Big Apple Soul

Pic: SP

I spent Easter in New York so there's a vintage Manhattan mix for this first post. Most of the interesting bands seem to be coming out of Williamsburg and Brooklyn nowadays but this is a tribute to a time when Manhattan island was pulsing to the sounds of jazz, soul, salsa and funk - and most points inbetween. Ok, so not all of these groups were NYC-based (Brubeck is Californian; the Beasties' sampled San Francisco's Blues Project) but I hope the mood stands correct...

Pete Rodriguez - "Oh, That's Nice!" (Ay, Que Bueno!, 1967)

Mandrill - "Fat City Strut" (Just Outside of Town, 1973)

The Dave Brubeck Quartet - "Take Five" (Time Out, 1959)

Beastie Boys - "Flute Loop" (Ill Communication, 1994)

James Brown - "Down And Out In New York City" (Black Caesar, 1973)