Simmer Down Podcast

This is the imaginary soundtrack to a wacky book that a fascinating fellow rambled about between bong hits on a sofa at some party numerous years ago. He stated that it was an atrociously crafted tale, but with genius descriptions of soul, funk & latin music in the late 1970s. I failed to take down the name of this literary anomaly and have had no success using the internet to procure a title or author. All I know about the guy on the sofa was that his name was Jerry and maybe he's in Japan.

He said it was basically about a young, white, well-sculpted female who flees from home after her folks catch her with some reefer. She ends up in a vividly erotic love triangle with a brotha and a Puerto Rican trumpet player in NYC that results in some kind of parking lot murder. The girl and surviving guy then hop in a car with a billion cassettes and drive across the country to escape police. Crazy shit happens and they end up driving off a bridge in New Mexico.

Anyone know it?

Snag the playlist over at http://www.mixcloud.com/Mogpaws/the-roadtrip-77/

An hour focus on Jamaican musical output.

Woah! This country has made a shi# ton of great sound, hasn't it!?! These are just an
assortment of the vibes obliterating my cerebrum currently.

I've said a lot of nasty things in my life about 80s music, but this mix contains the largest number of tracks from that decade that we've ever compiled. I apologize to the decade that housed my childhood!

The Sugar Minott track is from a 7" purchased just before heading to Rio, and somebody
forgot to label the digitized version. Please remind me.

Large ups to http://rootsfromyard.blogspot.com/ as the last three tracks on the mix
all came from there. Don't be angry that I used tracks from a blog...the sound quality is good, AND give a brotha a break for not having his decks in Brazil!

Also, so many great tracks are nearly impossible to find on wax, and if you did find them...you'd have to give up feeding your children for 3-6 months to pay for them. Love vinyl, but don't fear the digital!

Take a gander at our existence in Brazil if you'd like
http://sambalikeithot.blogspot.com/

Tracklisting!
http://www.mixcloud.com/Mogpaws/the-island-inspection/

i. Michael Prophet – Gunman (Greensleeves)
ii. Pam Hall – Ain’t Nobody Else (Black Cinderella)
iii. Barrington Levy – She’s Mine (VP)
iv. Toots & the Maytals – Time Tough (Dragon)
v. Mr.Vegas – Lean With It (Delicious)
vi. Alborosie ft.Lady Ann – Informa (Greensleeves)
vii. Caustik – Herbman (Filthy Digital)
viii. Dubkasm ft.Ras B – Moses(Forsaken rmx) (Sufferah’s Choice)
ix. Shabba Ranks – Ting a Ling (Sony)
x. Al Campbell – Gun Hawk (Love and Live)
xi. Kabanjak – Dub to Go (Ancient Astronauts rmx) (Switchstance)
xii. Roots Manuva meets Wrongtom – Bashment Bogle (Big Dada)
xiii. Kana – Original (Pama)
xiv. Flowering Inferno - Echate Pa'lla (Tru Thoughts)
xv. Stevie Wonder vs King Tubby – Super Tubby (Bangers)
xvi. Monkey – Monkey Bee (Diplo rmx) (XL)
xvii. Sugar Minott - ??????
xviii. Joy White – It Dread Out Deh (Shanachie)
xix. Alton Ellis – Big Bad Boy (Mafia)
xx. African Brothers – Party Tonight (Dukie’s)
xxi. Otis Gayle – I’ll be Around (Studio 1)

http://www.mixcloud.com/Mogpaws/the-island-inspection/

After six weeks, it finally seems new humans are conquering the moat surrounding our Castle of Solitude. There are phone numbers now stored in the memory of the cell phone that lead to social situations when called. Playing sports at the beach no longer consists of kicking a ball into the ocean and watching it drift away, alone, to nowhere. Basically...it has led to conversations and the sentiment of wishing to craft tunes rather than stitch together the handiwork of others.

So this mix will be one of two offerings for the next while. The hour has come to refocus the energy canons at activities which do not reside on the web. The first mix was to be a big dose of reggae & dancehall, but upon the discovery that Jamiroquai had a new album, hearing 'Fool For You' off the new Cee Lo album and being impressed by John Legend/The Roots take on some soul classics...this melange of tunes was born.

The other mix will go up soon and then it's "off off off" with the internet to reorganize the troops. We've been getting lots of downloads, but it's always great to have more of a discussion...so if you dig it, or have some ideas about improving....please get in touch. Music is supposed to connect folks, no?

http://www.mixcloud.com/Mogpaws/xxsxxoxxuxxlxx/

Intro - Gil Scott Heron Snippet
i. Shawn Lee & Bing Ji Ling - Who are You? (Ubiquity)
ii. Idris Muhammad - Brother you Know you're Doing Wrong (BGP)
iii. Ernst Arno - Outlines pt.3 (Perfect Toy)
Get Up Stand Upperlude
iv. I Ced - Another Look @ U (Record Breakin')
v. The Roots - Make Em NV (Mixtape)
vi. John Legend & The Roots - Hang on in There (Columbia)
Serge Gainsbourg - Danger (snippet)
vii. Cee Lo Green ft.Philip Bailey- Fool For You (Elektra)
viii. Jamiroquai - Hey Floyd (Mercury)
ix. Cymande - The Message (Janus)
x. The Isley Brothers - Spill the Wine (T-Neck)
xi. Merry Clayton - Rainy Day Woman (Ode)
xii. Dom Salvador e - Som, Sangue e Raca (CBS)
xiii. Tom Ze - Dor e Dor
xiv. Les Dum's - La Danse Des Grands Singer Nus (Comet)
xv. Lou Rawls - Feeling Good (Capitol)
xvi. Mary Jane Hooper - You've Got What I Want (Scram)
xvii. Palov & Mishkin - Oscar Boot Jr. (GAMM)
xviii. Dj Catalist - Real Soul (Bastard Boots)
xix. Vijay Iyer Trio - Mystic Brew (Act)

http://www.mixcloud.com/Mogpaws/xxsxxoxxuxxlxx/

Boa Noite, you beautiful, sensual, great smelling humans!

Go Here =>http://www.mixcloud.com/Mogpaws/snazz-shennanigans/
your clicks in this space will bring joy and more recognition to our efforts. Also, there are lots of great mixes by other talented artists & selectas over there.

This particular excursion commences in a zone distinctly latin and requests, nay demands, that you engage in rhythmic locomotion. It is also to assist love ones trapped in climates that are rapidly approaching winter. The tone then meanders to something more of the soul variety, but maintains a pace that promotes thrusting and doing the splits. The lyrics also interact with deeper components of the mind. This then veers to jazz, but jazz that wouldn't dare remove the groove acquired within the previous tracks. You'll perhaps also notice that two of these songs are interpretations of melodies that are not strangers to popular culture.

The final section of this specific herd of selections involves the influence of Africa & Brazil in collaboration with the tempo & feeling associated with hip hop. The number of beats per minute are fewer than in the previous songs, but were clearly constructed as weapons for the grandest dance floors of modern society! Opinions please.

http://www.mixcloud.com/Mogpaws/snazz-shennanigans/

The largest squeeze without killing you and a kiss that absorbs your face!

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Intro: SD has become Militarized
i. El Guincho – Novias
ii. Cochemea Gastelum – Carlito!
iii. Messengers – Paradise
Interlude: Real Rough Time
iv. Aloe Blacc – Loving you is Killing me
v. Gnarls Barkley – Surprise
vi. Sound Directions – Fourty Days
vii. West/Rock/Woods – Love Cats
viii. Rongetz Foundation – Zap! Carniverous
ix. TaeTaeRae – Young Folks
x. Woima Collective – Puno
Interlude: Microwave Popcorn
xi. Richy Pitch Ft.AB – Fufuo
xii. Moonstar – Break it Down
xiii. Gramatik – Cirkus
Outro: Everybody loves the Outro

http://www.mixcloud.com/Mogpaws/snazz-shennanigans/

What kind of half-assed DJ living in Brazil wouldn't sew together a mix to send off the ship that is
their blog? Twould be madness! Thus, with a click at your leisure, you may absorb a compilation of no fewer (or greater) than 17 songs to get immersed in the musicgasm that this place has produced. Blog: http://www.sambalikeithot.blogspot.com

Predominantly Samba, Brazilian Funk, MPB, Tropicalia, Batucada & Jazz from the 70s, but with a sprinkling of other treats from the country also. To save space, all of the track names can be found on the mixcloud website (http://www.mixcloud.com/mogpaws)

The sound snippets in the earlier stages of the selections are clips from political parties promoting themselves that were on the radio just before the Oct.3rd election (No affiliation with our political beliefs) and the later sound clips are from a great film called Estomago that we borrowed from the great people renting us our apartment.

Some of the names will be familiar, but there was lots of digging for these and so hopefully there's a lot of material that you Brazillophiles haven't yet encountered. I can't think of a country more skilled at incorporating sounds from outside their borders....can you?

peace!

Salutations! A gracious bow to everyone this splendid morn...while the file was uploading, 15 minutes were spent out in the garden watching lizards eat berries. They do it rather vigorously. Fascinating. Anyway, feel free to say hello and it would be most appreciated if you wandered over to http://www.mixcloud.com/mogpaws to click for a few seconds or post some words of praise/disdain.

On Sunday, there was the 2nd annual Feira de Vinil (Vinyl Fair) here in Rio...located at the Clube Israelita Brasileiro ( Israeli Club of Brasil) where audio pushers/pimps brought thousands upon thousands of records for the groove jackals to fight over. It was saturated with hyper-focussed men being orbited by bored girlfriends holding bags (not to say there weren't a few crate diggin' ladies....but 90% men...why is that?) The result was 3 records on the "to find while in Brazil" list and brought the number of LPs acquired here up to 20 (in 3 weeks).

So basically there was a samba/mpb/batucada/forro/maracatu/brazilian jazz/Tropicalia overload that short-circuited the noggin', and this mix contains nothing of what I just yammered about. This particular aural jaunt was merely an exercise in keeping the 'on-the-fly' skills intact during this period of time without a live dance floor or audience (except for m'lady and cat that hangs out outside the window). Listen in underpants. This is for the chums who made the polite request of making a mix of club friendly tunes.

Tracklisting
http://www.mixcloud.com/mogpaws

Intro
i. The Isley Brothers- Cold Bologne
ii. Ike & Tina Turner - Cussin’, Cryin’ & Carryin’ On (Dj Sunshine Rmx)
iii. Captn K - Swamp Groove
iv. Pugs Atomz Ft.Psalm - OneNow Baby (Inst Snippet)
v. The Hackney Colliery Band -Money
vi. J5 (Cut Chemist) - Lesson 6: The Lecture
vii. Cléon & Jazzy Pidjay - Return Of Hiphopotamus
viii. New Mjondalen Disco Swingers - Eurodans
ix. Martin Denev Ft.Colonel Red- Somethin Real
x. Maddslinky Ft.Omar - Special
xi. T Roy Ft. Wunmi - Bo Bo
xii. Afrodisiac Soundsystem - Afrobeat In Power
xiii. Cosmic Force - Trinidad Bump (Chris Luck Edit)
xiv. Gazeebo - Boob Holder
xv. Buddy Sativa - Una Peripecia
xvi. Dub Traffik Control - Rebel
xvii. Jneiro Jarel - Castaju Cajunea

Okay, so here it is! Thanks to the 30 or so people who wandered over to try out the Mixcloud. Hopefully more of ya lovely folk can be persuaded also! If you find your ears tantalized, do feel free to post it somewhere or mention it to a music nerd chum.

http://www.mixcloud.com/Mogpaws/simmer-down-pigeon-on-a-coconut-mix/

It's getting to rainy season here in Brazil, so the sun is being stingy with it's rays. This is actually good for me as it means there's no need to apply SPF 60000 sunscreen every 17 minutes. This mix started coming together in my head after a nice chillax on Ipanema beach on an overcast, 20 degree day with almost nobody on it. It's peculiar to see such a famous, massive stretch of beach almost abandoned. There was one lass in fine form adorned in a bikini, but I managed to avoid staring by watching the ocean, looking at Morro Dois Irmãos (one of Rio's defining hills) and at this pigeon standing on a coconut.

The tunes go quickly from some Detroit Emeralds into a bit of Brazilian funk, over to some snazzy latin tracks and from there to modern afro-reggae hybrids ending on electrified reggae revampings. Hope it's up to snuff!

Cheers

http://www.mixcloud.com/Mogpaws/simmer-down-pigeon-on-a-coconut-mix/

Tracklisting
------------------------

i. The Detroit Emeralds – Baby Let Me Take You (In My Arms)
ii. Gal Costa - Vou Recomencao
iii. Di Melo – Kilario
iv. Mongo Santamaria – Green Onions
v. Hi Fly Orchestra – Mambo Atomico
vi. Grupo Fantasma – El Consejo
vii. Victor Brady - Soul Fungi
viii. Saravah Soul -Cachorro_Da_Igrejinha
ix. Kings Go Forth – 1000 Songs
x. Horace Andy & Ashley Beedle – Watch We (Souljazz Orchestra rmx)
xi. Woima Collective – Marz
xii. Aloe Blacc – Miss Fortune
xiii. Butch Cassidy Soundsystem – Hear What I Say
xiv. M.I.A – It Takes a Muscle
xv. Gazeebo – Space Rasta

http://www.mixcloud.com/Mogpaws/simmer-down-pigeon-on-a-coconut-mix/

While in the sky (in a plane) to Rio, it seemed appropriate that the first mix after alighting on Brazilian turf should be all about this country. But then it dawned that such a thing might be overly predictable. Also, for some reason, while sitting in the comfy chair that overlooks the city in the garden at my apartment (the only spot perhaps safe to bring important technological gadgetry), the mood was for a hip hop or hiphopesque tempo beat down. You may’ve noticed that the last number of mixes have hovered several decades in the past, and t’isn’t my desire to give off the sense that I’m trapped back in the 70s or that I can’t match beats……

So, in this particular excursion we venture from a Brazilian themed hip hop tempo vibe, then meander to classics of the early-mid 1990s and “tally-ho! “to current existence. The tempo range is from about 87 to 114 bpm. The intro is made up of a group of school kids walking in front of us in Santa Teresa, Cicadas from Tijuca National Park and some electronic tweaks. A whole whack of time was propelled into this mix as we hardly know anybody in Rio yet and quite a lot of nights have been spent in to avoid finding out about how easy it is to get robbed. So enjoy and spread it around like cream cheese on a bagel!

On a separate note, you’ll be glad to know that record digging has already begun and no foot has yet been placed in a record shop! When you stroll around through certain neighbourhoods, some folks have their collections set up on the street and leads to nothing but trouble for vinyl fiends. A mix of it will surely go up whenever access to turntables arises.

Cheers!

Oh, and remember that downloading the file to your computer will keep the 320kps bitrate intact!
A Mixcloud account is now up and this mix is there too if you like that style!
http://www.mixcloud.com/Mogpaws/

Also a chart from Junodownload if you care to purchase or at least hear some great tracks!
http://www.junodownload.com/charts/dj/532553-Mogpaws/438831-Chart/

Mogpaws: DJ Wanderings Vol.1 (September 2010)
---------------------------------------------------

Tracklisting

i. Follow Me – Red Astaire (House of Godis)
ii. Rico Suave Bossa Nova – J Dilla (BBE)
iii. Canto de Ossanha – Dj Numark (Up Above)
iv. Brazililant Thought – Dr. Who Dat? (Lex)
v. Falador – Marcelo D2 (Sony/BMG Brazil)

vi. Tunnel Vision – The Roots (Def Jam)
vii. Right On – The Roots ft. Joanna Newsom & STS (Def Jam)
viii. Brakes – De La Soul (Jive)
ix. Mecca & The Soul Brother – Pete Rock & CL Smooth (Elektra)
x. Sinicism (Natural Self rmx) – Mophono’s Halftone Society (snippet) (Bastard Jazz)

xi. Green Light Now Begin – Blackalicious (MCA)
xii. What? – Tribe Called Quest (Jive)
xiii. I Am Soul – Common ft. Jill Scott (Supreme edit) (Supreme)
xiv. Jazz Trap – SMOV (Wack)

xv. Blackstar – Richy Pitch ft. M.anifest (BBE)
xvi. I Know All the Bitches (Bullion rmx) – Mr.Beatnick ft.Ahu (Altered Vibes)
xvii. Supersonic Revelation – Simbad (Raw Fusion)

xviii. Liberation – Outkast ft.Cee-Lo (La Face)
xix. Think it Over – Bilal (Plug Research)
xx. Million – The Are (Hustler’s Theme Music)

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Snippets & Samples

Believer – M.I.A ft.Blaqstar
Put Your Hands where my Eyes Could See – Busta Rhymes
Stormy – The Meters
Taboo – The Shangaans
Coming to you live – Charles Earland (LeftO edit)
Requeim pour un con – Serge Gainsbourg

There are about 43 hours left until we depart Toronto for Brazil. Things are a tad on the mad side and the schedule is rammed to the teets. In fact, I shouldn't be talking to you right now...... very irresponsible. However, when a certain amount of time evaporates (2.375 days) without any mixing or podcasting, I get grumpy. So, here we are.

Because the last few mixes were mostly on the ol' school tip, and due to the slammin' party at Marcel n' Mike's crib on Friday where dirty, bass-heavy modern beats where the order of the day, I wanted to put up a mix in that vein. But, as the beat mixing, studio trickery machinery is all packed up for a little while......this mix is zipping way further into the past than we'd normally go.

At the beginning of the summer, m'lady and I ended up at a church rummage sale in the west end of the city. It was packed with people's old garbage/future treasure and it included a few bins of records stuffed into a corner under a stairwell. The selection was 90% cringe-worthy, but after elbowing some old people out of the way, I was able to grab a 7 vinyl box set called "The Swing Years" put out by Reader's Digest some 40 years ago. It cost $3, ended up being in great condition and was packed with great big band/swing from between 1936-46.

This mix is made up entirely of songs from those records as well as a number of television commercials/advertisements of the same era. Surely you could think of an appropriate moment to put it on the headphones or stereo...... but I recommend

1) During some kind of meal with old people
2) Trying to appear sophisticated in front of a new peer group
3) In the park while on the losing team of a soccer baseball match
4) While pretending to be in some kind of overly-innocent, slightly racist black & white
television series that the whole family used to watch back when your grandparents were 13
years old.
5) As something to calm you down or make you feel nostalgic for a bygone era when you're
feeling bitter and unconvinced about the modern way of living.

Anyway, the season premiere of Gossip Girl is over.....which means certain parties will now more easily detect someone who is podcasting instead of preparing to move from one country to another one.

lots of love, next time is from Brazil!!!

It is less than one month until we uproot and head to Rio. There are one or two semi-completed mixes that I’d like to get up before that time, but soon all the equipment must get dismantled and put into hibernation. Many important records will be locked in a secret cave vault, some will be dispersed to friends and some will be sold to feel the needles of as-of-yet unknown turntables.

This combination of tunes is predominantly from the record boxes. This is for several reasons. 1) Everyone likes vinyl 2) I can’t bring vinyl to Brazil and must touch it as much as possible 3) Next Friday on the 27th I’ll be guest DJing at an all vinyl souly funk affair by the name of Soul Power with the 45 king…Parkdale Funk aka Double K. It takes place at Starving Artist (584 Landsdowne)

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=150033185011936

Simmer Down: The Vinyl Junkie Garden Gathering (47:14)

i. For What it’s Worth – Lou Rawls (Capitol)
ii. Mindpower – James Brown (People/Polydor)
iii. Don’t Come Around Here Anymore – Mark Putney (Rhino)
iv. Underdog (Underlog) - Sly & the Family Stone (Epic)
v. Messin’ Around – Spirit of Atlanta (Buddah)
vi. You Did It – Ann Robinson (All Brothers)
vii. Sneakin’ up to You – Elaine Delmar (Dee Jay)
viii. Moments – Hypnotic Brass Ensemble (Choice Cuts)
ix. Fantasia (pt.1) – Lloyd Miller & Heliocentrics (Strut)
x. Unbroken, Unshaven – the Budos Band (Daptone)
xi. Mr.Heron vs. Moondog interlude
xii. Memphis Underground – S.O.U.L (BGP)
xiii. Celestial Blues – Gary Bartz (Milestone)
xiv. Meaning of Love – Karin Krog (Crippled Dick Hot Wax)

Also, this weekend is Havana Cultura in Toronto. Gilles Peterson will be coming through town on Saturday, something you can attend for $25. Last time he was here over 3 years ago, I met m’lady. The Simmer Down crew and Paul E Lopes will be DJing at Levack Block (88 Ossington) on the same evening if you can’t afford to fork over the 2 dozen + 1 dollars to catch Mr.Peterson and his Havana Cultura project.

Oh….and if you ever wanted to know what it would look like to have Robert Downey Jr’s face Photoshopped onto the heads of pinup women….wonder no longer
http://pinuprdj.tumblr.com/archive

As it’s not long before I depart from Canada, I’ve been excited to absorb the city and avoid the necessary pressures and requirements of putting on a good party. The tracks within this mix live in the trees, crevices and boggy marshes far away from the usual dance floor. If at some point you need to calm down, step back and sway in a net between two trees, that’s the time to push play on this mix.

The Simmer Down party night where Mogpaws & VJAM strut their stuff on the 1st Friday of the month will go into hibernation until I’m back from Brazil. Our Last Simmer last week at Six Degrees turned out damn well. Heaps of the great folk from the last 2 years all came out to shake they thangs on a good sound system with our top notch, special selectas…..Alister Johnson, Double K, Splattermonkey & ELMAN. It’s definitely the end of an era, but it means we can get rolling on the next chapter.

VJAM will continue in the time slot with new guests and a new name. It’s a night called HOLD TIGHT and you should go. The first one is next Friday. On Monday if you need something special, the Phoenix will be hosting Seu Jorge & Almaz for a night of great Brazilian music. "Cirandar" is off their new album, it's in this mix and it's a corker!

____________________________________________________________________________________________
Hung Up On My Hammock (51:32)
mix by Mogpaws

i. Del Jones – Prelude Ta Hell (chunk) (Hikeka)
ii. I’m Wishin’ – Lorez Alexandria (Luv n’ Haight)
iii. Trouble Will Remain –Amnesty (700 West)
iv. How Can You Say Goodbye? – Sidney Joe Qualls (Dakar)
v. I Don’t Want You on My Mind – Bill Withers (Sussex)
vi. I Can’t Keep From Cryin’ Sometimes – The Deidre Wilson Tabac (Jazzman)
vii. 2266 Cambridge – Cut Chemist (Warner Bros)
viii. Psalm – Natural Yogurt Band (Jazzman)
ix. Cirandar – Seu Jorge & Almaz (Now Again)
x. Bubuia – CéU (Six Degrees)
xi. Ze Canjica – Jorge Ben (Dusty Groove)
xii. Ponto_De_Chamada – Jose Mauro (Far Out)
xiii. I See You – Toots & the Maytals (Trojan)
xiv. The Russians Are Coming – Val Bennet (Attack)
xv. Lightening & Thunder – Bim Sherman (Attack)
xvi. We See Jah - Wadadli Experience (Strut)
xvii. Hung Up on My Baby – El Michel’s Affair (Truth & Soul)
_________________________________________________________________________________________

FIFA FO FUM!

The World Cup is o'er.... all that precious procrastination must be replaced with something else now. At least the ol' Spanish jersey came in handy and it was truly splendid to get hammered and dance in the street with numerous other Spanish jersey- sporting, not of Spanish origin people. Some clips of enjoyable moments from the tournament have been included throughout this mix.

Also, a rather important development must be divulged. The Mogpaws element will be wandering away from Canada with his lady to the fabled land of Brazil in September. What will happen to Simmer Down? You may or may not ask. Well, the podcast will continue but the SD parties will be put on hiatus until next year or so.

There are numerous preparations and time-consuming things before the September departure date and so we're going to have a FINAL bash on Friday the 23rd of July up at SIX DEGREES night club at Yonge & Eglinton (2335 Yonge St). It will not be held at the Augusta House, a truly fine place with great people, because it is integral to have it at a spot with a solid sound system.

Anyway, to the muzlak! This starts off on a funky afro tip, predominantly in the Nigeria & Benin vein. From there it bounds over to Brazil for some Di Melo, Wandalea and Jorge Ben action. Things conclude by wandering a bit deeper and heavier into afro-carib roots with a dash of cumbia to keep things saucy. Hope it's up your alley, we'll toss up a nice beaty mix before the party on the 23rd!

______________________________________________________________________________________

FIFA FO FUM!

i. The Sweet Talks – Akampanye (Soundway)
ii. The Mebusas – Mr.Bulldog (Afrodisia)
iii. Segun Bucknor – Smoke (Afrostrut)
iv. El Rego Et Ses Commandos – Djobimé (Analog Africa)
v. Lamont Dozier – Interlude
vi. The Melody Aces – Asaw Fofor (Decca)
vii. Di Melo – Se O Mundo Acabasse En Mel (EMI)
viii. Wandalea – Mane Joao (Talkin’ Loud)
ix. Jorge Ben – Forca Bruta (Dusty Groove)
x. Abelardo Carbona Y Su Conjunto – Quiero A…(Soundway)
xi. Ska Cubano – La Gaita Sabrosa (snippet) (Casino Sounds)
xii. Aníbal Velásquez Y Su Conjunto – El Pechiche (Analog Africa)
xiii. The Vibrations – Zazoo (K-Tel)
xiv. Afro-Latin Soultet – So There You Are (Tower)

Simmer Down: Fitness & Vice

Well, looky looky….if it isn’t the World Cup! It’s only fit that as a noble English-born, Canadian-raised lad I’m now adorned with a Spanish jersey bought in Busan, South Korea. Victor is sobbing in the corner having no real ties to any country in the tournament (He was devastated that Malta didn’t make it). While this is being written, Argentina has just clinched a victory over Nigeria.

With the football afoot and the fact that it’s bikini season, it was inevitable that attention would be drawn to the less than ideal physical state of our bodies. The initial thought was to drop vice and implement a strict exercise regimen….but why not combine the two?

This mix was designed to meet the pace required for fitness but with aural content compatible with psychotropic vice. We are not giving you an Afro-Brazilian themed World Cup mix just yet.

On Wednesday June 16th we’ll be kicking it with Splattermonkey at Andy Poolhall on College st. Laying down some fine funky, soulful stuff in Toronto’s snazziest billiards/dance center.

On Friday July 2nd we’ll be back at the Augusta House with one of Toronto’s finest beat dispensers, Mr.Paul E Lopes. We’re working on a good new video for that one!
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Vice & Fitness tracklisting

i. Here Come the Girls – Ernie K Doe (Soul Jazz)
ii. Arriba Tipo - Enrique Olivarez Y Los Vampiros (Jazzman)
iii. Heaven Knows – Mr.Day (Favorite France)
iv. Grito_Pidiendo – Ernesto Cardenal (Tramp)
v. Tanga – Som Tres (EMI)
vi. Good Bad – Povo (Raw Fusion)
vii. Spottie – Hypnotic Brass Ensemble (Choice Cuts)
viii. They Don’t Want – Electric Wire Hustle (Brownswood)
ix. I Need a Dollar – Aloe Blacc (Stones Throw)
x. Georgia – Cee-Lo Green (Elektra)
xi. Fall in Love (Your Funeral) – Erykah Badu (Universal)
xii. Devil’s Pie – D’Angelo (Virgin)
xiii. Chapter One – The Natural Yogurt Band (Stones Throw)
xiv. The Love we Have – Maker (?)
xv. Love Conversation – Jose James (Brownswood)
_______________________________________________________________________________________

ENJOYMENT HUBS (Simmermendations)

1) Pass the Butter @ Andy Poolhall (Weds June 16th) SD w/ Monsieur Splattermonkey
2) Simmer Down @ Augusta House (Fri July 2nd) Mogpaws & VJAM w/ Paul E Lopes

3) Freedom Time @ Addis Ababa (Fri June 18th) w/ Jason Palma & General Eclectic

4) The Main Ingredient w/Aloe Blacc @ Revival (Sat June 19th) w/Mensa & Sean Sax

5) Mr.Scruff @ Wrongbar (Weds June 30th)

6) Turning Point @ The Garrison (Sat June 26th) w/ A Man Called Warwick

7) Jose James @ Revival (Fri July 2nd) w/Jason Palma & John Kong

8) Kings Go Forth @ Horseshoe Tavern (Fri July 8th)

9) Grupo Fantasma @ Horseshoe Tavern (Sat July 9th)

10) Fool’s Gold @ El Mocambo (Weds July 24th)

11) Seu Jorge @ Phoenix (Mon Aug 2nd)

12) Nneka & Mz.Chawlz @ El Mocambo (Tues Aug 10th)

What a lengthy span of time betwixt podcasts. Such lack of action is worthy of a good hiding on the buttocks with a wet leather belt.

If you dwell in the sewer, then perhaps you haven’t seen the weather lately. It has been stripping off everyone’s clothing and has made numerous cities 70% more naked. Nothing but a good thing. Grills are aflame, cold malt beverages are keeping the human core from a meltdown and music is needed to make sure everyone is in touch with the season. So this particular batch situates us in island mode, but ranges from hammock-swaying jams to wiggly-booty-in-your-face selections.

Next Friday, the 4th of June, we shall be at the stupendous Augusta House again. Our souls will be carved open with the rusty, infected spoons of hell if you don’t show up. Remember, we have numerous incentives (like free booze!) if you're able to entice a group out or if your birthday happens to fall at that time.

Friday June 4th
Simmer Down @ Augusta House
w/ Mogpaws & VJAM

152a Augusta Ave
Kensington Market
Ontario, Canada

Free before 11pm
$5 afterwards

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

THE GRILL MARKS tracklisting (37:14)

1. Dennis Brown- Stop the Fussing & Fighting (Rocky One)
2. Cornell Campbell – No Man’s Land (VP)
3. Tenor Saw – Golden Hen (VP)
4. Jah Mason – Don’t Deny Me (Irievibrations)
5. Delroy Wilson – Dancing Horns (instrumental) (Attack)
6. Flowering Inferno – Dog With a Rope (Tru Thoughts)
7. Edwin & Slimmy Taylor – War (Jamaican Airlines)
8. Tape Loops feat. Finley Quaye – Never Do That (Parker rmx) (Jalapeno)
9. Riko Dan & The Heatwave – Mind How you a Talk (Heatwave)
10. Lexie Lee – Bye Bye Bye (Subversion)
11. Busy Signal – Jafrican Thing (Coppershot)
12. Dub Traffik Control – Bongo Dub (BSTRD BOOTS)
13. Chase the Devil – Max Romeo & the Upsetters (Island)
14. Blundetto – Mustang (w/ Budos Band Horns) (Heavenly Sweetness Holland)
15. Secret Outro

My parents are trapped in Paris because of that rascal Eyjafjallajökull. Even though I’ve talked to them and they’re having a great extended vacation, I still had a dream where it was necessary to brave the Atlantic by fishing boat with my spectacle-clad Japanese student, Takahito, in order to save them.

It was as fitting a dream as any to use as a storyboard for sewing together the sequel to last week’s jazzcentric mix. Part 2 is more American and European in vibe while Part 1 leaned towards the afro-latin side of jazz.

The audio snippets used as interludes were taken from a documentary about the death of Charlie Parker as well as pertinent conversation Victor and I recorded while drinking Sake and watching raccoons in an alley. Yeah, yeah… there are no Charlie Parker songs in this mix, but that’s just because it’s an all vinyl mix and sadly we have no Mr.Parker on wax.

The last 15 minutes go extra old school because of a last minute Artie Shaw find at Value Village for $1.99. It’s the best thing a thrift store has ever given to me, so it must be shared.
___________________________________________________________________________

Inglorious Jazzterds pt.2

i. Sanctimonious Sam – Horace Silver (Blue Note)
ii. Killer Joe – Panama Francis Blues Band (Fox)
iii. Effendi – McCoy Tyner (Impulse)
iv. Letter From Home – Cannonball Adderley (Riverside)
v. Minor’s Holiday –Kenny Dorham (Blue Note)
vi. In the Hall of the Mountain King - Phil Kraus & Bob Rosengarden (Time)
vii. Didjeridoo – Duke Ellington (Fantasy)
viii. Tough Talk – Panama Francis Blues Band (Fox)
ix. Oh! Oh! Here He Comes – Herbie Hancock (Warner)
------------------------------INTERLUDE-------------------------
x. He Ain't Got Rhythm (w_Jimmy Rushing) - Benny Goodman & Orchestra (Pickwick)
xi. Shake It & Break It – Shake it & Break it (Naxos)
xii. One Night Stand – Artie Shaw & His Orchestra (RCA Camden)
xiii. Gloomy Sunday – Artie Shaw & His Orchestra (RCA Camden)

______________________________________________________________________________

On Friday May 7th we’ll be back at the Augusta House (152a Augusta Ave) with some special guests, a whole lot of new records, projections and hopefully a couple of sound modifications to get some extra beef. Come on by!

Thanks to Sunni for inviting us to the Representin’ Our Roots party last Friday at Teranga to raise funds for the Caribbean Dance Theatre. It was filled with all kinds of neat people and performances we’d never seen before…….plus they had lasers and a smoke machine. Hopefully that kind of evening will happen more frequently.

It was a typical early morning. Dizzy Gillespie’s ‘Caravan’ was setting the tone of a blissful yet frightening dream. Trumpets, flutes and drums swirled through the air as a hairier and burlier ancestor cruised over northern Africa in 1648 on the back of a creature that resembled Falkor from The Never Ending Story. The vibe was part Indiana Jones, part The Mummy but with undertones of Harry Potter and a dash of 1970s low-budget pornography. In short, the best dream ever.

After a nearly fatal spear wound, finding the treasure, deflowering the maiden and saving a village, the dream subsided. Waking life resumed. I ran first to the coffee maker and then to the turntables to select the records most complimentary to the dream. 30 minutes passed and a heap of fantastical, drum centered jazz records sat at my side demanding to be organized and sewn into one entity.

As this is 90% instrumental and not aimed at the dance floor (although there are moments), I recommend you use this as car music, a before bed dream prompter, a study companion or as the ambiance at a fancy dinner party.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Inglorious Jazzterds Pt.1

i. Caravan – Dizzy Gillespie (UMVD)
ii. Uska Dara – Kerim Capli (Time)
iii. Afrodesia – Kenny Dorham (Blue Note)
iv. One Tree – Salah Ragab & the Afro Egyptian Ensemble (Honest Jon’s)
v. Odeiyaloao – Ray Stephen Oche (Comet)
vi. El Mismo – The Soul Fantastics (Soundway)
vii. All Camels Hump – Sabu Martinez (Gramm Verket)
viii. Jungle Concreto – Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra (Mercury)
ix. Cubano Chant – Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers (CBC)
x. Sam Blues – Sambalanca Trio (Mr.Bongo)
xi. Imprevisto – Bossa Tres (Musicrama/Koch)
xii. Exodus – Ray Barretto (Ubiquity/Fantasy)

Audio samples from various interviews with Dizzy Gillespie
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Last Friday we had our 1 year anniversary bash at the Augusta House with General Eclectic. The warm weather kept people outdoors until past 11:30 and scared the shit out of us, but by midnight the folks poured in and a grand ol’ time was had.

This Friday (April 16th) we’ll be providing the disc jockey element to a really great fundraiser for a Caribbean Dance Troupe at TERANGA ( 159 Augusta Ave) that will have a wide selection of live acts followed by a dance party. It’s called Representin’ Our Roots and it will be a great comingling of the cultures in our fair city. So come!

A significant chunk of these tunes were actually inspired by Facebook postings from fellow funksters and as Saturday mornings tend to be ‘record player with coffee and newspaper time’, the rest are from the vinyl crates. You can’t have a proper soul mix without some nice wax crackle, can you?

To start, there’s the classic Rufus Wonder track, which isn’t as beefy or high quality as I’d like it, but it’s a tricky bugger to track down and it’s a splendid bit of music. I could write more about the other amazing tracks but that would cut into precious tobogganing time and the internet will never take precedence over getting my slide on. Oh…. But Gil-Scott Heron’s new album dropped recently and although it’s not short on coolness, the mood of the mix calls more for his pre-prison-for-cocaine-possession sound.

Next Friday (March 5th) we shall be in the disc jockey booth at Augusta House once again. It’s shaping up to be a good one as people will be free from the spell cast on them by the Olympics (the Canada v.s. Slovakia game turned numerous lovely clubs into ghost towns last night). You’d better bloody well be there or you’ll find us outside your home looking very stern with baseball bats and golf clubs…. Or ski poles and skate blades.

Simmer Down: One Ticket to Soulville

i. Under The Moon – Rufus Wonder (Oh! O’Star)
ii. Come on Back – Brothers of Soul (BBE)
iii. Right on for the Darkness – Willy Wright (Jazzman)
iv. Hung Over – The Martinis (Kent)
v. The Recluse – Cymande (Janus)
vi. Something’s Changed –Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings (Daptone)
vii. I’ve Got Reasons – Mary Jane Hooper (Scram)
viii. Backed Up Against the Wall – 3 Pieces (Beat Goes Public)
ix. Dreams – Maceo & All the Kings Men (Nashboro)
x. Makini – Sal Davis (Counterpoint)
xi. Is That Jazz? – Gil-Scott Heron (Arista)
xii. You Goin’ Miss Your Candyman (Harmless)
xiii. Hang on in There – Mike James Kirkland (Calisoul)

Good to see Nostalgia 77 at Supermarket last night. Come check out Footprints tonight at the Rivoli for a much wanted Island Groove edition. Contact us for guestlist if you can make it to the Augusta House next Friday and try to come early to avoid paying and to make us feel important.

Okay, so it’s not the worst winter we’ve ever had. The shovel is pretty dusty, the winter boots have been benched and it’s still possible to go commando without dire consequences. But from the mopey faces on the subway and the four month lack of plants and vegetation, it seems we’re still in need of something spicy to kick-start our ‘joie de vivre’.

The best remedy would be Turning Point at the Garrison last Saturday, the next best thing would be Footprints at the Rivoli next Saturday, the next next best thing would be us at the Augusta House on Friday March 5th and the next next next best thing would be this mix. We recommend you click the download link or subscribe through iTunes as the compression is much better on the download than through streaming.

Here are three situations in which you could listen to this…
a) Vigorous exercise routine
b) Execution of household chores
c) Work commute greater than 30 minutes

¡LATINVIERNO! Tracklisting

i. Cumbia Tipica – Mongo Santamaria & J.Betancourt (Fania)
ii. Ay Que Rico – Eddie Palmieri (Fania)
iii. Horsin’ Up – Orchestra Harlow (Soul Jazz)
iv. Subway Joe – Joe Bataan (Vampi Soul)
v. Vehicle – Richard Stoute (Nascente)
vi. Mini Mogpaws Interlude
vii. Beau Mot Plage – Christian Prommer’s Drumlesson (Sonar Kollectiv)
viii. La Marea – Manu Chao (Rhino)
ix. El Cerrojo – Los Girasoles (Vampi Soul)
x. Al Calor de la Cumbia – Cumbiagra
xi. Canto Negro – Andres Landero (Discos Fuentes)
xii. Mapale - Toto la Momposina y Sus Tambores (Real World)
xiii. Jet Biguine – Les Loups Noirs D'haiti (Soundway)
xiv. Serenade – Cyril Diaz (Cook)
xv. Dreams (edit) – The Duncan Brothers (Soundway)

We’re feeling rather ambitious at the moment and want to beef up the podcast & dj nights as much as possible. Guest djs, interviews, better videos and more ample interaction with anyone who gives a damn. So…. If you like anything we do, smear the love around on others, and if you don’t like what we do, please refrain from making Photoshop porno pictures of us and spreading them around the internet. Unless we get royalties.

And yes, we did force 11-15 year old Korean kids to say witty things on this mix.

A tip of the cap brim to all those gorgeous humans who braved the balmy weather last Friday to come out and support our early Uma Nota set at the Gladstone. If you were in attendance, then you know things only got crazier once General Eclectic, Batucada Carioca and Paul Lopes grabbed a hold of the music reigns. What a night! We even ended up with unused Mr.Scruff (and we love him!)tickets in our pockets as we couldn’t tear ourselves away to walk the 10 minutes to Wrongbar. This mix a good chunk of our contribution to the aforementioned party.

Oh folks divine, ye shall be pleased to hear that the first Simmer Down of 2010 will manifest itself at the Augusta House on Friday, February 5th. In our possession is a shiny new projector and an ever expanding arsenal of classy music to ignite your bounce receptors. In addition, the Augusta House has installed a few things that will hopefully allow the volume and bass to escalate without inciting the wrath of the neighbours.

Tomorrow evening you may find us at the Harmony Lounge (589 College) if you feel like a saunter out of the house and down to the mean streets at College and Clinton. If you can't go, then please send someone in your stead. Unless it's that kind of weird, intensely scented white rasta guy who looked like he wanted to snort coke off our nipples in the ladies room the other night.... don't send him!

________________________________________________

Tracklisting: On an Uma Nota Note

INTRO

Recloose ft. Joe Dukie – Deeper Waters (Frost & Wagner rmx) (Sonar Kollectiv)

Martha & King Storm – Heatwave (Jamaican Airlines)

Romanowski – Flat Picker (feat. Jan Whitefield) (Trouser Trout)

Amy Winehouse – Cupid (Universal)

Erykah Badu – Soldier (Grant Phabao rmx) (Paris Djs)

Palov & Mishkin – Jack the Nose (Cast-A-Blast)

Outkast feat.Raekwon – Royal Flush (dj sunshine rmx)

(sample) Digable Planets – Rebirth of Slick (Cool like dat)

Rob –Make it Slow, Make it Fast (Gerd Edit) (White/Soundway)

Joy Jones - The Joy (Fundamentalist rmx) (Record Breakin')

Wale feat. K'Naan - Um Ricka (9th Wonder)

Orchestre Black Dragons – E Sa F’aiye (Albarika Store)

Gnonnas Pedro et Ses Dadjes – Dadje Von o Von (Analog Africa)

The Tempos - Save Me (Comet)

OUTRO

The other day a certain someone got a little vigorous whilst making clean the household glassware. A weak section of a glass (formerly containing strawberry kiwi juice that had been on sale from Shopper’s Drug Mart) gave way; the result was a notable laceration. As when injured by anything physically or emotionally, the immediate reaction involves fleeing to the turntables and clinging to them like a frightened baby monkey. The only comfort being warm milk direct from the maternal bosom.

Instead of getting bandaged up, it dawned. Why not make a ska n’ reggae mix while frolicking about in your own life-syrup? This, of course, was a terrible idea and the mix wasn't strung together until the wound was adequately sterilized and bound.

Fellow music junkie, Gino, smacked the Steel Pulse track down in a mad Facebook posting.... from there the iTunes store got .99 cents and the Simmer Down reggae force became one troop the richer. Add to that a Barrington Levy binge and the Laurel Aitken anthology appearing on the doorstep…. Well, it wasn’t long before all the tracks were gathered around begging to be mixed.

We will most likely delve back into that department this Friday at Augusta House and definitely at Harmony Lounge, a new haunt, where a gritty night is in it’s embryonic stages.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Oh, Ain't it Irie mix (32:32)

i. Sex Machine – Laurel Aitken (Pressure Drop)
ii. Soul Style – Duke Reid Group (Charly)
iii. Movements (Joe Gibbs way) - Count Machuki & The Destroyers (VP)
iv. Broadway Jungle – Toots & the Maytals (Island/Def Jam)
v. My P$$$Y – Stranger Cole (Heartbeat)
vi. Caught you Dancing (part a) – Steel Pulse (Island)
vii. Mary Long Tongue – Barrington Levy (Greensleeves)
viii. Africa Irie- Chief Checker (Strut)
ix. Caught You Dancing (part b) – Steel Pulse (Island)
x. Armagideon Time – Willie Williams(Studio 1)
xi. Bam Bam – Toots & the Maytals (Island/Def Jam)

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If you think you can make it on Friday, toss us a message and we can type you into the guestlist with a chum or two. Give you the V.I.P.
Here's the link to the video invite, a little El Guincho paired up with some ol' Disney animations.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWsn7N6PybE

oh...is anyone watching season 4 of Dexter.... are you enjoying it like I am?

Victor, that little globetrotting rapscallion, is now in Indonesia to be reunited with his beloved for almost a full lunar cycle. Luckily, in the dying hours before his departure, we managed to sneak in a few minutes of jabber. Over Jack Daniels and the sound of crickets we opted for selecting songs from some of our favourite soul n' jazz vocal specialists. Save for the gents at the end, this is all from back in the day. I was excited to find the short 6:40 version of Sinnerman as the original 10:20 version is a bit too epic for most to stay on the train. Who knew Take Five had a vocal version?

We've been getting more e-mails lately and this is a trend we'd really like to see escalate. There's sadly not enough good music lovers for us to remain solitary and isolated.... it doesn't matter where in the world we are. Communicate.

i. Shadrack - Louis Prima
ii. You're The Boss - Jimmy Ricks & Lavern Baker
iii. Comin' Home Baby - Mel Torme
iv. Sinnerman (edit) - Nina Simone
v. One - Mary Lou Williams
vi. Take Five - Dave Brubeck Quartet & Carmen McRae
vii. Monologe/That Old Black Magic - Sammy Davis Jr.
viii. Are You Havin' Any Fun? - Count Basie & Tony Bennett
ix. One Mint Julep - Sarah Vaughan
x. Come On-A My House - Rosemary Clooney
xi. Signifyin' Monkey - Oscar Brown Jr.
xii. Just You, Just Me - Ella Fitzgerald
--------- THE CAPITAL OF MALTA IS VALLETTA-----------
xiii. Stop What You're Doing - Ben Westbeech
xiv. The More I Look At You - Timo Lassy feat. Jose James
xv. Frontin' - Jaime Cullum

Next Augusta House party: Fri, September 11th