RIP Dr. Lonnie Smith. We're back with just a few mostly longer selections for your ears. Digging adventures continue, and more in store in the coming weeks! Thanks again for tuning in.

Tracklist: Dr. Lonnie Smith, Nucleus, Whole Darn Family, Three Pieces, Gerry Neiwood

October 6 2021

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Pullin from the Stacks - Episode 177

Buy it here: https://orcd.co/brianjacksoninstrumentals

Legendary American musician Brian Jackson announces his first solo album in over 20 years, ‘This Is Brian Jackson’, produced by Phenomenal Handclap Band founder Daniel Collás and released on BBE Music.

Brian Jackson earned mythic status among music fans thanks to his pioneering work with Gil Scott-Heron in the 70’s, where his flute and electric piano performances on ‘Pieces of a Man’ and ‘Winter In America’ virtually defined the sound of an era. From the 80s onwards he went on to record with Kool & The Gang, Will Downing (whose debut album he produced), Roy Ayers and Gwen Guthrie among many others, and while many veteran musicians tend to stick with the sounds they know best at some point in their careers, Jackson remains an unusually adventurous, vital and broad-minded artist to this day.

When the Phenomenal Handclap Band’s Daniel Collás first met Brian Jackson at a performance in New York, right off the bat he said “I think I could produce you”. “I wasn’t sure why he thought that,” says Jackson “but I considered it a challenge to find out. Turns out that he was right.”

Early on in their friendship, Brian mentioned that he’d embarked on a solo project right around the time he recorded ‘Bridges’ with Gil Scott-Heron in 1976. There were even some unfinished demos, but the album had never materialised. Daniel leapt on the idea, asking “what would a Brian Jackson album sound like if the 21st century Brian were to complete that 1976 album today?” Completed in a series of twice weekly sessions over 11 months in Daniel’s Williamsburg studio, ‘This Is Brian Jackson’ provides the answer.
“We sketched out musical ideas, drank way too much coffee, consumed way too many tacos and sampled perhaps a few too many exotic whiskeys while talking about things that were important to both of us personally. The lyrics for the songs are a result of those conversations” says Jackson.

Contributors to the album range from Jackson’s guitarist, bassist and longtime friend Binky Brice (Billy Ocean, Evelyn Champagne King, Roy Ayers), Collás’s occasional writing partner Morgan Phalen, Latin Grammy-winning flautist Domenica Fossati, drummers Moussa Fadera and Caito Sanchez, and Phenomenal Handclap Bandmates Juliet Swango and Monika Heidemann.

And the music? Vintage, soul-stirring Brian Jackson, with the great man’s warm vocals, distinctive flute and lyrical keys taking centre stage. The songwriting feels timeless, the arrangement effortless, the production human and analogue. From golden-era soul-funk opener ‘All Talk’, through soaring Afrobeat-inspired dreamscape ‘Mami Wata’ to compact groover ‘Little Orphan Boy’ which closes the album, ‘This Is Brian Jackson’ is simply some of the veteran artist’s best work yet, subtly and lovingly framed by Daniel Collás.

Brian Jackson - All Talk (Instrumental)

One way to sum up Teddy Bryant is a very talented individual. Singer, songwriter, arranger & producer are some of the many labels which can be associated with him. In this episode, together Aswad and Teddy go to great lengths to discuss his recent and past musical events. They talk about his debut solo album, In the Beginning — which was released last year on Nothing But Net Records. An album which appeared on many 'Best of 2021' lists. They also discuss his recent efforts and collaborations with super producer, Space Ghost — The Heaven Sent EP. The show features new music from a highly talented roster, and wraps up with a tribute mix bow on top.

Tracklist

S4 EP6 - Teddy Bryant

Today we have over an hour of soulful body-moving inspiration, mixed by two of our favourite new producers, Mambele and Rosie From The Block, both fresh from hot releases on Vice City. Perfect for fans of broken beat and forward thinking soulful house.

Rosie: "Mambele and I got together for this mix without preparing much, we just brought some tracks that we were excited about and intuitively brought them together.

The mix starts off with an unforgotten banger by Tommy Gee. Tommy Gee’s been a big inspiration for me (Rosie) for years. He released an album on R&S Records in 1996 which was a game changer at the time but seems to be forgotten by most today. The second track’s one produced by me (Rosie) and it’s called ‘Let me be’. It’s on my debut EP ‘Love potions for block parties’ which came out on Vice City. The third track’s by Domu, a producer that had a big influence on both Mambele’s and my (Rosie) productions. Domu has done so many different things and this track called ‘Like this?’ is to be found on the album ‘the return of the Rogue’ that explores mixing up different styles and influences such as songwriting structures with dancefloor oriented beats. This mixing up of genres and song structures is something we’re particulary interested in since we don’t let ourselves be restricted by genres nor structures in our own productions. Other producers we played tracks of include Scrimshire, Cody Currie, Dego, Zopelar, Steven Julien, Sean McCabe amongst others. All producers that bring that soulful element into their productions."

Vice City

MIMS Guest Mix: Mambele x Rosie From the Block (Brussels, Belgium)

Monzanto Sound blend neo soul with jazz, psychedelic funk and motorik flare, on first single "Nuff Blues" from their upcoming EP 'Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow' due out Autumn 2022 on None More Records.

Vocalist Mimi tells us, “I envision a scorned lover, torn between love, pain and rage, reflecting melancholically on an unfortunate situation where they surrendered and lost themselves completely for the one they love”.

Monzanto Sound is a band from London fusing together different styles from the African Diaspora and combining them with a hypnotic, psychedelic edge. They are a high energy, rhythmic group with an ear for space and simplicity capable of getting any crowd moving. Their sonic aesthetic is something that is considered carefully as they incorporate synths and effects in a way that has more inspiration from 90s dance and electronic music. 

Lead singer Mimi Koku writes intentional, captivating lyrics, which have an emotional honesty that speak on multiple levels. The band have been described as a blend of Can, Fela Kuti and Sade with dubby off kilter funk grooves.

Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow

Exclusive Premiere: Monzanto Sound "Nuff Blues" (Forthcoming on None More Records)

Notoya is the brains behind Tokyo Condition, a record label and online web shop operating from within Tokyo. In the last few years, Notoya has reissued private press records and focuses on lesser known artists from the past and modern day. He recently collaborated with french label We Want Sounds, to create a compilation highlighting artists from record label Nippon Columbia, the wonderful project - Tokyo Glow. On the show we welcome back Ryan Erik Williams, who joins Aswad in conversation with Notoya to discuss the inspirations of Tokyo Condition and the current impact of City Pop within modern day. They also highlight some of the releases from Tokyo Condition and discuss the partnership with HMV Japan.

S4 EP9 - DJ Notoya (Tokyo Condition)

Selections from the test press LP of the album by STR4TA - STR4TASFEAR - Out 11th November 2022

STR4TASFEAR PREVIEW

Rocking Time. All things Afro Latino w/ @sight-beyond-sound
Listen live - 3rd Fridays, 3-5PM ET on www.greatcircles.net.

Rocking Time w/Sight -Beyond- Sound - 29April2023

Was traveling last week but came home with a stack of goodies. Here's a few new and old soulful cuts to play on a hot August day! Enjoy, and don't forget to subscribe on Apple or elsewhere if you can!

Tracklist: Soul Surfers, Loving Cup, Tamba Trio, Maria Bethania Viana, Henry Mancini, Upp, De Vonne Armstrong, Patterns in Sound

August 9 2023

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Pullin from the Stacks - Episode 233 - Slow Burners

Bandcamp Download

oublié ton toucher

Sister of the Sweater Funk crew and hostess of the Honey Pot on Dublab radio, comes one of LA’s finest — DJ Mamabear . Exclusive for Studio Funk, DJ Mamabear plays a delightful mix of modern funk and 80s rarities. Being a big fan of Mamabears work, Az was proud and stoked to have her as a guest. Her excellence as a DJ and selector is second to none...and today we have another great example for you to enjoy!

Alongside this Az also plays a mixture of new releases and personal favourites from Aldorande, Camarão Orkestra, Social Lovers, E.Live, McKenzie & Gardiner, Billy Bruner (again 😅) + more.

S2 EP10 - DJ Mamabear

Studio Funk - podcast show created and hosted by Aswad. Showcasing his discoveries, music collection, and interviews the leading names in modern funk and soul.