Friday, February 28, 2014

ART ON WAX: Frequency #2 [DJ Kool Emdee All Vinyl Guest Mix]


I did this mix about 3 months ago and finally got it over to DJ Keva. Here's the all vinyl set I did for her. Check out the set and be sure to visit her website for all sorts of goodies and well written articles. Enjoy!

ART ON WAX OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Friday Flashback: Pink Floyd


We revisit "Money", a classic rock tune from English progressive rock band Pink Floyd, one of my all-time favorite rock songs that has a euphoric effect on me every time I hear it. Taken from their Dark Side of the Moon album that was released in 1973, the song is noted for having an unusual 7/4 time signature throughout the majority of the song, but switches to a 4/4 time signature for the extended guitar solo played by David Gilmour.

Dark Side of the Moon was recorded from 1972 to 1973 at the infamous Abbey Road Studios. Effects such as reverb, multi-tracking tape machines, and automatic double tracking were used to help give "Money" a psychedelic feel, with the exception of the guitar solo, which has more of a "dry" feel. The foundation of the song is based on standard 12 bar blues, originated by W.C. Handy. "Money" was ranked #69 on the list of "The 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time" of Rolling Stone Magazine.

Personnel includes; David Gilmour (guitars, vocals), Roger Waters (bass guitar, tape effects), Richard Wright (Wurlitzer electric piano), Nick Mason (drums), with Dick Parry (tenor saxophone).



Thursday, February 27, 2014

Happy Birthday: Michael Holman


Happy Birthday shouts go out to Michael Holman, who can be referred to as the "Don Cornelius of Hip-Hop" due to his short lived 1984 Hip-Hop dance show and showcase called "Graffiti Rock", that featured Bronx River disc jockey GQ DJ Jimmie Jaz, Shannon, Run-DMC, Kool Moe Dee and Special K of The Treacherous Three, and the New York City Breakers. Not only did he produce the show in his own nightclub called "Negril" in New York City, he also played a role in producing "Beat Street" that premiered in movie theaters that same year.

Michael Holman x GQ DJ Jimmie Jaz on the set of Graffiti Rock

Outside of being a key figure in widening the audience for Hip-Hop, Holman was also a pioneer in the New York City arts scene. On that scene is where he met artist Jean Michel Basquiat and they later formed the industrial avant-garde band called Gray, in which Holman was the drummer.

GRAY (L to R, featuring Jean Michel Basquiat, Michael Holman, Wayne Clifford, Shannon Dawson)

For more information log on to: MichaelHolman.com
Here's the video of the show in its entirety.

Airborne: Silver Skies [25th Anniversary CD]


We take our hats off and salute our friends known as Airborne as they are celebrating 25 years of recording. Airborne's collective of amazing and inspiring musicians was started in the early 1980's by Thomas Sansone, Thomas Borino, and Greg Borino in New Haven, Connecticut, where its members were born and raised. Having already formed for several years, Airborne did their first of a series of recordings in 1988.

After many years of performing, the release of several CD's , many compositions that are recorded and produced by themselves, Airborne marks a huge milestone for their career by announcing the 15th CD release titled Silver Skies, continuing the legacy of their unique sound. The album is available for purchase via the Airborne Jazz website and other fine online retailers.

Special thanks to Ed Tankus of Blue Plate Radio for video footage and conducting the interview of the founding members. You can listen to the interview and hear more samples from the album by going here.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

I-Octane: My Journey


Big up to all my Reggae and Dancehall fans out there who have been waiting on I-Octane's second studio album titled My Journey, that's ready to drop March 4th on Tad's Record Inc. You can pre-order it via iTunes now. The official video for the first single, "My Story" has been uploaded to Youtube for the massive to enjoy. EASY STAR!

Monday, February 24, 2014

Perry Como: Papa Loves Mambo (Skeewiff Remix)


I'm nearly a year late in getting this one, but it's still as fresh as day one. London based producer Skeewiff remixes a Perry Como classic and has it as a free download, accompanied by a bonus video. Enjoy in both formats.

Rainy Milo: Bout You [Brownswood Basement Session]


While on my usual internet trek to search for more music, I came across one of the recent posts on Gilles Peterson's Youtube channel that features a performance by London's own Rainy Milo, who did a live version of her "Bout You" tune taken from her This Thing of Ours album that's dropping on March 3rd on Virgin EMI Records. Pre-orders are available now via iTunes.

Tokyo Dawn Records: The Boogie Volume 4


Leave it up to my Tokyo Dawn Records family to change my mind about "boogie". Not saying that I dislike it, but a lot of the newer stuff started running together for me because much of it started sounding the same. Then, I get a link to review and give feedback for the album. Explosion....mind blown. The whole album is a banger, but the one that stood out the most was "R.U.A.G." from Pugs Atomz, with production done by none other than my brother from another mother, Sir. Bobby Tank, the U.K. beatsmith who has been killing the airwaves and live sets. Peep the sample below then get on purchasing The Boogie Volume 4 from Tokyo Dawn Records directly or other fine online retailers. Enjoy!

Saturday, February 22, 2014

DJ Kool Emdee: Headnods & Headphones: Soul Glow Edition


Since I hadn't done a NuSoul/Future Soul mix in quite some time, I decided to mix something up for my soul heads. It's filled with plenty of goodies. Some of them from personal friends of mine here in Houston. This is the start of my new "Headnods & Headphones" series that will feature indie artists and producers who make beats that will make you nod your head. Hope you enjoy!

Headnods & Headphones: Soul Glow Edition by Djkoolemdee on Mixcloud

Friday, February 21, 2014

Friday Flashback: Spyder D


Flashback to 1980, when the producer and emcee known as Spyder D (born Sidney Duane Hughes), who hails from Jamaica, Queens, NYC, drops "Big Apple Rappin'(National Rappin' Anthem)" on his own label called Newtroit Records that was founded in 1979. Currently, Spyder D resides in Atlanta, Georgia, and is the CEO of "The Hippest Trip" television show, a weekly internet variety TV program that airs Friday nights at 8:00 PM (CST) on eGen.tv.

Happy Birthday: Nina Simone


Happy birthday wishes to the late great "High Priestess of Soul", Nina Simone (born Eunice Kathleen Waymon ; February 21, 1933 – April 21, 2003). Here's the full length version of "Sinnerman", one of my favorite renditions by her.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Meemee Nelzy: James Bond Girl [14 KT Remix]


Parisian songstress and producer Meemee Nelzy and Michigan bred producer 14 KT have dropped a remix of Meemee's deep House groove "James Bond Girl". And guess what. It's a complimentary download! Get it fast on her Bandcamp page. Show your continued support for indie art by purchasing her other works of art.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Diggs Duke: Something In My Soul [VIDEO]


The new music video for Diggs Duke's single "Something In My Soul" has been nominated for the Miami Film Festival’s Music Video Award. Animations in the video were done by Ben Connors and Simon Oxley of Greatcoat Films.

"Something In My Soul" is taken from Digg's Offering For Anxious LP that is OUT NOW on Brownswood Recordings. It's available for purchase in digital format and on vinyl. Fond out more by visiting the Brownswood Bandcamp page.

Saturday, February 15, 2014

DJ Kool Emdee: LOVE


My apologies for being two days late in posting this, however, LOVE always comes right on time. Here's a little something I put together that was intended to help set the tone for Valentine's Day, but hey....it's V-Day 2.0. Enjoy!

LOVE by Djkoolemdee on Mixcloud