Don Blackman : Heart’s Desire
taken from the album “Don Blackman” on GRP Arista (1982)

Breakwater : Splashdown Time
taken from the album “Splashdown” on Arista (1980)

That’s right, prepare yourselves for a muthaload of all things good when the Via crew takes over Bar Eleven this upcoming Saturday for some loud-music-mayhem! This week I’m dropping FUNK on yer domes cuz that’s what makes our asses quiver & excite, while our nipples shiver with delight. Caps & Jones are up in the piece, my boy Tito Rock will be bringing some serious shiz, and yours truly will finally release a highly danceable and original E.P. into the world at large (without a label no less). There’s free drinks, free mix CDs, T-shirt and Vinyl giveaways from Bastard Jazz, and dancing- what more do you need. Tell your friends, download the flyer and forward that shiz around ’cause you like us and want to support what we do, and definitely SHOW UP. Ok, that’s that.

This Don Blackman record has history, not just in the world of funk lovers, soul seekers, and beat fanatics, but for me personally. I tell you that in honest to god truth, I found an original promo copy of this record in excellent condition sitting on top of a trash can on 6th Ave. right near where the homeless guys sell stuff. I picked it up out of a stack of crappy 80’s pop without even knowing what it was! When I got home and put it on, transformations occured. This was the record that opened me up to the possibility that 80’s funk was entirely real. I loved M.J. and some classic 80’s hip hop, but in the fog of my ignorance I thought the rest of the recordings from the decade could explode in an overly reverbed snare hit without me missing a thing. How wrong I was. Thanks Don, you’ve helped me discover countless grooves, ridiculous breaks, and you’ve even fostered my appreciation for the well used synthesizer. I used to let this whole A-side play all the way through at every house party I threw. Some people jock this LP for the “Holding You Loving You” song that I first heard on Kenny Dope’s entirely classic mix for BBE. But my jam, for so many reasons, is “Heart’s Desire”. Some people are a little too crazed about this track, but I suppose it’s almost understandable. Check Don’s little piano solo at the outro- absolute perfection.

Lablemates Breakwater dropped their LP “Splashdown” a couple years before Don made his solo debut. But one track on this album, “Let Love In”, actually has a strikingly similar bassline. I didn’t give you that one ’cause I feel the bridge is a little bit too cheesy, but it makes for a perfect mix with “Desire” for all ye DJs out there. I don’t know that much about this group, but “Splashdown” is a sure-fire party pleaser that often brings people up to the DJ booth asking “who’s this?”

Charles Atangana & Emitais : Onguindo
taken from the album “Assalam Aleikoum Africa” on Antilles (1976)

Third World : Black Beauty
taken from the album “Aiye-Keta” on Island (1973)

Crimeny! In an attempt to appease the angry masses who have been missing out on their weekly dosage of Gumbo Funk, I place this holy sacrifice of fuzzy guitars, heavy bass, searing horns, and snapping drums! Our server has been down more than it has been up lately, in case you hadn’t already noticed. In addittion, I was out of town for a minute due to family biz… so the crate has suffered. Fear not, good music lovers, recruits are on the way. I guess being really frustrated at my computer somehow reminded me of certain experiences that I had in Cote D’Ivoir, West Africa a few years back. I’m not going into any stories right now, but lets just say if it weren’t for the super-naturally uplifting powers of funky African music, I might not be here today. And regardless of how many Afro-Funk/Beat comps there are out there, I doubt you’ve heard these tunes.

I found Assalam Aleikoum Africa pretty soon after I moved to BK back in 2001. Pretty much flipped over the cover, only to bust a triple-sow-cow upon hearing what the grooves contained. The sub-title on this LP is Progressive and Popular Music of West Africa, but all the cats on here are out of Abidjan, Ivory Coast- the pinpoint of my West African tribulations (I said no stories). I get the impression that this comp comes from a group of freinds (Charles Atangana, Francis Kingsley, and Greg Skelton) who all played together and cut singles for the SID label. Some brilliant folks at Antilles (a short-lived subsidiary of Island back when they were actually about the Islands) put together this collection that goes from funky to soulful to psych. To give a better idea of the breadth and dopeness contained herein, the artists’ list of influences contains: Tom Waits, Zappa, Dylan, Miles, Wes Montgomery, Larry Coryell, BADEN POWELL and Marley! There’s an “Ode To Hendrix” on here that is REAL hot. The whole album is hot. Keep diggin!

Then we have a bad-ass side project from Traffic ripper Steve Winwood and some Ghanian(?) groovers Remi Kabaka and Abdul Lasisi Amao who together formed Third World. These guys constructed a rad philosophy about what the futuristic “Third World” is really all about:

“The Third World is a peaceful world- where mankind will live as same people, like Shango… Universal God of Peace… What a beautiful world it will be in the third world, where everybody is free and happy.”
– Remi Kabaka

I dig, don’t you? In other important news, the release party for my GUMBO FUNK E.P. is next Saturday, June 25th… get yerselves really excited and out to Bar Eleven. Our flyer is here! Check back for updates- I know you won’t wanna miss this.

And thanks to Lou Kash for helping me straighten out album title/band name!

Baden Powell : ATE-EU
taken from the album “Images On Guitar” on MPS (1971)

Airto Moreira : Papo Furado (Jive Talking)
taken from the album “Seeds On The Ground” on Buddah (1971)

Today I had to take out my fan for the first time this year (it must have been 85 degrees, and you know someone as broke as me dosen’t have AC). I pulled out these tunes to help lower the temp too. It worked. Brazilian musicians have truly mastered the art of capturing a warm slow wind. Vocal harmonies like a shady grove and swing enough to gently move the leaves.

First off is a beauty from Baden Powell, a bit of a musical prodigy who came up in the Rio music scene of the 50’s and 60’s during the beginnings of bossa nova. On the A side of this record is the 9 minute dancefloor pleaser “Blues A Volonte” (which was compiled on Gilles Peterson’s “Brazilica” album), but I was immediately drawn to ATE-EU. After playing it five times in a row I realized where I recognized it from… remember this dope EP? I think it was 88 Keys who produced the track which samples this song (sped up to 45rpm- thus the delayed recognition time). But I used to bump that back in 2000.

Then we have Airto’s gorgeous Papo Furado track which turns the fan speed up to three (or four if your 99 cent store fan goes that high). This one was written by one of the illest looking cats ever to bless musical outness- I’m speaking of course about Hermeto Pascoal. You also hear bass from a pre-cheesy Ron Carter. When I listen to this one I picture riding in a droptop on a sunny roadtrip or at least sticking my head out the car window on the freeway and opening my mouth so it catches the wind and puffs out like Dizzy Gillespie’s. Ok, maybe my cheeks don’t get that big, but still you get the idea. It’s windy. I’m also diggin’ on the new Celso Fonseca album, equally breezy, but that’ll have to wait for another post…

Check out this MP3 site too: Stapisi.com

Bryan Vargas & Matt Hilgenberg : Vamonos Pa’l Monte
as performed live on “Passport” 05/09/05

Luis Segura : Yo Quiero Hablarte
taken from a bootleg compilation called “Grandes Exitos” (not sure about date of the recording)

Ahhh, back to some rootsy latin joints for ya. Holding off on these gems was like squeezing my legs together and penguin hobbling around to the nearest bathroom. Of course, that depth of frantic desperation always makes the ensuing piss (or blog entry in this case) that much more enjoyable. So feast your ears on the fruits of my patience- and Ant’s insistence on “no more spanish shiz for at least a couple of weeks”. Tonight I’m giving you a “Captain’s Crate” exclusive- BLUH! BLUH! BLUH! and a tune that I heard in a comedor in the D.R. and eventually tracked down back here in New York (courtesy of Niki “Gansta” Andujar at I.S. 90- big up!). The sun spanked the streets today, melady’s back in town, we got a space for our next VIA seasonal bash, and I finally bought myself some CDJ ish, so there’s plenty to celebrate. Tune in again soon for the first post from baddass Busquelo, don’t say I didn’t warn you…

Bryan Vargas and his rad group Ya Esta! put out an album in 2004 aptly titled Afro Latino Soul. He used to play with Antibalas, and has gigged with many heavy cats. This album is a hearty serving of exactly the things that I love: soulful vocals, tight percussion, smooth solos that leave imprints in the memory banks, lenghty arrangements, raw recording quality, and a strong connection to ROOTS. I put the album on my 2004 top ten list and Bryan found out. He came on my radio show a few weeks back to chat and do a little live performance. This is just him (on guitar and vocals) with heavy-hitting Ya Esta! trumpet player/percussionist Matt Hilgenberg. This is an extremely paired down version of what you’ll find on the album, but it doesn’t lack a thing. You very well might recognize the tune, it’s a Palmieri classic. Seriously, get his album.

On a lesser-known (at least to non-Dominicans) tip, Luis Segura is a cat who I had never heard of prior to my trip to the D.R. (yes, that is the tent that I was sleeping in) last month. Known as the “Papa de Bachata”, this man has been putting out tunes consistently for more years than I know- thus the absence of a date on the recording. He’s still making records, more run-of-the-mill metallic-y sounding Bachata, but nothing that compares in passion or sincerity to this tear jerking urgent love plea. You have to love the lady to hit notes that high. The CD that I took this from is a street bootleg sin cover, but the song can be found on this collection.

Entirely unrelated, check these blogs for more MP3 dopeness:

Worldly Disorientation and Cotton Candy Hammer

Zap Pow : Sweet Lovin’ Love
taken from the album “Zap Pow Love Hits” on IMS (19??)

and Roots Man Reggae
taken from the album “Zap Pow” on Island (1978)

My first exposure to Zap Pow was picking up this crappy Jamaican pressing of “Love Hits” in a bargain bin, thus the super bad popping shiz. But pop or no pop, it was summer of 2001 and I was playing this entire A-side on repeat. I don’t understand how Jamaican pressings can be so poorly made sometimes- it’s a shame. For starters, my labels are on the wrong sides of the record, then the glue from the label is smeared all over the grooves, there are little dimples pockmarking the vinyl, and finally the record is thrown into an ultra-thin plastic sleave that always ends up crumpled in the bottom of the record cover when you go to push the vinyl back in. I guess they’re more focused on making the music sound HOT. And that’s exactly what I need right now, a little bit of summer heat, ’cause it’s a drizzling damp 50 degrees outside, and my girlfriend is outta town so I’m looking at a cold empty bed. Saturday was nice, I went to the flea market and it was at least sunny for most of the morning, so I should stop complaining already. I’m dealing with my heat deprivation by dreaming up a sun-glazed summer sound system- on a rooftop, or better yet in the park. “Sweet Lovin” has just been dropped and now the DJ is juggling the sick break midway through the song. I need to track down a nice clean copy of this track.

“Roots Man” shows a cleaned and polished version of their funky sound. It’s on Island records, so that crispness is to be expected. Pretty much just a groove, but a sweet one that keeps my attention with a simmering horn line and a cracking rimshot. I feel like it’s getting a little bit warmer already.

Zap Pow was a big time studio band whose biggest hit “This Is Reggae Music” has been justly compiled a few times. Cop that tune, it’s super mellow blunted funk. I could easily do five more posts of music that they made or were a part of, but it’s late and I’m tired and I got work tomorrow morning. Back to dreaming…