The Funky Sounds of Mr. President

After a number of solid singles over the last few years, Mr. President (aka Bruno "Patchworks" Hovart has released a full-length album titled Number One. The funky soulful record includes many of the singles he's released over last few years including "Meet Again", "The Best Is Yet To Come", "Love & Happiness" as well as a slew full of new funky cuts like "From South to North", "Tribute to RZA", "Left & Right", "Get it Sometime" and many others. The album features a number of great vocalists including Mr. Day, Hawa, JRMNM, and Mounam. The whole album has a solid vintage soul and heavy funk groove throughout with plenty of catching vocal hooks that will have just about anyone singing out loud for days. In all, Bruno Hovart, once again under the Mr. President alias, has put together another well-crafted release, resulting in one of the best albums of the year. Enjoy!

Mr. President Feat. Mr. Day - Meet Again



Click Here to purchase Mr. President's new album Number One.

The New Sound of 1974

Right now there is a lot of great new funky and experimental jazz music coming out of Finland and Ricky-Tick Records is one of the big reasons for this recent regional jazz explosion. Over the last half-decade, the label has been highlighting the countries growing jazz scene by releasing a number of great records by Finnish artists like Astro Can Caravan, Timo Lassy, The Five Corners Quintet, Auteur Jazz, Dalindèo, and many others. One of my favorite musicians on Ricky-Tick is trumpet and flugelhorn player Jukka Eskola. Along with playing in The Five Corners Quintet, Jukka has released a couple of solo albums and a few singles including the amazing 2009 LP Walkover. One of my favorite tracks by the Finnish musician has to be the funky jazz gem "1974" which was released as a single back in 2004, as well as included on his self-titled debut the following year. If your one of those individuals that are desperately seeking out to find great new modern jazz music that tend to stretch the boundaries outside of your typical "jazz standard", I highly recommend first seeking out many of the artists on the Ricky-Tick label like Jukka Eskola, as they continue to help shape the future of jazz music. Enjoy!

Jukka Eskola - 1974

Rhythmagic Orchestra

I just received my copy of The Rhythmagic Orchestra's debut LP in the mail last night, and after a couple times through, I must say that this new album is a strong contender for record of the year. The Rhythmagic Orchestra is a collaborative project between notable jazz producer Benedic Lamdin of Nostalgia 77 and Sofrito's very own Hugo Mendez. These two acclaimed producers bring together some of London’s finest jazz musicians, including members of Nostalgia 77 Octet, the Plumstead Radical Club, the Alex Wilson Band, Jazz Jamaica and Ska Cubano, to help share their love for Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz. The album features both original compositions as well as a selection of Afro-Cuban classics that help pay tribute to jazz giants like Dizzy Gillespie, Chano Pozo, and Machito. Some of my favorite cuts include "African Mailman", "Afrodisia", "Fish Market Dance", "Afreaka", and "the Afro-Cuban standard in "Manteca". Overall, Benedic Lamdin and Hugo Mendez along with the help of some amazing musicians have produced a brilliant record that sounds like it was written during the late 50's/ early 60's, however recorded with the production quality that you would find in a modern day studio. The vinyl version of the album was pressed in a very limited run, therefore I highly recommend that you don't sleep on what is probably the year's best album to date. A true 21st-century Afro-Cuban gem!

The Rhythmagic Orchestra - African Mailman
(Song Available for only a few days!)



Click Here to purchase the new album by The Rhythmagic Orchestra.

Brazilian Breaks

Let's start the week off with a funky instrumental Brazilian gem by Som Três titled "Homenagem A Mongo". This rare track was included on the group's very hard-to-find 1969 album Som 3. The track nicely blends together bossa grooves with a bit of a instrumental mod-style pop feel that results in a number of solid breaks that are primed for sampling. A true funky Brazilian classic!

Som Três - Homenagem A Mongo

Wouldn't Change a Thing

One track I've listen to a lot lately has been Coke Escovedo's funky gem "I Wouldn't Change a Thing". This soulful cut was originally released off of Escovedo's 1976 album "Comin' At Ya!". The track has an overall "feel-good" groove, along with a few superb breaks, that nicely compliment the song's catchy chorus and melody. I find that it's the perfect song to listen to at the end of the night or after a long day. Definitely a true gem!

Coke Escovedo - I Wouldn't Change a Thing

Bembeya Jazz National

Here is a funky Afro cut titled "Kana Sarakabo" by the legendary Guinean group Bembeya Jazz National. This track was originally released on the rare 1977 album Discotheque 76. The song was more recently included on the Guinée 70 : The Discotheque Years compilation put out by Discograph records as a part of their superb African Pearls series. Overall, it's just one of the many great tracks written and released by this group, which is considered to be one of the most significant in Guinean music. Enjoy!

Bembeya Jazz National - Kana Sarakabo

Let This Melody Ring On

A few of months ago I posted a funky cosmic jazz gem titled "Chana" by Carlos Garnett (See Journey To The Light). Here is another funky track from the Panamanian-American jazz saxophonist, this time "Good Shepherd" from his 1975 album Let This Melody Ring On. Much like "Chana", "Good Shepherd", is a soulful uptempo jazz gem that maintains a funky groove throughout. I was excited to recently find this album at a record swap a couple of weeks back without knowing much about it. After one listen, came to the simple realization that I had made a great purchase. Enjoy!

Carlos Garnett - Good Shepherd

Life Stories

If there is one record that you need to buy in the next month, it undoubtedly needs to be Strut's new retrospective release on Ghana Afrobeat & Highlife legend Ebo Taylor, entitled Life Stories. This new release is solid from start to finish, highlighting a number of great rare tracks by the legendary Ghanaian guitarist during the musicians most productive years from 1973 to 1980. Some of the many amazing tracks that appear on the record include the funky gems "Heaven", "Atwer Abroba", his collaboration with Pat Thomas titled "Ene Nyame Nam 'A' Mensuro", his collaborative effort with Uhuru-Yenzu titled "What is Life", and the funky "Tamfo Nyi Ekyir" that he composed and arranged for the group Apagya Showband. Overall, it's hard to capture a legend like Ebo Taylor in just one double vinyl record, however Strut has done an amazing job in bringing together and highlighting this legendary Ghanaian artist's most brilliant work in this "must-own" retrospective record. Without a doubt, one of the year's best releases!

Ebo Taylor - Peace on Earth



Click Here to purchase Ebo Taylor's Life Stories.

Dr. Lonnie Smith TONIGHT in SF!

The legendary Hammond B3 master, Dr. Lonnie Smith will be performing Tonight at the Herbst Theatre here in San Francisco as a part of SFJAZZ's Spring Season. I'm personally very excited about this show, as I've been a fan of his music ever since I heard the funky jazz musician's when I came across his amazing 1975 album Afro-Desia a number of years ago. For those that may not know, Smith was a seminal figure during the late sixties and early to mid seventies soul-jazz movement, blending together funky grooves with organ driven jazz fusion. Overall, it should be a good show and more importantly a great opportunity to see a true jazz legend.

Dr. Lonnie Smith - Afrodesia



You can purchase tickets to see Dr. Lonnie Smith by visiting the SFJAZZ website.

Don't Know If It's Right

Here is a great re-edit of Evelyn "Champagne" King's 1977 disco cut "I Don't Know If It's Right" by The Popular People's Front. This re-edit was featured on The Popular Peoples Front's first of their always superb Limited Edition Series twelves. I originally featured this song on this site back in 2007, however have received a few requests to re-post the track, which is something I never mind doing especially when the song or edit is of this quality. Enjoy!

Evelyn "Champagne" King - I Don't Know If It's Right (PPF Re-Edit)