I’m so glad to see a documentary project about the Great Roy Ayers. He is one of my greatest music influences and fathered a lot of people’s style. His work is simply amazing… so it will be good to see his musical journey on screen. This film also has an impressive list of cameos paying homage to “The Man”. He made “We Live In Brooklyn Baby”…. nuff said!!!!!
Production Credits:
Producer: Haylow Overby?
Director: Haylow Overby, Ariel Nuñez?
Camera: Ariel Nuñez, Tony Ng?
Editor: Ariel Nunez
Sound Mixer: Lalo Guzmán??, Ariel Nunez
PA: Michael Austin, Juan Amador?
Motion Graphics: Aries Nuñez
Music: Tall Black Guy ?
Special thanks to Derreck Johnson and Ndugu Chancler
© Roy Ayers Project, 2011
If you’ve been following this 10 vinyl series by The Do Over you know that it’s been really good. Just some exclusive bangers from some of LA’s finsest producers. On this latest project you get a double A side with the brothers from SA-RA… Shafiq and Om’Mas. Here we have Shafiq’s DNA (Splice Mix), that sounds like it could have been on his Jank Random vs. Earl Leone Project. As always enjoy the mp3, but do yourself a favor and pick up the vinyl.
Shafiq Husayn- DNA
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I saw caught this on my man Frei’s facebook page the other day. it’s one of my favorite new joints, just a dope track with a little influence from the JB’s. The call and response, storyteller vibe on this joint brings it home. Look out for FreeLikeFrei’s upcoming project The Grey Era.
I’ve never had the opportunity to go the the legendary FunkJazz Kafe… but if it was anything similar to Thoughtforms Underground, Wetlands, Brooklyn Moon, or The Nuyorican here in NYC…. I’m sure I would have loved it. This documentary is very important to me because it speaks to the history and future of “progressive” Black Music.
This is a completely different era now where Neo-Soul is not only outdated term (these kids will look at you like… you mean Erykah Badu right?), but an afterthought. I’m sure you can go To Afro-Punk and get an idea of where this whole thing is headed… but this documentary will let you know a little bit of the history (if we calling the 90′s history now). Educate yourself if you weren’t there. Sorry to go on a rant… check out the synopsis below.
PRODUCED, WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY JASON ORR
for FunkJazz Kafé/ Life Arts Films
This film is the story of a cultural legend as told by the innovators of an important, and in some cases overlooked, era in Black culture. Spanning the late 1980?s through to the early 2000?s, this story goes deep into the fabric of soul music, it’s definitions, it’s pioneers, it’s offspring, it’s movements, the challenges with the “mainstream” industry and the evolution of the FunkJazz Kafé, a music and arts movement born of Atlanta’s diverse musical heritage. The film covers the decade when Atlanta’s underground music scene became established on the world stage and a new generation of soul singers and musicians emerged.
Synopsis
This video happens to be about two of my favorite artists Trackademicks (easily one of my favorite producers) and the lovely miss Teedra Moses (been a fan since day one). This video is a look into the making of the song Face the Music of of Trackademicks album State of the Arts. Check out the vintage ASR-88 ( nobody had the 88.. couldn’t fit into a bedroom) and the floppy disks… that’s some serious production heads nerd-out moment right there. I can’t front I get kinda jealous when Teedra refers to Trackademicks as her muse… that was supposed to be me SuN!!!!
Shabazz Palaces is the latest creation from former Digable Planets front man Ishmael Butler. On first listen you get this spaced out feel to the music…. vocals coming in and out…. complete switch up in the middle of the songs… just a different vibe. But I must say it’s engaging… like watching a cult sci fi movie waiting to see what’s going to happen next. Black Up was released this week on Sub Pop Records. I say give it a good listen (at least 2-3 times) and see where it takes you.
Shabazz Palaces- Swerve… the reeping of all that is worthwhile (Noir not withstanding)
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Shabazz Palaces- An echo from the hosts that profess infinitum
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Giles Peterson is one of the greatest taste makers… so I always have my ear on what he’s playing and putting out on his label Brownswood Recordings. Here on his Brownswood Electr*c project Gilles brings you his worldview on electronic music. Here’s a banger from producer Ta-Ku available on the Vinyl only…. yes Vinyl only!!! go pick it up!!!!!
Ta-Ku – Hey Kids
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New Jesse Boykins III single from the upcoming album Way of the Wayfarer. On Back Home (Mermaids and Dragons) JB3 decides to switch it up a bit with a psychedelic funk sound, and it bangs!!!! Sounds like the beginnings of another great project.
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I love this music documentary series that ABSOLUT has put together. If you remember a while back there was a similar film with Jay-Z as the subject. The black and white visuals here are stylish and classic, but what really makes this special is Cee Lo’s interviews. So poetic like ” I truly beleive it’s a crime to the canvas to paint the same picture over and over again” what!!! You can head over to the facebook page to watch the rest of the film.
ABSOLUT VODKA presents CEE LO DISTILLED — a peek into the exceptionally creative world of Cee Lo Green.
A Hudson Dusters Film
Music Documentary…. that’s all I need to hear to peak my interest. This is the story of the Kashmere Stage Band and their Director Conrad O Johnson. The story reunites the original band members after an absence of 30 years, to pay tribute to the man that brought them together. This movie seems like a great history lesson for my soul/funk fans. Thunder Soul also won the Audience Award (Lone Star States) @ SXSW this past year.
Synopsis:
THUNDER SOUL tells the true story of Conrad O Johnson and the legendary Kashmere Stage Band
It was afros and pleated shirts; James Brown and Bootsy Collins. It was the ’70s, and an inner-city Houston high school was about to make history. Charismatic band leader, Conrad “Prof” Johnson would turn the school’s mediocre jazz band into a legendary funk powerhouse.
Now, 35 years later, his students prepare to pay tribute to the man who changed their lives, the 92-year-old Prof. Some haven’t played their horns in decades, still they dust off their instruments determined to retake the stage to show Prof and the world that they’ve still got it.
For More Info: http://thundersoulmovie.com/
