DJ Tomas – Umoja Hi-Fi Soundsystem

Here's the second part of the Indian Summer Jazz mixtape. See previous installment for full description.

Tracklisting For Sunrise Side:

Cool breeze – Charlie Don't Surf
F.R.I.S.K. – Look Into Your Soul
Portishead – Sour Times (Remix)
Sam Sever – Tonight
Up, Bustle & Out – Contraband
Heights of Abraham – Scenic Vibes
Prunes – Mr. Jolly Lives Next Door
Tosca – Chocolate Elvis
Babyrock – The Crunch
9 Lazy 9 – Train (Remix)
Tee & Syrup – Straight and Narrow
Deadbeats – Hum Drum
Solid Doctor – Loosing Patients Vol 3

Welcome to another installment of the DJ Tomas Early Mix Series.

After about 15 years of promises and procrastination I've finally been able to digitize this mixtape. "Love For Earth Volume 2: Indian Summer Jazz" was one of my most popular mixes, or so I've been told over the years. Interestingly it ended up in a lot car tapedecks in Los Angeles and elsewhere and probably soundtracked number of comedown drives from desert raves. The title references California's extended late summer and early fall bouts with bucolic weather.

Musically it represents a peak in the trip-hop/downtempo electronic period in the mid-90s when nary a week passed without a clutch new of must-have singles being released from labels like Mo'Wax, Ninja Tune, Cup of Tea, Talking Loud and dozens of smaller imprints.

This mix was definitely enjoyable to do and to hear the reaction it produced. I'm happy to offer it again after all these years. One caveat: this is a direct cassette-to-digital transfer, without any mastering (I'm lazy), so the sound is accordingly lo-fi. Song-wise, though, it's pretty stellar!

Cover design by Guy from Funk Pistol, Hawaii.

Tracklisting For Sunset Side:

Funki Porcini – Softest Thing
DJ Vadim – Pimp Theme
The Angel – Step Into The Light,
8-Up – VBVP
Tactica – Forcast Mauvais
Towa Tei – Technova
Bomb The Bass – One To One Religion
Law One – Better Get Ready
Crustation – From Now Till Never
Brooklyn Funk Essentials – The Creator Has A Master Plan
Slowly – Black and White,
Jhelisa – Friendly Pressure

Welcome to the DJ Tomas Early Mix Series. Here's part 2 of Love For Earth Volume 1. This mix focuses on downtempo and trip-hop releases from 1992-1995. See Part One for full description.

Welcome to the DJ Tomas Early Mix series, a digitized archive of early DJ mixes recorded between 1994 and 2000 and duplicated on cassette tapes.

In 1995 I was living in a studio apartment on South Cloverdale Street near West 6th St. in mid-town Los Angeles. I had two Techniques decks set up on milk crates, an archaic handed-down Numark mixer and a cassette deck. It was on this set up that I recorded my first formal mixtape, live in one take to cassette, tape hiss and all.

The original tape copy was brought to Smitty, a rave music tape duplicator based in San Fernando Valley, who I paid to press up around 200 copies.

At the time I was DJing with Jun from Umoja Hi-Fi at Nova Express (opened '93, closed '08) on Fairfax Blvd, a late-night coffee & pizza cafe. Our night was called Goa Dub, one of the first club nights to feature ambient, trip-hop, dub and downtempo music in an all-ages after-hours space (most weeks we DJed till 4 a.m.).

The music on this mix represents the tracks and moods of that time. I no longer have the complete track listing but some artists I recognize include Mad Professor, DJ Shadow, Manaseh, A Guy Called Gerald, Funki Porcini, Fila Brazillia, Edge Test, Sub-Surfing, Bandulu, Biosphere and others.

Part One: Liquid focuses on ambient electronic sounds, beat-less soundscapes and some dubby techno.

Part Two: Solid is downtempo and trip-hop beats.

Cover design by Guy from Funk Pistol, Hawaii.

Enjoy!

Umoja Hi-Fi presents...DJ Tomas: Roots & Reality mix.

90 minutes of new conscious one-drop reggae music.

DJ Tomas: Roots & Reality Mix Tracklisting
Cali P – Herbist – Gorilla Riddim
Mr Williamz & Franz Job – Viva Marijuana–Gorilla Riddim
Chucki Starr – Locked Away Gorilla Riddim
Macka B – Our Music– Gorilla Riddim
Da Grynch – Our Dub Gorilla Riddim –
Stephen Marley Ft. Damian Marley & Buju Banton Jah Army Jah Army Riddim
Jah Army (Instrumental) – Jah Army Riddim
Mr. Diamond – Be Carefull – Protection Riddim
Lutan Fyah – It Does a Matter – Protection Riddim
Konshens – War Straight – Protection Riddim
YT – Inna Jamaica – Protection Riddim
Step By Step Instrumental –Step By Step Riddim
Lion Fiyah – Divinity Within –Step By Step Riddim
Anthony B – Wonderful World – Step By Step Riddim
Step By Step Instrumental –Step By Step Riddim
Spragga Benz feat. Marcia Griffths – No Way No How (Main) Shotta Culture
Ginjah – Dem Talking – Dem Talking Riddim
Norris Man – Inna Time Like This – Dem Talking Riddim
Chezidek – Cyaan Cut Me Ganja – Dem Talking Riddim
Brusco & I-Octane – Nuh Care – Mama Africa Riddim
Khari Kill & Lion D + – Strength – Mama Africa Riddim
Million Stylez –Jah is Worthy –Mama Africa Riddim
Hustlin' Instrumental – Hustlin' Riddim
Peetah Morgan – Di Government – Hustlin' Riddim
Konshens – The Way Life Goes – Hustlin' Riddim
J-Boog – Coldest Zone – Hustlin' Riddim
Hustlin' Instrumental Hustlin' Riddim Hustlin' Version
Anthony Cruz – Who Dem The Camel Riddim
Pad Anthony – Life is A Treasure – The Camel Riddim
Zareb – Fyah Red – The Camel Riddim
DJ Pensativo – Baldhead Instrumental – Baldhead Riddim
Al Pancho Dem Fightin – Baldhead Riddim
Jah Fabio & Dada Yute – Pagans Baldhead Riddim
Jahknight Revolution time Baldhead Riddim
DJ Pensativo – Baldhead Instrumental – Baldhead Riddim
Pressure – Jah Love – Message Riddim
Million Stylez Brighter Days – Message Riddim
CeCile – Rise Up – Message Riddim
Anthony B – Sing To Me
Katalyst – Day Into Night feat. Stephanie McKay
Irie Ites – Billie Jean Riddim (Hip Hop Mix) – Billie Jean Riddim
Daddy Rings – Ganja Pipe (Hip Hop Mix) – Billie Jean Riddim
Spectacular – Born In the Ghetto (Hip Hop Mix) – Billie Jean Riddim
Lutan Fyah – I Bun Police (Hip Hop Mix) – Billie Jean Riddim
Ificial Riddim – Ifficial Instrumental Version – Ificial Riddim
Monsoon - Jah – Ificial Riddim
Kali Blaxx – Nah Trust Dem – Ificial Riddim
Ificial Riddim –Instrumental Version – Ificial Riddim
Cali P. – The Champion – Strange Things Riddim
Pressure – Ina Dancehall – Strange Things Riddim
Flex Remix In the Clash Tonight –Strange Things Riddim

DJ Tomas: The Reggae Buzz Mix April 2010 (Part 1)

DJ Tomas from Umoja Hi-Fi presents a 90 minute mix of new singles and recent riddims inna jugglin' stylee. Big Respects and shouts to my crew Umoja Hi-Fi International (Daz, CoknI O'Dire, Jun, Culture D, Destroyer, Stevie G and B-Love), thanks to MC ZULU and G-Whizz for the drops, big respects to all the labels and reggae promotions ites, 21st Productions, Rude Gal, Soul of the Lion, Truckback, Reggae Russ, LaFamilie, Pressure Sounds UK,VP/Greensleeves, Nathaniel Watkins, Shanty Vibes, Boardhouse,Reggae Roast, Umerah, Redbud Records, DeeCee, Irish & Chin, Pierce Stacy, Robert Rankin, Spliff Skankin, Massive Sounds, XLR8R Magazine Crew, Lud Dub, Katya, Big Up Magazine and alla dem supporting DJ Tomas and Umoja Sound.

ARTIST – TITLE _ RIDDIM _ LABEL
MC ZULU – The Buzz Mix!
G Whiz – Umoja Hi-Fi Drop
Monsoon – As Salaam Alekum Mama Africa (Slabash)
Alborosie – Global War (Greensleeves)
Rockers Roots – Blessed By Music (LaFamille)
John John – Zion Gate Instrumental (Zion Gate Riddim)
Sanchez – Mad Love For You (Zion Gate Riddim)
Tarrus Riley – Sweet Jamaica (Zion Gate Riddim)
Alborosie – Rudie Dont Fear (Zion Gate Riddim)
Delly Ranks – Ice Cream Love Ft. Johnny Osbourne
Courtney John – Have You Seen Her (Soon Forward Riddim)
Etana – Heart Broken (VP)
Maestro Riddim Instrumental (Weedy G)
Donovan Levy – Ghetto Youth (Maestro Riddim) (Weedy G)
Blakkice Ft Faya Saga – Strictly Sensimilla (Maestro Riddim) (Weedy G)
Anthony B – Pressure (Maestro Riddim) (Weedy G)
Raw Moon Prods – Focus Riddim Instrumental (Digital Link)
Freddie Mcgregor – Struggle (Focus Riddim) (Digital Link)
Anthony Cruz – A Wha Dis (Focus Riddim) (Digital Link)
Fragga Ranks – Focus (Focus Riddim) (Digital Link)
Sugar Minott – Take It Slow (Binghi Riddim) (Twilight Circus)
Michael Rose – A Little Bit More (Binghi Riddim) (Twilight Circus)
Daddy Shark – Earth Foundation (Binghi Riddim) (Twilight Circus)
Chezidek – Right Time (Proverbs Riddim) (Lustre Kings)
Chrisinti – Same Hands (Proverbs Riddim) (Lustre Kings)
Lutan Fyah – Slow To Anger (Proverbs Riddim) (Lustre Kings)
Nahswitch – Marijuana (Yard Intl)
Oliver Smoothe – Read Your Mind (VP)
Rosey – Love (Bost & Bim Dub) (Quango)
Rosey – Love (Bost & Bim Remix) Quango)
Leftside – Welcome To JA Instrumental (The Official Riddim) (Keep Left)
Syon – Lonely (The Official Riddim) (Keep Left)
Makeida – Informer (The Official Riddim) (Keep Left)
Leftside Feat Lloyd – Parks Welcome To JA (The Official Riddim) (Keep Left)
Konshens –All About You (Stronga Riddim) (Liv Up)
Mr. Vegas And Daville – Enemies (Stronga Riddim) (Liv Up)
Anthony B – Goodlife (Stronga Riddim) (Liv Up)
Mini G Feat Mr Easy – Summertime (Real Rock Riddim)
Sound Dimension – Real Rock
Tarrus Riley – Young Hearts (VP)
The Hempolics – Serious Dub (Reggae Roast)
The Hempolics – Serious (Reggae Roast)
Gappy Ranks – Butterfiles (Johnny Too Bad Riddim) (Greensleeves)
John John – Water Pumpin Instrumental (Water Pumpin Riddim)
Sanchez – Trust In Me (Water Pumpin Riddim)
Gentleman – Good Old Days (Water Pumpin Riddim)
Johnny Osbourne – Water Pumping (Water Pumpin Riddim)
Aswad – Riddim Medley – Water Pumping (Water Pumpin Riddim)

In 1992 I was a few years into hosting Reggae Music Forward, a weekly reggae radio show on KXLU Los Angeles. The program focused on new dancehall and modern roots music, with some foundation and old cuts in thrown in as well. But 1992 was also a turning point for reggae in general; it was a peak moment of the newly ascendant dancehall era and major American labels had been on a dancehall and reggae artist signing binge for a few years. Tiger, Mad Cobra, Supercat, Shabba Ranks and others all cut major label deals and their music began being remixed and merged with other urban genres. Hence, a good portion of this broadcast features reggae-hip-hop remixes that were popular at the time. These tracks are mixed back to back, using the station’s rudimentary belt-drive Techniques turntables. The blends are not all perfect, but live mixing was an innovation back then, especially on college radio. The set was recorded to cassette and I have edited out the breaks and back announcing. I believe this set is a good representation of not only the prominent styles of the time, but also the strong ties with hip-hop. It’s amazing to think that “Murder She Wrote” – which is possibly the world’s most recognizable dancehall anthem -- had only just come out. Bogle-dance rhythms like Shabba’s “Ting A Ling” were dominant. At the same time, roots singers like Cocoa Tea and Garnet Silk were starting to revive the dormant melodic reggae scene. All in all, this is a snapshot of ragga 92-style, blasting from the Los Angeles nighttime airwaves. I hope you enjoy this radio selections, and I plan to bring a few more from this era forward this year. [DJ Tomas, January 2010]

Ragga 92 Style – A Radio Mix Track Listing
Reggie Stepper – Soldierman
Buju Banton – Bring Yu Body Come
Cutty Ranks – Open Up
Apache Scratchy – Girls Look Good
Jamalski – Lets Do It In The Dancehall
Fu Schnickens – The Generals
Nubian Crackers – Two For The Time
Whorl’ A Girls – X-Amount
The Rhythmmasters – The Rush
The Ragga Twins + Navigator – Lock Up
Nicodemus – Ride In A Town
Chaka Demus & Pliers – Murder She Wrote
Skullman – Je t'aime
Delly Fresh – Ungrateful Lover
Cutty Ranks – A Who Say Mi Done
Chaka Demus & Pliers – The Boom
Shabba Ranks – Ting A Ling
Terror Fabulous – Satisfaction
Wayne Wonder – Heal The World
Sugar Black – Mama Africa
Cocoa Tea – Forward To Africa
Jack Radics – I’ll Be Sweeter
Freddie McGregor –Artebella
Wailing Souls – Shark Attack

This is an audio lecture that was fist presented in April 2009 at the EMP Pop Conference in Seattle, WA.

Hosts Tomas Palermo (DJ Tomas) and Ron Nachmann (DJ Shockman) extricate the differences between British Lovers Rock and Jamaican Romantic Reggae music.

We run through the history of each style as well as some pf each musics' impact on gender and expression in their respective countries.

Read the full summary here: http://tinyurl.com/q5pmqs

A 77 Minute Dubstep Journey.

Dub I.D. Intro
Earlyworm – Dub King Killah – Rommmate Remix (Voltage Music)
OSC Vs. DJG ft. Budros Gali– One_Mile_High (Full Melt)
Alborosie – Police Polizia – Noah D & Roommate Remix (dub)
Chimpo – Children of Israel (Contagious)
Quantum Soul – Dream Catcher (Galvanize)
Dubblestandart – We All Have To Get High (Tom Watson Dubstep Rmx) (Subatomic Sound)
RSD – Kingfisher (Earwax)
Jack Sparrow – For Me (Earwax)
Dub I.D. – Wagonist (Voltage dub)
Quest & Eskmo – Speaker’s Corner – Eskmo & Antiserum Remix (Cyberfunk)
The Widdler – Sensi Samurai (Studio Rockers)
Reso – Spooky (Civil Music)
Skream – Percression (Tectonic)
Howie B Vs. Casio Royale – Royale Sound – Ramadanman Remix (Howie’s)
Scuba – Ruptured – Surgeon Remix (Hotflush)
Komonazmuk – Bad Apple (Hench)
Shut Up & Dance – Epileptic – Martyn Remix (SUAD)
Sideshow – If Alone – Appleblim & Komonazmuk Remix (Aus)
Eskmo – Willow Grail (Studio Rockers)
Headhunter – In Motion (Tempa)
Skream – Rimz (Tempa)
2562 – Walkover (Tectonic)
Simien & Obeah Feat. Ilawy – Waiting (Kraken)
Bakir & Dubsworth – Pudding Pop (Dubsalive)
Earlyworm – Nile Dread – Kush Arora Lonely Stretes Remix (Voltage Music)
Scuba – Tense (Hotflush)
Dub I.D. – Heed Jah Word (Voltage Dub)

Umoja Hi-Fi Kwanzaa Series: DJ Tomas
"Strictly Bubbling – Rub-A-Dub Reggae Selection"

Cornell Campbell – Rope In
Michigan & Smiley – One Love Jamdown
Freddie McGregor – Big Ship
Triston Palmer – Entertainment
Jah Thomas/Toyan – Two Bad DJ Afi Talk
Philip Fraser/Dillinger – Stop The Fussing & Fighting
Prince Jazzbo – Old Time Days
Sugar Minott – Inna Dancehall Style
Sugar Minott/Charlie Chaplain – 4-Wheel Wheely
Wayne Jarrett – Chip In
Ranking Joe/General Lee – To Jah
General Lee – Slam Bam
Lee Van Cleef – Boom Salute
Carlton Livingstone – Chalice In Hand
Dennis Brown – Caress Me Girl
Cocoa Tea – Rocking Dolly
Dillinger – No Promises
Anthony Johnson – Oh Jah
Junior Murvin – Bad Man Posse
Gregory Isaacs – Storm
Tappa Zukie – Oh Lord
Yellowman/Peter Metro – Gregory Free
Jimmy Riley – Love & Devotion
General Echo – Drunken Master
Sly & Robbie – Love & Devotion version
Carlton Livingstone – Don’t Follow Rumour
Yellowman/Peter Metro – Jamaica Nice (Canada Cold)
Peter Metro/Lady Ann – Bossanova
Sugar Minott – Uptown Girl
Edi Fitzroy – Princess Black
Sammy Dread – Rude Boy
Lone Ranger – M16
Johnny B – Rub-A-Dub
Earl Cunningham – Violence and Crime
King Tubby – Shank-I-Shek
Brigadeer Jerry – In The Ghetto
Johnny Osbourne – Water Pumping
Frankie Paul – Worries In The Dance
Toyan – Spar Wid Me
Nicodemus – Bubble Nicodemus
U-Roy/Gladiators – Natty Rebel

Big respect and dedication to the Umoja Crew: Cokni O’ Dire, Daz, Culture D, Jun, Stevie G, B-Love. Much love to the Bay Area foundation godfathers Massive Sound International — Spliff Skankin and Robert Rankin, big up Brixton Hitman - the radio Don, thanks Lloyd Brown for the drop. This mix was done live with 7”-45 vinyl and digital tracks via Serato and processed with GarageBand. Thanks to all who support and love reggae, Jamaican music and culture. Umoja sends everyone blessings for Kwanzaa and the New Year: Oh-Nine Gonna Be Well Fine! (This episode is cross-posted at http://umojahifi.podomatic.com)