Almost Back Online

Yeah, I know I been AWOL for a minute now. Just letting ya know that I am still here just been a very busy September. Just finished moving again, and had a lot of out of town gigs following the Barndance. So I been on the move and my life is still currently in lots of boxes. All should be in order soon and I got some more stuff to share. So give me a moment and hopefully within the next week I am back to regular posting. Thanks for your patience.

ps. I got some pic's from the Northwest World Reggae Festival 2008 coming, and hopefully some of the Last Chance Barn Dance.

Last Chance Barn Dance 2008

I'm off for another long weekend to the Last Chance Barn Dance in Trout Lake, WA, where I will be spinning records both evenings to open the show, and possible after hours. Lots of good people, great talented musicians, in a amazing location, and hell if you can beat the price of the ticket. So if you have no plans for the holiday weekend, and are low on cash but loaded with good vibes, I strongly encourage you to check out the The Last Chance Barn Dance. See the myspace page below for directions and details.

Last Chance Barn Dance Myspace Page

Talkin' 'Bout That Bass

I keep finding myself sorting through the amazing amount of old blues videos on you tube. And here this morning I found quite a few more that caught my attention, but this one of Willie Dixon really stood out among them.

R-O-C-K-E-R-S Rockers!!!

I couldn't resist after posting the Kiddus I track, posting at least a couple clips from the movie. If you don't know this movie, go watch it, if you do know it, watch it ten more times.

Graduation In Zion

I have been thinking about the movie Rockers a lot lately. Probably my favorite reggae movie of all time. I recently just got a couple albums from Kiddus I that helped me get on the Rockers memories. Here is the track from the movie that he plays in the studio.

Kiddus I - Graduation in Zion

Isaac I Miss You Man

I am little late on the tribute to Isaac Hayes, and most peoples on the internets have covered it quite well. I just want to say that I am gonna miss that spirit, even if I am not down with the whole scientology thing. Man was the definition of that old soul sound and one of my musical heroes. So with that being said, I will add one last thing, I never can say goodbye.

Amy Winehouse Ska EP

Just came across this Amy Whinehouse Ska Ep that was released this year on a limited press 7". It is four tracks of classic ska covers, and she does a pretty good job at it. I know that a few of these tunes have been staples in her live set.

It's good to be back from festival land, and sorry about the gap in posts. We should be coming in hot now that summer nears it's end. Anyway, here is a track from the Ep.

Amy Whinehouse - You're Wondering Now

Ky Mani Marley Northwest World Reggae 2007

Here is the last clip I am going to post from last years festival. It is Ky Mani Marley, who despite some technical difficulties in the first couple tunes, delivered a mesmerizing performance, definitely invoking the spirit of his father.

Ras Attitude & Jah Sun NWWRF 2007

This is a clip of Ras Attitude with Jah Sun on a beautiful saturday afternoon.

Luciano & Mutabaruka, Rocker T NWWRF 2007

Here are a couple more clips from last years Northwest World Reggae Festival outside Eugene, Oregon. First is the intro to Luciano's set with Mutabaruka on Saturday Night. His set was definitely a highlight for me. Next is a clip of Rocker T being backed by the Escort Service Band.

Mark Wonder Northwest Reggae 2007

With the Northwest World Reggae Festival 2008 just over a week away I thought I would post some vid's from last year to tempt you just in case you were thinking of passing it up. The clip below is Mark Wonder being supported by The Escort Service Band, J. Ross Parelli, Lambsbread on trombone (The Instigators), James on sax (Reeble Jar). I apologize for forgetting the other back-up singers name.

More Blues Vids : Freddie King

If you don't know who Freddie King is, well you should. And if you like ripping blues guitar licks that will just melt you, then watch these vids, and be thankful for the advance of technology that puts stuff like this on you tube, easily available and for free. Take your history lesson, and wonder why music today just does not seem to have the same passionate soul as it once did. And give a big up to Freddie for rocking so hard!

Jesse "The Lone Cat" Fuller

I was just talking about Jesse Fuller the other day with a friend while playing a song of his on guitar on the porch. Today while poking around watching video's on YouTube I came across a few great Jesse Fuller clips that I thought would be great to share.

Jesse was an original one man band, starting his music career in the 50's when work became scarce after World War II. He penned many notable songs such as Monkey and the Engineer and Beat It On Down The Line, as well as playing a reportoire collected from years of travel across the country working different jobs since he left his birthplace down south in Georgia. Don't forget to check out the other youtube links below the embedded video. They are from a 1968 concert and are a must see!

San Francisco Bay Blues

Red River Blues 1968

John Henry 1968

Jesse Fuller Wikipedia

Sound of the City

I have been listening to a lot of old school reggae from the 70's lately. I have found lots of cool stuff that is so hard to get thanks to the internet and blogs. I would like to give a shout out to the folks over at Jah School for providing this track in one of there 7" packs a while back. The track here is Sound of the City by Joe Higgs and Jimmy Cliff, released in 1978. The late seventies were definitely a special time for reggae as this tune will attest.

Joe Higgs & Jimmy Cliff - Sound of the City

A Tribe Called Quest and the A Milli Sample

While I was reading some forums this morning I ran across some interesting information on the sample source for the popular Lil' Wayne track A Milli. And that information reminded me of a great version of one of my favorite hip hop tracks, which just happens to be hard to find for a lot of people. The track I am talking about is a remix of A Tribe Called Quest's I Left My Wallet in El Segundo by Norman Cook aka Fatboy Slim. It was released on a 12" along with a couple other remixes of the same track by him. This is the infamous Vampire Mix. Most people can only find this mix on the ATCQ cd Hit's, Rarities, and Remixes.



ATCQ - I Left My Wallet In El Segundo (Vampire Mix)



The dancehall sample used at the beginning of the track was slowed way down and repeated over and over in the new song by Lil' Wayne and produced by Bangladesh. I particularly love when hip hop samples it self.

Lafa Taylor and others at 3rd Annual Tayberry Jam - Reggae on the Mountain

I have been meaning to post up a track from Lafa Taylor's cd Different. This weekends festival, The 3rd Annual Tayberry Jam - Reggae on the Mountain, outside of Cottage Grove Oregon, gives me the perfect opportunity to do so. Lafa will be playing there on Saturday evening along with Clinton Fearon, Jah Sun, Prezident Brown, and many more. It will be a great opportunity to see some great music at a great venue, Cougar Mountain. The Festival is three days with lots of bands all day everyday as well as many spoken word presentations.

Back to Lafa Taylor. He is a multi talented MC, Electronic Wizard, and Beatboxer. His CD Different has been out for a while now and should be in your collection. He mixes hip hop and reggae and often collaborates with Marv Ellis, another extraordinary MC from Eugene. You can pick up his music at his website www.lafataylor.com, as well as lots of other info and some free downloads and bunch of videos. Below is a video of the track Rolling Dough off of the Different CD.


And here is a track that you can download from his website:

Lafa Taylor - Making Love

When You Play Dancehall

There have been a lot of mixes of the popular track Mad Again by the South Rakka's Crew. The EP has been a solid seller and if you don't have a copy go check them out. They have been responsible for a number of famous rhythms over the past years, most notably the Coolie Dance. Although Mad Again is a great track as are its many remixes, I felt that more of the EP could use some shine. Here are a couple more of the tracks that I like a lot. But generally the whole thing should be in the collection.

South Rakkas Kid Foreigner - Hotter Than Them (extended mix)




South Rakkas Sandy Smith ft. Geefus - When You Play Dancehall

Anti-Funk

Betty Davis is a goddess of funk. The one time partner with Mile Davis changed the game with sexuality and funk. This song from her debut album has been posted on a lot of blogs, but I noticed that both Merl Saunders, and Pete Sears both played keyboards on it, as well as Larry Graham on bass. I love this whole album and it is a must have for anyone who likes good music. I have been trying to get my brother to give me his copy in exchange for all those records he "borrowed" when I went away to college (wink,wink).


Betty Davis - Anti-Love Song

O' Whadda Bam Bam

Ah One, Two of my favorite early dance hall tracks. They've also been sample fodder for a hip hop track or two. Anyway, first up is Bam Bam. The song just kills it whenever, wherever, dancehall classic. Next, is Transport Connection, another dancehall classic. They were both ripped from the same album, a reissue of Sister Nancy - One, Two. Bam Bamm is on the famous Stalag Riddim

Sister Nancy - Bam Bam (Stalag Riddim)



Sister Nancy - Transport Connection

Oregon Country Fair 2008

It's Oregon Country Fair time again. The annual festival of culture and crafts and lots of hippy fun happens next weekend. Always a good time and rejuvenating experience to refresh the synapse's and recharge the spirit to trod back in to the world of confusion with some hope and joy! See ya'll there, and if you can't make it you know we will be thinking of you. Peace!

Holy Ghost Post

OK, so I am still feeling bad about the Bar-Kay's post (the low bit-rate's) and feel I they deserve their due. After all they are one of my favorite funk bands ever. Yesterday I finally got back to ripping some vinyl. With the Bar-Kay's still on my mind I ripped these gem's from this bootleg 12 inch I've been spinning with. The first is the real monster, and one that never fails to get a response from a crowd that likes some seriously deep funk, Holy Ghost. The b-side is named Monster, and is a much jazzier funk number, good for the beginning of the night or end of the night jams.

The Bar-Kay's - Holy Ghost (special 12" mix)



The Bar-Kay's - Monster (special 12" mix)

Summer Madness in the Summertime

Here is a couple classics for that summertime feeling. The first, Summer Madness, from Kool & The Gang, found on both the Light of Worlds LP 1974 and the Love And Understanding LP 1976.



Kool & The Gang Summer - Summer Madness



Summer Madness was the foundation for our next jam by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince classic hip hop single, Summertime(released 1991).



Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - Summertime (DJ Jazzy Jeff Mix)



And a bonus:


And remember this (from back when MTV actually had music)?

Electric Feel

Just got turned onto this indie rock band from Brooklyn, NY this past week, and everday since I have run across them somewhere on the web. They just released their first major label album, Oracular Spectacular, on Columbia Records in January of this year. The electro group Justice have remixed their popular track Electric Feel. I just found it today with a little hunting but it sounded funny through the laptop speakers so I figured I should sound check it on something else before I post it. So stayed tuned. For now here is the original off the album.

MGMT - Electric Feel

Ike-Turner Re-up

Because I messed up with the low bit-rate tracks on the previous post I re-upped the ike turner tracks from a while back.

Link to Re-Upped Ike Turner Memorial Post:
Tracks Funky Mule & Ghetto Jam

Have A Funky Good Weekend

Here's a couple funky tracks from the Bar-Kays. These guys are in my top five for favorite funk bands.

The Bar-Kays - Shake Your Rump for the Funk

The Bar-Kays - Let's Have Some Fun

*(dj's - sorry about the low bitrate only 128kbps I just realized)

Happy Summer Solstice

Got a couple big chunes off the Roots Tonic Riddim from Hi-Score Music in 2005 to bless up the summer solstice with.

Chuck Fender - Higher (Roots Tonic Riddim)

Jah Mason - Mi Chalwa (Roots Tonic RIddim)

Northwest World Reggae Festival 2008

Announcing the Northwest World Reggae Fest 2008. This festival was the best time I had last summer. Great Music at an incredible venue with lots of down to earth cool people, put together and run by incredibly cool down to earth people with lots of heart and soul. The sound system is one of the best in oregon and the line-up offers a lot to look forward to. You can get ticket info through the website link below. See you there!

Northwest World Reggae Festival Official Website

Enter The Blog Hole

I spend almost every morning combing through the blogosphere. There's an endless amount of interesting and often very cool stuff to find out there, all you got to do is look. I figured I would drop a few of my favorite music blogs for ya'll to peep out in your own blog adventures. The blogs below are all of exceptional quality and updated on the regular. They are my first stops after the hitting up the java pot.

• Outside Broadcast


• Mic Check


• DJ's Delight


• Jah School

If you got blogs that ya'll are checking on the regular that you think I should konw about please drop a link to it in the comments section. I am always on the lookout.

Breakbot

I don't know a whole lot about this guy except that he is french and a part of that whole french electro revolution that has been taking the world by storm for a few years now. I found out about him while surfing blogs a while back and have kept coming back to his tunes. I a lot that electro stuff is great but I don't really crave it or listen to it over and over again. There is something different about breakbot, something infectious. Here are the two tunes that I believe came out together on a 12" sometime in the past year.

Summer Party Madness


Happy Rabbit

Bo Diddley Rest In Peace

Bo Diddley is and always will be one of the baddest motherfuckers to ever grace a stage period! A true pioneer of music. There will never be another anything like him. It is hard for me to imagine rock and roll with out him.

Yo L, Happy Birthday!

Big L - MVP Remix

Djambi from Brazil

Djambi are an awesome roots reggae group out of Brazil. I found out about them through a friend of a friend in Eugene who sometimes plays keyboards with them. I had the pleasure of seeing them last summer and thought they were awesome. So waking up on this rainy spring morning I needed some roots to get that irie feeling going and thought of this song I have had in my Ipod. Also check out there myspace and show them some love.

Djambi - O Que Sera



Djambi Myspace

RIP Jimmy McGriff

April 3, 1936 -- May 24, 2008
A master of the Hammond organ, Jimmy McGriff's sound has had a permanent influence on modern music.

Jimmy McGriff - Blue Juice

Honey You So Sweet

I have been jamming this tune for quite a while now. It's maybe getting a little old depending on where you live but here it still has got plenty of juice. The 9th wonder production is good stuff. Also here is an electro funked out remix I found last week to keep it fresh for the summer. I still don't have a copy of the full length lp but I plan on getting it. Lots of great production all over it, solid start to finish. You can't go wrong with the likes of Roy Ayers, Edwin Birdsong, Madlib etc...

Erykah Badu - Honey



Erykah Badu - Honey (Captain Planet Remix)

Got the Wild Style

Came across this Big L video while surfing. I could watch this all day long. Man was the real-ness. Possibly my favorite mc of all time.

Z-Z-Z-Zelly Rock

My friend Zelly is one of the most talented mc's I know. I posted a track from one of his other acts the Don Dignitaries a while back. He also just did an album with Sleep from Old Dominion, Combination Locked, that is a must to check out. If you are up in Portland, Oregon look out for him and crew you won't be disappointed. This is one of my favorite tracks from his third solo effort that dropped back in 2006. Zelly is king of the catchy hooks and this is no exception. Featuring B-Legit and Duna.

Zelly Rock featuring B-Legit & Duna - The Turf Top

Zapp-ed by the Funk

So I been feeling the funky vibe of late. Been adding to my digital library, and this week just added some of my favorite classic funk, Zapp and Roger. This track is instantly recognizable even if you don't know the song, as it as been repeatedly sampled by hip hop artists, Digital Underground, EPMD, Biggy, etc. Time to start pulling out the summer party jams...

Zapp & Roger - More Bounce to the Ounce

Heart of a Lion

OK, so I have been slacking for a while now. I will admit, though I have my moments, I am not always the best blogger. But with out apologizing too much, for it is my blog, here is something to hopefully get back on track.
This is a seven inch by Shabba Ranks that I got a while back. The Rhythm is a dubbed up version of Heathen by The Wailers. Shabba does great in true Jamaican DJ dancehall style over the old classic.

Shabba Ranks - Heart of a Lion

Shabba Ranks - Heart of a Lion (Version - Heathen Riddim)

Thank You Buddy Miles

Buddy Miles (9-5-47 to 2-26-08)
The hard hitting drums of Buddy Miles have been a huge influence in my life. I have destroyed more than one copy of Band of Gypsys from endless play over the years. And it is no coincidence that some of my favorite songs on the album were Buddy's.

Buddy was a childhood prodigy and began his career playing drums in his fathers jazz band in Omaha, Nebraska. He played in many R&B acts as he grew up. Later he moved to Chicago and started Electric Flag with Mike Bloomfield. The band made there live debut at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. After Electric Flag disbanded Buddy formed the Buddy Miles Express, whose first two albums were produced by Jimi Hendrix. Around the same time Buddy joined Billy Cox and Jimi forming the famous group Band Of Gypsys. After Jimi's death in September 1970, Buddy performed with various line-ups under his own name, as well as doing many studio sessions for other people. In 2004 he reunited with Billy Cox for Band of Gypsys Return. In 2007 health problems forced him to cancel remaining dates of his west coast tour. His family has had a history of congestive heart problems, which is the likely cause of his passing. Buddy was 60 years old. He was the baddest of the bad, and Buddy we thank you!

Band of Gypsys - Them Changes

Jay Smooth and the Ill Doctrine

Hip Hop is Dead (For You)...

Beating the Little Hater...

I found this blog, the Ill Doctrine, some months back. Jay Smooth has the longest running hip hop radio show in NYC. The show, called Underground Railroad, is on Sat. nights 12am - 2am WBAI 99.5 FM. Since 1991. Respect. His video blog site deserves some as well. His blurbs are down to earth, inspirational, and humorous. I have had it in my favorites for a minute now and look forward to the next post. And I encourage all to check it out as there is much more content than I can post here, all of it worth checking. Keep on keeping it real Jay!

www.illdoctrine.com

007 Shanty Town

I saw Desmond Dekker a couple times back in the early 90's. I remember one of the shows well at a little club in Eugene called Goodtimes. He absolutely killed it. This rhythm has always been one of my favorites. The song is always stuck in my head after watching The Harder They Come movie. A lot of heat came out this past year on this rhythm keeping is as fresh as ever.

Shaggy ft. Rik Rok and Tony Gold - Bonafide
Red Fox - I Don't Think So
Rayvon - Arm of the Wicked
Desmond Dekker and the Aces - 007 Shanty Town
007 Shanty Town Version

January's Big Dump

We got the most snow in one month, this past January, that I can remember for a really long time. It was a lot of fun. Lots of great, deep, days on the ski hill. But...


...keeping the driveway, and the back deck, clear was a bit of a challenge. This photo above was just three days worth of snow.

The 40 Watter

Been listening to the second disc of this old E-40 cd a lot lately. The verse's on the second disc are classic 40 watter. Kind of gone back through the old school west coast in the rotation last couple days because of a couple posts in a forum I read. This disc is fourteen years old...get up on your classic ish.

E-40 - From The Ground Up ft. Too Short, K-Ci, and JoJo
E-40 - Ballin' Out of Control

Lafa Taylor Last Friday Night

Got a last minute call spin this past Friday before the bands took the stage at the Summit Saloon and Stage. Lafa Taylor was in town, with Marv Ellis in tow, backed by the Escort Service Band. DJ Marko opened the live music for the night, again backed by ESB. The Northwest really has got some great music happening again. Lafa and Marv, both have been holding it down for more than a minute, but this past year the ante has been upped. They really know how to work a crowd up into a frenzy, most of whom I don't think planned on being frenzied up either. But you can't stop a good time once it gets rolling. DJ Marko came correct with the reggae riddim Jamacain style DJ banter. Check out all these guys when you can. And definitely pick up their music, which you can find on their sites (links below). ciao!

www.LafaTaylor.com
Lafa's Myspace

www.MarvEllis.com
Marv's Myspace

DJ Marko Myspace

The Mouse is in the House

I just confirmed for tomorrow night to open for Eek-A-Mouse at the Domino Room in Bend, Oregon. I will go on about 8:30pm. It is the second time in less than a year he has been back in the area. I was at the last show, and was surprised by the turnout on the cold winter evening. Tomorrow promises the same I hope. And I just got set up with Serato Scratch Live (which is the most freaking awesome software I ever have used) in the nick of time. DJ Witts is moving into the future and with king of ad lib. Bing bing bong bong, bong bong ba bing, bing bing bong bong yeah! Cross my fingers that the laptop behaves itself. Here is a vinyl rip from the Mouse's famous debut album Wa-Do-Dem.

Eek-A-Mouse - Ganja Smuggling

Don Dignitaries - High Grade Export

Happy New Year! It was a memorable year past and I am looking forward to a positive one ahead. I ushered in 2008 at the newly opened Summit Saloon and Stage in Bend,Oregon with my friends the Don Dignitaries supported by The Escort Service Band. A great time with lots of good vibes. The Don Dignitaries first full length album has been in heavy rotation in my decks for the past year. A memorable appearance this summer at the Northwest World Reggae Festival, again accompanied by the Escort Service Band, I feel has thrust them into the limelight as one of the Northwest's premiere acts. Definitely check them out when they come around. They are great showmen with a great live band bringing the best new roots and dancehall sounds around. And as a little encouragement to check them out and pick up there cd, High Grade Export, here is one of my favorite cuts from it. Big Ups to RK1 and Zelly Rock! No Hate in '08!

Don Dignitaries Myspace Page

Don Dignitaries - Original Don Dignitaries