Dusty Runs The Voodoo Down

Last week, I featured the track "Breakdown Treat" from Jazz&Milk Recordings group the Bad Jazz Troupe. Today I thought I would feature one of my favorite tracks from Chistoph Doepke aka Dusty, who happens to be the founder of the funky German jazz label. This funky jazz gem titled "Voodoo" was included both on Dusty's 2008 Keep It Raw album and (for vinyl lovers) Keep It Raw EP. The track nicely blends together a solid dose of Funk, Jazz, and Latin percussion grooves together that should both satisfy jazz enthusiasts as well as the dancefloor. I would continue to check out his own productions and collaborations as well as his label Jazz&Milk Recordings, which is quickly becoming one of the leading labels that are highlighting the future of jazz music.

Dusty - Voodoo

Funk Suprema

I'm very exciting today to share with you one of the re-edits that will be featured on the next upcoming Cabana Disco Vol.05 twelve, which should be going to the pressing plant sometime in the coming week. Due to a recent licensing issue that I would prefer not to get into, I will no longer be posting a lot of information about the edits that will be featured on upcoming releases. If your interested in knowing more about the original track, feel free to email me. Anyways, what I can tell you is that this is an edit of a rare funky Italian gem that was released back in the early seventies. I'm sure some of you will recognize the artist by the tracks vocals. Regardless, I would love to hear feedback from everyone. Enjoy!


Pat Les Stache - Funk Suprema

Sunbear Boogie

Today I thought I would re-post the funky boogie gem "Heard The Voice of Music Say" by the group Sunbear. This rare disco cut was featured on the group's self-titled album that was released back in 1977 off of Don Cornelius's Soul Train Recording label. I actually broke this record out the other night for some close friends at my apartment, and I honestly forgot how great the song actually is. One thing is definitely for sure, it won't be another six months before I decide to drop this boogie classic again. Enjoy!

Sunbear - I Heard The Voice Of Music Say

Breakdown Treat

One of my favorite releases that came out near the end of 2010 was the funky jazz EP, Looking For Jupiter by the group Bad Jazz Troupe. This superb record was released by the German label Jazz&Milk Recordings, which has been releasing a number of great "new school" jazz records over the past few years. The Looking For Jupiter EP consists of six tracks, including three reworkings by Dusty (who is another Jazz&Milk artist), that nicely blend together a solid dose of funky jazz instrumentation alongside a hint of Afrobeat-influenced grooves and breaks. For those that that enjoy the funkier side of jazz music, I highly recommend this EP, which has quickly started to gain some well-deserved praise. Enjoy!

Bad Jazz Troupe - Breakdown Treat

Mista President

With today being President's Day here in the states (I'm still trying to figure out why we celebrate this holiday?), I thought I would post The Souljazz Orchestra's 2007 Afrobeat gem "Mista President". This funky track was featured as the opening track to the Canadian based group's Freedom No Go Die album. I highly recommend checking out this album as well the group's newest release The Rising Sun off of Strut Records. As many new Afrobeat groups continue to surface around the world, The Souljazz Orchestra certainly remains to be one of the leaders of the entire bunch. Enjoy!

The Souljazz Orchestra - Mista President

Tulsa Black

As you might have notice from reading this blog lately, I've really gotten into spiritual jazz. As I continue to learn more about this amazing sub-genre of music, I look forward to sharing on this site some of my favorite selections and records that I come across.

Here is a superb spiritual jazz gem by bassist Cecil McBee titled "Tulsa Black". This funky track was featured on McBee's debut album (as a band leader) Mutima , which was released off the legendary spiritual jazz label Strata-East Records. As soon as I started to listen to jazz, I quickly learned that just about everything released on Strata-East is amazing and quite expensive if you happened to come across any of their original pressings. Overall, Mutima is solid album from start to finish that truly captures the acclaimed bassist at his best. Enjoy!

Cecil McBee - Tulsa Black

The Future of Afro Beat

The superb German label Tramp has just released the third, and in my opinion, most impressive volume of their Contemporary compilation series, this time with the focus on the exciting wave of new Afro beat music and groups that have been arising over the past few years. Some of the group's featured on this amazing new compilation, Contemporary Afro Beat, are Fanga, Odu, N'Ghare Hi Power Band, Akoya Afrobeat Ensemble, Kokolo Afrobeat Orchestra, Jojo Quo & His Challengers, and many many more. One of my favorite tracks is Express Brass Band's funky Afro gem "Radio Kabul", which has an overall soulful feel-good groove. Overall, Tramp Records has done an amazing job of putting together a solid compilation that truly highlights the future of Afro beat. Enjoy!

Express Brass Band - Radio Kabul



Click Here to purchase Tramp's new compilation Contemporary Afro Beat.

Journey To The Light

Let's start the week off with one of the funkiest jazz gems I think I've ever heard in Carlos Garnett's 1974 cut "Chana". This track was originally released off of the Panamanian-American jazz saxophonist's full-length album Journey To Enlightenment which features some nice percussion work by Charles Pulliam(congas), Neil Clarke(percussion), and Howard King(Drums). The track, as well as the rest of the album, has an overall funky spiritual jazz feel that, at least for me, is simply addicting to listen to. With "Chana", Garnett proves again how funky spiritual jazz can actually be. Enjoy!

Carlos Garnett - Chana

Love Music

Here are some disco "Love Jams" to help get you through this Valentine's Day! Enjoy!

Donald Byrd - Love Has Come Around



The Popular Peoples Front - I Love Only You

African Rumble

As I start to wind down my first week working for a great jazz organization in SFJAZZ, I admit that I've been listening and being inspired lately by a lot of funky and spiritual jazz music. Here is a funky African-influenced jazz gem titled "African Rumble" by the saxophonist Timo Lassy. This track was originally released as a twelve-inch single and later included on Timo's debut solo record The Soul & Jazz Of Timo Lassy which was released off of Finland's Ricky-Tick Records (Which right now is releasing the best new jazz music in my opinion). I think my favorite part of the track is the solid percussion work by Teppo Mäkynen. Both Mäkynen and Lassy perform in another Ricky-Tick Records band in The Five Corners Quintet, which I also recommend checking out. Overall, "African Rumble" is a superb jazz cut, that nicely draws it's inspiration from African rooted grooves. Enjoy!

Timo Lassy - African Rumble

Georgy Porgy

Here is a great rare boogie take of Toto's 1978 soulful soft-rock cut Georgy Porgy by the group Charme. This funky version of the song, which also features Luther Vandross on lead vocals, was included on the group's 1979 album Let It In. I've always been a fan of Toto's original version, however this is a nice boogie rendition of the classic. Enjoy!

Charme - Georgy Porgy

Cosmic Meteor Shower

As time has gone on and as I become more familiar with the group's music, the Finland based group Astro Can Caravan has certainly become one of my favorite modern-day experimental jazz bands. The band recently released a new album, which is currently only in CD format, called Planet Caravan off of Ricky-Tick Records. The funky album brings together elements of Ethio-Jazz, Afro-beat, and cosmic fusion grooves to produce a unique and explosive sound. The album also incorporates all three tracks that were included on the incredible 2009 twelve The Nagual Julian EP which was also released on Ricky-Tick Records, and a few of the songs that were featured on the group's hard-to-find 2005 album 21st Century Drifting Episode. Here is one of my favorite tracks off the new album in "Meteor Shower Gel", which is a good example of how this group continues to experiment and expand their own unique sound. The good news is that according to the Ricky-Tick label website, a vinyl version of the album will also be released sometime in the near future. Until then, enjoy this funky gem!

Astro Can Caravan - Meteor Shower Gel

A Gathering of African Rhythms

It probably couldn't be anymore fitting that the day I start my new job working for SFJAZZ, would be the same day that one of my favorite jazz artists in Randy Weston will be performing here in San Francisco. Tonight at the San Francisco Yoshi's, the legendary jazz pianist will be putting on a solo performance as well as discussing both his new album The Storyteller and his recently released autobiography African Rhythms. Last summer when I saw him perform during the Stanford Jazz Festival, I was absolutely blown away not just by the incredible performance that both he and the African Rhythms trio put on that night, but also by the priceless insight into African culture and jazz music that he shared with the audience. As I continue to read through his autobiography, I continue to be fascinated by this musicians life that took him from hanging out with jazz giants like Thelonious Monk and Max Roach to moving to Africa, playing occasionally with Fela Kuti and opening up a night club in Morocco. I've always enjoyed how Weston has continued to bring both jazz and African music together, focusing on the music's traditional roots and culture. Tonight, I look forward to opening my mind and taking in all the invaluable wisdom that this jazz legend will certainly share.

Randy Weston's African Rhythms - The Gathering



To Buy a Ticket to the Show Click Here.

Afro Rock Five

I thought I would end the week with the Afro funk gem "Marie Thérèse" by the group Malinga Five. This was just one of the many great tracks off the group's superb 1977 album Rock Africa, which I've featured a few times on this site (SEE Malinga Five). The track "Marie Thérèse" was also included on a 45RPM (which is pictured above) alongside another great track in "Kalimbo" a year prior to the full-length album was released. Overall, another solid track from what I can tell is one of the best Afro funk records of all-time in Rock Africa. Enjoy!

Malinga Five - Marie Thérèse

Freedom Road

As the world continues to watch what looks to be a full-blown revolution in Egypt, I thought it might be slightly fitting and maybe a little ironic to feature the soulful revolutionary classic "Freedom Road" by The Pharaohs. This funky track was released by the Chicago-based group back in 1971 off of the small label Scarab Records and later reissued in the mid nineties by Luv N' Haight. Both the reissue and the original pressing are pretty rare to find these days, therefore if you have the extra cash on hand, I highly recommend snatching up the album if you ever come across it. The track "Freedom Road" was also recently included on the superb Soul Jazz Records compilation "Freedom Rhythm & Sound", which I featured on this site a couple weeks ago (SEE Freedom, Rhythm, & Sound. By no means am I trying to get too political here, however hopefully through this historic uprising by what seems to be the oppressed Egyptian people, they too will soon be able to sing the same words that are expressed in this song. Enjoy!

The Pharaohs - Freedom Road

It's the Yellow Sunshine, Shinning So Bright

If you've been anywhere around the Bay Area the past few weeks you would have a hard time remembering that we just entered the month of February. Outside of maybe a couple of days of light rain, the weather has been sunny and pretty warm compared to the rest of the US. With that being said, I thought I would show my enthusiasm for this beautiful weather by featuring the 1973 funk classic "Yellow Sunshine" by the group Yellow Sunshine. This funky gem was the title track to the Philadelphia band's only album, which notably featured Dexter Wansel on keyboards. Overall, "Yellow Sunshine" is a true funk classic that helps bring some warmth to even the coldest climates. Enjoy!

Yellow Sunshine - Yellow Sunshine

Grow Up TONIGHT!

This Wednesday night (TONIGHT!) is another monthly installment of Grow Up at Madrone (500 Divisadero Street @ Fell). This month's party will feature a special guest deejay set by the founder/writer of the incredible Soul Persuasion Blog, Kid Inquisitive. His impressive collection of boogie, soul, and disco will certainly be on display, as the East Bay native makes a very rare deejay appearance here in the city. The night will also of course include Grow Up residents Hotthobo, Fenstar, and myself (Pat Les Stache. It should be another fun night, so DON'T MISS OUT!!!

To Learn more, go to the Facebook Event Page.

Zulu Your Ass Off

With the Waxpoetics' Dance Issue shortly arriving to newsstands everywhere, I thought I would post the funky cut "Zulu" by Hamilton Bohannon, who will be one of the many influential artists featured in this much-anticipated issue. This funky guitar-driven instrumental track was featured on Bohannon's 1976 album Dance Your Ass Off. The track is a five-plus minute on-going variation of one guitar groove. I find that this is the perfect kind of transitional track to play in between two different sub-genres within a mix or deejay set. Overall, it's just one of the many great songs Bohannon produced during his very accomplished music career. To learn more about the Waxpoetics upcoming Dance Issue, visit the magazine's website.

Hamilton Bohannon - Zulu