The Ubuntu Beats Radio blog covers all the radio shows and podcasts mixed by Niceguy Bob. We are all about good music, quality events and people. The Ubuntu Beats Radio online radio website will be launched soon and will feature, more shows and mixes from crate diggers and Djs who'll be playing a wide range of music from, local & internatinal Jazz, Afrobeats, Soul, Latin to Down-tempo Hip Hop, and Electro.
Niceguy Bob digs up some old rare crates and tapes boxes from his home country with styles transcending from Spiritual Jazz to underground pychedelic Disco Funk. This mix features artists from all over the country, specifically those based in Soweto which had a major underground Disco Funk scene in the 70's with musicians such as, The Heroes, Mahotella Queens, Bazali Bam and The Mgababa Queens. The podcast also features some spiritual Jazz music recorded outside the country from groups such as, Ndikho Xaba & the Natives and Batsumi.
The Blue Notes was an Avant-Garde sextet formed in the inner city of Johannesburg in 1963. The band was initially started from the Castle Lager Big Band competition which included personnel such as, Ronnie Beer, Christopher 'Columbus' Ngcukana, Nick Moyake, Barney Rachebane, Dennis Mphale and Pat Matshikiza. Once the Castle Lager Big Band ensemble evolved into the Blue Note sextet in 1964 the band then, left for France to perform at the Antibes Jazz festival where they got exposure in the European Jazz scene. While in Europe the group recorded its second offering under the Polydore label, titled 'Very Urgent' which gained critical success as a spiritual Jazz masterpiece.
After the band split up Chris McGregor formed a new ensemble called the Brotherhood Of Breath which consisted of some of the original Blue Note personnel such as, Mongezi Feza (Trumpet), Dudu Pukwana (Alto Saxophone), Johnny Dyani (Upright Bass), Louis Moholo (Drums). Other members also went on to pursue their own projects as bandleaders such as, Dudu Pukwana's Spear, Assegai ( Dudu Pukwana, Mongezi Feza and Louis Maholo), and Zila. Between the periods 1975 - 1990 some of the members continued to record in France and the UK while others experienced tragic deaths with, Mongezi Feza losing his life in 1975 after suffering from pneumonia following, Chris McGregor and Dudu Pukwana both passing away in 1990
This podcast pays special tribute to The Blue Notes who are considered to be one of the most prominent jazz ensembles to come out from the Avant-Garde Jazz era and from South Africa. The mix includes recordings from the Township Bop , Brotherhood Of Breath and Spear sessions.
Tracklisting:
The Blue Notes - Vortex Special (Township Bop)
The Blue Notes - Schoolboy (Township Bop)
The Blue Notes - Izitunwya (Township Bop)
Chris McGregors' Brotherhood of Breath - The Bride
Chris McGregors' Brotherhood of Breath - MRA
Chris McGregors' Brotherhood of Breath - Andromeda (In the Townships)
Dudu Pukwana & The Spear - Angel Nemali (In the Townships)
Dudu Pukwana & The Spear - Ezilalini (In the Townships)
The Sound Unit presents another cosmic space jazz mix, this time taking you through the dark edge of winter. Niceguy Bob sets off the tone with some Blue Note Avant-Garde classics from McCoy Turner (Goin Home), Andrew Hill (Illusion) and Donald Bryd (Wind Parade) crossing over to your more current contemporary Jazz coming from Tru-Thoughts' Nostalgia 77 (WIldflower) and Ninjatunes' Cinematic Orchestra (Ode To The Sea). The mix reaches its climax with the Electro/NuJazz sound from Blue Note's Erik Truffaz(Turiddu) and Stones Throw's Sound Directions(Forty Days) ending off with a more melodic downtempo electro jazz tone from the Acoustic Dub Messengers (DJ Mochizuki) and Auditory Ossiscles(Air)
Yo checkout these classic Blue Note Album Artwork reedits done by Logan Walters. This kid is too crazy!
I kinda like what he did with the Method Man (Tical) and Cappadona Albums.
Throwback Nights is back featuring two exclusive live performances from, Afro-Dub Funk outfit Bongeziwe Mabandla & The Fridge and The Riaan Le Roux Trio who will be kickin some trippy Electro Jazz Breaks. Also, look out for the Djs who'll be droppin those Ol Skool 90's Hip Hop-Reggae & RnB classics and some Alternative Pop classics. Doors open @ 18:00 and R30 gets you in so, if you wanna get live with the Funk we'll be droppin come jam with us at Tings an Times in Hatfield Pretoria on Sunday 31st July.
I Sing The Soul Electric radio show is a mix of downtempo and electric beats with a touch of Soul towards the end of the mix. Niceguy Bob does a nice job by blending some downtempo instrumentals in the beginning of the show with your more futuristic beats towards the end. Checkout this 1st session of I Sing The Soul Electric which will feature every week on ubuntubeatradio.podomatic.com and Samurai fm on sunday night, also lookout for the second Sound Unit mix coming through this week on Wednesday.
Tracklist
Slakah The Beatchild_ When The Night Stood Still Eric Lau_ Earthing Out Jazz Liberatorz Ft T-Love_Force Be With You (Instrumental) DJ Cam Quartet_Climax Ft Fillet Of Soul DJ Spinna_Composition J Rawls Presents The Liquid Crystal Project II_Me & Cousin Freddie Joachim_Beat The Roots_Hall & Oats Petestrumentals_What You Waitin For Budamunky Mokstrumentals _Loungin Ronny Jordan Meets Dj krush_ The Jackal (Illest Mix) The Heliocentrics_ Distant Star Flying Lotus_Roberta Flack (Mike Slott Remix) Robert Strauss_Odyssey Man ft Ayah (Instrumental) Beat-maker_Plumbum Full Crate & FS Green_ Eggs And Pancakes Mr Dibiase_ Fine Tuning Mahya_ Ichiaku No Suna Leon King_Knowingness DJ Mitsu The Beats_ Negatice Ion (Sa Ra Mix)
This is the first mix in the cosmic jazz 'sound unit' series featuring artists such as, Lonnie Liston Smith, Eddie Henderson, Assagai, Ronnie Foster and more Tracklisting 1. Jukka Eskola_ Duudamdej 2. Lonnie Liston Smith_ Funky Nassau Part.1 3. Ronnie Foster_ The Two Headed Freap 4. Gary Bartz_ Carnival De L'Espirit 5. Flora Purim_ From The Lonely Afternoon 6. Thievery Corporation_ Fedime's Flight 7. Polar Bear_ To Touch The Red Brick 8. Assagai_ Beka 9. Phil Ranelin_ Vibes From The Tribe 10.Eddie Henderson_ Scorpio Libra 11.Erik Truffaz_ Bending Corners 12.Max Roach_ Absolutions 13.Pharoah Sanders_ Thembi