Such an important record for me... Samples meet playing with tight production in a cohesive work. Influences are varied but sonically coherent. Aesthetically its more than Acid Jazz or Trip Hop. This is just good music. This record really helped to broaden and deepen my understanding of music as art as well as culture while encouraging me to try to make some of my own. An amazing work.
@_kemst_ breaking down his live setup. No laptop, no need for AC power. So good. Also the tip of tumeric and ginger for the health and the self, (life is more than just music after all). Good catching up with a great individual.
More Giant Step quality, this time in the form of DJ Smash rolling solo. The subversive sampling and grimy production perfectly contrast much of the smoothness of this era without contradicting it. Gritty, sexy, essential.
Trip Hop could be a mixed bag, but at its best it showed the possibilities that sampling unlocked for new music. J Saul Kane, label don and producer extraordinaire knew this. Besides melting our brains with tracks like 'Spice' as part of Eon, Kane took the power of sampling to a different place than hip hop or big beat. The vibey, cinematic feel blended the established aesthetic of film score with the emerging discipline of creative sampling to fantastic effect. Classic.
This one is so important to me. The intersection of moments and influences in one song. A John Coltrane standard played by Giant Step NYC, the band from the club that anchored the Acid Jazz movement in America at that time. MLK floated over the top with words as appropriate at that time as they were when first spoken, as unfortunate as that is to have to say. This classic, on one of the most vital labels of the scene, @doradorecords is that perfect, potent combination of heart and mind and timeliness. This label, home of Brooklyn Funk Essentials, Jhelisa, D*note, and Cool Breeze (among many others), followed in the footsteps of the classic jazz imprints that influenced it. Pretty much buy whatever they release, it's quality. So brilliant.
One of my favorite artists singing one of my favorite songs. When I first started thinking about playing out, the acid jazz scene was in full bloom with DJs playing a spectrum of sounds from jazz and r&b to hip hop and house and everything in between. I played at a party called 45 vibe, a restaurant situation where they make a little room and people vibe out at a cool venue. The resident, Mark Farmer, was a pretty serious critic but also important quality control for a scene that could easily just be 'jazzy hip hop' with some live musicians. This track made it into my set and the feeling of playing a song you rock to on the daily in a live setting was a great start to my DJ journey. I can't overstate the impact of @sade in my life. Having deeply meaningful music that I shared with my parents was such a gift. This pivotal time when I was finding my sound, songs like this helped me feel confident in the quality of what I was playing. So grateful for this one.🙏🙏🙏
One of my favorite records ever made, this is the bridge between all of the styles of music I've ever played. I have remixes and samples from this in acid jazz, house, breaks, d&b and other styles. From the opening of the film 'Belly' to dancefloors around the world, this song has been everywhere. Crucial. @soul2souluk
Funny enough, just heard a remake of this on @mikemillrain 's d3ep' n' bumpy show. Bought this long before I knew how to 'properly' shop, (like listen ahead of time and not just buy blindly). Fortunately enough, one of my heroes, @stevesilkhurley was on the remix. Hooky, soulful, uplifting, brilliant. If you need a pick me up, give this a spin.
This one is an absolute classic. I heard it on KXLU in the 90s on the 'Move' show hosted by Jason Bentley and Michael Cook. Floaty, sexy, soulful, brilliant.
Unlike many of the records I'll include in these posts, this isn't what I'd call a classic. That said, it had a big impact in me with the blend of good pop /r&b songwriting, and tight 90s house production. I go back to it from time to time because it kind of checks most of the boxes for records of that era. It simultaneously gives me ideas for new tracks in this vein while also picking up my day. Love it.
Did a Logic for Artists class at MI.
If you use Logic and want to speed up your workflow, while learning some cool tricks at the same time, this workshop is for you.
Link in bio
@mihollywood
Another tune that I first heard working at the clothing store, I thought that there was no way that this was the same Nile and Bernard from 'Le freak', (a record my parents wore out dancing to in the den). But it was. Add to this that Nellee Hooper did the remix (my favorite version of the song and a big part of the sound I was soon to play during my acid jazz days). This was much of what became my taste in house music, and bridged the music of my youth with the sound that would help change the course of my life. I love all of the eras of music in my life, but I always found my way back to house, and this record is a big part of why. Amazing.
The ballroom mix of 'surrender yourself' is one of my favorite records ever recorded. @dannytenagliaofficial did the remix and this is one of the first tracks where I tried to learn from the choices made in it. I started to look at the placement of elements, the way that moments were crafted and teach myself how to do that. Didn't seek this one out, it was a random promo that just spoke to me, and still does. So good.
So this is another one near and dear to my heart. I was working at a men's clothing store in high school that sold streetwear before it had a name. Kikwear, Karl Kani, Cross Colours and lots of smaller brands like this were the vibe. We had a version of a muzac system but instead of bad easy listening, we got tapes from New York featuring house music. I started writing down the names of the songs I liked (there were track listing's). I didn't shop until later because I wasn't a dj yet, but I wanted to know who the songs were by. Then little but little I started buying these tunes. Besides helping to populate my closet with mustard colored goodness (and a fair bit of rayon), I started to find a modern music that spoke to me. Super thankful for this whole time. As much as I loved hop hop and r&b, house music felt like what I wanted to say and play for the world.
Also I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the amazing Masters at work with their remix on the flip.
So gonna kick off the journey through my vinyl as I'm digitizing it. This one is as important to me as it is beloved. 'we had a thing' came along as I was looking for more soulful uptempo tunes. I started my DJ journey buying house music but started playing out with acid jazz. Most of my stuff was in the 90bpm range with some mid tempo thrown in. This track reminded me of the power of soulful vocals at this speed and the tug of my house roots reinvigorated by musical mojo. Amazing.
Some great stuff at NAMM 2024
Looks about right.
Cleaning out drawers I found this... So lucky to have seen the man do his thing.