Bridging the Gap April 23, 2025

*Ghost Funk Orchestra: "Again" (A Trip To The Moon 2024) GFO was created by comp. & multi-inst. Seth Applebaum as a one man recording project but has evolved into a powerhouse live band. The music is a combination of soul, psych. rock, latin & beyond.

*Koko-Jean & The Tonics: "Down On My Knees" (Love Child 2024) Soul/Blues band from Barcelona SP fronted by singer Koko-Jean Davis.

*Maiiah & Angels Of Libra: "I Wanna Go" (M & the AOL 2023) Sing/songwr. Maiiah (Marija Samardzic) has roots in the Balkans but was raised in Dusseldorf. German psych/soul band Angels Of Libra are led by guit./prod. Dennis Rux.

*Harry Hosono & The World Shyness: "Body Snatchers" (Flying Saucer 1947 2007) Jap. sing/songwr. & prod. Haruomi Hosono is considered one of the most influential figures in Jap. pop music history. This album commemorates the advent of modern UFOs and includes Hosono classics as well as cover songs.

*Ry Cooder: "Don't Mess Up A Good Thing" (Bop Till You Drop 1979) R Cooder is an Amer. guit. sing. prod. & comp. known for his slide guit. & interest in a variety of world music styles. Feat. Amer. soul singer Chaka Khan.

*Lee Fields & Sugarman & Co.: "Stand Up" (Single ) Amer. soul singer/musician from No. Carolina joins Amer. sax player, prod. & co-founder of Daptone Records Neal Sugarman & funky Daptone co-conspirators on this intense psych/soul excursion.

*Boombaya: "Boombaya" (7" Single 1974) Ghanaian highlife band offering a fresh contemporary approach adding soul, swing, jazz & urban influences led by guit. Alfred Bannerman.

*Marumo: "Khomo Tsaka Deile Kae?" (Modiehi 1982) Marumo was a So. Afr. band formed by visually impaired musicians at the Athlone School for the Blind in Cape Town known for their genre bending sound.

*Bhekumuzi Luthuli: "Banamanga" (So. Afr. Rhythm Riot ) Bhekumuzi Luthuli is a So. Afr. sing. lyricist, comp. & guit. player. beloved by his So. Afr. fans.

*Billy Butler: "The Butler Did It" (Tenor Titans Of Acid Jazz ) B Butler was an Amer. guit. soul sing. & songwr. He began his career in the 1950s and played with a who's who of jazz & blues artists.

*Jimmy McGriff: "The Bird Wave" (Blue Note Rare Grooves '67-'71 ) J McGriff was an Amer. soul/jazz & blues keyboardist who played piano since age 5 but adopted the Hammond organ later on.

*Ohm Guru: "Jazz Brake" (The Best Of Acid Jazz... ) Italian musician prod. eng. Riccardo Rinaldi is Ohm Guru.

*Jerome Van Rossum: "The Phunky Bishop feat. Jay Collins" (Diplomatic Immunity 1998) JVR is a Dutch comp. multi-inst. prod. & bandleader. J Collins is a jazz sing/songwr. & bandleader.

HOUR 2 

*Antoine Villoutreix: "Les boulevards De Paris (Club Des Belugas Remix)" (Nine 2016) French sing/songwr. guit. now based in Berlin. CdB are a German nu jazz band led by Maxim Ilion & Kitty The Bill.

*Czerkinsky: "Natacha" (Czerkinsky 1997) French comp. perc. Gregori Czerkinsky blends the pop traditions of his homeland with diverse global influences.

*South Froggies: "Paris Bords De Marne" (Nu Jazz Universe 2010) Formed in 2000 by Jean-Luc Prosperi aka DJ Rubio when he wanted to explore electronic nu jazz & smooth downt. grooves.

*Jorge Ben: "Ponta De Lanca (Umbabarauma)" (Africa Brazil 1976 ) Brazilian musician, vocalist & songwr. Jorge Ben came to fame in the early 60s when Sergio Mendes covered his song "Mas Que Nada." 

*Chico Buarque: "Calice" (Chico Buarque 1978) Brazilian sing/songwr. guitarist & author. His music contains social, economic & cultural reflections of Brazil.

*Tim Maia: "Que Beleza" (Nobody Can Live Forever... 2012) Brazilian sing/songwr. & guitarist known as the Father of Brazilian Soul Music he introduced Amer. black music into the Brazilian pop culture.

*The EEs & Cappucino: "The Feel" (Temptations Of Sound 2023) Comp. prod. keys Andre Neundorf & comp. prod. guit. Claus Hartisch are joined by Germ. vox Cappuccino (Karsten Lowe) on their soulful blending of multiple genres.

*Blundetto: "Only One Stand feat. John Milk" (World Of... 2015) French singer, comp. & DJ Max Guiguet playing electro, funk, soul, reggae, afrobeat & world music. John Milk is a Brit. comp. arr. prod. & singer.

*Makala Jazz Funk Band: "5 Sense" (Xake! 2015) Groove jazz soul funk group from the Basque Country led by DJ, musician, prod. & remixer Makala aka Mikel Unzurrunzaga Schmitz.

*Medeski Martin & Wood: "Aquila The Hyun" (20 2011) Amer. prog. avant funk, jazz, post rock trio feat. John Medeski keys, Billy Martin drums & Chris Wood bass.

*The Mackrosoft: "Cricket" (Antonio's Giraffe 2005) The Mackrosoft was the brainchild of funk maestro Aja West playing funk fusion on his own Mackrosoft Record Label. He passed away in 2022 survived by his brother Paul Cheever aka The Cheebacabra.

*Jimi Tenor: "Polygonal" (Saxentric 2016) Finnish musician, comp. & artist Lassi Lehto aka Jimi Tenor is known for many collaborations with a variety of artists.

*Kerbside Collection: "Slidin'" (Trash Or Treasure 2015) All instrumental jazz, funk & rare groove ensemble from Brisbane, Australia.