This is my first new show for a few weeks and I hadn’t done a live show in even longer so there was a lot of catching up to do. Sadly we have recently lost some major and significant artists but there wasn’t enough time to show respect to them all. I played 2 early Jeff Beck tunes in heavy rock mode, and I plan to play more from his fusion period in the next show. We also lost Barrett Strong, writer of some classic Motown hits and David Jude Jolicoeur aka Trugoy the Dove, who was one third of the ground breaking De La Soul but, with no disrespect to any artists – alive or dead, Burt Bacharach probably touched more hearts in his 94 years than virtually anyone.
I could easily have filled the entire 2 hours with his melodies but restricted myself to a handful of my favourites, but still had to miss out a few.

New stuff from: Ben Rosenblum Nebula Project, Bonnie Raitt, Kurt Elling & Charlie Hunter (feat. Nate Smith), more from the recent Unthanks, Kevin Fingier and Edwin Perez releases, a new posthumous collection from Ali Farka Toure. As well as vintage Chicago Transit Authority, Betty Wright, Arsenio Rodriguez, Carlyto Lassa, Irma Thomas and more.
Also, let’s not forget Grupo Lokito who will be launching their new Bamoko (translates as Unity) release this Saturday 25/2/23 at my Mambista night as part of a mini-tour taking in 3 more London venues over the next few weeks. With their patented mix of Congolese Rumba and Cuban Salsa Grupo Lokito always get the party started. Advance tix here
Chicago Transit Authority | Beginnings | Chicago Transit Authority |
Reece Madlisa & Zuma | Iy’ntsimbi Zase Envy (feat. Busta 929, Beast Rsa & Dladla Mshunqisi) | Ama Roto, Vol. 2 (Kwaito Edition) |
De La Soul | The Magic Number | 3 Feet High And Rising |
Bonnie Raitt | Here Comes Love | Just Like That… |
Barrett Strong | Money (That’s What I Want) | |
Ali Farka Toure | Safari | Voyageur |
Ray Perez Y Sus Kenyas | Tengo Control | Ra! Rai! |
Edwin Perez | Nos Equivocamos | Directo Al Punto |
Josi Dias and The Kevin Fingier Collective | Rua Nova Barão | The Fingier Collective |
Betty Wright | Shoorah! Shoorah! | 7″ |
Irma Thomas | I Need Your Love So Bad | Straight from the Soul |
Dionne Warwick | The Windows Of The World | |
Dionne Warwick | I’ll Never Fall In Love Again | |
Luther Vandross | A House Is Not A Home | Never Too Much |
The Carpenters | Close To You | Close To You |
Aretha Franklin | I Say A Little Prayer | |
Havana Maestros | Say a Little Prayer (feat. Dionne Warwick) | AMERiCUBA |
Havana Maestros | Airplanes (feat. B.o.B. & Hayley Williams) | AMERiCUBA |
Andy Montañez | Que Nadie Llore De Pena | Vengo A Decir |
Grupo Lokito | Bomoko | Bomoko |
The Unthanks | The Old New | Sorrows Away |
Jeff Beck | You Shook Me | Truth |
Jeff Beck Group | Spanish Boots | Beck-Ola |
Kurt Elling & Charlie Hunter | Bounce | Guilty Pleasures (feat. Nate Smith) |
Carlyto Lassa | Bajaloux | Africa Na Moto |
Frankie Dante Y Su Orchestra Flamboyan | Venceremos | Se Viste De Gala |
Arsenio Rodríguez | Mi Corazon No Tiene Quien Lo Llore | Arsenio Dice |
Ben Rosenblum Nebula Project | The Village Steps | A Thousand Pebbles |