Beats & Brass: The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

I first heard about Hypnotic Brass Ensemble when someone posted a youtube clip of a New York Times feature (see bottom) a few years ago, and it was the first time in a long time that I remember being truly blown away by music. Comprised of 8 members, 7 of them blood brothers of the trumpeter and former member of Sun Ra’s Arkestra Phil Cohran, the group started out as a street ensemble, hypnotizing audiences on the streets and subway stations of Chicago before moving to New York. Picking up influences from their father, and combining that with their own interests in hip hop and soul, HBE’s music is an infectious cocktail of brass and rhythm that reminds me a little of Kashmere Stage Band’s material.

Over the past couple of years their career has really taken off, having recorded with Eryka Badu and Mos Def, as well as releasing a number of 7″ and 12″ singles, and their first official full-length album on the Honest Jon label in 2009. If any story deserves to be told it’s of these guys, and filmmaker Reuben Atlas is making it happen with his documentary Hypnotic, scheduled to be released later this year. Check out the trailer below.

I began filming in the fall of 2006, during my last year of law school. (I snuck in shoots between classes and visits to the library.) Hypnotic’s music is what sparked my initial interest—it also helped me pass the bar exam—but it was their nomadic, Utopian existence and deep commitment to uphold their family’s values that inspired the documentary. About six months into filming, the band’s career started to take off and I was fortunate enough to capture their evolution. The feature-length documentary is scheduled for completion by the summer of 2010.

Read more about this project here.

Mercury (WAR) from moriza on Vimeo.


Raps, Caps & Alien Slaps

Friday, February 19, 2010

Some nice Bay Area rap videos from up and coming filmmaker Aris Jerome. You can find more of his work here.

Young L (of The Pack) – Young L-E-N from Aris Jerome on Vimeo.

Nht Boyz – 6 In The Morning from Aris Jerome on Vimeo.

E-Gunna – Gangsta On Grove feat. Ya Boy, Dip and Big Rich from Aris Jerome on Vimeo.


Brazilian Guitar Fuzz Bananas

Monday, February 15, 2010

Compiled and released by Joel Stones of Tropicalia in Furs, Brazilian Guitar Fuzz Bananas brings together some of Brazil’s rarest fuzz/funk/psych 45s from 1967-1976. Rarely do I get geeked about new releases, but I’ve been looking forward to this since Joel talked about it in the Wax Poetics Brazil issue last year. Born and raised in Brazil, Joel knows his shit, and in a world cluttered with comps, this one just seems like a no-brainer.

I’m eagerly awaiting my copy, but you can order them direct here. This is the limited edition version with amazing custom artwork complete with 3D glasses, and in my opinion this is the only way to fly as the regular cover art is pretty bland. Don’t sleep on this one!

Tracklisting:

1. CELIO BALONA – TEMA DE BATMAN
2. LOYCE E OS GNOMES – ERA UNA NOTA DE
3. THE YOUNGSTERS – I WANNA BE YOUR MAN
4. SERGUEI – OURICO
5. FABIO – LINDO SONHO DELIRANTE
6. TONY E SOM COLORIDO – O CARONA
7. 14 BIS – GOD SAVE THE QUEEN
8. BANDA DE 7 LEGUAS – DIA DE CHUVA
9. TON & SERGIO – VOU SAIR DO CATIVEIRO
10. ELY – AS TURBINAS ESTAO LIGADAS
11. COM OS FALCOES REAIS – ELE SECULO XX
12. MARISA ROSSI – CINTURAO DE FOGO
13. THE POPS – SOM IMAGINARIO DE JIMMI HENDRIX
14. LOYCE E OS GNOMES – QUE E ISSO?
15. PIRY – HEROI MODERNO
16. MAC RYBELL – THE LANTERN


Africa 100: The Indestructable Beat

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Pitchfork just posted a nice feature on African music that kind of functions like a “For Dummies” guide. It was originally published way back in 2005, but I guess the rise in popularity of African music justified a re-post, with various edits. The article goes over history, artists, regions, record labels, blogs, and tons and tons of audio files. A pretty immersive an informative read for anyone looking to learn more about the world of African music.


Thunder Soul: The Story of the Kashmere Stage Band

Thursday, February 4, 2010

My step dad is a jazz drummer and music instructor, and as I was really getting into jazz a few years ago I decided to flip through his record collection to see what kind of records he had. His involvement with different school bands in the 60’s and 70’s yielded a bunch of interesting looking records that he either played on, conducted, or was affiliated with in some way or another. Eventually I came across a copy of Kashmere Stage Band’s Out of Gas But Still Burnin’ LP that he had acquired from the band’s director, Conrad Johnson. My eyes lit up. I knew that Kashmere records were rare and highly sought after by jazz and funk enthusiasts, and until then I had never come across an original KSB record.

In general, my experience with stage band records has been poor; they are typically tepid and cheesy, but the Kashmere kids are another story. Johnson apparently saw the potential in some of his best and brightest students from Kashmere High School in Houston, Texas, forming the KSB in the late 60’s. Between 1968 and 1978 they cut eight studio albums, toured the nation, and won several national championships in the process, becoming a national phenomenon of sorts. The group eventually disbanded in 1978, as several of the players went on to become professional musicians.

I just caught the trailer for an upcoming documentary, Thunder Soul, that traces the band’s history, catches up with some of the players and reunites them for a concert, honoring the man that pushed them to become the greatest high school band ever made. If you want to hear more, check out the compilation Texas, Thunder Soul 1968-1974.


African Disco

Monday, January 25, 2010

Teaser from the forthcoming Nigerian Disco comp by Academy Records and Voodoo Funk. Killin’ it as always.


Heatrocks for Haiti

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Soulstrut and Waxidermy, the two record forums that I frequent multiple times a day, are holding record auctions to help raise funds for earthquake victims in Haiti. Both are calling their fund raising efforts “Heatrocks for Haiti.”

The original Heatrocks auctions came on the heels of Hurricane Katrina when members of the Soulstrut collective auctioned off hundreds of records raising thousands of dollars to aid hurricane victims. This round of auctions should be even bigger and better with two collectives joining forces. Lots of great records are up already with many more to be added in the next few days. An awesome way to get some cool music while contributing to a great cause.

Get your bid on here and here.


Free Gucci Mane Mix Presented by Diplo

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Free Gucci Mane mix up on Mad Decent. Listened to this today and give it an enthusiastic thumbs up. Diplo never disappoints.


Pads of Fire

Monday, January 11, 2010

After college I tried my hand at production, messing around and recording backpacker rap tracks with friends. I started off with stuff like Acid Pro, Fruity Loops and all that stuff until I eventually splurged for an MPC XL2000. Nowadays it seems you can make just about anything on a computer, but I don’t think any program has been able to emulate the natural feeling of the MPC’s pads. I’ve always thought that Jel from Anticon was one of the best MPC performers I’d ever seen, but I saw this video of new Dipset producer AraabMuzik and damn; kids have been steeping their game up. Impressive stuff.

araabMUZIK Live MPC Set Part 1 from Death by Electric Shock on Vimeo.


Novos Baianos – Misterio Do Planeta

Friday, January 8, 2010

Here’s a beautiful live version of Novos Baianos’ “Mysterio Do Planeta” taken from their album Acabou Chorare. I used this track for my Braziliance mix, but this version sounds even better to my ears.

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