JJ Whitefield just cut a swank sound library album for Sonor Music Editions

JJ Whitefield just recorded what looks and sounds like a classic 70s Italian sound library album for Sonor Music Editions. 

Here's the scoop from Sonor... 

The German guitarist, bandleader and soundscape architect JJ Whitefield has been an innovative force of the contemporary scene of Neo-Jazz-Kraut, and adjacent sub-genres within the world of organic grooves, ever since the early 1990s. The work with his group Poets of Rhythm drew the blueprint for what’s now known as retro-soul, and his creative canvas has never been blank since with numerous solo projects and collaborations across diverse constellations.

'Off The Grid' is yet another testament to JJ Whitefield’s creativity. The album perfectly connects the dots to the spirit of the golden age of library music waving together a rich tapestry of his world of playfulness, hypnotic grooves, and driving drums. It breathes new life into the genre while continuing to shape the future, as he has for over three decades.

Sonor Music Editions beautifully bridges the gap between the past and present, with this album, by featuring a original paintings by Italian artist Vivì as the cover art. Vivì is renowned for creating iconic covers for 1970s library releases such as Paolo Casa’s 'Nature' (Wild Cat – WC 114), 'Movimenti' (Full Records – FRLP 5099), and 'Origini' (Leo Records – LR 21), and Domenico Guaccero’s 'La Cattedrale del Benessere' (Abramo Allione – A.A. 1010), among others. 

Get a copy of JJ Whitefield's Off The Grid album via Bandcamp right here. Those in North America can also try Forced Exposure mail order right here (they should have copies by July 11th). Check out "Other World" and "Fugue De Rock" along with a probing interview with JJ conducted by Milena Zafirova and hip hop historian Florian Gray for The Music Trip following the track listing below.

JJ Whitefield – Off The Grid 

1. Other World 02:25

2. In Transition 01:42

3. Fugue De Rock 02:07

4. Safaripark 02:01

5. Cool It Down 03:22

6. Lake Shala 02:54

7. Bedouin Bounce No. 1 01:32

8. Bedouin Bounce No. 2 01:45

9. Mistery Of Misery 02:25

10. Taped Together 02:01

11. Everyday, Forever 02:17

12. False Advice 02:28

13. Mindless Matters 02:23

14. Fuzzy Dumplings 02:38

15. Snake Charm 03:50

Watch the WITCH video for "Avalanche Of Love" off their Zango album

"Avalanche of Love" is off the forthcoming Zango album – out June 2 – from reconstituted Zamrock crew WITCH. 

You can pre-order a copy of the new WITCH album Zango on limited 'Zambian full moon yellow' vinyl right here.

Midweek Mixdown: JJ Whitefield at Bar Charlie in Munich and more!

Check out JJ Whitefield's entrancing hour-long set at Munich's Bar Charlie followed by some crackly Zamrock finds below.  

Listen to some Zamrock on the Spectrum Road radio show here and a bit of krautrock here and there. 

In the studio with Karl Hector & The Malcouns

"Asteroid" is off Karl Hector & The Malcouns' new Krautrock-inspired album Non Ex Orbis available here. 

Whitefield Bro turns up the heat with "What Remains"

Whitefield Soundz is the latest incarnation of JJ Whitefield (aka Jan Wiessenfeldt to his mom), mastermind of sneaky retro-funkateers Poets Of Rhythm, world groove pioneers Whitefield Brothers, afro-funk turned krautrock commune Karl Hector & The Malcouns as well as many other one-off projects even he probably doesn't remember cutting. This is JJ's new outlet for hip hop inspired experimental funk, taking a "no boundaries" approach to combining all of his influences and laying them over some heavy drums. Of course, our boy has had some prior experience working with MCs, having previously released dope tracks with Mr. Lif, Lyrics Born, Edan, P.E.A.C.E (Freestyle Fellowship), Rammellzee (RIP) and Shockdell which Tricky (remember him?) sampled for 2014's "Lonnie Listen" which – outside of a few dudes named Lonnie – absolutely nobody bothered to check.

On the new Whitefield Soundz seven-inch for Sound Weight Records, JJ creates some fuzzy raw live beats over which emcee Phluid lets loose about how our world is going down the tubes. The flip features a psych-rock version of the Whitefield Brothers classic Safari Strut (Fuzzed) which appeared on the Paris DJs Soundsystem's humbly titled 5CD compilation The Authentic Funk, Hip Hop, Jazz & Soul Experience from last year. This alternate take was actually recorded prior to the version released on The Whitefield Bros widely slept on Earthology album for Now-Again. Have a listen below.