Muhsinah / Day Break EP / iTunes

I’ve firstly got to say thanks to Andrew Castillo @ DreamTeam. His cutting edge podcast put me on to this young lady from NYC. Abstract, contemporary soul and funk music just the way I like it, and believe me, just the way you like it! The EP is currently only available on iTunes (but there will be a CD version in March) this music is gonna be massive worldwide! Think Georgia Anne Muldrow, think Madlib, think 70s Tribe in 2008, think Stereolab. You gettit? She makes beats, she sings, she produces, she delivers a funky message. Creative independent music like this always makes my ears prick up and take notice. Check my http://www.offlimitsradio.com/music/48_Off_Limits_Show.mp3 for some killer tracks.

Trust these ears!

I’d like to introduce to you one of the new contributors to the Urban Landscapes site. Most people know him simply as Raggy. He’s a UK-based selector with a serious musical appetite, matched only by his astute knowledge the deeper undercurrents jazz and soul (and his record collection).

Like Rocky Rococo, Raggy has graciously accepted to share his contributions with us. This is the first of two postings he’s done. Looking forward to more. Enjoy!

Lenny Marcus / Bat In The Hat / Private

I can seriously feel a jazz funk revival just around the corner! It’s about time, dance floors worldwide need that energy! So, we’ll continue wetting your appetite and thoroughly spoil you on every show. On show #48 we get d-i-r-t-y and rare with Lenny Marcus’s “Farewell Welfare”. The 23 year old pianist self produced and self made this LP on his very own private label 30 odd years ago - so there can’t be too many of them about! You just know that when vinyl ONLY gets a release on the artists own label then that gets my ears standing to attention. It shows their ambition to get the music heard regardless. You can hear “Farewell Welfare” on http://www.offlimitsradio.com/music/48_Off_Limits_Show.mp3

Get digging, this one is B-A-A-A-D!

Originally aired as just Soulsearching, Michael Ruetten’s long-running weekly show has just hit its 10-year milestone.

One of the pioneering tastemakers of all things jazzy and soulful, Ruetten is in demand at some of
Europe’s most respected club hotspots. So, too, is his show, airing on a number of choice radio and Internet stations, and recorded at the Soulsearching studios in his hometown of Frankfurt.

Along with the great selection of new music, classic jazz, and terrific rarities, the show features guestmixes from top DJ’s, artists and producers from around the globe.

Listening to Ruetten’s show is like listening to a fine-weathered friend every week. He’s truly passionate about music, and he tends to dig deep into the crates admist his vast music collection. It’s an essential weekly destination, and worth adding to your list of shows.

Site: Soulsearching
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Okay folks; I’ve been meaning to do this for quite awhile. While I do like to toot my own horn every now and then, I think it’s good to recognize those places and spaces that I tend to wander around and visit. It can be an online community, a music store, a podcast…whatever falls into the proper area of…The Essentials.

Based out of Belgium, the Beyondjazz online community has been an important hub for all things future jazz and soul, broken beat, hip-hop, rare grooves and jazz, and other related variants. Fronted by Oemebamo and Lensco, the site features contributions from a group of hardworking site moderators from around the globe.

The two main portions of its online community that are of immense value to me are the online forums and the weekly radio. The online community, a pretty active one at that, features all sorts of topics and discussions from playlists of Beyondjazz-approved radio shows to lively debates on subjects like the state of online music distribution, the (supposed) demise of vinyl, and so much more. With over 4,000 members that includes everyone from music fans to artists actively in the scene, things can get really active when news breaks.

The weekly radioshow is one of the best out there. Lensco is the voice behind the show, and you can still follow along nicely even if English is not his preferred language on-air. It’s all about the music, and really good upfront music is what you’ll get (as well as reissued rarities and top classics). You’ll also hear guestmixes from DJ’s and producers, artists’ triplets, and more.

You’d do well to make Beyondjazz your destination for future music.

Site: Beyondjazz
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