Tales from a recent voyage to NYC.....
I got excerpts from the DJ Shadow record, "Entroducing" which sounds
incredible! I'd write a book on it, but that's all I've been allowed
to say for the moment. Have patience and see for yourselves. If he's
not pushing the limits of what's hip-hop then I don't know who is.
He's currently producing the next U.N.K.L.E. record.
I got a chance to meet J-Live and the guy who made his beats for
"Braggin Writes" and "Longevity". Has anyone else heard this 12"?
J-Live is from Manhattan and performs his own scratches - so he's up
there on stage apparently with two turntables and a long microphone,
all at once. The only other time I've ever seen that was Kutfather of
the Rock Steady Crew at a show in San Diego. Check out J-Live!
I'd like to hear comments about Ras Kass' album "Soul On Ice" if anyone
has heard it. To me it's one of the best lyrical albums in a long
time, It's very dark, full of cynicism, hope, anger, elevation and
frustration. A lot of people will be uplifted or offended, to say the
least.
Jazz related, look out for the debut album, "Raven" on Monarch Records
from Bay Area sax man, Dave Ellis. Dave left the Charlie Hunter Trio
last year to set off his own solo career and this is why - not only is
his playing incredibly fluid and incresingly agile, but he is director
here - a real band leader. The very best the Bay has to offer - Mike
Clark of the Headhunters, Charlie Hunter, Josh Jones, Troy Lampkins,
Jay Lane etc. The next wave of young, high-octane jazz from S.F. is
here!
Props to the Bulletproof Crew for the best DJ gig of the year in San
Francisco - Cold Cut, DJ Food and Funki Porcini a couple of weeks ago
at Mission Rock. I had seen LTJ Bukem and MC Conrad at the same venue
the week before and that was fantastic! A nice URB party. But the
Coldcut boys were on four turntables and a laptop - simultaneous live
broadcast on the Net, with full video, audio, laser show onto different
ships criusing the Bay. Really crazy shit! This crew is advanced!
Any other comments from people who have seen this crew live before?
Other releases to check into - Robert Walter's (keyboardist for the
Greyboy Allstars) "Spirit of the 70's" (with Gary Bartz), The Watts
Prophets "When The 90's Came", Alex Reece's LP "So Far" on Quango, the
Cup of Tea Compilation on Quango, all releases on Sweet Mother
Recordings in Seattle (big up to Nasir), The London Funk Allstars, The
Glamorous Hooligan LP on Delancy, NYC Drum & Bass on Liquid Sky
Recordings, Project 23 on Dorado (Peshay mix - big surprise!), The
Groove Merchant Compilation on Ubiquity, The Angel's latest
collaboration with Smith & Mighty - Jaz Klash's "Intrigue", Killer
Motive's "Pacific Heights" (Street Beats).
And many other great bits from all sides of underground music!
Next Straight No Chaser (issue #38) should be out in a couple weeks!
Peace and respect to anyone pushing outward...
ck smart
415 750-9605