Author Archives: Paul Brad

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About Paul Brad

Freelance journalist / Publisher : Editor - Straight No Chaser magazine, Editor - Beyond The Bassline (British Library) , Editor - L FM : Lockdown FM Broadcasting In A Pandemic - Gilles Peterson (Worldwide FM) / Publisher: From Jazz Funk & Fusion to Acid Jazz: A History Of The UK Jazz Dance Scene by Mark 'Snowboy' Cotgrove / Music Fan: Interplanetary Sounds: Ancient to Future / Cultural Event Consultant & Activist / Nei Jia practitioner

DANIEL PONCE: The Tragic Passing Of A Cuban Master Drummer

Posted on March 19, 2013 by Paul Brad

Last Sunday I picked up a distraught message from my good friend Sue Steward, who has written extensively about Afro Cuban music and the NYC and Miami Latin/Salsa scenes. She had just heard the sad and tragic news that Cuban … Continue reading →

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TROUBLE OVER HERE… TROUBLE OVER THERE… TROUBLE ALL OVER THIS ATMOSPHERE

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Paul Brad

“For out-and-out Funk, it does NOT get better than this!” proclaimed percussionist/deejay Snowboy after Friday night’s triumphant return of Washington DC’s Trouble Funk to London town. Having already waxed lyrical about that most memorable encounter with Trouble Funk on the … Continue reading →

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TROUBLE FUNK EXPRESS: They’re comin’… They’re comin’ … They’re comin’….

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Paul Brad

It was back at the dawn of the Eighties that Washington DC’s Trouble Funk rolled into London town and “dropped the bomb” on the London crew. It’s hard to explain but anticipation had reached the fever pitch and was set … Continue reading →

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UP FOR THE DOWNLOAD… EVERYBODY GET UP! Chris ‘Daddy’ Dave’s ‘Drumhedz’ Mixtape + Induce’s Classic Black 3 + The Underachievers’ ‘Indigoism’

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Paul Brad

I first heard Chris Dave play at the Jazz Cafe in Camden Town when Me’shell N’Degeocello dropped into town to play an instrumental set. That was deep. He’s also played with D’Angelo, Beyoncé , Kenny Garrett, Terrence Blanchard, Wynton Marsalis, … Continue reading →

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SPIRITUAL JAZZ 4: Sahib Shihab, Don Cherry, Albert Ayler, Frank Wright…..Jazzman do it again!

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Paul Brad

The latest in episode in Jazzman’s Spiritual Jazz series digs deep into the archives of numerous European record labels to reveal a brace of gems recorded by African American master musicians like Sahib Shihab, Albert Ayler, Don Cherry, Sun Ra, … Continue reading →

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FREEDOM! “In composition you have all the time you want to decide what to say in 15 seconds, in improvisation you have 15 seconds.” (Steve Lacy)

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Paul Brad

It’s  a freezing cold Sunday night and as I waited at the bus stop, weighed down by a bag of vinyl, I had to wonder who would brave the weather and venture to Hoxton for the launch of our FREEDOM … Continue reading →

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MASTER TT LIANG: A few words on Taijiquan

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Paul Brad

The first book we were told to read by John R. Kells when I was learning Yang Family taijiquan back in the day was TT Liang’s T’ai Ch Chuan for Health & Self Defence. It’s one of the few books … Continue reading →

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Dr Donald Byrd with The Mizell Brothers Live at Montreux 1973

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Paul Brad

THE BAND: Donald Byrd (tp,flhrn) Fonce Mizell (tp) Allan Barnes (fl,ts) Nathan Davis (sop,ts) Larry Mizell (synt) Kevin Toney (el-p) Barney Perry (el-g) Henry Franklin (el-b) Keith Killgo (d,vcl) Ray Armando (cga,perc). Live, Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland, July 5, … Continue reading →

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THIS SUNDAY! SESSION No.1 – FREEDOM: The Art Of Improvisation

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Paul Brad

“In composition you have all the time you want to decide what to say in 15 seconds, in improvisation you have 15 seconds.” Steve Lacy Greetings…  Seems like a rare occasion these days that I’m offered a little deejay slot … Continue reading →

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PLACES & SPACES: Donaldson Toussaint L’Ouverture Byrd II RIP

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Paul Brad

Last Monday, at the age of 80, composer, trumpeter and teacher, Donaldson Toussaint L’Ouverture Byrd II passed away leaving us a mountain of recordings that add up to a impressively diverse and lasting legacy. As a musician who transcended generations … Continue reading →

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