The Truffles “Man in The Vest”

March 14, 2012 at 8:00 am

I really dig this band.  Great compositions and super cool lyrics.  I ran into Noah Arroyo, the bassist for The Truffles, at Beat Swapmeet this past Sunday, and he gave me a copy.  It’s been in my car since.  Can’t stop playing it.  New school psych soul sounds, combined with quirky vocals, from the Inland Empire.  I love it.  Dig the guitar work by Carlos Arevalo.

Support the band directly through Bandcamp, or ask your local record stores to pick this up!

Free Download: Shogun Orchestra “Bamako”

March 13, 2012 at 5:48 pm

This one caught me off guard, and I’m lovin it!  Shogun Orchestra is based out of New Zealand, and their debut album will be released on German based Jakarta Records on March 31st.  Afro-Jazz goodness.  I wasn’t sure what was going on with the intro baseline.  Sounded like a Ray Charles remix at first, but then the horns came in…Nuff said.

Eric Roberson “Picture Perfect”

February 27, 2012 at 8:00 am

While normally I don’t seek out Eric Roberson tracks, this one really caught my ears.  I heard this on a hotel room music channel a few months back, and it was just background noise for much of the song.  It wasn’t until near the very end of the track that I had to stop my conversation with my girl, ask “What IS this?!,” and Shazam it.  I believe it’s due to the fresh drum programming.   Reminded me of a more Bugz in the Attic kind of broken beat soul track, which really attracted me.  The entire concept is cool, though, and I like the photo negative idea for this video.

Actually, now that I think of it, this is EXACTLY what it reminded me of…Jneiro Jarel.

Forward Listening 22: Best of 2011

January 16, 2012 at 8:00 am

I had a blast making this one.  All year I’ve been compiling this list, and I ended making Forward Listening 22 a 2-hour and 40-minute show.  Music from all around the globe, released in 2011.

Enjoy!

 

Forward Listening 22 – Best of 2011

1. Charles Bradley – Golden Rule [ No Time For Dreaming; Daptone ]
2. The Stepkids – Shadows on Behalf [ The Stepkids; Stones Throw ]
3. Toro Y Moi – Still Sound [ Underneath The Pine; Carpark Records ]
4. Aischa Traidia – What’s Going On [ Single; Melting Pot Music ] bandcamp.com
5. Seun Kuti & Africa 80 – You Can Run [ From Africa With Fury: Rise; Knitting Factory ]
6. Tunde Mabadu – Viva Disco *Instrumental [ Nigeria 70: Sweet Times; Strut ]
7. Bibio – Light Sleep [ Mind Bokeh; Warp Records ]
8. Thundercat – Boat Cruise [ Golden Age of Apocalypse; Brain Feeder ]
9. Pharaoh Monche – Still Standing *feat. Jill Scott [ W.A.R. ; Duck Down ]
10. Amerigo Gazaway – Breakadawn [ Fela Soul; Gummy Soul ] bandcamp.com
11. Sebastian – Embody *DJ Premier Remix [ single; Ed Banger ]
12. Robin Hannibal – Transit [ Bobby EP; Plug Research ]
13. Grace Jones – This is Life [ Hurricane; Play It Again, Sam ]
14. Stac – Head on Me *Blue Daisy Remix [ Turn That Light Out: The Remixes, Vol. 2; Wah Wah 45’s ]
15. Little Dragon – Nightlife [ Ritual Union; Peacefrog Holdings ]
16. LDFD – Outtacontrol [ Outtacontrol EP; Magical Properties ]
17. Thievery Corporation – Where It All Starts [ Culture of Fear; ESL ]
18. King – Hey [ The Story EP; Self Released ]
19. Wild Cookie – Serious Drug [ Cookie Dough; Tru Thoughts ] Freddie Cruger & Anthony Mills
20. Kraak & Smaak – Wasted With A Smile [ Electric Hustle; Jalapeño ]
21. Bombino – Tar Hani (My Love) [ Agadez; Cumbancha ]
22. Tinariwen – Tenere Taqhim Tossam [ Tassili; Anti ]
23. Mongo Santamaria – Mongo’s Mambo *Joe Claussell Remix [ Africa Caribe; Hammock House/Fania ]
24. Captain Planet – Get You Some [ Cookin’ Gumbo; Bastard Jazz ]
25. Chris Berry – Lari’s Theme [ OKA!; Oka Productions ]
26. Michael Kiwanuka – Tell Me A Tale [ Tell Me A Tale: The Isle of Wight Sessions; Communion ]
27. The Echocentrics – Crescent Sun [ Sunshadows; Ubiquity ]
28. Garfield Adams – For My City *feat. Josh Koslow [ 1st Things First; Self Released ] band camp
29. Jesse Futurman – I Love You So [ Super Basement EP; Jus Like Music
30. Agnes Obel – Close Watch [ Philharmonics; Play It Again, Sam ]
31. DJ Shadow – Enemy Lines [ The Less You Know, The Better; Verve Forecast ]
32. Dengue Fever – Ugu [ Cannibal Courtship; Fantasy ]
33. Daedelus – Penny Loafers [ Bespoke; Ninja Tune ] Inara George Bird & The Bee Living Sisters
34. Chrissy Murderbot – Bussin Down [ Women’s Studies; Planet Mu ]
35. El Rego – Vimado Wingman [ El Rego; Daptone ]
36. Ikebe Shakedown – Tujunga [ Ikebe Shakedown; Ubiquity Records ]
37. Bing Ji Ling – Dreaming [ Shadow to Shine; Tummy Touch Records ]

Fresh Air “Slowly Coming Along” EP

January 6, 2012 at 2:00 pm

 I got to hang out with my man, Khalil, over the holidays and we reminisced on our days as Fresh Air, an independent hip hop group I joined around 2003.  Long story short, I ran into Khalil at an afterhours spot playing beats.  We exchanged cards, and that was that.  A few months later, I was DJ’ing at a spot and Fresh Air was scheduled to perform, but their DJ couldn’t make it.  I filled in and we rocked it.  Khalil hit me up a few days later to ask me to join the group, and the rest is history.  In 2006, we released our first EP, “Slowly Coming Along.”  It was fun and stressful at the same time.  There were days where I had no desire to go in to the studio to help Khalil with the mixdown, let alone go in and do my part, which were the scratches.  Then there were other days where we’d be all together and just vibin to our project, making plans to do shows and what not.  It was definitely a good time.  I hit up Khalil recently to suggest that we put up the EP for free download, and he agreed it was a good idea.  So here it is, folks.  Enjoy!

Forward Listening 21

December 20, 2011 at 8:00 am

I’m proud to announce Forward Listening Vol. 21, available now on The Noise Academy’s website and iTunes.  2 hours of goodness from Chris Berry, MdCL, Captain Planet, Colman Brothers, Toro Y Moi, DJ Cam, and more…

Lots of great music for you to enjoy.

Download

Hour 1

Charles Lloyd Quartet – Dream Weaver [ Concert in Athens; ECM Records ]
Me’shell Ndegeocello – Don’t Take My Kindness For Weakness [ Weather; Naive Records ]
Chris Berry – Lari’s Theme (End Theme) [ Oka! OST; Oka Productions ]
El Rego – Do Do Baya [ El Rego; Daptone ]
Empresarios – Cumbia Savage (Instrumental) [ Bestia EP; Fort Knox Recordings ]
Amerigo Gazaway – Stakes Is High [ Fela Soul; Self Released ]
Jonwayne – Just A Minute [ I Don’t Care; Self Released ]
DJ 2-Tone Jones – Blue Hype [ Shaolin Jazz: The 37th Chamber; Self Released ]
DJ Center – You Got The Love (Applejac’s Hookah Lounge Remix) [ Everything in Time Remixed; Push The Fader ]
MdCL – Alabi (feat. Sandra Nkake) [ Renegades; Tru Thoughts ]
Bio Ritmo – Dina’s Mambo [ La Verdad; Electric Cowbell ]
Mongo Santamaria – Mongo’s Mambo (Joe Claussell Remix) [ Africa Caribe; Hammock House/Fania ]
Captain Planet – Samba Radiante [ Cookin’ Gumbo; Bastard Jazz ]
Colman Brothers – Another Brother (Big Band Mix) [ Colman Brothers ; Wah Wah 45’s ]

Hour 2

Mocean Worker – Do Like Ya Like [ Candygram for Mowo!; MRI ]
Sun Singleton – Ready (Opolopo Remix) [ Stilnovo Sessions Vol. 1; Stilnovo ]
The Getalong Gang – Better Than This [ It’s All House; Public Recordings ]
Aischa Traidia – What’s Going On [ Single; Melting Pot Music ]
Toro Y Moi – All Alone [ Freaking Out EP; Carpark Records ]
Kutcorners – Diamond (Wajeed Remix) [ Single; 11-inch Records ]
DJ Cam – A Loop [ Seven; Laurent Daumail ]
Garfield Adams – Build and Destroy (feat. Derrick Buck) [ 1st Things First; Stemulated Music ]
J-Live – No Time To Waste [ Said Person of That Ability; Triple Threat Music ]
Evidence – You [ Cats & Dogs; Rhymesayers ]
J.Bizness – 260 Dionne [ Flips Vol. 1; Self Released ]
Jose James – Trouble [ Single; Self-Released ]
Sarah Linhares – Here [ Messages from the Future; Public Transit ]
Grace Jones – This is Life [ Hurricane; Play It Again, Sam ]
Daedelus – Penny Loafers [ Bespoke; Ninja Tune ]
Bjork – Dark Matter (With Choir & Organ) [ Biophilia; Nonesuch ]
Moby – When You Grow Old [ Destroyed; Mute ]

Best of 2011…

December 14, 2011 at 9:28 am

Making a “best of” year-end list is always difficult for me.  The main reason is because I can’t remember what came out in January!  Stay tuned for the last Forward Listening of 2011, which will feature my absolute favorite cuts of the past 365.  While I haven’t nearly completed the list, here are a couple of sure bets. Much much more to come…

LDFD – “Outtacontrol”
Mark de Clive-Lowe – “Koko & Lee Roe”
Velella Velella – “BBQ Claus I & II”
Agnes Obel – “Close Watch” (December 2010)
Bing Ji Ling – “Dreaming”
Robin Hannibal – “Transit”
Bombino – “Tar Hani (My Love)”
Dengue Fever – “Uku”
Kraak & Smaak – “Wasted With a Smile”
Amerigo Gazaway / Fela Soul – “Breakadawn”
Thundercat – “Boat Cruise”

FREE MIX: The Straight Ahead Vol. 1 by Closed Caption

December 5, 2011 at 8:00 am

Our man, Closed Caption, put this together on one of our first nights at The Straight Ahead.  Many more to come.  Enjoy!

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/29771724″]

Playlist:

1. Jack Bruce – Born to Be Blue
2. The Heath Brothers – Smilin’ Billy Suite Part II
3. Robert Glasper – F.T.B.
4. Dexter Gordon – A Night In Tunisia
5. Aldo Romano – Cité Soleil
6. Galt Macdermot – Golden Apples Part II
7. Horace Silver Quintet – Senor Blues (Vocal Version)
8. P.E. Hewitt Jazz Ensemble – The Winter Wind
9. Donald Byrd – Stepping Into Tomorrow
10. George Benson – Face It Boy, It’s Over
11. Quincy Jones – Summer in the City
12. Omar – Syleste (Lounge Lizzard Mix)
13. Miles Davis – Water Babies
14. Andrew Hill – Illusion
15. Giovanni Mirabassi – Dear Old Stockholm
16. Oliver Sain – On the Hill
17. George Benson – Shadow Dancers
18. Herbie Hancock – Speak Like a Child
19. Mulatu Astatke – Gubelye
20. Galt Macdermot – Ripped Open by Metal Explosions

Fresh Air’s “Slowly Coming Along” Free Download

November 24, 2011 at 11:13 am

I spoke to Khalil a few days ago, and we decided to throw up all of our old Fresh Air material for free download.  I need to upload more, but, for now, you can download our EP, “Slowly Coming Along,” for free.

The Straight Ahead: November 27th

November 24, 2011 at 7:00 am

We’re back this Sunday at Association in Downtown LA.  Each night we’ve gained new friends and family, and everyone has responded positively about having a jazz night in LA with DJ’s who collect jazz records!  We’d love to see you there…

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