Umoja Hi-Fi Soundsystem

Umoja HiFI's Aaron Paar (Worldship Records, Teflon Dons) pays tribute to DJ Al Jackson, of the LA-based Soul Children, presenting his recorded works as Aljax3. This set originally appeared on Paar's Stomping Grounds radio show (2nd & 4th Mondays 8-10 PM on dublab.com). Al Jackson's show Explorations is also archived on dublab.com Al Jackson: peace be with you brother, thank you for your life and music!

A mix for the first day of Kwanza (Umoja or Unity) to celebrate the origins and sound of my DJ collective Umoja HiFi Soundsystem. This 1-hour mix features sublime selections from Latin and downtempo to broken beat, and other eclectic rhythms. Day of Umoja Tracklist Brownout – Con El Cuete (Second Sky and Thomas Blondet Remix) Ondatropica – Tiene Sabor, Tiene Sazón (iZem remix) Joe Bataan – Ernestine Robert Glasper Experiment – Afro Blue featuring Erykah Badu (9th Wonder's Blue Light Basement Remix) Om Unit – Lightgrids Arp 101 – Warriors Galactic Pomrad – Bofhaun Tatham,Mensah,Lord & Ranks – Teacup feat Eric Lau Mr. Scruff – Music Takes Me Up Featuring Alice Russell Willie Colón – Ché Ché Cole (Sake1 Leftism Edit) Ambient Jazz Ensemble – Jazz Face (Kirk Degiorgio Remix) Chip Wickham – Snake Eyes (Ishmael Ensemble Remix) Kid Sublime feat. Nicky Guilland – Something About Your Love Yellowtail – Juju Mim Suleiman – Bibi Na Mpu (Maurice Fulton Dub) Nomumbah – Milziq Sleepwalke – Brotherhood (Marc Mac Dirty Jazz Mix) Atjazz feat Sarah Jane Morris – Fantasy (Domu remix) 4hero – Sink or Swim Peshay – Vanguard

It's Umoja Hi-Fi's Nice Up Radio show #46 with DJ Tomas in the mix. New music from Buju Banton, Anthony B, Jah9, Romain Virgo, Nattali Rize, Christopher Ellis and more. New riddims, and strictly 2020 reggae vibes! Listen to the show live Sundays 3-5PM PST or catch the weekly re-posts at www.soundcloud.com/umojahifi

Welcome to the Umoja Hi-Fi podcast. Umoja Hi-Fi is a seven person DJ collective formed in Los Angeles in 1992 and we are active to this very day! Subscribers to this podcast may be used to the various DJ mixes we’ve been dropping on this channel, and those are going to continue, but today we’ve got something special - we'll talk to DJ Tomas's long time friend and colleague Star Eyes, a.k.a. Vivian Host, an accomplished DJ, producer, music journalist, radio host and podcaster in her own right. DJ Tomas met Vivian in LA in the early '90s around the same time that Umoja Hi-Fi formed. Tomas booked Star Eyes for one of her first gigs at, an after-hours event at Nova Express cafe, he wrote and edited with her at URB and XLR8R magazines, and watched her career flourish at Red Music Music in New York. Speaking of Red Bull, Vivian's New York party crew Trouble & Bass won the 2013 Red Bull Culture Clash event -- a true underdog upset, besting Max Glazer's Federation Sound, Que Bajo and hip-hop producer Just Blaze. Since then, she's only continued to rise. Dubbed "Brooklyn's Queen of Heavy Bass," hear how Vivian discovered reggae sound system culture, became a pioneering US drum & bass DJ, and forged a successful music journalism career along the way.

We present a very special vinyl 45s mix from Umoja Hi-Fi co-founder DJ Daz. This versatile DJ was born in London and raised in Los Angeles where he got deep into music from a young age. In his London youth he attended Dingwalls sessions (where Gilles Peterson, Patrick Forge, Paul Murphy and others played) and after relocating found his way to LA’s Delicious Vinyl Records, home to the Pharcyde, Masta Ace and Brand New Heavies, among others. Later he became a resident at influential LA rare-groove/acid jazz club Brass. He co-founded Umoja Hi-Fi with DJ Tomas in 1992 and has been an active club DJ in the hip-hop, rare groove, soul, funk, house and reggae scenes. His long running Chocolate Bar night saw dozens of artists and celebrities pass though its doors. Daz agreed to dig in his 45 box for this special guest of rare and cool funk 45s. Enjoy the groove!

Ximeno Records was co-founded by Danny Holloway and Aaron Paar in 2011 and releases limited-run vinyl 45s, focusing mainly on rare, funky vintage reggae and soul cuts. Aimed with DJs and selectors in mind, Ximeno has released though cover versions of tracks like “Let It Whip”, “I Want Your Love,” and “Rock With U” by artists including Derrick Harriot, Grace Jackson, Blood Sisters, Skatalites and Tappa Zukie. Check their Discogs page for more selections (https://www.discogs.com/label/482668-Ximeno-Records). Holloway and Paar first experimented with a 200-pressing 45, when it sold out quickly, and records number two and three also sold out, they knew they were on to something. Says Paar, “A lot of the ideas came from from Danny Holloway’s personal (record) collection; we would discuss and I would recommended the tracks I thought would work for DJs — things that people could play in the clubs right away. We’ve released a lot of reggae boogie or disco covers, and funkier tracks like “Melting Pot” by Underground Vegetables. Danny and I just combined our knowledge to give DJs something in our bag and make it more accessible.” Now enjoy this mix by Paar, who rep’s Umoja Hi-Fi and Worldship Records in addition to Ximeno. This mix is an Umoja Hi-Fi exclusive of the first 10 Ximeno singles.

Umoja SoundStation 3-5PM PST on Nice Up Radio with hosts from Umoja Hi-Fi DJ Tomas SF, Culture D and King CoknI O'Dire. Listen on niceupradio.com or download the app from Apple App Store or Google Play. #reggae #roots #classic-dancehall #one-drop #nice-up-radio #umojahifi Catch the re-broadcast every week on soundcloud.com/umojahifi Find Umoja on all your socials @umojafifi (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube)

DJ Tomas SF presents Rocksteady to Rub-A-Dub Mix 1. Melodians – Swing and Dine 2. The Cables – Baby Why 3. Hemsley Morris – Little Things 4. Derrick Morgan – Want More 5. Derick Harriot – Have You Seen Her 6. The Heptones – Party Time 7. Johnny Osbourne – Rub-A-Dub Party 8. Hopeton Lewis – Rockashocka 9. Bob Marley & The Wailers – Nice Time 10. Slim Smith – Rougher Yet 11. Lone Ranger – Love Bump 12. Lloy Robinson – Can't Stand It 12. Alton Ellis – I'm Just A Guy 13. Sugar Minott – Vanity 14. Jimmy London – I'm You Puppet 15. Zap Pow – This Is Reggae 16. Anthony Johnson, Little John, Don Carlos – Roll River Jordan 17. Jr. Reid – Concrete Castle King (Dub) 18. Dennis Brown – I Can't Stand It 19. Sister Nancy – Transport Connection 20. Delton Screechie – Get Up Stand Up 21. Ranking Devon – All Nation Have To Bow 22. Brigadier Jerry – Jamaica Jamaica 23. Johnny Osbourne – Water Pumping 24. Nicodemus – Bubble Nicodemus

DJ Tomas – Umoja Hi-Fi Sound Station "I’m A Rootsman, Part 1: Deep Roots Mix" A 73 minute selection of deeper roots reggae music from the 1970s and ‘80s. This selection focuses on slower, dubbier tracks with conscious themes and lyrics. I was trying to invoke the spirit of reggae radio in the ‘80s – be it pirate radio in the UK, college radio in the US or Dread at the Controls broadcasts in Jamaica. Another inspiration was DJ Andrew’s foundation/roots underground parties in Los Angeles in the mid-90s. A UK native and carpenter, Andrew would hold late night affairs in small after-hours bars on Fairfax Ave, focusing on strictly roots and culture selections. Honest Jons’ Dave Phelps would bring his 45s and Daz and Cokni would rope in. I & I hope you enjoy this set. More soon. Giving I-ses unto Jah I-tinually. Word sound is power.  Tracklisting: The Silvertones – Rejoice Jah Jah Children Jah Lion – Columbia Colly The Heptones – Sufferers Time Junior Murvin – Police & Thives Delroy Williams – Foxhole + Dub Version The Abyssinians – Good Lord Augustus Pablo – King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown Prince Lincoln – Humanity + Dub Version Patrick Andy – Every Tongue Shal Tell + Dub Version Kojak – Penitentiary Johnny Ringo – Tense Me Tense Penitentiary Dub Version Wayne Jarrett & Silver Fox – Saturday Night Jamboree (12" Mix) The Viceroys – My Mission Is Impossible Prince Alla –  Only Love Can Conquer Jah Woosh – Marcus Say + Dub Version Gregory Isaacs – Mr Cop Mikey Dread – Barber Saloon Bunny Wailer – Boderation Carlton Livingston – 100 Weight of Collie Weed Frankie Jones – Don't Smoke The Seed Johnny Osbourne – Give A Little Love Scientist –  Give A Little Dub Bob Marley & The Wailers – Rebel Music Horace Andy – Zion Gate Leroy Smart – No Love + Dub Version Johnny Clarke – (Just Call) Me African Roots Fabian – Prophecy  

PLAYLIST: Political Fiction Half Pint Tightrope Steel Pulse Study People Serani Cyaan Look Inna Wi Eye Bugle Dem Bwoy Ah Baby Vybz Kartel Dem Nah Look Nuh Gal (Raw) Assassin Nuh Linga Elephant Man Usain Bolt Nuh Linga Line Fi Line (Raw) Busy Signal & Assassin The Next Movement The Roots Sunday Coming Alton Ellis Christmas Coming Alton Ellis Im Still In Love With You Boy Sean Paul Ft Sasha Umbrella (Offical Reggae Remix) Rihanna & Shaggy brown skin Richie spice My African Queen Youths Are So Cold Richie Spice Cherish The Day Sade Never Dis Di Man Sanchez Shine Criss Shabba Ranks Reprimand Shinehead Respect Shabba Ranks

The Last Poets – Bird’s Word The Art Ensemble Of Chicago – Theme De Yo Yo (Dobie Re-Edit) Aloe Blacc – Blind World Q-Tip – Won’t Change Mos Def – Roses Tom Scott & The L.A. Express – Today Common – Inhale Gil Scott-Heron – Lady Day and John Coltrane The Zbigniew Namylowski Modern Jazz Quartet – Piatawka (in 5/4 time) Oscar Brown Jr. – Afro Blue The Ensemble Al Salaam – Circles Andy Bey – River Man The Cinematic Orchestra – All That You Give (Photo credit: Big Manny) (Photo taken at Truthseekers Radio, Friday nights from 1-3 a.m. on 90.7 kpfk fm, Los Angeles, Ca. www.kpfk.org). Shout out to Santana and the whole Truthseekers crew. Mixed and recorded live (no edits, no over-dubs, no pro-tools, recorded in one take) by dj dAz for Sounds Of Umoja productions. The music in this mix has been rolling around in my head for many months, even years, and possibly decades. The ability to understand the similarities between jazz of the past and modern hip hop has always been something to drive my art. Even in my early days as a young yout’, jazz music was always playing in my house, classic movies were always on the t.v., and whenever I’d get home from school, there would always be an energy of welcomeness and calm like you had arrived. As I grew up and started to become influenced by hip hop in the eighties and nineties it just became a natural progression to be influenced by the very hip hop artists that used samples from their pop’s record collection for their own sound. Dad listened to Oscar Peterson, I listened to A Tribe Called Quest. Dad listened to Cab Calloway, I listened to Big Daddy Kane. So, with that being said; Big Up Pop’s, Mom’s, and family. I dedicate this to everyone, but my influences for this mix comes from the movies “The Jungle Book”, and Bob Hope and Bing Crosby’s “Road To Zanzibar”, as well as the very artists who are featured in this mix. Bless Up!

dj dAz presents: Kwanzaa Series/Mellow Bump Vol. II 1. 4 Hero – Conceptions 2. Yesterdays New Quintet – Sunrays 3. Massive Attack – Exchange 4. Lil’ Kim – Queen Bitch 5. Teedra Moses – Still Got Love (Instrumental) 6. Ta’Raach – (White Label Promo) 7. Spacek – Eve (Jay Dee Mix) 8. Dwele – A.N.G.E.L. (Slum Village Mix) 9. Keith Murray – The Rhyme (Slum Village Street Remix) 10. Talib Kweli – Never Been In Love 11. Red Astaire – Follow Me 12. The Mighty Bop – Ride Away 13. Jamie Cullum – Frontin’ 14. Esthero – Superheroes Wow. How to explain the beauty I maintain, with the love around and for the love of sound, this mix is dedicated first and foremost to UMOJA Hi Fi… no lie, always inspiring me to challenge my left and right ear and represent this thing here… we call it life! But there would be no life if it wasn’t for my family, so I dedicate this to them too… I got mad crew in the form of friends that have supported me since back then, so a big shout out to you!. And up next is my boo… I recorded this mix for you, I’m so, so blessed for us to be two, you keep me true… so true, Alisa I love you!!! :0)