THIS IS TOMORROW

Mike over at This Is Tomorrow kindly asked me to do a little guest selection for his blog and i was happy to oblige. TIT is a dope webspot hipping folks to cool music, new or old, from a lot of different genres and places through clips, links and awesome mixes. Mike's not only a great tastemaker, he's a darn good deejay and beatmaker too. You should check out some of his remixes. Went allover the place for this cloudcast and didn't stick to a certain theme like we normally do. Anyways, head on over to This Is Tomorrow and soak up all the goodness...

Ame - Ridiculous Raw by Thisistomorrow Guestmixes on Mixcloud

1. Guido & Maurizio DeAngelis - Il Libanese
Originally released in 1973 on the lp "La Polizia Incrimina La Legge Assolve" - Peat Records, Italy.

Kickstarting the hour with some Italian soundtrack vibes...

2. Grupo Los Yoyi - El Fino
Originally released on the lp "Yoyi" - Areito Records, Cuba.

Breakbeat laden Cuban jazz fusion killer that twists and builds...

3. Oneness Of Juju - Follow Me
Originally released in 1976 on the lp "Space Jungle Luv" - Black Fire Records, USA.

Classic cosmic soul jazz...

4. Soft Touch - Plenty Action
Originally released as a 45 single in 1976 on Sundance Records, USA.

Super heavy mid-seventies soul beats galore...

5. 4th Coming - The Dead Don't Die Alive Prt.2
Originally released in as a 45 single on 45 single Alpha Records, USA.

Uber-good instrumental side of this heavyweight funk 45 single out of California...

6. ROB - More
Originally released in 1977 on the lp "ROB - Funky Rob Way" - Essiebons Records, Ghana.

Mooged-out, wah-wah heavy Ghanian funk burner that just goes and goes...

7. K. Frimpong And His Cubano Fiestas - Aboagyewaa

Originally released in 1978 on the lp "K. Frimpong Backed by Vis-A-Vis" - Ofori, Ghana.

More funky Afrobeat from Ghana heavy on the moog sounds...

8. Toni Tornado - Tornado

Originally released in 1972 on the self titled lp - Odeon Records, Brazil.

Short but sweet bit of steaming Brazilian funk from this top performer who obviously loves himself a lot...

9. Tanya 'Sweet Tee' Winley Ft. Harlem Underground Band - Vicious Rap
Originally released as a 12" single in 1980 on Paul Winley Records, USA.

Badass early rap jawn from the daughter of Paul Winley backed by George Benson's Harlem Underground Band from "Smokin' Cheeba Cheeba" fame...

10. Pigbag - Sunny Day
Originally released as a 12" single in 1981 on Y Records, United Kingdom.

I feel kinda sorry for people that automatically classify 80's music as bad music. Their missing out on a lot of goodies. Good example is this post-punk groover that i find just as good as any late 60's funk tune... so there.

11. William Onyeabor - Good Name
Originally released as a 12" single in 1983 on Wilfilms Records, Nigeria.

To me, this is one of the baddest 12-inch singles on the planet. Bad meaning good, not bad meaning bad. Look at that cover with Onyeabor doing his best JR. Ewing impression. That dude is a don! And than inside it's grooves there's this massive African electro-pop sound that will make breakdancers wig out like there's no tomorrow...

12. Will Powers - Adventures In Success (Dub)
Originally released as a 12" single in 1983 on Island Records, USA.

The result of Jamaican studio gods Sly & Robbie being influenced by the British New Wave sound....

13. Jackie Mittoo - Wall Street
Originally released on the lp "Showcase" - Studio One Records, USA.

Cool & easy Fender Rhodes piano layered reggae from Studio 1's keyboard king...

...AND THAT'S JAZZ!

One of the greatest joy's found in trading rare vinyl records is to see young people step on the scene who approach record collecting with a passion. Not because it's a hip & trendy thing to do but because they have a true love and respect for the music and are eager to discover new sounds and learn all the ins and outs about a certain artist, label or genre. That means putting in the work digging and doing countless hours of research. One fine example of a young collector doing it the right way is Lander Lenaerts, better known as Jazz Kid The Blastkid. I've seen Lander grown from a shy youth buying Prestige, Blue Note and Motown records to one of Belgium's expert collectors on jazz music and rare grooves from around the globe. The humble Jazz Kid goes deep and when i say deep i mean Jean Jacques Cousteau-style deep! Ever the student but also a teacher. His awesome blog is a must visit for any self-repecting jazz head that offers a slew of great, monthly mixes accompanied by the music's cover art. He also deejay's on he regular with partner Teddy Tendertouch and hosts the "Snap Your Fingers" show on Laid Back Radio for whom he has also written a dozen or so must read articles; ranging from European jazz to a great retrospective on Marc Moulin. And he also made that super cool little documentary on 'Popcorn' we featured in our Hot Corn post. That's a sum that equals dedication right there. It's a great privilege to have this busy man guest-selecting today. His mix "...and that's Jazz!" is heavyweight beyond a doubt going from modal to hard-bop with some Afro and a wee bit of fusion thrown in for good measure. One for the more matured ears. Bliss!  

... and that's Jazz! by Ridiculous Raw on Mixcloud

All cover scans, info & footnotes by Blastkid. 

1. Sarah Vaughan - The Mystery Of Man

Originally released in 1984 on the lp "One World - One Peace" - Five Records, Italy.

We start this trip with one of my latest finds. To be honest, I'm not that much of a Sarah Vaughan fan, but this record is the reason why I have been checking the 'Vocal Jazz' and 'Sarah Vaughan' sections at every single record store I visited since I first heard this track, which paid off recently. Quite an unusual concept album, with Sarah Vaughan singing songs based on poems written by pope John Paul II, but this tune is so deep, with beautiful string arrangements by fellow Belgian jazz cat Francy Boland and Sarah's incredible vocal range which gives me the shivers every time...

2. Kenny Graham and his Satellites - Utsu

Originally released in 1957 on the lp "Moondog And Suncat Suites" - MGM Records, USA.

Another concept album here, as it consists of two deep spaced out jazz suites. I picked the track Utsu from the Moondog suite, which was based on the work of the American street corner artist Moondog. Fantastic music and quite visionary if you know that the music was recorded as early as 1957.

3. Dusko Goykovich - Bosna Calling

Originally released in 1971 on the lp "It's About Blues Time" - Ensayo, Spain.

Trumpeter Dusko Goykovich made a name for himself in the 1960s as he invented a new style of jazz by fusing US jazz with Balkan music. Much of his song and album titles refer to his birth country (former Yugoslavia), and so does this beautiful modal jazz tune from 1971, which he recorded in Spain with, among others, the blind Spanish pianist Tete Montoliu.

4. Jef Gilson - Modalité Pour Mimi

Originally released in 1965 on the lp "Jef Gilson À Gaveau" - SFP Records, France.

Jef Gilson was definitely one of the most visionary and progressive musicians to come out of the French jazz scene. Being an innovative composer, Gilson was already thinking outside of the jazz box in the 1950s and made use of uncommon instruments and foreign influences in his music. This piece is a beautiful orchestral modal jazz piece with a solo by Nathan Davis.

5. Les Prospection - Casing

Originally released in 1971 on the lp "Dance And Mood Music vol. 18" - Chappell Records, France.

I got this record from AME, mister Ridiculous Raw himself, so all props go to him for hipping me to this percussive afro-centric jazz library tune from France. Thanks!

6. Gil Scott-Heron - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

Origigally released in 1970 on the lp "Small Talk at 125th and Lenox" - Flying Dutchman Records, USA.

I know that it might be an obvious choice, but I couldn't resist on putting this song in this mix as I think that most people know the other version he recorded of this song. I like the minimalism on this track, because your attention as a listener is much more drawn towards his voice, which sounds so pure and powerful.

7. Curtis Amy - Amyable

From the 1963 lp "Katanga!" - Fontana Records, United Kingdom.

Time for some hard-bop, delivered by the relatively unknown saxophone player Curtis Amy. This is one of the most underrated jazz albums in my opinion. It's great from start to finish and I rate it among some of the best albums in my collection, but I hardly hear anybody ever talking about it. This record is one of the very few recordings that feature Dupree Bolton, a virtuoso trumpeter who unfortunately never got the exposure or the chances that he deserved. Read the incredible story 'In search of Dupree Bolton' here. 

8. Sahib Shihab - Jay-Jay

Originally released in 1971 on the lp "Companionship" - Vogue Records, Germany.

I don't really know what to say about this album, because not much words could do it justice. Every track is a winner and the sound is unlike anything else. It was released as a Sahib Shihab record, but it's one of those Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland small group sessions, which are all sublime and a must have in my book.

9. John Gordon - No Tricks/No Gimmicks

Originally released in 1976 on the lp "Step By Step" - Strata East Records, USA.

Fierce brass action, great piano playing and a tight funky groove are the ingredients of this Strata East track. No deep or spiritual stuff as we are used from the label, but yet a great and heavy track.

10. Streetdancer - Casa

Originally released in 1974 on the same-titled lp - Future Records, USA.

This album still remains some kind of a mystery record to me. I have had it for years since I found it in a collection that I bought, but I still don't know anything about the group behind it. The music is fusion, sometimes deep, sometimes very funky. I particularly love the piano playing on this track.

11. Michel Sardaby - Nile Voyage

Originally released in 1970 on the lp "Night Cap" - Disques Debs, France.

We take it a bit more easy for a few minutes, with the groovy piano trio track 'Nile Voyage', by the West-Indies pianist Michel Sardaby. 

12. Dorothy Ashby & Frank Wess - Taboo

Originally released in 1958 on the lp "In A Minor Groove" - New Jazz Records, USA.

As one of my favorite labels, the Prestige subsidiary New Jazz yields lots of treasures for the jazz dj and collector. What I love about this album is the combination of flute and harp, which creates an uncommon sound color palette and atmosphere.

13. Kamal And The Brothers - Dance

Originally released in 1988 on the lp "Dance" - Stash Records, USA.

I usually avoid jazz from the eighties, so it's an exception that this mix features two tracks from that decade. But this tune by Kamal Abdul Alim is such a good track that I had to feature it in this mix. On drums is the one and only Idris Muhammad.

14. Nathan Davis - Blues For Trane

Originally released in 1967 on the lp "Rules Of Freedom" - Polydor Records, Germany.

Did this guy actually released a bad album? All of his stuff that I have heard is so intense. Davis was obviously heavily influenced by Coltrane (hence the title of this track), but to me he has just that extra indescribable musical thing that makes me love his music so much more than that of Coltrane himself (there, I said it).

15. Roy Haynes - Modette

Originally released in 1963 on the lp "Cymbalism" - New Jazz Records, USA.

We end things with a long track by drummer Roy Haynes, another modal jazz favorite on the New Jazz label. Great flute playing, great cover art and a great song title, what more could one expect from a jazz record?

Thank you Lander. Hat off to you sir!

STAX OF THROWBACKS

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Most Friday evenings around 18.00h CET i'm at Antwerp's FM station Radio Centraal chilling with my boys and top notch disc jocks Droppa & Mauz. Their Stax of Wax radio show is my weekly fix for quality boom bap hip-hop, rare grooves & breaks and always comes highly recommended. Tune in live at streaming.radiocentraal.be or catch any missed airings on the Stax of Wax mixcloud. Mauz already blessed us with a wicked rock mix for the Mauzer On The Rocks post and comes correct again for today's presentation: "Stax Of Throwbacks" - a high grade post millenium funk & jazz selection...

The heavy funk or 'deep funk' revival of the 90's, named after Keb Darge's legendary club night in London, inspired a whole legion of youths, not only to go out and search for rare tunes, but to actually pick up instruments in an effort to emulate the sounds of past heroes like James Brown, Herbie Hancock or Fela Kuti, often using the same recording techniques. Most bands failed miserably while a select few were and still are phenomenal. It seems like there's a lot of different bands out there but if you read the album credits and liner notes you will see the same names of players popping up over and over again. It's an inbred affair. Why? The ability to play pure, raw, unadulterated funk is hard to come by. Real funk is no easily digestable pop crap. You can't buy soul. It takes years of practice and dedication to the music. Dissecting it's origins. Knowing your Blues, R&B and Jazz. Being a student of the groove. A master of your instrument. This is by no means a 'best of the best' mix. Rather a random selection of great contemporary tunes by great people keeping that wonderful, timeless 60's & 70's soul sound alive. One of many more to come. Let's go...

Stax of Throwbacks by Ridiculous Raw on Mixcloud

1. Nostalgia 77 - Cheney Lane

Originally released in 2005 on the lp "The Garden" - Thru Thoughts/Ubiquity Records, UK/USA.

Nostalgia 77 is the alter ego of London based, multi-instrumentalist, Benedic Lamdin - an allround groovy genius with a staggering 11 albums discography starting from 2001, who won ‘Jazz Album of the Year’ award at the ‘Gilles Peterson BBC Worldwide Awards’ in 2006.  Check "Cheney Lane" of his second long-player, the one that got him the award, that opens with a big accoustic bassline before morphing into a jazzy instrumental breakbeat jam. Sure, there's some sampling and editing involved here so it's not the perfect example to our introduction but a great opener nevertheless...

2. The Whitefield Brothers - Yakuba

Originally released as a 45 single in 2007 on Field Records, Germany.

The Poets Of Rhythm from Germany behind the name. These cats have more aliases than Obama and are imho the undisputed kings of funky music regardless of time, age, race or location. Their 1993 debut album "Practice What You Preach" is one of the greatest funk albums of all time and the boys have only gotten better ever since with an output that often surpassing that of their idols. "Yakuba" first featured on the WB's 2001 album "In The Raw" for Soul Fire records (a must have) but was later reissued on 7-inch vinyl by Field to please the deejays and dancers...

3. The Grips - Fancy Roll

Originally released as a 45 single in 2008 on G.E.D. Soul Records, USA.

Can't tell you much about this band or tune other than that it's a hard hitting slice of soulfull funk on Tennessee's awesome G.E.D. Soul Records...

4. Birdwave - Hard Times

Originally released as a 45 single in 2009 on Jaycees Records, Australia.

Laidback, mellow interpolation of the immortal sample classic "Hard Times" by Baby Huey with some ace organ work and catchy breakdowns from this dope Oz band...

5. JD & The Evil's Dynamite Band - Kalhari

Originally released in 2001 on the lp "Explodes Across The Nation" - Soulfire Records, USA.

JD & The Evil's Dynamite Band was a short lived project from former Desco & Soul Fire Records frontman Philippe Lehman with involvement from El Michels Affair's bandleader Leon Michels, Dap-King Homer Steinweiss and Quincy Bright from "My Ghetto Looked Like This" fame amongst some other stallwarths.  The whole album is dynamite with "Kalhari" being the afro soul jazz fusion jewel of the lot... 

6. Antibalas - N.E.S.T.A.

Originally released in 2001 on the lp "Liberation Afro Beat Vol.1" - Ninja Tune Records, United Kingdom

Brooklyn based Antibalas (Spanish word for bulletproof) are the quintessential afro-beat band playing in the tradition of Fela & The Africa 70. Their hugely responsible for the refound interest in African music and their debut "Liberation Afro Beat Vol.1" was a real eyeopener to many people. Being signed on Ninja Tune helped. "N.E.S.T.A.", which stands for 'Never Ever Submit To Authority', has always been my fave of the lot, mainly due to that catchy guitar riff courtesy of Daptone Records owner Gabriel Roth who also produced the record...

7. The Whitefield Brothers - Savannahstan

Originally released as a 45 single in 2009 on Now Again Records, USA.

Another ridiculously raw smasher from the German boys with some devastating drums and trippy organ play. Doesn't get much better than this...

8. Bama & The Family - Feeling Good

Originally released as a 45 single in 2004 on Lenar Records, USA.

Afro-funk side project from El Michels Affair head honcho Leon Michels in honour of Fela Kuti with some lovely horns throughout...

9. The Daktaris - Upside Down

Originally released in 1998 on the lp Soul Explosion" - Desco Records, USA.

One of the first albums i heard that resurrected the Afro Beat sound and a true must-have in it's genre. It's bloody brilliant. So brilliant that Daptone Records decided to reissue it. Grab it if you get the chance. "Upside Down" is typical Fela again...

10. The Bamboos - Tongan Steel

Originally released in 2007 on the lp "Rawville" - Thru Thoughts Records, United Kingdom. 

Switching the style again with some heavy drumbreak driven funk from down under. The Bamboos from Australia are up there with the best of the best in contemporary funk. Something that was clear after lending an ear to the earliest of their releases. I remember trading a mixtape for a copy of their first 45 single, which is worth quite some money now. Wish i remembered who it was cause that deserves an extra 'thank you'...

11. Baby Charles - Coming From A Higher Place

Originally released in 2008 on the lp "Baby Charles" - Record Kicks Records, Italy.

Ace British heavy funk outfit Baby Charles are fairly new players on the scene but they got the sound, energy and passion, so much is clear. These cats know what their doing. Absolutely love the horn section and organs...

12. The Soul Command - Moon Mission

Originally released as a 45 single in 2000 on Soul Fire Records, USA.

More 100 mph 'new' funk bizniz from tastemaker Philippe Lehman's excellent Soul Fire Records...

13. Lack Of Afro - When The Sun Goes Down

Originally released as a 45 single in 2007 on Freestyle Records, United Kingdom.

Lack Of Afro is the brainchild of British, multi-instrumentalist & producer Adam Gibbons. Sometimes a band, sometimes a one man affair with a sound not limited to 'old' music but going across the board. "When The Sun Goes Down" however is Adam at work with his band, jamming heavy on the late 60's funk sound...

14. Speedometer - Episode In Palmetto

Originally released in 2003 on the lp "This Is Speedometer" - Blow It Hard Records, United Kingdom.

Here comes another heavy hitter from the U.K. with some Afro-Cuban thrown in for good measure. Great dancer, awesome band... one of the finest. 

15. Butta - O'kwawa Se 

Originally released as a 12" single in 2002 - Fruitmeat Records, United States.

Pretty unknown but delightful uptempo jam driving on afro-latino rhythms. Much loved by breakdancers the world over. Also released as a split track 45 single...

16. Bronx River Parkway - Chum's Pimpage

Originally released as a 45 single in 2002 on Latin Express Records, 

Bronx River Parkway is without a doubt the hottest 'new' latin funk band on the planet, named after the 30 km long parkway in downstate New York. A wink to Eddie Palmieri's "Harlem River Drive"? "Chum's Pimpage" is BRP's first and now very collectable release... Taking down the tempo whilst keeping the big breaks...

17. DeRobert & The Half-Truths - Cop Cars And Taxi's

Originally released as a 45 single in 2009 on G.E.D. Soul Records, USA.

Slow but deadly instrumental from G.E.D. Soul Records house band with hard drums and a melancholic saxophone solo...

18. The Budos Band - Origin Of Man

Originally released in 2007 on the lp "The Budos Band II" - Daptone Records, USA.

Mesmerizing Ethio-jazz magic from another excellent Brooklyn based band makes for a perfect closing. Catch the Budos live in the new year on the 18th of february at Ancien Belgique, Brussels. Get your tickets here.  

Mauz, big up uno self selecta!

CONTINENTAL STRUT - THE EUROPAS

Time to add another chapter to our Continental Strut series! We're trotting around Europe this time around. From the lowlands to the mountains; from the Balkan over the Nordic lands to the Mediterranean and back again. Finding groovy music from East to West, North to South...

Continental Strut - The Europas by Ridiculous Raw on Mixcloud

1. Nico Gomez - Lupita

Originally released in 1969 on the lp "Ritual" - Omega Records, Belgium.

We start at home. That tiny little dot on the map called Belgium. 

Josef van het Groenewoud, a Dutchman who fled from post WW2 Holland after refusing the obligated draft to participate in the military offensive by the Dutch in Indonesia, was a pianist and composer heavily infuenced by latin and brazilian music. He became a well respected recording artist & performer in Belgium, taking up the stage name Nico Gomez, scoring a few minor hits. He's also the father of very famous Belgian troubadour Raymond van het Groenewoud. On his 1969 effort "Ritual" Gomez shies away from his usual 'easy-listening' compositions and pulls all the stops, delivering a deafening selection of rock hard afro-cuban inspired music that meets Euro jerk-funk. I love the whole album but Lupita is really something else. With stunning album artwork that spawned a thousand flyers...

2. Big Jullien And His All Star - Wake The Monster

Originally released in 1970 on the lp "Riviera Sound No.1" - Riviera Records, France.

Crossing the border over to France. Here's a dog rare piece of jerky mod-funk in a big band mode by the hands of composers Ivan Julien & Michel Colombier with assist from ace French session players like piano player Maurice Vander, organist Eddy Louiss an drummer Pierre Dahan amongst others. Big beats!

3. Helmuth Brandenburg - Love Like A Man

Originally released in 1970 on the lp "Big-Band-Beat" - BASF Records, Germany.

Off to Germany for more funky big-band bizniz. "Love Like A Man" is a killer track with heavy drums, scorching fuzz and devastating brass work that wouldn't sound out of place as the theme for a 70's crime soap. It's obvious these guys loved to experiment. Something they continued to do later under the name The Rias Orchestra from whom we borrowed some for The Sith Eleptikal Gems Pt.2.

4. The Rob Franken Organ-Ization - Hunky-Dory

Originally released in 1969 on the lp "Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da" - RCA Records, The Netherlands.

Enter The Netherlands, our third neighbouring country, and the home of killer organist Rob Franken. He was one of the first pianists in Europe to take up the Hammond organ and later on the Fender Rhodes piano which became his trademark instrument. Rob's uncanny skills on the keys earned him a place in Peter Herbolzheimer's fantastic Rhythm Combination & Brass outfit and he contributed to over 400 recordings in his 20 years clocking career. His very hard to obtain debut album "Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da" showcases Franken's awesome organ play over a tight rhythm section as is most evident on the extra funky "Hunky Dory"...

5. Niebiesko-Czarni - Atma

Originally released in 1969 on the lp "Twarze" - Pronit Records, Poland.

Were heading into Eastern European territory. First stop: Poland. This country always had a solid output of jazz and R&B influenced music through great record labels like Muza & Pronit back in the 60's & 70's. But let's not forget that those were the days of communism and these American sounds weren't endorsed by the men in charge. Not that jammin' on the funk was dangerous. It just wasn't an obvious thing to do. Always good to keep that in mind when listening to East-Euro records. Can't tell you much about the band on offer other than that they created one of my favourite Polish grooves with "Atma", a quirky but uber-funky tune that rocks...

6. Gustav Brom Se Svým Orchestrem - Bounty 

Originally released in 1977 on the lp "Polymelomodus" - Supraphon Records, Czechoslovakia.

Czechoslovakia, now known as the Czech Republic, was another great playground for jazz & soul influenced music, eventhough musicians had to play in the shadow of the Iron Curtain like it's Polish neighbours above. That didn't affect master composer & arranger Gustav Brom too much though. He already shot to superstardom from the late 50's onwards as one the greatest jazz big-band leaders in Europe, getting props from the likes of Dizzy Gillespie and Motown goddess Diana Ross & her Supremes so he could basically do his thing. "Bounty" finds him on his funkiest...  

7. F.B.I. - F.B.I.

Originally released in 1976 on the self titled lp - Good Earth Records, United Kingdom.

On the other side of the North Sea lies the United Kingdom where we have a date with the boys & gals from F.B.I., a prime soul-funk-jazz outfit with only one album under their belt but's it's a goodie. Check the breakbeat-laden title track. A classic British funk jam.

8. Atlas - Play It Cool

Originally released in 1977 on the self titled lp - Bacillus Records, Austria.

Were in Austria. Not exactly a place you would associate with funky music. Here comes Atlas to prove us all wrong. Not always digging the lead vocalist but the grooves and breaks are deffo up to par! 

9. Mustafa Özkent Ve Orkestrası - Karadir

Originally released in 1973 on the lp "Gençlik Ile Elele" - Evren Plakları Records, Turkey.

On the crossroads of Europe and Asia we find Turkey, one of the few countries in the world that lies on 2 continents. I found this record in 2002 about 300m from my house on one of the annual street markets (i live in a pre-dominantly Turkish neighbourhood) but had absolutely no idea this was one of the holy grails of Turkish rare grooves. I bought it on sight alone because the cover rocks and the indication of "Rhythm & Soul" was a no-brainer. I was pretty sure it would have a nice little break or two but wasn't ready for the stunning fusion of tradional Turkish music with jazz & rock inside it's grooves... Madness! 

10. Svenska Löd Ab - Right On - Kliv På

Originally released in 1971 on the lp "Hörselmat" - Privately released, Sweden.

Were travelling to Scandinavia where the big and rich Sweden is our first halt. I got to admit... i paid A LOT of money for this record and have sold it since then for even more. Something i regret, but hey, that's the game. It's a beauty though and only 200 copies of the original vinyl were ever pressed. Mainly a jazz funk affair with heavy blues and rock undertones, some killer organs, drumbreaks and mighty guitar play from ABBA's guitarist Janne Schaffer...

11. Eero Koivistoinen Music Society - Hot C

Originally released in 1972 on the lp "Wahoo!" - RCA/Victor, Finland.

Scandinavia stop 2. Finland. Saxophone player Eero Koivistoinen received proper musical training in the U.S. which he put to good use on his 1972 solo masterpiece "Wahoo". Imho one of the strongest European jazz-funk albums to date. Check "Hot C" when in doubt...

12. Madras Express - Age Tendre

Originally released on the self titled lp - MLP Records, Switzerland.

Switzerland. Another country that hasn't had much of a funky output. But there are little treasures like Madras Express' "Age Tendre", nice little afro jazz funk fusion gem. Also released in France...

13. Los Chorbos - Sones Del Chicharro

Originally released as a 45 single in 1975 on CBS Records, Spain.

Brilliant little 45 single from Spain that fuses that typical Andalusian flamenco sound with wah wah-laden funk rhythms...

14. Rino De Filippi - Riflessivita

Originally released in 1975 on the lp "Riflessi" - Edi-Pan Records, Italy.

Here comes bella Italy. I don't need to flog to anyone that Italy's musical output has always been of the highest order. From jazz over rock to their incredible soundtracks full of lush sounds. In comes Rino De Filippi, a master of movie scores and Italian library music, with the irresistable "Riflessivita",  a cheesy but unique sounding jazz dancer...

15. Marius Popp - Simboluri

Originally released in 1977 on the lp "Panoramic Jazz Rock" - Electrecord Records, Romania.

Our continental trip stops on the borders of the Black Sea in Romania where we dance and feast to the end of a wonderful trip with high grade jazz composer Marius Popp on the funky electric jazz vibes of "Simboluri"...

Fancy some more continental struttin'?

The Americas

The Africas