Author Archives: Paul Brad

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About Paul Brad

Freelance journalist / Publisher / Editor - Straight No Chaser magazine / Editor - L 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

THE ESSENCE OF TAIJIQUAN: A Trip To The Heart Of Training In Chenjiagou Village

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Paul Brad

AFTER READING A TRIBUTE to one of David Gaffney’s life loving Chen taijiquan students, who is sadly no longer with us, I was finally prompted to pen a few words on his and Davidine Siaw-Voon Sim’s book ‘The Essence Of Taijiquan’. … Continue reading →

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Beyond Katrina…. Crescent City Mardi Gras 2012… We need to celebrate those Wild Wild Indians…the spirit is alive!

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Paul Brad

Loved that scene in HBO’s  Treme when Big Chief Lambreaux appears out of the dark having returned, post Katrina,  to the his devastated, old neighbourhood… and proving that spirit is allive and kicking is a pic (below), by my good … Continue reading →

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Forward with The UK Reggae Nation… Words Sound & Power … Reggae Changed My Life – the journey continues

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Paul Brad

Wednesday night the Roundhouse Rising … British Underground’s Bass Culture Forum ….  this sold out session featuring a panel of players rooted in the contemporary reggae scene was the perfect place for Swifty and myself to premiere the first stage … Continue reading →

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SXSW: Reggae Roots ‘n’ Bass Culture @ the Roundhouse

Posted on February 12, 2012 by Paul Brad

Saturday night at the Roundhouse in Camden Town . It’s busy. In the main room, post-emo college rock band, Brand New, was pulling  a heavy  crowd. Meanwhile, in the small theatre, a more modest gathering was gradually assembling to  get … Continue reading →

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JOYOUS & DEEP! Samba De Chula De Sao Braz – tonight at MOMO’s

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Paul Brad

São Braz is a tiny community of fisherman, fieldworkers and Rastafarians, a place born as a quilombo, a refuge of runaway slaves in the past. It is located outside the town of Santo Amaro, in the Bahian Recôncavo, and buried … Continue reading →

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SOUND SYSTEM… The Map… A Detail…

Posted on February 5, 2012 by Paul Brad

Flash it.. the original station underground news… SOUND SYSTEM… PS… there have been so-o-o-o-o-o many sound systsems over the years … so, please dont expect the poster to be definitive. It’s a work in progress and respect goes out to … Continue reading →

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UK Reggae Nation… Getting Busy!

Posted on February 5, 2012 by Paul Brad

Right now Typograffix don Swifty and myself are rootically inspired. Jamaica50 is building nicely and we are working on a commission from British Underground to design a fanzine, that sheds light on UK  Bass Culture and the diverse  array of … Continue reading →

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JAZZ IN THE ROUND … a bit late but quick review

Posted on February 5, 2012 by Paul Brad

Having arrived a touch late we took in the first part of  Yazz Ahmed‘s set blind, from behind a curtain, but we were  immediately won over by the tone her flugel horn and the spacious interplay between stand-in vibraphone player … Continue reading →

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DANCE & THE WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR ROMP… The show ends today!

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Paul Brad

Oscar Romp is unique. Currently residing and teaching in Austria, this Royal College Of Art trained artist is dance culture’s Stanley Spencer. I can say this because his expansive murals which adorned the walls of hospitals like Kings were breathtaking … Continue reading →

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Jazz In The Round returns to The Cockpit

Posted on January 28, 2012 by Paul Brad

“This night is the sort of thing I’ve wanted to be involved in for a long time,” says Jazz On 3’s Jez Nelson. While they considered calling the night “Jazz Snobs Eat Shit” Jez and his firm  opted for a … Continue reading →

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