HOLIDAY

I'm off for some dune buggying and diving so no music from me for a week or so...

Grover Washington Jr. - Let It Flow (For Dr. J)

If this track hasn't been edited by some dancefloor don it's a crime, but I certainly haven't heard a version. It's all there, just crying out for it. 16 clean bars at the beginning, a sleazy riff, fat slabs of bass, warm electric piano and crystal clear percussion. It's probably because Grover's sax refrain is just tooooo smooooooth for today's tastes. The LP name and cover don't mislead - it really is like vaseline. I might have to have a go with Ableton myself when I get a few hours free. Tap that foot, stroke your nipples and by the time Grover really starts getting down you'll be wishing your velour dressing gown was on the floor and you were making the best use of a white leather sofa.

Grover Washington Jr. - Let It Flow (For Dr. J) - Winelight - 1980

Carmen Visagie - Midnight Hour EP

Continuing on a South African theme, check out these two tracks from my criminally unsigned friend Carmen Visagie. Think a heady mix of Sade and Monday Michiru, but somehow more human and approachable. Just a great voice and great tunes. Let me know what you think.

Carmen Visagie - Friendly - Midnight Hour EP
Carmen Visagie - Midnight Hour - Midnight Hour EP

You can hear a couple more tracks on her MySpace page.

I first met Carmen in 1998. I was at my then girlfriend's flat at the Trellick Tower end of Ladbroke Grove and it was 6am. She and my great friend Nick, both battered, woke us up at the end of their first date. They're now married with a beautiful baby and, sadly for me, living about as far away as they possibly could in Tasmania.

Dollar Brand - Bra Joe From Kilimanjaro

A long, long tune from the South African Dollar Brand (who later changed his name to Abdullah Ibrahim). Perfect for dozing in the sun after slightly too much good food. After a piano only opening, a bit like some climax in a Buster Keaton movie, the tune relaxes into a circular piano riff that just keeps going. There's some lovely trumpet and an easy, not contrived Eastern feeling to the whole thing. I'm sorry to say I'm not sure where I've picked up this version from. It's quite different from the version from the album with the cover above, or from the live recording also available, and I haven't ripped it from my Dad's two track record either.

Dollar Brand - Bra Joe From Kilimanjaro

George Duke - Brazilian Love Affair

Nursing a killer hangover that even a disgusting big mac and fries has not been able to fix. It seems a wonderful thing that the Dolphin stays open late the night before. The morning after it does not. So today, following on from the previous post, we have the super smooth palliative that is the title cut from George Duke's 1979 Brazilian Love Affair.

George Duke - Brazilian Love Affair - Brazilian Love Affair - 1979

Codebreaker - Dream Lover

Codebreaker contacted me about the release of their new album Exiled! and you can hear a few tracks at TheirSpace. In honour of our sunny sunny Easter I picked the most summery track to post here. If George Duke's Brazilian Love Affair had been with Don Ray and they'd adopted a love child, this is what it would sound like.

Codebreaker - Dream Lover - Exiled! - 2007

Strings of Inner City Life

Photo taken on a recent walk around the site of the 2012 Olympics in East London.

Spreading the Word has posted the excellent live instrument 'jazz' version of Strings of Life by Chris Prommer. Go over and get yourself a copy. Remaking classic modern tunes this way is not new. The German group Re:Jazz has recorded albums full of them, including a fantastic version of Goldie's classic Inner City Life a couple years back, and Crybo's post has inspired me to put this up for you. The drum 'n' bass anthem turned into the deepest night-time vocal jazz...

Re:Jazz - Inner City Life
Goldie - Inner City Life (short single version)

Inner Life & Jocelyn Brown - I Like It Like That (Shepp Pettibone 12" Remix)

A special post for AtticaBlues74...This track can be found on the excellent Inner Life Anthology lovingly put together by Salsoul.

Inner Life & Jocelyn Brown - I Like It Like That (Shepp Pettibone 12" Remix)

Norman Connors - Captain Connors

Back from a great away win at Coventry and I haven't fully got my voice back yet. Tried soothing it with excess Easter chocolate and feeling a bit sick now after dancing around to this, the 12" version of Captain Connors, the bonus track from the CD reissue.

Norman Connors & The Starship Orchestra - Captain Connors (12" Version)

William Onyeabor

A wonderful tune. It's got funk 'n' shuffle. Deep bass. Rough percussion. A synth solo. Political lyrics. What more do you want? I don't know anything about this bloke except he's Nigerian, and this track has appeared on a couple compilations.

William Onyeabor - Better Change Your Mind