Beatconductor : Crazy in kingston

Released in february 2004 on G.A.M.M. the label has released various bootleg and original releases covering a great number of genres such as nu-jazz, broken beat and soul.
Crazy in Love contains samples from "Are You My Woman", Written by Eugene Record and Published by Unichappell Music Inc. (BMI). Performed by The Chi-Lites courtesy of Brunswick Records.

Alice Russel : I Don't Need This Trouble (feat. Natural Self)

Natural Self’s 2006 debut album ‘Let Peace Be The Ruler’ for Breakin’ Bread records saw the introduction of live recording into the Natural Self sound as well as a first full vocal production with Alice Russell on “I Don’t Need This Trouble”.
Blessed with a lavishly soulful voice, Alice manages to sound both timeless and up to the minute modern. Her live performances have a unique quality; the ability to captivate an audience and to hold their attention throughout, expertly tugging at the heartstrings. Alice has used her talent to great effect, gaining renown for her performances with the mighty Quantic Soul Orchestra and more recently her own band. She has also supported Lonnie Liston Smith, Femi Kuti, De La Soul and appeared on the bill with Amy Winehouse for the British showcase at the Midem Music Conference in Cannes 2007.

Metropolitan Jazz Affair : Dont Try This at Home

Metropolitan Jazz Affair is a Lyon France based jazz band created in 2002 with :
Eric “Mr Day” Duperray : vocals, guitar, Stéphane Ronget : flugehorn, trumpet, trombone and back vocals, Benjamin Devigne : grand piano, Fender Rhodes, Hammond organ, Bruno “Patchworks” Hovart : bass, doublebass, programmings
“MJA” tends to make the connnection between jazz and soul music, with various influences, from the Jazz Messengers, Horace Silver, Freddie Hubbard, Pharoah Sanders, Leon Thomas or more actual sounds like the Roots, Roy Ayers…

The Juju Orchestra : The Hip Shake

The Juju Orchestra was founded 2004 by DJ Sammy and producer and sound engineer Oliver Belz. They are based in Germany, right in the middle of nowhere between Hamburg, Berlin and Hannover. Some of their musical idols are Caetano Veloso, Charlie Parker, Miles Davies, Steely Dan, Stan Getz. Of course they are influenced by all of them, but the Juju's created their own language. In some words : contemporary soul, jazz and latin music with a vintage sound.
In 2005 the first single release "Kind Of Latin Rhythm / Funky Nassau" entered the peak position of the German Club Charts. Great reactions from around the world followed, by famos dj's as well as by the audience. the next 12" "Take Four / Hip Shake" did it the same way.

Dublex Inc. : The Game feat. Ashley Slater (Swing)

Another great release on Pulver Records from 2006.

Dj Angola : East River Drive

Released in Februari 2005 on Pulver records as a B-side of the "Rock This EP".
Whether rockin' House clubs in London and Chicago, Funk parties in Hollywood or Austin, New Years Eve galas in Las Vegas, fashion events in Italy, Jazzy breaks in Switzerland, Tribal House in Miami, San Juan, & Sao Paulo, or Hip Hop sets in Oslo or Brixton, he quickly adapts to the musical environment he's in. He's performed in Moscow, Paris, Tokyo, Turks & Caicos, Helsinki, Dublin, Mexico City, and countless other destinations around the World.

Jamie Lidell : I Turn It Around

Yes o yes ! There it is ! The "Compass", Jamie Lidells fourth studio album ! This time with collaboration of Beck, Feist, Chris Taylor, Gonzales, James Gadson... !
It's rough and raw, it's gentle and soulfull sweet. It has the most advanced production skills combined with funkiest musician and vocal skills. It's Marvin Gaye versus James Brown and the additional studio wizard knowlegde of Jamie Lidell. "It's all in there." Just get it !
"I Turn It Around" opens the bonus cd of the album.

St Germain : Rose Rouge

"Rose Rouge" kicks off the 'Tourist' album, an album that ruled the summer of 2000 and sounds fresh until today ! What a thrill it was hearing this at the time ! The jazz piano and overheads, the voice of Marlena Shaw, snippets of a live show in Montreux, the trumpet kicking in, the kick drum fading in... the horns... everything so perfect but still with a lot of feeling of human musicians timing.
Definetely a classic !
Yes it's been ten years since Ludovic Navarre send this gift out to the world. The album sold 4 million copies world wide !
Hope to hear some new St Germain work some time...

Tito Puente : Hit the Bongo

Tito Puente is probably the most beloved symbol of Latin jazz. But more than that, Puente managed to keep his music remarkably fresh over the decades. A trained musician, he was a fine, lyrical vibraphonist, a gifted arranger, and played piano, congas, bongos, and saxophone. Among the major-league congueros who played with the Puente band in the '50s were Mongo Santamaria, Willie Bobo, Johnny Pacheco, and Ray Barretto, which resulted in some explosive percussion shootouts.
Hit the Bongo appears on the "Pa' Lante ! Straight" album, released in 1970.

Los Hermanos Latinos : Cumbia Skank

The fourth release of a series of mysterious latin re-edits, brought out in december 2006.
These latin edits are rumored to be by Mr. Will Holland (Quantic) teaming up with Soundway honcho Miles Cleret or possibly Tru Thoughts label head Rob Luis.

Ray Barretto : Soul Drummers

Ray Barretto was a Grammy Award-winning Puerto Rican latin musician, widely credited as the godfather of Latin jazz.
By the time 1968 rolled around, Ray Barretto was a celebrated studio session player whose hard-driving conga rhythms could be heard all over the records of Dizzy Gillespie, Cal Tjader, Cannonball Adderley, and countless others. Once he dropped Acid onto the music world, Barretto firmly established a reputation for himself as an innovator in his own right.
Like the drug itself, Acid had a mind-expanding influence on everyone, allowing for a far more adventurous and eclectic edge to slip into New York's Latin music scene. A lot less psychedelic than its title and cover might lead you to believe, Acid remains one of the most far-out fusions of Latin and soul music ever conceived.
Catchy as hell, the records four original Latin/soul numbers ("Mercy, Mercy Baby", "The Soul Drummers", "A Deeper Shade of Soul" and "Teacher of Love") are obscure classics loaded with plenty of vintage '60s soul references—punchy James Brown and Stax Records sounding horns, thickly grooving bass lines, fat-back drums, and soul catch-phrases such as "What I say," "Lord have mercy," "Come on, come on baby" and "Sock it to me!"

Quincy Jones : Soul Bossa Nova

During five decades in the music industry, Jones has earned a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend Award in 1991. He is best known as the producer of the album Thriller, by pop icon Michael Jackson, which has sold over 110 million copies worldwide, and as the producer and conductor of the charity song “We Are the World”.
He is well known for his 1962 song "Soul Bossa Nova", which originated on the Big Band Bossa Nova album. "Soul Bossa Nova" was a theme for the 1998 World Cup, the Canadian game show Definition, the Woody Allen film Take the Money and Run and the Mike Myers movie Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, and was sampled by Canadian hip hop group Dream Warriors for their song, "My Definition of a Boombastic Jazz Style".

Al Escobar : Tighten Up

Al Escobar moved from Barranquilla, Columbia to New York City at a young age. After working with Tito Puente, Miguelito Valdes, and Vicentico Valdes, he led his own band in California, became musical director for Eartha Kitt, and played at the Stardust in Las Vegas. El Sonido Moderno de Al Escobar was recorded in New York City and is part of that city's boogaloo latin soul craze of the late 1960s. The album also includes the cover "Tighten Up" originally by Archie Bell & The Drells.

Jorge Ben : Take It Easy Me Brother Charles

While many of the Brazilian performers opted for a more radical attitude in their challenge to Brazil's political and cultural authorities, artists like Jorge Ben took a more understated approach. Rather than use overly theatrical performance to shock the audience or write songs loaded with political content, Ben became known as one of the country's great musical alchemists, a furiously eclectic songwriter who combined elements of indigenous Brazilian music with a groove from the west coast of Africa. Never a controversial figure in the manner of the tropicalistas like Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil, Ben became one of the most respected and resilient figures in Brazilian pop.

Daniele Baldelli : Safari Vibes

Cosmic disco is a style of dance music named after the "Cosmic" nightclub in northern Italy, which the cosmic disco scene was centered around. The Cosmic scene's most notable DJ was Daniele Baldelli, who was hired as Cosmic's DJ in 1979; Stylus Magazine has described Baldelli and Beppe Loda as Cosmic Disco's pioneers. The Cosmic Sound included a very diverse range of musical styles, from electro and funk to jazz fusion and Brazilian music. Peter Shapiro described Baldelli's music as a "combination of spaced-out rock and tribal percussion." One genre that was usually not part of this mix was Italo disco, which Baldelli believes was generally too mainstream and commercial. The music's speed has been characterized by different sources as slow and mid-tempo; Baldelli himself states that he usually played at 90-105 bpm. Baldelli would also play 45 RPM records at 33 and vice versa. Cosmic music has been cited as a "touchstone" for contemporary "space disco" artists like Lindstrøm collaborator Prins Thomas and Andy Meecham of Chicken Lips. It has also been cited as an influence on some later Italian house songs, such as Sueño Latino.
The Cosmic club itself was located in Lazise, a small town on Lake Garda. The club had a capacity of 1000 and decor inspired by American clubs like Odyssey 2001 (where Saturday Night Fever was filmed) and Studio 54.

The Temptations : Power

Formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1960 as The Elgins, the Temptations have always featured at least five male vocalists/dancers. The group, known for its recognizable choreography, distinct harmonies, and flashy onstage suits, has been said to be as influential to soul as The Beatles are to pop and rock. Having sold tens of millions of albums, the Temptations are one of the most successful groups in music history and were the definitive male vocal group of the 1960s. In addition, they have the second-longest tenure on Motown behind Stevie Wonder, as they were with the label for a total of 40 years: 16 years from 1961 to 1977, and 24 more from 1980 to 2004 (from 1977 to 1980, they were signed to Atlantic Records). As of 2009, the Temptations continue to perform and record for Universal Records with the one living original member, co-founder Otis Williams, still in its lineup.

The Brothers Johnson : Strawberry Letter

Guitarist/vocalist George and bassist/vocalist Louis formed the band Johnson Three Plus One with older brother Tommy, and their cousin Alex Weir, while attending school in Los Angeles, California. When they became professionals, the band backed such touring R&B acts as Bobby Womack and the Supremes. George and Louis Johnson later joined Billy Preston's band, and wrote "Music in My Life" and "The Kids and Me" for him before leaving his group in 1973.
Quincy Jones hired them to play on his LP Mellow Madness, and recorded four of their songs, including "Is It Love That We're Missing?" and "Just a Taste of Me".
After touring with various artists like Bobby Womack and Billy Preston, Quincy Jones hired them for a tour in Japan and produced their debut album "Look Out For", released in March 1976. Their "Right On Time" album was released in May 1977 and reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 200. Blam!! came out in August 1978 and reached number 7 on the Billboard 200.
Two of the duo's songs were featured on the soundtrack of the 1976 film Mother, Jugs & Speed. The instrumental track Thunder Thumbs and Lightnin' Licks refers to the brothers' nicknames. "Get the Funk Out Ma Face" was cowritten with Quincy Jones.
Among their most popular songs are I'll Be Good to You (Billboard Hot 100 #3 in 1976), Strawberry Letter 23 (Hot 100 #5 in 1977), Ain't We Funkin' Now (1978), and Stomp! (Hot 100 #7 and Hot Dance Music/Club Play #1 in 1980). Their styles include funk, disco, and R&B ballads.

Freda Payne : Mother Misery's Favorite Child

Payne was born in Detroit, Michigan and grew up listening to different jazz singers, such as Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. As a teenager, she attended the Institute of Musical Arts; she soon began singing radio commercial jingles, and took part in (and won many of) local TV and radio talent shows.
In 1963, she moved to New York and worked with many different entertainers, including Quincy Jones, Pearl Bailey, and Bill Cosby. The next year, her debut album, a jazz recording entitled "After the Lights Go Down Low and Much More !!!", was released on the Impulse! label. (This album was re-issued on CD in Japan in early 2002, and again in the United States in 2005.) Three years later, she released her second album (another jazz effort) "How Do You Say I Don't Love You Anymore", for MGM Records. She also made occasional guest appearances on different television shows including The Merv Griffin Show and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

Steve Miller Band : Fly Like an Eagle

In 1965, Steve Miller and keyboardist Barry Goldberg founded the Goldberg-Miller Blues Band along with bassist Shawn Yoder, rhythm guitarist Craymore Stevens, and drummer Lance Haas after moving to Chicago to play the blues. The band was contracted to Epic Records after playing many Chicago clubs. They also appeared on Hullabaloo with the Four Tops and the Supremes, and gigged at a Manhattan club.
Miller's audience expanded with each album: Brave New World (1969), which featured the successful song "Space Cowboy" and the track "My Dark Hour" that was co-written by and featured Paul McCartney.
The Steve Miller Band released the album Fly Like An Eagle in 1976, which charted to the top of the Billboard and landed at position 3. Three singles were released from the album: "Take The Money and Run", "Fly Like an Eagle" and their second Number One success, "Rock 'N Me".

Millie Jackson : Hypocrisy

Part of the album "It Hurts So Good", an excellent early album from Millie Jackson, recorded in a southern soul style in New York and Muscle Shoals, but a lot hipper than most of the rest of the female soul that was coming out of the south at the time. For one thing, Millie was a bad mamma singer, rapping hard and frankly about the way things are (or were). For another, Millie's not necessarily as great in the sweet department as some of her contemporaries, so she sticks to the harder material, except for a few tear jerking ballads, and adds in a lot of humor and touches of the fierce sarcasm that would soon become her calling card in the soul business. Gary Byrd penned the leadoff cut "I Cry", and the other tracks include "Two Faced World", "Hypocrisy", "Good To The Very Last Drop", "Help Yourself", and "Now That You Got It".

Aloe Blacc : I Need a Dollar (How to Make It In America)

Born to Panamanian parents in Los Angeles in 1979, E. Nathaniel Dawkins (aka Aloe Blacc) first began playing trumpet in elementary school, an instrument he continued throughout high school. There he also independently released Imaginary Friends, produced by DJ Exile, with whom he would go on to form the hip-hop group Emanon. While at college at USC, though his artistic endeavors were placed behind his scholastic goals, Aloe still managed to learn how to play the guitar and the piano, and after graduating and spending some time in the corporate world, he decided to return to his first love, music. In 2005 Emanon's full-length debut, The Waiting Room, came out on Shaman Works, and the next year his first solo album, Shine Through, a combination of neo-soul and Latin music, was released on Stones Throw.