Show 153: Blissfull Blam Jam Birthdays - 23.06.13

Hour 1

George Michael
"Star People '97"
Ladies And Gentlemen
Sony

Bah Samba featuring Riqo Suavee
"God Showed Me The Way" (Incognito 7" Edit)
Online Download
BKO

Album Profile: June 2013
Muzart
"Morning Glory"
Muzart
Soul Candi

Thundercat
"Without You"
Apocalypse
Brainfeeder

L.T.D.
"Love Ballad"
Love To The World
A&M

Tortured Soul
"You Can't Keep Rhythm From A Dancer"
Single Download
TSTC

Deodato featuring Al Jarreau
"Double Face"
The Crossing
Expansion

Sticky Jam
Umboza
"Cry India"
CD Single
EMI

Fantastic Four
"Working On A Building Of Love"
The Detroit Legacy Vol. 3
One Media

Elliott Macauley Featuring Cleveland Jones
"Mama's Baby Boy"
Retro
Elliott Macauley

Call And Response

Call
Jocelyn Brown
"Somebody Else's Guy"
Somebody Else's Guy
Gut

Response
Frederick "M.C. Count" Linton
"I'm Somebody Else's Guy"
12"
Vinyl Dreams

Cab Calloway
"Minnie The Moocher"
Original Music From The Cotton Club: 20 Unforgettable Memories

Phil Collins
"(Love Is Like A) Heatwave"
Going Back
Atlantic

Esther Phillips
"Use Me"
Alone Again, Naturally
Sony

Andreya Triana
"Song For A Friend"
Online Download
Sing It Loud

Hour 2

Montego Bay
"Same Old Sound" (S-Tone Mix)
Q Bar Present: Funky & Disco
Pyramide

Gloria Estefan
"1-2-3"
The Essential Gloria Estefan
Breastfed

Retro Reworking
Kid Creole and The Coconuts
"I'm A Wonderful Thing Baby" (Brothers In Rhythm 7" Edit)
CD Single
Island

Fred Wesley
"House Party"
House Party
Major Hana

Bluey
"If You Really Wanna"
Leap Of Faith
Dome

Freedom Dub
"Welcome To The Jungle" (808 Remix)
Bossa 'N Essentials
Music Brokers

Los Fulanos
"Blue Monday"
Y Si Esto Se Acaba Que Siga El Boogaloo
Lovemonk

Laid Back Labels: Motown
Frank Wilson
"Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)"
The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 5
Universal

India Arie
"Video"
Acoustic Soul
Motown

The Upsetters
"Return Of Django"
The Story Of Trojan Records
Sanctuary

Jamie Cullum and Laura Mvula
"Sad Sad World" (Live at Abbey Road)
Momentum
Universal

Album Profile: June 2013
Muzart
"Let There Be Harmony"
Muzart
Soul Candi

Spyro Gyra
"Whirlwind"
Breakout
Amherst

Earl Van Dyke
"Detroit City"
Detroit City Dance
One Media

Show 152: "Living The Dreem" - 16.06.13

Hour 1

Todd Terje
"Strandbar" (Samba Mix)
12"
Olsen

Soulnaturals Featuring Lotus D
"Rise Brother Rise"
Online Download
British Soul Standard

Album Profile: June 2013
Muzart
"Oh Yeah"
Muzart
Soul Candi

Maysa
"Nothing But You"
Blue Velvet Soul
Shanachie

Darondo
"Didn't I"
Listen To My Song: The Music City Sessions
Ace

Omar
"The Man"
The Man
Freestyle

Sticky Jam
Ultra Naté
"New Kind Of Medicine"
Situation Critical
Strictly Rhythm

Dreem Teem
"The Theme"
CD Single
Deconstruction

Cola & Jimmu
"Satyricon"
Enigmatic
Herakles

Call And Response

Call
Patrice Rushen
"Forget Me Nots"
Straight From The Heart
Elektra

Response
Lovely Laura and Tyrell
"I Remember"
Balearica Unplugged
Hed Kandi

Scott Bradlee Featuring Karen Marie
"Fever Variations"
Bandcamp

Tracy Cruz
"Happy"
Universoul Symphony
Ivory Sky

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
"Ol' MacDonald"
This Beautiful Life
Coolsville

Hour 2

Dreem Teem
"The Theme" (Full Vocal Mix)
CD Single
Deconstruction

Matty And Monique
"Now What" (Matty's Soul Flower Mix)
12"
Z

Retro Reworking
El B & Tee Present Leroy Burgess
"Barely Breaking Even" (Bobby & Steve & James Ratcliff Vocal Remix)
12"
Zoo Groove Stereo

Lifted Loop
The Cutler
"P-A-Y-R"
The Best Things In Life Aren't Things
Steel Tiger

Earth, Wind and Fire
"Clover"
Head To The Sky
Sony

Valerie June
"Wanna Be On Your Mind"
Pushin' Against A Stone
Sunday Best

Laid Back Labels: Papa Records
DJ Spinna featuring Heavy and Tricia Angus
"We Can Change This World"
Intergalactic Soul
Papa

Osunlade Featuring Maiya James
"Same Thing" (Spiritchaser Remix)
Messages Ibiza 2012 Sampler
Reel People Music

Bah Samba
"I Want You To Go"
Here For Now
BKO

Thundercat
"Special Stage"
Apocalypse
Brainfeeder

Album Profile: June 2013
Muzart
"The Great I Am"
Muzart
Soul Candi

Coffee
"Casanova"
12"
De-Lite

Moloko
"The Flipside"
I Am Not A Doctor
Echo

Show 151: "Bursting With Beats" - 09.06.13

Hour 1

Dames Brown
"Soul Fly"
Online Download
Ampliphonic

Blam Jam Belter!
Cola & Jimmu
"I Made Up My Mind"
Enigmatic
Herakles

Album Profile: June 2013
Muzart
"Soundwaves"
Muzart
Soul Candi

Thundercat
"Tenfold"
Apocalypse
Brainfeeder

Jose James
"Trouble"
No Beginning, No End
Blue Note

Jamie Cullum
"Anyway"
Momentum
Universal

Sticky Jam
Cathy Dennis
"Touch Me" (All Night Long)"
Move To This
Polydor

Stepkids
"Get Lucky"
Live Covers
Stones Throw

Peven Everett
"I Just Wanna Make You Happy"
King Of Hearts
Studio Confession

Call And Response

Call
David Ruffin
"Walk Away From Love"
The Motown Solo Albums Vol. 2
Motown

Response
Jade
"Don't Walk Away"
Jade To The Max
Giant

Shaun Escoffery
"Nature's Call"
Online Download
G&S Music Shack

Owiny Sigoma Band
"Harpoon Land"
Power Punch
Brownswood

Hugh Masekela And Jonathan Butler
"African Breeze"
Liberation - The Best Of Hugh Masekela
Zomba

Hour 2

808 State
"Azura"
Don Solaris
ZTT

Adeva
"In And Out Of My Life" (David Penn Remix)
12"
Urbana Recordings

Retro Reworking
Moloko
"The Time Is Now" (Francois K Main Vocal Mix)
12"
Echo

Lifted Loop
Jill Scott
"Family Reunion"
Beautifully Human
Hidden Beach

Norman Connors
"This Is Your Life"
This Is Your Life
Arista

Guida De Palma and Leon Ware
"A Seed In You"
Online Download
Bandcamp

Laid Back Label: Far Out Recordings
Marcos Valle
"Realidade"
Escape
Far Out

Sabrina Malheiros
"Candeia"
Dreaming
Far Out

Elliott Macauley Featuring Cleveland Jones
"Mama's Baby Boy"
Retro
Elliott Macauley

Bobby Womack
"Please Forgive My Heart"
The Bravest Man In The Universe
XL Recordings

Album Profile: June 2013
Muzart
"Jukebox"
Muzart
Soul Candi

Jaheim
"Age Ain't A Factor"
Online Download
Atlantic

Jack 2 Jazz and C Robert Walker
"South African Summer (In Winter)"
12"
Jack 2 Jazz

"Almost Instrumental": A Dissection

Last Sunday Blam Jam celebrated 150 shows with an hour
of tunes made up of very little words, and in some cases,
just a load of random but entertaining noises emitted
from the mouth.

The audio can be heard here, and let's take a closer look
into the oral delights...

Players Association - "I Like It"

A sessions band from New York who had a big impact on the
US and UK disco scene, with infectious rhythms and very little
lyrics, perhaps best known for the floorfiller "Turn The Music Up".

This offering "I Like It" comes from the band's debut album
from 1977, setting the benchmark for jazzy disco, and still
pulls in the mature movers.

Kitty Winter - "New Morning"

A tune brought to public light on Gilles Peterson's "Talkin Jazz"
compilation released in the mid 90s, becoming known in
some circles as the "Clap Clap" song.

Later covered by Quantic and the Combo Barbaro in 2009.

Earth Wind and Fire - "Runnin"

One of many winners from the band's 1977 LP "All 'N' All",
clinging on to the band's jazz roots around a time when
they were gradually converting to a more mainstream soul sound.

Philip Bailey's scat vocals are on fine form, and the improvising
halfway through takes the listener on a crazy euphoric ride.

Ned Doheny - "To Prove My Love"

One that fits into the "almost instrumental" selection,
as the vocals consist of just the song title and tightly-positioned
scatting in the refrain.

Ned Doheny himself being a guitarist and one of the West Coast's
well recognised musicians.

Victoria Urusova - "Sunny Day"

Proof if needed that jazz scatting is still prominent in present day recordings,
from the Russian singer and musician.

El Coco - "Let's Get It Together"

Not recognised as much for it's lack of lyrics, but moreso as a
crowd pleaser at the Caister Soul Weekenders in Norfolk
with it's own dance steps.

A routine it shares with Whigfield's "Saturday Night" in
not being able to stick to 4/4 time.

Ella Fitzgerald - "One Note Samba"

One of the masters of the art form, a scatting tour-de-force,
as recorded live by Ella and her players at the Cave Supper Club
in 1968.

This rendition of the Antonio Carlos Jobim standard is one where,
it's OK to laugh even if you trying hard not to do so.

And yes, she does break into "Sailor's Hornpipe" 56 seconds
into the song.

George Benson - "Fingerlero"

How could we leave this man out?

Not just a stunner at scatting but unique in being able to
synchronise his singing by playing the exact notes on his guitar
at the same time.

This one's from his most recent LP "Guitar Man" and when
it comes to jazz guitarists, Benson takes some beating.

The Heath Brothers - "Dreaming"

Very popular rare groove instrumental, featuring the sax playing
of Jimmy Heath and produced by Mtume, best known for
the song "Juicy Fruit".

Cleo Laine and Dudley Moore - "Strictly For The Birds"

When it comes to scat-singing Cleo Laine is normally the first singer
who springs into people's minds for the right or wrong reasons.

In this delightful duet with Dudley Moore (who also penned this
tune) the pair show off what can be done with just a piano
and very little in the way of words.

Guida De Palma - "Aldeia De Ogum"

Translated as "Village Of Ogum" Guida does a fine job with the Brazilian
jazz offering originally recorded by Joyce, as recently sampled by
Lack Of Afro on their forthcoming release "Carnival".

Swing Out Sister - "Coney Island Man"

Best known for the mid 80s hit "Breakout", this offering from Corrine
and Andy's 1989 album "Kaleidoscope World" pays homage to the
easy-listening sound inspired by acts such as The 5th Dimension,
and showcases Corrine's scatting to it's finest.

Also worth checking out the live version on their "Jazz Cafe"
album where the song is "mashed up" with Burt Bacharach's
"Wives And Lovers".

Incognito - "Colibri"

Maysa Leak provides the vocals on what has become a fan-favourite
at the Cog's live gigs.

The rhythm and bassline penned by Richard Bull owe a nod
to Dizzy Gillespie and Lalo Schifrin's "Unicorn", and the song
itself was inspired from a David Attenborough documentary
on the hummingbird of the same name.

Blam Jam returns this Sunday from 6pm with the return of
the usual features.

Be listening at csrfm.com!

Show 150: "You've Gotta Be Nifty!" - 02.06.13

Hour 1: Best Of The Belters

Gramaphonedzie featuring Joey Negro and Shea Soul
"No Sugar"
12"
DRB

Josh Milan and Angela Johnson
"Forever I Do"
Honeycomb Music Volume 1
Honeycomb Music

White Lamp
"Make It Good" (Galactic Disco Version)
Make It Good EP
Sonar Kolletiv

Ashley Beedle
"Run The Track"
Yardism EP
Girls Music

Incognito
"Rivers On The Sun"
Surreal
Dome

Thundercat
"It's X"
Apocalypse
Brainfeeder

Gregory Porter
"1960 What" (Gerardo Frisina's Cuban Soul Mix)
12"
Soulandjazz.com

Bobby D'Ambrosio Featuring Anthony Dixon
"Just Call" (Osio Club Remix)
12"
Osio

Mistura
"Better Things To Come"
12"
Z

Dames Brown
"Soul Fly"
Online Download
Ampliphonic

McKoy
"Love Is The Key"
Cut From The Same Cloth
Realmckoymusic

Down To The Bone Featuring Imaani
"Second Nature"
The Main Ingredients
Dome

Hour 2: "Almost Instrumental"

Players Association
"I Like It"
Players Association
Vanguard

Kitty Winter
"New Morning"
Talkin' Jazz Volume 1
Talkin' Loud

Earth Wind and Fire
"Runnin"
All 'n' All
Sony

Ned Doheney
"To Prove My Love"
Prone
Sony

Victoria Urusova
"Sunny Day"
Interlace
Fiolet

El Coco
"Let's Get It Together"
Essential Soul Anthems
XS Music

Ella Fitzgerald and The Tee Carson Trio
"One Note Samba"
Live From The Cave Supper Club, 19th May 1968
Jazz Band

George Benson
"Fingerlero"
Guitar Man
Concord

The Heath Brothers
"Dreamin"
The Sound Of Jazz FM 2010
Jazz FM

Cleo Laine and Dudley Moore
"Strictly For The Birds"
Smilin' Through
CBS

Guida De Palma
"Aldeia De Ogum"
The Very Best Of Latin Jazz
Decadance

Swing Out Sister
"Coney Island Man"
Kaleidoscope World
Mercury

Incognito
"Colibri"
Tribes, Vibes and Scribes
Talkin' Loud

Andreya Triana
"Song For A Friend"
Online Download
Sing It Loud

Live Gig Review: AT at the UC, 31.05.13

In the last month I've been to a wide range of different gig venues.

From a spacious warehouse in East London, to a very crowded pub,
and even one inside a railway station.

But none of the venues can come close in terms of brilliance,

and excellent acoustics than the Union Chapel in Islington,and it was there I saw Andreya Triana and her band perform live to an appreciative audience.

Warming up for Andreya was the superb Grey Reverend,
a top musician from New York, also part of the Ninja Tune family.



And the warm-up set went relatively well until the final song 
where Larry to give him his real name, forgot his words which
the audience and luckily Larry himself saw the funny side of.

I very quietly starting singing "Oh, Shit, I, Fucked Up!" as quoted
from Thundercat's latest record, as it seemed to match the mood
and Larry's humour flowed through the chapel leading to a strong finish.

Then after a short interval, Andreya and her band made their entrance
and commenced an amazing set consisting of old and new material.

For an artist who's commonly associated with electronic music
it was really good to see all live and acoustic instruments in use
and at the same time, it felt really forward looking, and gave off
a really unique brand of tunes that don't seem to get heavy
exposure deserved from a wider audience.

And you wouldn't want a cacophony of distracting sounds
to turn you away from such a stunning voice, that has you wondering
why are there programmes on television with so-called "experts"
searching for such an instrument?




In addition to old favourites from Triana's 2010 debut
"Lost Where I Belong" we heard a few new offerings from
her forthcoming album including one tune that I am currently
obsessed with, "Song For A Friend".

In fact before the live show, Miss Triana tweeted for attendees
to get their smartphones out and video the performance
of said song, and er, here's my attempt...



Yes, the picture quality's not perfect but the song itself, wow.

I really hope it wasn't just me videoing the above, as it sounds even
more meaningful performed live and with the amazing acoustics
of the Union Chapel adding something more special to it.

The musicians were on top form as well, I didn't get many
photos of them due to the low lighting, but they included a horn
section and a string section and even a glockenspiel was involved.

Andreya herself also showed off her abilities providing
additional percussion, and accompanying herself with a zither in
the encore.


I am genuinely excited for the upcoming release of the new
album and with three more London dates lined up for the summer
and a spot at Lovebox, get yourself over to one of them.

And you'll be rewarded with musical brilliance and 
not an electric cable or vocal enhancer in sight.