All Things Deep - Articles - The Deep Dozen : June 16, 2003

The Deep Dozen: Week of June 16, 2003
(Posted June 16, 2003)

Kaidi and Dego - Got Me Puzzled (2000 Black, 2002)
Perhaps the two biggest names on the broken beat scene, a collab between Kaidi "Agent K" Tatham and Dego is destined to be a classic.

Kindred the Family Soul - Spread the Word (Hidden Beach, 2003)
From the soul album of the year, the husband-and-wife duo of Kindred come correct with this inspirational funk jam that samples "The River Niger" by War.

Georg Levin - In My Car (Sonar Kollectiv, 2003)
The Roy Ayers influence lives on. I have a couple of Levin's previously issued singles, but he hadn't mastered his Ayers-esque delivery until now.

Beyonce Knowles - Crazy In Love (Sony, 2003)
I never thought I'd admit it, but Beyonce is killing it on this club jam. If the rest of her album follows suit, she'll cement her status as the era's top pop diva.

Macy Gray - When I See You (Bugz In The Attic remix) (Sony, 2003)
Was this ever commercially released? Thanks to some friends, I obtained a copy of this excellent rework of Macy's latest single. Always blessed with the talent to create monster funk bombs, she rarely came through on her early records, making this version even more delightful.

HP Riot - I Have Changed (Concept, 1977)
Canadian soul-funk! I was recently turned on to this cut and now I'm obsessing over this group. Who are they?!

Fred Wesley - House Party (RSO, 1980)
Wesley, a crucial link between funk styles from the 60s through the present day, never seemed to get the solo success he eagerly hoped for. You can't fault this effort, a swanging funk number that, of course, includes a trombone solo.

Madlib - Stepping Into Tomorrow (Blue Note, 2003)
First single from Madlib's Blue Note tribute project. A surprisingly effective remake of the Donald Byrd classic.

Instant Funk - Scream and Shout (Salsoul, 1979)
Another funk bomb that hasn't made it to compact disc. Might be too discofied for the hardcore listener, but Instant Funk lives up to their name with a furious riff at the end of the song.

Digital Underground - Nothing Has Changed (Lil Butta, 1999)
Off the hard to find Lost Files collection, this song's focus is pretty simple: an affirmation of DU's ability to rock a party. Over the past 15 years, nobody has absorbed the P-Funk philosophy quite like Shock G and company. Check the background vocals and squiggly keyboards for a glimpse as to how P-Funk continues to live in the 21st century.

The Society - How's Life (Nite Grooves, 2003)
Featuring Ovasoul 7 on vocals, this is a smooth and classy jazz-house groove. Attained near-legendary status from its appearance on a King Britt compilation before finally being issued as a single.

Taste of Honey - Disco Dancin' (Capitol, 1979)
Taken from their sophomore album, "Disco Dancin'" shows the Mizell brothers adapting their patented jazzy style to a pure dancefloor setting. Many people are confused by the Mizells' involvement with a disco group, but listen deeply to the vocal arrangements and realize that in A Taste of Honey, the Mizells may have found the ideal vocalists for their sound.