Just a (new) Stones Throw

For doz that are sleeping, both the recent MED and OHNO records packed some serious heat. Below are somewhat girlie jams from each (that I happened to love better in their original forms):

Meanwhile Stones Throw keeps bringing it with a 1st time on vinyl 2LP called "Stones Throw on Wax." Super MC Percee P LP out soon! And more Madlib goodness as well I'm sure... both Mind Fusions are sick. From the ST page, download a mix by DJ Troubl of Quas joints called "A Journey Into Fresh Diggin"

MED - Special (f/ Noelle)
The first version with the Badu sample was even better.

OH No - Can't Help Myself (f/ Stacy Epps)
Here the first version without the singer should have also found its way on the album.

Gilles Peterson is Worldwide

Monsour Gilles Peterson, radio tastemaker from the Gods, is the man. Don't get mad at him for his overpriced CDs or the cult-like devotion fans (like me) express. No other dj has broken as many artists... from national stars like Jill Scott, Neptunes or Zero 7 to LA locals like Plantlife, Rebirth and Dwight Trible... even hit records like "one thing"...

The man has an ear. It comes from years of dedication to music and a left of center worldview. Twenty years ago he was "joining the dots" of jazz, funk, early electro and reggae on pirate radio. From his days of clubbing at places like the Electic Ballroom and Dingwalls with the likes of Chris Bangs, Paul Murphy and Eddie Piler the fateful word Acid Jazz arose out of a joke. Then came comps like Jazz Juice, Blue Bossa and Journeys by... His Worldwide radio show has been legit on Kiss Fm since 1990 and BBC since 1998. Its popularity is a godsend to that bloody island.

If you listen to the current incarnation of Gilles' Worldwide show on Radio 1 you will recognize the last one by Steve Reid, mid 70s Miles Davis percussionist who later played withfriggin everyone... hubbard, bartz, sun ra, shepp, silver, fela even james brown. Gilles' most recent comp is a 2CD follow-up to Gilles in Brazil called Gilles in Africa. Both feature original music from the source, then remixes and interpretations from today. The second cut is by Feqadu Amdé-Mesqel, an associate of the ASTOUNDING Mulatu of Ethiopia. The track is an example of the kind of previously unknown track that he routinely mines. The first track is a recent Worldwide biggie by (Matthew) Herbert vocalist:

Roisin Murphy - So Into You
Feqadu Amdé-Mesqel - Asmarina
Steve Reid - Lions of Juda

What 4Hero Has Been Up To

4 Hero should need to introduction, and I am to lazy to give one. Between Mr. Dego McFarlane and Mark Mac, the 2 have made dance music history multiple times over. Seeing Dego DJ live in Sheffield, UK in 97 was one of the highlights of my time there - a breath of fresh air amongst the big beat and drumnbass of the time.

4Hero's last album may actually be their best. It captures those rare coveted 4Hero remixes I used to collect.... and for that reason I never bought it (or the Jazzanova or BITA remix albums). "The Action" by 4Hero f/ Ish aka Butterfly (yeah that one), remixed by the Visioneers (Mark Mac with Hopper and Somantik) is the one that I never did have. They've turned a throw away track off Two Pages LP into a jazz hip-hop classic. The Visioneers 4th and latest 7" on Omniverse is a live remake of the Pharcyde's "Runnin'."

Next is a should-be LA anthem, 4 Hero's remix of Plantilife's "When She Smiles She Lights the Sky." If you haven't copped Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Radio Show #1 album of the year "The Return of Jack Splash," you be asleep... or don't want to hear a better Outkast. Dego has also recently released another soul collab project, this time with Broken Beat don (and Bug) Kaidi Tatham called Silhouette Brown. The big cut and single is called "Spread That," it's out on new label Ether (also responsible for Gilles Peterson in Africa).

Finally, we have a semi-released cut from Mr. Mac from a project that immediately grabbed by attention. It's called the Chess Cadet Allstars, because Mac pulls almost exclusively from the the legendary Chicago label(s) (Charles Stephney, Minnie Ripperton, Ramsey Lewis, Howlin Wolf, Etta James, the Dells, etc.). This one is called "Simple Folk", and I ashamedly don't know where the sample comes from. But it is a beauty of a beat.

Supposedly 4Hero has a new album coming soon. The Visioneers is also supposed to come out. Til then you can hear Mark Mac, Somatik and others weekly radio show online at Nu Wave Radio

Back on the Air

I dumped Audioblog.com because it wouldn't allow anyone to actually download the tunes. (What is an audioblog if you can't cop?) I've also gotten better at ripping from vinyl, which will supplement the mostly (BBCentric) internet radio download format I've started here. Don't expect much in way of organization or theme. (and 4 the RIAA busters: For educational and cultural purposes only)

We'll start today with the test download that worked, a bomb from Jneiro Jarel's debut LP _Three Piece Puzzle_ on Holland's US talent thief of a record label Kindred Spirits (home of LA's Build and Ark, NYC's Heavy, Chicago's Peven Everett, Digable Planets - and Dutch crooner Benny Sings). Jarel was "found" in Houston by PE Bomb Squad pilot Hank Shocklee, after opening for everyone from Special Ed to the Pharcyde. But his time with Black Lilly and work with Rich Medina led to collaborations with Sonar Kollektiv, Lizz Fields, Fertile Ground... even a new tasty remix to Recloose's "Dust." The LP will have you remembering why you loved all those "golden age" hip-hop groups.

Jneiro Jarel - Doinis f. Dr. Who Dat

You can find the LP at most good shops. His exclusive (1997-2001) CD is available here.