It’s time for a little break.

It really does take a bit of an effort behind-the-scenes to keep things moving along and bring you a new show every week. All things considered, it’s pretty remarkable how consistent this process has turned out. On top of that is the online presence, which continues to take shape. I’ll explain more about that in future postings.

On to the guestmix for the week; it comes from Eddy Ramich. He was featured before around the time that Eddy Meets Yannah’s debut album “Sounds Like…” was released two years ago. A new album is on the horizon, as “Once In A While” is due out September 14th on Compost Records. Working alongside his musical/life partner Yannah Valdevit, Eddy has crafted a full-length that’s a step up from their excellent debut.

Long before Eddy Ramich came out with an album, he has been, and still is, a tireless supporter of the nu-jazz/broken beat scene, among other choice genres, in his country of Zagreb, Croatia. He has helped ushered in the long-running club night Kontrapunkt, hosting a who’s who of artists and DJ’s the world over. As if that wasn’t enough, he and Yannah are hosting the Kontrapunkt Music Festival in early September. Alongside his pal Zak, he co-hosts the Kontrapunkt Radio Show, and has his own Eddy Ramich Show, both on the airwaves (and streaming live via the Internet) on Zagreb’s Radio 101 station.

Of course, he’s also a DJ, and he’s put together a mix that includes forthcoming remixes of tunes from “Once In A While.” So have at it and enjoy the show.

And about that break? I’m taking it, but I’ll be back with a brand new show live on September 20th. While you’re at it, visit the Urban Landscapes site and check out the other shows that you might have missed. There’s also new content there, including Pacifica Radio’s great tribute to the late jazz drummer Max Roach, and Belgian producer Briskey and his Big Band’s wonderful concert film. Find them both and more on the show’s site. More content is forthcoming.

Don’t be afraid to sign the guestbook, eh? I really would like to know your thoughts about the show. Always good to find out who’s listening.

See you in three weeks!

Song - Artist - Title - Label
Clock Shift - Manuel Tur and DPlay - EP - Compost Black Label CD-R
Courage - Talking Drums - Computer Incarnations For World Peace - Sonar Kollektiv

Title - Artist
Daylite (Flowriders Mix) - Eddy Meets Yannah
And I Know It - Restless Soul feat. Zansika
U & I (Karizma Dub ) - Eddy Meets Yannah
Once In A While (Simbad Mix) - Eddy Meets Yannah
Hearbeat - Domu
Late Night Mission - Aarone Jerome
Take it Low (Domu Mix) - Broke n English
Fall Back (Spiritual South Mix) - Middlewood Sessions
Sahara (Zed Bias Mix) - Soil & pimp Sessions
You Will Save Me (Spiritual South Mix) - Scrimshire
Start to Play (Christian Prommer Mix) - Wagon Cookin
Solitary (Bob Henzell Mix) - Landslide

Think You Want It - Colette - Push - Om
If This Ain’t Love (Elizabeth Shepherd Trio Remix) - Nicole Willis and the Investigators - EP - Above The Clouds promo
Barcelona - Louie Austen - Summer Love EP - CD-R
Saywayasay - Ohmega Watts - Watts Happening - Ubiquity promo
Love Fantasy - DJ Marin - EP - TrebleO
I Warned You (Rise Remix) - Low Budget Soul - EP - Futuristica Music promo
Le Tete Dans Les Nuages - Electric Conversation - Communication - Futuristca Music promo
Put It Down - Replife - test
Goin To California - Irene Kral - Gilles Peterson Digs It - Luv N’ Haight/Ubiquity promo
END BROADCAST

 

 Show 10.34 [119:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

A few months ago, Gert Keunen, aka Briskey, alerted me to a video of his collaborative live project known as the Briskey Big Band, following up on the release of said album. It wasn’t long afterwards that I’ve watched it, and I gotta say that it was quite the video. I thought it would be relatively short, but it ended up being practically a full-on concert (without the long waits in between).

Since then, I been meaning to post about the video because I thought that more people would have the opportunity to enjoy it. I’ve slacked off a bit, but now it’s happening here.

I asked Briskey himself to share a few words, and these are his…

• Briskey is my musical alter ego and a way to put out my personal musical creativity.
• The combination of electronics and live instruments with some jazz flavour was always the starting point.
• Since 2002 I released two albums, 4 maxi’s and set up a 6-people live band with which we played at all mayor venues in Belgium and festivals in Holland, Italy and France.
• As I’m sampling lots of old big band brass, I got the crazy idea to set up a real big band myself. Luckely some important stage in Belgium liked the idea, so this could be realised.
• In the future I will still do some big band gigs, besides writing new material for the ‘normal’ briskey and - hopefully - write a soundtrack for a film…

There you have it. The video was recorded live at the AB in Brussels, Belgium. Watch it and enjoy! And big ups to Briskey for his words and his blessings for me to pass it forward.

Watch the Video!

I don’t usually get to listen to Pacifica Radio’s Democracy Now as much as I used to, but on my way to work yesterday the newsmagazine just happened to have given over its entire show commemorating the life of jazz drummer Max Roach, who passed away at 83 a few weeks ago.

While I paid a little tribute to his passing, little have I realized that one of the CD’s that I’ve played a track from, “We Insist,” was a pivotal album not only for Roach, but for that of civil rights, and the broader scope of human rights, in general. Roach thought big in that the country, as well as the world, should have taken a greater stance on human rights for all, rather than just civil rights at home. This sort of thinking, of course, has put him at odds with others such as Miles Davis (for whom Roach has expressed in a protest outside Carnegie Hall, where Davis was performing).

I would probably have not known such things were it not for this excellent edition of Democracy Now. I thought I’d share it with you in hopes that you too will know more about the man that was Max Roach. You’ll hear from his life biographer, from Maya Angelou and Bill Cosby (both gave poignant tributes to him last Friday), and even from Max himself.

I hope you enjoy it.

Stream | Download

Source: Democracy Now

We’ve lost famed jazz drummer Max Roach last week at the age of 83. This week, the music world has lost yet another genius…though lesser known in the United States.

Jon Lucien passed away at age 65–far too young. The obituary in the Los Angeles Times this week labeled him as a vocalist who helped influenced smooth jazz. That’s way too simplistic and barely scratches the surface. The record companies and stores back in the 1970’s were challenged with finding a category that suited his music and vocal style, his albums relegated to the hidden area of the jazz section sight unseen.

His biggest fame ended up being overseas, particularly in Europe. It was during the days of acid jazz that his fame elevated, with artists such as Block 16 from the UK and United Future Organization from Japan requesting him for guest vocals on their works. BBC Radio 1’s Gilles Peterson, among other DJ’s, championed Lucien as a figure who was neglected in the United States but found a welcome home elsewhere.

There’s no doubt that vocalists such as Al Jarreau and Andy Bey were touched by Lucien’s magic. Now that he’s moved on, let’s hope that we will all look back to the albums he’s recorded over the years and appreciate him for what he was, and for what he’s left behind for eternity.

We start the show with a track that feature Lucien going back to the 1970’s, then forwarding to the 1990’s with Block 16 and United Future Organization. We then take this, part of a three-hour journey, through quite a bit of new music covering a vareity of different styles and textures. In the end, the soul and the jazz are what makes Urban Landscapes. I think it’s fair to say that the terrific music you’ll hear speaks confidently to music lovers everywhere.

I hope you enjoy the show this week. Peace.

Song - Artist - Title - Label
Search For The Inner Self - Jon Lucien - Gilles Peterson Digs America - Luv N’Haight/Ubiquity
Morning Sun (featuring Jon Lucien) - Block 16 - Morning Sun - Nuphonic
Listen Love (Osunlade Remix) - United Future Organization - Exceptionally Remixed - Exceptional
East - D. B. Shrier - Gilles Peterson Digs America Vol. 2 - Luv N’Haight/Ubiquity promo
The Creator Has A Master Plan - Bobby Matos - The Best of Bobby Matos - Cubop
Sweet - Fleur - CD-R
Solid Ground - Eddy Meets Yannah - Once In A While - Compost promo
Up To Me - Nicola Kramer - The Other Side - TrebleO promo
Turn The Lights - The Politik - The Politik - Milan/Antipodean
Gedaroom (featuring Capitol A and Phoebe One) - Clyde - Hyper Reality - Mantis promo
Parallels (featuring Dawnee B) - Atjazz - Full Circle - Mantis promo
If This Ain’t Love (Mr. Scruff Remix) - Nicole Willis and the Investigators - EP - Above The Clouds promo
Slyngel (Rhythm Doctor’s Hypnotic Therapy Mix) - Kahuun - Slyngel Remixes EP - Bagpak White promo
Love & Happiness (Masters At Work Remix) - River Ocean - EP - Strictly Rhythm promo
Cold Air (Zed Bias Remix) - Jonny Miller - EP4 - Jus’ Listen
Zip Jumper (Bon Johnson Zip Your Lip Mix) - Formidable Force - EP - Eight-Tracks promo
Release Yourself (Fletch’s Bleep Mix) - Fletch - EP - Love Music promo
Let’s Do It Again (Jan vs. Players Please Remix) - The Brand New Heavies - Remixes EP - Delicious Vinyl promo
Under The Radar (Robots In Heat Mix) - Opolopo - test
Boogie (Yellowtail’s NY Re-rub) - OK_Ma - test
Avana Lub - Squaramouche - First Raw - Nonine
Hey Ya - Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra - Hits The Hits - Ubiquity promo
My Favorite Things - Al Jarreau - Gilles Peterson Digs America Vol. 2 - Luv N’Haight/Ubiquity promo
Hurricane May 5 - Sacha Williamson - Do Right!
Crazy Waitin’ 4 U - 1Luv - Neophilia - Sonar Kollektiv
Hey (featuring Patricia Marx) - Electric Conversation - Communication - Futuristica Music CD-R
One (featuring Amalia) - Atjazz - Full Circle - Mantis promo
Adventures In Success - Will Powers - Computer Incarnations For World Peace - Sonar Kollektiv
Uciekam (featuring Kasia Bortnik) - Deela - Mano Mano - Switchstance promo
Blues For Malvin - Albin Janoska - Le Grand Baheux - Klein promo
The Hop (Hudson Mohawke Remix) - Radio Citizen - Choices EP II - Ubiquity promo
What’s The Matter - Drawbar - The Present EP - Counterpoint promo
END BROADCAST

 

 Show 10.33 [178:13m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Yet another remix competition gets underway. Make your beats now…

You Can Remix Zed Bias and Get It Released on Sick Trumpet

Sick Trumpet is the Liverpool-based label of eclectic, electric sounds. The growing reputation of this label has been created by a who’s who of underground soul music including Landslide, Osunlade, Sasso, Crazy P, Michelle Amador, Diesler, Phil Asher, Spiritual South, Opolopo, Atjazz, OK Ma and more.

Now Zed Bias is on board and his new ‘Experiments with Biasonics’ LP is ready to drop. It is a ride through the deeper and darker styles of house, punctuated by jazz inspired moments. Sick Trumpet is giving you the opportunity to remix one of the album’s hottest numbers, ‘Boomerang’. The winning entry will then be released on a future blast from the Sick Trumpet.

Dave Jones aka Zed Bias has remained at the cutting-edge since his ‘Neighbourhood’ track broke into the charts, giving UK Garage one of its best breakthrough releases. His reputation led to him remixing and collaborating with the likes of The Streets, Amy Winehouse, Amp Fiddler, The Elektrons, Slum Village and even Whitney Houston. Under his Maddslinky alias and as part of Phuturistix, Dave Jones has shifted into broken beat and neo-soul with ease, setting up the respected Phuture Lounge studio and label in his adopted home of Manchester.

Your mission, should you choose to except it, is to remix ‘Boomerang’, which has already been receiving radio play from Gilles Peterson, The Unabombers and Kev Beadle. It is a bouncy house jam, the Basement Jaxx style rhythms and chattin’ being pushed along by the jumpin’ bassline.

True to Sick Trumpet’s music policy, anything goes for this remix. Whether you are a jazz demon or a junglist, we want to hear your work. We have already released music from across the dance and soul spectrum, and the judging panel includes a diverse selection of musicians and producers including Domu, Phil Asher, Jenna G and Marcus Intalex.

The winning entry will be released on Sick Trumpet, giving you the chance to release music on a forward-thinking label that is moving upwards.

Head to www.myspace.com/sicktrumpet to download ‘Boomerang’ and get to work. You can also check the track in its original form here.

Send us your interpretation via a file sharing site such as www.yousendit.com to info@sick-trumpet.co.uk in mp3 format (320kbps) by September 28th. The winner will then be expected to provide individual parts of the track to be mastered by Dave Jones himself at his studio.

Good luck!

Drummer Max Roach died this week at the age of 83.

I bet many of you don’t really know who Max Roach was. Truth be told, neither did I.

Sure, I’ve heard his name again and again as part of jazz lineups, so my assumption was that he had to be one of the jazz influentials. Little did I realize just how influential he was.

Spending just about all of his life making music (he started doing so when most of us kids struggled learning cursive handwriting), Max Roach was one of the key pioneers of the be-bop jazz movement of the 1940’s. Drummers were mere bookends to a band in those days, relegated to peon status. It was Max Roach who showed the jazz world, and all of music afterwards, that drummers were just as instrumental and just as much key players as pianists, saxophonists, bassists, and other lead musicians.

It’s safe to say that without Max Roach, drummers would have been stuck playing drums in the usual 4/4 time signature. The drum was indeed his instrument of choice, but Roach mastered quite a few other percussive instruments in his five-plus decades as a musician. From jazz cats to hip-hop beatmakers, Max Roach wasn’t above tackling whatever musical territory tickled his fancy.

It’s safe to say that Max Roach has lived a long and varied life vicariously through his music. I’m sure he’ll still be banging away at the drums in the afterlife.

Apart from some musical droppings of Max Roach’s music, a whole slew of new music awaits you. It’s a good batch of wonder, and I hope you enjoy it.

Song - Artist - Title - Label
Driva Man - Max Roach - We Insist! Max Roach’s Freedom Now Suite - Candid
January V - Max Roach - M’Boom - Columbia
Take It Slow - Fleur - CD-R
Midnight Sun - Elizabeth Shepherd Trio - Besides - Do Right! promo
So Good Today - Ben Westbeech vs. The Dap-Kings - Brownswood promo
I’m So Thankful - Eugene Blacknell - We Can’t Take Life For Granted - Luv N’Haight promo
Stereo Funny - Albin Janoska - Le Grand Baheux - Klein promo
Everyday (OK_Ma Remix) - Jonny Miller - EP4 - Jus’ Listen
Together featuring Mr. J. - Atjazz - Full Circle - Mantis promo
Where Can I Go? - Freesoul Sessions - EP3 - Antipodean promo
Catch My Soul - Drawbar - The Present EP - Counterpoint promo
Another Island (Slope Remix) - Art Bleek - EP - Loungin’ promo
Because of You (Daco Remix) - Michelle Amador - EP - Sick Trumpet promo
Azua Azua (Latin Funk Mix) - Deela - Ruhrfahrt EP - Switchstance promo
Start To Play (Drumlessons Piano Mix) - Wagon Cookin - EP - Compost Black Label promo
Can You Feel It - Formidable Force - EP - Eight-Tracks promo
Side Step Test - Haruki Matsuo - EP - Rush Hour promo
Damaged Language System - Art Bleek - Antichambre EP - Rush Hour promo
About Us (Chuck Love Remix) - Colette - Push - Om
Above You (Dixon Edit) - 1Luv - Neophilia - Sonar Kollektiv
Cold Air (Phuture Lounge Mix) - Jonny Miller - EP4 - Jus’ Listen
The Glorious Monster - Max Roach - M’Boom - Columbia
END BROADCAST

 

 Show 10.32 [117:47m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download