Bridging the Gap August 23, 2023

*The Tikiyaki Orchestra: "Space Tango" (Tropika 2023) Modern exotica music led by multi-inst./composer Jim Bacchi (guit. keys & perc.) adding to the Tiki culture milieu since 2008

*Don Tiki: "Polyamore" (The Forbidden Sounds...1997) Hawaii's own world class exotica group led by keyboardist/composer Kit Ebersbach, aka Perry Coma & empresrio Lloyd "Fluid Floyd" Kandell

*Les Baxter: "Acapulco" (The Exotic Moods Of Les Baxter 1996) Am. musician (bari. & tenor, sax, piano, vox) & composer developed 'exotica' sound and scored many films. It was alleged he did not write or conduct certain major projects, but supporters called "sour grapes" on his detractors.

*Lettuce: "Do It Like You Do" (Fly 2012) Jazz/funk collective formed by Berklee College of Music alumni in 1992. Band asked various Boston area jazz clubs to "let us play" and subsequently took the name 'Lettuce'.

*Widehive Players: "Sunset Sermon" (Widehive Players 2008) House band of Wide Hive Records label. Led by producer/musician/composer Gregory Howe who also founded the label.

*Menahan Street Band: "Devil's Respite" (The Exciting Sounds of...2021) Brooklyn NY instrumental funk/soul band founded by Thomas Brenneck (guit. bass, keys comp.) while living in Menahan St. apt. "Exciting Sounds" first album in ten years.

*Miriam Makeba: "Saduva" (Pata Pata 1973) South African singer/composer known as "Mama Africa" and regarded as the First Lady of traditional So. Afr. music. Exiled during apartheid she became an International superstar in the US and UK before returning home after apartheid ended.

*Brenda Fassie: "Sum' Bulala" (South African Rhythm Riot 1999) So. African anti-apartheid Afropop singer known as "So. Africa's Queen of pop."

*Mahotella Queens: "Bazobuya" (Bazobuya 2004) So. Aft. mbaqanga group became hugely successful & influential in the 60s & 70s. Still perform w/original member Hilda Tioubatla & new members Amanda Nkosi & Nonkululeko Maseko.

*Makaya McCraven: "Sunset" (Deciphering The Message 2021) Am. jazz drummer/producer/composer also known as a 'beat scientist' for his innovative sampling and improvisational skills exploring the present and future of jazz.

*Roy Ayers, Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad: "Solace" (Roy Ayers JID002 2020) RA: Am. jazz/funk/soul vibist/composer,  AY: Am. composer/arranger/prod., ASM: DJ/producer/musician. JID is a project for "working with and paying homage to frequently-sampled jazz masters."

*Elvin Jones: "Round Town" (Merry-Go-Round 1972) Am. jazz drummer of the post bop era. Played with John Coltrane and later started "The Elvin Jones Jazz Machine." Known as 'one of the most influential jazz drummers in the history of jazz.'

*Ramsey Lewis & Earth Wind & Fire: "Sun Goddess" (Blue Note Rare Grooves 67-71 1996) Am jazz pianist & keyboardist. EWF: Am. soul/funk band founded 1970 by Maurice White

HOUR 2

*Boulevards: "Modern Man" (Electric Cowboy: Born In Carolina Mud 2022) Jamil Rashad funk songwriter/performer from Raleigh NC. "Party funk jams for the heart and soul to make you move."

*Black Pumas: "I"m Ready" (Black Pumas 2020) Psych/soul group from Austin TX feat. A. Quesada composer/producer/multi-inst. & Eric Burton guit./songwriter

*Crowd Company: "Summer" (Stone & Sky 2017) UK band with a modern take on vintage funk & soul combining a retro Hammond organ based sound with virtuoso horn section & soulful vox & harmonies.

*The Echocentrics: "Muerto En Vida feat. Natalia Clavier" (Echo Hotel 2016) Austin TX psych/soul/latin group led by A. Quesada (prod/comp/multi-inst) feat. Argentinian singer N. Clavier

*Adrian Quesada: "Idolo feat. Angelica Garcia" (Boleros Psicodelicos 2022) Austin funk/latin/psych maestro A. Quesada combining psych with bolero with a cast of guest vocalists. AG: Am. sing/songwr

*Quantic & Nidia Gongora: "Se Lo Vi" (Curao 2017) Quantic aka. Will Holland (Brit. composer/producer/multi-inst.) met Nidia Gongora while living in Colombia for 7 years. She is a Pacific folklorist/songwriter & fronts Grupo Canalon.

*Nickodemus: "Mystic Molay feat. Innov Gnawa" (A Long Engagement 2018) Nick DeSimone NY DJ & producer of beats spanning Latin, African and electronic sounds. IG: NYC based group playing their trad. Moroccan music. Led by Hassan Ben Jaafer on sintir, tbal & lead vox.

*Innov Gnawa & Akizzbeatz: "Bangara (Akizzbeatz Remix)" (Single 2019) Moroccan gnawa group teaming up with Greek funk/afro/hip hop producer Akis who grew up in Munich & returned to Greece at 20 to dedicate himself fully to music and art.

*El Michels Affair: "Unathi feat. Piya Malik" (Yeti Season 2021) NYC based funk/soul inst. band formed by bandleader & multi-inst. Leon Michels. PM: Indian singer/songwriter

*Anoushka Shankar: "Monsoon" (Traces Of You 2013) Indian sitar player & composer. British-American daughter of Ravi Shankar and half-sister of Am. sing/songwr. Norah Jones. Youngest & first female recipient of a British House of Commons Shield.

*Bei Bei & Shawn Lee: "Whiskey Waltz" (Into The Wind 2010) BB: Chinese ghuzeng player composer & teacher living in California.  SL: Am. multi-inst. composer, producer based in London.

*Covet: "Glimmer" (acoustic single 2019) Musician (guitar, piano & violin) & artist Yvette Young fronts this math rock group. Taught herself guitar after being hospitalized for an eating disorder. Being self taught she writes by ear

*Charlie Hunter: "Big Bill's Blues" (Everybody Has A Plan Until They Get Punched In The Mouth 2016) Am. jazz, rock & fusion guitarist plays 7 and 8 string guitars.