Podcast Cafe episodes

A fresh blend of soul, funk, gospel and hip-hop, with both contemporary and traditional flavorings. In tribute to those musicians who keep the soul-flame lit through the many generations. Performed across different technological mediums, but always emanating from the heart. Dig it if you can. Fundi hearts you!

Featuring Erykah Badu / Raphael Saddiq / Q-Tip / Al Green / Jamie Lidell / The Supremes / Galactic / Dirty Dozen Brass Band / Sade / Stevie Wonder / Aretha Franklin / Bill Withers / Gift of Gab / Saddiq / Sharon Jones & the Dapp Kings / Gnarls Barkley / The Stax Singers / Saddiq \\

Analog Soul ( Intergalactic 3 ) by moontrolling

The Podcast Cafe's 3rd Prince mixxx installment in the Purple Reign series, featuring Shockadelica, Strange Relationship, Housequake, Always in my Hair, Mad Sex, We Can Funk, It, How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?, New Position, 3121, Lovesign, The Work and other favorite jams from the Purple Funkster. Purple Reign I and Purple Reign II are waiting for you...



Purple Reign 3  by  moontrolling

Another tribute to the Funky Purple One (Warning: I'm just getting warmed up!). Part I can be found right here. Send feedback to djfundi@podcastcafe.org.

Purple Reign 2 : Prince Mixxx  by  moontrolling

This is the third and final installment in the unexpected Michael Jackson tribute trilogy, "Blame it on the Boogie." Parts 1 and 2 are posted at http://podcastcafe.org/episodes. I first thought it would take only one session to spin out my favorite MJ tracks in memorial of his surprising passing, but the first set started to get longy before I even in to "Bad," and so got split in to two sets.

But then, in cyberspace explorations for MJ music, I kept finding amazing material to work with: early Jackson 5 basement jam sessions, dance floor remixes, rough demos, alternate takes, etc., and my appreciation for his output over his nearly 50 years as a performer grew -- at the end of the second set, I still had all kinds of oddities and gems to share, like a reggae remix of "Ben," the lost "Thriller"-era track "Cheater" and "Off the Wall" B-sides. I also had yet to include "We Are the World" or "Man in the Mirror," which I felt like were essential pieces of this puzzle (I tried to keep them interesting by using a rough demo and live version). So, needless to say, a third set was spun and is being released to the people approximately two weeks after this whole tribute series was initially started.

Unlike the first two, this session is not chronological, but instead bounces around the different versions of MJ according to feel instead of timeline. To me, it feels a bit less cohesive than the story I've told of his musical evolution in the first two sets, but still has plenty to tell and is not to be missed.



To download superior AAC version with chapters & artwork, subscribe to dBM feed in iTunes via links in the sidebar!

Part 2 of my Michael Jackon Tribute series picks up where Part 1 ends, delving back in to the "Thriller" era before committing to an extended appreciation of "Bad" and then dropping in on a fast-paced, booty-rockin' exploration of MJ's underappreciated Late Period. I had no idead he was still putting out such amazing and ground-breaking music post-"Bad," tracks like "Scream", "They Don't Care About Us", "2 Bad", "Xscape" and "Jam." Like Part 1, this mix tells the MJ story through nontraditional tracks: home demos, remixes, dubs and rare tracks. I've been listening to both constantly these past 2 weeks, with mad appreciation for MJ's gift of groove to the world.

Against my better judgement, I had to start a third (and hopefully final!) installment in the tribute series. As I was mixing this one up, I kept finding amazing remixes and rarities online, but I wanted Part 2 to come in at under 80 minutes so it could be burned to CD, and the incoming rush of MJ music had to spill over in to a 3rd mix. A Michael Jackson "Trilogy" was unplanned when I first started out, but that is what this process has naturally evolved in to, so there it is. The man just put out too much great music -- blame it on the boogie!

This musical journey starts with some selections from the Jackson 5, of course, before exploring Michael Jackson's early solo career, with a multifaceted look at "Off the Wall" and his original melding of disco grooves with Motown soul. Eventually, we reach "Thriller," looking at half of the album's hits from various different perspectives, before running out of time at the 79:45 mark -- just the right length to be able to burn this mix to CD. Part two, to be released in a couple of weeks, picks up with the second half of Thriller and runs through various side projects and the most intriguing sounds from his later releases.

Now, those listeners looking for a run-through of his greatest hits can, well, purchase or dig out his many "Greatest Hits" collections. In other words, this ain't your mamas Michael Jackson. The mix is built on alternate takes, mash-ups, early home demos, interviews and, especially, remixes. There are many, many remixes of Michael floating around out there in cyberspace, and I chose a wide variety of reinterpretations: some ready to bump your booty, some corny and others just plain weird. I reveled in the wide, creative diversity of remixes that MJ inspired, and listening to them over the past week, it dawned on me just how universal his music was -- there was an essential DNA of heart, soul and groove in just about everything he performed, and those core elements were able to be fit in and reprogramed in all kinds of musical scenarios. House, reggae, grunge, glitch, ambient -- Michael's words and voice sounded natural in so many different genres and environments, in part because it was so real. And I guess that is why he was loved the whole world over -- his gift of song was universal. It touched the heart and moved the booty, no matter what culture or creed.

His great success in moving so many people killed him in the end. His superstardom took over his individuality and he gave himself away to our collective desire for hero-worship, gossip and judgement. In doing so, Michael lost touch with himself and then with reality and that's when the freak show began. I try to withhold judgement for all his oddities and naivete -- I feel like society pushed him in to the corner he was trapped in and we have no right to judge him. Especially now that he is gone and cannot respond. We can only go back to the music that was left behind.

Instead of getting swept up in the media frenzy of the past week -- the endless analysis of his finances and prescription drug use and relationship with his family and fate of his children -- I have turned to the music to remember. Just as I imagine millions of other fans are too. And my full immersion in Michael's glorious art -- "I'll Be There," "Ease on Down the Road," "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough," "Billie Jean," "Smooth Criminal," "Jam" -- has reminded me that MJ was, ultimately, a bright light, brighter than most of us here on Planet Earth. He was born to sing and dance and make people happy. His soul was made of pure light and he came to us a bodhisattva, giving of himself to ease the suffering of humanity. "Let me fill your heart with joy and laughter," he sings, "Togetherness is all I'm after."

MJ fearlessly became one with his creative expression, merging his life with his gift, and all of us are that much better off because of it. He performed with selflessness, devotion, generosity and an amazing amount of courage. I might be getting carried away now, but hearing him sing the bridge in "Human Nature" makes me feel like Michael, in his heartfelt surrender to his muse, was channeling the divine spirit. He opened up for us and the bright light of something sacred poured forth. He made it more beautiful to be a human being. We won't ever experience another musical being like MJ in our lifetime.

This musical mix, to be released in two parts to keep it manageable, is my tribute to MJ and all that he gave. Like I said, it is exploratory and sometimes experimental, but hopefully reflects even just a little bit of the shine that Michael gave to the world.


(This is my first time trying out the Soundcloud service -- hopefully it will make it easier for you to stream and share my podcasts. Email me if the player is glitchy: djfundi@podcastcafe.org)

Rest in peace, Michael Jackson. You've earned it. And thanks for all the amazing music!

*much of this mix is recently digitized from original vinyl source.

*the seeds are the new Beasties instrumental album and the John Medeski/Billy Martin (no Wood) duets == felt strongly that I needed to get these grooves out in to the world stet.

*The run of Sly & the Family Stone comes by way of MicroMoog Laboratories -- the good folks down at the Portland branch sent us the entire S&tFS discography in remastered condition and with bonus unreleased tracks galore -- MML also supplied us with the freshy-fresh Beastie Boys.

*Kidd Logic has granted the DJ Fundi Podcasting Network exclusive digitizing rights to some of his most prized vinyl offerings and the archive commitee has been fairly swamped with new funk and jazz. The recently-reclaimed tracks from Bill Withers, the Headhuters, Parliament and Lonnie Liston Smith came from his valuable collection.

*Blue Scholars is brand new shit! I bought it at iTunes the night I laid out this mix -- all I can say is GODDAMN! Buy their music, go to their shows. Found the Zion I/the Grouch and Cut Chemist tracks too wandering around in the iTunes labyrinth.

I dedicate this mix to my good friends Joe & Jodi, leaving the shores of Lummi for the shores of China soon -- "keep a stride in your glide and dip in your hip..."

Now, DJ Fundi knows that when frenly peoples come together, sooner or later everybody migrates to the kitchen, where the real action always goes down. There are all sorts of various theories out there that make attempts at explaining the physics (and metaphysics) of this common phenomenon, but it is not Fundi's intentions to dig in to them just right now. The Podcast Cafe is here tonight simply to bring the grooves together in a discerning fashion and to serve them up as a soundtrack for your next kitchen dance party.

Trust us -- the ingredients have to be just perfect to really get the kitchen dance floor moving in harmony. It takes skills as well as no small amount of intuition to get things just right, and to keep them right all night.

So, no matter if you are gathering with friends and family over bamboo, tile, linoleum or even recycled marmoleum, this soundtrack for a kitchen dance party has been fine-tuned to suit all your celebratory funk, soul and rhythm and blues needs. (Fundi even through a few slow jam numbers for the lovers.) Just get yer speakers speakin and let the libations flow. It's that easy. Wax on. Wax Off.

Happy holidays from your friends at the Podcast Cafe!

Come on in and enjoy the flavors of Curtis Mayfield, Sharon Jones & the Dapp-Kings, Jurassic 5, Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding, Gnarls Barkley and Al Green. As a special treat, we'll be rolling out an amazing couple o' tracks of Santana jamming with Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and Tony Williams -- the rock-solid rhythmic foundation of the Miles Davis Quintet -- on a mixture of "Evil Ways" and "Watermelon Man" in Tokyo in 1981. SPICY!