A "Cuban/Indian Summer"?

Blam Jam's back this Sunday from 6, where amongst the new stuff,
I'll be delving further into the much anticipated album from
The Bahama Soul Club.

Already a favourite of this year's Blam Jam Summer Specials,
"The Cuban Tapes" provides exciting and timeless latin rhythms
in one of the year's surprise stunners and is finally released
to download.



As well as that, there's the much anticipated "Mellow Masterpieces Part 2"
from 7pm where following the first outing in Spring, I shall be
scouting the decades to find the finest in chilled soulful and jazzy
rhythms.

Such as this one by Dusty.



Tune in this Sunday! csrfm.com

Show 162: Double The Jams 20, 40, 80! - 22.09.13

Hour 1

Stevie Wonder
"That Girl"
Original Musiquarium Volume 1
Motown

Blam Jam Belter!
Personal Life
"Give Into The Night"
Morning Light
Expansion

Album Profile: September 2013
Don-E
"Home"
Little Star
Dome

Kelis and Cee-Lo
"Lil' Star"
CD Single
La Face

Album Profile: October 2013 Preview
Robert Glasper Experiment
"Black Radio Intro"
Black Radio Volume 2
Blue Note

Soulfully Similar
Fatback Band
"She's My Shining Star"
Mellow
Ace

DJ De La Roche
"Joy And Pain" (Soulful House Mix)
12"
Intergrity

Marcos Valle and Patricia Alvi
"Wanda Vidal" (Live)
Connecta DVD

Double Double Jam 1: Keni Burke

"So Real"
Expansion Soul Sauce 25
Expansion

"Let Somebody Love You"
You're The Best
BMG

Le'Jit
"Feel Good"
New Beginning
Mohitz

Earth, Wind and Fire
"Got To Be Love"
Now, Then, and Forever
Sony

Mayfield
"Dance With Me"
Tempo Of Your Soul
Mayfield

Sons Of Kemet
"Rivers Of Babylon"
Burn
Naim Audio

Hour 2
The Melodians
"Rivers Of Babylon"
The Harder They Come OST
Island

Retro Reworking
Mohnny Jathis
"Gone, Gone, Gone" (Appo Refix)
12"
That's What We Do

Husky & Matt Meler feat. Bru Fave & Ron E Jones
"This Time" (Richard Earnshaw Mix)
12"
Discopolis

Gerard Levert Featuring Yolanda Adams
"I Believe I Can Fly"
Voices
Elektra

Rodriguez
"Cause"Searching For Sugar Man OST
Light In The Attic

The Roots and Elvis Costello
"(She Might Be A) Grenade"
Wise Up Ghost and Other Songs
Blue Note

Double Double Jam 2: George Duke
"My Soul"
The Inner Source
Talkin' Jazz Vol. 1
Talkin' Loud

"Sugar Loaf Mountain"
Brazilian Love Affair
Sony

Timotha Lanae
"Jazzy Lady"
Red
Savannah Street

Lisa Taylor
"Just Us Tonight"
Let Love Shine
Lisa Taylor

Album Profile: September 2013
Don-E
"Step In My Room"
Little Star
Dome

Kon Featuring Induce
"Love Shine"
On My Way
BBE

Brand New Heavies
"One More For The Road"
Forward
HeavyTone

Blam Jam returns on Sunday 6th of October!

Show 161: So Nice At 70 - 15.09.13

Hour 1

Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66
"Batacuda (The Beat)"
Look Around
A&M

Ray Charles
"Living For The City"
Rennaisance
Concord

Album Profile: September 2013
Don-E
"Home"
Little Star
Dome

Jeffree
"Mr. Fix It"
Jeffree
MCA

Jorge Ben
"Taj Mahal"
Africa Brasil
Universal

Mel Torme
"Happy Together"
A Time For Us
Capitol

Frootful
"The Road"
Heavyweight
Freestyle
Gregory Porter
"Musical Genocide"
Liquid Spirit
Blue Note

Sticky Jam
Emma
"Crickets Sing For Anamaria"
Free Me
19 Recordings


Disclosure Featuring Sasha Keable
"Voices"
Settle
Universal

James Blake Featuring RZA
"Take A Fall For Me"
Overgrown
Polydor

Amy Winehouse Tribute

"Take The Box"
Frank
Universal

"Monkey Man"
Back To Black (Deluxe)
Universal

"I Heard Love Is Blind"
Frank
Universal

"Tears Dry On Their Own"
Back To Black
Universal

"Body and Soul" (Featuring Tony Bennett)
Duets II
Sony

Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass
"Our Day Will Come"
SRO
Bourne

Hour 2

Gloria Estefan Featuring Laura Pausini
"Sonrie"
The Standards
Sony

Da Lata
"Um Amor Mais"
Fabiola
Agogo

Retro Reworking
Curtis Mayfield
"Superfly" (Little Louie Vega EOL Mix)
Mayfield: Remixed
Warner

Muzart
"The Party After" (Reel People Remix)
12"
Expansion House

Kon Featuring Ben Westbeech
"You Don't Know I've Been Looking For You"
On My Way
BBE

Album Profile: September 2013
Don-E
"This Is It"
Little Star
Dome

Marcos Valle 70th Birthday Retrospective

"Pepino Beach"
Samba '68
Verve

"So Nice (Summer Samba)
"Samba '68
Verve
"Ele e Ela"
Marcos Valle
EMI

"Vem"
Jet Samba
Dubas
 
"Prefixo"
Estatica
Far Out

"Apaixonada por Você"
Escape
Far Out

"Disfarça E Vem" (Featuring Emilio Santiago)
Unreleased

"The Magic Of Marcos"
Soundcloud

Show 160: Keeping The Fire Burning - 08.09.13

Hour 1
Original Soulboy Featuring Tashan
"Soul Survivors"
Soundcloud

Fil Straughan
"My Music"
My Music Pt. 1
Fil Straughan

Album Profile: September 2013
Don-E
"Slave To The Rhythm"
Little Star
Dome

Gregory Porter
"Water Under Bridges"
Liquid Spirit
Blue Note

Zo! Featuring Eric Roberson
"We Are On The Move"
ManMade
The Foreign Exchange

Kon
"Awe Baby"
On My Way
BBE

Sticky Jam
E.Y.C.
"The Way You Work It"
Express Yourself Clearly
MCA

Blam Jam Belter!
Evan Iff
"Faith & Trust" (Michelle Owen Remix)
12"
Large

Sons Of Kemet
"Going Home"
Burn
Naim

Soulfully Similar
Whispers
"Just Gets Better With Time"
Just Gets Better With Time
Solar

Jaheim
"Age Ain't A Factor"
Appreciation Day
Atlantic

Stepkids
"The Lottery"
Online Download
Stones Throw 

Dirk K
"That's The Way Of The World"
Online Download
Dip

Hour 2

Sheree Hicks
"Something For Nothing" (Honeycomb Old School Mix)
Sheree Hicks EP
Honeycomb Music

Kenny Thomas
"Keep The Fires Burning"
CD Single
Soul Fi

Retro Reworking
Stevie Wonder
"Superstition" (Ken's House Edit)
Soundcloud

Earth, Wind and Fire
"Love Is Law"
Now, Then and Forever
Sony
 
Lisa Taylor
"Let Love Shine"
Let Love Shine
Lisa Taylor

Jose James
"Come To My Door" (Taylor McFerrin Remix)
Online Download
Blue Note

Heliocentrics
"Descarga Electronica"
13 Degrees From Reality
Traffic Entertainment

Double Jam: David Bowie
"Jump They Say"
Black Tie, White Noise
EMI

"Dirty Boys"
The Next Day
ISO

Graham Parker and The Rumour
"Hold Back The Night"
Heat Treatment
Mercury

Cody ChesnuTT
"Love Is More Than A Wedding Day"
Landing On A Hundred
One Little Indian

Album Profile: September 2013
Don-E
"Love Has Found It's Way"
Little Star
Dome

Mario Biondi
"Be Lonely"
If
Tattica

Thundercat
"Heartbreaks + Setbacks"
Apocalypse
Brainfeeder

Show 159 - "Sunshine and Rain"

Hour 1

Brand New Heavies
"Forward"
Forward
HeavyTone

Hue And Cry
"Labour Of Love" (Joey Negro Weekend Mix)
CD Single
Circa

Album Profile: September 2013
Don-E
"Little Star"
Little Star
Dome

Kon ft. Amy Douglas
"All Night Everybody"
On My Way
BBE

Gregory Porter
"Lonesome Lover"
Liquid Spirit
Blue Note

Howard Johnson
"That Look"
Jet Black Casanova
Raven Mad

Sticky Jam
Liberty X
"Got To Have Your Love"
Thinking It Over
V2

The Mouse Outfit Featuring Sparkz and Dubbul O
"Slicker Than Average"
Soundcloud

Easy Star All Stars
"Any Colour You Like"
Dub Side Of The Moon
Easy Star

Junior Giscombe
"Creepin"
Lovetown Allstars
Lovetown

Soulfully Similar
Six Ways To Funk
"Shake Your Body (Do It)"
Online Download
Loris Til

Herbie Hancock
"Just Around The Corner"
Mr Hands
Sony

Cedar Walton
"Bolivia"
Eastern Rebellion
Timeless

Hour 2

Blam Jam Belter!
DJ De La Roche
"Joy And Pain" (Soulful House Mix)
12"
Intergrity

Bluey
"Why Did I Let You Go"
Leap Of Faith
Dome

Retro Reworking
Dionne Warwick
"Walk On By" (Mojo Filter Re-Love - Ben Jay Edit)
Soundcloud

D-Train
"Walk On By"
Best Of D-Train
Unidisc

Ella Fitzgerald
"Blue Skies" (Maya Jane Coles Remix)
Verve Remixed: The First Ladies
Verve

Jasmine Kara
"Ordinary Joe"
Blues Ain't Nothing But A Good Woman Gone Bad
Tri-Sound

Double Jam: Alice Russell
Quantic and Alice Russell ft. Combo Barbaro
"Su Suzy"
Look Around The Corner
Tru Thoughts

Bah Samba Featuring Alice Russell
"Reach Inside"
Estero

Marc Sadane
"SunShine"
The Lovetown Allstars
Lovetown

Album Profile: September 2013
Don-E
"He Ain't Got My Style"
Little Star
Dome

Louie Vega and Sara Devine
"Fabulous" (Roots House Mix)
12"
Groove Odyssey

Van McCoy
"The Shuffle"
The Hustle and The Best Of Van McCoy
Amherst

The Top 5 Stunning and Top 5 Shocking Soul/Jazz Covers

As Blam Jam takes a bank holiday break, it's a good time as ever to
probe the art of a cover version.

And if a lot of effort has gone into a cover, then I suppose
it can be an art, certainly in the case of Inner Life and
their defining disco arrangement of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough".

Though in recent times there's been the emergence of LPs filled
to the brim with covers that are either indistinguishable from
the originals, or blander in comparison.

Recent examples including Beggar and Co's recent album,
and the Elements of Life long player.

(Cue a cacophony of booing in disagreement.)

But really? Another "faux-latin" cover of "Pasttime Paradise"?

Inspired by Sage's rundown of the 5 Best and 5 Worst covers,
I've assembled my own inferior attempt, showcasing the best
and worst from the soul vaults (in no particular order),
so let's wait no longer.

The 5 Best Soul/Jazz Covers

Monday Michiru - "As"



This is far from a lazy Stevie cover.

The first time I heard this broken beat arrangement I was in tears,
such an amazing arrangement distinct from the original,
and it made me pay attention to the well crafted lyrics.

It’s the piano chords in the chorus that do it for me, and this,
like many of Monday’s covers shows that you are never going
to get a carbon copy of the original when she makes her mark
on a well-known song.

(Louie Vega, take note.)

As her afro-cuban rendition of a well known Sister Sledge song
also illustrates.

Incognito - "That's The Way Of The World"




Around about this time in 2006, my excitement reached a
massive height (though not as high as it would the following year)
upon hearing that the Cog were going to cover an
Earth Wind and Fire anthem.

How did I feel when I first heard it?

Well you can hear my immediate reaction, from when myself
and Pippa ST gave it a spin on my soul show at Smoke Radio
in September that year. (I was just getting the hang of this radio
nonsense back then)



A month later I heard it performed live at Incognito's Jazz Cafe gig
and I doubt anyone was able to control themselves.

Especially after Bluey mentioned that he included the cover
on the album "Bees + Things + Flowers" as a get well card
to Maurice White who has been suffering Parkinson's disease.

Any hardcore Earth Wind and Fire fan will also be able to
spot the melodic nods to "Can't Hide Love" and "Burnin' Bush",
and as a whole, it's impossible to listen to without trembling.

Al Jarreau - "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay"



A much needed relief after being tortured with the "rocked up"
Michael Bolton version on Sage's countdown.

This jazzy arrangement of the Otis Redding tune has an
amazing flow to it where seems to come and disappear,
with some amazing Rhodes chords adding a new perspective
and Al's dreamy vocals, wow.

Released in 1978, it's not the only cover from Jarreau's "All Fly Home" LP
what with an equally good rendition of "She's Leaving Home".

The definitive tune to play whilst watching the sun setting.

Bah Samba Featuring Alice Russell - "Portuguese Love"



You know you've done a good cover when it renders the public
memory of the original to be non-existant.

Bah Samba and the amazing Alice Russell achieved just that in 2005
with their cover of the Teena Marie tune, turning it from a blissful ballad
to a lively latin dance tune, with amazing musicianship blended
together with Alice's stunning vocals.

I've included the extended Phil Asher remix above which just has to be
heard from beginning to end.

The Sunburst Band - "In The Thick Of It"



Another slow one turned soulful house stunner.

Joey Negro and his team of musicans along with Angela Johnson
on vocals give the Brenda Russell ballad from 1979 an amazing 
makeover and one that still proves popular on the dancefloors.

This one was another instant winner on first hearing it, and even
if I hear it played in a club, I will still get a little teary.

In fact after downloading the "Reprise" mix with just the strings on
their own, I was uncontrollable.

Just amazing.


So those are the five stunners, we're about to move on to five soulful
stinkers...

The 5 Worst Soul/Jazz Covers

Dwele - "That's The Way Of The World"



Any soul fans who have spoken to me, will be aware of my hatred
for a compilation of Earth Wind and Fire covers released in 2007 called "Interpretations".

What an absolute waste.

To think that Maurice White actually had a hand this album is
beyond me as most of the covers (with one or two exceptions)
are just painful.

To be honest, I'm certain his involvement in the album itself
was similar to that of Joe Barbera in the Tom and Jerry Movie.

And after all the effort that Bluey and Incognito went into making
their cover of "That's The Way Of The World" they opted for a bland
neo-soul version which sounds like the demo tune on a Bontempi organ.

I've nothing against Dwele, as he's capable of far better,
but for something that lacks the effort that the Cog gave to this tune,
Ugh.

And I'm not finished with this album, oh no...

Brand New Heavies - "Many Rivers To Cross"



There are certain songs that many will say are sacred and should not
be touched, and for me, the Jimmy Cliff tune is one such song.

UB40, Cher, even Vince Kidd off of series one of The Voice, have
been unable to outdo this elegance of the original and The Brand
New Heavies didn't fare that much better either.

I suppose my dislike for their version was because it just
wasn't what they were about at all.

An attempt at taking a new direction saw the hiring of new vocalist
Nicole Russo, a sort of poor man's Roisin Murphy and the musical
direction shifted from jazzy soul, to bland R&B mediocrity.

Adding salt into the wound on their 2004 album "Allabouthefunk"
was this painful cover lacking the emotion of the original.

The album proved very unpopular with the BNH fanbase resulting
in Nicole's departure and the return of N'Dea Davenport on the
band's subsequent album.

In fact the band have erased all traces of Nicole from the biog
on their website and are now back to what they do best, if
their latest album is anything to go by.

UB40 - "Homely Girl"



Seriously, have UB40 ever made a good cover version?

This one in particular defines cod-reggae at it's most accurate,
as quite frankly it just stinks.

It didn't realise how bad it really was until I heard the Chi-Lites original,
and oh my, there are no words.

I still love the woodwind taunt after the lyric "to be somewhere
in the dark with you".

Digressing, if you want a reggae cover of that song that's more faithful
to the original, Inner Circle's interpretation from 1974 is more
than commendable.

Meshell Ndegeocello - "Fantasy"



Another offering from the EWF "Interpretations" album and this
is even worse.

There's experimental covers, and then there's excremental covers.

Really there are no words.
 
To this day, the band are still happy to have their songs defecated on
during their live shows as this rendition of "After The Love Has Gone"
featuring Mario Biondi (!) painfully proves.

You'd think that one day, the Italian singer would finish
his mouth full before he starts singing.

Cliff Richard - "Teardrops"



I suppose Mario Biondi borrowed a delusional belief from the
Peter Pan of pop into thinking he could lend his voice to almost
any song possible.

This is one of many atrocities from Sir Cliff's 2011 LP "Soulicious"
which won the dishonour of Blam Jam's Rotten Raspberry that year
with it's hilariously bad array of soul interpretations.

Even the video shows no effort in originality.

Why the likes of Lamont Dozier, and Candi Staton agreed to this
album I have no idea, though my only hope is that it has
prompted the crazed fans of Harry Webb into looking into the
superior originals of his watered down covers.

As at the end of the day, it may be a soul album but it's still bloody
Cliff Richard.


So those are my selections of the best and the bland of soul/jazz
covers, but as a whole, the best covers are those
that can be interpreted brilliantly with just the use of the human voice.

And none finer than that of Mr Gregory Porter.

Thanks for reading.

Show 158: "Gotta Keep On Striving" - 18.08.13

Summer Special Hour 1

Mel Tormé
"Too Darn Hot"
Mel Torme Swings Shubert Alley
Phoenix

Aziza
"La Costa" (House Remix)
Jazzsoetry Vol. 1
Lind Mill

Blam Jam's 2013 Summer Stunners: Number 3
Kings Of Tomorrow Featuring April
"Fall For You"
Fall For You EP
Defected

Juicy Jam
Umboza
"Sunshine"
Now 34
EMI

Gipsy Kings
"Volare"
Mosaique
Sony

Blam Jam Birthdays: Monday Michiru

"Look Into The Past"
Jazz Brat
Verve Forecast

"I Can't Help It"
Don't Disturb This Groove
Grind Gallery

Blam Jam Birthdays: Leroy Burgess Turns 60

Black Ivory
"You And I"
Best Of Perception And Today Records
BBE

Phreek
"Weekend"
Patrick Adams Presents Phreek
Atlantic
 
Dazzle
"You Dazzle Me"
Good Times 3
Phoenix

Caprice
"100%" G.I Disco
BBE

Aleem
"Get Loose"
G.I. Disco
BBE

Belita Woods and Leroy Burgess
"Best Of Me"
This Is Elephunk
Elephunk

Sunburst Band and Leroy Burgess
"Survivin"
Movin' With The Shakers
Z

Hour 2
Beginning Of The End
"Funky Nassau"
Funky Nassau
Alston

Tito Puente and India
"What A Difference A Day Made"
Jazzin'
Tropi Jazz

Siesta
Sueno Latino
"Sueno Latino"
12"
BCM

Blam Jam's 2013 Summer Stunners: Number 2
Lone
"Airglow Fires"
Online Download
R&S

Blam Jam Birthdays: Robert Plant

Merengada
"Stairway To Heaven" (Phunk Investigation Radio Mix)
12"
Absolute

King Curtis
"Whole Lotta Love"
Live At Fillmore West
Atlantic

Summer Dub Dub
Smerins Anti-Social Club
"Dr Who"
Shapes 10:02
Tru Thoughts

Matt Bianco
"You'll Never Know"
Hideaway
Edel


Ipanema Intermission
Astrud Gilberto
"The Girl From Ipanema"
Cocktail Disco
BBE

Blam Jam's 2013 Summer Stunners: Number 1
Todd Terje
"Strandbar" (Samba Mix)
12"
Olsen

Andrew Ashong And Theo Parrish
"Flowers"
12"
Sound Signature

Blam Jam Belter!
Anakage
"Lovely Day"
(Unreleased)