Notes From The Bridge

Bridging the Gap January 28, 2026 *Mulatu Astatke & Hoodna Orchestra: "Major" (Tension 2024) M Astatke is known as "the father of Ethiopian jazz." He combined jazz, Latin & Ethiopian music to create "Ethio-Jazz." Hoodna Orch. is an Afrobeat group from Tel Aviv, Israel. *Hailu Mergia & The Walias: "Ibakish Tarekigne" (Tche Belew 1977) H Mergia is an Ethio. keys, accordionist & comp.  now based in Wash. DC. The Walias were an Ethio. funk & jazz band fm the early 70s. *Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela: "Coconut Jam" (Rejoice 2020) Tony Allen was a pioneer of Afrobeat playing drums with Fela Kuti. He was a comp. prod. & vox. Hugh Masekela is a So. Afr. horn player & singer who was exiled during Apartheid and built his influential career in the US. *Roy Ayers: "What's The T? feat. Merry Clayton" (Virgin: Unreleased Recordings... ) Roy Ayers was an Amer. vibist, prod. & comp. He was given his first ...

Bridging the Gap January 21, 2026 *The Claypool Lennon Delirium: "Cricket And The Genie (Movement 1, The Delirium)" (Monolith Of Phobos 2016) Primus bass/vox/songwr. Les Claypool teams up with guit./vox/songwr. Sean Ono Lennon also of GOASTT. They play what Lennon has described as "progadelic" *GOASTT: "Midnight Sun" (Midnight Sun ) Amer./Brit. band feat. Sean Ono Lennon & Charlotte Kemp Muhl. He is the son of J Lennon & Yoko Ono & she is a musician, model, writer & director. They are a couple & collaborate on GOASTT as a way to spend more time together. *Gomez: "Sound Of Sounds" (In Our Gun 2002) Brit. indie rock band with Ben Otteweell vox, guit. Tom Gray vox, guit. keys Paul Blackburn bass, guit. Ian Ball vox, guit., harmonica & Olly Peacock drums. The group has 3 sing. & 4 songwrs. *Gramatik: "Swucca Chust" (Water 4 The Soul 2009) Yugoslavian electro & hip hop prod. Denis Jasarevic is now living in NY...

Bridging the Gap January 14, 2026 *De-Phazz & Ralf Gustke: "Yam Yam" (...presents De-Drums 2024) De-Phazz is a Germ. 'lounge' nu jazz band formed by prod. sound-painter Pit Baumgartner. De-Drums pays tribute to the contribution of the drummers that have joined the group over the years. Ralf Gustke is a Germ. drummer who began at 10. *Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band: "Tropical Heat" (55 2016) BRSB is a funky steel band from Hamburg Germ. led by multi-inst. Bjorn Wagner who also leads the Mocambo Allstars. *Anderson .Paak: "Anywhere (Inst.)" (Oxnard Inst. 2018) Amer. prod. rapper, sing/songwr. He embraces funk, soul & hip hopin his musical approach and has collaborated with Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre & Bruno Mars. *Anoushka Shankar: "Monsoon" (Traces Of You 2013) A Shankar is a Brit.-Amer. sitar player, comp. & activist. She was the youngest artist to receive the Brit. House of Commons Shield. She is the daughter of Indian sitar mast...

Bridging the Gap January 7, 2026 *Vito Lalinga: "Rite Rite feat. Nikaleo & Funkin Salento Nord" (Rite Rite 2024) VLalinga is a prolific Italian comp. prod. with over 45 yrs in jazz/funk. Nikaleo is Italian funk/soul singer Veronica Palmisano.  *Montrefiori Cocktail: "Conversazione feat Muriel Renelli & Roy Paci" (Raccolta Vol. 3 2003) Future jazz from Italian twin brothers Francesco (Kekko) keys & Federico (Kikko) sax, flute, vox Montefiori. MR: vox RP: horns *Banda Magda: "Senza Paura" (Yerakina 2014) Greek comp. multi-inst. Magda Giannikou leads an international cast of musicians playing a wide variety of global rhythms highlighting positivity and unity. *The Bamboos: "If Not Now (Then When) feat. Durand Jones" (Hard Up 2021) Top Aussie funk soul outfit led by NZ born guit. prod. comp. Lance Ferguson. Durand Jones is an Amer. R&B &soul sing/songwr. *Black Pumas: "Fire" (Black Pumas 2019) Black Pumas is a psych soul...