Norman Jay (MBE) Tours Australia and New Zealand Jan/Feb 2017

Norman Jay is unquestionably one of the most respected and popular DJs in the world today. Co-founder of the legendary Good Times Sound System and London dance music station KISS FM, Jay fostered the ‘Rare Groove’ scene pushing the boundaries of the UK’s emerging club culture. Awarded an MBE for services to deejaying and music, he recently compiled his most eclectic compilation to date, ‘Good Times Skank & Boogie’, and is currently taking his legendary Good Times party to selected venues around the UK, continuing to convert generations of clubbers to the cause, championing new sounds, yet never forgetting his musical roots, thus guaranteeing nothing but ‘Good Times’. www.mustardmusic.com.au

Check Jay on tour in Australia and New Zealand over summer.

25 Jan • Coast Port Beach • Perth

26 Jan • Captain Baxter • Melbourne

27 Jan • Sugar • Adelaide

29 Jan • YOT Club • Raglan ($10 from 5pm)

03 Feb • Impala • Auckland

04 Feb • Wanderlust • Lake Taupo

05 Feb • Fat Freddy's Drop • Queenstown

10 Feb • The Island • Sydney

Joining Jay is Byron Bay's, Al Royale.

Al has DJed house music for 25 years in clubs, festivals, outdoor raves and anywhere that will hold a party. He learned the trade among the UK’s free party scene in the East Midlands playing in muddy fields with rows of bass bins and smiling faces. 

His sounds is groovy, funky house and he likes to create something more than the sum of the parts using mixing and selection to get the vibe right. 

Recent DJ highlights include Australia’s Lost Paradise festival, New Years Eve and Falls Festival Byron Bay, New Years Day. 2016 saw him play at Bohemian Beat Freaks Festival, Pollinate Byron Bay, the amazing Nudge Nudge Wink Wink parties, Coco-Republic, Bizarre Garden Festival, Love For Life Festival Cornwall UK and Gallery Sounds in Nottingham.

Al is also the founder of Sounds Good Sound System who with his crew and Funktion One system host parties wherever they can be they on the beach, or in a club and are always looking to bring good vibes and funky underground music. Their own Sounds Good parties in Byron are always sell-out. He is also resident at Coco Republic Byron Bay.

Al’s played clubs in the US, UK and Europe such as The End Up, The Top, Green Gorilla (San Fran), EarthTones Label party (LA), La Marocha (Beunos Airies), The Bomb (Nottingham) and too many muddy fields to mention and has also had a few releases on DiY Discs back in the 90’s and 2000’s. 

Expect current and contemporary funky house music with soulful roots and a few old tunes thrown in.

Havana Meets Kingston

Sly & Robbie in Havana. Ready to rumble!
(photos by Lara Merrington Photography)

Australian producer, Mista Savona, is proud to present the first video teaser for the forthcoming Havana Meets Kingston album.

So many great artists, so much incredible music & moments!

Featured tracks in this video:

* 'Carnival' feat. Randy Valentine & Solis

* 'Chan Chan' feat. Maikel Ante, Félix Baloy, El Raspa & Solis

* '410 San Miguel' feat. Ernest Ranglin

* 'Dubwise' feat. Prince Alla & France Nooks

The first single 'Carnival' feat. Randy Valentine and Solis will be available worldwide January 23 from these sites:

www.mistasavona.bandcamp.com

www.havanameetskingston.com

www.apple.com/itunes

HAVANA MEETS KINGSTON: The Album & Documentary

Australia’s leading reggae and dancehall producer and accomplished pianist, Mista Savona (aka Jake Savona), has gathered some of Cuba and Jamaica’s most influential musicians in the one recording studio to create a world first album.

Despite their huge respective global appeal and geographical proximity, there has never been a full length album that unites the unique sounds of both Jamaican and Cuban music - till now. This is a truly groundbreaking record and project that honors both islands' incredible musical foundations and legacies while inspiring and creating something entirely new. Drawing from the styles the islands are best known for - roots reggae, dub and dancehall on one hand and son, salsa, rumba and Afro-Cuban on the other - 'Havana Meets Kingston' sees an incredible team of musicians come together to bend and twist genres effortlessly, and the results are exceptional.

Havana, June 2015 (photo by Lara Merrington)

Savona's main intention is to bring Jamaican sound-system and bass culture together with Cuba's electrifying and virtuosic Afro-Cuban and jazz traditions, and this is where the album excels and is unique in musical history. Energetic and passionate vocals in Spanish, English and Jamaican patois twist and turn over the distinctly Cuban rhythms and melodies, while the deep bass-lines that Jamaica is best known for pulse underneath, unifying the music of both cultures and creating something fresh, bold and exciting.

'Havana Meets Kingston' brings together established and emerging Cuban and Jamaican musicians in an album of mostly original songs, as well as covers of classic Cuban material. The main recording sessions took place over 10 days in June 2015 at the famous Egrem Studio in Havana, Cuba. Savona personally flew seven Jamaicans into Havana for these sessions, including Sly & Robbie and Bongo Herman among other greats. Since this time he has traveled to Jamaica, Cuba and the UK numerous times to complete the recordings. The caliber of artists on this two part album project speaks volumes.

The full album is due for release in April 2017.

To add to this already grand project, acclaimed filmmakers Rick Mereki (of MOVE, EAT, LEARN fame), producer Lauren Rosa Beck and photographer Lara Merrington travelled to Cuba and Jamaica to capture every moment on film. They will be providing an independent documentary which will celebrate the music and stories of the artists involved against the backdrop of three diverse nations.

EPK by Lauren Beck.