"Our Latin Thing" is one of those classic films (like "Wild Style," "The Harder They Come," etc.) that captures a place and time that can only be returned to in memory, and in original documents like these. Centered around an incendiary gig at one of promoter Ralph Mercado’s fantastically popular Thursday night jams at the Cheetah in New York in August 1971, the film documents the raw Nu Yorican Latin sound at its zenith. Starring certified legends including Willie Colon, Ray Barretto and “El Cantante” Hector Lavoe and directed by Oscar-winner Leon Gast (‘When We Were Kings’), the footage is spliced with atmospheric street scenes on rubbish-filled stoops and crumbling bodegas in Spanish Harlem.


To celebrate the film’s first official release on DVD by Strut / Fania, Shook and Strut present an exclusive London screening at La Bodeguita, a vibrant restaurant and venue in Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre, on Wednesday 30th November at 8.00pm. Come have some drinks, eat some rice & beans, and celebrate an essential cultural document.


OUR LATIN THING (NUESTRA COSA)
+ DJ Duncan Brooker (Strut)

Wednesday 30th November 2011
Doors: 7.00pm / Film: 8.00pm

La Bodeguita • Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre • London SE1 6TE

Tickets: £5 door / £4 in advance at www.ticketweb.co.uk
Info: Jez Smadja at Shook: info@shook.fm / Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=186683444749323

As we celebrate the anniversary of one of our favorite, and certainly one of the most influential sound systems, it's nice to be able to take a look back at the development of Norman Jay's Good Times, and his shaping of popular tastes. Through conversations with Norman himself, and those close to him, we get to see some of the many things that made (and make) Good Times so special. Hats off to Norman, and to the parties which have brought so many people together.

Norman Jay walks his own path as a DJ, a regrettably rare trait these days. His Good Times sound system is a festival mainstay, and an institution at Notting Hill Carnival, where Jay was instrumental in introducing a range of gritty, soulful styles to complement the predominantly reggae-based sound systems. Jay helped spread an appreciation for deep crates and eclectic selections during the rise of Acid Jazz, and was a force behind Shake ‘N’ Fingerpop, High On Hope and the seminal Talkin’ Loud label alongside Gilles Peterson, all of which built his reputation for open-minded soulful selections spanning soul, funk, disco, early house, reggae and hip hop. He is also the first DJ to be presented with the MBE honor. For you non-Brits, that's Member of the Order of the British Empire. Other honorees include, say, The Beatles.

Now, the maestro returns with a special 30th Anniversary collection for Strut, another bumper set of genre-hopping classics and rare Good Times favourites. Tracks include boogie rarity ‘Dreamin’ by short-lived band Zalmac and Fries & Bridges’ ‘Forever This’, a 4x4 belter featuring an early vocal by chart superstar Cee-Lo Green. Jay touches on independent hip hop with Basement Chemist, jazz grooves courtesy of Kira Neris and Attic Tree, skanking reggae from Jacob Miller and doo-wop soul courtesy of Little Anthony & The Imperials. The album is an incredible collection of music from a man whose one-of-a-kind selections have pleased crowds the world over. Look for it in July on CD, LP + digital download, featuring a new interview between Jay and journalist Lloyd Bradley, as well as career-spanning photos.

Tracklist:
1. MARK CAPANNI – I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES
2. AVERY SUNSHINE – I GOT SUNSHINE
3. TED TAYLOR – GHETTO DISCO (Edit)
4. ZALMAC – DREAMIN’
5. TERRI WELLS – WHO’S THAT STRANGER
6. LITTLE ANTHONY & THE IMPERIALS – I DON’T HAVE TIME TO WORRY
7. MARIO BIONDI – MY GIRL
8. JACOB MILLER & INNER CIRCLE – TIRED FE LICK WEED IN A BUSH
9. THE BASEMENT KHEMIST – EVERYBODY (L I F E)
10. J BOOGIE’S DUBTRONIC SCIENCE feat. GOAPELE and CAPITOL A – TRY ME (People Under The Stairs Remix)
11. ATTIC TREE – VOAR
12. CURTIS MAYFIELD – VICTORY
13. DANTE – FREAK IN ME
14. FRIES & BRIDGES – FOREVER THIS
15. THE DETROIT EXPERIMENT – THINK TWICE (Henrik Schwarz Remix)
16. ASHLEY SLATER – PRIVATE SUNSHINE

It is with great pleasure that we have the opportunity to announce that legendary guitarist Dennis Coffey will be releasing his new album on Strut. We've been working really closely with Dennis on the project, and can safely say that fans of his wah-wah and breakbeat laden solo material, as well as his pioneering work backing folks like The Temptations, Parliament, Edwin Starr & more will be delighted with what they hear.
One of the really fun things about the project from a record collector's standpoint is that about half of the material reaches back to classic soul songs on which Dennis first appeared, with guest vocal duties handled by a truly amazing array of musicians. Mayer Hawthorne croons over Parliament's "All Your Goodies Are Gone" from their Up For The Down Stroke LP. Two more Detroit belters, The Dirtbombs' Mick Collins and Rachel Nagy of The Detroit Cobras, join the party with another George Clinton related tune, Funkadelic's "I'll Bet You." Paolo Nutini delivers a great adaption of "Only Good For Conversation," from Rodriguez's much loved Cold Fact album. Fanny Franklin from killer Hollywood funk combo Orgone voices a new version of Wilson Pickett’s psych-soul jam "Don’t Knock My Love" and Lisa Kekaula from California garage-soul band The Bellrays takes on the 100 Proof Aged In Soul stomper "Somebody’s Been Sleeping."



For his new compositions on the album, Coffey revisits the uncompromising instrumental style he is renowned for. Milwaukee funk sensations Kings Go Forth (Luaka Bop) mould an intense funk jam around some heavy Coffey licks on ’Miss Millie.’ Album opener ’7th Galaxy’ echoes the hard guitar ’n’ breaks of his Detroit Guitar Band recordings for Sussex, ’Knockabout’ whips up an epic funky soundtrack groove and ’Space Traveller’ simmers on a sleazy, guitar-drenched, slo mo workout.
Dennis will be touring internationally to support the record, kicking things off with several appearances at SXSW (including some special guest sets that we'll tell you about soon). We're also planning an exclusive 7" for Record Store Day, and some other fun celebrations for that event, so keep your eyes open for details.
"Dennis Coffey" will be out April 25th.
Keep up with Dennis at http://www.twitter.com/DennisCoffeyDET and http://www.denniscoffeysite.com/. Tracklist:
1. 7th Galaxy
2. Don't Knock My Love feat. Fanny Franklin
3. All Your Goodies Are Gone feat. Mayer Hawthorne
4. I Bet You feat. Mick Collins (Dirtbombs) and Rachel Nagy (Detroit Cobras)
5. Miss Millie feat. Kings Go Forth
6. Somebody's Been Sleeping feat. Lisa Kekaula
7. Plutonius
8. Knockabout
9. Only Good For Conversation feat. Paolo Nutini
10. Space Traveller
11. Don't Knock My Love (Part 2)

The title of Mulatu Astatke's album Mulatu Steps Ahead isn't just a nod to his jazz roots, it's also an acknowledgment of the fact that his music has been slowly evolving since the late 60's and early 70's output for which he remains most known. A collaboration with musicians of varying ages and nationalities, his first solo album in over 20 years refines his singular musical vision and builds upon the foundation he has laid in his storied career. In this video, Astatke explains the intent and process involved in different tracks on the album. Mulatu Steps Ahead is out now!

We're extremely pleased to announce that following up on his much loved Inspiration Information collaboration with The Heliocentrics, and an anthology of his early work, Strut will be releasing the first all new Internationally released solo album from Mulatu Astatke in over 20 years.  Mulatu Steps Ahead explores new directions in fusions of Western jazz with Ethiopian modes, moving forward the pioneering sound Mulatu developed during the ‘60s and ‘70s, showcased on the anthology New York - Addis - London. For the new album, tracks were recorded with members of Either/Orchestra in Boston, with contributions by traditional Ethiopian musicians in Addis, members of The Heliocentrics and some of the UK’s leading jazz and African players during the final sessions in London in November 2009.

Mulatu will be touring the album from March 2010 globally, interspersed with dates with The Heliocentrics.  Streaming audio and info will be available soon at http://www.mulatu-steps-ahead.com