Yusef Lateef, 1920 - 2013

Early in the week (December 23, 2013), legendary jazz saxophonist and flutist Yusef Lateef sadly passed away at the age of 93. Mr. Lateef played a major role in incorporating non-Western musical elements from Asia, the Middle East, and Africa into jazz. Of deep Islamic faith, much of his recordings like "Love Theme from Spartacus", "Like It Is", "Sister Mamie", and "The Plum Blossom" have very spiritual tone and feel, while other tracks like "Eastern Market", "Brother", "Jungle Plum", and "Live Humble" embraced the soulful roots of his hometown of Detroit, MI. He began recording as a leader in the late 50s for Savoy Records before moving on and recording with other notable labels like Impluse!, Atlantic, Prestige, Riverside and more. He also made a number of contributions to other artist's recordings like Cannonball Adderley, Nat Adderley, Art Blakey, Paul Chambers, Curtis Fuller, Donald Byrd and many others. Lateef's sound, and how he was able to blend Eastern elements into his music, became a major source of inspiration on other jazz musicians, most notably John Coltrane, Randy Weston, and others. He received the NEA Jazz Master lifetime achievement award in 2010, which is considered the highest honor given in jazz today. Overall, Yusef Lateef is a great among jazz greats, opening the doors for Eastern and African influences to be incorporated and play a strong role in the music that today's younger generations of musicians now compose throughout the world. He will forever be missed however his powerful spirit will forever live on through his music and those lives that he touched.

Rest in peace, Yusef Lateef.

Yusef Lateef - Like It Is

SAY IT LOUD! Returns THIS SUNDAY!!!

On SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24, come check out the return of Say It Loud! at it's new location Duende in uptown Oakland. This happy hour function will feature myself, deejay Pat Les Stache, spinning over 2 hours of funky groove-oriented soul-jazz. Everything from Roy Ayers, Donald Byrd, Gil Scott-Heron, Johnny "Hammond" Smith, Gary Bartz and Blue Mitchell, to funky and rare selections released off of Strata-East, Black Jazz, Detroit's Tribe, Mainstream Records and much more. The event will take place from 6pm-8:30pm that will lead right into a live set from the explosive Bay Area trio The Three Muhammads, who explore an aural collision of free jazz and Arabic music.

SAY IT LOUD!
"A Funky Soul-Jazz Happy Hour hang"
w/ DJ Pat Les Stache (SFJAZZ Hotplate, Kojak Giant Sounds, Cabana Disco)
6-8:30pm at Duende (468 19th St, Oakland, CA 94612)
FREE!!!!

duendeoakland.com
eventbrite.com
Facebook Event Page

Jukka Eskola's Exploration into Scandi-Bossa

Over the last month, the Italian record label Schema has released a number of great new records including a brand new album by Finnish awarded trumpet player/ composer Jukka Eskola. I've been a fan of Eskola's music since his 2004 breakthrough 12" release Buttercup / 1974. Since that time, the trumpet player has released a few singles including Timber Up and Jova, as well as the amazing 2009 full-length album Walkover. On this great new album, titled Orquesta Bossa, Eskola fuses together his Scandinavian jazz roots with an exploration into the world of Bossa Nova and Brazilian-influenced rhythms. The album, which was co-written by drummer Teppo Mäkynen, has a classic Bossa Nova groove throughout the recording that features both premiere gathering of both Finnish jazz and classical musicians. Some of the highlight's include "Bolly Beat", "Tensions", "From the Hot Afternoon" and "Slam Square". The session was recorded on an analog 8-track tape recorder using old 50's and 60's tube microphones, which helps give the album a feel like it was recorded during the time Antonio Carlos Jobim was first introducing the world to "Desafinado". Overall, this is solid new adventurous recording from one of Finland's most prolific jazz musicians. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

To purchase this record and/or listen to more audio clips, CLICK HERE.

Jukka Eskola - From the Hot Afternoon

Thelonious Monk Tribute - TONIGHT!

For this month's SFJAZZ Hotplate event, we celebrate Thelonious Monk's birthday TONIGHT with Si Perkoff and his band Theloniousphere performing music from the jazz giant's classic 1957 recording Brilliant Corners. This performance, which includes two sets, will take place in the Joe Henderson Lab beginning at 8PM. Throughout the night, beginning at 7:30PM, I (DJ Pat Les Stache) will be spinning some of my favorite Monk selections from my personal collection. Expect to hear some gems from The Unique Thelonious Monk, Straight, No Chaser, Underground, Monk's Dream, Criss-Cross, Brilliant Corners and many others. Should be another fun night as we pay tribute to one jazz music's greatest composer's and innovators.

To buy tickets or to learn more about the monthly Hotplate Series, visit sfjazz.org.

Here is a great version of Monk's composition "Played Twice", performed by Anthony Braxton featuring Mal Waldron (piano), Buell Neidlinger (bass), and Bill Osborne (drums). This track was included on Braxton's 1987 recording Six Monk's Compositions. Even though this recording isn't discussed much in the jazz world, I think it's one of the best Monk tribute albums ever recorded. Enjoy!

Anthony Braxton - Played Twice

Pat Les Stache - Calypsoul Boogie

I apologize for the lack of posts lately. I was on vacation last week, hangin' out down south in Santa Barbara for a few days. Now that I'm back and fully rested, expect much more daily posts from here on out. So, check back again soon and often!

Here is another re-edit I just posted on my SoundCloud page, tentatively titled "Calypsoul Boogie". It has an overall 70's era Caribbean disco feel, similar as my last re-edit "The Congo Shuffle". Ideally, I would like to put out both of these Caribbean-style re-edits together on twelve-inch release, hopefully in the near future. I'll continue to keep everyone posted on the possibility of that idea coming to fruition and other future releases that are in the works. As always, would enjoy any feedback! ENJOY!

Pat Les Stache - The Congo Shuffle

Even though I've have a ton of things in the works lately, unfortunately it's been a while since I posted a new re-edit. That being said, here is the most recent edit I've completed, which I tentatively titled "The Congo Shuffle". I would describe this track as a Caribbean disco-funk jam that features a heavy dose of steel drums and percussion breaks. At this point there is nothing I can share about a vinyl release date for this edit, however I am expecting to put it out as soon as I can organize how that is exactly going to be done. Like always, would love everyone's feedback! ENJOY!



Also, I recommend checking out my SoundCloud page, as I plan to be posted more edits, mixes and remixes in the coming weeks!

John Coltrane Changed My Life...

Today is John Coltrane's birthday (born in Hamlet, North Carolina on September 23, 1926). He would have been 88 years of age, however he was sadly taken from us way too soon in 1967 at the young age of 40. The late great saxophonist/composer is by far my favorite musician of all-time. The last record I generally spin at night, when I'm hangin' out at home, tends to be one of the many LP's (Over 20) I own by the legendary jazz giant. Some of my favorites include Africa/Brass, Olé, A Love Supreme, Impressions, My Favorite Things, Kulu Se Mama, Crescent, Giant Steps, among many others. I'm not going to try to sum up Coltrane's brilliant and complex career with this post because many great writer's have and will continue to do that, therefore I'll just keep it simple and say that John Coltrane's sound, compositions, and releases are more than music to me, it's more like a spiritual experience that has the ability to unleash multiple emotions all at once by being subtle yet complex. The first time I heard A Love Supreme I was actually in an airplane dealing with some intense anxiety due to my constant fear of flying, and by the time Part 4: "Psalm" (the final track on A Love Supreme) came to a close, I felt extremely calm and the emotional transition had nothing to do with anything other than the music I just heard. From there on out I became hooked on Coltrane's music and sound. Coltrane was the first artist to really open me up to the spiritual side of jazz which eventually led me to discovering my love for other spiritual jazz artists like Archie Shepp, Pharaoh Sanders, Horace Tapscott, Alice Coltrane, Don Cherry, Steve Reid, and so many others. So to basically sum it, John Coltrane's music has changed my life and for that, it's nice to put some time aside to help pay tribute to one of the greatest musicians and artists of all-time. Happy Birthday Trane!

John Coltrane Quartet - Wise One

Gregory Porter - Liquid Spirit

Gregory Porter's new highly-anticipated album Liquid Spirit on Blue Note Records was released today. This marks the vocalist's debut on Blue Note, which follows up his two previous GRAMMY-nominated releases Water (2010) and Be Good (2012). The album features a nice mix of heart-felt ballads like "No Love Dying", "Hey Laura", "Water Under Bridges" to uptempo groove-oriented cuts like "Movin'", "Free", "Musical Genocide", and my personal choice for "song of the year" in the title track "Liquid Spirit". The recording also features great renditions of Max Roach/ Abbey Lincoln's classic "Lonesome Lover", Ramsey Lewis' swingin' dancefloor hit "The "In" Crowd", as well as the beautiful standard "I Fall In Love Too Easily". Overall, this is really impressive record, building off the momentum that has followed the vocalist over the past few years, which could easily propel him to the same stardom that has recently shined on other young jazz artists like Esperanza Spalding and Robert Glasper. Porter truly speaks from the heart when he sings, and on Liquid Spirit, that passion flows through the music beautifully.