The programme this week had to include a tribute to Gil Scott-Heron – four tracks to start you off with representations of all periods of his musical career. There was also a tribute to Lloyd Knibbs – drummer with the Skatellites – to show how jazz influenced other musical genres. And we prove the point further with a great track from Ghanaian Ebo Taylor. Listen up, too, for a scorching piece from the Prince Lasha Quintet featuring Sonny Simmons, a quintet with two bass players (Gary Peacock and Mark Proctor).
Thanks to everyone who turned out for the live Cosmic Jazz bash at Bar Brasilia on Friday night. A sensational evening with a superb sound system and a great crowd dancing to a mix of Japanese club jazz, Brazilian house and even Ethiopian treasures from Mulatu Astatqe! It all came together on the dancefloor. We’ll be back…
- Gil Scott Heron – Free Will
- Gil Scott Heron – Spirits
- Gil Scott Heron – Lady Day and John Coltrane
- Gil Scott Heron – I’ll Take Care of You
- The Skatalites – Addis Ababa
- Dub Colossus – Uptown Top Ranking
- Charles Gayle – Jericho
- Miles Davis – Chieftain/Miles Davis – It’s About That Time (remix)
- Miles Davis – Boplicity
- James Farm – 1981
- Prince Lasha Quintet (feat. Sonny Simmons) – Congo Call
- Fat Freddy’s Drop – Big BW
- Ebo Taylor – Atwer Abroba
- Wadada Leo Smith – The Majestic Way
- Albert Ayler – Zion Hill (alternate take)
- Lloyd Miller and the Heliocentrics – Electricone
- Jabberloop – The Art of Blakey
- Frank Zappa – It Must Be a Camel
Video this week also features Gil Scott Heron, as charismatic in live performance as on record. Here he is in the official studio video for I’m New Here, the title track on his welcome return to the recording studio in 2009. Just look at the smile as he sings the last lines…
And take a look at Winter in America from the London show in 1990 – check out the spoken intro…