Fat Jon is dope!!!

Fat Jon Lightweight Heavy (Exceptional Records)

Lightweight Heavy has been out for a month or two now, but I have just got around to listening to it properly. And it is dope indeed. Fat Jon has been one of my fave producers for a while - across the board I think he is one of the most consistent. Go check his work with Five Deez, 3582 and his solo material for evidence. In fact the entire catalog of Fat Jon work in all his guises is more than worth your time to hunt down.

This release appropriately finds a home on England’s Exceptional Records that also hosts forward thinking artists such as Blu Mar Ten, John Beltran, Ken Ishii and others. Lightweight Heavy puts a new twist on the instrumental hip hop tradition, drawing on electronic influences so that his soundscapes are now a few BPMs away from being ‘downtempo’ or ‘chillout’. Whatever you want to call it, Lightweight Heavy should more than expand upon his hip-hop fanbase and find new, multi-genre-ed ears to convert.

Fat Jon has a knack for blending solid beats with strong melodies and slightly left of center sound effects, creating eminently listenable and head-nodding tracks. His appeal lies in his ability to be intelligent without being abstract, and experimental without being pretentious. Fat Jon can work magic by combining a fat bottom end, complete with a rounded bassline and cascading cymbals, with ethereal noodlings, such as those found on "Dreamers". He can create depths of emotion with simple piano melodies, such as on "Day" and "Beyond Love". Overall he paints everything with warm, soulful tones which is quite an achievement on a purely instrumental (barring the occasional vocal sample), and electronically produced album. A treat to listen to, go pick this up, and anything else of his you can lay your hands on.

Five Corners Quintet Bio

It may be of no surprise that a band should release a few vinyl singles that filter to key tastemakers to critical acclaim. That they should receive praise from an ever-increasing underground scene, and that the hype surrounding them escalates beyond a core. Indeed, that sales of those singles should quickly reach over 12,000. But in the case of the Helsinki-based postmodern jazz outfit, the Five Corners Quintet, it should.

For this is pure unadulterated jazz. Not housey nu-jazz, or jazz fused with hip-hop or rock, but jazz in the classic modernist spirit. A jazz that resonates with early sixties straight-ahead and Latin. As one critic claimed of the first single, “‘Trading Eights’ snaps like a classic bit of Blue Note soul jazz… a soaring little groover with great rhythms that hooks the tune up nicely for the dancefloor. Real jazz played by a hip little quintet”.

The two innovators behind Five Corners Quintet are composer, producer and arranger Tuomas Kallio and the band’s benevolent svengali and record label manager Antti Eerikäinen. In musical terms the goal of the FCQ is to set an example of how, with contemporary production, stylish jazz tailored for the dance-floor can fruitfully meet the musical craftsmanship of the past. “I guess most people feel that the lush sound of classic jazz vinyl creates an exceptional mood that records of today fail to reach” says Tuomas, “that is exactly the atmosphere I was after for the project”.

‘Chasin’ The Jazz Gone By’ is the debut album from the Five Corners Quintet, featuring world-class guest vocalist, Mark Murphy. Six time Grammy nominee and 4 time Downbeat readers poll winner, the original jazz hipster is featured on three of the 12 tracks. Also featured is the gorgeous voice of Paris-based Okou who opens the album with a graceful blues.

Much of the FCQ crossover appeal is clearly the healthy mix of talents from different generations of players. Eero Koivistoinen is a tenor sax heavyweight who has been around since the sixties. Similarly, Severi Pyysalo, a jazz heavyweight on vibes is a Blue Note recording artist. Both bring heaps of experience to the group, whereas newer talents such as drummer Teppo Mäkynen , (voted year after year as the number 1 drummer among the Finnish jazz press and internationally known for Nuspirit Helsinki and his solo project Teddy Rok Seven) and the young trumpet phenomenon Jukka Eskola are essential in balancing the traditional with the modern. The orchestration arrangements for a 12-piece string and French horn ensemble complete the lush sound and atmosphere of the record.
In the studio The Five Corners Quintet is a gathering of some of the finest contemporary jazz musicians both from the Finnish and International jazz scene. Brought together by producer and arranger Kallio, musicians are selected, track by track, for the different combinations and instrumentation he visions. Utilizing both the analogue and digital domain, they draw on tools from tape recorders to samplers and sequencers, so, while the sound of the FCQ is similar to the jazz of the mid 20th century, the studio setting is entirely different.

Live, The Five Corners Quintet tell another story. On stage they are a real band featuring real musicians: no machines, no samplers, no DJ’s but instead energy, interaction and world class level of musicianship. Interestingly, Tuomas is not part of the live set-up, instead he passes the responsibility of successfully interpreting the studio sound to drummer Makynen. Technically talented and musically innovative, the live band is a phenomenal jazz quintet/sextet/septet that appeals to the seated jazz audience and a dancing club crowd alike. The live version of the 5CQ is a delicious mix of old and new and their compositions probably manage to lure some stubborn-ish traditional jazz listeners to embrace the dancefloor jazz sounds of the 21st century. The crossover thing works the other way around too, introducing more traditional sounds to those appreciating the new grooves.

As one critic comments “this is heavy, real jazz for the future. Search out’”

VIEW ALBUM PREVIEW

Troubleman "Time Out of Mind" (Far Out Recordings)

For those not already familiar with the work of Mark Pritchard, AKA Troubleman, the album artwork for Time Out of Mind might suggest a disc of campy lounge music with a '70s feel. All yellow and turquoise linear patterns and bubble-esque writing, it might be trying to suggest a futuristic vision, but comes off a tad kitschy. Fortunately the music, although steeped in gentle bossa rhythms that lend themselves so well to velour lounge songs, avoids a similar cliché and reveals Pritchard to be an impressively funky and experimental artist. He is a seasoned if under-recognized producer, having joined forces in the '90s with Tom Middleton in the seminal electronic acts Global Communication and Jedi Knights, and also worked under various other monikers including Harmonic 33 and Reload.

"Eclectic electronic soul" is the closest you might be able to come to defining the overall sound. Soul and diversity are probably the two defining characteristics of Time Out of Mind. Pritchard is something of a musical ambassador, introducing Afro-beats to Bossa nova, while London's broken beats rub shoulders with American techno. Troubleman hosts the party, holding it all together with thick grooves and luxuriant soul.
The album opens with a series of warm, pleasant bossa-soul tracks such as "Have a Good Time." But things really kick into gear with the more uptempo tunes such as "Change Is What We Need." Gentle vocals swim over a dominant bassline and arresting drum pattern. "Everything must change," the vocals warn as the music looks to the future. At once nostalgic and bravely optimistic, Pritchard demonstrates his mastery of atmospherics with this track, one of the album's highlights.

Much of his work displays a similar blend of emotions — quietly optimistic without overtly tugging on the heartstrings. One way he achieves this subtlety is by mixing the earthy and ethereal to create multi-dimensional tracks. In similar fashion, the more visceral, thumping tracks feature slightly more breathy vocalists, while musically more delicate tracks such as "Roll On" are grounded by the more weighty, smoky vocals of Eska.

Arguably the best tracks on the album are the ones that let their thumping rhythms do the talking — bangin' drums, smoothed out a little with some soul but without taking the edge off too much, characterize some of the album's best tracks. For example, "Strikehard" is a blazing Afrobeat-inspired stomper, while "Toda Hora" has a similarly visceral groove, with Nina Miranda's breathy vocals melting over thumping kick drums. The title track features fierce, tech-edged broken beat.

"Time Out of Mind" is a genre-expanding work that should satisfy those with an expansive definition of soul. At once familiar and innovative, Pritchard finds the common threads in all his influences and ties them together in a colorful and accessible package that warrants repeated listenings. (lb)

Jennifer Johns Is Fire!!!!

Hailing from the Bay Area's hotbed of new soul and hip hop talent, Jennifer Johns is a new talent of immense potential. I think her Bay Area compatriot Goapele was the last new singer I heard that was this exciting. And I think Johns has potential for the same kind of grass roots-driven success that Goapele has found - based on word-of-mouth appreciation for talent. Comparisons will no doubt be drawn to Ursula Rucker, Jill Scott etc. Musically encompassing soul, hip-hop, spoken word and more, she'll leave you floored. Check out her site for evidence: www.jenniferjohns.com The debut album is entitled "Heavyelectromagnecticsoularpoeticjunglehop", and more amiably abbreviated to "Heavy." Either way do not fail to check her out.

McNeal & Niles - "Thrust"

Cratediggers don't sleep on this..."Thrust" from McNeal & Niles is a re-issue from Chocolate Industries. Orginally released in 1979, it's a collection of warm, funky, jazzy tracks that have to be heard. The vinyl sounds sweet......It'll also serve as a reminder as to where a lot of downtempo producers these days are culling their influences from...a gem. SoulStrut.com has a good review here
Buy it from Dusty Groove here

Benji B - 1Xtra

Anyone catch Benji B's "Deviation" show last week on the UK's BBC Radio 1Xtra? It was pure fire with Wajeed from Platinum Pied Pipers/Bling 47 being interviewed and playing exclusive PPP tracks from the forthcoming album - due out in Feb '05 on Ubiquity. Shame they don't seem to archive the tracklistings on the site. This week's show looks hot too:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/tracklistings/benjib/benjitracks.shtml
Benji definitely gives Gilles Peterson a run for his money....

Colossus Bio

BACKGROUND TO AN URBAN JAZZ MASTERPIECE

It all started after Charlie (6’ 8”) Tate graduated from the London School of Furniture. Approached by the infamous Paris based Big Cheese Records to form a funk band, and Big Cheese All Stars was born! 2 singles, an album and several extensive stints of touring and supporting the likes of Don Blackman, Roy Ayers, Gil Scott-Heron, Fred Wesley AND James Brown put an end to a career in bespoke cabinet making. A future immersed in the funk, the soul and the jazz seemed assured. While still with the All Stars, an opportunity to play bass in Neneh Cherry’s band arose and the best part of a year was spent on the road touring her “Woman“album. A lot of fun was had. A lot of drinking was done. But the love of the funk, the soul and the jazz prevailed. Unfortunately the sheer size of what the All Stars had become essentially caused its demise, putting eleven plus personnel on the road became a logistical liability.

Just about then with a bit of folding in the pocket, the idea of forming a record company began to take shape. Your people, King Kooba, had been in existence for some time now, the first releases having been released on a subsidiary of the aforementioned Big Cheese Records. But the thought of an autonomous vessel for representing the Kooba and several other projects seemed too good to resist. Enter Second Skin Records, and what a productive lot they turned out to be! Roughly 30 singles and 12 albums, not a bad output from a hybrid label offering all manner of styles from drum and bass, beats, ambient bizniss, electronica and breaks. Pretty much most of what was going on at the time, perhaps the varied style of the label, but particularly what the Kooba were up to, appealed to San Francisco’s Om Records. Several licenses, then an album and a relationship with Om had been cemented. With the release of “Indian Summer” in the fall of 02’, a man like Charlie decided his fate lay in the Bay area…..

The rest as they say is history! A hook up with Om’s press officer Gunnar Hissam and a shared obsession of all things that contain the funk, the soul, and the jazz started a weekly serving of all the above at a local hostelry deemed Slow Gin. Combined with plenty of refreshing beverages, and all the deepest jazz and soul they could get their hands on, many of Oakland’s finest came to hang out and check the sounds. Even the OPD were known to roll up in a squad car just to listen to the vibes….for real! Then just about last call, oh shit, open mic! Much of what Colossus is about, originated right there! Contacts, MC’s, Musicians, all gathered and vibing to the sounds. Colossus – Tate’s Oakland based hip hop collective was born! Bay Area MC’s: Capitol A, Azeem, Regi B & Delphi along with London’s own Hilton Smythe (AKA Roots Manuva) all joined in on the fun. The results: “West Oakland” – an urban jazz masterpiece hits the streets on October 25th.

VIEW ALBUM PREVIEW

Rich Medina "Connecting The Dots" (Kindred Spirits US)

The debut album from Rich Medina "Connecting The Dots" is an accomplished collection documenting his various influences, from hip-hop to soul, jazz to house, and spoken word to Afrobeat.

We introduced you to the album previously and now we can offer you some full length streaming tracks:

LISTEN:
01. Delirium
02. Blues Baby f/ Jneiro Jarel & Ginelle Summer
03. Chocklit Ninja
04. Holdin’ Up f/ Delouie Avant
05. Music f/ Jeremy James & Ginelle Summer
06. Happiness f/ Michelle Shaprow
07. Rhodes Interlude f/ Ivanna Santilli
08. Weight
09. Out of Nothing f/ Ivanna Santilli, Maya Azucena & Alma Horton
10. Official f/ Jon Doe
11. Bitter Old Man
12. B Boys To Men
13. Can’t Hold Back f/ Sy Smith
14. Too Much f/ Martin Luther & Maimouna
15. Listen
16. Emancipation Suite
17. Stop Smoking
18. Dedication

PURCHASE

EXPLORE:
www.richmedina.com
www.studiodistribution.com

ZION I Tour Dates w/ Cali Comm Tour feat. Del Tha Funky Homosapien and others

October 13, 2004 SANTA BARBARA,CA UC SANTA BARBARA
October 14, 2004 SANTA CRUZ, CA THE CATALYST
October 15, 2004 SACRAMENTO, CA COLONIAL THEATER
October 16, 2004 LOS ANGELES, CA EL REY THEATER
October 17, 2004 POMONA, CA THE GLASS HOUSE

October 19, 2004 SAN DIEGO, CA EPICENTRE
October 20, 2004 TEMPE, AZ OLD BRICKHOUSE
October 21, 2004 ALBUQUERQUE, NM SUNSHINE THEATER
October 22, 2004 SAN ANTONIO, TX THE SANCTUARY
October 23, 2004 HOUSTON, TX ENGINE ROOM
October 24, 2004 AUSTIN, TX EMO'S

October 26, 2004 ORLANDO, FL THE SOCIAL
October 27, 2004 ATLANTA, GA EARTHLINK LIVE
October 28, 2004 CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA STARR HILL
October 29, 2004 WASHINGTON, DC 9:30 CLUB

October 31, 2004 PHILADELPHIA, PA TROCADERO
November 1, 2004 NEW YORK, NY BB KINGS
November 2, 2004 NEW HAVEM CT TOADS PLACE
November 3, 2004 NORTHAMPTON, MA PEARL STREET
November 4, 2004 BOSTON, MA THE PARADISE
November 5, 2004 KILLINGTON, VT THE PICKLE BARREL
November 6, 2004 TORONTO, ONT PHOENIX THEATER
November 7, 2004 LONDON, ONT PHOENIX NIGHTCLUB

November 9, 2004 DETROIT, MI ST. ANDREWS HALL
November 10, 2004 CHICAGO, IL HOUSE OF BLUES
November 11, 2004 BLOOMINGTON, IN BLUEBIRD THEATER
November 12, 2004 COLUMBUS, OH LITTLE BROTHER'S
November 13, 2004 MADISON, WI THE BARRYMORE
November 14, 2004 MINNEAPOLIS, MN THE QUEST

November 16, 2004 BOULDER, CO FOX THEATER
November 17, 2004 FT. COLLINS, CO AGGIE THEATER
November 18, 2004 COL.SPRINGS, CO 32 BLEU
November 19, 2004 SALT LAKE CITY, UT SHAGGYS
November 20, 2004 PORTLAND, OR ROSELAND
November 21, 2004 BEND, OR DOMINO ROOM
November 22, 2004 SEATTLE, WA SHOWBOX
November 23, 2004 EUGENE, OR MCDONALD THEATER
November 24, 2004 SAN FRAN, CA THE FILLMORE

BABYGRANDE PARTNERS WITH VIPER RECORDS TO RELEASE IMMORTAL TECHNIQUE'S "MIDDLE PASSAGE" LP

Babygrande Records is proud to announce it has entered into a partnership with Viper Records to release the next album from one of the hottest and most important artists in hip-hop, Immortal Technique.

"After considering the many major label and independent offers I received for the distribution of the next record I decided onBabygrande for many reasons: I saw their distribution power through Koch, their solid reputation at retail, and their promotional capabilities as an asset to the team that I had built up. I received contractual agreements that were the most financially stable in the long run for the situation I am setting up.

Chuck Wilson and I worked for months to make a suitable agreement and we found that we are both on same page business-wise for this project. I am very grateful for the support Nature Sounds and Caroline/EMI gave me but this was a step I needed to take to advance the scale of the project.

This album is going to different from the Revolutionary series. Whereas Revolutionary Vol.2 was a response to the government influenced media coverage of terrorism and the addressing of several industry and hood issues, "The Middle Passage" is a more broad and more harsh approach. It is an album that will bring Technique back to the streets on which he started hustling and will have a wider variety of subject matter for people to feel," explained Immortal Technique from his Harlem, NY headquarters.

"After hearing Tech's first album in 2002 I knew he was a special artist -- you can't help but think about the messages and lives of people like Che Guevara, Malcolm X, Bob Marley and many others of similar stature when listening to his music. His ability to marry his political, socio-economic and historical perspectives with his authentic, real-life street upbringing makes his art potent, unique and entertaining...and his live show is incredible. I was at the first show he ever performed in LA and it was sold out. Without exaggeration, it seemed like every person in the venue knew every word to every song he performed. It was at that moment I knew that I had to work with this artist.

I'm also an admirer of Tech's entrepreneurial spirit and work ethic -- he literally produced, manufactured and distributed his first two albums from the streets of Harlem which is a great achievement in and of itself. Moreover, he genuinely wants to touch the lives of the less privileged and does so with both his music and his life. In these trying times of war, terrorism, and world-wide instability, Immortal Technique is an important artist not only for hip-hop fans, but for the world," said Babygrande CEO, Chuck Wilson.

Immortal Technique's Middle Passage LP will be released world-wide some time in 2005. Babygrande and Viper are also discussing the release of a DVD documentary about Immortal Technique's life and experiences as a hip-hop artist.

For more on Immortal Technique log on to:
www.babygrande.com
www.viperrecords.com