Part 3 of 5 Dj Sets
Who are the Great Soul Deejays? part 3
At its best, Soul is an Art form, but Jazz is Post Russian Modernist ( who stole heavily from Jazz ) C20th Classical Music and, as such, must constantly progress, while Soul ( sans Funk ) is predominantly about the grain of the voice. Jazz emerged at a different time in Americas history to Soul and was therefore at a different position in its trajectory in relation to the escalation of capitalism, the Civil Rights Movement and the emergence of the mass media as the dominant cultural force. Unlike Soul, the great Jazz was created mainly by the giants of the genre:
Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Lester Young, Bird and Diz, Monk, Mingus, Miles and Trane. Incidentally, there is a similar problem with Keb Darges Deep Funk whereby the great Funk was made almost exclusively by the major bands: James Brown, JBs, P. Funk, Isleys, Ohio Players, War, Kool and his Gang, Earth Wind Fire, Sly Stone, Graham Central Station, Con Funk Shun, Cameo, Commodores, Fatback Band, Maze, Slave, BT Express, Brass Construction, Brothers Johnson, Rufus, Average White Band and one or two others.
Curtis could still pull out the odd gem though, like ( 3:36 ) Randy Brown on Parachute on his radio show with Giles Peterson at the Bognor Weekender. Incidentally, where Alex first got the idea for a Jazz Funk Weekender in the North, and I first got the idea to steer him towards a Soul Weekender with its heart in a dedicated Soul Room. Curtis played I'm Here off Intimately while everyone else was pushing I was Blessed. Also his Modern Soul Greatest Hits and radio shows at the early weekenders were terrific.
Talking Bognor leads nicely on to London and the South. Make no mistake, there are many fine DJs down there, though it is not a way of life for so many and to the same extent, which is not necessarily a bad thing.
Bob Jones is the nearest thing I have ever heard to a Deep Soul DJ. He names himself Dr. Bob Jones and claims to play the Real Jazz and Soul, though his choice of John Coltrane track is a good illustration of what I described above. I met him at Caister and shook his hand but I don't think I was important enough for him. By Southport, perhaps intimidated by the likes of Searling on their home turf, he started playing ( what we used to call ) Street Soul, which is perhaps what he deserved after the handshake.
Mark Webster also impressed me playing Real Soul and Albert King - yes Albert King - at a club at London Bridge. He was a Blues and Soul journalist but is now anchor for Channel 5s American Football coverage. He recently guested on the BBCs virtual jukebox where people nominate records and went for Lou Reed ahead of Curtis Move on Up, which is unforgiveable.
soul brother
great
great sets I have to download the collection excellent