Tag Archive for 'Funk'Page 2 of 2

Jojoflores: His sound is now

Jojoflores is famous for his Garage, Deep House and Afro-Latin rhythms. His signature sound resonates sweet, soulful melodies and a profound jazzy vibe. An original B-Boy and a fan of street & dance culture, he is blessed with the versatility to play old school Hip Hop, Funk, and Soul from the early 80’s. jojofloresAfter 24 years of devotion to the underground music industry, he was awarded New York City’s Best International DJ 3 years in a row (2002, 2003 & 2004) by Undaground Archives. Jojoflores’ hometown recognized the boundlessness of his skills with Montreal’s 1998 Best Club DJ Sounds of Blackness Award and has been rated one of Montreal’s Top 3 DJ’s for three years in a row.

CEO/A&R of Gotsoul Recordings, and the man behind the underground promo label Jamsteady, Jojoflores is one of Canada’s leading ambassadors for soulful music. Gotsoul was recently awarded Montreal’s number one independent record label in Summer 2004 as well as Best International Independent Label 2003 by NYC’s Underground Archives. He has toured North America with Osunlade of Yoruba Records and has established honorary residencies in the cities of New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Singapore, Manila, Athens and Toronto & Miami. Jojoflores’ sound is deeply blissful, reminding us that life should be true, loving and joyful, embarking us on a journey that oozes all that is wonderful.

Catch Jojoflores on tour:

Sat. March 8th Karu-Y 1st Year Anniversary [Miami]
Sun. March 9th Deep with Marques Wyatt [Los Angeles]
Mon. March 10th BBR [Vision, Chicago]
Thu. March 13th Gotsoul Sessions [Segafredo, Montreal]
Sat. March 15th Therapy Montreal [Cherry, Old Montreal]
Mon. March 17th Lacoste 75th Year Anniversary [Ultra , Toronto]
Thu. March 20th Therapy Classic House [Cherry, Old Montreal]
Wed. March 26th Gotsoul Therapy WMC08 [Karu-Y, Downtown Miami]

Bambi Blue

Elizabeth Shepherd Trio: Straight From The Soul

Elizabeth ShepherdImagine a cold winter night in Toronto, walking past a small jazz club, when you catch through the folds of your scarf the warm deep grooves of a jazz trio playing to an intimate crowd. Welcome to the scene a fresh new sound from singer/songwriter Elizabeth Shepherd.

There are times when something new comes along at once familiar and yet completely original. The album Start to MoElizabeth Shepherdve from the Elizabeth Shepherd Trio is just that. But what’s more she has added her own unique blend of jazz-funk, soul, blues, and samba to the fundamentals of Jazz – improvising a deep driving bass from Scott Kemp, the swinging beat of the drum from Colin Kingsmore, and Elizabeth’s playful piano and captivating voice to tie it all together.

Playing in some of Toronto’s most popular spots, the Rex Hotel, the Supermarket, and the Distillery District, and has grace the stages from around the world including London UK’s Jazz Cafe twice within one year!. She has also appeared on numerous ‘Live in SesElizabeth Shepherdsion’ including Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide show on BBC Radio 1 UK, and Matt Galloway’s Here And Now show on CBC Radio One Toronto. As far as being a “jazz performer”, Elizabeth does not count herself as one to be defined by a particular genre; her music comes straight from the soul, and is more than just what she does, but what she loves.

The album, Start to Move is Elizabeth’s debut with Do Right Music.

Bambi Blue

The VooDooMonx: Soul Oriented, Funk Driven

Straight out of Montreal, the VooDooMonx has been growing strong since its inception, and ”hard work, determination and love for the art” has been their motto! HVDMaving picked up many fans along the way, their musical genre could easily be described as: ‘’soul oriented, yet funk driven”. The VooDoo Style, is the result of an amalgamation of styles and influences floating from the ever powerful James Brown, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Dave Mathews Band. Generally qualified as groovy and commercially appealing, The VooDooMonx showmanship has been known to please a vast inter-generational public.

”The Monx” was formed 12 years ago by three individuals determined to rock the global music scene. Now a four piece outfit, the boys seek to unveil a renewed dynamic sound for the souls of those who share a love for world music and omni-directional musical explosiveness.

Mercury Lounge Thursday March 20 9pm

Bambi Blue

God Made Me Funky: “If you can’t dance to God Made Me Funky, you can’t dance”

…says Chart Attack, Canada’s longest running consumer music magazine.

GMMFGMMF is a super funky live ensemble that busted out into the Toronto Nu-Funk scene in 1996 and are still going strong. Now the band does it bigger and better with the release of their latest albums We Can All Be Free and Enter The Beat. They’re comprised of a diverse array of musicians ranging from classically trained Jazz artists to street schooled Hip-Hop & R&B vocalists.

Now, check out their website. I really like their design! I love the cartoons (hey, anyone remember Prozzak?) There’s not a whole lot to dislike about the site… if you can figure out how to turn off the loop of ‘la la la’s’, you’re all set. Don’t get me wrong, I instantly loved the Enter The Beat’s first video on MuchMusic - Won More Time (feat. Thrust); it’s catchy, it’s got a great beat and some really rad visuals. And the first time through, the ‘la la la’s’ are pretty catchy too — but after I’d seen the video, all I wanted was for the song to continue! (If you’re still wondering what I’m talking about, check out the page yourself, why don’t you?… And if you really, really like the ‘la la la’s’, you might want this!)

God Made Me Funky’s Enter The Beat CD Release Tour:
29 Feb 2008 10pm le Petit Campus (MONTREAL, QC)
1 Mar 2008 10pm Jello Bar After Party (MONTREAL, QC)
3 Mar 2008 9:30pm The Anvil (WOLFVILLE, NS)
5 Mar 2008 10pm Pat’s Place (ANTIGONISH, NS)
6 Mar 2008 10pm The Paramount Lounge (MONCTON, NB)
8 Mar 2008 10pm The Marquee Club (HALIFAX, NS)
9 Mar 2008 10pm Nicky Zee’s (FREDERICTON, NB)
14 Mar 2008 10pm The Opera House (TORONTO, ON)
21 Mar 2008 10pm The Townhouse (SUDBURY, ON)
22 Mar 2008 10pm The Canadian Nightclub (SAULT Ste. MARIE, ON)
27 Mar 2008 8pm The Mercury Lounge (OTTAWA, ON)
1 Apr 2008 10pm Vinyl (GUELPH, ON)

Bambi Blue

King Sunshine: A powerful, unforgettable, jazz, disco, funk experience!

Do yourself a huge favour — open THIS up a new tab while reading this review because this is going to sound crazy, but when I call King Sunshine an infusion of jazz, disco, funk, and dance backed by tight horns and smooth, soulful electronics, I want you to know exactly what I mean. Hear that? King Sunshine has been lighting dance floors on fire since 1998 as, what they call, a ‘highly skilled and electric live act’ — and I’m inclined to believe them!

Their second album, aptly named Second Movement, was released in 2006. Samples of this album (along with their first album and some hip live tracks) can be found on their web site. Their live sets are one, continuous, seamless stream of raw, explosive dance tracks that sound, at times, like they could be straight off of a vinyl from my mom’s teenage 70’s disco/funk phase.

So go on, get funky with King Sunshine at an upcoming show!

April 11 — Live at the Mercury Lounge (OTTAWA )
DOORS 9PM
April 12 — Live at Le Divan Orange (MONTREAL)
DOORS 9PM / $10

Bambi Blue

Fred Everything: True house for true Ottawa heads

How do you write about something as fun and fresh as the beats and breaks of Montreal star DJ Fred Everything? Well, for some inspiration I visited his Myspace and cranked up sample beats he had available. I went from casual head bob to full on purse-lipped, hip-waggling, seat dancing in seconds! His style, while planted firmly in the deep house genre, definitely draws from an array of influences from disco to funk and soul.

Although he’s known for his remixing, his non-mix debut, 2000’s Under The Sun, was a huge success with critics and fans alike and he has appeared on more than 100 compilations worldwide. Fred Everything has remixed popular artists such as KemeticJust, Random Factor, AtJazz, Joeski, Bran Van 3000 and Roy Davis Jr.’s classic track “Watch Them Come”. But, by far, one of the coolest things I found out when trying to get the scoop on Fred Everything is that his record label, Lazy Days Recordings, throws a monthly party at one of my favourite Montreal hangouts le Salon Daomé. This place is super chill– it looks and feels like an apartment but it’s a musical civil uprising at night (and a working studio during the day, believe it or not).

Fred Everything gets a huge thumbs up from me but hey, if you need more convincing pick up an album or two or, better yet, check him out live at a musical civil uprising near you (or, you know, follow him from venue to venue, city to city until you run out of gas or you burn out the soles of your dancing shoes):

28 Feb 2008, 8:00pm - Mercury Lounge (Ottawa, Ontario)
29 Feb 2008, 8:00pm - Lazy Days @ Jupiter Room (Montreal, Quebec)
1 Mar 2008, 8:00pm - Nuits Blanches @ Montreal CAC (Montreal, Quebec)
25 Mar 2008, 8:00pm - Nightlyfe Magazine Party WMC (Miami, Florida)
26 Mar 2008, 8:00pm - Amenti/Solid Tokyo/Lazy Days @ Beach Plaza Hotel (Miami, Florida)
27 Mar 2008, 8:00pm - Om Miami (Miami, Florida)
5 Apr 2008, 8:00pm - Ohm, Portland (Portland, Oregon)

Bambi Blue

Trans Canada Radio

THE ROOT

For those who have never had the fortune to drive it, the Trans-Canada highway is a long, slow and detailed journey. This route is rarely the fastest, but can be the most memorable way to traverse Canada.

I recently had the fortune to take the wrong turn driving from Toronto to Ottawa and landed myself on this highway. Listening to a CD of an Ottawa afro-funk band, I quickly drew the parallel between Canada’s music industry and one of the worlds longest highways. Relaxed and natural, yet constant and strong! Canada’s artists are bred to know that there is a long road that lie ahead.

TRANS CANADA RADIO is proud to celebrate Canada’s Current Cultural artists and their locations! Traveling across Canada’s vast surface and finding the best of the under and above-ground artists who are rooted in, Soul, Funk, Reggae, Beats, House, Breaks and all that afro-Jazz… and where to check them out in your favorite Canadian city!
Pack your bags! We’re going on a road trip!

Sara Ainslie (editor)




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