text: Link Quartet: Dal catalogo SOUNDFLAT - Germania
  Dal catalogo SOUNDFLAT - Germania
  ITALIAN PLAYBOYS
  The new album by the finest italian acid jazzers masters Link Quartet. With the single Lady Shave DJ Ninfa enraptures the audience with her Brigitte Bardot-like mellifluous voice and the combo from Piacenza has never been so groovy! Just a little taste of what's to come in Italian Playboys with a more complete sound and even more mature (if possible!) than in both previous albums. Not only Hammond beat, the real band's trademark, but also hints of funk, spaceage beat, sitar groove and sprinkling of dancefloor jazz in this album strongly influenced by Small Faces, Brian Auger, James Taylor Quartet and Jean-Jacques Perrey. Italian Playboys includes nine original songs from the classic 6T's beat styled title track to the introspective After and Once Again, along with a selection of rarely attempted covers including the heavy funk of Jon Lord on Rubber Monkey, an uplifting interpretation of Jack McDuff's Briar Patch (an alternate version will also appear on the forthcoming McDuff tribute album from Scufflin' Records), and a scorching slice out of the library classic Move, Move, Move. A part from the extraordinaire DJ NINFA we've just mentioned, It Italian Playboys also features Doug Roberson of mod fave The Diplomats of Solid Sound (USA) on guitar for the rich robust jazz of Portofino Vespa Rider, Eddie Roberts of deep funk superstars The New Mastersounds (UK) on sitar for the spicy Spider Baby, and Arnaldo Dodici vocals on the monster Zombies style pop Janine. The new album follows the seminal Beat.It (2002, Hammondbeat), two USA tours with the last stop headlining the world reknowned MODchicago weekender, numerous European festivals, and several score contributions to 6T's spy-revivalist film Wilson Chance (2004, Bunzendahl Brothers, USA) and soundtrack counterpart Wilson Chance: The Sound of Danger (2004, Hammondbeat). Italian Playboys songs have already been featured this autumn on the BBC's Mark Radcliffe and Craig Charles radio shows, and the indication from the fantastic reviews The Link Quartet have consistently received both on record and on stage, you are encouraged to expect this latest to blow you away to a new funky place.
  After releasing the SoulShaker collection, i Groove Kicksi0 , Record Kicks' series dedicated to rare grooves strikes back with " Let's BOOGALOO!" another selection of killer dancefloor jazz, latin funk & soul, and rare grooves. Born and risen to fame during the mid-60s within Harlem's Spanish-speaking community Boogaloo and its medley of funk & soul remained much of a local phenomenon, before disappearing completely replaced by the coming of Salsa. With the result that for years rare groove lovers and collectors exchanged vinyls by Fania Record (Boogaloo's Motown), Tico or Cotique Records, paying them dearly. The bond with the old movement has grown stronger in the past years with the coming of the Acid Jazz scene first and of Lounge Music later, and an increasing number of dj's and bands sampled/remade/took inspiration from those irresistibly devilish yet superstylish grooves. Springing from Milan's one nighter " BOOGALOO! Different Groove ClubNight" organised by Move&Groove production Let's BOOGALOO aims at building an ideal bridge between the masters of the genre (Joe Bataan, Ray Barreto, Avrey Avern, Monguito Santamaria) and the new international funk, soul and dancefloor jazz scene. The compilation opens with Skeewiff from London aka Alex Rizzo & Elliot Ireland and their smashing breakbeat cocktail revisitation of Riccardo Ray's Nitty Gritty to continue with the unpublished snapping stomper latin soul " Chick a boom" by the very latino soulboy Joe Bataan. Still speaking of the most flaming and danceable funk & soul, the tracks that follow are " El Dorado" by Monguito Santamaria - son of the legendary Mongo - " Never learned to dance" by Avrey Avern, " Hector" by the Village Callers, " Teacher of love" by the master Ray Barreto, " He's that way" and " Ode to billie joe" respectively by latin jazz legends Willie Bobo and Cal Tjader. The modern part couldn't do without the dancefloor jazzf1 contribution by Italy's Nicola Conte, the dj the world envies us for, followed by Gerardo Frisina's marvellous "Sophisticated Samba" taken from his brand new album " Hi Note" , and last but not least the pearl of i brasialian souli0 "Time has come"i i0 by Soulstance. The contemporary funk soul scene is instead represented by the English bands Stoned Soul Pic Nic and Boogaloo Investigators, who are among the few who learned the lesson so well that their masters are not to be regretted. And then by the American band Diplomats of Solid Sound as well as the Italian bands MINIi VIPi0 and Link Quartet. A totally danceable journey back in time, from 2004 to 1967. What are you waiting for? Don't waste your time...let's i BOOGALOOi0 now!
  LET'S BOOGALOO VOL.2
  Let's Boogaloo! volume 2 is the new groove kicks compilation featuring the best of new contemporary acid jazz, funk and hammond groove scene, as well as a few rarities you can't afford to miss. The compilation dashes off with the Finnish band Hypnomen dealing out a devastating version of " Need No Doctor" by the father of soul Ray Charles, and with the powerful " New York Soul" by the master Ray Barretto, a real manifesto of latin boogaloo. They are followed by England's Speedometer with the song " Just Keep On" taken from the album " This is Speedometer" , which confirmed them as one of today's best soul bands. Next the killer instrumental " Slush Puppy" by Slow Slushy Boys, the French band captained by Teen Axel and Benny Gordini and Bronx River Parkway with their track " Qienes Que Resolverlo" coming directly from the New York barrio. Freak off latin soul at it's best! Acid Jazz have been on the crest of the wave of cool soundz for the past 15 years and recently released new singles by Spoon Bender and Andy Lewis. Mr. Frank Popp and his Ensemble have never been so heavily (northern) soulful with the stunning " Breakaway" . Whereas London's Skeewiff are unbeatable in setting the dance floor on fire. Listen to " The Spider " if you still have any doubts. Spain is second to none when it comes to dancefloor & acid jazz, presenting us with " Groovy La Notte " , the title track of Asturian band Koniec's second album and followed up with The Natural Thing, who have the Hammond groove's best-kept musical secret in Mr. Sergio Albentosa. " Doggy Bag" by Slim Alan 3 from Finland's Helsinki is another irresistible dancefloor jazz hit. The compilation just had to include two funk & Latin soul classics such as " Somebody's Been Sleepin' In My Bed" by Mexican band Cosa Nostra, a recent rare groove discovery made by VampiSoul, and " Lover & A Friend" by master Eddie Bo duetting with Inez Chetham in a 6Ts funk stomper you just want to get up and dance to. Last but not least, the Hammond groove of MiniVip's " Menage" , and The Link Quartet's " Italian Playboys " , the title track of their latest album, enhancing their top position in the new international acid jazz scene.
  SOULSHAKER Vol.1
  Groove Kicks is Record Kicks' new compilation series dedicated to a different way of interpreting dance music. Thus, it definitely had to debut with SoulShaker a best of collection of the contemporary funk, soul and cocktail scene, which takes the idea from Bologna's - and not only - leading dance event, the RivieraBeat all-nighter. A soul night free from fashion trends representing an out-and-out phenomenon in the national clubbing panorama with its audience of over 80.000 during season 02-03, which hosted artists such as Frank Popp, Trashmonkeys, Montefiori Cocktail, Andy Lewis, Eddie Piller, and many more. Bristol's Dynamo Productions - real names Andy Smith and Scott Hendy or the hands respectively behind Portishead's and Boca 45's turntables - open the dance with a funkadelic megahit that will drive you crazy. It is followed by NYC's undisputed queen of soul Sharon Jones with the classic dancefloor hit " Got a Thing On My Mind" , and Frank Popp who strikes back with " You've been gone too long" after the buttshaking global hit " Hip Teens don't wear blue jeans" . Then Jinrai, the last discovery made in Acid Jazz by the founder of Acid Jazz Records Eddie Piller, Big Boss Man, and the Bongolian who will revitalise the funk, soul & boogaloo atmosphere of London's legendary Blow Up Club. Further on comes the tremendous super funk version of Sonic's "Shot Down" by US band Sugarman 3 & Lee Field, the magic touch of Andy Lewis (Acid Jazz Records), the Hammond groove by German garage mods Trashmonkeys, and the red hot funk played by England's Speedometer (Blow It hard Records, London). And then, the first time CD release of the northern soul classic "I've Never Found A Girl" funked up by US band Joseph Henry and The Mighty Imperials. The Italian crew is lead by the excellent Montefiori Cocktail, who are close friends of SoulShaker's as well as of the coolest clubs worldwide. They are followed by the Hammond sound of Mike Painter & The Family Shakers. Then by Link Quartet, MiniVip, as well as by the magic touch of Macchiato Caldo aka Robert Passera, the man who rose to fame with the megahit record " I Was a Ye Ye Girl" , and Benasky the singer of Montefiori Cocktail dealing with a supercocktail remix of Studiodavoli's "Superpartner". Get ready! SoulShaker is comin'!
  SOULSHAKER VOL.2
  Out in the end of May 2005 SOULSHAKER volume 2 the groove kicks compilation dedicated to the contemporary funk, soul & club scene. Get your dance-floor shoes ready as another long ride through the world's groovy funk & soul club scene awaits you. Get started with The Voodoo Trombone Quartet and Lemon, quintessence of London's legendary Club Montepulciano, here dealing with an overwhelming and breathtaking cocktail latin "breakbeat" Boogaloo, followed by the similar Kelvin Stardust, the opening track of Big Boss Man's brand new second album "Winner". Pass the hatchet baby!!! Let's stay in the realm of groovy club soundz with Gogo Sitar by Germany's Kahuna Kawentzmann, which already became a true underground hit thanks to the spread of 7" by Jazzman Records, the same label that publishes the flaming Sharon Jackson and her Soul Destroyers. Blow your top! Quantic is among the leading figures of the new international club scene. Don't joke with an hungry man proves that this is a top class young talent, indeed in this case helped by the voice of the legendary Spanky Wilson! English band Speedometer deliver a preview taken from their second album "This is Speedometer vol.2", which states all the je ne sais quoi of these Southeast boys. "Have you got the message"?!! The best of nowadays' mod scene is embodied by Scottish band Boogaloo Investigators, by Italy's Link Quartet, featured with the previously unreleased song Sweet little apples, by American band Diplomats of Solid Sound and by the Nick Rossi Set, respectively dealing with Loaf and jug and with the cover of Foolkiller by Mose Allison. Sharon Jones - who only just delivered a sold out performance at Camden's Jazz Caf'e9 - certainly doesn't need to be introduced, as she is beyond question the number one lady of soul. What condition, which already became a classic of the northern soul scene thanks to the version by Betty Lavette, is an unreleased track that, at present, has been turning only on 7". In order to remain within the classics, French band Slow Slushi Boys have no fear of comparison with Ike Turner. Just listen to their song "I can't believe what you say". And, what should we say about the hot Hammond-funk played by English band Sting Ray Davies & The Organites, a side project by Leight Gracie of Speedometer and Stoned Soul Picnic!!!???!! Wow! The supercool graphic design is by Fabio Conti, stay tuned!!!