5 Songs About: DJ Spinna Remixes

It’s All Over Your Body [DJ Spinna Remix] by Jose James
Jose James’s debut release for Blue Note Records was preceded by the ‘It’s All Over Your Body’ EP which is where this mix can be found.  Remixes were aplenty for ‘No Beginning No End’ which producers including Oddisee, Taylor McFerrin, Oh No! and fLako tacking songs from the album but DJ Spinna’s complete reinvention of the song soared above them all.

My Man Is A Mean Man [DJ Spinna Remix] by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
The original version of this song by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings clocks in at just 3 minutes and 16 seconds but DJ Spinna’s remix transforms the song into a tour de funky force by creating a 6 minute 20 second anthem that I dare you to try and sit still for.

A Brighter Day [DJ Spinna Remix] by Ronny Jordan f/t Mos Def & Stephanie McKay
The title-track for Ronny Jordan’s ‘A Brighter Day’ album saw an excellent take on it with the inclusion of rapper Mos Def thanks to the Spinna remix.  Spinna is already credited with production on a handful of songs on the album for his long-time friend and collaborator but it’s this remix – available as a bonus track on the LP – that made the waves on urban radio.

We’re Almost There [DJ Spinna Remix] by Michael Jackson
Released in 2012 on 12” vinyl, this is a genius revisiting of surely one of the most underrated Michael Jackson songs ever, and one only enhanced by Spinna's golden touch.

Lansanna’s Priestess [DJ Spinna Remix] by Donald Byrd
‘Blue Note Revisited’ is a remix album released by Blue Note Records featuring a dream lineup of producers and remixers, including Jay Dee, Madlib, Osunlade, Kenny Dope, Jazzanova and 4 Hero naming just a few.  While each tackles an iconic song by a variety of Blue Note heavyweights, Donald Byrd ‘s ‘Lansanna’s Priestess’ is beautifully rejuvenated by DJ Spinna making another dream pairing.

'Islands' by Diazpora [Review]

Formed in 2002, ‘Islands’ marks the fifth album release from the nine-piece funk and soul orchestra from Hamburg, Germany, that is Diazpora.  It’s a staggering achievement for any band or artist, but particularly when the band’s members are so active in solo and side projects…

Collectively members of Diazpora can boast having recorded or performed with fellow titans of contemporary funk, The Mighty Mocambos, US jazz vocalist Gregory Porter and Truth & Soul Record's, Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band, but Diazpora’s members are just as immersed in Hamburg’s burgeoning music scene and can add names like soul singer Miu, Smith & Johnson, Meute and Uebertribe.

Released  through Legere Recordings, ‘Islands’ marks the first album to see the group paired with Axel Feige who, primarily known for his work with Absolem Max, tackles lead vocal duties throughout.  His smoky and seasoned vocals act as an apt accompaniment to Diazpora’s musical prowess – he soars on the funk numbers that steam ahead at 100mph (‘Nap Xtra Long’ and ‘Moon’) and he mesmerizes on the more provocative songs like ‘Me & I’ and the album’s title track.  ‘Islands’ is definitively an album that takes listeners in different directions and Diazpora treat the music here as very much an explorative process – and it’s a joy to listen to.  Aside from the aforementioned tracks, there’s the excellent singalong chorus of ‘Yaroslava’, the fantastic horn section that elevates the music as in ‘Piece By Piece’ giving it an almost orchestral feel and then there’s the brilliant swagga-filled instrumental album closer ‘Numbers’.

‘Islands’ is an incredibly versatile and accomplished funk record from nothing less than an incredibly versatile and accomplished band.  I use the term “band” but Diazpora is more like a super group.  Each of its members boast a wealth of experience, from playing in other bands, to the earlier-mentioned past collaborations… we also proudly covered bass player, David Nesselhauf, and his hugely innovative ‘Afrokraut’ solo release of last year.  The Diazpora Dynasty continues to flourish and ‘Islands’ gives them another jewel in their crown.

Diazpora are:

Hans-Christian Stephan (trumpet), Jonathan Krause (sax), Alexander “Kimo” Eiserbeck (sax), Lucas Kochbeck (drums), David Nesselhauf (bass), Thomas Neitzel (percussion), Legbo (guitar), Christoph Hinrichsen (keyboards) and Axel Feige (vocals).

'Live at the Blue Whale EP' by Mark de Clive-Lowe

So soon after the brilliant improvised live remix mixtape, '#bluenoteremixed vol.1', which came out late-last year, Mark de Clive-Lowe returns with 'Live at the Blue Whale EP' released through Ropeadope Records.

As detailed in the title, this four-track EP was recorded live in the Blue Whale jazz club in Los Angeles and pays homage to heroes: Ahmad Jamal ('Swahililand'), Sun Ra ('The Golden Lady') and Yusef Lateef with 'L+H' (the latter of which Clive-Lowe honoured last year with an exclusive remix of 'Love & Humor', available as a free download from Soundcloud here).

Whilst Clive-Lowe tackles the piano on this release, his quartet is perfectly rounded off with the inclusion of Gene Coye on drums, Josh Johnson on sax and flute and Brandon Eugene Owens on bass.

Perhaps moreso famed for his unique style of jazz, nu-soul and house, Mark de Clive-Lowe is always poised to alter perceptions of what you might expect from him and his music.  An incredibly versatile artist and live performer who has taken to stages all across the world, MdCL is amassing an exceptional body of work that - thanks to the immense quality of his product - really demands you to keep up with.

Don't let this one pass you by!


Digital downloads along with limited edition vinyl and CDs can be purchased from Bandcamp.

'Motor City Booty' by Amp Fiddler [Review]

Following the release of the EPs, Bassmentality 2 in 2014 and Bassmentality 3 in 2015, Joseph "Amp" Fiddler was mighty overdue a full-length album release, and we're thrilled to say that 'Motor City Booty' is very much the album we've been waiting for.

Following their two remixes of 'Send A Message' on Bassmentality 3, Amp Fiddler has extended the collaboration with Yam Who? for this complete project and it proves to be a match made in heaven.  Amp's signature funk stylings are all over this record but Yam Who? prove to be the perfect combination seeing as Amp has never been a stranger to house or boogie genres as well.  The music elegantly and cohesively transitions between all these different styles and is the perfect showcase for Fiddler's creativity, and the slew of guest contributors to this project including Dames Brown who appears on several songs, including the brilliant heavy soul of 'Soul Fly pt1'.  Highlights are too many to mention but fans of Gregory Porter's seminal '1960 What?' should enjoy the song's complete reinvention here as well.

Amp Fiddler has long been an unsung hero of contemporary soul music and this further solidifies his continuing contribution to an ever-expanding and awesome catalogue.

You can get your hands on 'Motor City Booty' through the Juno Download website here:

Also, if you can venture further afield to get your hands on a CD of the release (currently only available via Japanese outlets) then you'll be treated to two bonus tracks including a Sam Redmore remix of 'Soul Fly pt1'.

'Astral Progressions' by Josef Leimberg [Review]

‘Astral Progressions’ is the stunning debut album from trumpeter Josef Leimberg and is another in an ever-growing line-up of musicians to establish themselves as solo artists following the seminal release of Kendrick Lamar’s heavily jazz-inspired multi-award winning project, ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’ in 2015...

Saxophonist, Kamasi Washington’s three-disk magnum opus ‘The Epic’ (2015) along with Terrace Martin’s Grammy-nominated project ‘Velvet Portraits’ in 2016 soon followed and now Leimberg’s ‘Astral Progressions’ takes pride of place amongst the album releases.

Leimberg’s credentials extend further than Kendrick however, having chalked up collaborations with Erykah Badu, Dr Dre, Funkadelic, Robin Thicke, Terrace Martin and Shafiq Husayn.  It’s a diverse mix of collaborations that have all gone on to shape the sound of ‘Astral Progressions’ making it a decidedly innovative and inspired piece of work.

And that diverse list of collaborations extends to the music here as well: West Coast rapper Kurupt probably appears as the biggest surprise name on the album’s title track, and further vocal contributions come courtesy of Bilal (‘Between Us 2’), Georgia Anne Muldrow (‘As I Think of You’) and Jimetta Rose on the notable ‘Echoes of One’.  The aforementioned Kamasi Washington and Terrace Martin each guest on show-stealing numbers like ‘Interstellar Universe’ (featuring Washington) and the Miles Davis cover of ‘Lonely Fire’ (featuring Martin and rekindling their LoveDragon production partnership).  Final mention really should go to Miguel Atwood-Ferguson whose string arrangements on a good bulk of the album go a long way to capturing the ethereal and cosmic soundscapes Leimberg has skilfully created.

‘Astral Progressions’ is a masterfully-created and exquisite album.  It’s focused, inspired and a wonderful proponent for 21st century jazz music.

‘Astral Progressions’ can be purchased from Bandcamp here.