbourne-based cinematic-soul outfit cut from the blueprint of David Axelrod, and NYC labels Daptone and Truth & Soul. Top-shelf referential fodder for beat-diggers and deep-funk, Daylight Savings is the title track for their new album on Mr Bongo.

Read more & buy: https://www.stampthewax.com/2020/10/02/premiere-surprise-chef/

Daylight Savings

Surprise Chef - Daylight Savings (STW Premiere)

Matthew Tavares is the founding member of perhaps one of the most definitive, cutting edge bands in funk, soul and jazz of the moment. Instrumental group BADBADNOTGOOD have been influential in a new wave of musicians and artists who blur the lines between hip hip and the old school sentiments of 70's and 80's music. They have become a household name playing festivals and venues worldwide to critical acclaim. 

As a musician in his own right, Matthew has also released music independently and alongside alternative collaborators. He has formed a close friendship and relationship with Brighton based imprint and record label Mr Bongo which makes perfect sense. Here he has contributed to compilations and released material alongside the likes of Leland Whitty. 

Rather unsurprisingly he has impeccable taste. We asked him to record this mix showcasing some of his own personal musical influences and points of reference. The result see's him include music by the likes of Odyssey, Richard Hawley, Art Ensemble of Chicago and more.

Read & Download

Matthew Tavares: The 'Monday is Okay' Mix

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

Dee Dee Bridgewater - Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head

Mr Bongo

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