Down
To The Bone is a project by producer and writer Stuart Wade. The
project is named after the former London jazz club "To The
Bone". Although Stuart is the mastermind of the project, he
never performed an instrument on the recordings or the live
events. Nevertheless his ideas are so flashing, that the project
has a tremendous success especially in the States.
All started with the first album From Manhattan To Staten in 1996 on the UK label Internal Bass Records. The Urban Grooves (1999) and Spread The Word (2000) followed on this label. Crazy Vibes and Things (2002) was released on GRP, Cellar Funk (2004), Spread Love Like Wildfire (2005), and Supercharged (2007) on Narada, Future Boogie (2009) on Shanachie, The Main Ingredients (2011) and Dig It (2014) on Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records, the UKversion on Dôme Records.
Funkin' Around (2019) is a collection of remixes and reworks. Electric Vibes, The Flow, Right On Baby Yeah, Funk' Around, Angel Baby, Wildfire Woman, Black Choice, Watch Me Fly and Brooklyn Heights are the basis of the remixes. Acid Jazz is anyway a format that is less suitable for listening than for dancing. For this reason the rhythm plays a superior role and takes the same rank as the melody.
The vibraphone player and singer Roy Ayers is one of the light figures of acid jazz and has played a major role in shaping the entire English music scene. Electric Vibes was originally released on the album Supercharged and received positive reactions from critics and fans alike. The double album contains three variations, namely from DJ Spinna and Harry Coade. DJ Spinna is the American hip hop producer Vincent Williams from Brooklyn, while Harry is the in-house engineer, producer and manager at The Blue Studios.
The Flow was originally released on the album Cellar Funk featuring Brazilian chanteuse Flora Purim. Flora is best-known by her work in the jazz fusion style performing with Chick Corea (Return to Forever), Stanley Clarke, Dizzy Gillespie, Gil Evans, Stan Getz, the Grateful Dead, Santana, Jaco Pastorius, and her husband Airto Moreira. On this track she reveals interesting aspects of her jazzy scat singing. The double album offers remixes by Agent K and Mr. Gone. I especially like Mr. Gone's interpretation shining with a funky slap bass, stunning trumpet solo and vintage organ.
Right On Baby Yeah was first released on The Urban Grooves. The remixes present Aim Mix and Hoops Havona Mix. Hoops Havona is Ceri Evans, former Brand New Heavies keyboardist also active with The J.B.'s (Fred Wesley/Maceo Parker/Pee Wee Ellis), Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Texas, George Clinton, Tone Loc, Jamie T, and Jay Sean to name a few.
Funkin' Around is the second song taken from the album Supercharged. The Speedometer Rework is inspired by James Brown and was already released under electric vibes remixes in 2007.
Angel Baby is taken from the album Spread Love Like Wildfire (2005) and presented with two remixes featuring singer N'Dambi. From the same album is Wildfire Woman as Afro Elements Jazzin' Bossa Remix featuring the voice of late Jeremy Steig.
Black Choice was released on Spread The Word (2001). The Beanfield Rework doesn't have the infectious fire of the original. Watch Me Fly from the album The Main Ingredients has thanks to singer Imani a wonderful Incognito flavor. The Earth Sold Remix trims the song more to the Down To The Bone line.
Brooklyn Heights is the second song of Down To The Bone's debut album From Manhattan To Staten and created the basis for Down To The Bone's inimitable popularity. The Kaidi Tatham Reinterpretation conveys with a modern rhythm a contemporary version that is more strongly influenced by jazz. No wonder that Kaida is tagged as "the UK's Herbie Hancock".
Funkin' Around contains so many interesting approaches, that this remix album justifiably occupies an important place in the gallery of Down To The Bone.
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Album Information
Title: Funkin' Around
Artist: Down To The Bone
Year: 2019
Genre: Acid Jazz
Label:
Dome Records
Disc: 1
1. Electric Vibes (DJ Spinna Remix) [feat. Roy Ayers]
2. Electric Vibes (Harry Coade's Dancefloor Mix) [feat. Roy
Ayers]
3. Electric Vibes (DJ Spinna Dub) [feat. Roy Ayers]
4. The Flow (Agent K Vocal Mix) [feat. Flora Purim]
5. The
Flow (Agent K Instrumental) [feat. Flora Purim]
6. The Flow (Mr
Gone's Samba De Sueco Remix) [feat. Flora Purim]
7. Right On
Baby Yeah (Aim Mix)
8. Right On Baby Yeah (Hoops Havona Mix)
Disc: 2
1. Funkin' Around (Speedometer Rework)
2.
Angel Baby (Daz I Kue Vocal Remix) [feat. N'Dambi]
3. Angel
Baby (Daz I Kue Dub Vox Remix) [feat. N'Dambi]
4. Wildfire
Woman (Afro Elements Jazzin' Bossa Remix) [feat. Jeremy Steig]
5. Black Choice (Beanfield Rework)
6. Watch Me Fly (Earth Sold
Remix) [feat. Imaani]
7. Brooklyn Heights (Kaidi Tatham
Reinterpretation)