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James Poole recommendations

2013: Top ten albums

In any other year, the 2013 releases from Laura Mvula, Disclosure or Unknown Mortal Orchestra may have made the cut for the ‘best ten’. But, 2013 was about as solid a year for music as you can hope for. Even a rejuvenated and frankly otherworldly David Bowie didn’t make the list this year. And, I […]

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James Poole recommendations

2010: Top Ten Albums

So that’s 2010, then. A year of staggering comebacks, of fine funk, and of exciting new music. Sitting here on a flight back to NYC after a Christmas break in the UK, it’s probably as good a time as any to fully reflect on the year, and to take the time to acknowledge the albums […]

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DJ Prestige freethinking nyc James Poole

Thursday DJ nights in NYC: freethinking nyc

Volume 2 of freethinking nyc took place at Kush last night. The idea is simple: 2 DJs playing a genre-spanning set of music that you would not normally hear in a club setting. It’s not just about the same thumping hip hop, or chart pop. There’s some great music out there, that if given the […]

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defining freethinking DJ Prestige

More First freethoughts

The Original Funky Drummer Art Blakey Over the last few weeks I have been listening to a great big pile of music. First and foremost, I have been listening to an awful lot of Jazz, specifically Hard Bop. I’ve been revisiting artists like Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers Ugetsu, At the Jazz Corner of […]

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defining freethinking James Poole

First freethoughts

It seems entirely appropriate to be writing my first blog entry after a week of listening to a heap of new music. So, new material (or at least new to me) from Alice Russell, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, and Lou Bond have all been thoroughly enjoyed this week. Here’s the thing – and […]