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 12inch with tip on cover & printed inner sleeve
Cat#: NOAJ007
Original release: 1984
Releasedate: 25.09.2019

Manoel Germano Filho (better known as Germannu) was born into a family of cocoa farm owners on January 11th, 1955 in Linhares, Espirito Santo, Brazil. He was the second born of three children, but refusing to buy into the stereotype of the forgotten middle child, it took just a few guitar chords, learnt at the age of 15, to start him on his musical path. (The chords were taught to Manoel by his much-revered older sister, Germana, which she, in turn, had learned playing religious songs at Catholic school).

Manoel started his foray into education by following in his family’s footsteps, earning his agronomy degree at the Federal University of Viçosa in the state of Minas Gerais. Yet it was music rather than soil that held his heart, and after a chance meeting with Milton Nascimento, one of Brazil’s biggest musical icons — both back then and today — he threw himself into the Minas music scene, burgeoned as it was by student movements and local music festivals.

Manoel’s attempts to bring his music to the general public were abruptly derailed by the death of his father. Shortly after graduating, his dreams were put on hold and he found himself back in his hometown of Espirito Santo taking care of the family’s business affairs. It didn’t take long for though for the music to win over, and soon after he invested a considerable sum of his earnings in musical instruments and sound equipment, as well as a mobile trailer which he used as a tour bus, setting out to perform in towns in the region.

In 1984, Manoel, now Germannu, met the composer, arranger, vocalist, and guitarist Jorge “Jóia” Olímpio at a show in Linhares, and a month later threw caution to the wind, moved to Rio and found himself crashing at Jorge’s house while putting down his roots. Over the following days and weeks, the recording of Germannu’s debut LP began in earnest, starting with his songs Lavoura, Fale De Mim, and Hei De Amar.

Jorge’s help was crucial. Although Germannu had certain melodies in mind and chord structures around which he wanted to build the songs, he hadn’t yet developed how the melodies would play out, nor decided how exactly the chord sequences would go.

The pre-production was done at Jorge’s home, before they moved over to the now-defunct Estúdio Rio near the Laranjeiras viaduct to flesh things out. Jorge Jóia called on his contacts and brought in musicians he was sure would work, including a bassist and former bandmate named Borjalo, with whom he had previously played with in a band that was put together by the legendary organ player, Lafayette. Drummer, Paulinho Black (ex-Banda Black Rio), and pianist, Moisés Pedrosa, were also part of the team, as was the fabulous Jorge Cardozo — who transcribed Jorge Jóia’s arrangements.

Sadly, Germannu is no longer with us, but the lasting groove of his music remains eternal and continues to bring a special kind of joy to those that hear it.

So, where does Notes On A Journey fit into all of this? Jürgen von Knoblauch — a longtime member of Jazzanova and Sonar Kollektiv, amongst others, is introduced on our site simply as Record Collector — met Junior Santos, a musician, drummer, and Brazilian music aficionado extraordinaire, when buying records from him. Junior convinced Jürgen to buy a record by one Celso Rubinstein — which led to a NOAJ reissue (which if you haven’t discovered already, you should). The collaboration between knowledge fount and collector was fruitful enough that Junior and Jürgen decided to work on more reissues. This Germannu record is their first complete collaboration, with more on the way.

B2 - Germannu - Hei De Amar (Instrumental)

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.

B2 - Germannu - Hei De Amar (Instrumental)

Notes On A Journey

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