PROGRESSION SESSION

Shogun Audio Presents - Way Of The Warrior 2

ITUNES → smarturl.it/WOTW2
CD → bit.ly/WOTW2-CD
VINYL → bit.ly/WOTW2-VINYL

Digital download album includes album mix mixed by SpectraSoul.
Vinyl includes download card to download entire album as MP3.
All CD's & Vinyl bought from the Shogun Shop will be signed by Friction & K-Tee.

Following the first part of the award winning 'Way Of The Warrior' album series back in 2011 in celebration of 50 Shogun Audio releases, we return with part two of our critically acclaimed label showcase, bringing you a selection of the finest drum & bass music created by our ever-evolving entourage of Shogun Audio artists.

TRACKLISTING:

01. Optiv & BTK - Picture Perfect 
02. Icicle - Anxious 
03. Friction & K-Tee - Jupiter (Mefjus Remix) 
04. DLR - Sleep Talk 
05. Total Science - Positive Vibration 
06. Addison Groove & Sam Binga - Rzor (Friction Remix) 
07. SpectraSoul - Slippin' 
08. Technimatic - Bristol 
09. SpectraSoul - Hearts 
10. Rockwell - Sick Of It All 
11. Joe Ford - Stride 
12. Fourward - On A Knife Edge

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http://www.facebook.com/djoptiv
http://twitter.com/optiv

For Bookings contact: tom@gramagency.co.uk
North America: Scott@CyberGrooveProd.com 

Optiv & BTK - Picture Perfect - Shogun Audio - OUT NOW!!

Available HERE: https://ge-ology365.bandcamp.com/

BLUES ALLEY by GE-OLOGY featuring YUKIMI NAGANO (LITTLE DRAGON)

A recreation of the Summertime Madness track that I produced probably 12 years ago or so

Summertime Sadness (recreation of Kool & The Gang's masterpiece)

SEIEN SIE POSITIV - Episoden

Blast Off

LTJ Bukem - Atlantis (I Need You)

About “The Egyptian Second Line” 

In the spirit of reclaiming that which colonization sought to destroy, I'm releasing the first single from my upcoming album Afro-Caribbean Mixtape at the top of Columbus Day weekend. Like a piece of African patchwork, this track is comprised of a lot of different elements — some old, some new. The main body of this record was constructed from the end vamp of a tune I wrote for Dr. Greg Carr (chair of African-American studies at Howard University) called, “Kimathi.” In fact, throughout the piece, you can hear my turntablist, DJ Lady Fingaz, scratching a sample I chopped from one of his interviews. I constructed a new work by cutting and pasting the best moments of Kevin Hays and I playing keyboards on top of the extended jam, and superimposed that over the groove laid down by bassist Vicente Archer, drummer Joe Dyson, and percussionist Daniel Sadownick. I did this with the help of my mix engineer, Blake Leyh (The Wire, Treme). 

Towards the beginning of the piece, you'll hear a chant from vocalists Yolanda Robinson, Jolynda Phillips, and Christina Machado. It's from a thing my father made up while walking through his childhood neighborhood of 13th Ward New Orleans back in the 1940s, “Na-na ni-ta ho-ho. Left, right. Left, right.” Thirty years later, as an elementary school band teacher at McDonogh #15, he had us chant this whenever we marched in second line parades. It recalls the syllabic prayers of ancient languages used in modern dance songs like Mani Dibango's “Soul Makossa,” of which Michael Jackson borrowed for “Wanna Be Startin' Something.”  


The centerpiece of the single is my recitation of a poem I wrote back in 2006 in the aftermath of the flood commonly referred to as “Katrina.” It's called “The Egyptian Second Line.” The gist of the poem toys with the theory that somehow Africans submitted to slavery in an attempt to become better versions of themselves. After the ladies chirp the hook, I step away from the keyboards and embrace the instrument I'm most known for — the trumpet — and blow a few before we take it out. With this song, I am channeling the energy of the ancestors to help give Africa back to herself in the best way I know how, through the power of music. 


In New Orleans, a “second line” is the procession where we dance in the streets to music played by a brass band to celebrate either life or death. When I think about what an Egyptian second line looks like, I think of the imagery of that photo of Louis Armstrong serenading his wife, Lucille in front of the Sphinx — again Africans giving Africa back to herself.
credits
released October 7, 2016 

Nicholas Payton: trumpet, spoken word, Fender Rhodes, Hammond B-3, Clavinet 

Kevin Hays: Fender Rhodes 

Vicente Archer: acoustic bass 

Joe Dyson: drums 

Daniel Sadownick: percussion 

DJ Lady Fingaz: turntable, sampler 

Yolanda Robinson: background vocals 

Jolynda Phillips: background vocals 

Composed by Nicholas Payton (BMI) 

Produced by Nicholas Payton 

Recorded, mixed, mastered, and designed using the PAYTONEsonic™ programming process 

Recording Engineer: David Stoller 

Assistant Engineer: Emily Eck 

Mixing Engineer: Blake Leyh 

Recorded at The Shed, New Orleans, LA 

Mastering: Michael Fossenkemper, Turtletone Studios, NYC 
turtletonestudio.com 

Art Direction: Nicholas Payton 

Cover Painting: Ayanna Bassiouni 

Cover Design: Ayanna Bassiouni

The Egyptian Second Line

Synkro & Indigo - Reflection

SPEAR042

BCee - Keep The Faith feat. Robert Owens (Marcus Intalex Remix) - Spearhead Records

BCee - Keep The Faith feat. Robert Owens (Marcus Intalex Remix) - Spearhead Records

"I love The Expansions their futuristic leanings inject new life into the form. Fresh material!" Ian Merchant (Black Acre)

“Exudes all the qualities I cherish most in music, warmth, integrity and a dedication to the groove… it’s a hard road to travel when you step in the footprints of giants, The Expansions are treading that path with ease and assurance.” Patrick Forge

"Coming off something like the UK's more jazz-funk fueled answer to BBNG, all four quarters of this monstrous unit are on point on this hugely anticipated release. There's got to be a very special long-player in the works, and I for one can't wait to immerse myself in that!" Dom Servini (Wah Wah 45s) 

“The Expansions, very funky! Headhunters/Weather Report inspired, and definitely worth checking out. My new favourite band.” Steve White (Style Council, Paul Weller)
=========
When The Expansions self released their first single in 2013, the laid-back jazz funk of Lavender, it quickly gained strong support from soul and rare-groove aficionados including Kenny Dope, Dom Servini, Patrick Forge and Andy Smith. A run of shows followed and before long, when someone was asking if there was a soul-jazz band around to play with, “The Expansions” was the answer. 

Although this popularity meant a hiatus in releasing music, the band have been constantly busy, playing around Europe with legendary British-Ghanaian soul singer, Andrew Ashong and the exceptional, upcoming talent Connie Constance. 

Murmuration, recorded over three days at Big Noise in Southend, is constructed of single takes, with minimal overdubs, as the band attempt to capture the feeling and energy they create live. 

Debut single Breakthrough introduced the insanely catchy but deeply soulful blend of synths and groove, but here on the album that is explored to the fullest with longer breakdowns and more expansive, experimental solos. Pocket 5 displays the, possibly unexpected, influences of broken beat and almost combative rhythm playing – particularly in the complex guitar and keys breakdown where Koor and O’Keefe layer conflicting time signatures and battle to ride it out to the heavy drum return. 

Cannonball brings warm mellowness that delicately evolves through beats, touching on bossas alongside their fundamental hip-hop sensibilities. But even here there is a raucous zenith before the band sublimely recede into the silence of the a-side ending. 

Colossal album highlight Ivory Mountain is truly an epic. Evoking moments of 4Hero, there is a lightness of groove in the first half of this soulful exploration. But at the halfway point, all restraint is let go as a live string section joins the four quarters of the band for three glorious minutes of soulful disco. Evoking sounds of Quincy Jones, George Benson and Johnny Hammond, all the way through to a beautifully cacophonous finale. 

Dragonfly undoubtedly reflects on the work of Herbie Hancock and is the most direct throwback to the band’s earlier work, which is a welcome marker of how far they have come. A quintessential jazz funker. 

The album closes with the thoughtful and introverted shuffle of Miles Away. In the final eight minutes of Murmuration, The Expansions allow space and time to take precedence, with once-more-restrained peaks and developments. It becomes clear though, that the band cannot resist one last explosive finale, as they rise with screeching synths, strings and dubs for a perfect race to the finish line. 

You can hear the influences of Idris Muhammad, Grover Washington, even parallels with South London peers Yussef Kamaal and Ruby Rushton. But The Expansions have tirelessly worked to create a sound of their own and are very proud, along with label Albert’s Favourites, to finally share it.

Murmuration

The Expansions - Cannonball

When The Expansions self released their first single in 2013, the laid-back jazz funk of Lavender, it quickly gained strong support from soul and rare-groove aficionados including Kenny Dope, Dom Servini, Patrick Forge and Andy Smith. A run of shows followed and before long, when someone was asking if there was a soul-jazz band around to play with, “The Expansions” was the answer. 

Although this popularity meant a hiatus in releasing music, the band have been constantly busy, playing around Europe with legendary British-Ghanaian soul singer, Andrew Ashong and the exceptional, upcoming talent Connie Constance. 

There has also been a breakout project from drummer Jonny Drop - the album Sub Plot gained massive support and love from BBC Radio 6 Music’s Lauren Laverne. While keys-man Dave Koor has been busy playing shows with Gilles Peterson favourite Hector Plimmer, Shaun Escoffery, and Ego Ella May, improvising with Yussef Dayes (Yussef Kamaal) and Nubya Garcia, releasing music as Deoke and collaborating with label-mate Scrimshire on their Modified Man exploration. 

But always, The Expansions has remained a central focus and the true home of these four jazz and soul lovers, with occasional trips out to the country to form ideas and practice new music for the eventual album. 

Murmuration, recorded over three days at Big Noise in Southend, is constructed of single takes, with minimal overdubs, as the band attempt to capture the feeling and energy they create live. 

Debut single Breakthrough introduced the insanely catchy but deeply soulful blend of synths and groove, but here on the album that is explored to the fullest with longer breakdowns and more expansive, experimental solos. Pocket 5 displays the, possibly unexpected, influences of broken beat and almost combative rhythm playing – particularly in the complex guitar and keys breakdown where Koor and O’Keefe layer conflicting time signatures and battle to ride it out to the heavy drum return. 

Cannonball brings warm mellowness that delicately evolves through beats, touching on bossas alongside their fundamental hip-hop sensibilities. But even here there is a raucous zenith before the band sublimely recede into the silence of the a-side ending. 

Colossal album highlight Ivory Mountain is truly an epic. Evoking moments of 4Hero, there is a lightness of groove in the first half of this soulful exploration. But at the halfway point, all restraint is let go as a live string section joins the four quarters of the band for three glorious minutes of soulful disco. Evoking sounds of Quincy Jones, George Benson and Johnny Hammond, all the way through to a beautifully cacophonous finale. 

Dragonfly undoubtedly reflects on the work of Herbie Hancock and is the most direct throwback to the band’s earlier work, which is a welcome marker of how far they have come. A quintessential jazz funker. 

The album closes with the thoughtful and introverted shuffle of Miles Away. In the final eight minutes of Murmuration, The Expansions allow space and time to take precedence, with once-more-restrained peaks and developments. It becomes clear though, that the band cannot resist one last explosive finale, as they rise with screeching synths, strings and dubs for a perfect race to the finish line. 

You can hear the influences of Idris Muhammad, Grover Washington, even parallels with South London peers Yussef Kamaal and Ruby Rushton. But The Expansions have tirelessly worked to create a sound of their own and are very proud, along with label Albert’s Favourites, to finally share it.

Miles Away

Yussef Kamaal - String of Light (Live @ Jazz Cafe) ::: Mixing / Mastering (2016)

@abasemusic delivers groove and sateen sweetness on this eight-minute stunner via @cosmiccompositions.

Read more: http://www.stampthewax.com/2018/11/30/premiere-abase-align-feat-wayne-snow/
Listen on Youtube: http://bit.ly/abase-snow

Listen on Youtube

Àbáse - Align feat Wayne Snow (STW Premiere)

Those following beat culture in the last years might have heard about Swiss producer @melodiesinfonie already. From his tracks on the early Soulection compilations, releases on Melting Pot Music and Sichtexot to countless live sets in Europe and even South Africa. We are very happy to now announce his first release on Jakarta Records. In comparison to previous output the most apparent difference is the extend to which Melodiesinfone incorporated live elements to his productions, achieving a more eclectic and organic sound. Get a first taste with the upcoming single „Longo Do Rio“ before the full length album „A Journey To You“ will drop 26th of April.

A Journey To You

PREORDER

melodiesinfonie - AO Longo Do Rio (taken from A Journey To You LP; April 26th)

Sick Music 3 sees the revival of the highly successful compilation series with another slew of top-notch talent from across the spectrum. Sick Music 3 is a 26-track compilation from Hospital Records, out now on CD, digital, 4 x 12" vinyl and with two vinyl samplers (out 12th November). 

Grab it now: 

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/sick-music-3/id571943828

Hospital Shop: http://shop.hospitalrecords.com/product/NHS222/

For Bookings contact: tom@gramagency.co.uk
North America: Scott@CyberGrooveProd.com

www.facebook.com/djoptiv
twitter.com/optiv

Optiv & CZA  - In Too Deep - Hospital Records - OUT NOW!!

First single from the upcoming release Seven Wonders. New Movements in Australian Jazz & Soul A 14 track compilation recorded at Plug Seven Studios In Melbourne Collingwood, in partnership with Wondercore Island, due for release Feb 2020.

Seven Wonders

05 WVR BVBY - Custard Shoulder

Hi Everyone,

thx 4 popping by. I recently moved all my activites and attention to my Podcast´s that i release at the following Website :

http://massivedynamix.podomatic.com/

you can listen and download them at your own convinience or also subscribe the at the iTunes Store, section Podcast´s and there search for :

MASSIVE DYNAMIX HOUSE SESSIONS

Please give it a try and spread the Word.

THX & c ya soon

MD

Jazz Funk Jam Band from LDN. 
Inspired by the sound of the 70's jazz funk scene. 
Keyboards - Dave Koor
Guitars - James O'Keefe
Bass - Matt Summerfield
Drums - Jonny Drop

Miles Away

The Expansions

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