Thank You!

I'm sad to announce that today's post will be the final one here on this site. Over the past six months I've found that I wanted to shift my focus onto other new projects which would include a new site called Village Dance Radio dedicated to jazz and Afro-Latin grooves. I hope that many of you will enjoy this new site as much as you've enjoy this one.

I admit that it was a very difficult decision to move on from this blog. Over the past 5+ years that I have been maintaining this site on a daily basis, I have had the priceless opportunity both online and in-person to meet many people from all over the world including many that I now consider friends in places like Paris, London, New York, Vancouver, Seattle, and San Francisco. It's at times acted not only as a place to share some of my favorite music, but as an online journal of my life from my grandmother passing, to me getting married (to my amazing and beautiful wife - I might add), my many cross-state moves , etc., and I just want to say thanks for all the support I've received over the years. I had no idea that a little blog like this one could result in such a wonderful place to share music on a daily basis while in the end, meeting so many new friends. I really hope that many of you continue to stay in touch as I focus on new projects including my new site which I've just added the first post. I will continue to release the Cabana Disco series as well as a new re-edit 12" on Kojak Giant Sounds later this fall/winter. I'm also flirting with the idea of starting a new Tropical-funk/jazz night in possibly either SF or Oakland.

In all, there is not much I can say other than THANK YOU! This site (which will remain up hopefully permanently as an archival site) has played a major part in my life and I'm am absolutely grateful that I had the chance to do it for so many years and share it with all of you.

This is TJ (aka Pat Les Stache) signing off with a final track from Arthur Russell (which I thought would be appropriate). Enjoy!

Arthur Russell - Let's Go Swimming (Coastal Dub version)

Racetrack in France

Here is another solid track from Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson titled "Racetrack France". This funky gem was released on the duo's 1977 album Bridges which features a number of other greats songs including "Hello Sunday! Hello Road!", "Under The Hammer", and "We Almost Lost Detroit". Overall just another must-own release from the legendary soul-funk duo.

Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson - Racetrack France

GROW UP - Tuesday Night!

If this Halloween weekend wasn't enough for ya, come hang out this Tuesday night at Amnesia (853 Valencia St., San Francisco) for another rendition of Grow Up. This month, residents Hotthobo, Fenstar, and Pat Les Stache will be joined by SweaterFunk's own Two Step Lou who always drops a great set of boogie and disco jams. It should be another great night. I hope to see everyone out!

Learn more about the monthly disco/boogie night by going to the Facebook Event page.

The Soul of Africa

Let's end the week with a selection from one of my favorite African jazz records "Soul of Africa" which was a collaborative effort between saxophonist Hal Singer and pianist Jef Gilson. The album, which was originally released back in 1974 and later re-issued by Kindred Spirits, features a number of amazing Afro-centric jazz tracks including "Mother Africa", "Liberation", "Garvey's Strut", and my personal favorite "Chant Inca". With the original almost impossible to find, this is one re-issue definitely worth picking up. For those that enjoy this album I highly recommend checking out some of Gilson's other work including Malagasy, Malagasy At Newport-Paris, Le Massacre Du Printemps, Œil Vision, as well as the recent "Best of" release Jazzman Records put out this year. Enjoy!

Hal Singer & Jef Gilson - Chant Inca

Benin's Godfather of Funk

Daptone Records has just released an incredible retrospective release paying tribute to the Benin funk legend El Rego. Rego (full name Theophile Do "El" Rego), along with his band Ses Commandos released a number of priceless gems during the sixties and seventies that helped kick start Benin's culturally rich funk movement that produced other great artists like Gnonnas Pedro, Antoine Dougbé, T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo De Cotonou, and others. On this new retrospective release, Daptone Records has compiled a diverse selection of El Rego's greatest songs including "Feeling You Got", "Djobime", "Hessa", "E Nan Mian Nuku" and "Do Do Baya". The record really does a nice job of showcasing the diverse sound of El Rego's music which includes elements of funk, soul, traditional African rhythms, and Afrobeat grooves. This release is not only a tribute to El Rego, but an important look into Benin's explosive music scene during the sixties and seventies. I couldn't recommend this record enough! Daptone Records has done a great service to all by providing an accessible and affordable way for many to explore the legend that is El Rego. Enjoy!

El Rego - Zon Dede



Purchase Daptone Record's new El Rego retrospective release by clicking here.

South African Man

Let's start the week off with probably my all-time favorite Hamilton Bohannon song in "South African Man". This funky cut was the title track to Bohannon's 1974 hard-to-find album release. The South African Man LP probably represents one of Bohannon's rarest releases. The album is solid from start to finish, including other standout cuts like "Keep on Dancing", "Truck Stop", "Dance With Your Parno" and a few others. The entire record has a bit of a heavy-hittin' Afro-funk groove throughout which really helps separate this release from some of Bohannon's other more "disco-fied" records. An absolute gem!

Hamilton Bohannon - South African Man

Happy Birthday Dizzy!

With Dizzy Gillespie being one of my all-time favorite jazz artists, and today being his birthday(Thanks to Google for the reminder), I thought I would pay tribute to the jazz legend by featuring another one of my favorite tracks by Gillespie in "N'Bani". This funky track was featured on Gillespie's 1970 album The Real Thing. As I've probably mentioned before on this site (see Funky Manteca), Gillespie was one of the first jazz artists I grew to enjoy and really appreciate. His music was the start of me opening up to jazz music in general and it has since played a major influence on me musically. With that being said, he would have been 94 years old today and even though he is not with us physically anymore, his music is still very much alive and breathing in many of us. So here is to you Dizzy, Happy Birthday!

Dizzy Gillespie - N'Bani



And as a bonus...

Dizzy Gillespie - Manteca

If You Ever Needed Somebody

Here's a great disco/boogie gem from Charles Veal titled "If You Ever Needed Somebody". This funky track was featured on the violinist and multi-instrumentalist's 1980 album Only the Best. Just a little something' to help you get through your Wednesday. Enjoy!

Charles Veal - If You Ever Needed Somebody

Wake Up Your Mind

This week the French label Hot Casa Records released an official re-issue of Joni Haastrup's classic Afro-funk album Wake Up Your Mind. This was the Nigerian-born and now Oakland, Ca. based solo album, however not his only music contribution to the world. Before releasing his solo record back in 1978 off of the Afrodisia label, Haastrup was featured on many notable African-based records including Orlando Julius' 1966 album Super Afro Soul, as well as playing guitar and keys in Ginger Baker's African inspired group Ginger Baker's Air Force. During the mid seventies Haastrup led the Afro-funk/ Afrobeat band MonoMono, who released a couple of amazing records which have just been re-released by Tummy Touch and Soundway Records. Overall, the man once known as Nigeria's "Soul Brother Number One" has contributed quite a bit musically to the world, and his late seventies masterpiece Wake Up Your Mind is an absolute gem that helps capture the brilliance of this legendary artist. Please go do yourself a favor and purchase all of these recent released re-issues!!!

Joni Haastrup - Greetings

New Release on Kojak Giant Sounds!

I'm excited to announce that my next re-edit 12" will be released by the Finland based label Kojak Giant Sounds. Over the last two years this label, which is run by DJ Ionik, has teamed up with some major heavy weight producers/deejays including Beatfanatic, Mike Burns, Leftside Wobble, Maxxi Soundsystem, Rayko, Nicholas Iammatteo and others to release some of the best disco/ boogie edits out there. My release with this label should be out sometime later this fall and will feature two edits, which you can hear by checking out Kojak Giant Sounds SoundCloud page. I'll continue to keep everyone posted as to the actual release of the new record once I have that information. Enjoy!

Pat Les Stache - "Odeiyolaoo Mambo" by Kojak Giant Sounds™