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 pair of vibe mallets at age 5 by Lionel Hampton. Merry Clayton is an Amer. soul, gospel & R&B singer who first came to fame for her scorching backing vocals on the Rolling Stone's Gimme Shelter.

*Randa And The Soul Kingdom: "Getting Down To It" (R & TSK 2009) R&TSK are an Australian R&B band from Perth fronted by Palestinian born sing/songwr. Randa Khamis.

*Quasamodo & The Q Orchestra: "Change Is Strange feat. Thaliah" (The Big Picture 2014) Q is Greek prod. keys & clarinet Dimitris Nassios performing funk, soul & disco grooves. Thaliah Palivida is a soulful Greek singer.

*Quantic: "Descarga Cuántica" (Magnetica 2014) Quantic is Brit. multi-inst. prod. comp. Will Holland. He lived in Colombia for 7 yrs and produced a string of Latin titles during that time & subsequently.

*Frente Cumbiero: "Michilero" (DJ-Kicks: Quantic 2025) FC is a cumbia band based in Bogota Colombia founded by Quantic & Colombian prod. bassist, perc. bandleader Mario Galeano.

*Grupo Fantasma: "Montanozo" (El Existential 2010) Grupo Fantasma is a 9 pc. orch. from Austin TX. They have been the backing band for Prince numerous times & feat. Beto Martinez on guit. & Jose Galeano on perc. & vox.

*Gil Scott-Heron: "Is That Jazz?" (Reflections 1981) Amer. poet, sing. comp. activist & author GSH was a pioneer of spoken word jazz funk & soul. He struggled with substance abuse but always put out the truth in his music.

*Brian Jackson, Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad: "Young Muhammad" (JID008 2021) Amer. soul jazz keys, flutist, sing. comp. prod. B Jackson collaborated with GSH on many comps. AY is a prod. comp. musician as is ASM.

*Makaya McCraven: "This Place That Place" (In These Times 2022) M McCraven is a jazz drummer prod. & comp.

*Anderson .Paak: "Twilight (Inst.)" (Ventura Inst. 2019) A.Paak is a Grammy winning Amer. musician sing/songwr & prod.

HOUR 2

*Bario Jazz Gang: "Kobra Smile" (2 2010) Ital. prod. comp. guit. Rob Colella began playing guit. at age 12 & with guit. prod. Stefano Micarelli explores world music, tribal beats & exotic grooves in BJG.

*Chris Joss: "Zingy Twangs" (Sticks 2009) French multi-inst. prod. Chris Joss builds songs one inst. at a time layering one upon the other until the track is complete.

*Liftoff: "Shine" (Sunday Morning Airplay 2011) Husband & wife Steve & Johnna Raskin collaborated with fellow Thunderball alum Steve Albert & guit. & sitar player Ron Myers on this beautiful, mellow outing.

*Nick Pride & The Pimptones: "What The Heart Wants" (Go Deep 2016) NP & TP are a funk/jazz/soul band from Newcastle UK founded by comp. guit. Nick Pride on this album, feat. Beth Macari on vox & Alex Saxon on sax,

*Gemma & The Travellers: "Take My Heart & Breathe" (Too Many Rules & Games 2017) Ital. Gemma Marchi is the lead singer for G&TT. She writes all the songs with guit. prod. Robert P. with a penchant for old school analog sound.

*My Trippin' Mojo: "Desire" (Edda's Garden 2016) Funk & soul from Leipzig Germ. Sabrina Bornmann is the sing/songwr. for the analog 60s & 70s tunes of My Trippin' Mojo with contributions from the rest of the band.

*The Jazz Defenders: "Meanderthal" (Memory In Motion 2024) Raw & vibrant compositions from the UKs Jazz Defenders led by one of the most formidable pianists on the UK jazz scene, George Cooper. Fusing soul, jazz, hip hop & groove.

*South Froggies: "Nu Jazz Connection" (Nu Jazz Factory 2007) Electronic & future jazz from Jean-Luc Prosperi aka DJ Rubio, creating jazzy textures & rhythms with bass driven beats.

*Batterie Du Verre: "Jitterbug" (Cocktail Hour 2006) Led by German multi-inst. comp. & prod. Sonke Duwer who is currently working as Ensemble DuVerre.

*Beats Antique: "Vesper Star feat. Alam Khan" (Shadowbox 2016) World fusion group based in Oakland Ca. feat. dancer, prod. Zoe Zakes, multi-inst. David Satori & drummer Tommy Cappell.

*Susheela Raman: "Mamavatu" (Salt Rain 2001) Born in London UK S Raman is an acclaimed Brit. Tamil musician.

*Wax Poetic: "Keyif The Relaxed Minute" (Istanbul 2007) NY based trip hop world music band founded by Turkish musician Ilhan Ersahin.

*Shawn Lee: "Indian Summer" (Moods And Grooves 2005) Amer. multi-inst. prod. comp. living in London.