January 17, 2012

Love Is All (feat. Liz Elensky) by Marc Rapson featured in his excellent Dark vs. Light EP. I got mine from Betino’s Record Shop, my favorite record store in Paris, France. It came in a simple plastic sleeve, looking like a promotional record or self-produced one for which the artist had barely enough money for the pressing.

Romain, Betino’s sidekick, insisted I sample it even though I looked at the record quite suspiciously. He knew I was no huge fan of electronica/drum’n’bass/house music. I was astonished to feel such a quality groove percolating through its few tracks. Months after, it keep showing up on my turntable quite regularly.

11:02pm  |   URL: http://journal.upbeat.fr/post/16024383995/love-is-all-feat-liz-elensky-by-marc-rapson
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FILED UNDER: electronica soul marc rapson dark vs. light music Vinyl Betino's Record Shop Paris France EP 
December 24, 2011

If you are looking for something to shake your Christmas party tonight and your audience not yet ready for the marvelous soundscapes of Afrobeat, Funk and the like then maybe this fine Rock piece by the Black Keys will help you get the job done.

Merry Christmas!

5:59pm  |   URL: http://journal.upbeat.fr/post/14726805860/if-you-are-looking-for-something-to-shake-your
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FILED UNDER: The Black Keys Rock Music Lonely Boy 
December 21, 2011

Danger by The Lijadu Sisters. This is a great piece of Afrofunk straight out of Lagos, Nigeria. The album was originally issued on LP in 1976. Afrodisia has reissued it recently for our delight.

11:12am  |   URL: http://journal.upbeat.fr/post/14557710442/danger-by-the-lijadu-sisters-this-is-a-great
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FILED UNDER: afrobeat Funk Afrofunk Lijadu Sisters Music Danger Vinyl 
December 15, 2011

Chant written by Duke Pearson and played by Donald Byrd. Issued as part of Blue Note’s BST-84124, A New Perspective. 1963.

Personnel: Donald Byrd (tp), Hank Mobley (ts), Donald Best (vibes), Kenny Burrell (g), Herbie Hancock (p), Burch Warren (b), Lex Humphries (d).

10:00am  |   URL: http://journal.upbeat.fr/post/14256837582/chant-written-by-duke-pearson-and-played-by-donald
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FILED UNDER: music donald byrd a new perspective blue note Vinyl jazz 
December 10, 2011

Ted Taylor, Ghetto Disco. 1977. Featured in Norman Jay MBE’s Good Times 30th Anniversary Ed. issued by Strut Records.

8:38pm  |   URL: http://journal.upbeat.fr/post/14026258567/ted-taylor-ghetto-disco-1977-featured-in-norman
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FILED UNDER: disco music norman jay good times strut records ted taylor ghetto disco vinyl 
December 3, 2011

I Call Him by Masonic Wonders, featured in Numero Group’s awesome Good God! A Gospel Funk Hymnal.

8:49am  |   URL: http://journal.upbeat.fr/post/13671065363/i-call-him-by-masonic-wonders-featured-in-numero
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FILED UNDER: Gospel Funk Music Numero Group 
November 7, 2011

Tone Loc playing Loc’ed After Dark, old school hip-hop at its best. This is of my favorite hip-hop albums of all times. Issued on Delicious Vinyl in 1989 and it still feels as fresh and delicious as ever. I hope you won’t mind the occasional explicit language.

10:53pm  |   URL: http://journal.upbeat.fr/post/12481974697/tone-loc-playing-loced-after-dark-old-school
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FILED UNDER: hip-hop Tone Loc Loc'ed After Dark Music Delicious Vinyl 
November 4, 2011

Joyce Williams playing First Thing I Do in the Morning. Awesomely funky beats featured in the not-less-awesome The Nickel & Penny Labels album recently released by Numero Group.

8:22am  |   URL: http://journal.upbeat.fr/post/12319387057/joyce-williams-playing-first-thing-i-do-in-the
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FILED UNDER: numero group joyce williams first thing i do in the morning funk soul the nickel & penny labels music 
October 23, 2011

Oddissee, one of the most interesting new hip-hop artists I know of, offers us many gems in his (very) well-balanced latest album Rock Creek Park. I bought the LP edition a few days ago and Beach Dr. is one of my favorite tunes after a demi-dozen spins. I dig its downtempo, jazzy nature.

4:46am  |   URL: http://journal.upbeat.fr/post/11801552498/oddissee-one-of-the-most-interesting-new-hip-hop
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FILED UNDER: Oddissee hip-hop music Rock Creek Park 
September 9, 2011

Anouar Brahem, a magnificent Oud player, with Barbaros Erköse (clarinet) and Lassad Hosni (bendir, darbouka) playing Astrakan Café (take 2). This song is featured in a 1999 record with the same name and released in 2000 by ECM if my memory serves me well.

Make no mistake. This is jazz, of a different nature but jazz still.

2:41pm  |   URL: http://journal.upbeat.fr/post/9992930998/anouar-brahem-a-magnificent-oud-player-with
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FILED UNDER: Oud jazz Anouar Brahem Music Astrakan Café