If you are familiar with Swing Out Sister, Basia, or Matt Bianco, then I believe that you’re going to like this.  As described on one of the fan websites, they are “somewhere in between Matt Bianco and Swing Out Sister, with a little bit of Sade and Burt Bacharach thrown in” which I agree with wholeheartedly – and personally I’d throw some Michael Franks lyricism and Incognito sensibility as well.

Workshy: One

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01 – Sleepwalking (The Golden Mile)
02 – I Saw The Light (The Golden Mile)
03 – Love Is The Place To Be (The Golden Mile)
04 – Never The Same (Ocean)
05 – Half A Mind (Ocean)
06 – Master Plan (Ocean)
07 – But Alive (Heaven)
08 – Finding The Feeling (Coast)
09 – Too Late (Under The Workshy Influence)
10 – Blue Murder (Coast)
11 – All In The Mind (Under The Workshy Influence)
12 – Something Sweeter (Under The Workshy Influence)
13 – I Get High (Under The Workshy Influence)
14 – True To Life (Under The Workshy Influence)
15 – Way I Feel Today (Unforgettable Collection)
16 – Light Of Day (Unforgettable Collection)
17 – Never The Same (Coast)
18 – All Or Nothing (Allure)

Workshy: Two

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19 – Got It All Together (Allure)
20 – Dive Into Love (Allure)
21 – Somebody (Allure)
22 – Love Squall (Clear)
23 – End Up Here (Clear)
24 – Let It All Go (Clear)
25 – Got It All Clear (Clear)
26 – The Reason (Clear)
27 – You Want It, You Got It (Clear)
28 – Get It On (Clear)
29 – Forever (Mood)
30 – How It Is (Mood)
31 – The Girl In Question (Mood)
32 – The Penny Drops (Mood)
33 – Call On Me (Smile Again)
34 – Throw Away The Key (Bittersweet)
35 – Better Days (Bittersweet)
36 – Out Of The Cold (Smile Again)
37 – You Go Your Own Sweet Way (Heaven)

During an IM conversation from the one and only Ricky Mac from the UK, he pointed me to  the Youtube video for “Half A Mind,” which unfortunately has since been removed.  The song affected me so much that I went to Spotify and was even more impressed by them and then went to Amazon and promptly purchased everything I could from them. With the assistance of Joaquino, I was able to find and purchase even more.  The biggest impact that they had upon me was the fact that they have been out as long as Swing Out Sister and Matt Bianco, but I had never heard about them until now, more than 15 years.  They’ve managed to infuse acid jazz, pop, lite soul, and jazz as well seamlessly.  It was extremely, extremely difficult to pull this and keep the limit to 2 podcasts, which means that you will be hearing more from them as time goes on.

Now, trying to come up with an explanation of each track is extremely difficult as I like all of the tracks in the mix.  ”Half A Mind” started the ball rolling for me, “Sleepwalking” kept it moving, and tracks like “Somebody,” “Got It All Together” and “I Get High” are just three of the tracks that keep me going. As you can see, the list goes on and on.  I’d invite you to sit back, relax, and take a listen, and let me know what you think.

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Number 10.

Acid Jazz 10: Free Your Mind

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01 – Pride ‘n’ Politix – Felt Your Love
02 – Omar – Positive
03 – ALS – Walk
04 – Guru featuring Chaka Khan – Watch What You Say
05 – Incognito – Closer To The Feeling
06 – Swing Out Sister – Get In Touch With Yourself
07 – Beady Belle – Ghosts
08 – Jamiroquai – Smile
09 – The James Taylor Quartet – Free Your Mind
10 – Soil & “Pimp” Sessions – Jazzman In The Rave
11 – Modernday Soothsayers – Talkin’
12 – Jhelisa – All I Need
13 – Big Muff – Feel What You Know
14 – Esperanto – Sweet Feelings
15 – D-Influence – Running Away

This podcast had been in the back of my mind for the better part of 6 months.  During the morning and afternoon drives from work when I listened to WCLK, I would always think of another song that could be put on the playlist. I’m glad to finally put it together and give props to both old school joints as well as the new, independent joints that never get played.

I kicked it off with Pide n Politix’s “Felt Your Love.” This track was one of my favorites off their album “Changes” which was released in 1991 with very little promotion..   When I realized that Colonel Red was actually the lead singer of the group, I was floored.  One of Omar’s first tracks released, “Positive”  follows up quite nicely, while ALS continues the positive vibe, slowin it down a little with the new track entitled “Walk.” Guru and Chaka (!) kick it up a notch, paving the way with “Closer To The Feeling,” from Incognito’s Tribes, Vibes, and Scribes LP.

I don’t think I can say enough about Swing Out Sister, Beady Belle, or Jamiroquai, three of my favorite bands of all time. SOS flows effortlessly with “Get In Touch With Yourself,” Beady Belle puts a tinge of drum-and-bass into the jazz-influenced track “Ghosts,” and Jamiroquai mellows it out with the wonderful track “Smile.”  Those three tracks pave the way for an increase in tempo with JTQ’s “Free Your Mind” and the funky tune from Soil and “Pimp” Sessions “Jazzman In The Rave.”

This paves the way for Modernday Soothsayers who I had not heard of until Marcellus Nealy introduced me to it an reinforced the fact that acid jazz is still alive and kicking.   You will be hearing more from him, and them,  this year.  Those who know me know how much I love Jhelisa, so it goes without saying that “All I Need” is in the mix. Big Muff follows up with “Feel What You Know,” followed by Esperanto’s “Sweet Feelings” and concluded with the D-Influence smooth track, “Running Away,” with a little help from Bluey.

Shoutouts go to Marcellus, Joaqquino, and WCLK who reinforce the fact that soul and jazz are in fact alive and well.   Have requests? Send an email to ejflavors at gmail dot com. For those who’d like to subscribe to these podcasts, enter this link manually into iTunes. Take it light.

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More from Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick.  Ready?

Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick. Volume 2.
 

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01 – Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing – Incognito
02 – Everything Is Good 2Nite Ft. Incognito – Kloud 9
03 – Shadows On The Sun (When You’re Not Here) – Loop Session
04 – The Principles Of Love – Incognito
05 – I Can See The Future – Incognito
06 – Time – Light Of The World
07 – I Shot the Sheriff – Light Of The World
08 – Pete’s Crusade – Light Of The World
09 – True To Myself – Incognito
10 – Where Do We Go From Here – Incognito
11 – Are You With Me – Inner Shade
12 – Let’s Go Back (Featuring Omar) – Dira
13 – Spellbound And Speechless – Incognito
14 – Marrakech – Incognito

This is yet another balancing act for Bluey – and of course, based on this, there will be a volume 3.  Most of it is self explanatory, but there are a couple  of things worth noting.  First, I have got to mention the Kloud 9 track that I had never heard before -  it’s a nice collaboration.  The Light Of The World cuts  reinforce the fact that they were quite underappreciated.   Finally, the Loop Records CD is  a fine CD, and Shadws On The Sun is icing on the cake.

Shououts go to Mr. Fresh, Ricky, Paul, Brother B, and James.  Got requests? Send an email to ejflavors at gmail dot com. For those who’d like to subscribe to these podcasts, enter this link manually into iTunes. Also, please be sure to check out on GROOVMNT always keepin’ you in the loop. Take it light.

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…and I’m back after a week of some mishaps, but I’m glad to be back, with a new backdrop. The music is still there, but there’s a few adjustments that need to be made. Check the details out here – and while you’re doing that, download and listen to the tribute to Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick.

Bluey, Volume 1. [Click to play or right click-save as to download.

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01 – More Of Myself – Light Of The World
02 – Beautiful Days (Dan’s Uplifting Beats Mix) – Fantastic Plastic  Machine
03 – Visualise Yourself (And Your Mind) – Light Of The World
04 – Parisienne Girl – Incognito
05 – Make You Smile – Brenda Russell
06 – Roots (Back To A Way Of Life) – Incognito
07 – Nights Over Egypt – Incognito
08 – Aspects – Light Of The World
09 – Where The Wind Blows – Citrus Sun
10 – London Town – Light Of The World
11 – Shadows And The Light – Maysa
12 – Tell Me Something – Inner Shade
13 – Can’t Get You Out Of My Head – Incognito
14 – River In My Dreams – Incognito
15 – I Love What You Do For Me – Incognito
16 – Are You With Me – Inner Shade
17 – Still A Friend Of Mine – Incognito

Balancing between real life and putting together is of course a very challenging act but worth the effort. Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick is a man of many faces. He is primarily known for creating and nurturing the band Incognito, but has also been an instrumental voice with the bands Citrus Sun and Light Of The World. He has also worked with many acts, and because of this, cannot be contained to just one podcast. This mix contains, in addition to the bands listed above, Brenda Russell, One Nation, Maysa, Jocelyn Brown in Nights Over Egypt, Pamela Anderson in Roots (Back To A Way Of Life) and others which I haven’t mentioned here due to lack of time. Enjoy, and please remember, that there will be more volumes coming – believe me.

Check out more information about Bluey here. Shououts go to JD and Emeka Okoye.
Got requests? Send an email to ejflavors at gmail dot com. For those who’d like to subscribe to these podcasts, enter this link manually into iTunes. Also, please be sure to check out on GROOVMNT always keepin’ you in the loop. Take it light.

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It’s about that time. Number nine….

Old School Wednesday – Acid Jazz, Volume 9: Firefly
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