Bridging the Gap February 19, 2025

*Maiiah & Angels Of Libra: "Kava" (Maiiah & Angels Of Libra 2023) Sing/songwr. Marija Samardzic  has roots in the Balkans, but grew up in Germany. She met AOL prod. musician comp. Dennis Rux and they began recording together.

*Bajka: "The Landing" (In Wonderland 2010) Bajka Pluwatsch was born in India & raised in Portugal & So. Afr. She is a poet, singer, prod. & songwr.

*Anne Schell & JoJo Effect: "Stranded" (May I Think Of You 2018) Founded by Jaycay & Maxim Illion (CdB) playing "high quality lounge flavored with bossa nova" JoJo Effect became a success feat. vocalist Anne Schnell.

*Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band: "Queen Of Cheeba" (55 2016) BR&SB is led by multi-inst. Bjorn Wagner who lived in Trinidad & Tobago for a time and had a steel drum made for him. He formed BR&SB with former members of The Mighty Mocambos.

*Adrian Quesada: "DG On The Keys" (Jaguar Sound 2022) Texas based prod. comp. multi-inst. A Quesada explores psych-pop & soul grooves on this solo joint.

*Baby Mammoth: "The Devil Lies" (Best Foot Forward 2000) British duo of Mark Blissenden & Andrew Burdall use earthy breaks & ambient atmospheres in their instrumental acid jazz.

*Boulevards: "Surprise" (Electric Cowboy: Born In Carolina Mud 2022) Jamil Rashad is a funk artist from Raleigh NC. He teamed up with prod. musician Sergio Rios of Orgone to craft this 'southern fried Carolina funk.'

*The Cactus Channel & Sam Cromack: "Sleep Demon" (Do It For Nothing-EP 2017) Melbourne Aust. soul & funk band TCC teams up with Aussie singer Sam Cromack with their expanded psychedelic sound.

*Diazpora: "Royals" (Ping Pong Powerplay 2020) Hamburg funk band founded in 2002 feat. David Nesselhauf on bass Lucas Kochbeck on drums & Axel Feige on vocals.

*Jon Cleary: "I Get The Blues When It Rains" (So Swell 2020) Brit. pianist, sing/songwr. born in Kent has lived in N.O. since 1980. He was inspired by his uncle bringing home the records of Professor Longhair and other N.O. musicians.

*Dr. John: "Chicken Le Pas" (N'Awlins: Dis, Dat Or D'Udda 2004) Dr. John (Mac Rebennack) was a legendary performer of N.O. music. He became "Dr. John-The Night Tripper" after immersing himself in the voodoo and musical traditions of New Orleans.

*Galactic: "Start From Scratch" (Crazyhorse Mongoose 1998) Amer. jam band formed in N.O. feat. hip hop, electronic, world music, rock, blues & jazz.

*Stanton Moore: "Amy's Lament (Horn Down)" (Flyin' The Koop 2001) Amer. drummer born in Louisiana played in Galactic, Bonerama & The Clinton Admin. to name a few.

HOUR 2

*Mongo Santamaria: "Afro Blue" (Mongo 1959) Ramon Santamaria Rodriguez aka Mongo Santamaria was a Cuban rumba quinto master & Afro-Cuban latin jazz percussionist. Afro Blue became a jazz standard.

*Tito Puente & His Orchestra: "Hong Kong Mambo" (King Of Kings: The Very Best... ) TP was an Amer. Latin bandleader, jazz, salsa & mambo timbalero of Puerto Rican descent. Known as "El Rey Del Timbal" he also played vibes, drum kit, claves, conga, piano, sax & clarinet.

*Poncho Sanchez: "Tropicville" (Soul Sauce (Memories Of Cal Tjader) 1995) Mex-Amer. conguero latin jazz bandleader & salsa singer. His idol, Cal Tjader hired him to be his conguero in 1975.

*Coulibaly Tidiani: "Sie Koumgolo" (Bambara Mystic Soul... ) Singer from Burkina Faso worked with various orchestras before joining Burkina Faso collective Volta Jazz .

*Orchestre Poly-Rhythmo: "Ma Vie" (Cotonou Club 2011) Band from Cotonou in Benin, West Afr. originally called Orchestre Poly-Disco.

*Youssou N'Dour: "Country Boy" (Best Of... ) Senegalese sing/songwr. perc. & comp. born in Dakar. He joined "Star Band", the most successful band in Senegal at the time, as a teenager. 

*Zimpala: "Le Pays D'Alice" (Honeymoon 2006) Nu jazz downt. project directed by DJ & prod. BNX aka Frederic Beneix and feat. singer Noemie Brosset.

*Thievery Corporation: "Voyage Libre feat. LouLou Ghelickhani" (Treasures From The Temple 2018) Amer. electronic duo of Rob Garza & Eric Hilton employ a wide range of influences feat. Austin TX singer & keyboardist LouLou Ghelickhani.

*Banda Magda: "Oublie-La" (Amour T'es La? 2013) Led by Greek comp. singer, pianist & accordionist Magda Giannikou. BM's multi-lingual approach includes Latin styles, French chansons & Greek folk music.

*The Bamboos: "Crooked Cop" (Step It Up 2006) Australian deep funk outfit from Melbourne & led by New Zealand guitarist, prod. comp. Lance Ferguson. They released this, their first full length album in 2006.

*Alan Evans Trio: "Book It" (Elephant Head 2021) Co-founder, writer & drummer for Soulive presents Alan Evans Trio an organ trio with hard driving, deep, funky grooves.

*Alpacas Collective: "The Chase" (Seven Wisdoms Of Plutonia 2022) Funk and afrobeat band based in Louvain, Belgium flavored with afro, jazz, boogaloo, soul & oriental sounds.

*AM & Shawn Lee: "Flashback (Inst.)" (Outlines (Inst.) 2024) Sing/songwr. Anthony Miller (AM) & Amer. prod. comp. multi-inst. Shawn Lee collab. on these funky inst. versions of their Outlines album.