Bridging the Gap March 27, 2024

*Kojato And The Afro Latin Cougaritas: "Afro Shigida - Original Lagos Cut" (All About Jazz 2011) Afrobeat, dancehall, funk and soul fusion from lead singer, multi-inst. & leader Kojo Ebenezer Samuels from Monrovia, Liberia also features Oliver Belz (Bahama Soul Club) & Andre Neundorf (TheEEs).

*Sun Atlas: "The Mystic Parade" (Sun Atlas 2022) Sun Atlas keep their personal identities secret to make sure it's the music and message that comes to the fore. They play afrobeat, cinematic soul & Ethio jazz with a garage funk vibe.

*Alpacas Collective: "Movefeze feat. Neg Madnick" (Big Words 2023) Joined by Martinique Creole hip hop originator Neg Madnick, who put lyrics to Movefeze (originally 'The Sorcerer"). Movefeze means villains or wrongdoers in Creole referring to the plantation owners who have spoiled Martinique.

*TheEEs: "Mother Earth feat. Juliet Ada" (Temptations Of Sound 2023) TheEEs (the Eclectic Experiences) are composers and producers Claus Hartisch and Andre Neundorf. They play their unique brand of soul, latin, afrobeat, reggae, psychedelic & jazz with a contemporary attitude. JA: German-Nigerian singer

*Go.Soul.Map.: "Watergate feat. Manuela Malfitano" (Peaceful Sounds For Broken Minds 2024) Salvo Bruno "Dub" started playing piano at a young age, progressed to bass and double bass and experiments with electronic sounds for this space nu-disco, soul and R&B on his first LP.

*Espen Horne: "Den Franske Gitaren feat. Aich" (The Anatomy Of Serene Eloquence 2023) Norwegian composer/producer Espen Horne (Bobby Hughes Experience & Combination, etc.) mellows down the jazz funk for this lush collection of brilliant music. 

*Zonke & York: "Walk On" (Zonke Meets York the early tapes 2023) So. Afr. sing/songwr. & producer Zonke Dikana emerged as star when her 2011 album Ina Ethe went double platinum. On this album she makes Nu soul, acid jazz & souljazz with German producer/composer York.

*Maiiah & Angels Of Libra: "I Wanna Go" (Maiiah & The Angels Of Libra 2023) Debut album for Maiiah aka Marija Samardzic. She has roots in the Balkans but was raised in Dusseldorf. She joined Hamburg producer, musician & composer Dennis Rux and his band Angels Of Libra to produce this soul and r&b beauty.

*Bella Brown & The Jealous Lovers: "Fast As Lightning" (Soul Clap 2024) Singer/songwr. Carol Hatchett turns into funk/soul queen Bella Brown to deliver this scorching R&B LP. She was once a Harlette singing & dancing behind Hawaii's own Bette Midler.

*New Visionaries: "Scandinavian Railways" (Roadmaps 2024) NV are UK based Australian artist Joel Sarakula & Dutch musician Phil Martin. Spontenaity is a hallmark of their collaborations on these cinematic soul grooves.

*Alan Evans Trio: "Book It" (Elephant Head 2023) Co-founder & drummer for Soulive for 15 years presents The Alan Evans Trio, an organ trio featuring Danny Mayer on guit. and Beau Sasser on the organ.

*Max Beesley's High Vibes: "We'll Always Have Yesterday" (Zeus 2023) UK's Max Beesley's father was a jazz drummer & his mum a jazz singer. He is an actor, musician & composer  playing piano, vibes, drums & percussion. He has toured with The Brand New Heavies and Incognito.

*Brian Jackson: "Yada Yada" (Gotta Play 2000) Amer. soul/jazz keyboardist, flutist, singer, composer, producer & artist. Collaborated with Gil Scott-Heron.

HOUR 2

*Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks: "Evenin' Breeze" (Original Recordings 1969) Dan Hicks' family settled in Santa Rosa in the SF Bay Area. Dan played drums in high school and later became a drummer for The Charlatans before switching to rhythm guitar & forming his own band playing "swing" music.

*Lambert Hendricks & Ross: "Sermonette" (The Hottest New Group In Jazz 1959) Dave Lambert, Jon Hendricks & Annie Ross formed in 1957 and won several Grammy awards until they disbanded in 1964.

*Tape Five: "I Like The Twilight" (Soiree Deluxe 2017) German musical project founded by singer/songwr., multi-inst. & producer Martin Strathausen playing swing, nu jazz, latin, lounge & trip hop.

*Tommy Guerrero: "A Thousand Shapes Of Change" (Sunshine Radio 2020) Amer. musician, producer, composer & Pro skateboarder. TG plays funk, soul, jazz, rock & electronic music.

*Ray Barbee: "Tina Cut" (Tiara For Computer 2018) Amer. composer, multi-inst. & skateboarder from San Jose Ca. 

*Blktop Project: "A New Line" (Concrete Jungle 2016) T. Guerrero, R. Barbee & Matt Rodriguez played and recorded together while touring for skateboard magazine SLAP in 2002 and decided to form a band adding Chuck Treece on drums in 2005.

*Rosalia De Souza: "Samba Lounge" (D'Improvviso 2009) Bossa nova singer from Brazil traveled to Italy to study Cuban percussion and jazz in Rome.

*Sono Rhizmo: "E Isso Ei" (Sono Rhizmo ) Sono Rhizmo is the project of German producer musician Ralf Droesemeyer who is also one half of Mo' Horizons with Mark "Foh" Wetzler.

*Nazare Pereira: "Caixa De Sol" (Beleza Tropical Brazil Classics 1 ) Sing/songwr. from Brazil sings music from the North & Northeast of Brazil (forro, baiao, carimbo) Now based in France.

*Abelardo Carbono: "Muevela" (Abelardo Carbono Y Su Conjunto 1982) Colombian guitarist, singer & composer.

*Juaneco Y Su Combo: "La Cumbia Del Pacurro" (Aqui Esta...Los Reyes De La Selva 1978) The most important band from Pucallpa, Peru known for their 'cumbia salvatica', cumbia from the jungle. 

*Eusebio Y Su Banjo: "Mi Morena Rebelde" (Single 1981) Peruvian banjo player and his band. Eusebio Perez Campojo was a pioneer in Peruvian tropical music. He was unique in his use of banjo in Peruvian cumbia.

*Money Chicha: "Pacifico" (Chicha Summt 2021) Austin TX band plays Peruvian & Colombian inspired chicha music with members from Grupo Fantasma and Brownout.