Some pictures of the Worldwide Festival in Sète
Sigh, already wanting to go back.. Counting down to next year? Heheh..
Tags: carlos-fonseca, dj-lefto, gilles-peterson, havana-cultura, hypnotic-brass-ensemble, quantic, sete, worldwidebaby, worldwidefestival
Had a great coupla days in France: the Worldwide Festival in Sète
Great music, great people, great locations!
Some of the artists I saw:
Gilles Peterson
DJ Lefto
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Quantic and his Combo Barbaro
Carlos Fonseca: Havana Cultura
and many, many more.
Tags: carlos-fonseca, dj-lefto, gilles-peterson, havana-cultura, hypnotic-brass-ensemble, quantic, sete, worldwidebaby, worldwidefestival
When I look at my tastes and interests in music, I can trace back a lot of their origins to my parents. Both are born in the 1940s on the island of Curacao, so what was their musical influence on me?
First of all, I have to explain that I started listening to my parents music collection at the age of six or seven. My first memory of musical enjoyment was of Melanie, the 70s folk singer. I even remember having a poster of her hanging in my room.
The first album I remember actually putting on the turntable myself was the Jesus Christ Superstar soundtrack. I played that sucker endlessly and I even went to see the movie twice; possibly not a movie for a seven year old but it was fun!
Another conscious musical discovery: the Beatles. My dad had the Red Best of Album (1962-1966); I remember playing those songs and learning the lyrics without sometimes understanding what they meant: what’s a Paperback Writer and what’s with the Norwegian Wood? Uhm.. What’s Paperback? Somehow I’ve always related with the Nowhere Man lyrics, funny..
The old man also had some 70s rock in his collection: ELO, Boston, Chicago (yuck!) and.. Alice Cooper.
Again, I didn’t get all the lyrics, but my parents were getting worried about their nine year old, singing You Can Go To Hell, word by word with a nasty growl in my throat..
Less than an hour from Venezuela, there also was a South American influence in my dad’s collection: can’t remember most of the artists, but he had some tapes of Latin Crooner Nelson Ned aka El Pequeno Gigante (The Little Giant and yes, he’s tiny or more PC: vertically challenged). Didn’t really work for me. I didn’t get into the whole Latin thing.
Classical music, yes! Well, kinda. We had this cassette tape by Waldo de los Rios, with modern interpretations of Classical music Classics. Have a look/listen on Youtube, I’m too ashamed to embed the man’s music. I think many serious fans of Classical music will have a tough time appreciating these (re)arrangements 
I knew a limited number of Classical songs by heart without knowing their title or their importance, let alone how they originally should have sounded.
Let’s not forget my mom: from her I got my dose of Mahalia Jackson and some more gospel music. And both her and my dad liked the Abba thing, which I now find a bit embarrassing
Another possible influence my mom had on my musical taste was West-Indian music: calypso, soca, etc. I’m not sure if we had any albums but we did listen to that stuff on the radio, like Salt Fish by The Mighty Sparrow.
One special moment in my early musical life was the discovery of Jazz. Well, not the whole collection of genres and styles, just this one single track. My dad had the 45 of this song, I didn’t know what it was when I first put it on, but when it started with that weird rhythm on piano I was totally blown away. Then, that lazy, laid-back [brass] began to play and I was mesmerized. I still boast of being able to ‘recite’ the whole track by heart which of course is pure bullshit. The track? Dave Brubeck’s Take Five.
There was quite a lot of my parents’ music that I didn’t like: The Everly Brothers and Simon & Garfunkel come to mind, although later on I learned to appreciate Paul Simon’s work a bit. That’s the other thing, my dad sometimes tried to share good music with me when I was in my teens and being a teenager I just didn’t/couldn’t agree with his opinion/advice. He’s the one who told me to listen to Michael Jackson’s Thriller and Paul Simon’s Graceland. At first I just didn’t listen to those albums, but after a while I really enjoyed them a lot. I mean, Thriller introduced me to the genius of Quincy Jones.
So, yes, it’s fun to look back at what I took from my parents’ music collection and what I learned very quickly was that, like them, I liked different kinds and genres of music. It helped me keep a healthy appitite for music in all its variations. Still can’t get over the Abba thing tho..
Tags: alice-cooper, dave-brubeck, jazz, mahalia-jackson, melanie, music, musical influences, nelson-ned, quincy-jones, the-beatles, the-mighty-sparrow, waldo-de-los-rios
General Description
Artist/Band: Zero 7
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Album Title: Yeah Ghost
Year: 2009
A Different Approach, Still Familiar, Right?
How I Got Into This Music
I’ve been listening to these guys since their first album, Simple Things and I was lucky enough to see them perform live at the Paradiso in Amsterdam a few years ago. They’re one of my favorite bands and I was eager to hear what they’d concocted on this album.
Reviews:
Videos:
Have a listen on:
Tracks that got my attention:
Count Me Out
Holy..
Ehm..
Well, this could be considered as a Fair Warning Intro. The band’s kinda letting the listeners know that things might be a bit different that any previous work. It’s very cinematic, reminiscent of Seventies LCD tripped out movies.
Mr McGee
Another change in the vocal line up. Singer Sia is totally absent from this album, moved on to greener pastures, who knows?
The replacement for the role of main album vocalist: Eska Mtungwazi. Never heard of her before, but she’s got a great and versatile voice. This track’s very up-tempo and kinda groovy with a catchy beat and chorus. It’s a typical scream-along, hum-along, sing-along track. There are traces of Gnarls Barkley and Outkast here.
Swing
Ah, that’s more like it. That would be the reaction of those fans who prefer the more laidback Zero 7 they’ve come to know and love.
It’s a real Summer Walk In The Park kinda track with sweet Feist-like vocals from Martha Tilston.
Everything Up (Zizou)
This is a nice Zero 7, version 2.0 track, with core member Henry Binns on vocals, very much like stuff they recorded on their previous album. I kinda like it; it’s catchy and upbeat with a nice mix of background vocals and simple patterns. The instrumental and more orchestrated bits during the second half of the song are great.
Pop Art Blue
Not working for me. It’s funny, because this track’s really more like their earlier style, but it’s boring. I understand their need to add more variation.
Ghost Symbol
Or, as it’s officially listed: Ghost sYMbOl.
A very interesting track. I’m almost one hundred per cent sure that this one’ll keep growing on me and become one of my favorite tracks of this album.
It’s the whole mix of all their different styles. I find Zero 7 to be looking for a middle ground in the music they’re making. A choice between Pop, Laidback Lounge, Electronic, Dance, etc. And for me, this track is their most successful attempt at mixing it all up into what could be called the Definitive Sound Of Zero 7.
Sleeper
Of the three up tempo tracks they’ve produced with Eska, this one’s the best one.
Solastalgia
Yeah, they’re back with the spacey stuff and it’s quite nice after hearing it a coupla times. It’s perfect for a documentary or a short film.
The Road
Funny, the band makes three up tempo tracks with Eska and they’re kinda okay. The fourth collaboration is laidback, almost gospel and is my favorite track on the album.
Conclusion
Zero 7 is trying to mix things up, again. After Simple Things and When It Falls they changed their game with The Garden, embracing a different mix of electronics and the combo of acoustic guitar with Jose Gonzalez‘ vocals.
With this album, Yeah Ghost, they’ve continued to try and change their style. But it’s a bit Messy: it almost seems like they don’t want to throw out the Old completely or that they still haven’t found their own definition of the New.
A lot of fans might be put off by the New style or just by the fact that it’s Messy. Maybe they just want the Old sound they liked so much. Zero 7 seem to try to keep everybody happy and I’m not sure if that’s a complete success.
Personally, I like part of the New stuff: the orchestral, cinematic stuff. But I find the up tempo poppy New stuff boring. Most of all I’m just curious to see (and hear) how this group keeps working on their music.
A bit of schizophrenia takes the boredom away, so bring it on!
Rating: 
Tags: album-release, gnarls-barkley, jose-gonzalez, music, sia, zero-7
General Description
Artist/Band: Nuyorican Soul ||
Album Title: Nuyorican Soul
Year: 1996
Truly, Masters At Work..
How I Got Into This Music
Television, drug of a nation..
Yeah, saw the video of the Runaway track. Felt good, a bit too retro, but seriously enamoured with the vocals. Kinda stuck in the back of my mind and later on I got the album. Boy, was I pleasantly surprised!
The Nuyorican Soul project is the product of the fabulous DJ duo called Masters At Work: Kenny Dope and Little Louie Vega. These guys are incredible producers, musicians and music fanatics.
Reviews: || || ||
Videos: ||
Have a listen on:
Tracks that got my attention:
Intro
Think about it, how many times can you remember considering a 90 second intro as a full fledged track worth mentioning?
For me, this intro always puts a smile on my face and gets all my aching bones ready for some serious moving and grooving..
I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun
Ultimate Dance Floor Diva Jocelyn Brown giving a wicked performance on this cover. Original by The Rotary Connection (feat. Minnie Ripperton)
This song has become a sort of an Anthem, it’s also been remixed/reworked by Marc Mac on his Chess Cadet All Stars album.
It’s Alright, I Feel It
Taking the piano loop from the previous track, speeding it up, adding some incredible beats and, again, Jocelyn Brown on vocals. This is one of my favorite dance tracks.
Maw Latin Blues
Masters At Work (Maw), these guys are, like I said, music fanatics and with this project they mix all kinds of styles together, including this Latin track with some sweet keyboards and percussion.
Gotta New Life
Not one of my faves, but a great jazzy track with a lovely walking bass, a slightly annoying flute and some sweet vocals.
Nautilus
Spacy stuff, got to be in the right mood to listen to this one.
Habriendo el Dominante
You don’t get any better Latin grooves than this, son! Slow buildup with the percussion and the incredible bass and then we get the piano treating us to some great grooves!
Roy’s Scat
This album introduced me to mister Roy Ayers, Soul Musician Extraordinaire! Doing his scats and playing some sweet vibes.
Sweet Tears
Let’s go Disco! Great production value: vibes and vocals, again, by Roy Ayers. Some classic bass grooves and those strings.. Oh wow! Heheh..
Runaway
This singer, India, just blew my mind. This song is so tailor-made for her voice. Great track.
(thanks, Hieronymus Fox!)
Jazzy Jeff’s Theme
Now this track changed my limited opinion about DJ Jazzy Jeff. Forget the silly tracks with the Fresh Prince. This track shows the Talent and Genius: a scratch instrumental with loops, beats and samples that just leave you flabbergasted.
You Can Do It
Closing track; after disco, latin, scratching and 70s soul, we get George Benson. Wait, what?
Yes, boys and girls, the Masters at Work produced a track that revived my interest in George Benson: a very long and moody intro with soft synth soundscapes backing up mister Benson’s guitar picking skills. And man, the guy is skilled! The main song starts after a while with Benson’s powerful voice and well-known scatting.
Like I said, MAW can do it.
Conclusion
Not all of the tracks are brilliant, but man-o-man, not one song on this album is lacking in quality. People have been taking notes from these lessons in Hi-Quality Music Production from professors Dope and Vega for more than ten years now. Masters at Work, indeed!
Tags: album-review, frenchysfavorites, george-benson, jazzy-jeff, jocelyn-brown, marc-mac, masters-at-work, music, nuyorican-soul, roy-ayers
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