Kaskade feat. Joslyn: It's You, It's Me (Om)

Afro-Mystik: Natural (Om)

Kaskade and Om can clearly do no wrong in my book and they continue their recent hot streak with two fine tunes. The Kaskade track has recently been remixed but even the one mix on my single-sided copy was well worth the money - a chunky beat, infectious guitar loop and Joslyn's subtle vocal all work to produce a fine summer treat. The Afro-Mystik 2-parter offers a fine song and enough variety in the mixes to please most - I've recently moved on to Kaskade's Roots Mix with its chunky percussive pulse.

Kimblee: Naturally - Blaze Remix (Solu Music)

Blaze don't really perform much of an overhaul on this melancholy moody tune but that high haunting voice and sophisticated instrumentation still hooks us. Too light for most floors but fine for us grown-ups.

Chris Simmonds: Jazz 2 B U (Court Square Recordings)

I've got a few quality tunes on Court Square and this is a grower. The main Original Mix offers an insistent beat and some moody horn playing and is a pleasing atmospheric jaunt but it's Johnny Fiasco's After Midnight Mix that really rocks with a chunky, almost techy groove that removes any hint of noodling and pushes this right to the centre of the dancefloor.

Copyright feat. Lias Millett: Late at Night (Soulfuric)

Copyright pres. The Movement: We Get Up (Z Records)

UBP feat. Micheal Procter: Deliver Me - 2003 Hardsoul/Jask/Joey Negro Remixes (Soulfuric)

Community feat. Fonda Rea: Over Like a Fat Rat - Jazz 'N' Groove Mixes (Z Records)

A whole slew of fine grooves - the inevitable product of Miami's finest meeting the king of sophisticated Disco House, Mr. Dave Lee/Joey Negro (and 1000 other monikers). All tunes of the highest quality with impeccable production, vocals and instrumentation, which only the most miserly, wretched, cloth-eared fools could fail to appreciate. The Audiowhores' recent Jazz Transit remix also out on Soulfuric is another real killer.

Inaya Day: Save Me (Look at You)

Groove Junkies feat. Dianne Carter: Don't Cha Give Up (Look at You)

More serious vocal action - the Pound Boys and their Look at You label are on form right now and I could have highlighted half a dozen such tunes. Similarly, the Groove Junkies have yet to put a foot wrong that I've spotted and are serious challengers to the Soulfuric camp. Real deal vocal house/garage with enough kick for most floors. Some folks talk about wanting more 'risk' and 'experimentation' in their music and get a bit embarrassed by the simple joy and emotion in these tunes, but then you'll rarely see those folks on the dance floor.

Deep Swing and Luis Radio pres. Roman Jazz Project: Let the Music Take You There (Generate)

All the big boys seem to have solid tunes out at the mo and Deep Swing also rarely let you down. After the recent mighty fine 'Rain Drops' track comes another punchy jazzy work out. Love this stuff and its sufficiently chunky and insistent to move even the most jazz-phobic of feet. 

Louie Vega feat. Raul Midon: Cerca De Mi (Vega Records)

The jazzy Master returns with his very own label and a subtle and pretty latin groove. Definitely too light and sophisticated for most floors but still a delight.

Fudge: If I Had a Band  (Kif)

More quality jazzy house grooves, this time from France with DJ Fudge and the reliable Kif Records. All mighty fine stuff.

(25/05/2003)

Jamaica Underground: Love Existing (Wave Music)

Blaze remix yet another quality piece of proper soulful garage.

Patrick Green feat. Big Brooklyn Red: Shine Your Light (Distant Music)

Raw and moody - almost melancholic - vocal over an insistent, chunky groove. Usual sterling work from Phil Asher to produce a relatively simple/uncluttered remix that still retains impetus.

Nathan G pres. Tuff & Mello: Teach You How To Fly (Transport)

Transport have been putting out a lot of deep soulful stuff of late and here's another one - this time blessed with a mighty fine mix from the ubiquitous Jay-J Hernandez. Talking of whom...

Jay-J: Unreleased Dobs (Soulful Sessions)

A rawer sound from Jay-J here on Louis Benedetti's label, with great swingin' jazz drumming really pushing things forward .

Sky Juice pres. Infinite: The Distant Plateau EP (Wave)

Bit late with this but a great EP of jazzy tracks (co-produced by unsung hero Jeremy Newall) best suited to sultry summer evenings but what the hell - any hint of sunshine is welcome even if only on 12" of plastic. Not obvious or instant and will fit best with those that leave room for a little imagination/texture in their sets.

Wil Milton: The Weekend EP (Wave promo)

Wave are obviously keen on these jazzy idiosyncratic EPs at the mo' - see above - and this is another of 'em. Not typical dancefloor fodder and not always easy to program but makes a refreshing change from the plod and cut'n'paste  jobs that crowd the release lists.

Inspirit Music:  Musication (White)

Not much info about this but am guessing the main mix is the work of Andy Caldwell and, as you'd expect, it's a mellow piece of  Naked-esque sophistication with a cool vocal and languid sax. I know that most folks these days see this as early night cocktail bar stuff but there's got to be room for a little elegance and class amongst all the noizemongers out there. 

Blue 6: Music & Wine/All I Need (Naked Music)

Talking of our good friends at Naked, they've released these fine remixes of one of their finest moments, the wonderful 'Music & Wine', backed by another moody little number from the Blue 6 album. Maybe a bit too polished for some, but I can't fault it. Lush!

Jetlag:  So Right (Soulfuric Trax)

Vocal is OK but it's the dub that really grooves and delivers the classic classy Soulfuric moments we love so much.

In Es Project:  I'm Feeling Good (Inhouse)

OK, so it's another track built on a classic vocal performance from yesteryear - here, Nina Simone riding along on top of chunky Todd Terry beats. But I'm a sucker for this stuff when it's done well and this sounds quite fierce on a suitably powered system.

(08/10/2002)

Anthony Flanagan: It's Alright (Sfere)

The ever-reliable and prolific team of Kerri Chandler and Dennis Ferrer produce another quality piece of deep soul

DJ AJ feat. Carmen Miller: So Natural (Souljerz Records)

Current fave piece of vocal heaven - whoever this Ms. Miller is, she sings up a storm and a proper song too.

Groove Junkies feat. Solomon Henderson: Inside My Soul (MoreHouse)

This one is straight outta the UBP/Soulfuric school of classy production, real instrumentation. May not be ground breaking but...if it ain't broke.

Afro Angel: Join Me Brother (Tommy Boy Silver)

Finally got round to this - found the Kiko Navarro mixes a bit light but the Ian Pooley and Nick Holder mixes are both fine pieces of  latin house. Perfect for the summer. Which brings me to...

Ruben Mancias:  Ritmo Del Soul (Look At You)
Mambana: No Reason (Soulfuric Trax)

More summery Latin grooves: the former is a chunky plucked guitar thing from the increasingly on-form Look At You stable; the latter, a female-led vocal number, very much in the Negrocan mould, with Soulfuric's usual pristine production values.

Ruben Mancias:  I Rise (Look At You)

An earlier release from Mr. Mancias and it's a deep percussive classic with spoken poetics from none other than Maya Angelou. Fab. (Note the involvement of Charles Spencer and Chris Lum on both Mancias releases - quality!)

Jay J & Julius Papp as Shuffle Inc. : Morning Star (Court Square Recordings)

No list is complete without items from these two and they rarely ever put a foot wrong. Here they offer us a sharp jazzhouse jam with solid trumpet and guitar workouts. The equally talented ADNY gives us a slightly chunkier mix with vocal garnishes - and it's a winner.

Todd Gardner feat. Gynisse : I'll Be There (Subliminal Soul)

Subliminal Soul is becoming a must-buy label for solid soulful jams but checkout the 'Cafe Del Mar Dub' for the real surprise - yes, Balearic in the best possible way and a summer jazzhouse classic.

Arnold Jarvis, Greg Gauthier & Tony L: Home (Kif Records)

The best outing for the marvellous Mr. Jarvis in some time - opens with serious percussive beats before breaking into a fine vocal workout from our Arnie. Sophisticated yet chunky stuff from France. Also checkout Jarvis on his recent Black Vinyl outing - 'Rising Into Joy.

Salome De Bahia: Theme of Rio (Yellow)

More French goodies and, of course, it's another Bob Sinclair Latin special (well, it is summer) - not quite up there with 'Outro Lugar' from a few years back but still worth a few spins whilst the sun continues to shine.

(22/07/2002)

Nova Frontera: Festival EP (Z)

3 typically polished tracks with varying degrees of Latin flavour from the production line of Mr. Dave Lee. 3rd track, Fact of Life (Dub) is a particular fave.

Angie Stone: Wish I Didn't Miss You (Blaze mix) (white)

Yet another good mix of this quality tune. This time the Blaze boys strip away the 'Backstabbers' sample and replace it with a percussive yet moody and mournful backing. The flipside replace Stone's vocal with some great trumpet playing - a quality jazz house groove.

Charles Webster feat. Terra Deva: Ready (Strata Recordings)

The masterful Mr. Presence is translated by a whole slew of remixers, with Tommy Musto's vocal mix the obvious one for me. Ron Trent presents one of his afro-jazz workout jobs, with layers of percussion and  live jam feel, but burying the lovely vocal was a mistake. 

Zapp Mama: Crazy Life (Shelter Records)

The impassioned afro-centric vocals of Marie 'Zapp Mama' Daulne give this a real distinctive and edgy energy - a deep, punchy afro-house classic. I favour the Spencer Loveslap mix, which leads me to.....

Nick Santillan feat. Jackie Green:  Of Your Body (Loveslap)

I always check out Loveslap and here they give the ever-interesting Ms. Green a bit of a disco-y vocal to play with but with added jazzy instrumentation for extra bit of spice. Not the greatest of songs but still a good solid release.

Tom & Joyce: Queixume (MAW mixes) (Yellow)

Louie and Kenny prove again (after their subtle reworking of 'See-line Woman) why we hold them in such high regard. The album didn't work (largely, I suspect because it lacks any real sense of continuity, rather than being a cohesive whole, it feels more like a disparate bunch of singles thrown together and diluted by their very juxtaposition), but here we see how they can reconstruct and beef up a track  without sacrificing its light (Latin) swing and subtle orchestration.

Big Moses feat. Derrick Givens : I'll Be There (Subliminal Soul)

Stephanie Cooke: I Thank You (King Street)

Two quality releases which, whilst they won't blow you away, should remind you of what timeless soulful house is all about: We have yet another good track from Big M, this time with a piece of traditional New Jersey garage, whilst Stephanie Cooke offers us another of her delightfully subtle vocals on a number that should appeal to the modern soul 'connoisseurs'  out there. Err, definitely not for those who like it bangin', dark and twisted.

Julie McKnight: Home (Defected)

OK, so it's not 'Finally' but it's certainly not bad. Julie McKnight has a great voice with distinct character and delivery and the tune's still a good one - just maybe bit too much song in there, if you know what I mean? (Of the double pack, Steven Mestre's Mi casa Su Casa mix is currently the one getting spins from me.)

Johnny Fiasco: Things That Go Bump In The Night (Om Records)

This month's Om release of choice, and the chunky Jazzmatic is the track that I go for - beefy Chicago beats encasing a crisp jazzy centre.

Michelle Weeks: The Light (Purple Music)

My current preferred slab of gospel house, produced by the reliable Jamie Lewis, and featuring the great and potent Ms. Weeks.

(22/05/2002)

Angie Stone: Wish I Didn't Miss You & Brotha (J Records) 

Popular Pound Boys' 'Stoneface' bootleg gets a legal release and Basement Boys respectfully house up other chunky cut from our Angie.

Copyright: Good For You (Soulfuric)

The Soulfuric boys release another top quality piece of spirited urban soul - the most reliable label around.

Deepstar feat. Donna Allen: Sugar (Soulfuric Deep)

Talking of which...well, maybe nothing earth-shattering but still head and shoulders above most of the competition. And ya know Ms. Allen won't slouch in the vocal department.

Kenny Carvajal feat. John Redmond: Rise (Music 101 Recordings)

Something of a souljazz vocal epic - one for those that don't just go for the quick fix. 

Ray Roc: Light My Fire (White)

I think I've identified this correctly - percussive, jazzy guitar-led number which gives the summer that little nudge forward.

Deep-T : Our Music EP (Mindbase Recordings)

3 tracks coming out of Germany, of which at least 2 are solid, particularly 'Come into My World', with its moody soulful vocal.

Jay-J: Just Do It (Room Records)

Another decent bumpy track from the hardest-working producer on the planet - with a more urgent funky mix (from Djemel) on the flipside.

Blaze feat. Palmer Brown: Shine (Nite Grooves)

Blaze: How Deep Is Your Love (Shelter Records)

Glorious jazzy goodness with spoken word poetics and lush instrumentation on the first; chunky beats beneath soaring soulful vocal and a quality song on the second. Mr. Regisford truly brings us the real deal.

Andy Caldwell: I Can't Wait (Om Records)

Om usually run close to Naked Music in terms of offering sumptuous sultry tunes that appeal as late-night burners and yet can still move a clued-up floor; well, this surpasses them with a soulful sophisticated vocal that is just perfect. It may have been around for a few months but it's staying in my box for a while yet.

Kerri Chandler: Digitalsoul Session 4 (Large Music)

Another prolific worker with great range and depth - check this out for the modern blues track, Driftin', featuring the indigo vocals and harmonica of John Lee Hooker.

Miguel Migs: Satisfied (NRK)

And, again, another man who must not get much sleep. This one marries Migs' usual bumpy dubby beats to a jaunty disco-ish vocal snippet and, of course, it works just fine.

(8/04/2002)

MaUVe pres. Retro Rhythms Vol. 3 (Ultra Vinyl)

More housed up Philly action: 'Teddy's Blow' features the great Mr. Pendergrass and the flipside chops up Sweet Thunder's 'Everybody's Singing Love Songs' - good party stuff.

The Mean Hombre: Sundown (Audio Expression)

Another classic (Marlena Shaw's 'California Soul') gets mangled but enough survives to let the sun shine through. (I note that this was mastered by old pal and serious spinner Chris Alexander - hey there Chris!)

Blue Six: Let's Do It Together (Naked Music Recordings)

Nothing desperately new but the usual silky smooth quality from reliable Naked album artists; surprisingly, I prefer the album  mix, tho' all offerings have their charms. Bar-room stuff maybe but we all  occasionally need a little light relief .

Ananda Project: Breaking Down (remixes) (Nite Grooves)

Double - and expensive! - pack of mixes but only Blaze's Shelter DJ Vocal Mix does the track justice (Louie Vega's mix is a curiously lackluster effort); if in doubt, stick with the great album version.

UBP feat. Bobby Pruitt: We Are One (Soulfuric)

Usual inspirational job from the Soulfuric boys - real deal soulful house played by real musicians - hard to fault. 

Marlon D & Frankie Ojeda feat. Ocean. : Miss Our Love (Underground Collective Records)

Original mix is a great lush and moody number with smoky vocal and fabulous piano; also featured are good, slightly more energetic mixes from Romatt & Dennis Ferrer. Had it for a few months now but love it, love it, love it.

MAW feat. Roy Ayers: Our Time Is Coming (MAW)

C'mon, who can resist a chirpy Roy Ayers track from the Masters? (As they say on the label, 'for DJs with Soul'.)

Jasper Street Company: Lift Every Voice (Take Me Away) (Basement Boys Records)

Respectable (rather than radical - Mousse T handle the remixes with care) remake of classic and seminal gospel house fave.

Kimiesha Holmes: Ups & Downs (Yellorange Records)

Monkey Brothers feat. D'Ongley: Some Of What U Got (Yellorange Records)

Minister Of Sound Ron Carroll pres. Shawn Christopher: Can't Give Up (Yellorange Records)

Mr Humphries stable maintains good quality control with more solid vocal house workouts. Proper stuff.

Julius Papp feat. Dave Warrin: Love Is The Message (i Records)

Loving tribute to old Philly from the ever reliable Papp.

Mondo Grosso (Blaze Remix): Star Suite (King Street Records)

Over 16 minutes of this jazzy spoken word builder, with serious orchestration for the sophisticates out there - can still move a floor if properly placed. Also, checkout the Danny Krivit re-edit on his 'Mix the Vibe' sampler  for a more concentrated version.

India Arie: Brown Skin (white)

Probably not legal (and not EQ'd for club play) but any excuse to hear the delightful Ms. Arie on the dance floor.

Viola: Little Girl (Nervous)

Quality gospel soul chugger - now with Louie Vega remix

Dennis Ferrer: Soul Collectives Vol. 2 (Large Records)

OK, been around for a bit but all 3 tracks deserve rotation and a while longer in the box.

Arnold Jarvis: What Goes Around (Transport Recordings)

Any chance to hear the slightly melancholic vocals of veteran Jarvis is excuse enough - a Migs mix never does any harm either.

(31/01/2002)

Stevie Wonder & BeBe Winan: Tell the Story (white)

Irresistible soulful vocal heaven.

Blake: Saturday Night (66Degrees Records)

Deep and funky sounds from Iceland - but includes a chirpy disco-ish mix that sounds almost French, if you know what I mean.

Soulstice: Fall Into You (Om Records)

Business as usual for Soulstice - sultry vocal Naked-esque groove given a fine selection of remixes (across Parts 1 & 2) - Fred Everything, Miguel Migs and Soulstice themselves all do a pretty fine job.

Cleptomaniacs: Giving It (white)

More old school revival funkiness from the Soulfuric boys.

Hardsoul: La Pasion De Gozar / Latin Directions (Soulfuric Trax)

And yet more quality grooves courtesy of Tappert & Pomeroy - here jazzy Latin stuff with diamond sharp production

Jeremiah: In Your Eyes (Fresh&Low remix) (Grow! Records)

Deep and disco-flecked grower (also check Groovin' You, from the same team and also on Grow!)

Jovonn: dance 2  vibe ep (NYCDance tracks Recordings)

Underrated and recently re-invigorated house hero returns with more proper jazz funky house grooves - one for the Kerri Chandler fans

Boogie Boy: Girl In A Dream (Azuli)

Chris Bangs revisits Stevie's 'Too High' and who can resist that? A slightly more radical - but still respectful - treatment than recent white label/bootie; both work well

1050 East and Alma Horton: Count On Me (Diaspora)

Not sure when this was released but an absolutely sublime deep vocal track - both the stripped-down Sweet Abraham and jazzy Original mixes work a treat

Don Carlos Unlimited: Love & Devotion (Subliminal Soul)

Smooth but energetic guitar-led jazz house, with soulful vocal flecks - still funky enough for the floors that know

Miguel Migs feat. Leedia: Mi Destino (Blak Beat Niks remix) (Black Vinyl)

The Niks put a fat bouncin' funk bassline under this atmospheric Latin roller from the mighty Migs

Essential Soul feat. Rob Jones: Come On (Wave)

Smooth vocal stuff for the soul boys out there

Harley & Muscle: House Church ep (Guidance Recordings)

More quirky Guidance deepness - for the heads only

Also check out the LPs from Rollercone and Block 16

(02/10/2001)