International Jazz Day | DJ2tee

In November 2011, UNESCO officially designated April 30 as International Jazz Day in order to highlight jazz and its role of uniting people in all corners of the globe. International Jazz Day brings together communities and jazz enthusiasts all over the world to celebrate and learn about jazz and its roots. Each year on April 30, this international art form is recognized for promoting peace and dialogue among cultures. 

This year I will be taking part in International Jazz Day by spinning some of my favourite tunes on Ness Radio along with some of the world’s best jazz DJ’s.

I hope you will take some time out to listen and support one of music’s greatest artforms. Not only will you hear music that moves your feet, you will also hear music to move your soul. In my selection, expect to hear John Coltrane, Archie Shepp, Art Blakey, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Charles Mingus and many more. So please give the music a listen, as Art Blakey said: “Music washes away the dust of every day life”.

DJ2tee’s Top Twenty Albums 2015

As 2015 comes to a close it’s time to post DJ2tee’s Top Twenty Albums of the year. Naturally musical taste is a purely subjective thing. So if you are looking for a selection of popular albums, better stop reading now.  There is no Adele or Justin Bieber or Coldplay. Not knocking those “celebrities”, just not in my musical bag!

Hopefully, you will appreciate the music I have chosen which generally has a jazz flavour, but includes other genres. And, if you are not familiar with the artists, please check them out. Remember, this is no definitive list, I could have chosen a completely different selection, but these are some of my favourites.

I have chosen not to make comment on the individual albums, it’s best to let the music do the talking!  Lastly, the albums are listed in no particular order, they are all amazing in their own way. If you want some more information on the artist, just click on the cover picture.

1. Stretch Music – Christian Scott 

2. Choose Your Weapon – Hiatus Kaiyoti

3. The Epic – Kamasi Washington

4. Into Forever – Matthew Halsall & The Gondwana Orchestra

5. Offerings – Chrenee Wade

6. The Light Years Of The Darkness – Emanative

7. The Bronx Pyramid – Carlos Henriquez

8. Search For Peace – Heads of State

9. To Pimp a Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar

10. Heartbreak Pass – Giant Sand

11. Starfire – Jagga Jazzist

12. Muriel – Sean Khan

13. Lest We Forget What We Came Here to Do – Sons of Kemet

14. The Sorcerers – The Sorcerers

15. Invocations – Nat Birchall

16. Lucky Man – Alfonso Diedda

17. III – Bixiga 70

18. Ancient Mechanisms – LV

19. Debi – Sangoma Everett Trio

20. Same As You – Polar Bear

 

 

The Return of the Native

For the last couple of months I have been researching my new novel which is set in Suffolk in the nineteenth century. Consequently, the DJing malarkey has had to take a back seat. I have been totally lost in a world of country folk, agriculture and superstition. As a break from that I posted a mix called The Return of the Native, which seems to have been well received. Of course, the title is a nod to Thomas Hardy. If you like jazz colourings I hope you take a chance to check it out.

INFINITE SPACE

This mix is for lovers of spiritual jazz.  A selection of new and old tracks guaranteed to put you in touch with your inner light.  Bookended by John Coltrane’s Love Supreme, in two modern interpretations that take differing approaches to the timeless masterpiece.  Additionally, a couple of sparkling tracks from the Northern massive of Matthew Halsall and Nat Birchall that channel Alice & John Coltrane.  Some seventies classics and, for good measure some Madlib.  So light some incense, settle on your moroccan cushion and meditate to the music.

Recent Mixes | DJ2tee | Mixcloud

Last couple of month I’ve been busy trying to flog my book on Amazon, so I have neglected to update this blog. So you have probably missed some seriously interesting mixes. To rectify this error of judgement, for your musical edutainment, I list below a selection of the best.

 

 

 

 

 

HAPPY?

Mixcloud listeners tend to be a little fickle. It’s difficult to gauge just how well a mix will go down with listeners. I have some mixes which I personally rate, that have had hardly any listens, whilst others take off like a rocket. This new mix HAPPY is a case in point. In a few days it has become the third most popular mix that I’ve ever posted.

One of my Twitter compatriots @nigelrampant has suggested it is because it has the same name as the UK’s best selling single Happy by Pharrell Williams. But to be honest this mix is jazz and some of it quite challenging music. So that doesn’t really explain it. I can’t imagine hard-core Pharrell fans flocking to listen to it and suddenly becoming jazz converts. Maybe I’m just being snobbish, perhaps Pharrell devotees are into an eclectic mix of music. In fact, thinking about it I quite like Pharrell myself. Not sure about the hat though!

The reason I called this mix HAPPY, comes from the cover design. If you are an admirer of the German record label COMPOST, you will probably realise the cover is a blatant rip-off (I mean tribute) of their Glücklich album. I have substituted the VW Beetle for a Morris Minor and changed the title to HAPPY.

Why HAPPY? Because Glücklich means happy. So Pharrell doesn’t really come into the equation. But if you Pharrell heads want to check out some “awesome” jazz, be my guest.