Jackie Greene on the Terrace

Just like last week for the Chicago Afrobeat Project show, it was yet another perfect night overhead for music on the terrace. On this night, Jackie Greene brought his get down rock and roll Americana sound and he meant it. The set was high energy and had the large crowd feeling the Thursday night before the 4th of July as more than another Thursday night, but this started people’s celebration weekend. Certainly a touch of the Dead’s “U.S. Blues” was thrown in there just to remind us where we were. Jackie’s band was making themselves known with stylist licks and giving people more of what they wanted~those finely crafty Jackie Greene tunes that the ones attached to the ears can seem to relate to. There were perfect moments to dance and other times to reflect, a great combination on a night made for us.

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Fawcett Turned On

Just you Just me- Billy Taylor & Gerry Mulligan (live)
La Fiesta- Chick Corea
Big Chief City- Skeebo Knight
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Agents of the Corps- the Submarines
Call of the Wily- Greg Tate’s Garage Band
Sunday on Prozac- Needle
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Got Lucky- the Microscopic Septet
Dropout Boogie- Fast N Bulbous
Call Center Labyrinth- Led Bib

White Wedding- Revolutionary Snake Ensemble
Echidna’s Arf (of You)-Ed Palermo’s Big Band
Funny Cigarettes- Watts Ensemble
Dada- Arthur Kell Quartet

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Green Zone- Jim Weider’s Project Percolator
Noonward Race-the Mahavishnu Orchestra w/John McLaughlin
A little Anarchy Never Hurt Everybody- Gutbucket
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Thrills- Matana Roberts
Return Send-On Ka’a Davis w/Famous Original Djuke Music Players
Red Hail- Tigran Hamasyan
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Anthem for Andrea- Bobby Previte
Don’t Marry Mermaids…- Mamarazzi
Pool of Honey- Global Noize
Riffin’ Ed- MMW
Twin Killers- Marco Benevento
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Hold onto your Man- Andy Narell & Relator
Thoughts of Alice- Lost Days

Feelin’ Crabby

Feelin’ a little crabby today, but I don’t think the reflection in the music mirror will show that…Here, look for yourselves:

Turn on Your Love Light- Booby Blue Bland
Castanets- Alejandro Escovedo
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Rub me Raw- Warren Zevon
Shut- pat mAcdonald
Love Hotel- Zakiya Hooker
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The Prowl- Dan Auerbach

Good Excuse- the John Butler Trio
3 Degrees- Xavier Rudd
Mama Taught me- the Uglistick
Losing my Mind- Woodfish
El Haz Sensor- Los Tres
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My Little Bag- Geoff Achison
Heart Trouble- Nicole Hart
Higher Ground- Nicole Hart

Some Kind of Beautiful- Nikka Costa
Pack it up- Missy Andersen
Get on your Feet- JTQ
Looking for an Answer-the New Mastersounds w/Dionne Charles

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Funky Good Time- Melvin Sparks Band
Brownie Leo & Gus- Skeebo Knight
Fifty Second Street Boogie Down- Catalyst
Sunshine of your Love- George Clinton & P Funk All Stars
J’s Groove- Akiko Tsuruga
**On Air Conversation w/Melvin Sparks**
Pick up the Pieces- Melvin Sparks
Killer Ray-Kyle Asche Trio feat. Mel Rhyne
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Hard Core- the New Orleans Radiators (live)
O Moses- Brother Joscephus & love Revival Revolution Orch.
ST James Infirmary- Allen Toussaint
I’ve got a Home- Blind Boys of Alabama
It’s a Big Army- John Scofield

Jack of Diamonds- David Coen
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Manufactured Consent(Cheney’s got a Gun)-mamarazzi
Bongo Betty- Sam Newsome
Brother Man-Larry MacDonald w/Shaza & Terri Lion
Sun of Shango-Melvin Gibbs Elevated Entity feat Amayo & Blackbyrd McKnight
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Alma Ata-the Ananda Shankar Experience & State of Bengal
Jebel- Kasbah Rockers with Bill Laswell
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Orange World- Jake Shimabukuro (live)
All the Same to me- Anya Marina
Static Mind- Girl in a Coma

Chicago Afrobeat Project

Terrace soul took form under a beautiful evening sky with sailboats in the near distance and smiley firework displays overhead….The music was rich in nature and presented to us by the Chicago Afrobeat Project, who tears up the stage breathing the intensity of Chicago’s rich music scene into the infectious sounds of afrobeat. Afrobeat’s range of influences — funk, rock, jazz, afro-cuban, high life and juju music – settle into a hypnotic, dance-compelling pulse at the core of CAbP. The group layers a fiery originality around this core through high-energy rock and experimental jazz. Their live act is all together rockin’ and danceable, communicating the opportunity to share experience thru body movements and positive vibrations…The individual players, coming from diverse backgrounds, each hold their own as soloists that ultimately characterize the live shows. Melodic and hard-hitting horn lines create a lyrical flow to the music, delivered by a cutting, driven rhythm section dynamic. Complex call-and-response percussion songs are dispersed throughout the nights gig….making the music as beautiful as the surroundings…..

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Hopefully some Peace

R.I.P. Michael Jackson….Known by so many for so many reasons….but the only reason to really care was for the person making the music and that art he produced was and might always be immeasurable. Too many songs that matter to list…to many albums that were great and set the bar for musicians around the globe to strive for…..whether you follow the pop scene that became Michael Jackson’s world, you know his music….you know his videos and you probably at one point in your life, shared one of your favorite moments with Michael through his music. I am so happy that I got to share moments with his music that I connected with others over……I always rooted for Michael and hoped he could just disappear into the “never never land” he so deeply tried to create for people to escape with.. Rest peacefully…….

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Dance to your own Michael Jackson

and a Picnic to follow..

a perfect day to play and get together for food with a friend. Here’s the playing portion that I am happy to always share with you:

Miss Maybelle- R.L. Burnside
Muhammad Ali & His Gang vs Mr Tooth Decay-Louis M Gottschalk
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Rock These Blues Away-Zakiya Hooker & John Lee Hooker
Shake, Rattle & Roll- Jeff Healy
Jambalaya- Jeff Healy

Light Up my Pipe-the New Orleans Radiators (live)
Sent to the Edge- Geoff Achison
Bootbanger- Geoff Achison

Lost & Found- Al & the Transamericans
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Fishies- the Cat Empire
Dream- the JMC Project
Disco Truck- the JMC Project
I Can’t Stand the Rain- Missy Andersen
2NITE- Bria Valente

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Thunder- S.M.V.
Splatch-Fusion for Miles feat. Jefff Richman
Baboon Strength- Charlie Hunter
Take it Easy- Akiko Tsuruga
Mission Impossible- Mose Davis

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Cultural Survival- David Sanchez
Kansas City-Jimmy Witherspoon feat Robben Ford (live)
Hymm of the Orient- James Carter
Crazy Rhythm-Chet Baker w/the Bradley Young Trio
Improv #1-A New Brain for Arnie
Life of the Mind- Club d’Elf (live)
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Little Wing- the Reptile Palace Orchestra
Poder- Rupa & the April Fishes
Not so Easy- Rupa & the April Fishes

Kasidim Tants- Yid Vicious
Citizen Boris- Golem!
Massacre Sonica- Kinky
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Diaraby Magni- Vieux Farka Toure
Mousso tilou- Dobet Gnahore
Kargashai- Mamer
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He Barrido el Sol- Les Tres
No Duermas Mas- Sumo
No Face Enemy- Albino!

R.I.P. Ali Akbar Khan

Ali Akbar Khan, 87, a Bengali musician who was regarded as one of the finest artists of Indian classical music and who helped popularize the genre in the West through appearances on television, record and stage, died June 18 at his home in San Anselmo, Calif., of a kidney ailment. The son of a revered musician and teacher, Mr. Khan began intensive training as a child and partnered with sitar player Ravi Shankar — his future brother-in-law — performing duets throughout India. So, our hearts do go out to our friends the Shankar’s and their entire family. Mr. Khan was a virtuoso of the sarod, a 25-string instrument in the lute family. His chosen musical genre is based in part on the concept of the raga, which consists of improvised music based on a variety of scales. From these scales, or permutations of them, Indian musicians follow traditional forms but add their own inflections and feeling. Once, the late American violinist Yehudi Menuhin, who became one of his earliest champions in the West, said he considered Mr. Khan “an absolute genius, the greatest musician in the world.” As a young man exploring musical journeys, I was fortunate enough to see this amazing artist live at our local performing arts center and left that building a new person…I often speak of Mr. Khan when discussing in open my travels and explorations in sound hearing with anyone giving him such high praise as a road of his own in my adventures.

R.I.P. Ali Akbar Khan

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Read the rest of the article from the Washington Post here.

What I’ve been Ear-Drummin’

Things I may or may not always share over the air, but here’s what has been tickling those sensitive sound spots in my ears:

Frank Zappa’s Trance-Fusion
Sam Newsome’s Global Unity
The Prodigy’s Invaders Must Die
Ryuichi Sakamoto’s Chasm
HuDost’s Trapeze
Nels Cline’s Coward
MSTRKRFT’s FIST OF GOD
Deep Forest’s III
Donnie Williams & Park Place’s The Power
Chick Corea’s Works
Mozart’s Piano Sonatas Klaviersonaten KV 309 & 331 as performed by Claudio Arrau

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Dale Watson in Middleton WI

Before I started my Waterfront Festival adventures, I made the short trip to Middleton to the Club Tavern to see the one and only Mr. Dale Watson. Dale seemed to know just about everyone in town never mind the folks at the show…it was quite warming to see a gentleman of country music being more than that….and then the Honky Tonk began. As we spoke of in our recent on air conversation, true country and western songs were treated kindly and requests were easily achieved…Dale’s good that way for sure. I sure enjoy honky tonk and hard edged country music for before my time really, and this music on this day and any other day finding this band on stage sure did hit the spot. I appreciate the energy put into working to assist the independant truckers develop some kind of health care that doesn’t sink them, if they can get any at all…Oh there is a lot to like about Dale Watson and I hope I point you in the right direction with my honesty. His new album the Truckin’ Session Volume 2, as I mentioned a few posts back is exciting, rebellious and just in its causes…I am proud to have it in my music collection and the ability to share it with others is appreciated. (Thanks Dale/Kevin/Hawk/Moose)

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Waterfront Festival Part Deux

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Mon Aime Vieux Farka Toure made things seem like the should for me….The sound of his guitar transcends music and clears a journey out of once was a pathless landscape. And on this journey I was happy to be able to spend some time catching up with Tim and Vieux before and after the show as it is always nice to spend time with people from past moments…..The music that Vieux and his band put out at this festival had the crowd in an amazement whirl~there were new dances being born right before my eyes…the African Jam Blues rock and roll deeply rooted in traditional Malian Blues music has gone in its own direction and it just GOES. The charm and charisma is a part of Vieux that flows off onto the crowd easily and kept a “connection” with the listeners~people became more than festival goers…I run out of words for my experiences with sounds and people that deeply affect me and Vieux and his music keep me pretty quiet at times….I managed to pick up the new cd FONDO to do the talking for me in the upcoming weeks.
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Bonsoir, Catin was on before Vieux and featured authentic cajun music that is energetic, passionate and heart-felt, leading the Madison crowd to cut a, well… cut a festival lawn into a dusty dance square filled with couples embraced in a Cajun swing. Bonsoir, Catin is an all-woman Cajun band. Their music is an expression of what it is to be a Cajun woman–feminine, classy, smart, brave, take-charge, and no-nonsense, and has emerged as one of South Louisiana’s most exciting new Cajun bands.

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2009 Waterfront Festival

This year for the Marquette Neighborhood Association’s Waterfront Festival brought entertainment from around the globe, local fare and goods and a LOT of people for a real good gathering of spirit and sound. This year was the 20th anniversary of the event and the music was joyous and raucous and sweat-inducing danceable so many people came to bask both days in the seductive lakeshore breeze. The community celebrated in Yahara Place Park on June 13th and 14th at the confluence of the Yahara River and Lake Monona where the cottonwoods provided the ideal canopy for this rite of spring. On Saturday I saw Taj Weekes and Adowa bring the gentle conscious voice of today thru Island sounds delight the audience with vibes and grooves of a folk reggae, words to hear and rhythms to move your body to…this hours after Taj called in to do another phoner on the program where we discuss his music and his beliefs of giving back (see early post here). I always enjoy giving artist who give back time to share on the airwaves.
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After the show I chilled with Taj and the band for a bit, keeping it real with hula hoops and kindness…..we watched as Rupa and the April Fishes prepared backstage before an amazing set of eminently eclectic, genre bending and body moving music from this San Francisco based group creating lively, romantic and instantaneously appealing music with influences from many areas of the globe….there is too much going on within this groups on identity to write but I do suggest you check them out.
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Days off….INjoy

I have a short vacation before moving onto my summer routine and I am gonna enjoy it….Musically I think I m getting off to a good start…Let’s take it in:

Truckin’ Queen- Dale Watson
Texas Boogie- Dale Watson

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This is Ridiculous- New York Dolls
Three is a Magic Number- Bob Dorough
Evelyn is not Real- My Morning Jacket
Mendocino- Shawn Sahm
Deep Dark Hole- Los Lobos
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I want some More- Dan Auerbach
Heartbroken, in Disrepair- Dan Auerbach
So Many Nights- the Cat Empire
Use Me- Pete Yorn & Kinky
Crimson & Clover- Prince

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Trip- M. Nahadr
Return Send-On Ka’a Davis w/Famous Original Djuke Music Players
Love to Tical- Burnt Sugar the Arkestra Chamber
Night School- Ed Palermo Big Band

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Waiting- Nomo
La Koolie- Albino! Band

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Raju- John McLaughlin & Chick Corea (live)
The Wind The Snow The Water-Green Light (live)
Hole in the Bag the New Mastersounds
Thermal Bad- the New Mastersounds

Dry Spell- Ticklah
Rise & Shine- Karl Denson’s tiny Universe
Kamasutra- Vampyros Lesbos
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Stand up and Dance- Missy Anderson
Let’s Dance- Beyondo
Saidi Song- Turbo Tabla

Courage- Vieux Farka Toure
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Strange Universe- Moon Boot Posse
Set the Children Free- Larry McDonald w/Toots Hibbert
Sense of Purpose- Buju Banton

Dark Clouds- Taj Weekes & Adowa
Little Fire- Taj Weekes & Adowa
Orphans Cry- Taj Weekes & Adowa
**On air Conversation w/Taj Weekes**
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Ice Cream- Jack Prybylski
Presto- Chinese Baroque Players

1st live album for Jake

Ukulele Master and friend of the program, Jake Shimabukuro has his first live album released on Hitchhike Records. There are several moments during one of Jake’s live shows to be amazed by what sound can be made with a four stringed instrument, but imagine it being captured and sifted through by the artist after several performances were recorded and the best of the best (as seen through Jake’s eyes) were put on the first full-length CD since 2006′ “Gently Weeps”. The 17 song album include 12 originals ( 4 of which are brand new) and 5 covers (including an incredible version of J.S. Bach’s “Two Part Invention No.4 in D Minor” and a unique interpretation of Michael Jackson‘s “Thriller”. Not only does this release capture the innovation behind the sound that Jake can create musically but the playfulness and joy that accompanies the art with the artist….Checkout “Jake Shimabukuro LIVE” for more of what I mean.

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R.I.P. Kenny Rankin

Kenny Rankin first gained acclaim as one of the guitarists on Bob Dylan‘s landmark 1965 album, “Bringing it all Back Home,” had been preparing to record an album of new material when he became ill a few weeks ago. Recording sessions scheduled with producer Phil Ramone were canceled as his health began to deteriorate. “That he was still at the top of his game is one of the saddest parts of his passing for me,” Denny Stilwell, president of Mack Avenue Records, said in a statement. “He performed the new material in our office over the last few months and his voice was still in its finest form — he sounded absolutely amazing. Our hearts and prayers are with his family.” Mr. Rankin will always be revered as a brilliant pop vocalist and highly regarded musician-songwriter whose stylings ranged from jazz to pop to the world music influences he picked up as a child in New York.

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“G”roovin’ w/the New Mastersounds

Had the chance to do a live on air phone interview with Eddie Roberts, guitarist and producer of the soulful entity known as the New Mastersounds. Hailing from Leeds, UK these guys know how to funk the lights out of it from top to bottom and start to finish. This one was special to me as I just absolutely dig the sound they produce, a Meters twist with a splash of dirty moss covered rock and groove~(from bone crushing drum beats to mind melting organ fingertromping bass defying bass flaps and the righteous-NESS of funky git-tar riffs). With a new album out and a Mid-west tour to support it, one of my favorite bands (been spinning them since I first started radio) made their way to a city that appreciates solid soul-felt funk. During the conversation, I asked Eddie to play a track for the ladies , The Minx and not only did the band rip it out and twist it up with a funky-ass know, the MisterG introduction was one for the books. Thanks Eddie. Matter of fact…here is the evenings set list:
Flimsy
102%
Pinky & Perky
M.R.G.
Minx
Six Under
In the Middle
All I Want
33 (Pete Start)
Colorado Sun
San Frantico
Bus Stop
One Note
Encore:IDRIS/BB/Can’t Hold Me

Opening the night was Moon Taxi, a jammin’ rock outfit from Nashville, Tennessee with some funky riffs that warmed it up just right.

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the New Mastersounds

David Sanchez at The Union

David Sanchez weaves the multi-cultural threads of North and Latin American cultures into a colorful musical tapestry, the common ground being the spirit of the drum. Sanchez’ robust sound, taut melodic focus and stirring rhythmic articulation reflect a talent wise beyond his years. His sense of originality transcends mere technical concerns. Sanchez is searching for fresh ways to enrich the jazz vocabulary. “I wanted to be in touch with my roots,” says Sanchez, “which come from Latin America. I believe that Latin jazz was born in the U.S., but I also believe that we are really one: North America, South America, the Caribbean. There are native people in these places who are related to each other. I’m trying to put that together in my music, trying to get in touch with the unity of it all while I integrate the stylistic elements from the different regions.” In late 1991, Dizzy Gillespie spoke glowingly of his latest protege, “There’s a young tenor player from Puerto Rico – the youngest member of the United Nation Orchestra – … David Sanchez, good, very reserved mind, very old mind, knows his changes, knows where he’s going and knows where he’s coming from.” Unarguably one of the most important and exciting young artists to emerge on the jazz scene in recent years, Sanchez’ uncommon talent, dedication and personal charisma will assuredly place him among the giants of jazz in the coming years….oh and by the way, he has since been awarded a Grammy….and on this night the room felt what mentor and student work so hard to achieve–oneness. This was the headline event for the Isthmus Jazz Fest and spirits were uplifted thrrough Mr. Sanchez’ saxophone and tight tight band…man were they tight.
Before the David Sanchez show I caught a set from the Tim Whalen Nonet, which totally made Coltrane’s Alabama come out to play while dazzling a filled up room at der Rathskeller at the UW with improvised spirit and soul.

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H20 Drip

Been less than 100%~required an H2O drip to make this show happen…and happen I believe it still did.

Drag N Fly- Dale Watson
Ten Four- Dale Watson

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Run for a long time- Blind Boys of Alabama
Grits ain’t Groceries- Little Milton
Make a Little Love- Alex Chilton
Shake your Hips- Lou Ann Barton
I want a little Sugar in my Sugar Bowl-Nina Simone
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Don’t that Bring you Back- Diane Durrett (live)
Ferocious- Nikki Armstrong
Come Together- Dr. Lonnie Smith
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Master Bedroom- Max Allen
Thriller- Jake Shimabukuro
(live)
Papa was a Rascal- James Booker
Take me Back- Mose Davis
Don’t Mess with Bill- Mose Davis

I Wish- Jack Prybylski
Pee Wee (revisited)- Tony Bunn
Walter L-Burton/Methany/Swallow/Sanchez
Fearless- Marco Benevento Trio (live)
Sugar Baby Blues- Omar Sosa
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Where’s the Party at- Trombone Shorty & Orleans Ave. (live)
Little by Little- Missy Andersen
Confused- Sugarbitch
Push you off the Bridge- Jane Wiedlin
Gyi Ma Gyi- Dadon (live Tibetan Freedom Concert)
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Coming Over Tonight-Cherine Anderson w/Chuck Fenda
Orphans Cry- Taj Weekes & Adowa
Jubulani- Zoro
Steppin’- Albino! Band
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Call me SUPER BAD-Little Sammy D & Newborn
In the Mix- the JMC Project
**Live on air conversation with Dale Watson**
Texas Boogie- Dale Watson
Accusation- the Juan Maclean
all I want right now- the New Mastersounds
you got it all- the New Mastersounds
Baby Bouncer- the New Mastersounds
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Dogs of Santiago- Lipbone Redding
Generation Fade- Xavier Rudd
Opportunity- Florin Niculescu