Of all of the Big Up interviews (which btw have all been great in my opinion), this has been the most anticipated. Jazzman Gerald is a guy who does things the way he wants. In other words, he is the guy who set the bar for reissues and bringing the underdog artist to the public’s eyes and ears. He has been doing it well, taking care of the artists he reissues, all the while running a record label dynasty that is quite impressive. When not DJing rare music all over the world, he’s keeping all the record collectors, DJs, producers and artists scrambling to get his latest releases and compilations. Heard he’s a football supporter, but no mention of it in the interview. Gerald get at me on that! It is an honor for us to have Gerald in this latest installment of Big Ups. Enjoy!
I’m excited to announce that the next Big Ups interview will be, to me, the best digger and preserver of Funk, Soul, Jazz, and many other genres. A true defender of the underdog musicians throughout the world. A man that has dedicated his life to keeping this music we all love alive. I, along with countless others have bought these records, gained knowledge from Gerald, and enjoyed the many Lps, 7″s, and compilations he’s put out through the years. He was the first person to actually do a regional Funk compilation properly with Hard Texas Funk. While others were bootlegging, Gerald did his due diligence, put the legwork in, and came out with the official compilation. This set the bar for all of the future compilations. Label scans, rare photos, band info, studio info, and anything else that was relevant was included. All of this (for the most part) is common place these days. Everyone from Numero to Now Again to anyone else resurrecting and releasing these forgotten artists and music owes a debt of gratitude to Jazzman.
“ We’re validating a style of music that was already there but wasn’t being done properly. ”-Jazzman Gerald on Jazzman Records, 2011
Here is an interview done in December 2011 in Lausanne, Switzerland where Gerald speaks on Jazzman Records, how he got his start, and what the label is all about. It’s a great insight on the label’s philosophy, a brief history of the music he preserves, and why it’s important that it’s to be done properly. As I said earlier, I’ve got Gerald in a Big Ups interview that will drop next week. Here’s a little back ground for those who are or aren’t familiar. It’s a great insight into the life and views of the man they call Jazzman Gerald.
In 2005, DJ Gu and Brother Tom decided to form their own record label. Gu, a DJ since age 12 had discovered that he loved rare Funk, Soul, and Jazz sometime in the mid 1990′s. His involvement with Urban Jazz Groove in Bremen, Germany (his hometown) put him on the international DJ circuit. One of his stops was in London, with Keb Darge and his Legendary Deep Funk night. Gu decided that in order to be more well recognized as a DJ (as well as a producer and composer), the two would start a record label. With intentions on bringing new and unheard Funk and Soul to the masses, Gu wrote a song, which was performed by the Leeds, UK band The New Mastersounds. The result, after a two hour studio session was a mobile recorded “Give Me A Minute Part 1″. The brothers describe the end result in their words: “… and all of a sudden we were on the train from Leeds to London with a very rough recording of The New Mastersounds on an old mobile.” Our Label Records was born.
“ When Our Label Records releases the Funk, I take note ”-Professor Groove, WEFUNK
Six years and six releases later, Our Label Records have absolutely made a name in the Funk world. Case in point: the first Osaka Monaurail 7″ and two exclusive Keb Darge productions sold out quickly. After a two year hiatus, Our Label Records is back, and they return with a new side: “ABX”, by Swiss multi-instrumentalist Sir Ali Bengali released in November, as well as four new releases slated for 2012. They have also parted ways with Unique Records who handled their distribution, to take over it themselves. This two year hiatus was used to get back to grassroots and will ensure that they will be able to oversee the whole operation, ensuring better international delivery and distribution and gain full control of the business. Their international artist roster so far has bands from the UK, Japan, Germany, Russia, Switzerland, Canada, Italy and is growing.
Their stable of artists is very strong, the aforementioned Osaka Monaurail, The Magnificent Freedom (which is a great record btw), The Inmates, Wake and Bake!, as well as The New Mastersounds, and the addition of Sir Ali Bengali no doubt will raise eyebrows throughout the Funk and Soul community, if not the rest of the world. Our Label Records is another great example of a label that is putting out great music, even if it’s a bit under the radar. If you’re in the Funk and Soul community, most likely you have heard of these guys. I’ve featured releases on past FMF mixes, and they have gotten considerable airplay in the UK, Europe and Japan. If you’re not in the know, get familiar. It seems that the time out revamped the whole company, the philosophy, and expect to hear a lot from Our Label Records in 2012.
In the sad state of music today, where one has to wade through a lot of horrible stuff that passes for musicians these days, there is a silver lining. That silver lining is Lee Fields. On March 13, 2012, Truth and Soul Records will release Faithful Man, the follow up to the smash 2009 Lp My World. Backed by the hardest working band around, Truth and Soul Records house band The Expressions, this record is highly anticipated. If you are a fan of Funk and Soul, a fan of Lee Fields, or just a fan of good music, you’d be doing yourself a disservice by not picking his record up when it drops.
“ “In a curious case of musical evolution, the older Fields becomes, the closer he gets to perfecting the sound of soul that he grew up with as a young man ”- Oliver Wang
Mr. Fields carries the torch and keeps the flame burning for Funk and Soul music. He, along side bands like Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, labels like Colemine, Starla, and Our Records (which we will profile here at FMF soon) among others, rise up among the bastion of bands who claim to be a throwback or reside on a major label as throwback. The reason Fields rises up is simple: Lee Fields is the real deal. He’s done his musical bid, moved around on over 12 record labels before coming to his permanent home of T&S. How many people can claim they have played with a bands like Kool and the Gang and Sammy Gordon and the Hip Huggers? Not familiar with Gordon? Check out “Upstairs at Boston Road” or “Jungle Bump” to get the sound, and you’ll see what I mean about Fields’ contribution to this music genre. He’s breathed Funk and Soul music, toured throughout the world and his 43 year old career shows no sign of stopping. If you’re just getting hip to Fields, I suggest you grab My World from Truth and Soul. If you’re lucky enough to be able to get your hands on some of his older 45′s, let’s say “The Funky Screw”, “Let’s Talk It Over”, or “I’m the Man”, you will hear a man who is Soul. This progenitor of the movement (Funk and Soul that is) is equally entertaining on tape as he is live, and translates well with both. This March, Fields once again shows the world what the genre is about. He can do that, because he not only plays the real part, he lived it his whole life.
Here’s my review of Lee Fields and the Expression Live at Central Park Summerstage this past summer here.
Lee Fields- “You’re The Kind Of Girl”
Download the track, “You’re The Kind Of Girl” from Rolling Stone.
Today’s Big Ups is a special one, as I get 10 questions answered from Brooklyn’s own DJ Akalepse. Lepse has been holding down NYC for a long time, throwing proper DJ parties with real music, while also producing and putting out some of the best Funk and Soul music with the acclaimed record label Truth and Soul. His weekly Wednesday night at LPR alongside Rich Medina has had heavyweight guests that included J-Rocc, DJ Spinna, Crazy Legs, Dwele, Easy Mo Bee, and many more, if you thought you could take the night lightly. It is my distinct pleasure to be able to bring him to the pages of Big Ups.
I’m happy to announce our winner for the Flea Market Funk x Cultures of Soul contest. It was none other than David Lerner from Columbia, MD, who correctly identified Brother Jack McDuff “Oblighetto” as the first 45 I ever reviewed. Some were close and said Dennis Coffey “Scorpio”, but indeed the good Brother Jack was my first 45 I put up over 4 years ago. How much we have changed here at FMF, but I still remain dedicated to keep this music alive. In the upcoming weeks, I’m going to do another first, have a pledge drive here at FMF, (with some goodies to give away as well) so keep your eyes and ears peeled for that.
I wanted to shout out Jeff from Cultures of Soul for providing me with the give always, and of course to you, the reader for taking an interest in FMF. You guys keep me going every day and drive me to keep diggin’ deep. Cheers-
Richmond, VA via Germany, DJ Pari is an all around Funk and Soul machine. Touring with James Brown, making records with Marva Whitney, and DJing every corner of the world spreading the gospel of 45 music is all in a day’s work. Here’s another person making a difference doing what he loves. Big Ups.
Supreme La Rock has been one of the premier DJ’s/Diggers/Record Collectors for as long as I can remember. It’s an honor and a pleasure to have him in the Big Ups series. ‘Preme has been down since day one and has the resume to prove it. Check out what’s up in the world of Supreme La Rock in the links below.
Looking for something to do this Labor Day? FMF has exactly what you’re looking for. My dude David Schrier has got another Labor Day spectacular party going on again. When I was living in Jersey I could never make these, but now that I am in BK, well I’m gonna have to get to them. These outdoor parties have been the hit of the last few Summers, and this one seems it may out do all the rest. Headlining are Large Professor and Neek the Exotic. For those of you unfamiliar, Large Pro (or Xtra P if you prefer), producer extraordinaire, member of Main Source (“Lookin’ Out the Front Door”, “Just Hangin’ Out”, etc.) was making beats for the likes of Eric. B and Rakim while y’all were in diapers. That’s just the start, how about Nas, Pete Rock, Mobb Deep? Should I go on? Neek the Exotic has been riding with the Xtra P for a minute, can I get the instrumental of this? Lord Finesse and Edan both are doing DJ sets. I’ve been seeing Edan all over NYC as of late, from the Hot Peas & Butta 3rd Year Anniversary to the NYC opening of the Tribe documentary at the Sunshine, plus this performance at Southpaw. Lord Finesse, well is Lord Finesse. If he’s DJing a set, let’s just say he’ll be Diggin’ In The Crates, knowhutimsayin’? K-Def, “one of the most wrongly slept on Hiphop producers of the 90′s” will be doing live beats and throwbacks as well. There will also be DJ sets from DJ Akalepse (one of BK’s best DJ’s IMHO, check him out in my man Eilon’s Dust and Grooves from 2010) and DJ Moss Bro. You may ask yourself, why should I go to some outdoor party when I could say, be at the beach? Let me answer it for you. You will not see this kind of talent all together in NYC outdoors in a long while. We have professors (literally) and educators of this music game teaching class, spinning records you will not hear anywhere else, while you sip cocktails and enjoy the end of the Summer party. Plus, there are exclusive vinyl giveaways from ReDef and Slice of Spice Records and clothing giveaways from Boundless NY. Think of this as a Public Service Announcement from your friendly neighborhood record slinger.
Monday
September 5th
Brooklyn Fire Proof
119 Ingraham St.
Bushwick, Brooklyn
L Train To Morgan
Capri is a legend, and barreling through these 45′s at lightning speed, he kept the spirit and true meaning of “Doin’ it in the Park”.
Just how exactly did I miss this? Yesterday I gave a shout out to the dude Ted Smooth with his “Otis at the Party” remix featuring Kid Capri. Today, I need to shout out the BX legend Capri, who in this 9 part YouTube series straight up killed it. Yeah, everyone has 45′s these days, but they don’t have these 45′s. Kid Capri rocked joints you knew, lots you didn’t know, a lot of original Hip Hop samples, and breaks galore.
I’m hoping that this set turns up somewhere in mp3 form so I can just sit back and nod my head while I’m doing my thing. Ashamed that as a New Yorker I missed this impromptu set, but definitely happy that it was all captured on video. Capri is a legend, and barreling through these 45′s at lightning speed, he kept the spirit and true meaning of “Doin’ it in the Park”. Rock breaks? Capri’s got ‘em. Feel good BBQ jams? Bet. Here is a true Hip Hop legend taking it back to the very core of what Hip Hop is all about. It’s stuff like this, DJ’s like Capri and their Old School attitude, that we here at Flea Market Funk want to help preserve. If we all do our part, this music will live on forever. Enjoy this, as it’s not always that a guy like Capri let’s it all hang out on 45, who knows when it will go down again? Keep Diggin’!
Good people, it’s a fact that Funk and Soul music will pick you up if you’re down, cure what ails you, and make a broke man feel rich. There are so many records with voclas, and so many records without. Whether it be some grimy Hammond beats or some Soul Sista getting over on her man, there is something for everyone. Big Ups alum and overall good guy Chris “Always Diggin” Archbold decided that he had enough of the singing, and wanted to put together a little mix of just Funk instrumentals on 45 (minus the Carl Malcoln joint). Flea Market Funk applauds this, and even though he says it’s a bit old, we also wanted to share it with you. I mean, seriously, who doesn’t want an all 45 Funk mix? This is some perfect music to bump at your desk, in your whip, or just walking about. DJ Cad is a great overall bloke, a fantastic digger, and comes up with some sweet gems. Enjoy! Keep Diggin’!
Hot Peas and Butta: Fun ass game in which one person hides a belt and asks a group of people to find it. The person who hid the belt can help the people find it easier by saying degrees of temperature(i.e. hot, warm, cold) as a metaphor to describe their proximity to the whereabouts of the belt. After the person finds it they yell “Hot peas and butta!” and the other participants have to run back to base before they get their ass whipped with the belt.
or
A Funky ass, all 45 throw down that brings the best Funk and Soul, the raw and gritty sounds of the drum and getting down, to the people all over this country and for that matter, all over this world.
I am extremely honored this month to be spinning with some of the best of the best 45 guys, who represent not only Hot Peas & Butta, but the MPLS crew from Hot Pants. This looks to be a night of epic proportions, as I am digging deep into the FMF vaults to pull out some heat for this event. It’s in the LES at The Fat Buddah Bar, so come get your grub on, groove to some good music, and watch some quality visuals as only HP&B can do. Looking forward to hearing the heat the boys, King Ben and Rambo Salinas from MPLS throw down, as well as Kamui, who always brings the treats. Here’s the details:
Fat Buddha | 212 Avenue A (Btwn 13th & 14th) | New York, NY
Here we go again folks, but instead of having a single night spread a few months apart and opening up for Q-Tip, I’ll be flying solo on Fridays the whole month of June at the Ace Hotel here in New York City. What to expect: lots of dusty gems, Classic Hip Hop, Breaks, and definitely some Gil Scott-Heron (R.I.P.). What else do you have to do on a Friday night that isn’t going to cost you anything to get in? I’ll be spinning in the lobby from 8pm to 2am, hopefully eating some of the fine Breslin food, and laying down some good music for you to nod ya head to. Honored to be on the same monthly bill as DJ Kimiko, Justin Strauss, Jonathan Toubin, MIchael Cavadias, DJ Wiseacre, and Morgan Collet. Let the Summer fun begin. See you there. Keep Diggin’!
