DJ Grizz- Soul Niceness Vol. 35

Well its rained pretty much solidly for the last 2 weeks here in London with plenty more forecast to come. Time for some quality old soul to add that silver lining!

Soul Niceness 35 contains contributions from the slick west coast funkster Darondo, a stripped down funk classic from Larry Young, The Chilites cover Marvin, and to finish off with- an 80's Oliver Cheatham stepper. Plus 6 more dusty soul nuggets for your pleasure.

Back next week on a version excursion after SoulNRnB pulls some upfront magic from his hat!

Grizz

  http://www.mediafire.com/?4649rqkdvqs1kx4

Darondo- Give me some
Larry Young- Turn off the lights
Great Pride- She’s a lady
Paul Burton- So very hard to make it
Pockets- Pasado
Luther Vandross- Follow my love
Charles Drain- I’m gonna stay
The Chilites- Inner City Blues
Last Flight- Don’t give your love
Oliver Cheatham- Bless the ladies

The Artists - Brian McKnight

Lets get something straight. I selected and created this mix a while before this weeks Brian McKnight debacle. I really hope the guy was joking, cause as hysterical as that X Rated YouTube Video he put out was (and I fair near peed myself), it could be a career killer.

Which is a shame, cause this guy can sing. Proper sing. Which is only what you would expect from a church trained singer whose brother, Claude McKnight III, formed the great gospel/acapella vocal group TAKE 6.

He released his first LP in 1992 and since then has been Grammy Nominated (For "Anytime"), recorded for Motown where he released Back at One (his most successful album at date) which eventually went on to sell over 3 million copies, collaborated with a variety of musicians including Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Kirk Franklin, Quincy Jones, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, Talib Kweli, and CeCe Peniston.

He has recently dabbled in Radio and television, even appearing in the US version of Celebrity Apprentice, but thats all fluff. The voice is what counts. And now, in this time of twitter outrage, is as good a time as any to be reminded of how good it is. Tunes like "Stay or let it go" and the great Jazz ballad "Is the feeling gone" are irrefutable proof.

So, by all means, search youtube for his new "Adult mixtape" tune "If You're Ready To Learn". Have a good laugh. Wonder at how he tries to rhyme the word "Squirt". But use this mix to remind you of how good a singer Brian McKnight really is.

Grizz back with you Monday, have a great Weekend.

The Artists - Brian McKnight

DJ Grizz- New Funk Vol. 9

Well thank-you 'blogger' for messing up my morning and changing all my posting settings saying I've got to change to Chrome if I want it to work properly. I think you are missing the point of blogging!Corporations- don't you just love 'em??!! Rant Over.... welcome to New Funk Vol 9 :)

Featuring Sharon Jones' cover of Shuggie Otis, Big Boss Man from just up the M11 from East London in Harlow, LA's Breakstra, The Ju Ju Orchestra's take on the Begining of the Ends classic tune plus 6 more top notch new funk cuts.

Back to the rare grooves next week... up next -SoulNRnB!

Grizz

 http://www.mediafire.com/?4r3xdyw85y13bvy

Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings- Inspiration Information

Lady Daisy- Soul strut

Uptown Funk Empire- Walkin like a ginger

The Haggis Horns- The Bump

Big Boss Man- Complicated lady

The Soul Investigators- Downtown

The City Champs- The set up

Third Coast Kings- Tonic stride

Breakstra- Miss Funky Soul

JuJu Orchestra- Funky Nassau

SoulNRnB's Street Sounds Sessions 81

New music coming at a pace this year, and therefore so do the Street Sounds Mixes.

Volume 81 includes the Soulpersona Remix of a tune from one of the best LP's of last year; Deborah Bond's "Nothing Matters". Then there's some great Jazz that Grizz should appeciate from one of our ones to watch this year, Diggs Duke, covering Herbie Hancock, as well as the cover of "My Foolish Heart" from Chris Turner. Two Browns, Austin and Sleepy, provide some soul, whilst theres some great RnB from Leah Labelle and Green Tea. Check out the UK's Native Sun tune too, quality.

Grizz should be back Monday, in the meantime ENJOY!!!

SoulNRnB's Street Sounds Sessions 81

DJ Grizz- 60's Soul Vol.14

Back to the 60's once more for a taste of the originators of Soul.

10 more solid cuts and hardly one longer than 3 minutes! Includes an early outing from 'Dont Push It, Dont Force It' man Leon Haywood, a Jackie Wilson big band colaboration with Count Basie, Anna King from the James Brown stable of artists, and completing the mix, our cover girl, Barbara Mason- a name familier to you rare groove collectors out there.

I'll be back with some New Funk goodies next week after a SoulNRnB midweek interlude.

Grizz

http://www.mediafire.com/?ovj7j5pcpaq5lai

Tracklist:

The Hesitations- Go Away
Leon Haywood- I was sent to love you
Colette Kelly- City of fools
Jackie Wilson & Count Basie- Even when you cry
Sue Ann Jones- Give you my love
Mike & the Censations- You’re living a lie
Anna King- If somebody told you
Lori & Lance- I don’t have to worry
Thee Midnighters- Never gonna give you up
Barbara Mason- You never loved me at all

SoulNRnB's Street Sounds Sessions 80

Oh lord.....nearly the weekend here in the UK......cant come quick enough. But lets give you that Friday Feeling at the mixtape a little early.

SSSS80 lands featuring new music from cover star Will Downing in a soulful mood, new music from Conya Doss whose LP "Pocketful of Purpose" is great news for fans and recommended by the Mix Tape, a preview from Soul Movement Vol 2 (Vol 1 was best LP of 2009!) from Slakah the Beatchild, new music from Bobby Womack..................yes, BOBBY WOMACK, plus great Hip Hop and beats from Dela and Blu and Byron the Aquarius featuring the UK's Olivier Daysoul. PLUS MORE.

Hope your Easter holidays were cool, Grizz back next week.

SoulNRnB's Street Sounds Sessions 80

DJ Grizz- Soul Niceness 34

Morning mixtapers! I hope you got some 'rest n recuperation' over the weekend in time for the new week. At least I've some good rare grooves and soul goodies to set you up for the next few days - almost an Easter Egg Hunt for crate diggers!.

Soul Niceness 34 offers another 10 cuts from the shelves at chez Grizz. Includes a wicked groove from Jazz Funk drummer Bernard Purdie, a Mizzell produced Mary Wells track, a Barry White inspired Mystic Moods track and topped off with a slept on O'Jays tune. Plus 6 more 70's n 80's Soul gems.

I'll see you next week after SoulNRnB brings you bang up to date!

Grizz

http://www.mediafire.com/?u5jshpzn1abpaj2

Tracklist in comments

The Artists - Fertile Ground

OK, I have an admission to make. I like to put myself out there as a font of knowledge on all things new and soulful, but I was late to the Fertile Ground Party. Seeing as the group was founded by James Collins back in '98, I only became aware of them back in 2004, with their last LP "Black is." Shame on me.

Comprising of James, vocalist Navasha Daya, Drummers Marcus Asante and Mark Prince, percussionist Ekendra Das, veteran trumpet player Freddie Dunn and woodwind virtuoso Craig D. Alston, the band wrote soul songs over jazz, funk and world rhythms, often with intelligent and perceptive lyrics.

Collins released the first 2 LP's, "Field Songs" and "Spiritual War" on his own label, Blackout Studios, but were soon picked up by various international labels for distribution, releasing remix  projects, "Seasons Change" and the aforementioned "Black is" selling hundreds of thousands of records.

Touring was a major part of their success, which they continued to do for 4 years follwing the release of their final album. In early 2010, the members of Fertile Ground decided to take a break from touring as a unit and concentrate on individual projects. Mark Prince released his debut album A Fraction of Infinity. Freddie Dunn hit the studio to record for his debut funk/jazz hip hop project and Craig Alston started a unit called the Syndicate. After a decade with the band, lead vocalist Navasha Daya also decided to embark on other career goals and has been doing spot projects with various artists.

When I first heard the band, I was impressed with the live organic sound and musicianship. The melding of jazz and funk and soul and latin and afro sounds. Then the lyrics creep up on you. I hope that alot of you check this mix out and some discover a band that was slept on by the majority, undeservedly, especially when they were top of the class musically.

Grizz back Monday, Ill see you with some new music next week.

The Soul Mixtape Presents - The Artists - Fertile Ground
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DJ Grizz- Teena Marie Mix

Kicking off April with an artist tribute mix & this time its the Lady T herself Ms Teena Marie. Starting her career with Motown Records at the back end of the 70's her powerful vocals and many funk edged tunes formed part of my jazz funked filled life soundtrack throughout the 80's (when I was young enough to go to clubs and soul weekenders). Also made a strong comeback in the noughties, she was respected by old time soul connoisseurs and new RnB fans alike.

The mix includes the Temps cover (and Peter Tosh hit) Don't Look Back, the classic Portuguese Love (where the jazz dancers back in the day waited for the last 2 minutes to do their thing), collaborations with Ronnie McNeir and longtime mentor Rick James and You Make Love Like Springtime- a tune I never tire of hearing.

Back in Soul Niceness mode next week, I believe SoulNRnB has some 'artist' mixes coming soon too. Have a good Easter if you are off!

Grizz

http://www.mediafire.com/?ocd5jzyth94o8zb

SoulNRnB:

Grizz, what a top mix, reminds me of back in the day something rotten. Just wanted to stick my oar in and single out a couple of more recent tunes that she did that I like that may have flown under the self confessed music snobs radar!

First up, from 1994, her duet with Lenny kravitz...



And then from her last LP, Congo Square, her duet with Faith Evans.



Great stuff!



Tracklist in comments