Join the some of the ShoMerde posse as they prepare an original Jump Up!
Presenting a brand new monthly called Bom Senso featuring selectah’s Catalist and FamousLee droppin afrolatinbrazilian dimez for all you dancefloor junkies…
Upstairs in the newly renovated Tequila Bookworm (512 Queen St. W) on the last Saturday of every month (July 31st for those of you keeping track) enjoy the dancefloor and cool off on the fantastic back patio with a brew or two.
Here’s a handy primer brazilian mix (complete with track list!!!) to get you started courtesy of the Dr. Zaius-like genius of the man know as Catalist.
Zebaron - Le Baron
Som Livre Orchestra - O Bem Amado
Wilson SImonal - Brasil, Eu Fico
Parvarim Tropical - Bim Bom
Azimuth - Melo Da Cuica
Martinho Da Vila - Andando De Banda
Copa 7 - Mulher Absoluta
Jorge Ben - Menino Jesus De Praga
Milton Nascimento - Para Lennon e McCartney
Zimbo Trio - Reza
Brazil Rytms - Bananatico
Simone - Povo Da Raca Brasil
Wando - Nega Do Obaluae
Azimuth - Dear Limmertz
Sambalanco Trio - Sambinha
Ivan Lins - Tanaue
Hector Costita - Avessos
Well kids, cause we seem to love the podcast interview format… Here’s BBC Radio 2’s Paul Morley (former reporter for NME) kickin it with NYC underground legend Francois Kevorkian. The original post is here, but if you’re looking for a brief synopsis… In the history of the NYC underground dance scene, Francois K ranks as the heavy weight among heavy weights. Francois came to New York from Paris as a drummer in 1967 and had his first gig playing alongside barn-burning future West End Records producer/remixer Walter Gibbons. He’s remixed, engineered, mastered and produced for a laundry list of disco and funk talents and like any digger worth their salt, possesses a library like knowledge of the music genre commonly referred to as disco. Hit the links, but the proof is in the puddin’cast:
Vinyl maniacs Blaz and FamousLee proudly present the first in a series of stanky smoked out mixes designed for your head noddin’ electric relaxation. And, cause we’re nice guys, a setlist for your edification:
1.new cymbals -lc funk
2.eddie hazel - california dreaming
3. message - is that the way
4. harvey mandel - snake
5. sly stone - cant strain m y brain
6.animated egg - sock it my way
7. 9th creation - rule of mind
8. Roy Ayers - Virgo Red
9. Bohannon - Happiness
10. Howlin Wolf - Red Rooster
11.Brenton Wood - Trouble
12. The Gentry - ??
Visuals crafted by the fine talents of Tinchef aka Handrew Duncan
but really it’s all about
linx linx linx boy on ya backside..
Dennis Coffey is the shit. The Detroit-born O.G. Funk Brother has had his licks featured on a mind-boggling list of soul/funk/psych songs, including a hefty portion of Motown hits. Courtesy of Mr. Coffey’s site, here’s a bloody good podcast hosted by the man himself as he takes you on an audio trip down his storied career.
There’s a school of thought that considers legendary composer and arranger, David Axelrod one of the progenitors of hip hop. And really, even if you omit Axelrod’s impressively massive discography, who in their right mind would argue with The God Emcee?
Lessons learned during this ShoMerde post: 1. Axelrod is a genius
2. Rakim is hip hop (”from Egypt to Budapest/Rakim is the truest left”)
3. You should hit up Mochilla in the near future to purchase what looks to be a killer concert film.
If you grew up in the seventies or early eighties it is entirely probable that you were conceived to some part of their collective discographies. And if you grew up in the nineties then you heard their voices in everything from country to hip hop. ShoMerde salutes two masters of the soul music idiom:
As the sun sets on a season of missed connections , market corrections, and instant reflections, we ring in year 3 of ShoMerde Live!, the monthly oasis of vinyl diggery , runnin the floor like CB4 with more in store for lovers of intricate rhythm. Come join us kick off the double digits this Saturday January 9, at the Embassy, 223 Augusta Ave. , where you’ll hear sounds like … (courtesy of Nuno Gee and Joe Dias)
As usual the Brits are two and a half steps ahead of the game when it comes to reppin’ Classic American Soul talent. Presented here in two parts is an ill interview with Gil Scott Heron
Meet Nicolas Murray aka Murr aka midismalls aka the Black Kermit (Blermit). He’s pretty much ground zero when it comes to underground music (though he wouldn’t say that). Founding member of seminal T-dot hip hop group Da Grassroots; founding member of T-dot mainstay’s LAL; film and theatre composer, techno maestro he’s basically the musical equivalent of the bastard love-child produced from the pop cultural menage a trois of R.D. Burman, R.Kelly and Howard the Duck.
SM: Strawberry sandwich or Mango lassie? Murr: strawberry sandwich …Mango lassie’s are always too sweet
SM: Explain what the phrase “big Hip Hop drums” means to you…cite examples Murr: drums that are recorded with lots of room tone ..like they were recorded in a church or a cave
like most of what you would hear on a stax record ..Late 60’s early 70’s ..
SM: You’ve hung out with famous people, tell me about a run in with an almost famous where they had you shook for a moment. Murr: I met smooth b (nice and smooth) backstage at the rocksteady conference once …meeting a people from your teenage years can be
very sobering…
SM: What colour is your bathroom? Murr: yellow with green floors
SM:And what would you serve her for breakfast the next morning Murr: Eggs and Plantin
SM:Grimy digging stories? Murr:Being at a Flea market just outside of Pittsburg and discovering someonelse’s stash i still rememeber the plastic bag …the guy next to me was like that is bla blah stash..I still regret not taking all of it…bad karma
SM: Upcoming projects (list em off) Murr: New Lal record
Upcoming 12′inches and maybe a full records with my friends in various places around the world
2 songs on the new Voice records
2 songs on the new d-sisive record that he is giving away for free from his website
Various film and theatre compositions
Forget the fact that she was Miles Davis’ wife, or that she introduced him to Jimmy Hendrix. And while you’re there, forget the fact that she penned a song for the Chambers Brothers first album at the tender age of 21. And you might as well forget the modelling spreads in Ebony and Glamour magazines No, forget all of that and focus on the one thing that sets her above all the rest, Betty Davis was born to funk.
Here’s a quality interview from the folks at The Sounds of Young America and her first in probably close to 30 years. It’s definitely worth a peep. Plus if you’re feeling froggy make the leap to our friends at Light In the Attic who have done a fine job re-releasing her catalog.
Meet Nicolas Murray aka Murr aka 
