A groggy morning search through cheap Brooklyn record bins, coffee in hand, shades protecting my swollen shut eyes, lead me to yet another highly rewarding discovery this past Sunday. The fleeting thrill of finding good music from an unknown artist is the force that fuels my never-ending, wallet-breaking record digging quest- a nerdy odyssey of the highest order. However, stumbling upon an entirely new scene or style of music (new to me at least), is a seldom joy that comes with a headrush of self-realization and humility. And what strange new world did I discover this time around, dizzying me with the recognition of my own blinding ignorance? British Jazz-Funk! I must admit, prior to Sunday, I was clueless. This single compilation has changed all that (I’ve already tracked down volume 1 too).

To be fair, I lingered on the highly cheesy cover art because I did recognize one name- Freeez, who will be getting their own dedicated post here soon – but all the rest of these artists were new to me. Even Freeez I thought of more as an 80’s New Wave-ish electro group ala I.O.U. But I had no idea they were part of a whole Euro contingent who were laying down slap bass lines and warped synth stabs to make Nile Rodgers and dare I say it, even Cheryl Lynn nod in approval. So here’s a few premium cuts off this excellent double LP which I encourage you all to track down in full. If you lack an appreciation for cheese, then it’s probably best you steer clear today’s selections. But for those that can funk with this, stay tuned for some more heavy British business from Freeez coming soon.

Linda Taylor :       You And Me Just Started

Cool Runners :       Play The Game

Direct Drive :       Time's Running Out

all taken from The Best Of British Jazz-Funk Vol. 2 on Beggars Banquet (1982)

I used my Labor Day to fully appreciate of the progress made by our ancestors who fought so hard for safe workplace conditions and the 40-hr week. Their endless toil and courageous defiance enabled the modern comfort that my non-real-job-having-artist-ass enjoys, and so for them, I ate a stick of ganja butter (baked into a sticky pan of rice krispy treats) and dazed out to good music in the company of my homies. The latest additions to my playlist included songs from a few up-n-coming divas who deserve much more shine than I can give, but I’ll do my best to help.

The first song I’m sharing comes from a singer who I met at my favorite weekly party I’ve been going to all Summer- The Jungle Garden – hosted by my friend LinYee. Every Tuesday night, in a beautifully designed Williamsburg lot that serves as a plant nursery by day, a funky smattering of hipcats who love good eclectic music gather under the stars and are treated to a line-up of top-notch DJs. One of said hipcats is a singer I met named Deva Mahal (daughter of a certain other Mahal who I have a known fondness for) who sings in Fredericks Brown. They just had the single release party, which I wasn’t able to attend unfortunately, but keep your eyes and ears out for more from them in the near future- perhaps even an MTR appearance? “Betrayal” is a soulful Afrobeat flavored monster! Press play and try not to shimmy, you will inevitably fail.

I saw Joya Bravo sing at the crazy Hip Hop Howl festival that I performed at on Saturday with The Beatards. The event was historical in that the line-up included just about every single currently grinding NYC hip-hop act I know, which is a LOT. Shouts to all the artists who stormed the sunny Tompkins Square Park stage, but extra loud airhorn blasts to Joya who I’d never heard of before, and who absolutely KILLED IT. Peep her track “Superstar” for more future flavor.

Finally, a track off Brittany Bosco’s album Spectrum 2.0 which is a solid headnodding dilla-esque listen all the way through. I found out about her when the homie Fiona Bloom tried to get her for our next MTR party, which sadly, I don’t think will work out. But, I definitely want to make a show happen with her soon because as you can hear, she’s got something major going on. “You can play your record on me”, wow,  I want to rediscover love like an 8-track someday.

Fredericks Brown :       Betrayal

Joya Bravo :       Piranha

Brittany Bosco :       8-Track

I realize many of you missed this era entirely since I’ve virtually stopped promoting it altogether here on the MTR site, but if you’ve been tuned in for a while you have probably heard about my weekly radio show: “Passport”. For a long minute now, I’ve been faithfully spending one hour every week sharing obscure audible goodies from around the world. It’s been seven years to be precise. Right around this time in 2002, a young and eager version of me first went live over the FM airwaves on 89.1 WNYU. Before that, the same 18-year-old that you see in the photo above was waking up on Saturday mornings for a 9am show that could only be heard on the internet! That was right around the same time that Napster first got huge, so I don’t think too many people were listening, but you gotta start somewhere.

Over the years, I was lucky enough to have a number of great artists & DJs come through the station for live performances and interviews. So this past Monday night, instead of spending my last ever show playing some type of “Best Of”- which would really be impossible- I pulled together a collection of live recordings that I made and snippets of interviews from past guests. There wasn’t enough time for me to get to everything I wanted to play, and some of the recordings get cut pretty short, but at least you can get an idea about what the show was all about. If you ever wondered where I developed my refined taste for funky Bollywood or fuzzed out Brazilian psychedelic sambas- this show was my laboratory. Thankfully, I found a similarly eclectic-minded music enthusiast to carry the torch and keep the show going in my absence.

Big shouts to all the people who tuned in over the airwaves and online, and many thanks to the artists who came through and shared their souls in that stuffy little sticker-covered studio, making the most of two not-very-well-maintained vocal mics. In this episode you can also hear interview snippets from Gilles Peterson & Charlie Gillett from the BBC, who have done and continue to do SO MUCH good work in promoting music from around the world!

Listen: 

Well, friends, that just about wraps up another one. If the Back to School billboards ain’t convinced you; if the NFL preseason hasn’t sparked the nervous dread of impending winter (cause if it isn’t summer, then really, what is it?); if the those last few empty squares on the August page of your calendar aren’t concrete enough proof… well, I’m here to remind you: IT’S OVER.

But we’re not going out emtpy-handed. No sir-ree. I want to make sure you’ve got a few sunny tracks to carry you through the next nine months, fodder to spark to mind those last lazy days and steamy nights, when your only care in the world was wondering where to find the next BBQ and how to scrounge up the cash for Coronas. Consider these the acorns to store away in the frozen hollow of your winter tree.

The summer is dead; long live the summer.

Booker T. & The MG’s:       L.A. Jazz Song

Barbara Acklin:       Am I The Same Girl

Don Cornal & The Eternals:       Let's Start Again

Tom Ze:       Quando Eu Era Sem Ninguem

My sincere apologies for posting this later than I had initially intended because I first found it a few weeks ago in promotion for a couple NYC shows, which, after giving this a listen, I’m sure were extremely hyped affairs.  Bajah + The Dry Eye Crew hail from Sierra Leone and kind of remind me of Daara J or a West African T.O.K. with the high to low vocal range and killing it equally as hard with the one drop riddims and dancehall elements, while also fusing some boom baps and electro grooves to create a pretty unique dance floor vibe- I mean, these guys go from 140BPM all the way to chopped and screwed!  Their sound has caught the ear of hip hoppers like ?uestlove and Black Thought of the Roots, Talib Kweli, and K’naan, who are all slated to make appearances on their debut album due some time this fall, while the production is helmed by the Fyre Department, made up by the talented Adam Deitch and Eric Krasno of Soulive, meaning that these guys have some serious heavyweights in their corner.

Bajah + The Dry Eye Crew are already massive in their home country and throughout Western Africa where they are hailed as “the voice of the voiceless,” speaking out against the various political and social injustices that are prevalent throughout their area.  In regards to the overwhelming support they get back home, one of the members A-Klazz (amazing name) says, “When we have a show in the national stadium, you see these guys making a long line, taking off their T shirts and laying them on the floor so we can walk on it as a mat to go on to the stage…yeah, red carpet…a lot of love, man. For real”

It’s nice to get behind some dope music with a real message, so be sure to support these folks and cop the album when it drops, but in the meantime bump the mixtape at your next BBQ and remember to enjoy all that you got.

For more info and full mixtape download check out-  http://planetbajah.com/

      Bajah + The Dry Eye Crew- Laba Laba
Bajah + The Dry Eye Crew- Bondo Kallay
      Bajah + The Dry Eye Crew- Continue reading…