© 2013 Secret Stash Records (uploaded with permission)

While Secret Stash has been in the business for several years releasing a number of gems ranging from the soul of America to reggae takes on Miles Davis and acoustic Peruvian folk music, they are now focusing some effort on new music as well. Longtime Secret Stash fans rest easy, though. They are still going to continue to mine the vaults the world over to find long-forgotten but essential music.

One of their first new music releases is coming out this September courtesy of Black Market Brass. The band and label both hail from Minneapolis. Secret Stash, which has a very DIY approach to their label, often hosts record-release assembly parties where the local community is invited to come to their offices and assemble the records and album sleeves in return for pizza and beer. It was through several of these that Eric Foss, VP of Marketing and Sales for Secret Stash, met Mitch Sigurdson, one of the founding members of the band.

Sigurdson assembled some friends and local talent to play a variety of styles, often Ghanian highlife and funk. Per Foss, “I think it took a little while for them to realize that they play Afrobeat as well or better than most of the bands out there doing it today. I watched as they transitioned from playing spot-on covers of Fela and Tony Allen to writing their own material.”

This past April, the band headed to the studio to record some original material. Coincidentally, the band picked up a new baritone sax player, Cole Pulice, who was already working with Sonny Knight & the Lakers and Dérobé Dance Band, bands whose original material also will be seeing releases from the label. In a single afternoon, they cut the two tracks heard on the upcoming 45.

“Snake Oil Man” is heavy Nigerian madness. You can bet that it’s no beginners luck. Check out the flip side, “Big Muffler," on Secret Stash’s SoundCloud page (https://soundcloud.com/secretstashrecords/black-market-brass-big-muffler). If this is their first swing at the genre, you can expect some exciting material in the future from Black Market Brass who has enough original material already for a full LP.

We reached out to Pierre Chrétien from Souljazz Orchestra, who knows his way around an Afrobeat tune, to hear his thoughts on the band’s sound. Says Chrétien, “It sounds amazing. Definitely no lack of sweat and stink here!” No disagreements here.


Black Market Brass "Snake Oil Man"

Lil Whisper in ya Ear

Linda Fredriksson (they/them) shares their debut solo album "Juniper" on We Jazz Records, 29 Oct 2021. Linda (of Mopo and Superposition) has been working on the compositions heard on the album for several years, composing them mostly on guitar, keys and by singing. Only later have they been arranged for the band heard on the album, including Fredriksson on saxes and various instruments, Tuomo Prättälä (of ilmiliekki Quartet) on Rhodes, moog and piano, Minna Koivisto on modular synth, moog and OP, Olavi Louhivuori (of Superposition) on drums, and Mikael Saastamoinen (of OK:KO and Superposition) on bass, plus featuring the Swedish artist Matti Bye on piano.

Linda Fredriksson shares the inspiration on this track: 
“In my mind, this song is playing in my mind at the cottage when all the hustle and bustle is left behind. Someone is sitting on the dock, smiling. It's a mellow, warm and sleepy afternoon. I can hear the flies buzzing and the pine trees smelling. 

I recorded the original demo while playing guitar and singing. I caught just the right mood. I realized that I had created the specific atmosphere using human voice, rather than my saxophone. It took me a while to get used to the fact but in the end, the music sounds great and I’m really happy for the outcome. 

The final version of ”Lempilauluni” ("My Loved Song") combines my band playing live and the demos I recorded. If you listen carefully, you can hear field recordings in the end of the song. My kitchen is filled with friends cooking dinner. Also worth mentioning that Mikael Saastamoinen plays a wonderful bass solo on this track.”

Juniper

Buy on Bandcamp

Exclusive Premiere: Linda Fredriksson "Lempilauluni" (Forthcoming on We Jazz Records)

Bonbon vodou, the new label signature, asked Franck Descollonges (the label boss) to mix for the opening of their album release party at Café de la danse (Paris).

A mix of chanson française, music from La reunion and else where

W/ Danyel Waro, Roger Raspail, Mulatu, Getatchew Mekurya, Piers Faccini, Brigitte Fontaine & Areski, Les Pythons de la fournaise, Alain Peters, Michou, René Lacaille (the Boss!!), souleance…

Bonbon Vodou opening @Café de la Danse (by Franck Descollonges)

Label head Dusty is broadcasting live every 3rd Tuesday a month from 6 - 8pm (CET) from the dublab.de studio in Cologne, Nippes! In his monthly show Dusty presents his favourite musical discoveries as well as forthcoming exclusives and guest mixes – soulful, spiritual, electronic, cosmic… you name it, Jazz & Milk got it. 

www.dublab.de/shows/jazz-milk
www.jazzandmilk.com
www.instagram.com/jazzandmilk

Tracklist:

Nduduzo Makhathini - Senze' Nina	Nduduzo Makhathini
Amanda Whiting - Where Would We Be
Rasha - Azara Alhai
Daniel Villarreal - Uncanny
Dundundun - Midnight Manoeuvres
Kaelin Ellis - Swing It!
Dogon Teleskope - Solar Plexus
Al Johnson - I've Got My Second Wind
Bobby Hutcherson - Montara
Jackson Conti - Barumba
Ricardo Marrero - Feel Like Making Love
Lamont Johnson - Burnin
Tony Comer & Crosswinds - Don’t Give Up
Yolanda Adams & Wanda Nero Butler - Signs of the Time
Joel Fairstein - Umbra
Sundown - Spaced Outta Place Pt. 1 & 2
Theo Bylhout - Get Down Cause Ain't Funky
Kaelin Ellis - Cats Groove
Kansado - Astral Yambú
Dundundun - Future Hope
Horatio Luna - Boom Boom (Patrice Scott Remix)
XOA - Program Change
Cool Affair - Mind Control (Groove Masters Brokenbeat Mix)
Nicola Conte & Gianluca Petrella - Inner Light Joe Claussell Sacred Rhythm (Cosmic Arts Version)
Alex Attias presents El Mustang - Big Boss
Boobjazz - Midnight Ceremony
Patrice Scott - The Detroit Upright
Frank Leone - Your Night, Out
Rufus feat. Chaka Khan - Fool's Paradise
Womack & Womack - Conscious Of My Conscience

Jazz & Milk radio show w/ Dusty(April 2022 / dublab.de)

Idrissa Soumaoro, L’Eclipse De L’I.J.A.’s sought-after album ‘Le Tioko-Tioko’ was originally released in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in 1978 and has been a long-time favourite at Mr Bongo. Two tracks from the album were featured on our 2017 compilation ‘The Original Sound Of Mali’ (MRBLP135), and we subsequently released the track ‘Nissodia’ on its own 12” (MRB12053) in 2020, complete with a blistering dancefloor re-edit by Mike D of The Beastie Boys.

‘Le Tioko-Tioko' is one of the rarest vinyl albums from the already scarce Malian vinyl discography, partly as the album was never released commercially, only independently distributed via the Malian Association for the Blind in Bamako. Though recorded at Radio Mali under the aegis of master engineer Boubacar Traoré; the album was originally released in East Germany. The tapes had been taken by some Malian students to East Berlin as part of a student exchange program. It was then manufactured and released on the East German state-owned label Eterna with only a few boxes of records being shipped back to Bamako. 

A true masterpiece, this legendary LP offers some devastating songs such as ‘Djama’ (society), ‘Nissodia’ (joy of optimism), and ‘Fama Allah’ (an ode to god). Hypnotic organ riffs and breakbeats convey an unknown funk quality in Malian music, it now stands as a loving tribute to an unsung Malian golden age. Sadly, like many of the other now desired and prized vinyl rarities, at the time of release, it almost immediately disappeared without a trace due to a lack of promotion, and distribution. So, it feels fitting to share this gem of a record again, and hopefully it with reach the wider audience it deserved over 45 years ago. 

Many thanks to Florent Mazzoleni for contributing sections of these notes.

Idrissa Soumaoro et L’Eclipse De L’I.J.A - Fama Allah

Orkes Kelana Ria - Semoga

Pre-Order Album - https://bfan.link/the-globeflower-masters-vol-2 

‘Vibe Sharp’ is the first single to be taken from the forthcoming album, ‘The Globeflower Masters Vol.2’. Glenn and Mark have crafted a rich tapestry of cinematic funk and European Library music. Inspired by such luminaries as Roger Webb, Stefano Torossi, David Axelrod & Serge Gainsbourg. 

‘Vibe Sharp’ is the perfect introduction to what people can expect from the album. Glenn has often said “The image in my head when I listen to our music is of driving a car through the Italian countryside, long roads, lined with cypress trees, creeping further and further towards the sunset”. 

This track, from a musical perspective, is the sound that best suits this image. Rolling drums, an antique Harpsichord and shimmering vibes, plucked 12 string guitar and looping bass all come together to create a sound which drives, but at a suitably relaxed speed to be able to watch the stunning landscape as it passes by.

Glenn Fallows & Mark Treffel - Vibe Sharp

01. Come Back And See - Chris Kenner
02. Think - The '5' Royales 
03. So Soon - Little Ax & The Golden Echoes 
04. Shake that thing - Finney-Mo 
05. Shakin' Fit - The Pyramids 
06. Oh Oh Mojo - Volcanos 
07. Don't Mess Around - Little Lawrence & The Suspenders 
08. Yes Baby - George Smith 
09. I'm Tore Down - Freddy King 
10. Drinkin' Again - Birmingham Jones 
11. I Weep - B.B.Brown 
12. Dig Yourself - Les Cooper and the Soul Rockers 
13. Slippin' And Slidin' - Little Richard 
14. Walking The Track - Little Macey & The Valiants 
15. The Shack - The Arabians 
16. You Know It Ain't Right - Charles Walker

No.61 Rhythm & Blues 50s 60s

Our latest brings a second installment from Buenos Aires based DJ @nachete8 . Here he goes deep into the bag with an all vinyl set, bouncing back and forth between the boogie scenes of Brazil and Japan with a couple other surprises sprinkled in. A highly danceable soundtrack for a sunny day, Enjoy!

Island Time Radio: Mix 53 with Nachete

Rare Silk - Storm (Arp Duppy Chip Mix)

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