cubikmusik

Carnival

I just love the sound of steel drums-there is just sometime about their sounds that immediately remind me that I need to go to the Caribbean someday and not just to experience Jamaica.

So, driving home tonight I overheard a brief story that was a tribute to Carlos Lezama who developed the West Indian Carnival on Labor Day in Brooklyn which by all accounts is an amazing time for all. Carlos Lezama died earlier this week.

From Caribean Beat Blog:
EVERYBODY’S Caribbean Magazine publisher, Herman Hall, says, “As a young member and director of the West Indian-American Day Carnival Association in the early 1970s. Lezama influenced, motivated and inspired me. I knew what Mr. Lezama endured to develop the annual carnival on Labor in Brooklyn. He brought recognition to the Caribbean-American community, united us and played a major role in enhancing the quality of life in New York City. He was admired and respected by governors and mayors of New York State and City respectively. He was a great and charismatic leader.”

Check out some photos from the carnival here.

So, in honour of Mr. Lezama, I am posted this amazing tune by the Trinidad Steel Drummers. It is a cover of The Meters classic track, 'Cissy Strut' taken off the amazing Mystic Brew compilation on Fat City I hope that he enjoys it.

This really belongs in JC's Vinyl Room as it was taken from his excellent collection.

Download cissy_strut.mp3

Cheers,
Cubik

 

Keepintime

"I don't know anything about that jigga jigga stuff-you play that and I'll play this..."
-Paul Humphrey, 2000

if there is anything that I love more than music it is the influence of old sounds on new.
The documentary film, Keepintime, delivers on both counts. I am gonna use the info. directly from the makers to discuss this documentary. See a trailer below.

Keepintime started as a simple idea, let’s bring some of the most revered and notable L.A. session drummers together for a photo shoot. Then have them talk about the famous (to us) recordings that we (those whose ears have been opened through hip-hop) treasure, sample and discuss endlessly.             The musicians (Roy Porter, Earl Palmer, Paul Humphrey and James Gadson) were excited at the prospect of sitting together and discussing old times, old friends and the business. The first problem we encountered though was that to our ears the famous sessions were in fact often beyond the reach of our musician’s memory.
Babu, J.Rocc and Cut Chemist (along with Numark, Madlib, Derf Reklaw and Shortkut) are fishermen of the elusive. Cumulatively, they have a half-century of beat shopping experience. Similarly, they are the best turntablists in the City of Angels. As a result they would be the  best way to snatch up those almost lost glimpses of music and represent them to their creators, that was the moment when we knew we had a film.The puzzled smiles of Paul Humphrey and Earl Palmer speak multitudes on the perceived gap that exists between the musicians of today and their forefathers. However, lest we forget these men were progressive risk takers in their respective professions and a few turntables weren’t going to get in the way of a good conversation.

All I can add is that it is a must see for music lovers and especially any beat junkies out there like myself; the interaction between these beat masters is just unbelievable and such a  pleasure to see as much as hear.

Brought to you by Mochilla and B+ (a fellow Irishman).

The project also brought us some fine remix tunes-here are my favourites.
Artist: Charlie Dark
Tune: Keepintime Theme
Download 01_keepintime_theme.mp3

Artist: King Ruly & Toy Selectah!
Tune: Bumpin Time! (Sistema Local Mexmix Version)
Download 04_bumpin_time_sistema_local_mexmix_version.mp3

You can't to be able to buy the DVD anywhere but the CD is available.

Also see Brasilintime a similar project between some artists and turntabilists from the Keepintime show and Brasil.  I love my DJ Nuts tshirt from this show.

Cheers,
Cubik

 

Melting Pot

Another great compilation arrived this week. More MPM Sounds from Melting Pot Music.
From the liner notes by Olski.
"If you have a rough idea what MPM is about you will not be suprised to hear some soul, some funk and some jazz here. And some afro-beat and rock too. We are old school like that and we still consider this beautiful mash-up of styles and attitudes a long lost relative of hip-hop."

I am gonna dedicate this post to a person unknown who sent me a great email that just made my day.
I hope you enjoy these tunes as much as all the others. Merci.

Artist: Kutiman
Tune: No Groove Where I Come From
Any fans of Fema and Femi Kuti out there? Thought so-get your teeth into this afro-beat gem from Kutiman, a one-man orchestra, who plays out of Tel Aviv, Israel.
The last minute of this song is probably one of the joyous and triumphant melodies that I have ever come across.
Download 05_no_groove_where_i_come_from.mp3

Artist: Lefties Soul Connection
Tune: Organ Donor (Hawkeye Hyphy Edit)
You may know this tune from DJ Shadow's 'Entroducing' album back in 1996.
The Lefties Soul Connection are best described on their site as such "deep funk, raw soul, gritty hammond, chicken guitar, breakbeat drums, gutbucket bass'. Hailing from Holland these guys are playing up a storm with their live shows and  are signed to MDM. This cover of Organ Donor is just pure massive. 

Download 11_organ_donor_hawkeye_hyphy_edit.mp3

Buy More MPM Sounds here: Europe / USA

Cheers,
Cubik

What It Is!

This post goes out to someone way off there in NY,NY. Hope this post finds you well mate-keep it Rocksteady and it'll be all good. :-)

As many of Cuik's readers know I am BIG into compilations. Down with the album I say! Needless to say I am a sucker for anthologies and collections so I came across this today and reckon it's worth recommending here. For anyone who is already a fan or if you want and introduction to Funky Soul and Rare Grooves you should check this out.
Rhino Records has released a box set, What It Is! Funky Soul and Rare Grooves (1967-1977). With Rocksteady from Aretha Franklin (see below), "I’m Just Like You,” a song recorded by Sly Stone under the pseudonym 6ix, and tunes by The Meters, who can be heard with Cyril Neville on the classic “Gossip”, an in other guises along with numerous others.

Coming in at $65 here it is pricy so you should look at iTunes.....$40 for around 80 tunes. Or just buy the tunes you like (as I do). This box set would do well to compliment New Orleans Funk (New Orleans: The Original Sound of Funk 1960-75), and Philadelphia Roots from Soul Jazz Records.

Download 09_rock_steady.mp3

Cheers,
Cubik

Shake n Dance

Ok- I have spent the evening gathering up a load of great new tunes and I wanna post them all but can't. This is my first post tonight but I expect some more later on.
This does happen every now and again when I get a tune and just fall in love. It just hits all the right spots for me! For anyone who enjoyed Boogie Beat back in April I dedicate this to you.
From Amplified Orchestra on the excellent Dutch label, 4Lux.Shake n Dance (Instrumental) is a rockin', slowed down, masterful piece of music that is disco/soul/funk inspired with a house beat that just swings the night away. Goes to show that these guys just have the funk in their bones.
Download 02_shake_n_dance_instrumental.mp3

Cheers
Cubik

Walking Tall

I have become a great fan of SoundNexx over the past few weeks. He posts great tunes along with some well written pieces on various things musical. One piece from a few weeks ago that hit a nerve with me was on the use of sampling. The basic point (Nexx-tell me if I am wrong here) was that many tracks use samples and a lof of the time listeners (a) don't know that the track uses samples and (b) don't know what the original track is being sampled.
So, taking a leaf from the SoundNexx book I will be trying to post original tracks along with the tracks sampling them.

Artist: Brand Nubian
Tune: Concerto in X Minor
Track sampled: 'Walk Tall' by Cannonball Adderley.

I got XM a few weeks ago and I have to say I love it. It has exposed me to some great new tunes that I haven't heard before.
This 'Concerto in X Minor' is one track that caught my attention as it samples the amazing Cannonball Adderley that I had started listening to a few years ago. This track has some hot rappin' and rhymin' laid down over a funky organ loop sampled from 'Walk Tall'. Brand Nubian (part of the sometimes referred to Native Tongues collective) consistently produce smart and positive tracks that inspire.
Enjoy.
Download 02_concerto_in_x_minor.mp3

Artist: Cannonball Adderley
Tune: Walk Tall
Source: Deep Groove! The Best Of Cannonball Adderley.

Oh man! If you haven't heard of Cannonball Adderley you have probably heard him play. He joined Miles Davis and John Coltrane on such recordings as Milestones and Kind of Blue.
This tune is performed live by the Cannonball Adderley Quintet that included his extremely talented brother, Nat Adderley. With an inspirational introduction by the Rev. Jesse Jackson at a benefit gig this song is a tight tune that delivers the best in big band style jazz with a hint of the funk that Cannonball Adderley started to introduce into his repertoirs as time moved along.
Download 01_walk_tall_1.mp3

Cheers

Cubik

Mo' Mess

Artist: Poets of Rhythm
Tune: Mo' Mess On My Thing

A super top track from the Poets of Rhythm on the mighty Quannum.
Thank you to Josh in San Diego for introducing me to this. Man- we would play this out at our bar show and parties and it would be such fun.
A funkfest at it's best-such tight production with that sexy bassline, organs grooving and horns to blow your mind.
A great compliment to the Funk Divas posted earlier today.

Download 09_mo_mess_on_my_thing.mp3

Cheers,

Cubik

Funky Divas

Two tunes now-both from some of the funkiest divas that have graced our ears!

Artist: Faith Evans
Tune: Mezmerized
Album: The First Lady.

WOW! As soon as I heard this I thought of Vicki Anderson. This has funky basslines, a solid beat and Faith Evans giving us her all as she belts out this mezmerizing tune. This is old school funk at its finest and Faith Evans shows us that she is truly the first lady in this track. Turn it up and groove away.
Download 02_mesmerized.mp3

Artist: Vicki Anderson
Tune: Message to the Soul Sisters
Source: Funky Divas- compliation of tracks by James Brown's backing singers.

Off one of the best compilations that I have ever tracked down. A double CD of pure R&B, soul and funk.
It also has some original beats that hip-hop heads will most definitely recognize.
I don't know what to say about this track-just listen away and enjoy the funk.
Download 05_message_to_the_soul_sisters.mp3

Cheers,

Cubik

Move On Up....Greyhound style

Artist: Greyhound
Tune: Move On Up
Source: PartyKeller compilation

What a feat it is to take a classic soul song, brought to us by the great Curtis Mayfied, and to do a reagge cover that just takes the tune to a new level.
Greyhound, covering Move On Up live, has managed to do just that without really making any changes.
The sweet bassline keeps us movin' and groovin' while the reggae riff sucks us deeper into these uplifting lyrics that can't help but please.
What I wouldn't give to see this live show.
Download 14_move_on_up.m4a