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

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. 

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.

Bajka's new single "The World" out Sept 9

Bajka reunites with Das Goldenes Zeitalter collaborator Max Weissenfeldt for her new Philophon seven-inch.

Bajka and Max Weissenfeldt (Poets Of Rhythm, Whitefield Brothers) first met each other when they both attended the same school in Munich, Germany. Their first recordings - under the name Das Goldenes Zeitalter - took place in 1998 and were subsequently released as a three-track 12" EP by Jazzman Records in 2006. Fans of 70s vintage Strata-East and Black Jazz recordings should check out Bajka's amazing performance on the epic "A Vision" from the EP which appears at the end of this post.  


Now, Bajka has found her way back to her musical family via the Philophon label, joining a growing roster of talented artists including The Polyversal Souls, Roy X, Guy One, Alogte Oho Jonas, Hailu Mergia, Idris Ackamoor and The Pyramids, Jimi Tenor and Y-Bayani.

"The World" is driven by the heavyweight drumming of Max, counterpointed by the iridescent voice of Bajka. She reflects the glory of our world by showing the listener through her talent that she in person is for sure part of that glory. On the flip side, "Invisible Joy", Bajka gives her own interpretation of Philophon's own label anthem, which was previously the title track of The Polyversal Souls' celebrated debut album. Listen to Bajka's recording of "The World" below.

A taste of Todd Simon's Ethio-Colombian blend

The Munich-based Jazz & Milk label is launching a new compilation series of previously unavailable recordings with the 6-song various artist Footprints 12" EP (and digital download). After a quasi Afro-funk joint by Bad Jazz Troupe remixed by Jazz & Milk founder Dusty and some MPC-based bedroom house trickery from Vienna's Sam Irl, comes the compilation's real standout track – the hard-swingin' Ethio-Colombian hybrid "Sidama De Cali" by Todd Simon and the Angel City All Star Brass Band.

Inspired by the custom coffee blends which Simon brews, "Sidama De Cali" essentially just horns and percussion but thanks to Simon's tight arrangement the 21-piece ACASBB's debut release comes together seamlessly. And yes, the rumour that the guacharaca scraping comes courtesy of Will "Quantic" Holland is true.

No doubt some fans of the Poets of Rhythm and Whitefield Brothers will want to grab this limited-run 12" for the JJ Whitefield-penned "Who's Foolin' Who?" pounded out with pan-African finess by Karl Hector & The Malcouns but "Sidama De Cali" by the ACASBB is the real gem as you can hear below.

Todd Simon & The Angel City All Star Brass Band - Sidama De Cali
 

Master Class In Earthology

As it turns out, the first great album release of 2010 is not Vampire Weekend's Contra after all, it's the Whitefield Brothers' Earthology (Now Again), the long overdue follow-up to 2002's In The Raw (Soul Fire).
Whereas the full-tilt garage funk of Germany's mysterious Jan and Max Weissenfeldt had been putting down under their Whitefield Brothers alias – they're also known as the Poets Of Rhythm, Pan-Atlantics, Soul-Saints Orchestra, Mighty Continentals, Bus People Express and the Malcouns – had already begun showing the hallmarks of a West African inspiration, they've worked through their Afrobeat jones in the years between Whitefield sessions. These hombres aren't your typical "world music" dabblers, they're more like dedicated cultural research scientists seeking alternative remedies for repetitive rhythm fatigue in hopes of ultimately finding a cure for indie-rock boredom. All of the time not spent collaborating with musicians from around the globe to glean their modes and moves (Max reportedly even took a fact-finding trip to Burma to pick up the finer points of Saing Waing music), they were piecing together the funky secrets from the ancient vinyl artifacts they'd excavated. 
That's not to suggest the resulting Earthology album sounds like it came out of a laboratory. On the contrary, the Whitefield Brothers pride themselves on their "raw soul" attack and although some of the grime has been removed to give clarity to the colouring of the gongs, flutes and various exotic string and percussion textures, the grooves are still built on a foundation of hard-pounding drums and bumpin' basslines which remain stone solid throughout. 
Since they've had the necessary time to absorb their influences, they're able to create exciting new compositions that are uniquely Whitefield Brothers which may recall something you've heard from Multatu Astatke, Salah Ragab or Mustafa Özkent without aping them. The addition of guest vocalists including the fantastic Bajka along with credible rappers Percee P, Mr. Lif, MED and Edan in addition to the stellar supporting cast of musicians from El Michels Affair, Antibalas as well as the mighty Dap Kings horn section ensures that there will be no mistaking Earthology for anything but a contemporary funk masterwork of devastating power.

Boston-raised MCs Mr. Lif and Edan throwdown on the album's lead single, The Gift which you can check out here.
Now Again has just released The Gift as part of a 12" EP featuring Oh No's Gifted remix and instrumental versions of each. It comes housed in a beautifully illustrated sleeve by Lewis Heritz who also designed the dope Earthology cover.

Obsessive collectors should note that there's also a super limited Whitefield Brothers seven-inch single which boasts the otherwise unavailable track Savannahstan (with Castor Pollux on drums). It's available exclusively with initial copies of Earthology purchased at the Stones Throw site. See link below.

Links
myspace www.myspace.com/thepoetsofrhythm
web page www.nowagainrecords.com/whitefield-brothers
Stones Throw www.stonesthrow.com/store/album/whitefieldbrothers/earthology
Bajka myspace http://www.myspace.com/bajkamusic
Bajka's Lyrical Funk Podcast http://parisdjs.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=426039#



Sahara Swing by Karl Hector and the Malcouns