PARTY-KELLER VOL 3

The Party-Keller compilation series is a project linked to my constant Munich-based clubnights. After some short journeys to the Japanese Soultage label (Soul Jammin' Vol.3) and a mix for London-based Breakin Bread (The Party-Keller Mix CD), we have finally reached Vol. 3. In the late Seventies direct-to-disc albums were quite popular, since they sound great and people spent some serious dough on proper hi-fi equipment in those days. We actually coupling four amazing cuts from three different direct-to-disc albums here: Mickey Erbe's Orchestra interpretation of the "2001 Theme" (which I've played very often in the early Nineties, I almost forgot how good it is), then two superb Gino Dentie's interpretations of B.T. Express' Express and Brass Construction's "Movin'", as well as Rahmlee (Michael Davis) from Earth Wind & Fire's Phoenix Horns fame, who recorded his crisp "Down In Storyville" direct-to-disc. I'm seriously taking care for the original raw funk for so many years now, and the information network is getting bigger and better all the time. From the growing numbers of serious collectors and DJs who crossed paths ever since, then Peter Wermelinger's Funk Lexikon, later the Funk45.com site, and all that bloggin' nowadays, it's kinda obvious, that all really good, nose-bleeding, tough OG funk 45's are well known by now. So it was a truly unreal moment for me when I found "Bicentennial Boogie" by Matrix 5 against one's expectations on eBay (!), along with the sound file! TUNE! Also there's Bo Kirkland & Ruth Davis with the rocksteady-ish dance track "We Got The Recipe", a nice 45, which didn't get the attention in clubs it deserved. Another quite rockin' tune by an unknown studio band's make-up, Quiller, who did the "Quiller Theme" of the same titled BBC series. The very moment Jan Weissenfeldt (of Poets Of Rhythm fame) dropped that 45 the first time, I was convinced it has to appear in this chapter. Early this year, I've had the pleasure to perform at Nick Recordkick's night in Milano, where he gave me an advance copy of Gizelle Smith's fine soul cut June, a true winner here. Furthermore Bronx River Parkway's "La Valla" and The Delta Rhythm Section with "King Midnite" are two more extraordinary neo funk cuts from recent years. Also B.A.Baracus Band's version of LL Cool J' s Mama Said Knock You Out is a unique folk-funk-hip hop blend. All four of them are just too good to remain only on 45 for the collectors. Talking 'bout hip hop: another one for the good old "original versus sampled version game" is the fantastic original tune "High Snobiety" by Ralph Marco Band which Ugly Duckling used for their "Turn It Up". A very decent disco rap tune "This Party Is Just For You" by Special Touch, is followed by another historical hip hop moment: the supposedly first rap recording from Nigeria: Dizzy K Falola's "Take It To The DJ" - both from 1981. Peter Giger & Family Of Percussion did a great job inviting Archie Shepp in 1976 to result with that wonderful, unfamiliar jazz poetry piece "Here Comes The Family". We heard so many great versions of "Tighten Up" in the funk scene and the 1971 recorded "Loosen Up" by Nazz probably the most charming way to close that chapter - and to finish this round of Party-Keller. Florian Keller, February 17th 2010 About Florian Keller: Like stateside contemporaries Theo Parrish, Danny Krivit, and Joe Claussell, |No Keller challenges his listeners, spinning curious, even cultish records from the past that are still relevant to present-day clubbers. He favors records with rhythms to die for, especially of the funk, fusion, electro, hip-hop, and post-disco varieties." (Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide) We met Florian when he invited us over to play at his clubnights in Munich a |No few years ago and he blew me away. We'd heard about him and knew him only as a deep funk collector and DJ who put together compilations for Compost Records. Most deep soul and funk DJ's tend to play records without the skills you would associate with a hip hop DJ, but Florian changed my preconceptions. When he took to the decks that night he immediately started blending organic and programmed beats, looping up drum breaks on 7"s, dropping amazing selections and making the crowd go wild on the floor. Not your average funk DJ for sure!" (Skeg, Breakin Bread, London) Florian Keller bought his first record (Beatles White Album) with 50% sponsorship by his mother at the age of 5 and somehow never stopped since. While listening to Curtis Mayfield's "Move On Up" and James Brown's "Sex Machine" the first time at the age of 10 the virus was caught for what Florian's world is all about: funk. It came naturally, that Florian always was the DJ-guy on every school-party, while he still followed some head-guided plans to become an industrial designer, he already found himself jobbing at the turntables of local clubs since 1986. In 1991 Florian gave up his university studies for the Into Somethin' clubnight; havin the honour to start with Compost head honcho Michael Reinboth, and long time fellow Theo Thoennessen. Into Somehin' was t h e long term (12 years every Friday night !!!) leading, ruling, most forward thinking clubnight in Munich, gained enormous cult status, won several awards and commendations. Check out the "Into Somethin" CD / 2-LP from early Nineties, and you'll get the score of the early "Into Somethin'" days. In 1993 Florian Keller started along with the Poets Of Rhythm founder Jan Weissenfeldt, the "Funk Squad" clubnight, still up and strong in changing venues, serving the guests with pure rare groove and funk. In 2002 due to the urgently growing interest in more boogie, discorap, funk crossovers, folk funk, nu-soul and the solid output of high quality new releases, Florian founded the "Party-Keller" clubnight, (his real name Keller translated means: cellar, basement, stack) which focussed still on funk but included also the more modern-oriented block-party-style version of "Funk Squad". Florian has one of the world's spectacular and impressively collections of rare funk 45's. DJ-wise his skills and knowledge brought him into the top 10 world league of rare groove, funk DJs. If you ask Quantic, DJ Shadow, Keb Darge, Questlove, Egon or Peanut Butter Wolf, Gilles Peterson or all others, they have big big respect for Florian. Well, his DJ-sets comin from broader horizon, including all kind of musical aspects, no matter if an instrumental, someone sings or raps, the clue and his main point is to overcome all those cliches: like brainless guys with baseball caps in expensive cars are standing for hiphop, or a funk party means "Sex Machine" and Aretha Franklin's "Respect" or other way round: a room full of nerds listening to awful rare but sometimes awful bad records. Anyway, Florian has approved in many years and certain ways (parties, comps, sets, radio shows) how he's staying away from the narrow-minded view. It is not about stuffing people with only what th ey want because they know it, as it is not about ignoring the spirit of a good party by dropping only musical penis-extensions ("hey only five copies of this record exist worldwide...") It is only about: good music! Fuck the hype, here comes the nice! 01 Here Comes The Family - Peter Giger & Family Of Percussion 02 2001 (C.F. Peters Corp. Version) - Richard Strauss 03 La Valla - Bronx River Parkway 04 King Midnite - The Delta Rhythm Section 05 Quiller - Quiller 06 June - Gizelle Smith 07 Express - Gino Dentie 08 We Got The Recipe - Bo Kirkland & Ruth Davis 09 High Snobiety - Ralph Marco Band 10 This Party Is Just For You - Special Touch 11 Take It To The DJ - Dizzy K Falola 12 Mama Said Knock You Out - B.A.Baracus Band 13 Movin' - Gino Dentie 14 Bicentennial Boogie - Matrix 5 15 Down In Storyville - Rahmlee 16 Loosen Up - Nazz