Notes On A Journey

a selection of mellow soul tunes (60s to 80s) from Stefan Leisering's vinyl collection..

Summer Soul - Notes On A Journey Selection by Stefan Leisering (Jazzanova)

Format: 12inch, Download | Releasedate: 18.03.2016 | Label: Sonar Kollektiv

Last June, Berlin based reissue label Notes On A Journey released a celebrated re-issue of an album which in its original release in 1980 attracted scarcely or almost no attention at all: „Confidence In The Future“ (NOAJ001) by obscure, short-lived Berlin Folk Jazz project Spinning Motion – a spontaneously assembled Jazz trained group around Manfred Tappert and Achim Hirsch recorded this forgotten gem but disbanded soon after again. Looking back on a bit more consistent past, another Berlin institution, Jazzanova established their worldwide success (f.e. with their early, groundbreaking remixes) almost twenty years ago and now demonstrate with their absolutely emotive and laid-back rework of “Naze” that as you get older you're not only getting wiser but also continue to stay musically relevant and contemporary. As Jazzanova is concentrating on own material at the moment, we are really happy for the incident that Notes On A Journey found the original multi-track tapes of the recordings. That’s the only reason why Jazzanova took their time to go into the studio and did this remix of Naze. On the digital release you'll find three different versions of this outstanding remix.

Another song off the warm-heartly recommendable Spinning Motion album, “Prisoner Of Life”, gets a treatment by two founders of Notes On A Journey and operators themselves. With Stefan Leisering in the game, being one of Jazzanova's musical mastermind, this release's staff intersects somehow or other anyway. Oliver Glage, the other one thirds of Notes On A Journey and Oliver Haertel, the sound man behind several Sonar Kollektiv productions, are in different capacities part of the Sonar Kollektiv family as well. Their rework of “Prisoner Of Life” relocates the listeners back to the original's year of origin, offers though, with Leisering's cunning drum programming (plus added synths and choirs) somewhat like an alternate version. Therewith this tune will not only be catapulted into modern times but hopefully soon into the Heavy Rotation of any respectable radio station around the globe.


Naze (Jazzanova Remix)

Naze

A - Spinning Motion - Naze (Jazzanova Remix)

Reissued on heavyweight 180g vinyl: https://www.bbemusic.com/downloads/11291/

We are both proud and excited to present this highly sought after early 80's gem, originally created as a showcase project for young artists and composers by a community music organisation in Texas.
Originally referred to as the 'Pop Music Lab', the Peoples' Workshop was formed in 1976 at Texas Southern University as a space for students to compose and perform, free from the constrains of Western classical music education.
Swiftly gathering momentum, in 1980 the organisation was granted non-profit status and in 1983, moved off the TSU campus. The Workshop has since grown in size and scope, becoming the first Black-founded organisation to present shows in major performance venues around the Greater Houston area.
Houston Talent Expo '82 features original compositions by members of The Peoples' Workshop, performed exclusively by musicians from Houston. The songs vary in style, but remain centered around gospel, funk and soul; music and lyrics with a powerful positive message. Many of the artists featured remain active today around the world, working with such acts as Alice Coltrane and The Charles Mingus Band among others.
Houston Talent Expo '82 comprises a truly special collection of songs born from the struggle, true to the spirit of togetherness that underpins The Peoples' Workshop, written and performed by astonishing young talents.

Houston Talent Expo '82

The People's Workshop - Houston Talent Expo '82 (Album Sampler)

Format: 180g Vinyl - Tip On Cover with printed inner sleeve (Limited Edition)
Cat#: NOAJ002
Original release: 1983, Berlin (Private Pressing)
Releasedate: 15.07.2016

It's 1981. Everything seems possible in the realms of music. The barriers between genres are being willfully torn down, punk is discovering the synthesizer, the drum machine is replacing the drummer and no idea is too absurd to pursue. The winds of change are blowing from New York to London, Berlin and Tokyo and there's a palpable, uninhibited spirit of optimism in the air turning music industry on it's head. People are experimenting with novel equipment, bands are springing up like mushrooms, line-ups disband and regroup. A whole generation is being inspired by a do-it-yourself mentality, creating an unprecedented knowledge of how to produce music. Every artist seems to be full of ambition, conquering new frontiers whilst often participating in several projects simultaneously. When today, we look back at this time it appears as an unintelligible mess with no economic viability, but 30 years ago it was simply the sheer desire for artistic freedom, self-fulfillment and the urge to have control over one's own creative work that was the driving force.

Amazingly, the record continues to be rediscovered time and again, throughout the years’ time. By a diverse mix of DJs and record collectors from all sorts of different countries, origins and scenes. They all take a personal interest in “Bewegliche Ziele”. From die-hard NDW fans to New Wave analysts and never-tiring sound explorers like the infamous, Dutch record collector Tako Reyenga. It is him who plays one of these rare copies, sometime in 2010, in Düsseldorf of all places, in the Salon d'Amateurs, one of the world's hippest underground clubs, in front of a broad-minded audience. In short “Bewegliche Ziele” (played on 33rpm instead of 45rpm) becomes a signature tune not only at the Salon, but on dance floors of every boutique club operating outside of mainstream territory all around the world. About the same time Jazzanova member and co-founder of NOTES ON A JOURNEY, Stefan Leisering stumbles across the 12” in a crate in Canada. Back in Berlin he plays his discovery to his buddy and Jazzanova co-partner Alex Barck. Falling for the song's magic as Leisering does, Barck rearranges, what was perviously considered complete, the third edition of “Computer Incarnations For World Peace” just to fit this exceptional tune into the already fine selection.

Spelmanns himself, now living in Bremen, working as a video artist and leading the Generic Art Ensemble, definitely didn't expect this to ever happen. Three decades after its initial release “Bewegliche Ziele” is finally finding its listeners and revealing its long hidden spell. It's the same with “Bewegliche Ziele” as with a lot of this time period's music long forgotten or only released in a very limited capacity: Today, with hindsight, it gains new meaning and an extensive resonance. Over the last few years Plaza Hotel's skewness, the graceful peculiarity, the courageous experimentalism is being explored by new and younger groups and can be heard in current music again. Meaning “Bewegliche Ziele” could have easily be released in 2016. NOTES ON A JOURNEY thought the same and decided, that not only freaky record collectors should be able to, for extortionate prices, enjoy this timeless, fascinating piece of music on vinyl. So we have brought Plaza Hotel back to life, in all its glory.


Bewegliche Ziele

A - Plaza Hotel - Bewegliche Ziele SNIPPET

„Sumri hallar“ is an islandic traditional folk song. The title literally means "summer is leaning“ which means the summer will be over soon. Here is an autumn inspired selection of tunes that Jazzanova member and Notes On A Journey co-founder Stefan Leisering picked from his record collection .. a handful of mellow 60s to early 80s Folk, Pop, Prog Rock, Singer Songwriter, AOR tracks for the shorter, colder and rainier days of the year...

Sumri Hallar (Autumn Mix) - Notes On A Journey Selection by Stefan Leisering (Jazzanova)

More Info: http://www.notesonajourney.com/noaj003-candeias-sambaiana/
Format: LP (180g vinyl + Old School Tip On Gatefold Cover  + Download Card + Printed Inner Sleeve)
Cat#: NOAJ003
Original release: 1976
Releasedate: 28.07.2017

Short Info: 

Curiously enough the story of this record begins with a song, which isn't even featured on it. A song named 'Guayabas'. One of Guillermo Reuter's very first free-spirited compositions is one of his two contributions to the fourth album 'Ese Dia Va A Llegar' by friend and musician Agustin Pereyra Lucena, in 1975. 'Guayabas' was the unintended starting signal for Reuter's career and was coincidentally the initial spark for this reissue that you, dear reader and listener, are holding in your hands right now.

But perhaps we'd better take one thing at a time and not jump ahead of ourselves. 'Guayabas' was the Guillermo Reuter song that first caught the attention of the Notes On A Journey founders Jürgen von Knoblauch and Stefan Leisering. It led them to discover his album 'Candeias' shortly thereafter, and a love affair was born. It was a similar story for Jacques Subileau, the producer for the recordings of 'Ese Dia Va A Llegar' (and therefore 'Guayabas'), who was so enamored by this single composition that he proposed Reuter to cut a whole album, made up exclusively of his songs and compositional stylings. The Frenchman with an Argentinian girlfriend, had connections to European record labels like Disco Mediterraneo in Madrid and Disques Espérance in Paris which specialised in World and African music. 'Candeias' would be released on both labels, on the Spanish imprint under the name of 'Sambaiana', in France as the original title 'Candeias', but for inexplicable reasons, with terrible sound quality.

Having now Notes On A Journey, more than forty years after its initial release, introducing 'Candeias' to a whole new audience is also in the interest of its creator. For Guillermo Reuter, this album was and is a lifework, which has never lost momentum and significance. It is a record, which simply stands the test of time by bringing pure joy over its full, entertaining length, and is going under the skin at the same time. That's why for this re-issue the original Spanish pressing has been lovingly restored, preserving the sound quality, letting you listen to it the way it should be heard, in the here and now. With the stunning new quality 'Candeias' will find a much bigger following this time round. Come and join the club.

Sambaiana

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NOAJ003 - Candeias - Sambaiana ALBUM SNIPPET

NOAJ004 - Chuck Senrick - Dreamin out now:
https://notesonajourney.lnk.to/Dreamin

A little selection around the sound universe of Chuck Senricks LP "Dreamin'" (NOAJ004). Enjoy this journey through various solo entertainers using drum machines & keys to express their inner feelings.

Chuck Senrick LP

Soul-o Entertainer – Notes On A Journey Selection by Jazzanova & Oliver Glage

Notes On A Journey to Brazil.
A Mix to celebrate the Release of Celso Rubinstein on Notes on a Journey. 

Celso Rubinstein 7inch available here: https://notesonajourney.lnk.to/EaVidaQueDiz

Tracklist:

1. Valéria - Pé na Estrada
2. Badameiro - Te Pego de Jeito
3. Eliane Salek - Pra Brincar
4. Celso Rubinstein - Enquanto houver
5. Marcelo Ganem - Ponta de Estrela
6. Gibran - Canção do Violeiro
7. André Luiz Oliveira - Filhos de Odé
8. Carlos Pita - Casa das Flautas
9. Celso Rubinstein - É a vida que diz
10. Grupo Cravo e Canela - Manda o seu Namorado Embora
11. Perinho Santana - O teu Olhar
12. Alexandre Az, Marcelo Dinis, Sergio Misan - 1,2,3….Fui
13. Cátia de França - Estilhaços
14. Fogo Baiano - Fogo do sol
15. Tadeu Mathias - Presa
16. Darcy de Paulo - Ano Novo

Notes On A Journey – To Brazil (Celso Rubinstein Inspiration - mixed by Juergen von Knoblauch)

B3. Cy TImmons - Nowhere

„Discovering and rediscovering music“ is NOAJ's slogan and by this credo productions and recordings (records, cassettes, never before released master tapes) from days gone by shall and will find its audience. NOAJ tells the tale of mis-launched careers, failed dreams, gutted hopes, criminally overlooked masterpieces and of music that has been probably way too ahead of its time.

A - Plaza Hotel - Bewegliche Ziele SNIPPET

Notes On A Journey

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