Bridging the Gap January 24, 2024

*Coma-Chi: "Inori" (Jomon Green 2018) Japanese rapper/singer Coma-Chi began performing in 2003 when she won the Shinjuku Spoken Words Slam. She established her own label, Queen's Room in 2011.

*Mondo Grosso: "Overflowing feat. Mika Nakashima" (Big World 2022) Mondo Grosso is Japanese producer, musician, DJ & composer Shinichi Osawa. He is Japan's No. 1 electro house DJ.

*Naoki Kenji: "Tonight feat. Asheni" (Less Ordinary 2008) German-Japanese composer, producer, DJ Naoki Kenji (Uwe Schmidt) began his career as a keyboard player in Tokyo & Osaka. Asheni: German born Antigua based singer/songwr.

*Nickodemus: "Mystic Molay feat. Innov Gnawa" (A Long Engagement 2018) DJ producer Nick DeSimone creates & spins music from all around the world. His Turntables On The Hudson shows in NYC and globally encapsulate his varied musical influences. IG: NYC based Moroccan musicians.

*Spy From Cairo: "Criminal feat. Mambe Rodriguez" (Animamundi 2022) Multi-inst., producer & composer Moreno Visini aka Zeb, Organic Grooves & Spy From Cairo uses Afro, Dub & electronic sounds to produce his world music. MR: Singer, activist & spiritual healer.

*Beats Antique: "Vesper Star feat. Alam Khan" (Shadowbox 2016) World fusion group based in Oakland CA. feat. Multi-inst. David Satori, belly dancer Zoe Zakes & drummer/perc. Tommy Cappel. They fuse electronic music with Middle Eastern traditions and multiple other influences.

*Zuco 103: "Da Hora" (Etno Chic 2016) Dutch crossover band feat. Brazilian singer Lilian Viera, Dutch drummer Stefan Kruger & German keyboard player Stefan Schmid play the music of  Viera's native Brazil.

*Rosalia De Souza: "Ipanema" (Garota Moderna 2002) Brazilian bossa nova singer studied music theory, Cuban percussion & jazz at the Popular School of Testaccio in Rome.

*Fernanda Porto: "Amor Errado" (Fernanda Porto 2002) Fernanda Porto (real name Maria Fernanda Dutra Clemente) is a drum 'n' bossa singer/composer/multi-inst. mixing electronic, bossa nova & drum 'n' bass

*Fela Kuti: "Wayo (Version 2" (The '69 Los Angeles Sessions 1993) Fela Kuti began his first band Koola Lobitos in 1963 with drummer Tony Allen creating the 'aftobeat' sound. Though the band changed names throughout his lifetime, (Afrika 70, Egypt 80), they always kept their signature sound and fire of their founder. Fela died in 1997 of AIDS & heart failure.

*The Funkees: "Dance With Me" (Dancing Time... 2012) Nigerian afro-rock group formed in the late '60s. They moved to London in 1973 and gained prominence in the West African / West Indian music scene.

*Hailu Mergia & The Walias: "Woghenei" (Tche Belew 1977) HM: Ethiopian organ & synth player now based in Wash. DC, The Walias jazz/funk band was formed by Mulatu Astatke and they have backed many leading musicians. 

*Mulatu Astatke: "Yekitir Tezeta" (New York Addis London The Story of Ethio Jazz 65-75 2009)  Multi-inst. & composer M Astatke is known as the 'father of Ethio Jazz'.

HOUR 2

*Mr. Scruff: "Champion Nibble" (Trouser Jazz 2002) British DJ, producer & artist Andrew Carthy produces quirky music and artwork to accompany it. He is quoted as saying "It's about putting a lot of effort in and paying attention to detail. I get annoyed if I don't take risks."

*Montefiori Cocktail: "Nana Nana" (A Taste Of... 2005) Italian twin brothers Francesco (Kekko) on keys & Federico (Kikko) on sax, flute & vox create fun & offbeat jazz/lounge music.

*Modulo5: "Please Moog Me!" (Soundsational Movements 2007) Producer/composer/DJ Dave Masoch & Paulo "Apollo" Negri (Hammond organ) created their Space Age, Sci-Fi soul & funk in Modulo5.

*Bitman & Roban: "Geil" (Musica Para Despues De Almuerzo 2005) Chilean composer, producer & DJ Jose Antonio Bravo (Bitman) & architect Christian Powditch built their jazz, funk, bossa nova, cha cha cha & mambo sound over the course of four albums.

*Ocote Soul Sounds: "Sal Si Puedes" (Single ) Founded by Martin Perna (Antibalas) in 2001. Perna wrote the music and played all the instruments on this single. The title translates to "Get Out If You Can."

*Mongo Santamaria: "Afro Blue" (Mongo 1959) ) Ramon Santamaria Rodriguez was a songwriter, Cuban rumba quinto master & Afro Latin jazz percussionist. MS was a leading figure in the pachanga & boogaloo dance crazes of the 1960s

*Taj Mahal: "Mockingbird" (Dancing The Blues 1993) American vocalist, guitarist, multi-inst. & songwr. mixes world music influences into his blues. He has played with a who's who of musicians in his career.

*Little Milton: "Feel So Bad" ( ) R&B singer, songwr. & guitarist, Little Milton (James Milton Campbell Jr. was active from the mid 1950s until shortly before his death in 2005.

*Little Axe: "Midnight Dream" (Hard Grind 2002) Amer. musician Skip McDonald performs under the name Little Axe. Little Axe began in the 90s performing blues influenced by dub, R&B, gospel & jazz.

*Uyama Hiroto: "Climbed Mountain" (A Son Of The Sun 2008) Japanese saxophonist, multi-inst. & producer who collaborated frequently with Nujabes. This, his first album Son Of The Sun, is hip hop incorporating jazz, piano, guitar, saxes & keyboards with few vocals.

*RJD2: "Peace Of What (Instrumental)" (In Rare Form, Vol. 2 2018) Ramble John Krohn (RJD2) is an Amer. musician record producer of hip hop/electronic music has collaborated with many rappers & vocalists.

*Ray Barbee: "The Limitations Are Beaufiful" (In Full View 2005) Amer. skateboarder, multi-inst. & songwr. from San Jose CA. He is also a member of Blktop Project with Tommy Guerrero & Matt Rodriguez.

*Tommy Guerrero: "The Color Of Life" (Soul Food Taqueria 2003) Amer. musician/guitarist & pro skater from SF CA. Also plays in Blktop Project w/Ray Barbee & Matt Rodriguez.