A new year and a new studio for urgent.fm – yay! But for the playlist though, we used the same old recipe – tried and tested – of nujazz, hiphop, house, broken beats and a dash of dubstep.

Note: the quality of this recording may be a bit under par, as the new studio isn’t fully set up yet. Still, enjoy!

This podcast is now hosted on Mixcloud

Build An Ark – Sweet Thing – Kindred Spirits
Sun Ra & His Outer Space Arkestra – Nuclear War – Soul Jazz
Bennson – Uto (ft. Willow Nelson) – Raw Fusion
Landau Orchestra – Conceptions – Raw Canvas
The Louie Gee Ensemble – You Belong With Me ft. Monique Harcum – LDBK
Silhouette Brown – Leave A Note – 2000Black
Dwele – Eve (I Need You) – Rewor”k” The Art Inc.

Gonja Sufi – Ancestors – Warp
Jar Moff – Untitled – CDR
Daisuke Tanabe – Kanon – Circulations
Nosaj Thing – Distro – Nosaj Thing
10-20 – Endzone – Highpoint Lowlife
Title – SL1200° – demo
Dynooo – Tranch – MacFly
Vikter Duplaix – Electric Love (Nicolay Remix) – vikterduplaix.com
Raoul Lambert – 3 Seconds – We Play House

Jazzanova – Look What You’re Doin’ To Me (Motor City Drum Ensemble Remix) – Universal
Joy Orbison – Hyph Mngo (Andreas Saag’s House Perspective) – none
Comfort Fit – Bit By Bit (Philta’s TechBruk Rehook) – none
Live Tropical Fish – Rubber Soul (Domu Remix) – Live Tropical Fish
Altered Natives – Rass Out – Fresh Minute Music
Pocketknife ft. Joe Worricker – Get Around To It (Mark E Remix) – Electric Minds

Equal I’s – Babylon – demo
Ke$ha – Tik Tok (Untold Remix Dub) – Jive
MJ Cole – Sanctuary (Sbtrkt Remix) – none
2562 – Flashback – Tectonic
José James – Emotions – Brownswood

Here’s oemebamo getting acquainted with the new studio (cell phone pic):

Four Tet - There Is Love In You

label: Domino
releasedate: January 25^th 2010
cat #: WIGCD254
style: house

Domino releases Four Tet much anticipated new album on January 25. “There Is Love In You” is Kieran Hebden’s fifth album and his first proper full-length in over four years offering nine new gems. Two pre-album singles, Love Cry and Love Cry Remixes are already out including Joy Orbison‘s fantastic retake of the equally great original version. Check FT’s new website for his latest Plastic People Mix and more on this release: www.fourtet.net

Four Tet – Love Cry – Joy Orbison Remix

José James - BLACKMAGIC

label: Brownswood Recordings
releasedate: 1st Feb 2010
cat #: ?
style: jazz

2010 will be the year of José James. After his much loved debut solo album “The Dreamer” released two years ago, he is ready to share his second one called “BLACKMAGIC” produced by the likes of Flying Lotus, Moodyman or Taylor McFerrin. Expect nothing but quality beats with the touch of José’s magical voice. Detroit Loveletter, Touch and Love Conversation are the main highlights. Gilles Peterson‘s website has the full monty on the album including background story plus audio previews. Since Verve Records signed JJ, there is also going to be a special album of jazz standards in duet with pianist Jef Neve called “For All We Know” on Impulse Records around May.

Jose James – Black Magic (Simbad Dub) UNRELEASED by simbad

Silhouette Brown - Two

label: 2000black
releasedate: 8 February, 2010
cat #: ?
style: soul

The first Silhouette Brown album became an instant classic when it came out in 2005. 5 years later Dego, Kaidi Tatham and the mighty Bembe Segue are back with “Two” maintaining the same top quality and soulful vibes now joined by extra US guests like Lady Alma or Sadat X. The Japenese Especial Records will put out the sampler Leave A Note and 2000black is releasing the album in early February. You can follow SB on twitter and 2000black.com is set to be relaunched very soon. Happy New Year to All!

Silhouette Brown – Leave A Note feat Lady Alma

2009 was a great year for music again, and with the year end traditionally comes a plethora of ‘best of’ lists. But rather than simply drop a bland enumeration of the 10 best records of the year, we decided to broaden the scope and list the best things to happen in music in 2009, and write a line or two about each. First up is Lensco’s selection:

• Best tunes of the year – Joy Orbison: Mr. Orbison single-handedly injected a much needed boost of musicality into the dubstep genre. While they’re not rockit-science his tracks effectively moved people, on the dancefloor as well in the living room sofa.
• Phlash & Friends – Deep Electronic Sound: No silly downtempo tracks or interlude filler, but more than a dozen excellent straight up house tunes where the guests actually matter.
• Trend of the year – Dubstep maturing: It really became a proper genre with a wide spectrum of interesting branches. Also, the Dutch dudes 2562 and Martyn came, saw and won the dubstep match, big time.
• Tortoise – Beacons Of Ancestorship: I presumed them dead, but fusing their old post rock style with Ammoncontact like beats, these lads made one the most interesting albums of the year.
• The Cinematic Orchestra – The Crimson Wing: Mystery Of The Flamingos: Utterly beautiful nature documentary score, with a unique take on classical music from Swinscoe and the boys.
• Best podcast – Bopstar Radio Sessions: Excellent house, bruk, soul and jazz, with plenty of exclusives and previews. That show makes me lookup and buy tunes.
• Nicolay – City Lights Vol. 2: Shibuya: An album like they don’t make ’em a lot these days, one where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. The styles and genres don’t matter, Shibuya is about a story, impressions and athmosphere.
• Best producer – Atjazz: Be it remixing or producing original tracks, Martin had a consistent high quality output in the past twelve months, with beats and sounds to die for.
• Best music related movie – Still Bill: So maybe I’ve seen very few music related movies last year, this one is still a beauty. If you not only want to learn about the music but also about the personality of Bill Withers, watch this gem.
• Also: great albums by Little Dragon, Kira Neris, Zero 7, Tosca, Black Jazz Consortium, Aybee, Clara Moreno, Emanative, Tuomo, the B12 Records Archives, …

Fellow Belgian Nicolas Geysens aka San Soda has been on a roll in 2009 with 3 more releases on the We Play House Recordings – run by Red D. We invited him over to the studio for an interview (Dutch only, sorry), an inspiration mix and two exclusive demos of his upcoming album. Recommended stuff!

PS: there will be no show next week as the Urgent.fm offices and studio’s will be moved to a new location. There’s one more show this year with Oemebamo on the 29th.

This podcast is now hosted on Mixcloud

Title – Caravan – cdr
Comfort Fit – Wicked Game (Swede:Art Remix) – Tokyo Dawn
Dâm-Funk – I Appreciate My Life – Circle Star
Dil Jackson – Player Has Butterflies – cdr
Portformat – Mothership (feat. Dudley Perkins & Georgia Anne Muldrow) – Tokyo Dawn
Exile – Summer Sun (Take AKA Sweatson Klank Remix) – Plug Research
Lil Wayne – I Feel Like Dying (Flying Lotus Remix Instrumental) – cdr
José James – Touch – Brownswood
JSBL – Jimbo – Affine Records

*** San Soda in studio
San Soda – Juno Love – We Play House
Ira Sullivan – The Kingdom Within You – Pausa
Eddie Kendricks – Intimate Friends – Motown
Don Blackman – Loving you – Motown
Minnie Ripperton – Reasons – Epic
James Mason – Sweet Power Your Embrace – Soul Brother

Aretha Franklin – Day Dreaming – Atlantic
Ramp – Everybody Loves The Sunshine – ABC
Esther Williams – It’s All In The Way You Dance – Friends & Co
Vincent Montana Jr. – It Looks Like Love – Atlantic
Russ Gabriel – Mister Din – We Play House
Forence & The Machine – You’ve Got The Love (The XX Remix) – Universal
San Soda – Untitled – demo
*** end

Theo Parrish – Twisted Frisky Biscuits – Sound Signature
Pepita Project ft. Paris Brightledge – The Way We Were – Pep Sounds
Ralf Gum & Monique Bingham – Little W. 12th St. (DJ Spinna Galactic Soul Remix) – GOGO
Atjazz – Together (Fromwood Night Line Remix) – Atjazz

Dj Christopher used to be a regular crew member of the Beyondjazz radioshow, but has his own show since a few years: World Service. It’s a weekly blend of all kinds of jazz, folk, soul, world and simply good music. Last tuesday we teamed together again to create the following oldskool blend. If you dig this, check his own podcast!

This podcast is now hosted on Mixcloud

Mtume – Invocation – Strata East
Steve Colson & The Unity Troupe – Lateen – Soul Jazz
George Cables – Quiet Fire – Trio
Archie Shepp – Song For Mozambique – Black Saint
Willie Bobo – Ci Ci – Concord
Ricotti & Albuquerque – Didn’t Want To Have To Do It – Pegasus
Sixto Rodriguez – Rich Folks Hoax – Light In The Attic

D.R. Hooker – Forge Your Own Chains – Now Again
Smog – I’m New Here – Drag City
Gil Scott-Heron – We Almost Detroit – MDP
Cesar Roldao Vieira – Sem Deus Familia – Far Out
Jose Mauro – Obnoxious – Far Out
Nicola Conte Jazz Combo – Solo – Schema
Roberto Tarenzi Trio – Bogota – Deja-Vu
Nico – Le Petit Chevalier – Warner
Brigitte Fontaine – Comme A La Radio – Savanah
Collage – Halb Sirp – Wool

Tubby Hayes – Voodoo – Trunk
Michael Garrick Trio – Sketches Of Israel – Trunk
Matthew Herbert – End – Accidental
Gary Marks – Autumn Eyes – Kindred Spirits
Mulatu Astatke – Tezeta – Strut
Earth, Wind & Fire – Drum Song – Columbia
Maulawi – Sreet Rap – Soul Jazz

Lou Rawls – You Made Me So Very Happy – Capitol
Darondo – Didn’t I – Luv N’ Haight
Bob James – Feel Like Making Love – CTI
Syl Johnson – I’m Talking ‘Bout Freedom – Twinight
Frank Pleyer Big Band – Sally – BBE
The Bad plus – Flim – Columbia

Taking you on a strictly uptempo 2-hour journey, meeting a handful of genres along the way. So you know the drill: dust off your dancing shoes and shuffle your feet to the beats of Joy Orbison, Comfort Fit, Young David, Wahchuku, Simbad, Zinc, Seiji, 2562, Jonny Miller, Atjazz, Nutmeg, Jose Carretas, …

This podcast is now hosted on Mixcloud

Nicolay – Wake Up In Another Life feat. Carlitta Durand – Foreign Exchange
Emanative – When On Earth (Wahchuku Mtronix Version) – Futuristica
Comfort Fit – Superposition (Comfort Fit Remix) – Tokyo Dawn
Colonel Red – Sweet Liberation – Ruff Language
Jose James – Black Magic (Simbad Dub) – none
Young David – DoG Dub – none

Atjazz – Please You ft. Clyde (Extended Mix) – Atjazz
Nutmeg – So Real (The Dummy) – Neroli
Izzi Dunn – Out Of My Hands (Kaidi Tatham Mix) – Fireworx
Anto Vitale ft. Tamara Wellons – Out Of This World (Jose Carretas Vocal Mix) – Seasons Limited
Seiji vs Bembe Segue – Get It Together – none

Zinc – 128 Trek – Bingo Bass
Joy Orbison – Brkln Clln – Doldrums
2562 – Yes/No – Tectonic
Jonny Miller – Atlantic – Jus’Listen
Darkstar – Need You – Hyperdub
Untold – Stop What You’re Doing (James Blake Remix) – Hemlock
Daedalus – Fair Weather Friends – Ninja Tune

Emika – Drop The Other (Scuba’s Vulpine Remix) – Ninja Tune
Elemental – Talk – Runtime
Gravious – Jupiter Jazz – Highpoint Lowlife
Four Tet – Love Cry (Joy Orbison Remix) – Domino
Little Dragon – Looking Glass – Peacefrog
Hudson Mohawke – Star Crackout – Warp

Regular show this week with lots of new releases: Four Tet, Gil Scott-Heron, Paul White, Sbtrkt, The Clonious, Rob van de Wouw & Mark de Clive-Lowe, Tribe, and then some. Something for everyone!

This podcast is now hosted on Mixcloud

Four Tet – Love Cry – Domino
Sigur Ros – Gobbledigook (Gluteus Maximus Mix) – Kompakt
Portico Quartet – Paper Scissors Stone – Real World Records
Brazzaville – Chappaqua (Weedy Remix) – 40 Winks
Mount Kimbie – Maybes – Hotflush
Gil Scott-Heron – Where Did The Night Go – XL Recordings
Paul White – Versus The BBC – One Handed Music

Kalyanji Anandji – Back Ground Music – BBE
Top Drawer – Song Of A Sinner – Now Again Records
Paul White – Who Interlude / Who’s Laughing – One Handed Music
Dizz1 – Here We Go Again – Nod Navigators
Kazi – You Wanna Take This (fLako Remix) – cdr
SirOJ for Slumgullion Music – One For Brum – cdr
Mayer Hawthorne – Maybe So, Maybe No (Bluntspeakers Remix) – Stones Throw
Dyno – Rewind Rwrk – cdr
Sbtrkt – Rekorda – none

16bit – ADSL – Southside Dubstars
Darkstar – Aidy’s Girl’s A Computer – Hyperdub
Daedelus – LA Nocturn – FOF Music
Falty DL – Made Me Feel So Right – Planet Mu
James Blake – Air & Lack Thereof – Hemlock
Shed – Wax (10001B Panamax Remix) – Subsolo
King Midas Sound – Waiting For You – Groove
Tribe – Vibes From The Tribe – Planet E

Brian Bennett/Alan Hawkshaw – Name Of The Game – Wax Poetics
Rob van de Wouw – No Exit – Embrace
Alice Russell – Let Us Be Loving (The Clonious Remix) – Tru Thoughts
Hocus Pocus – Smile ft. Omar – Onandon
TettoryBad – Don’t Push Me ft. Ty – Sunshine Enterprises
Cottam – Cottam 2A – Cottam

Two weeks ago, Build An Ark and IG Culture’s Zen Badism Workshop played a wonderful concert in Cargo, London. Karen P of Red Bull Music Academy sent us the following video report. It’s got interviews with Carlos Niño and IG Culture, as well as some footage of the rehearsals and the live rendition of the new BAA track “Sunflowers In My Garden”.

For more audio recordings of the night, head over to RBMA Radio: Build An Ark, Zen Badizm and IG Culture.

And in case you were wondering if it was a great night, this is what Shook.fm, our favorite music mag, had to say about it:

On IG Culture’s Zen Badism Workshop: “This is a consolidated performance of an exciting live project that IG has stylishly arranged and that is held together by an impeccable rhythm section formed by Richard Spaven on drums, Kaidi Tatham on keys, Akwasi Mensah on bass, and IG himself on percussion. The band is tight and meticulous, and it doesn’t take long for the dancers to assemble in front of the stage as a result.” – Shook.fm

On Phil Ranelin from Build An Ark: “Ranelin shatters the calm with raucous vibratos, yet his phrasing is carefully controlled. You can sense a mild reverence towards him in the group dynamic, and this is totally justifiable: his performance evinces his depth of experience and his position as an original trombone stylist. If this playing does not deserve to be in the jazz festival I struggle to know what does.” – Shook.fm

IG Culture

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All pictures © Eventfull (more)

For more info and music from Build An Ark, check our interview with Carlos and our tribute podcast.

Thanks to Karen P, Folu Babatola, Eventful, Red Bull Music Academy Radio and Shook.fm

November brings charts from Simbad, Aybee, Dom Servini and Volcov.

read on …

If you’ve missed our recent Carlos Niño podcast, here’s a quick introduction to Build An Ark. The Los Angeles based music ensemble was formed during the hysteria after the events of 9/11 by Carlos Niño as an immediate action to promote peace and calm in the world. Band members include vocalist Dwight Trible, Tribe Records founder Phil Ranelin, Gaby Hernandez, Mia Doi Todd, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and many more.
Last wednesday they played the first of two concerts they did in Europe to promote their freshly released third lp Love Part 1, which is again a beautiful lp full of soulful folk-jazz. After the concert we had the chance to meet with Carlos Niño to talk about the new lp, their label and Carlos’ own radioshow.

Christopher: Carlos, glad to be back in Europe?
Carlos: Yes, I’m glad to be back. Today was a little hectic, flying in from London, but we’ve just come from playing at Paradiso. There’s eight of us who came over. Actually, there’s 4 to 5 times that many people in our ensemble, but we’re traveling with eight.
And I’m happy to be here, seeing some friends, making new friends, and sharing this high vibration.

Dwight Trible (© Jurriaan Persyn)

“Love” studio sessions

Christopher: You’ve just released the third Build An Ark album LOVE part 1, on the Kindred Spirits label. How long did you spend in the studio?
Carlos: The recordings definitely were a process. We started the last couple of weekends of December 2008. It really was a weekends thing, which is very different than the way I usually record this band. Normally we rehearse for a few days, go over all the material and then get into the studio and record it in like two or three days.
This time we took our time more. We did a lot of improvs – which you’re going to hear on LOVE part 2 – and we recorded a lot of songs. We allowed the process to take on a life of its own, rather than being forced into that time period. We didn’t just record and whatever came out right, was going to be on the record; this time we had some things we knew we really wanted to do, so we allowed it to happen and take its own natural course.
We recorded during most of the weekends over the course of two and a half months. And then Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, our music director, wrote some really beautiful arrangements. We did some overdubs and we mixed the record.

Christopher: Were there any highlights? Moments you knew something special was happening when recording?
Carlos: There’s a song on the record called In The Park and at the end of it, there’s this amazing drum, high energy, rhythmic improvisation. That came about when djembe player Leon Mobley and conga player Derf Reklaw sort of conspired – while we were recording the rest of the piece – to go into this thing at the end of it. That was not intended whatsoever. They were actually in the studio that day, to do an intro to the piece. We tried that a couple of times and it didn’t totally work, and then, all of a sudden, when this song is done, they immediately go into this drum thing. I was right there with them and started cueing one musician at a time to join this improv. That was a really wonderful moment.
There was another session we did, that the song World Music came out of, that featured sitar, violin, viola, cello, harp, upright bass and percussion. Violinist Michael White and his wife, vocalist Leisei Chen, joined us that day, together with Kamau Daaood, a poet. That was a really wonderfull session. Maybe three or four pieces from LOVE part 2 (which will be coming out in 2010), came from that day. That one day only, which – I just have to say – was a magical day.

Christopher: You’re surrounded by musicians some of them twice your age. Is that intimidating? Or how does it feel like working with people like Phil Ranelin and Dwight Trible?
Carlos: It’s great. There’s a lot to learn from everyone, actually. We have some youngsters in the band, people from all sorts of ages. Late teens as well as our kids. My son’s ten and a half, there’s other people in the band that have kids that are younger and come around too.
There’s something to learn from everyone and a lot of really wonderful wisdom and experience and insight from a lot of the elders, but equally from everybody. Everybody from the ensemble is in a place in their life, where they’re open to contribute and collaborate and communicate and be part of the collective spirit. The elders are definitely revered and welcomed in the band. It’s very diverse.

Christopher: I guess that’s why Build An Ark works, and makes it special, because of the collaborations. On the liner notes, Jurriaan noticed Azul Niño, and we wondered; that’s your son, right?
Carlos: Exactly, he’s singing on the chorus of one of the songs, as well as a couple of the other kids. That was really nice. It was great to have them there. Azul is also on the cover of the second Build An Ark record Dawn.

Kindred Spirits in Europe and beyond

Christopher: The album’s been released on a Dutch record label. How important is it for you to have a European audience for this kind of music?
Carlos: The European audience have been very supportive. Of course, I’d be happy to have an audience anywhere, as long as people are conscious, and listening, and interested in some sort of exchange and in growing.
I definitely feel there’s a culture, not only of record labels, but of music fans, based here in Europe, and also in Japan – throughout the world in fact, but concentrated in these areas – that really does support the music.
Kindred Spirits is a great name, for a group that is interested in actually supporting music that they love and by people that they feel close and related to.

Christopher: The majority of musicians you’re working with are based in the US. Is there any temptation to work with European or Japanese artists and musicians?
Carlos: I’d love work with Donovan. I got the chance to meet him recently, and that was a great joy. I know for sure, that we’re also interested in presenting Build An Ark in it’s full form. With 30 to 40 pieces, and additional orchestral pieces. It would be great if we could pick up musicians from all over the world and play with them in their hometowns.

Christopher: The lp just got released in Europe this week. What about the States?
Carlos: Back in the States it’s on Dusty Groove. And we made it available at this concert we just did on November 12th, which is also Neil Young’s birthday. We opened for the McCoy Tyner Trio featuring Gary Bartz. That was a really wonderful concert.
Other than that, it’s not available in the US yet, apart from Dusty Groove, based out of Chicago; they’re very supportive.

Christopher: Can we expect any remixes from the first part?
Carlos: Sure, yeah. Who d’you think should do ’em? I know some people that I’ve always wanted to do a remix.
Christopher: Such as?
Carlos: I’d love to get one from Broadcast (Warp Records ~ Jurriaan) and collaborate with them in some way.

Christopher: You mentioned part two will be coming out in 2010. Is all the material finished for that? Or is there more to come?
Carlos: It’s not 100% mixed. And there’s one very interesting arrangement that will be put on top of the whole thing, but it’s very very close to being finished.

Spaceways Radio

Christopher: You’re doing the Spaceways radioshow. Beyondjazz celebrated it’s 350th show this year, that’s seven years of radio, and we wondered how many years the spaceways radioshow has been going.
Carlos: Well, I just celebrated my 700th show then. I come from celebrating 14 years, just recently. The show is still going great, since fall 1995. The last episode was a Neil Young special, two hours of Neil Young, which was great, great fun.
I feel blessed being able to continue doing radio. It’s been a major part of my life and of my projects, and I value it, greatly.

Christopher: You’ve been doing that since your late teens then? How did you get into that?
Carlos: I started volunteering when I was 16 and got my first show when I was 18. I got into it just because I love radio. Radio in Los Angeles in the early nineties was really good. There were lots of great shows and I knew from early on I wanted to get involved, so I did.

Christopher: How does the show differ now, from the way it was when you started?
Carlos: When I started my tagline was “Hip Hop, Soul, Jazz and World Rhythms” and now it’s “Your sure shot for psychedelic love music, classic and rare recordings from around the world”. So it’s pretty different. A lot of the stuff I played back then, I could still play, but I’ve kind of moved on. I’m in a different part of my life.
I still revisit things that I would consider to be timeless and classic from when I first started. There’s some recordings that I think will always be with me, things that I was right about back then.

Christopher: Our station Urgent.fm is a youth student radio station where we see a lot of young people who want to get into radio. What would your tips for future radio makers be?
Carlos: My advice, I think, is universal. When you’re getting involved in radio, you should be sure that your content and your energy are good. That you’re ultimately writing about things, reporting about things, broadcasting things that are actually beneficial. And that’s kind of up to a person to decide, what exactly is of benefit and is of worth. But I feel like there’s an ultimate awareness, that we should all be a part of, that will lead us in the right direction, that will advise us. And that awareness is in our heart, it’s a vibration of love. Radio is just a wonderful way of amplifying that, and being immediately in touch with the listener, of having real intimate moments and sharing, in a really direct way.
I would just say, I hope people’s intentions and energies are for the best.

Carlos Nino

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All pictures © Jurriaan Persyn

Interview by Christopher of the World Service radioshow and podcast, and close Beyondjazz friend. Pictures by Jurriaan Persyn (more here).
Thanks to Boye ‘t Lam, Antal, Kees Heus and the whole Kindred Spirits and Rushhour family for making this concert and interview happen.