Now-Again Records

Christmas/New Years 2011 Pick – Paul Ngozi “Jesus Christ”

Last year, we shared a special single by Zambian guitarist, singer and songwriter Paul Ngozi – who, along with his Ngozi Family, will be presented in a compendium on Now-Again in 2013. This year, we present something a bit harder-edged, in keeping with the garage-psych tradition of the Ngozi Family’s early recordings. “Jesus Christ” is from Ngozi’s The Ghetto, an album that we’ve recently reissued in conjunction with Shadoks Music. If you’re a follower of the music we reissue, this should be a perfect Christmas carol.

Download: Paul Ngozi: “Jesus Christ”.

And, if you missed it last year:

Download: Paul Ngozi: “Happy New Year”.

Egon’s Funk Archaeology At NPR: Storage Unit Funk With Stanton Davis and Madlib

The latest post in Egon’s NPR series Funk Archaeology allows a peek into a record excavation mission with the producer Madlib: excavating jazz trumpeter Stanton Davis’ New Jersey storage unit. Yeah, the fellas struck gold. Read more below – and download one of Egon’s finds, the hitherto unknown Christ Gabriel Jazz Missionary Group’s soul-jazz stomper “Christ Place.” Hallelujah!

Link: Excavating Stanton Davis’ Storage Unit Funk: Egon’s Funk Archaeology at NPR
Download: Christ Gabriel Jazz Missionary Group: “Christ Place.”
More: Egon’s Funk Archaeology at NPR.

Egon’s Funk Archaeology at NPR: Summer School Funk (A Kashmere Stage Band Addendum)

The latest post in Egon’s NPR series Funk Archaeology couldn’t have come at a more opportune time for anyone recently introduced to the wonders of the Kashmere Stage Band. This investigation into Houston jazz drummer, educator and label owner Bubbha Thomas’ Summer Jazz Workshop – and the nearly impossible to source 45s released by the high school students that participated in the program in the early 70s – colors the Kashmere Stage Band experience and helps explain just how this one Texas city managed to release so much damn-good adolescent funk music.

Link: Summer School Funk: Egon’s Funk Archaeology at NPR
Download: Bubbha Thomas and The Youthful Musicians Summer Program: “Jazz OD.”
More: Egon’s Funk Archaeology at NPR.

Egon’s Funk Archaeology at NPR: Funk For First Time Fathers

Egon’s latest entry to his Funk Archaeology series at NPR digs into the records that captivated his infant son. Find out more at the link below – Happy Father’s Day!

Link: Funk For First Time Fathers: Egon’s Funk Archaeology at NPR
More: Egon’s Funk Archaeology at NPR.

Various: 1st Annual Inner-City Talent Expo (March 26, 1972 Columbus Ohio – RIP Gil Scott-Heron)

We mentioned this uncharted funk and soul album – a live talent show, recorded and released in small quantities in 1972 – in a previous “Pick.” Now we have a sad reason to post this, The Brother’s Rap cover of the late Gil Scott-Heron’s “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.” This rendition – performed by an unheralded band, and released almost concurrently with the legendary version that, as my wife said, “if you’re alive, you know and love” – is one of the earliest examples of Scott-Heron’s influence, and a fitting tribute to the fallen poet, author, singer and self-proclaimed “bluesologist.”

Thanks to Nathan Bosshard for sharing this tune, and image, with us so we could share it with you.

Download: The Brother’s Rap “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.”