Tuesday 24 September 2013

Inspiration! A musical journey...

Soul, Funk, Salsa, Jazz, Hip Hop, House, Gospel, Afro Beat...

A DJ Timber musical hi-story

What's this all about?  Well, really, I don't know, do musical genres even exist?  Here's a little run down of some of my favorite tunes that don't fit comfortably within any one single genre of music!  Many of which also do not fit comfortably in the year in which they were recorded as they have a timeless quality which is so rarely found in music and life in general!  When dropped in the right place at the right time they are guaranteed to produce pure dance floor ecstasy (click on links to open in youtube):


1981: This tune does not sound like it was recorded in 1981, According to the sleeve notes on the LP: Charles wails, unfettered and liberated: both instrumentally and vocally.  "I'd done some singing on my Mercury albums" he explains, "but never anything like this... the tune's about this lady I used to know and I really got loose with it... I really felt like a free spirit." If this doesn't make you move, you are probably already dead.


2005: I am not a fan of remixes, however, this is something else, I first heard this from Andy Peek when he was spinning at a bar in Manchester, the next day I went to the Northern Quarter and picked up the 12".  Stellar!!!

Pharoah Sanders - You've Got To Have Freedom

1980: The original from the J-Rocc remix, as with 'Murilley' it also doesn't sound like it was recorded in the 80's, beautiful piece of dancefloor jazz

Gregory Porter - 1960 What?

2011: Gregory Porter, gospel jazz with a thumping bassline, finely tuned brass, light understated percussion and what a voice!!!  This really kicks!!

Gregory Porter - 1960 What (Opolopo Kick & Bass Rerub)

2011: Gregory Porter, gospel jazz with a thumping bassline, finely tuned brass, light understated percussion and what a voice (with a 'house' remix??)!!!  This also really kicks!!

Gregory Porter - On My Way To Harlem

2012: Gregory Porter is really kicking my ass!!  "You can't keep me away from where I was born".

Marvin Gaye - I Want You

1976: Written by Leon Ware & T-Boy Ross, produced by Leon Ware, this song is simply colossal! This song works on so many different levels for so many different reasons.  Colossal, I tells you!

2005: Another remix, this one is just nuts... beautiful!

Mos Def - Umi Says

1999: Mos Def goes into overdrive on the creativity front accompanied by the legendary Mister Weldon Irvine on the hammond organ and Will I Am (of Black Eyed Piss) on fender rhodes piano.

Jon Lucien - Listen Love (Live)

1998: Jon Lucien, from Tortola (British Virigin Islands) with one of the most emotive live performances captured on video, this goes deep!!  Simply put: OUTSTANDING!!!

Jon Lucien - Listen Love

1974: Studio version of the above, builds and builds and builds!!

Jon Lucien - Who Will Buy

1970: Smooth, smooth, smooth!!  Never fails to bring a tear to the eye, life should not be allowed to be so beautiful!  Everything about this song is perfect, from the playful piano riffs, the swinging bass, and the tastefully understated percussion which accompany perfectly the golden tones of Jon Lucien's outstanding vocal delivery

Eddie Higgins Trio - Estate

2001: This does not sound anything like 2001, Eddie Higgins really kicks it on his piano with beautiful Brazilian kissed percussion on this rendition of the jazz standard (written by the Italian - Bruno Martino) which was made famous by João Gilberto. 


1964: Un-fuck-able!!!  Heavyweight jam session recorded late night / early morning which flips half way through, featuring the very cream of New York's latin players, this is pure dance floor delirium!


1973: This is one of the most powerful records I own in my collection, thumping percussion, explosive bass, violent brass and roaring vocals that I really wish I could understand!  If anyone can translate this I would be eternally grateful

If you like what you hear you can find me playing equally eclectic sets in Marula Cafe on Sunday nights (every Sunday: live Jam Session: 11pm - 1am followed by DJ Timber: 1am - 5am).