Bridging the Gap February 5, 2025

*Brenda Fassie: "Sum' Bulala" (Memeza 1998) BF was a So. Afr. anti-apartheid singer from Cape Town. She was know as "So. Africa's Queen of Pop." Sadly, she passed away in 2004 from a cocaine overdose.
*Margaret Singana: "Hamba Bikhele" (Hamba Bikhele 1978) MS was a world renowned So. Afr. singing star. She sang the theme song "We Are Growing" from the 'Shaka Zulu' TV series.
*Mahotella Queens: "Mbube" (Kazet 2005) So. Afr. mbaqanga group rose to fame in the 60s & early 70s. They are still active with original member Hilda Tloubtla & new members Amanda Nkosi & Nonkululeko Maseko.

*The Mackrosoft: "Lucky Charms" (Straight Outa ROMpton 2003) Led by Aja West, The Mackrosoft have released a steady stream of hybrid funk, fusion, soul, jazz & electronic music. Aja West passed away in 2022.
*Mr. Scruff: "Champion Nibble" (Trouser Jazz 2002) Brit. DJ, prod. comp. & artist Andrew Carthy is Mr. Scruff. He says, "It's about putting in a lot of effort & paying attention to detail..."
*Garage A Trois: "Shooting Breaks" (Always Be Happy, But Stay Evil 2011) Described as 'post rock/freak jazz super group' GAT feat. Stanton Moore on drums, Skerik on sax., Marco Benevento on keys & Mike Dillon on 'punk rock vibraphone.'

*Hot Tuna: "Love Gone Flat" (Pair A Dice Found 1990) Jorma Kaukonen (guit. vox) & Jack Casady (bass) formed Hot Tuna in 1969 when Grace Slick was recovering from throat surgery & Jefferson Airplane was on hiatus.
*James Gang: "Walk Away" (Thirds 1971) Formed in 1966 James Gang was the first band fronted by guit. Joe Walsh, who later played with the Eagles. Dale Peters played bass with Jim Fox on drums & perc.
*Jeff Beck: "Spanish Boots" (Beck-Ola 1969) The Jeff Beck Group feat. J Beck (guit.) Nicky Hopkins (piano) Ron Wood (bass) & Rod Stewart (vox.) J Beck was previously feat. in The Yardbirds.

*Jimi Tenor & Tony Allen: "Selfish Gene" (Inspiration Information 2009) Finnish musician/comp. Jimi Tenor (Lassi Lehto) & Afrobeat pioneering drummer Tony Allen teamed up for this amazing journey through jazz, funk, Afrobeat & reggae stylings.
*Jon Hassell & Farafina: "A Vampire Dances (Symmetry)" (Flash Of The Spirit 2020) Amer. trumpeter & comp. Jon Hassell & Burkina Faso's Farafina collab. on this 'sensual, earthy & high tech' album.
*Kind & Kinky Zoo: "Pamukkale" (Swamp! 2022) Lausanne, Switzerland band K&KZ prefer danceable music feat. funk, retro-psychedelic & garage sensibilities. 
*Kora Jazz Trio: "Konon" (KJT Pt. 3 2008) Guinean band playing Amer. style jazz with traditional African music.

HOUR 2

*Lack Of Afro: "All Night feat. Jack Tyson Charles" (Single-2023) Brit. prod. multi-inst & DJ Adam Gibbons teams with long time collaborator JT Charles on this return to form after a 2 yr. hiatus battling addiction.
*The Mighty Imperials: "Never Found A Girl feat. Joseph Henry" (Thunder Chicken 2001) Feat. Amer. multi-inst. prod. comp. Leon Michels (El Michels Affair) & legendary funk singer Joseph Henry. The core band were a bunch of high school kids when they cut this one off iconic album.
*Orgone: "Party People feat. Pimps Of Joytime" (Connection 2020) Amer. band from LA, Ca. led by Dan Hastie on keys & Sergio Rios on guitar & prod.  playing funk, soul & afrobeat.

*Paulinho Moska: "Que Beleza, A Beleza" (Beleza E Medo 2018) Braz. vocalist, composer & actor began playing classical guitar at the age of 13.
*Carlinhos Brown: "Derivado Petrolifero" (Semelhantes 2017) Braz. singer, perc. & prod. Carlinhos Brown blends funk, latin music, R&B, reggae & trad. Braz. percussion.
*Bossacucanova: "Consolacao feat. Silvio Cesar" (Best Of... ) Brazilian musical group combining bossa nova with electronic music. Permanent members are Marcio Menescal, Marcelinho DaLua & prod. eng. Alex Moreira.

*The Bombay Royale: "RoboBeez" (Run Kitty Run 2017) 11 piece Australian band inspired by Bollywood, 60s rock, 70s funk & disco & the classical folk music of India. Led by Andy Williamson aka "The Skipper"saxophonist & bandleader.
*El Michels Affair: "Dhuaan feat. Piya Malik" (Yeti Season 2021) NYC based funk, soul & hip hop band founded by multi-inst. prod. comp. Leon Michels. Sing/songwr. Piya Malik is also part of Say She She.
*Susheela Raman: "Leela" (Music For Crocodiles 2005) Brit. Tamil singer S Raman. Her performances are built on the sacred Bhakti & Sufi traditions of India & Pakistan.

*Thunderball: "Lost Vagueness" (Cinescope 2006) Sid Barcelona, Steve Raskin & Rob Myers are the Wash. DC based Thunderball. They retired Thunderball and were joined by Jon Horvath to become The Fort Knox Five.
*Timewarp Inc.: "I'll Be Ok (Inst.)" (Theory Of Revolution 2019) Electronic project based in Athens Gr. by arr. comp. electronics & keys player Angelos Stoumpos.
*Lucky Brown: "Jesse's Party" (Lucky Brown's Space Dream 2011) Lucky Brown is Seattle funk meister Joel Ricci who also runs the Westbound Union collective of musicians & artists in Seattle.
*Natural Self: "Shake Down" (Single-2001) UK downt. broken beat & nujazz prod. recording artist & DJ Nathaniel Pearn

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