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Spirit Level 2007

spiritlevel77

About Me

SPIRIT LEVEL: Positivity Through Music. Spirit Level is a London-based soul/funk dj collective comprising of music devotees and long-term friends AKIN SHENBANJO and MICHAEL DACOSTA. It was formed in August 2005 with the specific aim of developing a soul,funk and jazz themed club night in which the music emphasis would be based on the quality of records played, rather than their commercial familiarity. Both djs have been motivated in no small part by their heartfelt commitment to the music they know and love, and more specifically, through a genuine belief in music's redemptive power to spiritually uplift, and impact positively upon our lives. Spirit Level plays every Monday night @ Ion Bar,161-165 Ladbroke Grove W10 (7.30pm-Midnight), Free Entry, where we showcase the very best in soul, funk and jazz, old and new!


Herbie Hancock with the Headhunters feat Bill Summers (perc), Paul Jackson (bass), Bennie Maupin (tenor sax), and Mike Clark (drums) performing Chameleon live at Soundstage, San Francisco 1975. Fender Rhodes funktified magic par excellence from the master!Check out Akin's brand new 'SOUL EXPRESSION' radio show every Sunday 7-9pm on Hot96 Radio 96.3fm (London) : Listen live online on www.hot96.co.uk, playing the creme of soul, funk and jazz inspired releases. ..Marvin Gaye: 'What's Going On/What's Happening Brother?' performed live with the Funk Brothers (feat. James Jamerson on bass) in 1972, as featured in film 'Save the Children'(1973) ..James Brown performing 'Mother Popcorn' on Live Music Scene 1969Phyllis Hyman performing 'You Just Don't Know' live at the Blue Note, Japan circa 1987 ..Earth Wind and Fire 1972 Live TV Performance


TS Monk video to 'Candidate For Love' 1980 (Mirage Records)


Puerto Rico's premier salsa group Sonora Poncena 'The Soul of Puerto Rico', featuring bandleader and pianist / composer extroardinaire, the great Enrique 'Papo' Lucca, in performance on Panama tv, Feb 1978. Check out the piano and trumpet solos. Awesome!Send my pics and video to your cell phone!
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My Interests


Photos from Spirit Level @ Ion Bar Mon 28th May 2007


Akin's Top 10 Soul 'Hot96' Properties for October 2007 Ledisi - Lost & Found (various tracks cd) Su Su Bobien - You Brought Me Brighter Days (Soundman on Wax promo 12'') Jill Scott - Whenever You're Around (The Real Thing cd) Pieces Of A Dream feat Romana Dunlap - Triflin' (Pillow Talk cd) Darlene McCoy - U-N-I-T-Y (Darlene McCoy cd) Rahsaan Patterson - Wishing on the Stars Shooting By (various tracks cd) LJ Reynolds - So Good (Foster Babies Soundtrack cd) Chaka Khan - Funk This (various tracks cd) Luisito Quintero - Tumbao [Louis Vega's EOL remix] (Percussion Madness Revisited cd) D'Angelo - Girl You Need A Change of Mind (Get On The Bus cd) plus these classic Oldies but Goodies... The Emotions - Blessed (1977) Ozone - Gigolette (1981) Tom Browne - Throwdown (1979) Lonnie Liston Smith - We Can Dream (1978) Jr Walker - Walk In The Night (1971)Photos from Summer Soul Sessions @ Celsius Bar, Walthamstow E17, Sun 3rd June 07

Music:

SOUL FUNK JAZZ: Groups: Ohio Players; Earth, Wind and Fire; Pleasure; Roy Ayers Ubiquity; Blackbyrds; Ramp; The JBs; Africa 70; Ozone; Cameo; Starship Orchestra; Aquarian Dream; Sly and the Family Stone; Cosmic Echoes; Parliament / Funkadelic; Sweat Band; Parlet; Bootsy's Rubber Band; MFSB; Brass Fever; Slave; Funk Brothers; War; Mandrill; Brothers Johnson; Hi Tension; LTD; Breakwater; Steve Arrington's Hall of Fame; Legion; Jackson 5; Output; Dayton; BB and Q Band; Pockets; BT Express; Cloud One; Brass Construction; Banda Black Rio; Karma; Irakere; Crusaders; Soul Searchers; Gil Scott Heron and Brian Jackson's Midnight Band; Mass Production; Rhyze; NCCU; Brainstorm; Maze; Blackbyrds; Tyrone Thomas and the Wholed Darned Family; Wood,Brass and Steel; New Birth; Nite-Liters; Mastermind; Headhunters; Opa; Azymuth; Raices; Caldera; Matrix; Rudy Love and the Love Family; Love Unlimited Orchestra; CJ and Co; Mike Theodore Orchestra; Cloud One; Invisible Man's Band ; Ingram; Chic; Kleeer; Change; Fatback Band; Kool and the Gang (circa 73-79); Light of the World ; Real Thing; Paz; Incognito; Pieces of a Dream; Salsoul Orchestra; Skyyy; Con Funk Shun; Sounds of Blackness; Cymande; Voltage Brothers; Build an Ark; Faze-O; Kingdom; Blaze; Oneness of Juju; Byron Morris and Unity; Mantra; Redd Hott; Roundtrip; One Way feat Al Hudson; Raydio feat Ray Parker Jr.; Jewel; Eddie Drennon and BBS Unlimited; Magnum; Kay Gees; Sonora Poncena; Irakere; Fania Allstars; Batacumbele; Fuse One; Studio Trieste; Soullive; Groove Collective; Tyrone Thomas and the Whole Darn Family; Mighty Ryders; Mantra; Allspice; Rose Royce; T-Connection; Stone City Band; Commodores; LA Boppers; Locksmith; Free Life; The Writers; Invisible Man's Band; Fuse One; Bridge; Rhyze; Cashmere; Steely Dan; Crown Heights Affair; Rhythm Makers aka GQ; 3 Pieces; Zapp; Human Body; Gap Band; Rufus; Instant Funk; Leo's Sunship; Blacksmoke; MCB; Loose Ends; Zushi; Oneness of Juju; The Awakening; Players Association; Barkays....Vocal Groups: Soul Children; Four Tops; Temptations; Jackson 5; Stairsteps; Ojays; Ashford and Simpson; Detroit Spinners; Main Ingredient; Dramatics; Voices of East Harlem; Ebonys; Jackson Sisters; Moments; Staple Singers; Sisters Love; Originals; Creative Source; Undisputed Truth; Emotions; Jones Girls; Kitty and the Haywoods; Love Unlimited; Side Effect; Allspice; Black Ivory; Ridgeways; Perri; Alton McClain and Destiny; Younghearts; Pointer Sisters; Supremes; Hi Fashion; McCrarys; Archie Bell and the Drells; Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes; Delegation; Whispers; Creme D'Cocoa; Woods Empire; A Taste of Honey.... Male vocalists: Marvin Gaye; James Brown; Stevie Wonder; Donald Smith; Curtis Mayfield; Willie Hutch; Phillip Bailey; Prince Phillip Mitchell; Levi Stubbs; Donald Smith; Lamont Dozier; Bernard Ighner; Donny Hathaway; Maurice White; David Ruffin; Dennis Edwards; Don Blackman; Sam Dees; Leroy'Sugarfoot'Bonner; Glen Goines; Michael and Jermaine Jackson; Leroy Burgess; Sam Cooke; Anthony White; Luther Vandross; Charlie Wilson; DJ Rogers; David Gardner; William 'Smoke' Howard; Luther Vandross; Tashan; J. Blackfoot; Carl Hall; Bobby Womack; Rome Jeffries; Lillo Thomas; Lou Courtney; Barry White; Teddy Pendergrass; Leroy Hutson; Lou Rawls; Eddie Levert; Gerald Levert; Glenn Jones; Teddy Pendergrass; James Ingram; Samuel Jonathan Johnson; Spencer Harrison; George Benson; Bill Withers; David Peaston; James Robinson; Tashan Rashad; Keni Burke; Donald Fagan; Rockie Robbins; O'Bryan; Marc Sadane; Jeffrey Osbourne; Peabo Bryson; John Lucien; Al Jarreau; Leon Thomas; Dwight Trible; Wilson Pickett; Jerry Butler; Ben E King; Spencer Harrisson; Michael Henderson; Eddie Kendricks; Al Green; Peabo Bryson; Gary Glenn; Michael McDonald; Jon Gibson; General Johnson.... Female vocalists: Phyllis Hyman; Angela Winbush; Gladys Knight; Minnie Ripperton; Stephanie Mills; Belitia Woods; Merry Clayton; Chaka Khan; Dee Dee Bridgewater; Tawatha Agee; Rachelle Ferrell; Susaye Greene; Syreeta Wright; Patrice Rushen; Wanda Huthcinson; Shirley Jones; Mavis Staples; Teena Marie; Linda Clifford; Jean Carn; Betty Wright; Laura Lee; Aretha Franklin; Nancy Wilson; Marlena Shaw; Dionne Warwick; Celia Cruz; Patti Labelle; Candi Staton; Sharon Redd; Ledisi; Jocelyn Brown; Debra Laws; Teena Marie; Angela Bofill; Patti Austin; Eleanor Mills; Ms Adaritha; Jeanette'Lady'Day; Carmen Lundy; Diane Reeves; Meshell Ndegeocello; Flora Purim; Dinah Washington; Billie Holiday; Sarah Vaughan; Perri; Laura Lee; Timi Yuro; Oletta Adams; Barbara Ingram; Betty Davis; Millie Jackson; Rene Geyer; Carmen Lundy; Janet Lawson; Yolanda Adams; Miki Howard; Sylvia St James; Helen Baylor; Genobia Jeter; Maurette Brown Clark; Jocelyn Brown; Brenda Russell; Lolleata Holloway; Carla Vaughan; Rene Diggs; Starleana Young; Lea Roberts; Vanessa Bell Armstrong; Sharon Bryant; Ann Nesby; Tramaine Hawkins; Lavine Hudson...Spoken Word: Last Poets; Gil Scott Heron; Watts Prophets; Jayne Cortez; Nikki Giovanni; Amiri Baraka; Linton Kwesi Johnson; Michael Smith...Musicians: Roy Ayers; Herbie Hancock; Patrice Rushen; Webster Lewis; John Coltrane; Miles Davis; Grover Washington Jr; Fela Kuti; Bill Summers; Harvey Mason; Dennis Davis; George Duke; Rodney Franklin; Donald Byrd; Malachi Thompson; Dizzy Gillespie; Charlie Parker; McCoy Tyner; Elvin Jones; Paulinho Dacosta; Tony Allen; Lonnie Liston Smith; Johnny Hammond; Enrique'Papo'Lucca; Bobby Lyle; Eddie Russ; Dr Lonnie Smith; Bobbi Humphrey; Noel Pointer; Bill O'Connell; Onaje Alan Gumbs; Chick Corea; Gary Bartz; Meshell Ndegeocello; Eddie Henderson; Jorge Dalto; Harry Whittaker; Ramsey Lewis; Tom Browne; Bernard Wright; Lesette Wilson; Linda Williams; Marcus Miller; Ralph MacDonald; Cedar Walton; Gene Dunlap; Louis Armstrong; Max Roach; Geri Allen; Art Blakey; Duke Ellington; Charlie Parker; Dizzy Gillespie; Freddie Hubbard; Ronnie Foster; James Mtume; Jeff Lorber; Don Blackman; Marshall Jones; Billy Beck; Nathaniel Phillips; Bruce Carter; Dennis Springer; Marlon McClain; Greg Phillinganes; Wayne Shorter; Bobby Watson; Roland Prince; Alphonso Johnson; Byron Miller; Doug Carn; Leon'Ndugu'Chancler; Dean'Sir'Gant; Hadley Calliman; Walter Bishop Jr; Rudolph Johnson; Calvin Keyes; Henry Franklin; Jaco Pastorius; Barney'Blair'Perry; Joe Henderson; Carter Jefferson; Woody Shaw; Keni Burke; Sonny Davenport; James Calloway, Theolonius Monk; Art Tatum; Stanley Cowell; Will Lee; Charles Tolliver; Shamek Farrah; Clifford Jordan; Larry Ridley; Michael White; Norman Harris; Vince Montana; Jerry and Andy Gonzalez; Angel'Cachete'Maldonado; Bobby Valentin; Israel'Cachao'Lopez; Giovanni Hidalgo; Carlos Garnett; Tunde Williams; Raulzinho DeSouza; Moachir Santos; Mayuto Correa; Eduardo Del Barrio; Cesar Mariano; Fred Wesley; Maceo Parker; Bootsy Collins; Jabbo Starks; Bernard'Pretty'Purdie; Bernie Worrell; Eddie Hazel; Wayne Henderson; James Jamerson Jr; Paulinho Dacosta; Tito Puente; Willie Bobo; Nick Marrero; Roberto Roena; Armando Peroza; Alfredo Rodriquez; Ray Barretto; Mongo Santamaria; Carlos 'Patato' Valdez; Justo Almario; Chano O'Ferrell; Ricardo Marrero; Orestes Vilato; Coke, Pete and Sheila and Escovedo; Cal Tjader; Willie Bobo; Pharoah Saunders; Larry Ridley; Bill Lee; Weldon Irvine; Johnny Hammond; Dave Valentin; Bob Babbit; Melvin 'Wah Wah Watson' Ragin; Caesar Frazier; Teruo Nakamura; Hidefumi Toki ; Mikio Masuda; Manfredo Fest; Harris Simon; Olli Ahvenlatti; Toninho Horta; Airto Moriera; Dom Um Romao; Dom Salvador; Sivuca; Hermeto Pascal; Sammy Figueroa; Daryl'Munyungo'Jackson; Leon'Ndugu' Chancler; Duke Pearson; Luisito Quintero; Tania Maria; Horace Silver; Bob James; Hubert and Ronnie Laws; Phil Ranellin; Andrew Hill; Louis Satterfield; Don Myrick; Michael'Rahmlee'Davis; Michael and Randy Brecker; Bob Berg; Tom Harrell; Louis Hayes; Cecil McBee; Buster Williams; Courtney Pine; Steve Williamson; Victor Feldman; Kim Jordan; Art Webb; Hubert Eaves; Sonny Fortune; Roger Ryan; Shuggie Otis; Jimi Hendrix; George and Louis Johnson.... Producer/arrangers: Norman Connors; Roy Ayers; Webster Lewis; Wayne Henderson's At Home Productions; Charles Stepney; Skip Scarborough; Quincy Jones; Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen's GRP; Maurice White's Kalimba Productions; Al McKay; Larry Dunn; Lenny White; Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff; Jerry Peters' Music Mecca West; Michael Stokes; James Mtume and Reggie Lucas; Dexter Wansel; Isaac Hayes'Hot Buttered Soul; Barry White's Soul Unlimited; Gene Page; Thom Bell; Sam Dees; Pee Wee Ellis; Patrick Adams; Peter Brown; Billy Nichols; Greg Carmichael; Sonny Davenport; Larry and Fonze Mizell; Jeff Lane; Randy Muller; Skip Drinkwater; Patrick Moten; Lamont Dozier; Paul Riser; Willie Hutch; Leon Ware; Curtis Mayfield; Homer Banks and Carl Hampton; Fred Wesley; Michael J Powell; Papo Lucca; Mario Bauza; Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson; ; Ben Tankard; Leon Pendarvis; Jerry Ragavoy; Holland Dozier Holland; Thom Bell; Bobby Martin; Richard Evans; Arif Mardin; Aki Aleong; Mauro Malavasi and Jacques Fred Petrus; Hush Productions; Rahni Harris (Song); Paul Lawrence; Kashif; Greg Henderson; Bert Decouteaux; Tom Washington; Chris Hills; John Davis; Strata East; Black Jazz; Creed Taylor; Sol Robrov; Orrin Keepnews; Bob Thiele; Charles Veal; Roger Ryan; Ralph MacDonald and William Salter; Rick James; Arthur Verocai; Eumir Deodato; Eduardo Del Barrio...House: Blaze(Josh Milan and Kevin Hedge); Larry Heard and Fingers Inc; Marshall Jefferson; Ten City; Glenn Underground; Masters at Work; Louie Vega's Elements of Life; Kerri Chandler; Louis Benedetti; Jasper St Company; Dj Spen; Arnold Jarvis; Robert Owens; Ron Wilson; Kenny and Su Su Bobien; Ce Ce Rodgers; Osunlade; Big Moses; Timmy Regisford; Cassio Ware; L'il Louis; Dj Spinna; Joe Claussel; Peven Everett; Def Mix Productions; Colonel Abrams; Jihad Muhammad; Ron Trent; Dennis Ferrer; KT Brooks; Donnell Rush; Frankie Feliciano; Albert'Sterling' Menendez; Selan Lerner; Teddy Douglas; Mr A.L.I; Moses McClean; Ultra Nate....R'N B/Nu Soul: Lo Key; Levert; Gerald Levert; Johnny Gill; Intro; Mint Condition; Dave'Jam'Hall; Mary J Blige; Faith Evans; Kelly Price; D'Angelo; Raphael Saadiq; Sounds of Blackness; Excelsior; Ben Tankard; Bob Baldwin; Kirk Franklin; Rahsaan Patterson; Donnie; Peven Everett; Omar; Alma Horton; Yolanda Adams; Kelly Price; Marc Dorsey; Jodeci; Eric Benet; Guy feat.Teddy Riley; Darnell Davis & the Remnant; Excelsior; Jamie and Sunny Hawkins; Tommy Sims; Yolanda Johnson; SWV; Imprompt2; A Touch of Jazz Productions; Hidden Beach Recordings; Roy Hargrove Factor; James Poyser; Untouchables feat Eddie F; Brian Morgan; Mr V; Raheem Devaughan....Rap / Hip Hop: DJ Quik; Jocko; Dolomite; Blowfly; Pete Rock and CL Smooth; Eric B and Rakim; Dj Premier and Guru aka Gang Starr; KRS One; Kool G Rap; Nice 'n Smooth; Public Enemy ; Battlecat; Dr Dre; A Tribe Called Quest; Demon Boyz; Dodge; Sugarhill Records; Enjoy Records; Glen Adams; Funky Four Plus One More; Kurtis Blow; Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five; Kevie Kev; Jimmy Spicer; Dj Jazzy Jeff; Talib Kweli; Mos Def; Common; Dr Dre; Master Ace; Big Daddy Kane; Untouchables; Group Home; Ice Cube

Heroes:

The Creator; Parents; Malcolm X; Muhammad Ali; Edson Arantes do Nascimento aka Pele; Asaata Shakur; Robert Nesta Marley OM; Peter Tosh; James Brown; Michael Jackson; Fela Anikilapo Kuti; Marcus Mosiah Garvey; Steve Biko; The Black Panther Party for Self-Defence; Paul Robeson; Josephine Baker; George Jackson; Namde Azikwe; Walter Rodney; Kwame Toure aka Stokeley Carmichael; Nat Turner; Paul Bogle; Olaudah Equiano; Toussaint L'Ouverture; African and African-Caribbean World War 2 Servicemen; Jomo Kenyatta; Kwame Nkrumah; Dr Martin Luther King; Nelson Mandela; Miriam Makeba; Angela Y Davis; Dhoruba Bin Wahad; Claudia Jones; Huey Newton; Bobby Seale; Fred Hampton; Felipe Luciano; Angela Y Davis; Attala Shabazz; Patrice Lumumba; M.P.L.A; The Young Lords; AIM (American Indian Movement); Caesar Chavez; The Sandinistas; Maurice Bishop; Chuck D; The Nicholas Brothers; Don Campbell and the Lockers; Richard Pryor; Dolomite; Harry Belafonte; Pam Grier; Bruce Lee; Brazil 1970 and 1982 World Cup Football Teams; Austin'Jay Jay'Okocha; Dennis Bergkamp; Tierry Henry; Sugar Ray Robinson; Marvellous Marvin Hagler; Pernell'Sweet Pea'Whittaker; Azumah Nelson; Bernard Hopkins; Julius'Dr J'Irving; Earvin'Magic'Johnson; Hakeem'The Dream'Olajuwan; Paul'Trouble'Anderson; all the great dancers of the world (esp those from the original London underground soul, jazz fusion and boogie scenes of the late 70s and early 80s - incl John Riley, Kelvin Tambale Ndov, Michael and David Milliner, Geoff Brown, Kevin Haynes, Trevor Shakes, Paul 'Trouble' Anderson [again], Mohammed, Phillip Octave, Nicolson, Steve 'Afro' Edwards (to name a few); many of the above musicians mentioned; comic-book artists and writers: John Romita Sr; John Buscema; Jack'King'Kirby; Stan'The Man'Lee; Herb Trimpe; Neal Adams; Gene Colan; Tom Palmer; Jim Steranko; Gil Kane; Paul Gulacy; Marv Wolfman; Chris Claremont