Bridging the Gap December 27, 2023

*Professor Longhair: "Doin' It" (Mardi Gras In Baton Rouge 1991) Henry Roeland Byrd Amer. pianist, singer & songwr. is considered the creator of N.O. Rhythm & Blues. He influenced Fats Domino, Huey "Piano" Smith, Allen Toussaint & Dr. John.

*Kermit Ruffins: "West Indies Jazz Dance" (The Big Butter & Egg Man 1994) N.O. based jazz trumpeter composer & singer co-founded the Rebirth Brass Band.

*Rebirth Brass Band: "Mr. Big Stuff" (Throwback 2005) N.O. brass band formed in 1983 by Philip & Keith Frazier & Kermit Ruffins with other musicians in Clark High School in the Treme neighborhood of N.O.

*Public Service Broadcasting: "The Now Generation" (Inform-Educate-Entertain 2013) London based duo of J. Willgoose, Esq. on guitar, banjo, other stringed instruments & electronic inst. and Wrigglesworth on drums, piano & electronic inst. They use public info samples and archival footage "to teach the lessons of the past through the music of the future."

*Ursula 1000: "Hip Length" (The Now Sound Of Ursula 1000 1998) NY producer & multi-inst. Alex Gimeno uses British big beat, funk & disco to create his "retro/future" sound.

*Sam Paglia: "Night Club Tropez" (Night Club Tropez 2000) Godfather of Italian Lounge, Sam Paglia, uses his Hammond organ to play soul, jazz, lounge & funk under the influence of Jimmy Smith, Richard Holmes & Brother Jack McDuff.

*Roy Ayers: "Mystery Of Love feat. Merry Clayton" (Virgin Ubiquity: Unreleased Recordings 76-81 2003) Funk, soul & jazz composer, vibraphonist & artist R. Ayers teams up with soul/jazz/funk/rock vocalist Merry Clayton who burst into the limelight with her incendiary backing vocal on  the Rolling Stone's "Gimme Shelter."

*The New Mastersounds: "King Comforter feat. Dionne Charles" (King Comforter-Single 2008) British funk band from Leeds feat. guitarist/prod. Eddie Roberts & drummer Simon Allen.

*My Trippin' Mojo: "Make 'Em Pass" (Edda's Garden 2016) Leipzig, Germany funk, soul outfit uses analog equipment to achieve that raw 60s/70s sound feat. dynamic vocalist Sabrina Bormann.

*Neil Innes: "Topless A-Go-Go" (How Sweet To Be An Idiot 1973) English writer, comedian, singer & musician N. Innes helped found The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band with Vivian Stanshall & The Rutles (Beatles tribute band) with Eric Idle. Died 12/2019 in France.

*Vivian Stanshall: "Only Being Myself" (Dog Howl In Tune 2023) English singer/songwr., writer, poet & wit. His brilliant & idiosyncratic output was influenced by alcoholism & depression. He tragically died in a fire in his flat in March 1995.

*The Rutles: "Don't Know Why" (Archaeology 1996) Brilliant send up of The Beatles on record and in the film "All You Need Is Cash." N. Innes & Eric Idle provide spot on imitations of The Beatles' "vibe" with extraordinary mash ups of what sounds like authentic Beatles music.

*De-Phazz: "Timeless Times (Instrumental)" (The Instrumental Versions 2021) German downtempo ensemble led by sound painter/producer Pit Baumgartner.

HOUR 2

*De-Phazz: "Hero Dead And Gone (Radio Swing Mix)" (Detunized Gravity 1997) Founded in Heidelberg Germany by Pit Baumgartner, producer, sound collector & sample architect. With rotating vocalists that include Pat Appleton & Karl Frierson, the "Godfather of Lounge" creates enveloping sounds for Germany & the world.

*Jack & Jointz: "Running Life (Club Des Belugas Remix)" (Strange Things Beyond The Sunny Side 2019) German producers Dirk Shafer (Quincy Jointz) & Thorsten Walter got together through Facebook and began collaborating on Nufunk & hip hop recordings.

*Shawn Lee: "Whatever Side You're On feat. Paul Butler" (Soul In The Hole 2009) Amer. producer, multi inst. living in London presents a soulful mix of singers and performers for "Soul In The Hole."

*Skeewiff: "Mentira De Amor feat. Rayna" (Ghetto Latin & Broken Ballrooom 2014) UK production duo Alex Rizzo & Elliot Ireland inject cheeky humor into their electronic jazz, lounge, big band & country excursions.

*Gina Chavez: "Siete-D feat. Adrian Quesada & Grupo Fantasma" (Up.Rooted 2014) Austin TX Latin folk/rock singer/songwr. A strong, queer Latinx philanthropist she and her wife created an educational fund for girls affected by gang violence in El Salvador.

*Las Cafeteras: "Paletero" (Tastes Like L.A. 2016) East LA band uses Afro-Mexican rhythms, electronic beats and powerful rhythms to document their community building efforts.

*Kiyoshi Yamaya,Toshiko Yonekawa & Kifu Mitsuhashi: "Saitaro-Bushi" (Wamono Groove: Shakuhachi & Koto Jazz Funk '76 2021) KY: Japanese composer & bandleader. TY: Japanese koto performer & composer KM: Shakuhachi player.

*Bohemianvoodoo: "Lying On The Sheep's Back" (Bouquet-EP ) Bashiry: guitar Iori Kimura: piano/keys Nassy: bass 

*Harry Hosono & The Yellow Magic Band: "Shambhala Signal" (Paraiso 1978) Japanese singer, songwr. producer & musician is considered one of the most influential figures in Japanese popular music.  As a member of Yellow Magic Orchestra he pioneered electronic music and influenced musicians world wide.

*Smerins Anti-Social Club: "Dr. Who" (7" Single 2011) Nine piece ska/reggae/dub/funk band from Bristol UK was put together as a reaction to the 'stale' music scene in Southhampton.

*Skeletons: "Marathon Man" (Smile 2010) UK afrobeat, contemporary jazz group. 

*Flevans: "I Don't Know Why" (A Distant View 2016) UK multi-inst. producer & DJ Nigel Evans eclectic style encompasses funk, soul, breaks & electronica.

*Four80East: "Into The Wind" (Positraction 2015) Canadian electro jazz duo of Rob DeBoer, keys, bass & guitar and Tony Grace on percussion.