The Artists - Omar

Omar. Also described as the UK's very own Stevie Wonder. Also known as Omar Lye-Fook MBE. Yes, you read that right.... the Queen has honoured the man. Whoever advised her to do that (Cause I know shes not banging "Say Nothin'" in her Bentley) needs a massive pat on the back.

Omar learned his craft classically, playing the trumpet, piano and percussion and spent two years at Chetham's School of Music and the Guildhall School of Music. No self taught Atari Keyboard playing in his bedroom for this man. In a time that house music, indie music, and the birth of new jack swing were all prevalent, Omar decided to create a track that sounded it had been made 10 years earlier, used real instruments, and was paced far lower than the fashionable 120bpm of the time.

That was the classic song, "There's nothing like this." from his debut LP released in 1990. Originally on Kongo Records (Owned by his dad), it was soon snapped up by Acid Jazz specialists Talkin' Loud and that track was released as a single that hit the UK charts.

This was followed in 1992 by his second album, Music, after which Stevie Wonder got in touch to say how much he liked it. Omar flew over to the US to work with his idol, but this wasnt the only major talent to seek him out. The likes of Motown’s songwriter Lamont Dozier, keyboard wizard David Frank (One half of the System), former Heatwave bass player Derrick Bramble and Marvin Gaye’s arranger Leon Ware all wanted to work with him.

Omar then moved to RCA,  and released "For Pleasure". What followed is my own personal favourite Omar LP, co-produced with David Frank, "This is not a Love Song".  On this LP, Omar fulfilled a dream by working with Syreeta Wright on "Lullaby".

By this time, Omar was a critical darling. His final LP for RCA, "Best by Far" included contributions from Angie Stone, Erykah Badu and his recently re-released 2006 LP "Sing (If you want it)" featured the man himself, Stevie Wonder.

Picking out tracks for a mix like this is hard work with an artist like Omar. He refuses to be pigenholed, with styles including funk, jazz funk, african rhythms, soul even recently broken beat, I have tried to reflect the essence of Omar, including some of his rare output for long time fans. But everybody will have thier own personal favourites. The songs on this mix are only a few of mine, his works so diverse, his talent so large.

The Soul Mixtape Presents - The Artists - Omar

DJ Grizz- Soul Niceness Vol. 44

Back for another dose of soul and grooves from those dusty crates- Soul Niceness 44.

Ten more old time nuggets including 'Feel the Need' guys The Detroit Emeralds, some soulful gospel grooves from Robert Vanderbilt, the pre-cursor band to Kleeer- The Universal Robot Band, Tata Vega remakes the Al Johnson classic and finishes with a classic cut from Dayton.

Back in a week with some forgotten 80's treasures!

 http://www39.zippyshare.com/v/27376637/file.html 

Grizz

SoulNRnB's Street Sounds Sessions 97

Were on the run up to Xmas, so lets get started early and treat yourself with the latest Street Sounds Session!

Cover Star Rhonda Thomas has a new Christmas LP coming out called "Little Drummer Girl" and included on the mix is the excellent tune "Miseltoe" featuring Mr Nice Guy himself, Eric Roberson; Prince Protege Andy Allo teams up with the NPG to bring some funk with "People Pleaser"; Lady (Terri Walker & Nicole Wray) go old school R&B with "Money"; German Hip Hop producers JRandPH7 hook up with Phonte to give us a tune with a Foreign Exchange "Connected" feel, and im loving it; Darien Brockington raids his archive and gives us the soulful "If Only".

On top of that, theres some great RnB from Miss Murphy, JoJo, Saunders Sermon and a current favourite of mine, Shafiq Husayn's "Star".

Enjoy this warm up for Xmas, and ill be back next week with another great mix.

SoulNRnB's Street Sounds Sessions 97

DJ Grizz- The Artists- Pleasure

As promised - something for you Jazz-Funk lovers out there- a 'Pleasure' special. One of the most fondly remembered groups with the serious Soul-Jazz-Funk fans out there they spanned the mid 70's until the early 80's. They brought us some of the best known Jazz Funk anthems of the day and also guest played on some of the finest Jazz Funk LP's of the era with the likes of Ronnie Laws, Side Effect and Willie Bobo.

The anthems are all there like Glide, Joyous and Ghettos of the Mind, the sublime Sasafras Girl, jazz-dancers fave- 2 for 1 and 5 more top class tunes from back in the day.

Mr S is working like Santa's elves on his Xmas specials. I'll be back in rare groove 'niceness' mode.

Grizz

 http://www9.zippyshare.com/v/2223301/file.html

Tracklist:
Ghettos of the mind
Joyous
2 for 1
Let me be the one
Whats it gonna be
Glide
Happiness
Thoughts of old flames
Sassafras girl
We have so much to give

SoulNRnB's GEMS: The 80's

Its time for another volume of our gems series. So far weve covered the 70's, 90's and 00's, so its time to go back to the 80's

Alongside stalwarts of the era such as Fatback, weve got some great music from the likes of Magic Lady, Atlantic Starr's Sharon Bryant, a great remix of the late Sherrick's "Just Call", and a personal fave; Randy & the Gypsies "I can't wait".

If your a fan of the era, your gonna love this.

Some Jazz Funk from Grizz at the start of the week, im gonna go back to working on some special posts for Xmas/New Year.


SoulNRnB's Gems - The 80's

DJ Grizz- Lovers Rock Vol. 21

As promised I'm back with another selection of the best in soulful reggae- Lovers Rock Vol.21.

Ten more Lovers nuggets including Rudy Thomas, a classic from Intense, Lovers Queen Jean Adebambo, Delroy Wilson covers the Chilites rare groove nugget and finishes off with an oldie from Carlton and the Shoes.

Mr S up next then I'll return with an artist special for fans of 70's/80's jazz funk.

Grizz

http://www42.zippyshare.com/v/97662095/file.html
Rudy Thomas- Loving you
Doreen & Brentford Disco Set- This Love
Ginger Williams- I’ll still love you
Blood Sisters- Don’t say goodbye too loud
Intense- The very best
Leroy Simmons- At the dance
Jean Adebambo- Hardships of life
Teddy Lincoln - If its love that your looking for
Delroy Wilson- Living in the footsteps
Carlton & the Shoes- Sweet Feelin’

SoulNRnB's Street Sounds Sessions 96

Another edition of the latest soulful music from all black music genres.

Cover star Talib Kweli features on 2 tunes; One from his mixtape thats been remastered featuring Ryan Leslie, whilst his duo Idle Warship (Which featues songstress Res) have an excellent tune, this time from the "Man with the Iron Fists" Soundtrack.

Raheem Devaughn gives us the mellow "Lay Awhile", Ayah releases some tunes from her vaults including the featured "Something about you", plus a veritable heap of independant music that you need to check out even if the names creating the tracks are new to you.

I'm back next week with something a little more old school, but next up is Grizz with something special!

SoulNRnB's Street Sounds Sessions 96

DJ Grizz- Soul Niceness 43

Its time again for another dose of rare groove, soul nuggets and boogie tunes from deep in the Grizz crates- Soul Niceness 43.

10 top notch spins as usual. We kick off with a tune from the 'Back for more' man Al Johnson, some Southern soul from Memphis with the Ovations, 80's funk band Leprechaun give us a mid tempo goodie, Bill Murphey covers the Jimmy James hit and we close with 2 top boogie tunes from The Players Association and The Jones' respectively.

Back with some soulful Lovers Rock next week after a Mr S midweek interlude.

Grizz
http://www35.zippyshare.com/v/68569976/file.html

Tracklist in comments

SoulNRnB's White Label STRIKES AGAIN!

Pinch Punch first of the month. That means another edition of our monthly white label series of mixes created to entice, confuse and exite those soul tastebuds!

Ok, some clues to whats on here........

1) Some new material.....
2) Some unreleased material.....
3) Some great 80's electronic soul....
4) Some 70's Funk.....

See how many you can name. As always, contact us on Facebook, here or on @SoulNRnB on Twitter.

Have a great weekend, Grizz up next.

SoulNRnB's White Label Stikes Again