December certainly wasn’t a quiet month for us when it came to sessions. We managed to get together with some of the best talent around with the likes of The Staves, King Charles, Monument Valley and Josh Kumra all joining us for some acoustic loveliness.

We needed to end the year in a bang and Jamie N Commons was the act who closed the production year for us with a momentous session performing his song, The Preacher.

Observer describe the song as ”a rumbling, spit-furious punch of a song, all crucixes and wayward flocks. Very Grinderman.” and there’s no mistaking it’s gritty, ferocious American roots which can accredited to Jamie having spent his early life living in the US.

His debut EP ‘The Baron’ has been available since October and he’s got a handful of live shows in February and March quickly selling out so have a watch of our exclusive session with him below and keep your ears and eyes peeled for more Commons as the year rolls on…

www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3_cFrfvx6U

I put on Charles Bradley for the first time today just before running out the door in a flustered rush and I’ve been itching all day to get a chance to properly sit down and listen to him.

For various reasons and to my bemusement, Charles Bradley’s talents as a performer were never picked up on until now, however his life experiences make his music, lyrics and overall character that much more meaningful and sincere.

After reading his biography online, we learn that he spent a large chunk of his life on the streets in New York trying to get by and along with his family, grew up listening to soul godfathers like James Brown, Solomon Burke, Arthur Alexander and Otis Redding and as a result, gained a huge love and admiration for the music. It was only recently though that Daptone Records discovered him performing covers under the name Black Velvet in NYC and that is the real start of a much needed break for such a timeless voice.

Thinking about it now, this current age of music is never better for an act like this. The early days of the soul godfathers were unforgiving at best despite the glitz and glamour we see in images and videos and discovery platforms like blogs, YouTube, social networks and more enable his talents to spread to every corner of the globe.

Charles Bradley – The World (Is Going Up In Flames)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=moiUyFQQE-0

Charles Bradley – Heartaches and Pain (Live in KEXP)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=F63vjGlJvO8

Charles Bradley – Why Is It So Hard (Live in KEXP)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBdTVmSVq14

Find out more about him via his Facebook page.

We’re smitten!

My heart warms everytime I hear Michael Kiwanuka. There’s something timeless about the way he presents his music and the title track from his upcoming EP was unveiled today before it’s release in January. Although he’s already released an EP, he will surely be on countless ‘Ones to Watch’ lists by the end of the year.

Michael Kiwanuka – Home Again

I’ll never forget when we met with Michael back in July at Lounge on the Farm festival. I’ve never met such a nice guy, he was chatting the whole time and was so relaxed. We all stood behind the camera in awe as he sang.

Michael Kiwanuka – I’m Getting Ready // Mahogany Session

www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7NEy938nWY

]]> http://www.themahoganyblog.com/2011/11/michael-kiwanuka-home-again/feed/ 0 http://www.themahoganyblog.com/2011/07/this-is-courts/ http://www.themahoganyblog.com/2011/07/this-is-courts/#comments Tue, 12 Jul 2011 12:33:57 +0000 Mark Murdoch http://www.themahoganyblog.com/?p=10246

So, as the title to this post reads, this is Courts.

With Courts we’ve got 4 close mates making some truly unique, bluesy and delicious music from their base in Basildon, Essex. The music has character and a rawness to it that no big budget studio or major record label can buy and it’s evident throughout their new demo tracks.

We can hear their large range of musical influences ranging from 70′s funk to witty, modern day hip-hop yet there’s nothing cliché about any of it.

Madhatter is available to download for free below and we absolutely love it.

Courts – Madhatter (demo) – right click, save as to download

Download audio file (Courts – Madhatter (demo).mp3)

Head over to their Facebook for more info and their SoundCloud to hear the second track from the new demo.

When I listen to this song, I feel like I should be sat in a dimly-lit French boozer on a Sunday evening, working my way through a cheap bottle of red.

The latest work from the Californian musicians Inner Prisms might not have the same effect on you but give it a go – it’s available to download for free below!

Inner Prisms – Learn How To Love – download

Download audio file (Inner Prisms – Learn How To Love.mp3)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hul_5x6aE4c

Tom Jones is back with a new record in which he’s put aside the loud and bravado performances, in place for it is a fantastic folky autumnal sound that will appeal to a much wider audience. After Marling and Mumford etc, the whole country has gone, well, country!

Producer Ethan Johns (Laura Marling, Kings of Leon, Ray LaMontagne) set his sights high on this track and the new album and can be heard on the banjo in this single, which Sir Tom is giving away as a free download.

Tom Jones – Did Trouble Me – download

Download audio file (Tom Jones – Did Trouble Me.mp3)

It’s just over a year since Michael Jackson passed away and Brooklyn-based producer J.Viewz and his group of incredibly talented friends decided to pay tribute with a very fitting (and jazzy) version of Smooth Criminal.

Last time we featured J.Viewz it was for his brilliant version of Nina Simone’s Seeline Woman – check it here.

J.Viewz – Smooth Criminal (MJ Tribute)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzGsoFjFHDU

Ok so we’ve been an official blog for almost a year now and when we were a tiny little thing we were barely getting 10 views per post. Now most of you haven’t seen these posts judging on the statistics so every now and then we’re going to put up some things we really want  you to hear.

OK so I just spent Easter Weekend watching Season 1 of The Wire from back to back and I’m straight up addicted, regardless of whether I’m slightly lost at times. It’s going to be very anti-social weekend as Seasons 2,3,4 and 5 are almost complete!

Now the show doesn’t rely too heavily on a score or soundtrack which I prefer but every now and then they choose tracks that fit perfectly with the gritty and unforgiving Baltimore scene.

The last episode of Season 1 ends with a track by an old American singer named Jesse Winchester and after a lot of digging I found it for you.

Jesse Winchester – Step By Step

Buy

Amazon

Anyone else addicted to The Wire? Leave some comments if you love that show as much as I do.

One thing I didn’t expect when I first started this blog back in February was to receive so much music from so many different kinds of musicians.

We don’t post anything on TMB that we don’t absolutely love so whatever we get sent has to make our ears twitch.

J.Viewz’ dropped into the inbox this week and my ears twitched alot!

Brooklyn’s Jonathan Dagan aka J.Viewz is an acclaimed producer and remixer whose electronic/jazz/funk sounds are tearing it up all over the world. He released his debut album, Muse Breaks, back in 2005 and since then he’s taken his music on the road with the help of his full live band including vocalist Noa Lembersky.

As well as original material, the musical group perform live renditions of J.Viewz’ remixes including versions of Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal, Depeche Mode’s Peace and his lastest, Nina Simone’s Seeline Woman.

Nina Simone – Seeline Woman (J.Viewz Remix)

Download audio file (Nina Simone – Seeline Woman (J.Viewz Remix).mp3)

On November 6th the live show touches down in New York City for a late-night set at the legendary Blue Note Jazz Club! You can buy tickets for the gig here!

Check out live version of Seeline Woman below – their stage presence really reminds me of Groove Armada. All the musicians getting totally emersed in their own part of the song. Lovely stuff.

J.Viewz – Seeline Woman (Live)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZXRF3ZsyiA

J.Viewz MySpace

Blue Note Jazz Club Site