'Scorpio’s Waltz’ is the second single to be taken from Project Gemini’s forthcoming album. Project Gemini, aka Paul Osborne, has created a cinematic musical journey that plays out like a long-lost soundtrack (think cult B-movies of the 60s and 70s); 'The Children of Scorpio’ was formed from Paul's love of a myriad of genres; from European library music, acid folk, psych-funk, vintage soundtracks and the contemporary breaks scene. 

’Scorpio’s Waltz’ is a smoky breakbeat psych-funk gem. Evoking images of a 70s psychedelic-rock band jamming late into the hazy night. This slightly sinister instrumental is full blown funky rock with a classic hip-hop breaks’ vibe. 

Although a stellar track, it nearly didn’t make it onto the album as Paul explains, “’Scorpio’s Waltz’ was built around a bassline which I’d had knocking about for a while but hadn’t used. I recorded the bass and drums towards the end of the initial sessions for the album and although in my head I wanted it to sound like a haunted ’60s garage band attempting jazz crossed with an Italian library record (The Strawberry Alarm Clock meets Sandro Brugnolini maybe?), I couldn’t quite figure what to do with it, so as I reached the end of the recording process it was destined not to make the final cut. I heard a 1974 track by Giancarlo Gazzani called ‘Faccia Di Bronzo’ which Sonor Music Editions re-released in June 2020 which has this incredible wild and waspy fuzz guitar solo that blew my mind, so I sent the rhythm track to Barrie Cadogan (Little Barrie) and ‘Faccia Di Bronzo’ as a reference point and he totally nailed the vibe I wanted with what you hear on the record. I was honoured to have one of the best guitar players and nicest dudes in the world bring his ‘A’ game, and he lifted it from potential off-cut to what’s become one of my favourite tracks on the record.”

Download

Project Gemini - Scorpio’s Waltz

Various Artists - Footprints EP
Format: 12" vinyl sampler
Release date: March 17, 2014
All tracks taken from the forthcoming full-length album Footprints to be released on April 28 on CD & digital.
www.jazzandmilk.com

Jazz & Milk is back with a brand new compilation series featuring previously unreleased tracks by international label artists, friends & family! The 6 track "Footprints EP" offers a small foretaste of the forthcoming full-length compilation to be released in April 2014.

Footprints starts off with the heavy Afro-Funk vibes of the Bad Jazz Troupe, remixed by Jazz & Milk label-founder Dusty. Sam Irl from Vienna takes us on a journey of raw emotion. On "Time" he fed his MPC with filthy vinyl samples, jazzy rhodes chords, deep basslines and smooth synth-arppegios - all glued together on top of a driving House beat. "Sidama de Cali" is a 50/50 blend of Ethiopian and Colombian music by Todd Simon & The Angel City of All Star Brass Band featuring strictly horns and percussion - including Quantic on the guacharaca (colombian version of the guiro) and a 'who is who' of LA's music scene.

The B-side begins rather bass-heavy. On Dusty's "Cosmic Path" gliding synths and vibrant percussion float over a foundation of deep bass and slightly off-kilter beats. Russian talent Lay-Far delivers a soulful broken beat tune - "A Good Old Holiday Groove" draws obvious influence from mid 70's jazz. The EP concludes with the legendary Munich-based formation Karl Hector & The Malcouns. "Who's Foolin' Who?" was written by JJ Whitefield (producer and guitarist for the Poets of Rhythm and the Whitefield Brothers) and reflects his affinity for sounds from across the African diaspora.

Todd Simon & The Angel City All Star Brass Band - Sidama De Cali

A La Orden: a selection of records dug in Colombia in 2010 (originally posted on Sofrito UK)

An Old mix we found in the archives thought we'd share with you just incase you never caught it first time round, 
Selections A man called Warwick. 
Music taken from recordings of late 60s to early 80s Jamaica .

TPS 014 - ROOTS AND SOUL

It's Valentine's Day, and the new DopeGems record is on point with that special occasion... Heartfelt, soulful performances from the vaults of early quiet storm is what it's all about.

Two beautiful tracks from the golden era of symphonic soul ballads rearranged as rich and intense small group instrumentals.

As an added 'secret' threat, those who know and recognize 'game' will be delighted to see this music reflect either side of their persona.

Available February 14th on digital

Limited Edition White 7" w/ deluxe die-cut cover available March 11th.

Vibraphone : Yragael Unfer
Keyboards : Giuliano Veludo
Guitar : Slikk Tim
Bass : Emmanuel Harang
Drums: Slikk Tim

Arranged, recorded and mixed by Slikk Tim.
Mastered by Shawn Joseph.

Graphic Design by Anton Gret

Special Thanks to Francky "D "

Ballads - EP

DOPEGEMS  "Travelling Man"

This song is about ICE operations in the USA

Who's Knocking On The Morning Door

Ultra-rare jazz-funk/fusion album by Japanese drummer, Akira Ishikawa. Featuring percussion-heavy versions of ‘Let's Start’, ‘Bongo Rock’ and ‘Pick Up The Pieces’.

'Back To Rhythm’ was the final recording in Ishikawa’s African-influenced period. He cut this record with his band ‘Count Buffalos’, featuring Kiyoshi Sugimoto, Takeru Muraoka, Larry Sunaga and arranger Hiromasa Suzuki.

Includes excellent cover versions of The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, BT Express, Stevie Wonder, Average White Band, Incredible Bongo Band and Fela Kuti.

Originally released in Japan in 1975 by Columbia, this is now extremely difficult to find in its original format, and very pricey indeed!


Official Mr Bongo reissue. Licensed from Nippon Columbia Co., Ltd.

Back To Rhythm

Akira Ishikawa - I Shot The Sheriff

Akira Ishikawa - I've Got To Use My Imagination

A brand new version of what is undoubtedly an untouchable classic, and yet somehow Ranelin & Emanative bring the necessary freshness and vibes galore to this new rendition for 2019 and beyond!

Emanative & Phil Ranelin - Vibes From The Tribe (TS Premiere)

The Mabon Dawud Republic
Limited Edition 12" Vinyl LP
ORDER >>> https://budabeats.bandcamp.com/album/the-mabon-dawud-republic

A&R: Dj Gandharva & Von Yodi
Mixed by Tamás Czirják
Mastering: Anders Peterson (GS Mastering, Stockholm)

Label: Budabeats Records
Cat. number: BUBE-040
Release date: 02. 03. 2020

Following their first 7” in 2018 Budabeats Records is proud the release the debut LP of pioneering Hungarian afrobeat supergroup, the Mabon Dawud Republic. The band started out as the Fela Kuti tribute band for the very first Felabration event in Budapest. In the past two years they created an impressive repertoire of own tunes, the rawness you can hear on their early recordings transformed into a more mature and sophisticated sound, still deeply rooted in the traditions of West-African music. They even toured in Ghana where they had the chance to record with highlife legend Pat Thomas, as you can hear on ‘Gyae Abrabo’. On ‘Na Lie’ they are joined by Fela’s original Egypt 80 band member, keyboard player and singer Dele Sosimi. Other guest performances include Ghanaian vocalist and kologo player Stevo Atambire (on ‘Mawadidoh’ and ‘Talk to Me’) and vocalist Abate Berihun (on ‘Nanu Nanu Neye’).

Stevo Atambire - vocals, kologo
Joseph Ajusiwine - vocals, doorega

Ernő Hock - bass, percussion
Szabolcs Bognár - keyboards, percussion
Dávid Szarvas - percussion
Sebestyén Harangozó - guitar
Dávid Somló - guitar
András Halmos - drums
Ádám Meggyes - trumpet
Fanni Zahár - flute, alt sax, vocals
Gábor Weisz - sopran & tenor sax
Gergő Kováts - baritone sax

The Mabon Dawud Republic - Talk To Me (feat. Stevo Atambire, Joseph Ajusiwine)

We stumbled onto Al Muntzie's under the radar soul beauty 'Die Happy' after conducting an interview with Joe Quarterman for a feature on our website. It got us salivating about the prospect of further productions,
which Joe had recorded, but had perhaps been overlooked. 'Die Happy' was originally released in 1976 and was the only release on S.B. Moon
Records.

The record has a crossover vibe as it sits beautifully between modern soul, funk, and proto-disco. Initial research didn't shed much light onto the background of the song. The trail was sparse, other than the record appearing on the sales list of rare-soul collectors and record dealers. So we decided to go back to the source and find out about the record directly from Joe himself.

"I met Al Muntzie through my bass guitar player, Elliot Adams. Elliot informed me that Al was looking for a song that was funky and suitable for a group. At that time, 1976-79, I had written the words and melody to 'Die Happy" and Elliot cranked out a mean bass part that gave the song life. He should be credited as co-writer for his outstanding bass part. At this time my band, FreeSoul, had dis-banded and worked as sideman musicians. Elliot and I made a demo of the song on a cassette and we let Al Muntzie hear it: he liked it.

We set a recording date at the Omega Recording Studio in northern Virginia. We used a combination of two bands; FreeSoul and Experience Unlimited(EU). Al sang lead vocal and me and the Embracebles did the background vocals. Al was very cooperative and did not say much during the session. He followed my direction and got the job done.
The session took all day into the late evening hours where we mixed and mastered the tune to perfection. We had a good time creating this work of art."

We are forever thankful to Joe for giving us the opportunity to present this fantastic production by Al, Elliot, and Joe, and to give it the new lease of life, which it rightfully deserves.

Tracklist:
A - Al ‘Man’ Muntzie And The Embraceables – Die Happy 
B - Al ‘Man’ Muntzie And The Embraceables – Die Happy (Instrumental)

Al ‘Man’ Muntzie And The Embraceables – Die Happy (Vocal)

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