Mux

A mux for ya

Music - One Way feat. Al Hudson

One of the less played tracks from this album, a nice straight ahead disco tune.

Music - One Way feat. Al Hudson - One Way - 1979

Creative Source - Pass The Feelin' On

One of those tracks where they nail the groove so well you wish it was twice as long.

Creative Source - Pass The Feelin' On - Pass the Feelin' On - 1975

Reuben Wilson - In The Booth...

Silky smooth.

Reuben Wilson - In The Booth, In The Back, In The Corner, In The Dark - Got To Get Your Own - 1975

Csaba Deseo Ensemble - Behind the Csitári Mountains

In honour of my Easter trip to Budapest...



...and a loan of some suitable music from Vuk, a great viola-led piece of central European folklore.

Csaba Deseo Ensemble - Behind the Csitári Mountains - Hungarian Jazz Anthology (Tom Wieland) - 1991

Khaliq Al-Rouf & Salaam - Malcolm, The Call

Joyous music. Dance and spin and look to the heavens, it doesn't matter if you fall over.

Khaliq Al-Rouf & Salaam - Malcolm, The Call - The Elephant Trot Dance - 1979

Paul Jackson - Burning In The Heat [Of Your Love]

Recorded in Japan while on tour with Herbie's Headhunters; slow-burning verse and driving chorus.

Paul Jackson - Burning In The Heat [Of Your Love] - Black Octopus - 1978

Rodney Franklin - Felix Leo

Made when he was 21 with 'Seawind' on horn. A lion tamer.

Rodney Franklin - Felix Leo - You'll Never Know - 1980

Roy Ayers & Wayne Henderson - For Real

A lazy summer vibes version of the classic Richard Flowers song.

Roy Ayers & Wayne Henderson - For Real - Step Into Our Life - 1978

Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey

You thought I'd disappeared right? Well not quite, and I've just been given a load of new old music fresh from Lagos - on more of a JuJu, Highlife tip. First up is this, the ominously named Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey, who, in fact, sounds rather gentle. It's tough getting any background information on this. The photocopied cover says that this is track, number 5, is called Eye To Ma Ba Kowe Ke, and the album in "Eversongsgreen...20". However a bit of Internet searching lists the album as the more obvious "Evergreen Songs 20" with slightly different track listings.

For those of you who listen to this and think it's all a bit 'world', a bit sandals, please persevere. It gets particularly good after about 11 minutes, when a riff starts circling and the atmosphere starts to feel like something you could find on Lovefingers. One for fans of With Comb & Razor and Benn Loxo Du Taccu.

Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey - Eye To Ma Ba Kowe Ke(?) - Evergreen Songs 20 - 2003(?)

JR Bailey - Everything I Want I See In You

Soul is best when it sounds like it comes through a badly tuned car stereo and you're racing down the palisades on your way back to the city in the wee small hours after an emotionally charged weekend...

JR Bailey - Everything I Want I See In You - Just Me 'N' You - 1974

Blue Mitchell - Blue Funk

Straight-forward, straight-laced. straight-ahead good times.

Blue Mitchell - Blue Funk - Graffiti Blues - 1973

Million Dollar Orchestra

Do yourself a favour and check out the Million Dollar Orchestra and Keep On Doin' Watcha Doin' at American Athlete.

Ronnie Laws - Live Your Life Away

Ronnie Laws takin' it easy. Leave your troubles and hide away.

Ronnie Laws - Live Your Life Away - Flame - 1978

Tribe

I was asked to write an article for a local magazine with no other brief than that it should be 800 words, and follow the theme of the issue: Tribe. Readers of this blog might be able to guess the angle I took...





Detroit, Michigan. Motor City. The 313. Fewer than one million inhabitants but perhaps the richest and most influential musical heritage of any city of that size; a heritage of which sadly many of even its inhabitants are unaware. The home of Stevie, of Arethra, of Motown. The home of techno, from the first wave originators Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson and Derrick May to the all-conquering Carl Craig. The home, more recently, to distinctive new hip hop and soul from Slum Village, from Dwele, the Platinum Pied Pipers, Amp Fiddler and the late J Dilla. The home of Moodymann. A city always innovating and always creating, defying definitions. Eminem and the White Stripes also call it theirs.

It’s not surprising that Detroit was home to Tribe Records, set up in 1972 by Wendell Harrison, an established jazzman then teaching at Detroit’s Metro Arts Complex, and Phil Ranelin, a session trombonist with people like Stevie Wonder. A label important on the one hand because of the excellence of the music it released, and on the other because of the progressive, collective, political and above all optimistic way it was done.

The label was founded with the express intention of giving local musicians control of the marketing and distribution of their own records. A revolutionary approach also taken by Strata East in New York and by the Art Ensemble of Chicago around the same time. This self-determination was an active expression of, and contribution to, the cultural and racial changes that were then going on across the US.

“Who’s to blame. That the brothers are running a game on each other. Who’s ashamed, that we’re burning ourselves in a flame and no other. Can’t you see that the war is brought on by another. Can’t you see it’s a game that’s played on all the brothers. When the ones that do it to you turn you on yourself, when you fight a war and end up on the shelf. What a way to treat the people. No jobs but lies and prices rise. You fight a war now broke the law. When are we to wake up brothers?” (Doug Hammond, Wake Up Brothers).

To create another mouthpiece the label started a magazine with the same name. It carried articles on economics, business, history, politics, education and culture. Saxophonists took photos, pianists wrote reviews while cover artists played percussion. “The Tribe is an extension of the tribes in the villages of Africa…There were no superstars; just people and collectively all the people of the village played a vital role in shaping that culture”. This inclusive approach contrasted with the infamous straightjacket of Gordy’s Motown hit machine, which itself had a surprising role in the Tribe sound.

As Wendell Harrison recounts, “Motown Records had just relocated to California - and there were a lot of Motown musicians who wanted to do something, so we used a lot of the rhythm section guys. They had their R&B flavour, but they also had knowledge of the jazz, so the music became R&B on the bottom and bebop on the top. That was organic, and people liked it. We still had to sell records and we wanted to appeal to a market. We discovered there were a lot of people who like that old Motown feeling, so even though we had that bottom, we could still play what we wanted to on the top - that helped people digest it. That was better than just playing straight ahead.”

This Tribe sound reflected the inclusive politics – embracing funk, gospel, soul, spoken improvisation; jazz; perpetual percussion; amplified guitar and vocals. There is always a groove. It’s exciting, veering from radiophonic workshop style effects, shimmering 70s post-bop and barrio-flavoured instrumentals, through spiritual meditations and sweetly earnest revolutionary folk – all combined in an intoxicating mix of experimentation, grooves and, above all, hope.

By the time Tribe stopped trading in 1977, its five years had seen only about ten releases. But while unknown to all but jazz heads, it still provides a compelling vision. While today ‘tribes’ are identities defined by a certain cut of denim or fringe, the Tribe family brought a synthetic approach, a ‘mixed bag’, that drew strength from diversity and, even more importantly, still gave a shit.

“Pure music must portray our way of life. Our music is reflecting more so than ever before, the stress, tension and discord that is taking place within our communities along with the harmonious things happening.”

"The time is now, for unity among the people! The time is now, for all men to be able to control their own destinies! The time is now, for oppression, racism, greed, hate and poverty to end! The time is now, for revolution!" (Phil Ranelin, The Time is Now).

“How hard it is for us to be for real. In seeking every moment for a thrill. We must begin to realise the truth. That we have got to stand for what we do.” (Doug Hammond, For Real).

**********

There are links to a lot of this great music at http://pharaohs-dance.blogspot.com/, but here are a few tracks to get you started.

Marcus Belgrave - Space Odyssey - Gemini II - 1974
Doug Hammond - For Real - Reflections In The Sea Of Nurnen - 1975
Harold McKinney - Ode To Africa - Voices and Rhythms of the Creative Profile - 1974
Mixed Bag - Shark - The Mixed Bag's First Album - 1976

And see this from an earlier post...
Doug Hammond & David Durrah - Wake Up Brothers - Reflections in the Sea of Nurnen - 1975

Sun Ra - That's How I Feel

A slow-burning gem from the interplanetary cosmiguru meandering inexorably and quite beautifully between the outer galaxies.

Sun Ra - That's How I Feel - Lanquidity - 1978

Peter King - Freedom Dance

Back to Naija for a track from Peter King's 1974 Shango album. Remastered in 2002 and released on Afrostrut, and pretty easy to find, the whole thing is worth purchasing if you like Tony Allen or Fela or JB. I just love those discordant horn stabs.

Peter King - Freedom Dance - Shango - 1974

Max Roach - Equipoise

Stanley Cowell's tune, with Gary Bartz on sax and Charles Tolliver on trumpet plus a much newer, wobblier take from Ninja Tune's Dwight Trible.

Max Roach - Equipoise - Members Don't Git Weary - 1968
Dwight Trible & The Life Force Trio feat. Sa-Ra - Equipoise - Equipoise CDS - 2005

Evelyn 'Champagne' King - Smooth Talk

Strong groove, catchy hook and some lovely guitar in the breakdown.

Evelyn 'Champagne' King - Smooth Talk - Smooth Talk - 1977

Edu Lobo - Vento Bravo

Real Musica Popular Brasileira from Edu Lobo. Atmospheric, as you might expect considering he had spent most of his time working on film scores before this album.

Edu Lobo - Vento Bravo - Missa Breve - 1972

Greetings *2

Time to kick start again with some more great music. After a long holiday in Australia and Japan, I'd wondered whether it was worth posting a few single tracks every week, especially considering all the great sites out there lovingly posting complete hard-to-find albums at 320kbps. However in the end I've decided it is, simply because maybe a few new songs a week is really all that anyone can handle. To that end I will endeavour to post only the music I really love and want to introduce, so you can go out and buy records and go to concerts. And, if I'm quiet for a couple weeks at a time, it's simply because I don't have something to share that's worthy of your discerning attention! Thanks to everyone for the comments and emails and I will be more responsive in the future - it's great that there's such a community of real music lovers out there.

Greetings

...Sydney, Melbourne, Santiago de Chile, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Miami, Atlanta, Phoenix, Dallas, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Minnesota, Chicago, New Jersey, New York, Toronto, Accra, Lagos, Johannesburg, Madeira, Lisbon, Porto, Barcelona, Rome, Bologna, Cremona, Maribor, Athens, Istanbul, Marseille, Paris, Antwerp, Amsterdam, Leicester, Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, Koln, Hannover, Berlin, Budapest, Bratislava, Warsaw, Stockholm, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Dubai, Lahore, Bangkok, Jakarta, Beijing, Yokohama, Tokyo...

Daniel Givens - Mandala / Mural

You've got to admire people who do their own thing and Daniel Givens certainly does that. Here's one of the more accessible tunes from the Chicago producer's 2000 album. If a mandala is a generic term for a pattern, used in meditation, that represents a microcosm of the universe from a human perspective, then this slow score certainly fits the bill.

Daniel Givens - Mandala / Mural - Age - 2000

Method Man & Redman - Cereal Killer

I feel the need for some real hip hop. Method Man and Redman from 1999. Full on from the first second heard force filth.

Method Man & Redman - Cereal Killer - Blackout! - 1999

Carl Craig - Undisputable

Carl Craig on the Moxie label with his edit of The Undisputable Truth's Sandman. Released in 2004, this is superfine.

Carl Craig - Undisputable - 12" - 2004

The Love Commitee - Just As Long As I've Got You

Mixed with Gibbon love rather than the Tom Moulton version found on their 1978 album.

The Love Commitee - Just As Long As I've Got You (Walter Gibbons 12" Mix) - Law and Order 12" - 1978

Herbie Mann & The Bill Evans Trio - Nirvana

Slowing it right down for Sunday evening, a lovely piece which, to me, sounds better with the slightly distorted recording.

Herbie Mann & The Bill Evans Trio - Nirvana - Nirvana - 1961

Attica Blues - Blueprint

A bit of moody Mo'Wax.

Attica Blues - Blueprint - Blueprint EP - 1995

Manu Dibango - Besoka on Salsa

With Manu leaving his sax at home and playing vibraphone, this track was improvised at the end of a studio session in 1976 and, I believe, only released on this album in 2002. Simply smouldering.

Manu Dibango - Besoka on Salsa - B Sides - 2002

Gary Bartz Ntu Troop - Uhuru Sasa

Gary Bartz and Andy Bey doing what they do best, supported by excellent driving drumming from the under-appreciated Harold White.

Gary Bartz Ntu Troop - Uhuru Sasa - Harlem Bush Music - Uhuru - 1971

Steve Reid - Kai

Steve Reid drumming with Arthur Blythe on Sax.

Steve Reid - Kai - Rhythmatism - 1975

Candi Staton - The Best Thing You Ever Had

Canzetta Maria Staton, born in a town of 800 souls in Alabama in 1943, picked cotton and sang gospel as a child. At 17 she ran away to LA with Lou Rawls, but was talked out of a wedding by Lou's mother. "We almost got married by his mother sent me back and told me to stay in school". Two minutes twenty of perfect southern-fried soul. Live on baby.

Candi Staton - The Best Thing You Ever Had - Candi Staton - 1972

Titonton Duvante & Fabrice Lig - Even Deeper

Some excellent bleep for the 100th Groove Provider post.

Titonton Duvante & Fabrice Lig - Even Deeper - Sensual EP - 2001

Fela Kuti

I'm sure you all know and love Fela, but if you don't you have to check him out. Here are some of my favourites from the legend.

Fela Kuti - Lady - Shakara - 1971
Fela Kuti - Who Are You - London Scene - 1972
Fela Kuti - Water No Get Enemy - Expensive Shit - 1975
Fela Kuti - Yellow Fever - Yellow Fever - 1976

Byron Morris & Unity - Sunshowers

A nice easy summer track from an excellent album posted on the even more excellent Pharoah's Dance.

Byron Morris & Unity - Sunshowers - Vibrations, Themes & Serenades - 1978

Experimentation

After realising that the music is more important than my mutterings I'm playing with a new name, style and layout for this blog.

Check it out here and let me know if you think it's an improvement.

A Tear To A Smile

Flora Purim - Sarara

George Duke produced and featuring Prince's Sheila E, here's Flora Purim's version of the Gilberto Gil song with some great mewing at the end.

Flora Purim - Sarara - Carry On - 1979

Gal Costa - Aquarela Do Brasil

Why don't I have a swimming pool?

Gal Costa - Aquarela Do Brasil - Aquarela Do Brasil - 1984

Gato Barbieri - Vidala Triste

The Argie Cat singing and playing flute rather than his normal rasping sax. With a great line up, including Airto Moreira, M'tume, LLS, John Abercrombie and Stanley Clark, he creates an insidious folk drone.

Gato Barbieri - Vidala Triste - Bolivia - 1973

Sly & The Revolutionaries - White Rum

Locked down with the Trojan Sound (gotta love a box set).

Sly & The Revolutionaries - White Rum - Black Ash Dub - 1980

Lonnie Liston Smith - Beautiful Woman

Some more Donald Smith vocals, as promised, on this up-tempo number from the LLS & the Cosmic Echoes. Great percussion led by Lawrence Killian, but also, I just discovered when reading the liner notes, Doug Hammond.

Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - Beautiful Woman - Cosmic Funk - 1974

Leon Thomas with the Gary Bartz Quintet - Precious Energy

Warmth.

Leon Thomas with the Gary Bartz Quintet - Precious Energy - Precious Energy - 1987

Idris Muhammad - Power Of Soul

Idris Muhammad's slick version of the Jimi Hendrix tune featuring Grover Washington Jr. sax and Bob James keys. Nice big brass opening and then in comes that smooth groove that just locks you in.

Idris Muhammad - Power Of Soul - Power Of Soul - 1974

B.T. Express - Energy Level

After 3 weeks I'm back, with my connection up and running. Here's B.T. Express gettin' high to celebrate.

B.T. Express - Energy Level - Energy To Burn - 1976

We apologise for this interruption of service

Sorry for the silence - broadband frustrations continue, although I'm assured they will be fixed next week. Plenty of other good stuff around so try out the links on the right and listen to the last.fm playlist if you need a fix.

Shamek Farrah - First Impressions

Just love this. Muzicz for Headz.

Shamek Farrah - First Impressions - First Impressions - 1975

Dedumdum duh der

Two great 'intelligent' techno tunes from 1993. It's the bouncy basslines that do it for me and both of them, to my ears, seem to be based on this Reuben Wilson track.

Bandulu - Revelation - Guidance - 1993
Speedy J - Beam Me Up! - Ginger - 1993
Reuben Wilson - Got To Get Your Own '98 - Organ Donor - 1998

Diblo Dibala

Soukous - the sound of a party in the Congo. Three tracks from Diblo Dibala, with the first from his band Loketo. Infectious feel-good happy music.

Loketo - Kimia Eve - Soukous Trouble - 1990
Diblo Dibala - Etoula - Super Soukous - 1989
Diblo Dibala - Kelele - Super Soukous - 1989

Lafayette Afro Rock Band

A few tracks for you from the Lafayette Afro Rock band - a bunch of Americans from Long Island that recorded mostly in Paris and under a few different names.

Lafayette Afro Rock Band - Darkest Light - Malik - 1975

Lafayette Afro Rock Band - Hihache - Voodounon / Movin' & Groovin' - 1974

Ice - Racubah - Afro Agban - 1978

Hope Springs Eternal

Apologies for the lack of posts recently - some damn annoying broadband issues that, I'm assured, will be sorted soon. It's given me some time to think about what to post though, so look out for some new themed slexions this weekend (fingers crossed).

Much love.