1. Skymark - Find A Place In This Crazy World2. Wojciech Karolak - Discopus Nr.1 Pts 1&amp;23. Pete Josef - Live Your Life4. Monette Sudler - Time For A Change5. Catalyst - New-Found Truths6. Pacific Eardrum - Man Of Mystery7. Richard Davis - Fancy Free8. Toquinho - Carolina Carol Bela9. Claudia - Deixa Eu Dizer10. Grupo Zurana - Extracao De Independencia11. Antonio Carlos E Jocafi - D'Angola E Camara12. Skymark - Rhode E Serenidade13. Motion - You Love Me Only14. Dave Valentin - Sea Pines15. Cymande - The Recluse16. Voices Of East Harlem - Rare So Rare17. T'Spoon - Sweetness18. The Blackbyrds - Love Don't Strike Twice19. Leslie Smith - It's Something20. Roy Ayers Ubiquity - Take All The Time You Need21. Russian version of Another Star?22. Ziad Rahbani - Abu Ali

1. Skymark - Find A Place In This Crazy World 2. Wojciech Karolak - Discopus Nr.1 Pts 1&amp;2 3. Pete Josef - Live Your Life 4. Monette Sudler - Time For A Change 5. Catalyst - New-Found Truths 6. Pacific Eardrum - Man Of Mystery 7. Richard Davis - Fancy Free 8. Toquinho - Carolina Carol Bela 9. Claudia - Deixa Eu Dizer 10. Grupo Zurana - Extracao De Independencia 11. Antonio Carlos E Jocafi - D'Angola E Camara 12. Skymark - Rhode E Serenidade 13. Motion - You Love Me Only 14. Dave Valentin - Sea Pines 15. Cymande - The Recluse 16. Voices Of East Harlem - Rare So Rare 17. T'Spoon - Sweetness 18. The Blackbyrds - Love Don't Strike Twice 19. Leslie Smith - It's Something 20. Roy Ayers Ubiquity - Take All The Time You Need 21. Russian version of Another Star? 22. Ziad Rahbani - Abu Ali

Cosmic Jam 10.04.16

It's often the way these days that I hardly have the opportunity to take stock of what I'm doing especially the one weekend in a month when I have back to back radio shows. Consequently by the time I came round to editing this, I'd more or less completely forgotten what I'd played. I was pleasantly surprised by just how much I enjoyed listening back (or at least skimming through to remind myself), hope the same goes for you...1.Michael Kiwanuka - Black Man In A White World2. Kellis Etheridge - Quickie Nirvana3. Terrace Martin ft Tone Trezure - Push4. Pete Josef - Travelling Song (Kyoto Jazz Sextet Remix)5. Gato Barbieri - Maria Domingas6. Gato Barbieri - Fiesta7. Gato Barbieri - Tupac Amaru8. Nomade Orquestra - Samurai9. Norman Connors - Butterfly10. Luiz Eca - Jerzy Milewski Ensemble - Mestre Bimba11. Don Ellis - Dew12. Brandee Younger - Ruby Echo13. Patrick Gleeson ft Walter Hawkins - Metropolis14. Khadja Bonet - Honeycomb15. Dylan Howe - Subterraneans16. Anna Farrow - Spring Is Back17. Ernestine Anderson - 59th St. Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)18. Natacha Atlas - Visions19. Paul Horn - Cleopatra's Palace Music20. Gregory Charles Royal - Dancer21. Hubert Laws - We Will Be22. Ramsey Lewis - Skippin'23. Dick Morrisey &amp; Jim Mullen - Bristol Boogie24. Grupo Zarana - 	Extração Da Independência (just a few seconds....)

It's often the way these days that I hardly have the opportunity to take stock of what I'm doing especially the one weekend in a month when I have back to back radio shows. Consequently by the time I came round to editing this, I'd more or less completely forgotten what I'd played. I was pleasantly surprised by just how much I enjoyed listening back (or at least skimming through to remind myself), hope the same goes for you... 1.Michael Kiwanuka - Black Man In A White World 2. Kellis Etheridge - Quickie Nirvana 3. Terrace Martin ft Tone Trezure - Push 4. Pete Josef - Travelling Song (Kyoto Jazz Sextet Remix) 5. Gato Barbieri - Maria Domingas 6. Gato Barbieri - Fiesta 7. Gato Barbieri - Tupac Amaru 8. Nomade Orquestra - Samurai 9. Norman Connors - Butterfly 10. Luiz Eca - Jerzy Milewski Ensemble - Mestre Bimba 11. Don Ellis - Dew 12. Brandee Younger - Ruby Echo 13. Patrick Gleeson ft Walter Hawkins - Metropolis 14. Khadja Bonet - Honeycomb 15. Dylan Howe - Subterraneans 16. Anna Farrow - Spring Is Back 17. Ernestine Anderson - 59th St. Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) 18. Natacha Atlas - Visions 19. Paul Horn - Cleopatra's Palace Music 20. Gregory Charles Royal - Dancer 21. Hubert Laws - We Will Be 22. Ramsey Lewis - Skippin' 23. Dick Morrisey &amp; Jim Mullen - Bristol Boogie 24. Grupo Zarana - 	Extração Da Independência (just a few seconds....)

Cosmic Jam Spring High 03.04.16

1. Daniel Crawford - You On Point Phife2. A Tribe Called Quest - God Lives Through3. A Tribe Called Quest - Buggin' Out4. Native Dancer - In Clouds5. Pete Josef - Live Your Life6. Cro-Magnon-Jin - First Landing7. Dave Burns - Rhodesian Rhapsody8. Daymé Arocena - El 4569. Joyce - Feminina (long version!)10. Aécio Flavio &amp; Quartesanato - Zero Grau11. Antonio Carlos &amp; Jocafi - Ossain12. Donald Byrd - Cristo Redentor13. Hiroshi Suzuki - Romance14. Antonio Carlos Jobim &amp; Elis Regina - Aguas De Marco15. Viva Voz - Fugitivos De Azul16. Native Dancer - Big Blue17. Oz - Beautiful18. Carl Anderson - Buttercup19. Bridge - Stella20. Julien Babinga - M'Bongui Percussions21. Kabbala - Ashewo Ara22. NYCC - Express Yourself

1. Daniel Crawford - You On Point Phife 2. A Tribe Called Quest - God Lives Through 3. A Tribe Called Quest - Buggin' Out 4. Native Dancer - In Clouds 5. Pete Josef - Live Your Life 6. Cro-Magnon-Jin - First Landing 7. Dave Burns - Rhodesian Rhapsody 8. Daymé Arocena - El 456 9. Joyce - Feminina (long version!) 10. Aécio Flavio &amp; Quartesanato - Zero Grau 11. Antonio Carlos &amp; Jocafi - Ossain 12. Donald Byrd - Cristo Redentor 13. Hiroshi Suzuki - Romance 14. Antonio Carlos Jobim &amp; Elis Regina - Aguas De Marco 15. Viva Voz - Fugitivos De Azul 16. Native Dancer - Big Blue 17. Oz - Beautiful 18. Carl Anderson - Buttercup 19. Bridge - Stella 20. Julien Babinga - M'Bongui Percussions 21. Kabbala - Ashewo Ara 22. NYCC - Express Yourself

Cosmic Jam 27.03.16

I wish I had the time to write!! With one of my 8 month old twin boys perched on my knee, and the other screaming in his chair it's a tad tricky.However my weekly music refuge on a Sunday night is a little sanctuary from all the joys and strains of parenthood.The Cosmic Jam is a twenty one mile round trip by bike and an hour and three quarter journey to the far reaches of my musical mind... or something like that... still. I also am enjoying getting out there again to play for the people and this Saturday it's a welcome return to the lovely Brilliant Corners for a strictly vinyl session on their audiophile system along side the Feeling Good don Harv Nagi and Southern Soul Festival supremo Marko Pavlovic. Two of London's most dedicated purveyors of jazzual radio sounds teaming up for a proper session. Check  us if you can!https://www.facebook.com/events/1661667644100263/Until next time... Peace!1. Terrace Martin - Think Of You2. Lars Bartkuhn - Nomad3. Inga - Mamae Oxum4. Jeb Loy Nichols - To Be Rich Should Be A Crime5. Quintaessencia - Cravo E Canela6. Jazzwheel - Broadway No.77. Sonar - Parati8. Namaz - Mystic Latin9. Burnier &amp; Cartier - Mirandolina10. Stan Getz - Wives And Lovers11. Flavia Coelho ft. Tony Allen - People Dansa12. Brandee Younger - Soul Vibration13. Astrud Gilberto - Beginnings14. Lars Bartkuhn - Nomad (reprise)15. Chantae Cann - I Change16. Woody Shaw - Love Dance17. Howdy Moon - And You Never Knew18. Pete Josef - Many Signs19. Terrace Martin - Valdez Off Crenshaw20. Midnight Star - Follow The Path21. Carlos Dafé - Escorpiao22. Andrae Crouch - Lookin' For You23. Ozone - You, On My Mind24. Harvey Mason - Say It Again

I wish I had the time to write!! With one of my 8 month old twin boys perched on my knee, and the other screaming in his chair it's a tad tricky. However my weekly music refuge on a Sunday night is a little sanctuary from all the joys and strains of parenthood. The Cosmic Jam is a twenty one mile round trip by bike and an hour and three quarter journey to the far reaches of my musical mind... or something like that... still. I also am enjoying getting out there again to play for the people and this Saturday it's a welcome return to the lovely Brilliant Corners for a strictly vinyl session on their audiophile system along side the Feeling Good don Harv Nagi and Southern Soul Festival supremo Marko Pavlovic. Two of London's most dedicated purveyors of jazzual radio sounds teaming up for a proper session. Check us if you can! <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1661667644100263/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/events/1661667644100263/</a> Until next time... Peace! 1. Terrace Martin - Think Of You 2. Lars Bartkuhn - Nomad 3. Inga - Mamae Oxum 4. Jeb Loy Nichols - To Be Rich Should Be A Crime 5. Quintaessencia - Cravo E Canela 6. Jazzwheel - Broadway No.7 7. Sonar - Parati 8. Namaz - Mystic Latin 9. Burnier &amp; Cartier - Mirandolina 10. Stan Getz - Wives And Lovers 11. Flavia Coelho ft. Tony Allen - People Dansa 12. Brandee Younger - Soul Vibration 13. Astrud Gilberto - Beginnings 14. Lars Bartkuhn - Nomad (reprise) 15. Chantae Cann - I Change 16. Woody Shaw - Love Dance 17. Howdy Moon - And You Never Knew 18. Pete Josef - Many Signs 19. Terrace Martin - Valdez Off Crenshaw 20. Midnight Star - Follow The Path 21. Carlos Dafé - Escorpiao 22. Andrae Crouch - Lookin' For You 23. Ozone - You, On My Mind 24. Harvey Mason - Say It Again

Cosmic Jam 20.03.16

1. Pete Josef - Travelling Song (Kyoto Jazz Sextet remix)2. Jasmine Power - Stories And Rhymes3. Ashley Henry - Déja Vu4. Snowboy &amp; The Latin Section - The Triple Bluff5. Bobby Montez - Titoro6. René Bloch - Mr Latin's Mambo7. Paris Smith Quintet - Thought Seeds8. Haki R. Madhubuti - Children9. Jon Hassell - Voodoo Wind10. Egberto Gismonti - Kalimba11. Nana, Nelson Angelo, Novelli - No Sul Do Polo Norte12. Sharon Redd, Ula Hedwig, Charlotte Crossley - Maiden Voyage13. Ricardo Marrero &amp; The Group Time - Feel Like Makin' Love14. Chantae Cann - Waterfall15. Ultra High Frequency - We're On The Right Track16. Doctor Music - Sun Goes By17. The Dells - It's Up To You18. Feather - Be Real

1. Pete Josef - Travelling Song (Kyoto Jazz Sextet remix) 2. Jasmine Power - Stories And Rhymes 3. Ashley Henry - Déja Vu 4. Snowboy &amp; The Latin Section - The Triple Bluff 5. Bobby Montez - Titoro 6. René Bloch - Mr Latin's Mambo 7. Paris Smith Quintet - Thought Seeds 8. Haki R. Madhubuti - Children 9. Jon Hassell - Voodoo Wind 10. Egberto Gismonti - Kalimba 11. Nana, Nelson Angelo, Novelli - No Sul Do Polo Norte 12. Sharon Redd, Ula Hedwig, Charlotte Crossley - Maiden Voyage 13. Ricardo Marrero &amp; The Group Time - Feel Like Makin' Love 14. Chantae Cann - Waterfall 15. Ultra High Frequency - We're On The Right Track 16. Doctor Music - Sun Goes By 17. The Dells - It's Up To You 18. Feather - Be Real

Cosmic Jam 13.03.16

1. Louie Vega ft Zara McFarlane - Because We Love It2. Snowboy &amp; The Latin Section ft. Marc Evans - New York Afternoon3. Snarky Puppy ft. Chris Turner - Liquid Love4. Al Green - Love Ritual5. Kendrick Lamar - Untitled #66. Joao Donato &amp; Paula Morelenbaum - A Ra7. Alaide Costa - Catavento8. Quinteto Tenura - Leao De Bronze9. Orquestra Imperial - Me Deixa Em Paz10. Carl Hudson - Deploy The Subaquatic Probe11. Sylvia St.James - Motherland12. Potter &amp; Tillman - Just Passing Thru13. Chantae Cann - For The Children14. Izzi Dunn - Visions15. Max Bryk - Reverie16. Carl Hudson - Lunar Footprint17. Chantae Cann - The Journey Continues18. The People's Workshop - Chocolate Coated People's Song19. Doug &amp; Jean Carn - Contemplation20. McCoy Tyner - Coming Home21. Ashley Henry - Altruism22. Doug Lucas - When It Be The Morning

1. Louie Vega ft Zara McFarlane - Because We Love It 2. Snowboy &amp; The Latin Section ft. Marc Evans - New York Afternoon 3. Snarky Puppy ft. Chris Turner - Liquid Love 4. Al Green - Love Ritual 5. Kendrick Lamar - Untitled #6 6. Joao Donato &amp; Paula Morelenbaum - A Ra 7. Alaide Costa - Catavento 8. Quinteto Tenura - Leao De Bronze 9. Orquestra Imperial - Me Deixa Em Paz 10. Carl Hudson - Deploy The Subaquatic Probe 11. Sylvia St.James - Motherland 12. Potter &amp; Tillman - Just Passing Thru 13. Chantae Cann - For The Children 14. Izzi Dunn - Visions 15. Max Bryk - Reverie 16. Carl Hudson - Lunar Footprint 17. Chantae Cann - The Journey Continues 18. The People's Workshop - Chocolate Coated People's Song 19. Doug &amp; Jean Carn - Contemplation 20. McCoy Tyner - Coming Home 21. Ashley Henry - Altruism 22. Doug Lucas - When It Be The Morning

Cosmic Jam 06.03.16

1.Snowboy&amp;The Latin Section ft Jen Kearney - Oxen Free2. Clare Fischer - African Flutes3. Eliane Correa &amp; El Aire Project - Tengo Una Piedra En El Bolsillo4. Bill Laurance - The Pines5. Daymé Arocena - Toi Mon Amour6. Wynton Kelly Trio - South Seas7. Pete Josef - Travelling Song8. Da Lata ft Vanessa Freeman - Free9. United Vibrations - Grow10. Jeb Loy Nichols - To Be Rich (Should Be A Crime)11. Carl Hudson - Two Steps Ahead12. Donato-Deodato - Where's JD?13.The People's Workshop - Let's Get High14. Valerie Carter - Ooh Child15. Adrian Younge - Sandrine16. Stanley Cowell Trio - Ibn Mukhtarr Mustapha17. Vibration Black Finger - In Rhythm18. Jae Mason - Let It Out19. Leon Thomas - Just In Time To See The Sun20. Doug Carn - Western Sunrise21. Kyoto Jazz Sextet - Melting Pot

1.Snowboy&amp;The Latin Section ft Jen Kearney - Oxen Free 2. Clare Fischer - African Flutes 3. Eliane Correa &amp; El Aire Project - Tengo Una Piedra En El Bolsillo 4. Bill Laurance - The Pines 5. Daymé Arocena - Toi Mon Amour 6. Wynton Kelly Trio - South Seas 7. Pete Josef - Travelling Song 8. Da Lata ft Vanessa Freeman - Free 9. United Vibrations - Grow 10. Jeb Loy Nichols - To Be Rich (Should Be A Crime) 11. Carl Hudson - Two Steps Ahead 12. Donato-Deodato - Where's JD? 13.The People's Workshop - Let's Get High 14. Valerie Carter - Ooh Child 15. Adrian Younge - Sandrine 16. Stanley Cowell Trio - Ibn Mukhtarr Mustapha 17. Vibration Black Finger - In Rhythm 18. Jae Mason - Let It Out 19. Leon Thomas - Just In Time To See The Sun 20. Doug Carn - Western Sunrise 21. Kyoto Jazz Sextet - Melting Pot

Cosmic Jam 21.02.16

A man who shone so brightly, lifted so many hearts, who provided a million dollar backbeat to so many hits before he took his mission West and forged in the Serpentine Fire of spiritual potential the greatest, most transcendent music machine to have walked this planet. Maybe it's easier to think of Maurice White as passed than waylaid by Parkinson's, his fire will burn ever brightly, for now and always.Are you satisfiedIn your life and timeDoes it clear you mindWith all the hurt you find?Built on Mother EarthThey were meant to stayNations bloom todayOn gifts of yesterdayBorn of the Earth, are nature's childrenFed by the Wind, the breath of lifeJudged by the fiery hands of GodWorld goes by the handOf the master planCan't you understandYou're but a grain of sandDo you need a guideTo make you feel satisfied?Head to the skyWill tell you whyBorn of the Earth, are nature's childrenFed by the Wind, the breath of lifeJudged by the fiery hands of God1. Ramsey Lewis Trio - Uhuru2. Ramsey Lewis - Eternal Journey3. Ramsey Lewis - Whenever Wherever 4. Minnie Riperton - Rainy Day In Centerville5. Earth Wind And Fire - Moment Of Truth6. Earth Wind And Fire - Power7. Earth Wind And Fire - Drum Song8. Earth Wind And Fire - In The Stone9. Earth Wind And Fire - Serpentine Fire10. Earth Wind And Fire - Evolution Orange11. Earth Wind And Fire - Beauty12. Earth Wind And Fire - Head To The Sky13. Earth Wind And Fire - That's The WayOf The World14. The Emotions - Blessed15. Earth Wind And Fire -  Earth Wind And Fire16. The Emotions - Flowers17. Earth Wind And Fire - Fantasy (Blaze Shelter DJ Mix)18. Ramsey Lewis - Sun Godess19. Deniece Williams - That's What Friends Are For20. Earth Wind And Fire - Faces

A man who shone so brightly, lifted so many hearts, who provided a million dollar backbeat to so many hits before he took his mission West and forged in the Serpentine Fire of spiritual potential the greatest, most transcendent music machine to have walked this planet. Maybe it's easier to think of Maurice White as passed than waylaid by Parkinson's, his fire will burn ever brightly, for now and always. Are you satisfied In your life and time Does it clear you mind With all the hurt you find? Built on Mother Earth They were meant to stay Nations bloom today On gifts of yesterday Born of the Earth, are nature's children Fed by the Wind, the breath of life Judged by the fiery hands of God World goes by the hand Of the master plan Can't you understand You're but a grain of sand Do you need a guide To make you feel satisfied? Head to the sky Will tell you why Born of the Earth, are nature's children Fed by the Wind, the breath of life Judged by the fiery hands of God 1. Ramsey Lewis Trio - Uhuru 2. Ramsey Lewis - Eternal Journey 3. Ramsey Lewis - Whenever Wherever 4. Minnie Riperton - Rainy Day In Centerville 5. Earth Wind And Fire - Moment Of Truth 6. Earth Wind And Fire - Power 7. Earth Wind And Fire - Drum Song 8. Earth Wind And Fire - In The Stone 9. Earth Wind And Fire - Serpentine Fire 10. Earth Wind And Fire - Evolution Orange 11. Earth Wind And Fire - Beauty 12. Earth Wind And Fire - Head To The Sky 13. Earth Wind And Fire - That's The WayOf The World 14. The Emotions - Blessed 15. Earth Wind And Fire - Earth Wind And Fire 16. The Emotions - Flowers 17. Earth Wind And Fire - Fantasy (Blaze Shelter DJ Mix) 18. Ramsey Lewis - Sun Godess 19. Deniece Williams - That's What Friends Are For 20. Earth Wind And Fire - Faces

A Tribute To A Shining Star - In Memory Of Maurice White

1. Eliane Correa - 2. Gerard Presencer - Footprints3. Natacha Atlas - Something4. Anderson Paak - The Bird5. Anna Farrow - Happy Fool6. Funky Knuckles - Kyle's Dance7. Roy Haynes - Modette8. Bobby Hutcherson - Black Heroes9. Ken McIntyre &amp; Eric Dolphy - Geo"s Tune10. Dylan Howe - Art Decade11. Black Vibration Finger - Empty Streets12. Gil Scott- Heron - Blow Wind Blow13. Nathen Page - Free (Not Really)14. Sapphire - Searching On15. Dave Valentin - Times Long Gone16. Ulla - Space Lady17. Charles Earland - Revelation18. Samuel Jonathan Johnson - Sweet Love19. Stevie Wonder - Bird Of Beauty

1. Eliane Correa - 2. Gerard Presencer - Footprints 3. Natacha Atlas - Something 4. Anderson Paak - The Bird 5. Anna Farrow - Happy Fool 6. Funky Knuckles - Kyle's Dance 7. Roy Haynes - Modette 8. Bobby Hutcherson - Black Heroes 9. Ken McIntyre &amp; Eric Dolphy - Geo"s Tune 10. Dylan Howe - Art Decade 11. Black Vibration Finger - Empty Streets 12. Gil Scott- Heron - Blow Wind Blow 13. Nathen Page - Free (Not Really) 14. Sapphire - Searching On 15. Dave Valentin - Times Long Gone 16. Ulla - Space Lady 17. Charles Earland - Revelation 18. Samuel Jonathan Johnson - Sweet Love 19. Stevie Wonder - Bird Of Beauty

Cosmic Jam 31.01.16

1. Vibration Black Finger - In Rhythm2. Giants - In Your Heart3. Michael White - Spaceslide4. Submotion Orchestra ft Andrew Ashong - Needs5. Claffy - Blossoms As They Wilt Away6. Erik Truffaz Quartet - Kudu7. Coalition - Kenya's Horizon8. Cecilia Stalin - You Are9. Outside - Big City 10. Herbie Hancock - Spiralling Prism11. Gene Harris - Prayer 7612. Ronnie Foster - Love Satellite13. Funk Factory - Rien Ne Va Plus14. Marilyn Scott - Highways Of My Life15. Carrie Cleveland - Love Will Set You Free16. Jon Lucien - How 'Bout Tonight?17. Cameo - Is This The Way?18. Herbie Hancock - Just Around The Corner19. Ed Motta - Heritage Deja Vu20. The Funky Knuckles - 16 Bars

1. Vibration Black Finger - In Rhythm 2. Giants - In Your Heart 3. Michael White - Spaceslide 4. Submotion Orchestra ft Andrew Ashong - Needs 5. Claffy - Blossoms As They Wilt Away 6. Erik Truffaz Quartet - Kudu 7. Coalition - Kenya's Horizon 8. Cecilia Stalin - You Are 9. Outside - Big City 10. Herbie Hancock - Spiralling Prism 11. Gene Harris - Prayer 76 12. Ronnie Foster - Love Satellite 13. Funk Factory - Rien Ne Va Plus 14. Marilyn Scott - Highways Of My Life 15. Carrie Cleveland - Love Will Set You Free 16. Jon Lucien - How 'Bout Tonight? 17. Cameo - Is This The Way? 18. Herbie Hancock - Just Around The Corner 19. Ed Motta - Heritage Deja Vu 20. The Funky Knuckles - 16 Bars

Cosmic Jam 24.01.16

Focussing on my time honoured radio show The Cosmic Jam, here's an archive of recent broadcasts, plus some other mixes.  The Cosmic Jam was originally broadcast on Kiss FM first as a pirate station then legally from 1990 to 2008. For the last two years The Cosmic Jam has been broadcast on Sunday nights on mi-soul.com from 11pm -1am.

Each podcast is a gem, packed with great tunes and infectious enthusiasm for wonderful music

The very best for Jazz, Soul, Latin and Brasil

Focussing on my time honoured radio show The Cosmic Jam, here's an archive of recent broadcasts, plus some other mixes. The Cosmic Jam was originally broadcast on Kiss FM first as a pirate station then legally from 1990 to 2008. For the last two years The Cosmic Jam has been broadcast on Sunday nights on <a href="http://mi-soul.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">mi-soul.com</a> from 11pm -1am.

Patrick Forge's Podcast

I'm of that generation, I experienced the "Starman" moment seeing David Bowie on Top Of The Pops with a shock of orange spikes, dressed in clothes that defied description, putting his arm around Mick Ronson in a way that seems so innocuous today but was extraordinary then. At school the following day it felt as though the world had rearranged itself overnight to accommodate this beguiling new presence, similarly when the news broke on Monday morning it was like losing one of the major coordinates of my world, I felt disorientated and adrift, this time in a bad way. David Bowie was just a phenomenal artist who defined the seventies, the decade belonged to him; from glam to soul to ambient, from straight up rock'n roll to new contours of sonic wizardry, Bowie took us on a helter-skelter ride reinventing himself again and again, and all with a consummate cool and a fiery creativity. I wouldn't pretend that Bowie made a telling contribution to black music, and Luther Vandross had quite enough talent to make it without a leg-up from the Thin White Duke, yet it's impossible to understand Bowie's oeuvre without looking at his relationship with it. From stealing Mingus titles "Wham Bam Thank You Ma'am" to taking inspiration from James Brown for Ziggy Stardust's "Rock 'n Roll Suicide".. the soulful side of Bowie is never far from the surface. Then in '74, riding the crest of a wave of his (glam) success, Bowie makes the kind of radical move that would go on to define his career, he makes a soul record. Recording at Philadelphia's Sigma Sound and bringing on board the likes of Vandross, Sly &amp; The Family Stone drummer Andy Newmark, and guitarist Carlos Alomar, Young Americans is a record that stands both within and outside tradition. A lush, sensuous and emotive album that Bowie himself would describe as "plastic soul", self effacing as ever, as he was about his singing voice, Young Americans and several cuts from the following Station To Station are as good as it gets when it comes to a white artist making soul music in their own way.....after all "Fame" and "Golden Years" were good enough for U.S. tv's definitive Soul Train... But hey, I don't need to justify Bowie's brilliance, begrudge him and you can stand outside with the real weirdos!!!!Concentrating on this mid seventies period, when coincidentally Bowie was taking vast quantities of the old marching powder, and dipping into both preceding and subsequent phases, here's two hours of appreciation and celebration. Let's not lament too much, yes Bowie's is an irreplaceable talent, but we should be grateful for all he gave through those golden years.1. 19842. Golden Years3. Fascination4. Luther Vandross - Funky Music (Is A Part Of Me)5. Fat Larry's Band - Fascination6. Look Back In Anger7. Alladin Sane (live)8. Changes9. Robert Glasper ft. Bilal - Letter To Hermione10. Sound and Vision11. Ashes To Ashes12. Young Americans13. Fill Your Heart14. Warszawa15. Win16. Sweet Thing/Kandidate (live)17. Wild Is The Wind18. Can You Hear Me?19. New Career In A New Town20. John I'm Only Dancing (Again)21. Stay22. Heroes (live)23. Dollar Days

I'm of that generation, I experienced the "Starman" moment seeing David Bowie on Top Of The Pops with a shock of orange spikes, dressed in clothes that defied description, putting his arm around Mick Ronson in a way that seems so innocuous today but was extraordinary then. At school the following day it felt as though the world had rearranged itself overnight to accommodate this beguiling new presence, similarly when the news broke on Monday morning it was like losing one of the major coordinates of my world, I felt disorientated and adrift, this time in a bad way. David Bowie was just a phenomenal artist who defined the seventies, the decade belonged to him; from glam to soul to ambient, from straight up rock'n roll to new contours of sonic wizardry, Bowie took us on a helter-skelter ride reinventing himself again and again, and all with a consummate cool and a fiery creativity. I wouldn't pretend that Bowie made a telling contribution to black music, and Luther Vandross had quite enough talent to make it without a leg-up from the Thin White Duke, yet it's impossible to understand Bowie's oeuvre without looking at his relationship with it. From stealing Mingus titles "Wham Bam Thank You Ma'am" to taking inspiration from James Brown for Ziggy Stardust's "Rock 'n Roll Suicide".. the soulful side of Bowie is never far from the surface. Then in '74, riding the crest of a wave of his (glam) success, Bowie makes the kind of radical move that would go on to define his career, he makes a soul record. Recording at Philadelphia's Sigma Sound and bringing on board the likes of Vandross, Sly &amp; The Family Stone drummer Andy Newmark, and guitarist Carlos Alomar, Young Americans is a record that stands both within and outside tradition. A lush, sensuous and emotive album that Bowie himself would describe as "plastic soul", self effacing as ever, as he was about his singing voice, Young Americans and several cuts from the following Station To Station are as good as it gets when it comes to a white artist making soul music in their own way.....after all "Fame" and "Golden Years" were good enough for U.S. tv's definitive Soul Train... But hey, I don't need to justify Bowie's brilliance, begrudge him and you can stand outside with the real weirdos!!!! Concentrating on this mid seventies period, when coincidentally Bowie was taking vast quantities of the old marching powder, and dipping into both preceding and subsequent phases, here's two hours of appreciation and celebration. Let's not lament too much, yes Bowie's is an irreplaceable talent, but we should be grateful for all he gave through those golden years. 1. 1984 2. Golden Years 3. Fascination 4. Luther Vandross - Funky Music (Is A Part Of Me) 5. Fat Larry's Band - Fascination 6. Look Back In Anger 7. Alladin Sane (live) 8. Changes 9. Robert Glasper ft. Bilal - Letter To Hermione 10. Sound and Vision 11. Ashes To Ashes 12. Young Americans 13. Fill Your Heart 14. Warszawa 15. Win 16. Sweet Thing/Kandidate (live) 17. Wild Is The Wind 18. Can You Hear Me? 19. New Career In A New Town 20. John I'm Only Dancing (Again) 21. Stay 22. Heroes (live) 23. Dollar Days

One more time for Major Tom...

1. Dego &amp; Kaidi - Black Is Key2. Hiatus Kaiyote - By Fire3. Kendrick Lamarr - These Walls4. Kamasi Washington - The Rhythm Changes5. Bill Laurance - U-Bahn6. Daymé Arocena - El Ruso7. Young Gun Silver Fox - So Bad8. Ben Cox Band - When Ends Appear9. Jamie Woon - Sharpness10. Theo Jackson - Camberwell Butterfly11. Nat Birchall - Ngozi (Vision)12. Greg Foat Group - Hygeia13. The Rebirth - Caterpillar14. Jill Scott - Can't Wait15. Jeb Loy Nichols - The Wintering Of The Year16. D'Angelo - Betray My Heart17. Shaun Martin - Madiba18. Deep Tenor City - Oba19. James Mason - The Dance Of Life

1. Dego &amp; Kaidi - Black Is Key 2. Hiatus Kaiyote - By Fire 3. Kendrick Lamarr - These Walls 4. Kamasi Washington - The Rhythm Changes 5. Bill Laurance - U-Bahn 6. Daymé Arocena - El Ruso 7. Young Gun Silver Fox - So Bad 8. Ben Cox Band - When Ends Appear 9. Jamie Woon - Sharpness 10. Theo Jackson - Camberwell Butterfly 11. Nat Birchall - Ngozi (Vision) 12. Greg Foat Group - Hygeia 13. The Rebirth - Caterpillar 14. Jill Scott - Can't Wait 15. Jeb Loy Nichols - The Wintering Of The Year 16. D'Angelo - Betray My Heart 17. Shaun Martin - Madiba 18. Deep Tenor City - Oba 19. James Mason - The Dance Of Life

Cosmic Jam best of 2015 pt.2

1. Red Garland - Manteca2. Lee Morgan - Nakatini Suite3. Mongo Santamaria - O Mi Shango4. Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble - Le Le5. McCoy Tyner - Horizon6. Baya - A Vegas Kind Of Guy7. Azar Lawrence - Theme For A New Day8. The Dells - Love Can Make It Easier9. Carmen McRae - You Can't Hide Love10. Freda Payne - Tell Me Please11. Patti Labelle - Love Is Just A Touch Away12. Phyllis Hyman - Living Inside Your Love13. High Fashion - Feelin' Lucky Lately14. The Ramonas - I Don't Want You Back15. Damon Harris - It's Music16. Sylvester - Over And Over17. Wood Brass &amp; Steel - Funkanova

1. Red Garland - Manteca 2. Lee Morgan - Nakatini Suite 3. Mongo Santamaria - O Mi Shango 4. Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble - Le Le 5. McCoy Tyner - Horizon 6. Baya - A Vegas Kind Of Guy 7. Azar Lawrence - Theme For A New Day 8. The Dells - Love Can Make It Easier 9. Carmen McRae - You Can't Hide Love 10. Freda Payne - Tell Me Please 11. Patti Labelle - Love Is Just A Touch Away 12. Phyllis Hyman - Living Inside Your Love 13. High Fashion - Feelin' Lucky Lately 14. The Ramonas - I Don't Want You Back 15. Damon Harris - It's Music 16. Sylvester - Over And Over 17. Wood Brass &amp; Steel - Funkanova

Cosmic Jam 29.11.15

O.K. so maybe I could have dug even deeper, but hopefully you'll appreciate that with the birth of my twin boys, crate diggin' time is limited, so recourse to few old favourites in this selection. Nevertheless it's not exactly obvious unless you're one of those chin stroking jazz snobs. I'd been wanting to do a kind of "pure" jazz show for a while, the criteria could have been even more stringent, I could have outlawed all electric instruments, but I did want to keep some variety. I can't remember the last time I played something from the Riverside label on the show, so slipping a couple into the first half hour was kind of satisfying, great tunes from Jimmy Heath and Clifford Jordan. Then there's vocals, a scat masterclass from Jon Hendricks, Ann Young tearing up a standard and The Metronomes with silky smooth harmonies. I also decided to do a mini Prestige feature.... what's the difference between Blue Note and Prestige, a day's rehearsal.... yes it is the kind of ugly sister of classic jazz labels, more "blowing dates" less recording sessions. Yet of course there are some awesome titles in the Prestige catalogue, Frank Wess' "Southern Comfort" is certainly one of those, soul-jazz with a Latin twist and really punchy well balanced recording. As always the mellow meltdown in the middle is fun to do, it's what radio's for in my opinion. Listening to Duke Pearson's Sweet Honey Bee album again for the first time in ages, the beauty of "After The Rain" left me quite astounded, Pearson was the quintessential Blue Note artist, he acted as an A&amp;R man for Alfred Lion, and composed the timeless "Cristo Redentor" for which he should be duly honoured as it is one of the most beautiful melodies of all time. "After The Rain" comes close to that peak of sublimity. Continuing the rainy theme the Masabumi Kikuchi composition "Drizzling Rain" from his album with Gil Evans is just as beguiling, with a Japanese lyricism, a kind of Jazz haiku. "En Passant" performed by West Coast stalwarts Shelly Manne ands His Men is an early composition by the great John Williams from U.S. tv series Checkmate, Williams' list of film credits is ridiculous , probably the most successful composer of the twentieth century?All that instrumental grace is followed by a trio of vocal cuts with a morning theme....lushness from Carmen McRae, the brilliant Lorez Alexandria, and Andy Bey ripping some conscious flavour through Gary Bartz NTU Troops leftfoot jazz-funk.Closing the show the last sequence gets lowdown and funky, and a bit abstract! Drums and basslines, a touch of James Brown in Roy Haynes' "Guadalupe",  and some electronic undertow in  Julian Priester's " Love Love" which I played just a portion of as it covers a whole side. Shame that I only squeezed a the first bit of Monette Sudler's "Brighter Days For You" as it takes me back to my early days of The Cosmic Jam all those years ago.... still love it, and the title says it all.Peace, love and musicP.x1. Jimmy Heath Orchestra - Big P2. Jon Hendricks - Good Ol' Lady3. Benny Bailey - Little B4. Ann Young &amp; Yuji Ohno Trio - Speak Low5. Hector Costita - Tokio6. Mary Lou Williams &amp; Friends - Prologue7. Clifford Jordan - Bearcat8. The Metronomes - On Green Dolphin Street9. Sun Ra - The Others In Their World10. Tadd Dameron &amp; John Coltrane - Mating Call11. Frank Wess - Blues For Butterball12. Charles Earland - Letha13. Duke Pearson - After The Rain14. Gil Evans &amp; Masabumi Kikuchi - Drizzling Rain15. Shelly Manne &amp; His Men - En Passant16. Carmen McRae - Just A Little Lovin'17. Lorez Alexandria - Morning18. Gary Bartz NTU Troop - Rise19. Doug Hammond - Kone Pone20. Roy Haynes - Guadalupe21. Julian Priester - Love Love22. Byron Pope Speed Of Light - No Boundaries23. Monette Sudler Sextet - Brighter Days For You

O.K. so maybe I could have dug even deeper, but hopefully you'll appreciate that with the birth of my twin boys, crate diggin' time is limited, so recourse to few old favourites in this selection. Nevertheless it's not exactly obvious unless you're one of those chin stroking jazz snobs. I'd been wanting to do a kind of "pure" jazz show for a while, the criteria could have been even more stringent, I could have outlawed all electric instruments, but I did want to keep some variety. I can't remember the last time I played something from the Riverside label on the show, so slipping a couple into the first half hour was kind of satisfying, great tunes from Jimmy Heath and Clifford Jordan. Then there's vocals, a scat masterclass from Jon Hendricks, Ann Young tearing up a standard and The Metronomes with silky smooth harmonies. I also decided to do a mini Prestige feature.... what's the difference between Blue Note and Prestige, a day's rehearsal.... yes it is the kind of ugly sister of classic jazz labels, more "blowing dates" less recording sessions. Yet of course there are some awesome titles in the Prestige catalogue, Frank Wess' "Southern Comfort" is certainly one of those, soul-jazz with a Latin twist and really punchy well balanced recording. As always the mellow meltdown in the middle is fun to do, it's what radio's for in my opinion. Listening to Duke Pearson's Sweet Honey Bee album again for the first time in ages, the beauty of "After The Rain" left me quite astounded, Pearson was the quintessential Blue Note artist, he acted as an A&amp;R man for Alfred Lion, and composed the timeless "Cristo Redentor" for which he should be duly honoured as it is one of the most beautiful melodies of all time. "After The Rain" comes close to that peak of sublimity. Continuing the rainy theme the Masabumi Kikuchi composition "Drizzling Rain" from his album with Gil Evans is just as beguiling, with a Japanese lyricism, a kind of Jazz haiku. "En Passant" performed by West Coast stalwarts Shelly Manne ands His Men is an early composition by the great John Williams from U.S. tv series Checkmate, Williams' list of film credits is ridiculous , probably the most successful composer of the twentieth century? All that instrumental grace is followed by a trio of vocal cuts with a morning theme....lushness from Carmen McRae, the brilliant Lorez Alexandria, and Andy Bey ripping some conscious flavour through Gary Bartz NTU Troops leftfoot jazz-funk. Closing the show the last sequence gets lowdown and funky, and a bit abstract! Drums and basslines, a touch of James Brown in Roy Haynes' "Guadalupe", and some electronic undertow in Julian Priester's " Love Love" which I played just a portion of as it covers a whole side. Shame that I only squeezed a the first bit of Monette Sudler's "Brighter Days For You" as it takes me back to my early days of The Cosmic Jam all those years ago.... still love it, and the title says it all. Peace, love and music P.x 1. Jimmy Heath Orchestra - Big P 2. Jon Hendricks - Good Ol' Lady 3. Benny Bailey - Little B 4. Ann Young &amp; Yuji Ohno Trio - Speak Low 5. Hector Costita - Tokio 6. Mary Lou Williams &amp; Friends - Prologue 7. Clifford Jordan - Bearcat 8. The Metronomes - On Green Dolphin Street 9. Sun Ra - The Others In Their World 10. Tadd Dameron &amp; John Coltrane - Mating Call 11. Frank Wess - Blues For Butterball 12. Charles Earland - Letha 13. Duke Pearson - After The Rain 14. Gil Evans &amp; Masabumi Kikuchi - Drizzling Rain 15. Shelly Manne &amp; His Men - En Passant 16. Carmen McRae - Just A Little Lovin' 17. Lorez Alexandria - Morning 18. Gary Bartz NTU Troop - Rise 19. Doug Hammond - Kone Pone 20. Roy Haynes - Guadalupe 21. Julian Priester - Love Love 22. Byron Pope Speed Of Light - No Boundaries 23. Monette Sudler Sextet - Brighter Days For You

Cosmic Jam "dirty ol' jazz reckids" 20th September 2015

The really important issues of the day like the fate of Labour under Jeremy Corbyn and the mysteries of infant colic are things The Cosmic Jam has no licence to deal with. Whatever else is going on in the world or in my life melts away for two hours on a Sunday night, and that's the way it should be. Music is our sanctuary through all times.1. Third Stream - In A Galaxy Far Away2. Johnny Hammond - Detroit Rainbow3. Lucas Arruda ft Leon Ware &amp; Guida De Palma - Stop Look And Listen4. The Gingerbread Express - Missed Another Day5. Nancy Wilson - Call Me6. The Foreign Exchange ft Carlitta Durand - Disappear7. Ben Cox Band - Blessed Are The Bleak8. Matthew Halsall &amp; The Gondwana Orchestra - Badder Weather9. Sekou Sundiata - Days Going By In Broken English10. Nat Birchall - Njozi (Vision)11. Christian Scott - Of A New Cool12. Malcolm Cecil - Gamelonia Dusk13. Mathhew Halsall &amp; The Gondwana Orchestra - Daan Park14. Seeds Of Fulfillment - The Provider15. Lindsey Webster - Open Up16. Zé Ze Motta - Oxum17. George Duke ft Flora Purim - Yana Aminah18. Johnny Hammond - Why Can't We Smile? (unreleased version)19. Milton Nascimento - Marie Trés Filhos20. Milton Nascimento - Viola Violar  (live)21. Milton Nascimento - Cravo E Canela22. Roy Ayers Ubiquity - Des Nude Soul23. Jay Hoggard - Sao Pablo24. Kathryn Moses - Music In My Heart25. Ulla - Space Lady.

The really important issues of the day like the fate of Labour under Jeremy Corbyn and the mysteries of infant colic are things The Cosmic Jam has no licence to deal with. Whatever else is going on in the world or in my life melts away for two hours on a Sunday night, and that's the way it should be. Music is our sanctuary through all times. 1. Third Stream - In A Galaxy Far Away 2. Johnny Hammond - Detroit Rainbow 3. Lucas Arruda ft Leon Ware &amp; Guida De Palma - Stop Look And Listen 4. The Gingerbread Express - Missed Another Day 5. Nancy Wilson - Call Me 6. The Foreign Exchange ft Carlitta Durand - Disappear 7. Ben Cox Band - Blessed Are The Bleak 8. Matthew Halsall &amp; The Gondwana Orchestra - Badder Weather 9. Sekou Sundiata - Days Going By In Broken English 10. Nat Birchall - Njozi (Vision) 11. Christian Scott - Of A New Cool 12. Malcolm Cecil - Gamelonia Dusk 13. Mathhew Halsall &amp; The Gondwana Orchestra - Daan Park 14. Seeds Of Fulfillment - The Provider 15. Lindsey Webster - Open Up 16. Zé Ze Motta - Oxum 17. George Duke ft Flora Purim - Yana Aminah 18. Johnny Hammond - Why Can't We Smile? (unreleased version) 19. Milton Nascimento - Marie Trés Filhos 20. Milton Nascimento - Viola Violar (live) 21. Milton Nascimento - Cravo E Canela 22. Roy Ayers Ubiquity - Des Nude Soul 23. Jay Hoggard - Sao Pablo 24. Kathryn Moses - Music In My Heart 25. Ulla - Space Lady.

Cosmic Jam 13.09.15

I've always tried to keep my personal and professional life separate, but these days it seems the lines are increasingly blurred. It's no secret that much to my amazement and delight I've become a father again which accounts for my recent sabbatical from the radio.So, whilst I was reconciled to the idea of parenthood  returning to the agenda despite my  (ahem) advancing years, I never anticipated..... twins!!!! A double blessing for sure, but that's easily said by those who've never actually experienced the reality of dealing with two wee ones simultaneously!  It's relentless, they sleep deprivation is a form of torture but mainly I'm just delirious, doolally and drunk on the delights of nappy changing, cooing, comforting and generally easing the passage of my identical twin boys into this world.Funnily enough when we eventually arrived home with the boys there was a record shaped package amongst the piles of bills and junk mail which turned out to be my copy of Malcolm Cecil's "Radiance". I've long been fascinated by Cecil's career, as an obsessive devourer of record sleeve credits I eventually pieced together Cecil puzzle from his work alongside Robert Magaloueff with Stevie Wonder, and their pioneering electronic ambient excursions as Tonto's Expanding Head Band, to his production with Gil Scott-Heron And The Isley Brothers, but his solo album from 1981 had so far eluded me. It's very much in the classic T.O.N.T.O style, The Original New Timbral Orchestra being the vast modular synthesiser on which the album is entirely played, (apart from a contribution from Paul Horn's flute on the second track we include in the show). So "Radiance" ended up being the soundtrack to our first days at home with Quincy and Sebastian.... and you know who the former is named after! Ambient music certainly seems the most appropriate for the frayed and dazed days of new parenthood, gentle and slightly surreal, time dissolved into a continuum of caring and getting through.So maybe instead of my musings about cycling to South London my podcast will become a blog about twin parenthood? Actually I look forward to the day when I can get back to cycling and broadcasting live, and for that matter the days when I can return to my regular work-outs in the pool... of all the things I miss at the moment swimming would have to be top of the list as I tend to think it keeps me sane as much as trim!Anyway it was fairly miraculous to me that I managed to record a show here at Forge Towers, and I wouldn't pretend it's the greatest radio show I've put together, but under the circumstances I'm pleased with the outcome. There's a healthy balance of ancient and modern, with new soulful sounds from Lucas Arruda, Eric Roberson, Dele Sosimi, Kamasi Washington nestling alongside classics from Doug and Jean Carn, Charles Earland, Deodato and others.Of course Doug and Jean's rendering of Wayne Shorter's beautiful "Infant Eyes" was an obvious choice even if it was originally dedicated to a baby girl, it has all the tenderness and wonder of life inside the baby bubble. Of course for all the vagaries of sleepless nights and other sacrifices the joys of witnessing a new life are so much greater, unfathomable, therapeutic and profound.As for the music, well it was definitely therapeutic to get back to my vinyl, and the one advantage of recording the show at home is that affords the opportunity for more spontanaeity. Certainly the last half hour was completely impromptu, other than kicking it off with Nick the Record's rework of a Lincoln Olivetti Brazil boogie nugget, the rest were just pulled out off the cuff. (Which is easy as my twelves are all in the racks behind my decks, whereas the jazz is mainly on the other side of the room!). If I'd been planning a show more meticulously I'd probably thought "better" of playing Level 42's "Starchild" and Deodato's "Whistle Bump", so there you go.I also particularly enjoyed the start of the show with the Malcolm Cecil segué into an often overlooked version of "My Favourite Things" ( thank you Jean Claude Thompson).  As I mentioned on the show I've been reassessing my Charles Earland collection as he is undoubtedly my favourite jazz organist, so expect more buried treasure from the king of the Hammond in weeks to come...Generally to my ears nothing screams "Acid Jazz" more than the sound of a funky organ groove, as that was the dominant sound at the birth of that "genre". So it was to my surprise that when I eventually dipped into the the third disc of the Kamasi Washington album to find that "Cherokee" was very much in that kind of rare groove style. However it must be said that the thing that stands out to me about the vocal tunes on The Epic is that they have something of a "show tune" quality, the melodies are almost archaic on "Cherokee" and "The Rhythm Changes", which is no bad thing.Of all the new music I played this week, I have to say that having vinyl copies of the Dele Sosimi and Lucas Arruda albums has increased my appreciation of those works exponentially. Of course I'm a vinyl fan, but beyond any discussion about sound quality, what makes an enormous difference to me is that I'm less likely to listen to a file on my main sound system and even though I run my laptop through a nice pair of speakers (in the kitchen), the whole sonic perspective is very different when playing off vinyl on my "semi-audiophile" set-up with my decks. So the Dele Sosimi album which benefits from being recorded in one of London's best analogue studios sounded much mightier from vinyl. As for Lucas Arruda's "Solar", it's a delightful set which owes much to classic Brazilian crossover fusion and soul, and even though it bears his influence quite obviously even Ed Motta is a fan, as indeed am I; a maturing talent for sure.More musings on fatherhood and music (definitely not) for dad dancing next week. I'm toying with the idea of some specials.... Like shows dedicated to my favourite drummers... Bernard Purdie, Harvey Mason et al, and I think a classic strictly acoustic jazz set is long overdue... Also I'm trying to think of a fitting tribute to my late great colleague Colin Faver who passed away last Saturday after I recorded the show. The man was one of the greatest DJs I've known, so much greater a talent than so many more celebrated names...no doubt he'll be rocking that party on the other side.Until then as one of my favourite comedians, Dave Allen, used to say "may your God go with you" which i think leaves plenty of room for interpretation whether your religious, agnostic or atheist...your God might well be music.1. Malcolm Cecil - Sun Song2. Oliver Nelson - My Favourite Things3. Lucas Arruda - Vento Sul4. The Foreign Exchange - Milk And Honey5. Dele Sosimi - E Go Better6. Kamasi Washington - Cherokee7. Charles Wright &amp; The Watts 103rd Street Band - What Can You Bring Me?8. Charles Earland - Charles 3rd9. Guilherme Vergueiro - Em Cima Da Hora10. George Cables - Quiet Fire11.Malcolm Cecil - Gamelonian Dawn12. Doug &amp; Jean Carn - Infant Eyes13. Lucas Arruda - Uma Onda14. Omar - Get Away15. Eric Roberson ft. King - Just Imagine16. Famks - Labirinto (Nick The Record rework )17. Carly Simon - Tranquilo (Melt My Heart)18. Airto - The Road Is Hard ( But We're Going To Make It )19. Level 42 -Starchild20. Deodato - Whistle Bump

I've always tried to keep my personal and professional life separate, but these days it seems the lines are increasingly blurred. It's no secret that much to my amazement and delight I've become a father again which accounts for my recent sabbatical from the radio. So, whilst I was reconciled to the idea of parenthood returning to the agenda despite my (ahem) advancing years, I never anticipated..... twins!!!! A double blessing for sure, but that's easily said by those who've never actually experienced the reality of dealing with two wee ones simultaneously! It's relentless, they sleep deprivation is a form of torture but mainly I'm just delirious, doolally and drunk on the delights of nappy changing, cooing, comforting and generally easing the passage of my identical twin boys into this world. Funnily enough when we eventually arrived home with the boys there was a record shaped package amongst the piles of bills and junk mail which turned out to be my copy of Malcolm Cecil's "Radiance". I've long been fascinated by Cecil's career, as an obsessive devourer of record sleeve credits I eventually pieced together Cecil puzzle from his work alongside Robert Magaloueff with Stevie Wonder, and their pioneering electronic ambient excursions as Tonto's Expanding Head Band, to his production with Gil Scott-Heron And The Isley Brothers, but his solo album from 1981 had so far eluded me. It's very much in the classic T.O.N.T.O style, The Original New Timbral Orchestra being the vast modular synthesiser on which the album is entirely played, (apart from a contribution from Paul Horn's flute on the second track we include in the show). So "Radiance" ended up being the soundtrack to our first days at home with Quincy and Sebastian.... and you know who the former is named after! Ambient music certainly seems the most appropriate for the frayed and dazed days of new parenthood, gentle and slightly surreal, time dissolved into a continuum of caring and getting through. So maybe instead of my musings about cycling to South London my podcast will become a blog about twin parenthood? Actually I look forward to the day when I can get back to cycling and broadcasting live, and for that matter the days when I can return to my regular work-outs in the pool... of all the things I miss at the moment swimming would have to be top of the list as I tend to think it keeps me sane as much as trim! Anyway it was fairly miraculous to me that I managed to record a show here at Forge Towers, and I wouldn't pretend it's the greatest radio show I've put together, but under the circumstances I'm pleased with the outcome. There's a healthy balance of ancient and modern, with new soulful sounds from Lucas Arruda, Eric Roberson, Dele Sosimi, Kamasi Washington nestling alongside classics from Doug and Jean Carn, Charles Earland, Deodato and others. Of course Doug and Jean's rendering of Wayne Shorter's beautiful "Infant Eyes" was an obvious choice even if it was originally dedicated to a baby girl, it has all the tenderness and wonder of life inside the baby bubble. Of course for all the vagaries of sleepless nights and other sacrifices the joys of witnessing a new life are so much greater, unfathomable, therapeutic and profound. As for the music, well it was definitely therapeutic to get back to my vinyl, and the one advantage of recording the show at home is that affords the opportunity for more spontanaeity. Certainly the last half hour was completely impromptu, other than kicking it off with Nick the Record's rework of a Lincoln Olivetti Brazil boogie nugget, the rest were just pulled out off the cuff. (Which is easy as my twelves are all in the racks behind my decks, whereas the jazz is mainly on the other side of the room!). If I'd been planning a show more meticulously I'd probably thought "better" of playing Level 42's "Starchild" and Deodato's "Whistle Bump", so there you go. I also particularly enjoyed the start of the show with the Malcolm Cecil segué into an often overlooked version of "My Favourite Things" ( thank you Jean Claude Thompson). As I mentioned on the show I've been reassessing my Charles Earland collection as he is undoubtedly my favourite jazz organist, so expect more buried treasure from the king of the Hammond in weeks to come...Generally to my ears nothing screams "Acid Jazz" more than the sound of a funky organ groove, as that was the dominant sound at the birth of that "genre". So it was to my surprise that when I eventually dipped into the the third disc of the Kamasi Washington album to find that "Cherokee" was very much in that kind of rare groove style. However it must be said that the thing that stands out to me about the vocal tunes on The Epic is that they have something of a "show tune" quality, the melodies are almost archaic on "Cherokee" and "The Rhythm Changes", which is no bad thing. Of all the new music I played this week, I have to say that having vinyl copies of the Dele Sosimi and Lucas Arruda albums has increased my appreciation of those works exponentially. Of course I'm a vinyl fan, but beyond any discussion about sound quality, what makes an enormous difference to me is that I'm less likely to listen to a file on my main sound system and even though I run my laptop through a nice pair of speakers (in the kitchen), the whole sonic perspective is very different when playing off vinyl on my "semi-audiophile" set-up with my decks. So the Dele Sosimi album which benefits from being recorded in one of London's best analogue studios sounded much mightier from vinyl. As for Lucas Arruda's "Solar", it's a delightful set which owes much to classic Brazilian crossover fusion and soul, and even though it bears his influence quite obviously even Ed Motta is a fan, as indeed am I; a maturing talent for sure. More musings on fatherhood and music (definitely not) for dad dancing next week. I'm toying with the idea of some specials.... Like shows dedicated to my favourite drummers... Bernard Purdie, Harvey Mason et al, and I think a classic strictly acoustic jazz set is long overdue... Also I'm trying to think of a fitting tribute to my late great colleague Colin Faver who passed away last Saturday after I recorded the show. The man was one of the greatest DJs I've known, so much greater a talent than so many more celebrated names...no doubt he'll be rocking that party on the other side. Until then as one of my favourite comedians, Dave Allen, used to say "may your God go with you" which i think leaves plenty of room for interpretation whether your religious, agnostic or atheist...your God might well be music. 1. Malcolm Cecil - Sun Song 2. Oliver Nelson - My Favourite Things 3. Lucas Arruda - Vento Sul 4. The Foreign Exchange - Milk And Honey 5. Dele Sosimi - E Go Better 6. Kamasi Washington - Cherokee 7. Charles Wright &amp; The Watts 103rd Street Band - What Can You Bring Me? 8. Charles Earland - Charles 3rd 9. Guilherme Vergueiro - Em Cima Da Hora 10. George Cables - Quiet Fire 11.Malcolm Cecil - Gamelonian Dawn 12. Doug &amp; Jean Carn - Infant Eyes 13. Lucas Arruda - Uma Onda 14. Omar - Get Away 15. Eric Roberson ft. King - Just Imagine 16. Famks - Labirinto (Nick The Record rework ) 17. Carly Simon - Tranquilo (Melt My Heart) 18. Airto - The Road Is Hard ( But We're Going To Make It ) 19. Level 42 -Starchild 20. Deodato - Whistle Bump

Cosmic Jam 06.09.15

Cosmic Jam Dingwalls1.Eddie Jefferson - Jeanine2.Benny Bailey - Little B3.Vince Andrews - The One Who Loves You4.Alive - Afreaka5.Rimona Francis - Colours Of Excitement6.Pharoah Sanders - Africa pt.2   7. Boy Kantindig - What I Feel8. Doug Richardson - Salsa Mama9. Norman Connors - Just Imagine10.Wayne Henderson - Lady Bug11.Victor Burghardt &amp; Mike Barone Orchestra - Hardcore Samba12.Ramsey Lewis - Slick13.Irene Kral - Wheelers And Dealers14.The Janet Lawson Quintet - Sunday Afternoon15.Rafaella Renzulli Ensemble - Asking Eyes16.Dee Dee Bridgewater - Afro Blue17.Doug Carn - Higher Ground18.Miami University Jazz Vocal Ensemble - Freedom Jazz Dance19.Chaka Khan - And The Melody Lingers On ( A Night In Tunisia)20.Raw Soul Express - The Way We Live21.Earth Wind &amp; Fire - In The Stone22.NYCC - Make Every Day Count

Cosmic Jam Dingwalls 1.Eddie Jefferson - Jeanine 2.Benny Bailey - Little B 3.Vince Andrews - The One Who Loves You 4.Alive - Afreaka 5.Rimona Francis - Colours Of Excitement 6.Pharoah Sanders - Africa pt.2 7. Boy Kantindig - What I Feel 8. Doug Richardson - Salsa Mama 9. Norman Connors - Just Imagine 10.Wayne Henderson - Lady Bug 11.Victor Burghardt &amp; Mike Barone Orchestra - Hardcore Samba 12.Ramsey Lewis - Slick 13.Irene Kral - Wheelers And Dealers 14.The Janet Lawson Quintet - Sunday Afternoon 15.Rafaella Renzulli Ensemble - Asking Eyes 16.Dee Dee Bridgewater - Afro Blue 17.Doug Carn - Higher Ground 18.Miami University Jazz Vocal Ensemble - Freedom Jazz Dance 19.Chaka Khan - And The Melody Lingers On ( A Night In Tunisia) 20.Raw Soul Express - The Way We Live 21.Earth Wind &amp; Fire - In The Stone 22.NYCC - Make Every Day Count

Cosmic Jam - It's Dingwalls!!!!!! 24.05.15

It's probably just as well that when I received the audio file of this week's show the bit at the beginning about having a cup of medicinal mushrooms to drink (chaga), was missing. Of course this was a source of much hilarity to Ross Allen, and nuff jokes abounded in the studio about Cosmic  Jam/mushrooms/magic/hippies, which begs the question, am I? A hippy, that is... well I do drink medicinal mushrooms, am more or less vegan, love a bit of yoga/chi gong/meditation, however I don't wear tie-dye, smoke weed, or say "cosmic" much except in the context of the show. Hippies, if such a concept or subcultural group makes any sense in this day and age doubtless do come in many guises, and who's to say what kind of music they should like? In my experience a lot of those who ostensibly advocate the modern version of the "hippy" credo have pretty awful taste in music...psi-trance? Dodgy ambience with clichéd beats? It may be "cosmic", but it also lacks the soul and expansiveness that I search for in life and music. So what do I mean by cosmic? I've always thought of it as referencing Clinton's "Cosmic Slop"and the whole sic-fi,  space obsessed vein that runs through music from Sun Ra to Earth Wind And Fire etc, that and the idea that the radio/airwaves/ether is a much more metaphysical space than the dance-floor, a space where music should necessarily and logically be more expansive. However my tastes also have a more terrestrial bent, I don't just spiral off into galactic reveries, at least not all the time!I very much doubt that I'm the best judge of my radio shows, after all they're not really for me. Having said that if I'm not pleasing myself the whole thing would be a fairly pointless exercise, after all the time that I've been in the game, I'd like to declare that I'm not really "in the game";  I'm just doing my thing, and I hope in doing so it reaches a few sympathetic ears and touches the odd soul. All I can say is that for whatever reasons, this particular Cosmic Jam pleased me more than most, maybe it's the balance of the tunes, the way I felt, the fact that I'd noticed the first stirrings of Spring that day, who knows?What I do know is that it kicks off with a cosmic nugget from Joe Claussell and Stefan Prescott's Spiritual Life which was undoubtedly one of my favourite labels during a period when I took much more interest in house music than I dip these days.  The "Kuniyuki" remix of Slam Mode's "Pacifica" is certainly something of latter day hippy anthem, suitably expansive and a nice way to set up the show. Staying with newness for the first sequence there's more from The Rebirth, Rhonda Thomas, Native Dancer, and Ben Cox Band, all providing reasons to be cheerful and optimistic about the state of new music. Which is not something I'm feeling when I try to get with the latest crop electronic artists, but it's not for me to shout "emperor's new clothes"....The point I was trying to make about Mark Murphy's interpretation of  Michel Colombier and Paul Williams "We Could Be Flying", (Williams also penned the words to We've Only Just Begun, so one might surmise he was something of an optimist!). The tune, which I've always loved, can certainly sound bombastic in the wrong hands, but Murphy brings such fluidity and looseness to proceedings he avoids those traps, and  by underplaying the message he possibly nails the quintessential version. Another vocal gem follows, the album produced by (Jamaican born) Esmond Edwards, a man whose career is not often celebrated but whose credentials would rank him way up there amongst the greatest, is by Gloria Lynne, a vocalist who's  career again had an enormous span and range, this version of "Out Of This World" is funky, fun, soulful and impeccably arranged. Following glorious Gloria, more lush female vocals from Flora Purim who at this time in the mid eighties was sounding beyond wonderful, her innate Brazilian swing and sweetness embellished by a seasoned huskiness. "Jogral" was written by the incredible José Neto, a Hendrix-like guitar genius who featured heavily in Airto and Flora's bands around this period. I saw Neto perform alongside Airto and Flora with the band Fourth World several times, and his playing never ceased to amaze and inspire. Grupo Afro Cuba Havana, a progressive Cuban outfit licenced to a European label, come with the fusion tinged but authentically lovely "Maria", Kahil El Zabaar I say plenty about on the show, and the Bill English tune "7th Ave Bill"  is the kind of Jazz that needs little in the way of explanation, proper.The second hour kicks off with the Detroit Escalator Company's "Twilight Finding", a collaboration between DEC's Neil Ollivierra and Ayro, which may have been DEC's last release (2006), which is sad because Neil Ollivierra made some sumptuously gorgeous music under the DEC moniker.Matthew Halsall never fails to establish a great atmosphere on his recordings, they are conceptually almost flawless, and his treatment of Alice Coltrane's "Journey In Satchidananda" weighs in with the acoustic bass wringing every last drop of heaviness from that timeless line, and follows through with some beautiful flute work, and trumpet from the man himself. Independent and beautifully odd jazz follows in the shape of Jerry Granelli's "Aslan", bass-line heavy once again, as is Lani Hall's version of  Lesley Duncan's "Love Song". Keeping the bass but getting supremely analogue synth (you don't get any better than T.O.N.T.O) Malcolm Cecil produced some of Gil Scott Heron's best work bringing his brand of sonic expertise into play, and the combination of that mellifluous synth bass and Gil's redoubtably upbeat "Better Days Ahead" is truly lovely.Last half hour veers between Latin tinged soulfulness and plain funkiness, the rare, the overlooked, the new and old all forming a fitting finale to a show which floated my boat. I hope it doesn't sink yours!!Peace, love, and medicinal mushrooms..P.x1. Slam Mode - Pacifica (Kuniyuki Takahashi remix)2. Native Dancer - Until Frida Speaks3. Rhonda Thomas - Oh Yay4. Ben Cox Band - Either Or5. The Rebirth - Halfway6. Mark Murphy - We Could Be Flying7. Gloria Lynne - Out Of this World8. Flora Purim &amp; Airto - Jogral9. Grupo Afro Cubana Havana - Maria10. Kahil El Zabaar Quartet - What It Is11. Bill English - 7th Ave Bill12. Detroit Escalator Company - Twilight Finding13. Matthew Halsall's Gondwana Orchestra - Journey In Satchidanada14. Jerry Granelli -Aslan15. Lani Hall - Love Song16. Gil Scott-Heron - Better Days Ahead17. Mario Castro Neves - Subtle Chemistry18. Ondrea Duverney - You What It's Like19. Pacific Eardrum - Man Of Mystery20. Boris Gardner - Ghetto Funk21. Chocolate Milk - Spread A Little Love 22. Bobby Humphrey - Sunset Burgundy23. The Rebirth - Caterpillar24. Foreign Exchange - Take Off The Blues (live)

It's probably just as well that when I received the audio file of this week's show the bit at the beginning about having a cup of medicinal mushrooms to drink (chaga), was missing. Of course this was a source of much hilarity to Ross Allen, and nuff jokes abounded in the studio about Cosmic Jam/mushrooms/magic/hippies, which begs the question, am I? A hippy, that is... well I do drink medicinal mushrooms, am more or less vegan, love a bit of yoga/chi gong/meditation, however I don't wear tie-dye, smoke weed, or say "cosmic" much except in the context of the show. Hippies, if such a concept or subcultural group makes any sense in this day and age doubtless do come in many guises, and who's to say what kind of music they should like? In my experience a lot of those who ostensibly advocate the modern version of the "hippy" credo have pretty awful taste in music...psi-trance? Dodgy ambience with clichéd beats? It may be "cosmic", but it also lacks the soul and expansiveness that I search for in life and music. So what do I mean by cosmic? I've always thought of it as referencing Clinton's "Cosmic Slop"and the whole sic-fi, space obsessed vein that runs through music from Sun Ra to Earth Wind And Fire etc, that and the idea that the radio/airwaves/ether is a much more metaphysical space than the dance-floor, a space where music should necessarily and logically be more expansive. However my tastes also have a more terrestrial bent, I don't just spiral off into galactic reveries, at least not all the time! I very much doubt that I'm the best judge of my radio shows, after all they're not really for me. Having said that if I'm not pleasing myself the whole thing would be a fairly pointless exercise, after all the time that I've been in the game, I'd like to declare that I'm not really "in the game"; I'm just doing my thing, and I hope in doing so it reaches a few sympathetic ears and touches the odd soul. All I can say is that for whatever reasons, this particular Cosmic Jam pleased me more than most, maybe it's the balance of the tunes, the way I felt, the fact that I'd noticed the first stirrings of Spring that day, who knows? What I do know is that it kicks off with a cosmic nugget from Joe Claussell and Stefan Prescott's Spiritual Life which was undoubtedly one of my favourite labels during a period when I took much more interest in house music than I dip these days. The "Kuniyuki" remix of Slam Mode's "Pacifica" is certainly something of latter day hippy anthem, suitably expansive and a nice way to set up the show. Staying with newness for the first sequence there's more from The Rebirth, Rhonda Thomas, Native Dancer, and Ben Cox Band, all providing reasons to be cheerful and optimistic about the state of new music. Which is not something I'm feeling when I try to get with the latest crop electronic artists, but it's not for me to shout "emperor's new clothes".... The point I was trying to make about Mark Murphy's interpretation of Michel Colombier and Paul Williams "We Could Be Flying", (Williams also penned the words to We've Only Just Begun, so one might surmise he was something of an optimist!). The tune, which I've always loved, can certainly sound bombastic in the wrong hands, but Murphy brings such fluidity and looseness to proceedings he avoids those traps, and by underplaying the message he possibly nails the quintessential version. Another vocal gem follows, the album produced by (Jamaican born) Esmond Edwards, a man whose career is not often celebrated but whose credentials would rank him way up there amongst the greatest, is by Gloria Lynne, a vocalist who's career again had an enormous span and range, this version of "Out Of This World" is funky, fun, soulful and impeccably arranged. Following glorious Gloria, more lush female vocals from Flora Purim who at this time in the mid eighties was sounding beyond wonderful, her innate Brazilian swing and sweetness embellished by a seasoned huskiness. "Jogral" was written by the incredible José Neto, a Hendrix-like guitar genius who featured heavily in Airto and Flora's bands around this period. I saw Neto perform alongside Airto and Flora with the band Fourth World several times, and his playing never ceased to amaze and inspire. Grupo Afro Cuba Havana, a progressive Cuban outfit licenced to a European label, come with the fusion tinged but authentically lovely "Maria", Kahil El Zabaar I say plenty about on the show, and the Bill English tune "7th Ave Bill" is the kind of Jazz that needs little in the way of explanation, proper. The second hour kicks off with the Detroit Escalator Company's "Twilight Finding", a collaboration between DEC's Neil Ollivierra and Ayro, which may have been DEC's last release (2006), which is sad because Neil Ollivierra made some sumptuously gorgeous music under the DEC moniker. Matthew Halsall never fails to establish a great atmosphere on his recordings, they are conceptually almost flawless, and his treatment of Alice Coltrane's "Journey In Satchidananda" weighs in with the acoustic bass wringing every last drop of heaviness from that timeless line, and follows through with some beautiful flute work, and trumpet from the man himself. Independent and beautifully odd jazz follows in the shape of Jerry Granelli's "Aslan", bass-line heavy once again, as is Lani Hall's version of Lesley Duncan's "Love Song". Keeping the bass but getting supremely analogue synth (you don't get any better than T.O.N.T.O) Malcolm Cecil produced some of Gil Scott Heron's best work bringing his brand of sonic expertise into play, and the combination of that mellifluous synth bass and Gil's redoubtably upbeat "Better Days Ahead" is truly lovely. Last half hour veers between Latin tinged soulfulness and plain funkiness, the rare, the overlooked, the new and old all forming a fitting finale to a show which floated my boat. I hope it doesn't sink yours!! Peace, love, and medicinal mushrooms.. P.x 1. Slam Mode - Pacifica (Kuniyuki Takahashi remix) 2. Native Dancer - Until Frida Speaks 3. Rhonda Thomas - Oh Yay 4. Ben Cox Band - Either Or 5. The Rebirth - Halfway 6. Mark Murphy - We Could Be Flying 7. Gloria Lynne - Out Of this World 8. Flora Purim &amp; Airto - Jogral 9. Grupo Afro Cubana Havana - Maria 10. Kahil El Zabaar Quartet - What It Is 11. Bill English - 7th Ave Bill 12. Detroit Escalator Company - Twilight Finding 13. Matthew Halsall's Gondwana Orchestra - Journey In Satchidanada 14. Jerry Granelli -Aslan 15. Lani Hall - Love Song 16. Gil Scott-Heron - Better Days Ahead 17. Mario Castro Neves - Subtle Chemistry 18. Ondrea Duverney - You What It's Like 19. Pacific Eardrum - Man Of Mystery 20. Boris Gardner - Ghetto Funk 21. Chocolate Milk - Spread A Little Love 22. Bobby Humphrey - Sunset Burgundy 23. The Rebirth - Caterpillar 24. Foreign Exchange - Take Off The Blues (live)

Cosmic Jam (Medicinal Mushrooms!) 15.02.15

Ross Allen is something of a wanderer these days, which means that I get the call for extra duties on Mi-Soul on a Friday morning. If I wasn't such a "radio tart" this might be a bridge too far , but I not only love doing radio but I also love cycling to South London, though it must be said that the ride south early on a Friday morning is as different as my selections tend to be when I'm standing in for Ross.Actually it could be even more different as I've contemplated digging out some hip-hop for one of Ross' shows, but it doesn't really get much further than pulling out a couple of tunes and deciding that I'm not really feeling it at the moment. Maybe because it would end up being like something of a lament for hip-hop's classic era, lost values etc etc. Of course there's a dominant strain of vintage music on all my shows, but I tend to think of whatever I'm currently getting into as being just that....current!So it's a relatively jazz-free zone, at least by my standards, there's the odd solo, harmonic twist , and vocal inflection that owes a debt to the tradition but by and large we swim in soulful waters.... of many hues. From gentle beginnings to disco dramatics it's two hours of not quite The Cosmic Jam... and I hope you like it.1. The Peddlers - On a Clear Day3. Al Jarreau - Spirit3. The Jackson Five - Ooh, I'd Love To Be With You4. Junior Mendes - Via Aerea5. Luther Vandross - A Lover's Change6. Mario Castro-Neves - Summer Soft7. Grady Tate - Moondance8. Gloria Lynne - Out Of This World9. Jayme Marques - Hooked On Green10. Stephen Michael Schwartz - Get It Up For Love11. The Players Association - Everything's Going To Be O.K.12. Ernie McKone's Tropica - Rainbow Rising13. Dave Valentin - Marcosinho14. Letta Mbulu - Normalizo (Jonny Miller re-edit)15. Jah Wobble, The Edge, Holger Czukay - Hold On To Your Dreams16. The Lijadu Sisiters - Orere Elejigbo (Jonny Miller re-edit)17. Fela Kuti - Let's Start18. Da Lata ft Vanessa Freeman - Free19. Kimiko Kasai - I Thought It Was You20. Venus Dodson - Where Are We Headed?21. The Brothers - Under The Skin22. Carlos Franzetti - Rhumba Dreams

Ross Allen is something of a wanderer these days, which means that I get the call for extra duties on Mi-Soul on a Friday morning. If I wasn't such a "radio tart" this might be a bridge too far , but I not only love doing radio but I also love cycling to South London, though it must be said that the ride south early on a Friday morning is as different as my selections tend to be when I'm standing in for Ross. Actually it could be even more different as I've contemplated digging out some hip-hop for one of Ross' shows, but it doesn't really get much further than pulling out a couple of tunes and deciding that I'm not really feeling it at the moment. Maybe because it would end up being like something of a lament for hip-hop's classic era, lost values etc etc. Of course there's a dominant strain of vintage music on all my shows, but I tend to think of whatever I'm currently getting into as being just that....current! So it's a relatively jazz-free zone, at least by my standards, there's the odd solo, harmonic twist , and vocal inflection that owes a debt to the tradition but by and large we swim in soulful waters.... of many hues. From gentle beginnings to disco dramatics it's two hours of not quite The Cosmic Jam... and I hope you like it. 1. The Peddlers - On a Clear Day 3. Al Jarreau - Spirit 3. The Jackson Five - Ooh, I'd Love To Be With You 4. Junior Mendes - Via Aerea 5. Luther Vandross - A Lover's Change 6. Mario Castro-Neves - Summer Soft 7. Grady Tate - Moondance 8. Gloria Lynne - Out Of This World 9. Jayme Marques - Hooked On Green 10. Stephen Michael Schwartz - Get It Up For Love 11. The Players Association - Everything's Going To Be O.K. 12. Ernie McKone's Tropica - Rainbow Rising 13. Dave Valentin - Marcosinho 14. Letta Mbulu - Normalizo (Jonny Miller re-edit) 15. Jah Wobble, The Edge, Holger Czukay - Hold On To Your Dreams 16. The Lijadu Sisiters - Orere Elejigbo (Jonny Miller re-edit) 17. Fela Kuti - Let's Start 18. Da Lata ft Vanessa Freeman - Free 19. Kimiko Kasai - I Thought It Was You 20. Venus Dodson - Where Are We Headed? 21. The Brothers - Under The Skin 22. Carlos Franzetti - Rhumba Dreams

Meltdown 03.10.14

Horace Silver, an earthy man who made spiritual music and a spiritual man who made earthy music. It's impossible to conceive of the Blue Note label without the contribution of Silver, he's pivotal, essential, inspirational; the lynchpin of the legacy, the godfather of the dynasty. From his pioneering hard-bop beginnings, through his definitive sixties soul-jazz masterpieces to his much misunderstood seventies output. Horace Silver is the tree, the jazz tree, the firm roots, the splaying branches, the foliage that changes with the seasons, he is the gateway, the conduit, the welcoming voice, the musician who exemplified all that was great about jazz, seeking, exploring and soulful, yet never alienating or obtuse, always humble and giving.I swerved a couple of obvious choices in this selection, particularly the tune for which Horace is best known, the mighty, magnificent "Song For My Father". Not because I don't care for it, or that I've tired of it, on the contrary; in fact when my own father passed away I remember playing it at Dingwalls and shedding tears. However, when there was recent false alarm about Horace's passing I discovered probably the best version of the tune, which with the accompanying clip is as engaging a tribute to Horace and his most famous tune as anyone could wish for.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1CilMzT55MThe other tune that I omitted is not so well known generally, but amongst jazz-dance circles it's become an evergreen classic. From the album "The Tokyo Blues", "Sayonara Blues" is a great though subtle dance-floor journey that maintains an amazing pulse, and I've left it out for that very reason, it's better in a club!!! (And it's long!)So this is not a comprehensive review of Horace's oeuvre, I've steered clear of his early hard-bop recordings and focussed mainly on tunes from the mid sixties through to the eighties,  the music from his middle years, ignoring the youthful beginnings and the later mature work. It's just the stuff I love, the classic sixties stylings , the spiritual tunes with Andy Bey's vocals and some of his more fusion based excursions. Horace Silver for sure, but very much my version, because it's personal.Horace the gateway, because so many have found a route into Jazz through his work, the accessible themes and the rhythmic drive of his left hand on the keyboard helped to create music that had an appeal that reached beyond the immediate jazz audience. Horace the conduit, because he channelled the history of Jazz through his playing and because he was always driven by a higher force. Horace the humble man who was inspired to dedicate his life to the exposition of a spiritual, holistic philosophy, and angered many purists and critics with his "United States Of Mind" series for Blue Note in the early seventies when he first started to explore these themes. I can understand why so many found this change of direction upsetting, the approach was song-based, with far less emphasis on soloing. For an artist who had enthralled the jazz world with his dynamic quintet line-ups, introducing so many prodigiously talented horn players  to then switch the focus to  Andy Bey's (remarkable) voice, and furthermore to adopt the electric keyboard…. it was probably  tough to take.However when I first discovered the album "Total Response" I was completely blown away, the music still had the characteristic Silver pulse, but the lyrics and the philosophy they advocated made total sense to me, it became a firm favourite. As i referred to on the show, seeing Horace Silver perform at Ronnie Scott's with Andy Bey during their second phase of collaboration in the late eighties was an unforgettable experience. I met him and in a star struck fashion tried to convey my appreciation of his music, I told him that Total Response was one of my favourite albums. I think he was a little shocked, but I hope he understood that for a new generation of Jazz fans, his "spiritual" music was perhaps even more relevant than the hard-bop and soul-jazz standards he was renowned for.Joining heaven's pantheon of late great jazz stars, I hope Duke has thanked Horace for dedicating a tune to him and calling it The Sophisticated Hippie. I can imagine them having a chuckle about that.1. The Jody Grind (1966)2. Nica's Dream (1960)3. Gods Of The Yoruba (1978)4. The Cape Verdean Blues (1965)5. Silver Treads Among My Soul (1964)6. Old Mother Nature (1970)7. Music To Ease Your Disease (1988)8. Cause And Effect (1972)9. Accepting Responsibility (1981)10. I've Had A Little Talk (1970)11. Summer in Central Park (1972)12. Barbara (1975)13. Peace (1970)14. Senor Blues (vocal version) (1958)15. Que Pasa (trio version) (1964)16. The Sophisticated Hippie (1975)17. Assimilation (1976)18. In Pursuit Of The 27th Man (1972)19. Nutville (1965)

Horace Silver, an earthy man who made spiritual music and a spiritual man who made earthy music. It's impossible to conceive of the Blue Note label without the contribution of Silver, he's pivotal, essential, inspirational; the lynchpin of the legacy, the godfather of the dynasty. From his pioneering hard-bop beginnings, through his definitive sixties soul-jazz masterpieces to his much misunderstood seventies output. Horace Silver is the tree, the jazz tree, the firm roots, the splaying branches, the foliage that changes with the seasons, he is the gateway, the conduit, the welcoming voice, the musician who exemplified all that was great about jazz, seeking, exploring and soulful, yet never alienating or obtuse, always humble and giving. I swerved a couple of obvious choices in this selection, particularly the tune for which Horace is best known, the mighty, magnificent "Song For My Father". Not because I don't care for it, or that I've tired of it, on the contrary; in fact when my own father passed away I remember playing it at Dingwalls and shedding tears. However, when there was recent false alarm about Horace's passing I discovered probably the best version of the tune, which with the accompanying clip is as engaging a tribute to Horace and his most famous tune as anyone could wish for. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1CilMzT55M" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1CilMzT55M</a> The other tune that I omitted is not so well known generally, but amongst jazz-dance circles it's become an evergreen classic. From the album "The Tokyo Blues", "Sayonara Blues" is a great though subtle dance-floor journey that maintains an amazing pulse, and I've left it out for that very reason, it's better in a club!!! (And it's long!) So this is not a comprehensive review of Horace's oeuvre, I've steered clear of his early hard-bop recordings and focussed mainly on tunes from the mid sixties through to the eighties, the music from his middle years, ignoring the youthful beginnings and the later mature work. It's just the stuff I love, the classic sixties stylings , the spiritual tunes with Andy Bey's vocals and some of his more fusion based excursions. Horace Silver for sure, but very much my version, because it's personal. Horace the gateway, because so many have found a route into Jazz through his work, the accessible themes and the rhythmic drive of his left hand on the keyboard helped to create music that had an appeal that reached beyond the immediate jazz audience. Horace the conduit, because he channelled the history of Jazz through his playing and because he was always driven by a higher force. Horace the humble man who was inspired to dedicate his life to the exposition of a spiritual, holistic philosophy, and angered many purists and critics with his "United States Of Mind" series for Blue Note in the early seventies when he first started to explore these themes. I can understand why so many found this change of direction upsetting, the approach was song-based, with far less emphasis on soloing. For an artist who had enthralled the jazz world with his dynamic quintet line-ups, introducing so many prodigiously talented horn players to then switch the focus to Andy Bey's (remarkable) voice, and furthermore to adopt the electric keyboard…. it was probably tough to take. However when I first discovered the album "Total Response" I was completely blown away, the music still had the characteristic Silver pulse, but the lyrics and the philosophy they advocated made total sense to me, it became a firm favourite. As i referred to on the show, seeing Horace Silver perform at Ronnie Scott's with Andy Bey during their second phase of collaboration in the late eighties was an unforgettable experience. I met him and in a star struck fashion tried to convey my appreciation of his music, I told him that Total Response was one of my favourite albums. I think he was a little shocked, but I hope he understood that for a new generation of Jazz fans, his "spiritual" music was perhaps even more relevant than the hard-bop and soul-jazz standards he was renowned for. Joining heaven's pantheon of late great jazz stars, I hope Duke has thanked Horace for dedicating a tune to him and calling it The Sophisticated Hippie. I can imagine them having a chuckle about that. 1. The Jody Grind (1966) 2. Nica's Dream (1960) 3. Gods Of The Yoruba (1978) 4. The Cape Verdean Blues (1965) 5. Silver Treads Among My Soul (1964) 6. Old Mother Nature (1970) 7. Music To Ease Your Disease (1988) 8. Cause And Effect (1972) 9. Accepting Responsibility (1981) 10. I've Had A Little Talk (1970) 11. Summer in Central Park (1972) 12. Barbara (1975) 13. Peace (1970) 14. Senor Blues (vocal version) (1958) 15. Que Pasa (trio version) (1964) 16. The Sophisticated Hippie (1975) 17. Assimilation (1976) 18. In Pursuit Of The 27th Man (1972) 19. Nutville (1965)

Cosmic Jam Tribute to Horace Silver

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