Grant Phabao and Djouls - 21st Century Afro Vol.6
(MP3 Podcast on www.ParisDJs.com) T.I.M.E.C., 2009-03-25

This 6th mix in our series of 'current Afro music from all over the world' is focused on the funk anglo-saxon musicians kinda always put back into afro-beat. The Souljazz Orchestra, Kaleta & Zozo Afrobeat, The Soul Hustlers, Brownout, Baby Charles, The Budos Band, The New Mastersounds, Midnight Lab Band... You might not know all these bands - yet.


For starters, Canadian afro-funk outfit The Souljazz Orchestra opens the mix with a splendid instrumental, 'State Terrorism', nearly as powerful as the original demo song from 2007, 'Terrorist'. We then move to New York City and the multi-cultural collective Zozo Afrobeat, with a superb cover of Bob Marley's 'Get Up, Stand Up', before crossing over to Orange County, California, and the Soul Hustlers (with members of Breakestra, Nafro, The Mars Volta...). Their debut 7-inch 'Supernatural Thing' features the Snake from the Los Angeles-based neo soul band The Rebirth, it's a re-interpretation of the Ben E. King classic with a mix of west coast Cali-funk and Nigerian afrobeat. 'Part 1' is vocal, here's the rootsy instrumental 'Part 2' available on the b-side of the single.

Adrian Quesada (Ocote Soul Sounds, Grupo Fantasma) is featured once again with his Brownout afro-latin-funk combo. African music is just everywhere and couldn't pass on Austin, Texas... And even in Brighton, funkateers Baby Charles are trying the afro way. Their cover of 'I Bet You Look God On The Dancefloor' is simply amazing UK afrofunk from the United Kingdom. Brooklynites The Budos Band don't need presentation anymore if you're following our mixes, but maybe you haven't heard of UK funk maestros The New Mastersounds yet? The psychedelic afro-funk track from their 2008 album 'Plug & Play' we've chosen should infectiously make you dance. And we conclude this mix in Brooklyn once again, with the second single from the Midnight Lab Band, a conceptual project from NYCTrust label founders Oneman & E's E. Their second single fuses afro-latin vibes with some cosmic disco spirit.

21st Century Afro. We did not lie.


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Tracklisting :
01. The Souljazz Orchestra - State Terrorism
(from 'Parasite' 7 inch, 2008 / Do Right!) CANADA
» more info on parisdjs.com «
02. Kaleta & ZoZo Afrobeat - Get Up
(from 'Country Of Guns' album, 2008 / Tramp) NIGERIA/USA
» more info on parisdjs.com «
03. The Soul Hustlers - Supernatural Thing Part 2
(from 'Supernatural Thing' 7 inch, 2008 / All City) USA
» more info on myspace.com/soulhustlin or on myspace.com/allcityrecordings «
04. Brownout - Laredo 77
(from 'Homenaje' album, 2008 / Freestyle) USA
» more info on parisdjs.com «
05. Baby Charles - I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
(from 'Baby Charles' album, 2008 / Record Kicks) UK
» more info on parisdjs.com «
06. The Budos Band - His Girl
(from 'The Budos Band II' album, 2007 / Daptone) USA
» more info on parisdjs.com «
07. The New Mastersounds - Kuna Matata
(from 'Plug & Play' album, 2008 / One Note) UK
» more info on parisdjs.com «
08. Midnight Lab Band - Run Riot
(from 'Run Riot' 12 inch, 2008 / Names You Can Trust) USA
» more info on nyctrust.com «

Original record covers :




Credits :
Selected and mixed by Grant Phabao & Djouls(timec.net)
Audio mastering by Grant Phabao (grantphabao.com)
Artwork by Djouls (djouls.com), photo by Nilag under a Creative Commons license