Saw Jose James at the Jazz Cafe recently.

So many reasons to thank Gilles Peterson for introducing me to so much great music over the years, and Jose James is one of them.

Already raved about him in the past, but his gig at Jazz Cafe earlier this week was truly phenomenal. The incredible jazz voice fused with hip hop phrasings. Vintage and very fresh at the same time.

Make sure you catch him the next time he plays in London at the Brainfeeder festival on the 14th June. The festival will be headlined by new Warp signing Flying Lotus, check out his myspace page for some fantastic instrumental hip-hop, including a backing track he’s produced for Jose. You can find out more about the Brainfeeder event on the Warp records site, who are co-promoting the event.

citizensound bumped into Steve King recently, and he kindly gave us his five recommendations. Some classic choices in this list, along with a surprise or two from the Global CEO of Zenith Optimedia!

Thanks Steve. 

1    Favourite album at the moment?
The Clash - London Calling. Of current albums probably Mark Ronson latest mix.

2. A song that always makes you smile?
Bob Marley - Redemption Song

3. Favourite recent gig?
Spice Girls at The 02! Took my daughters and actually enjoyed the show. Also saw Rolling Stones at same venue few weeks before - probably best I've seen them play.

4. Song you couldn't resist singing or humming along to loudly, even  though you're wearing your headphones?
American Pie. Don Mclean - played endlessly on long family car journeys.

5. Greatest party record of all time? Sexual Healing - Marvin Gaye - only because I'm such a naturally good disco dancer.

Met up with Wayne Arnold recently, who provided me with these recommendations

 1. Favourite album at the moment?
The Hours - Narcissus Road.

“With lines like " I can understand how someone can go over to the dark side cause the devil he's got all the tunes" you can’t go wrong!” says Wayne

2. A song that always makes you smile?

AC/DC - Back in Black

“Great guitar intro and completely pointless and incomprehensible lyrics”

3. Favourite recent gig?

The Sunshine Underground. “Brilliant songs and loads of energy”

4. Song you couldn't resist singing or humming along to loudly, even though you're wearing your headphones?

I dare anyone from our music generation to listen to Oasis classic - Don't Look Back in Anger and not hum along to that chorus”

5. Greatest party record of all time?

Steve Wonder – Superstition

“works for everything from a cool remix in a club to a cheesy wedding”

I saw Tawiah at the Gilles Peterson Worldwide Awards last week at Cargo in London. She completely blew me away. She has everything. A great band, well crafted songs, an amazing presence on stage, confidence unlimited (for a second performance no less!) and a voice that drifts from Carmun Lundy to reggae, back to Jill Scott and then to dubstep with Radiohead thrown in. This girl is London Town, but deserves to go global.

The music journalist Lloyd Bradley interviewed Jazzie B at In The City this year. Great conversation (see recent post).

I had to have a chat with Lloyd about how it was his fault I nearly went broke, thanks to him writing Bass Culture.

What a book. The definitive guide to reggae. You read it and spend your time writing down tunes you ‘need’ to have.

Near the end of his conversation with Jazzie B, he encouraged the audience to join him and Jazzie B in the DIY panel that Nick and I were running straight after theirs.

So two things to thank him for. The book and the promotion for our panel. Thanks Lloyd.

Saw these guys at In The City. Beautiful sounds floated around the venue, almost cinematic. And they used an ironing board on stage too - great music and practical…what a mix!

On top of that a name that defies logic: Tim and Sam’s Tim and The Sam Band with Tim and Sam

A great Keynote Panel at In the City, with Daniel Miller, founder of Mute Records. He was asked for his views on the future of the record industry given the recent news about Radiohead asking their fans to pay what they wish for their music and Madonna doing a deal with Live Nation. For Daniel, it felt like a return to the days of 30 years ago, when indie distribution was starting, giving an opportunity to those who had no industry background to put stuff out…be they artists or people like Tony Wilson (Factory) or Geoff Travis (Rough Trade). He stated that there has always been the opportunity for artists to do it themselves. For some reason though, he has seen many that decide not to go down the DIY route partly because

they want to have some money, have some support…international backup…they don’t want to run their own business.

With regards the record company, he stated that there will always be a role for some expertise such as A&R and marketing and promotion, whether it takes the form of a record company is another matter. Finally, he noted that the two key people in all of this are the artists making great music and the people who listen. This is the most important thing to focus on. Everything else is up for discussion.

Great night out with Nick where we took in a number of bands at In The City.

On Sunday night we accidently stumbled across one bar where some sweet sounds of trumpet were making their way out on to the street.

Inside we found The Rosie Taylor Collective, providing an enjoyable evening for all there. Have a listen yourselves here and enjoy the photos of them below.

Word had obviously got out that The Rosie Taylor Project was one to watch, as the camera was on this band. rightly so, as they have a great sound.

When they finished, the cameraman packed up and went on his way to film another act on his hitlist. Did he make a big big mistake though, as next up was a highlight of the week-end.

After enjoying The Rosie Taylor Project at In The City, Nick and I stayed behind to see this unassuming guy take the stage with a guitar and a box of tricks.

He was billed at The Chemical Brothers meets Nick Drake

We citizens at citizensound had to see this, as no-one can deliver on this, could they?

Up came this quiet young guy called James Yuill who said hi and suggested we stick around to hear the next artist as ‘he is really good’!

Then came the aural onslaught of…well…Chemical Brothers meets Nick Drake really. If live music is about surprises, then this epitomises live music. Fabulous. When James dug into his box of 80s/90s box of digital tricks, the sounds he created were perfectly described by Nick as ‘dirty digital’. Bang on.

James absolutely had the audience with him. Huge reaction, and rightly so. He was one of the highlights for many. When he wrapped up, the cameraman came back to film the next act. If only he knew what he missed.

Take time out to go and see him. I have been listening to his CD a lot, but you must try and catch him live too. Find out more about him here

I had a great holiday in France, spending some of the time heading off to Vide Greniers (attic clearances) in pretty villages.

Hunting down vinyl and other interesting bits and bobs, I came across this.

The group is called The Voices of East Harlem. This single takes two songs from their first album Right On Be Free (1970). I have put a

Sheer and utter uplifting joy.

Nothing that helps Brands connect with music or music connecting with brands, but pure pure beauty.

That’s it really. Just wanted to share that with you.