Blue-in-Green:RADIO is a contemporary soul/funk/jazz/Latin internet radio station broadcasting an array of incredible shows from presenters and DJs from across the world.
Mark de Clive-Lowe brings his unique style of jazz, nu-soul and house to the glorious catalogue of Blue Note Records with an improvised live remix mixtape reinterpreting classics by Herbie Hancock, John Coltrane, Donald Byrd and Duke Ellington.
Along for the ride are rappers Bambu, John Robinson and Illa J as well as frequent collaborator Nia Andrews and bass legend Pino Palladino.
This awesome project is even available as a free download so click the below link and bask in its glory: http://MdCL.tv/bluenote
'Koko and Lee Roe' - Gene Harris
'Pot Belly' - Lou Donaldson (f/t Bambu)
'Tidal Wave' - Ronnie Laws
'Blacks and Blues' - Bobbi Humphrey
'Oliloqui Valley' - Herbie Hancock (f/t Pino Palladino)
'Flow' - Terence Blanchard
'It’s Your Thing' - Lou Donaldson (f/t John Robinson)
'A Night In Tunisia' - Sonny Rollins
'Black' - Joe Henderson (f/t Illa J)
'Blue Train' - John Coltrane
'Autumn Leaves' - Cannonball Adderley
'Basheer’s Dream' - Kenny Dorham
'Mode for Joe' - Joe Henderson (f/t John Robinson)
'Slop Jar Blues' - Donald Byrd
'Mystic Brew' - Ronnie Foster (f/t Nia Andrews)
'Oblighetto' - Brother Jack McDuff
'Short Story' - Joe Henderson (f/t Nomad Pendergrass)
'Free For All' - Art Blakey
'Caravan' - Duke Ellington
'Zoltan' - Larry Young (f/t Nomad Pendergrass)
'Three Way Split' - Hank Mobley
'Carribean Fire Dance' - Joe Henderson
'Jack Rabbit' - Herbie Hancock
'Waiting So Long' by Nick Pride & The Pimptones featuring Jess Roberts
The album this song comes from ('Midnight Feast of Jazz') had a lot of songs to pick from but 'Waiting So Long' probably worked as the best introduction to the Sheffield-based funk and soul outfit. Nick Pride told us a little about working with vocalist, Jess Roberts:
Jess Roberts is from the North East too but moved to London and is doing really well now. She asked The Pimptones to be her backing band on some recordings recently so I said how’s about if you sing a Pimps’ track in return. This was the track which really got us noticed, Jess is great to work with and she did an incredible job on that song.
'Work it out' by Hannah Williams & The Tastemakers
'A Hill of Feathers' is nothing short of a gem of an album and picking just one song seems something of a disservice to the project. Filled with soul-drenched and string-filled ballads, Hannah Williams brings an aching authenticity to a beautiful backdrop painted by The Tastemakers.
'Give Me One More Chance' [Lack of Afro Remix] by The Diplomats of Solid Sound
Lack of Afro remixes are typically beautiful things but he may very well have outdid himself on this one. This mix was something of an exclusive to the Record Kicks compilation 'Mo Record Kicks Act 2', curated by Smoove from Jalapeno Records' Smoove & Turrell.
'Snap Back' by The Baker Brothers
The Baker Brothers are truly an iconic funk and soul outfit for the UK to be proud of. This pick from the band's seventh album ('Time to Testify') comes courtesy of bass player, producer and band vocalist, Chris Pedley:
I would recommend they listen to ‘Snap Back’ from ‘Time to Testify’ (our latest album) as this song has all the main ingredients of The Baker Brothers: killer horns, riffs and rhythms.
'Rags to Riches' by The Liberators
The 10-track debut album from Australian afrobeat and funk band, The Liberators, boasted this number as their lead single. Percussionist and guitarist for the band, Nathan Aust, took some time to tell us a little about the making of the video:
The idea came from Bari sax play Andrew and his then house mates, the guys at Don't Look Back Pictures. I'm guessing it was conceived during a late-night poker session. I had no involvement in the shooting of the clip as my wife was having our second child at the time but I heard it was fun but hard work. We had a lot of support from the actors. I did the intro music in my kitchen.
We nearly covered a song from this album in last week's 'What I'm listening to... (October)' article but thought we could squeeze an extra word or two about it to form a full-fledged review instead.
While fans wait patiently for the new album from Soulive (of which Krasno makes up one-third of), guitarist Eric Krasno found time to unveil his second solo album within a 12 months that saw him deliver 'Crush' as a member of funk band Lettuce, produce his long-time friend and label-mate Nigel Hall's 'Ladies & Gentlemen...' album, and further develop his record label, Feel Music.
...That's definitely a mouthful. How he's been able to be a part of so much music over a short span of time is reflective of his passion. As fans, we can only bask in the results.
Krasno - and in fact Soulive - started as very much as a jazz band: signed to Blue Note Records, their albums 'Doin' Something' (2001) and 'Next' (2002) were contemporary jazz wonders that were progressive and hip-hop inspired. 'Break Out' in 2005 however shifted the band's sound to a more funk and soul aesthetic, and, now, with 'Blood From A Stone', Krasno has shifted that little bit further embracing an edgier side of blues and psychedlic rock, much like he did with The London Souls album 'Here Come the Girls'.
The biggest surprise though is that "guitarist" Eric Krasno, for this project, perhaps is better referred to as "guitarist and vocalist" seeing as he tackles lead vocals on all tracks for the very first time. The story goes that the songs were initially intended to feature other vocalists but who better to sing your own songs than yourself?! So he did. And it's good. The aforemention Nigel Hall appears on a handful of tracks playing a mix of piano, organ and backing vocals, Alecia Chakour (who we did cover in last week's 'What I'm listening to... (October)' article) appears on 'Wicked This Way' and Soulive's Alan Evans and Neal Evans appear on a song each near the album's closing.
Speaking of Alan Evans, on a slightly separate note, I not too long ago picked up 'Merkaba' (2013), officially by the Alan Evans Trio and thought this project would also be worth a mention. Evans sees himself hooking up with guitarist Danny Mayer and organist Beau Sasser, and as the album’s writer and producer (and drummer), he takes us on a cosmic and space-age, jazz-tinged and funk-filled trip. Like Krasno, Evans so rarely showcases his own vocals which is a shame as the standouts on ‘Merkaba’ are when he does take centre-stage: ‘Givin’ To You’, ‘Life Is Harder To Live’ and ‘Who Dare Knock’. (For other songs featuring Alan Evans on vocals, check out ‘Kim’ from Soulive’s ‘No Place Like Soul’ album (2007) and ‘Tonight’ from their 2009 album, ‘Up Here’.)
The continual expansion of the Soulive dynasty continues so I would urge readers to get your hands on some of the aforementioned projects referenced throughout this review. Both 'Blood From A Stone' and 'Merkaba' are available to purchase now.
'Like You Me' by Alecia Chakour
I’ve been seeing this name surface a lot recently – Chakour’s appeared as a guest vocalist on Nigel Hall’s album last year (‘Ladies and Gentlemen...’), Lettuce’s album ‘Crush’ and Eric Krasno’s recently released ‘Blood From a Stone’. So, she’s a new vocalist? Not at all, Chakour’s been around for years as her 2010 digital release ‘Loomi’ indicates.
'Let Me Be Me' by Nite-Funk
Here’s an excellent number from the four-track EP ‘Nite-Funk’ by Nite-Funk: the group is comprised of Nite Jewel on vocals and Dam-Funk on production. The charm of this one lies in the 1980s-inspired backdrop – reminiscent of those soundscapes infamously laid out by Terry Lewis and Jimmy Jam.
‘Seamonster’ by The Steve McQueens
A quirky and eclectic soul band from Singapore called The Steve McQueens. Let every part of that sentence sink in for a moment. Now listen to the title track from their debut album and tell me you’re not now hooked...
