Music Travel Guide – Details, episodes & analysis

If there's one musician who truly embodies resilience, it's Lakecia Benjamin.

Just a couple of weeks ago, at the 60th Jazzfest Berlin, I had the privilege of sitting down with powerhouse saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin for an inspiring conversation.
 
Throughout her career, she's played alongside legends like Anita Baker, the Count Basie Orchestra, Harry Belafonte, Stevie Wonder, the Roots, Missy Elliott, Alicia Keys, and so many more.
 
After a serious car accident in 2021, Lakecia didn't just bounce back—she wrote new music that would become her latest album, Phoenix, earning three Grammy nominations. Her journey shows just how far small steps forward can go.
 
Lakecia opened up about her roots growing up in Washington Heights, New York, a predominantly Dominican neighbourhood pulsing with Latin music.

She shared insights into her 2020 album Pursuance: The Coltranes, her triple Grammy-nominated 2023 Phoenix, the influence of Alice and John Coltrane, and the courage it takes to reveal your authentic self to an online audience as an independent artist.
 
I saw Lakecia in an incredible concert at Quasimodo.

What impressed me the most was her attitude. I had to think of what Miles Davis once said: "Anybody can play. The note is only 20 percent. The attitude of the motherfucker who plays it is 80 percent." The concert wasn't just music, it was a party with all of us - we all celebrated life and women in music.

I love her story, her truth and her drive.
 
Enjoy listening! 🎧 

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If you’ve ever found yourself relaxing on the couch with a warm cup of tea, lost in thought about your day, Cecily’s beautiful music is exactly what you need to enhance those moments.
 
Cecily is an amazing vocalist and songwriter based in DC, known for her soothing and rich voice. She describes her music as a blend of soul with strong influences from jazz, 90’s R&B, and a touch of folk.

She’s shared the stage with some incredible talent, opening for award-winning artists like Gregory Porter and Jose James, as well as R&B stars like Johnny Gill, Kenny Lattimore, and Elle Varner. She’s even performed alongside folk artist Becca Stevens and alternative soul pioneer Bilal. 

Just this past June, she released Awakening Pt. II, the follow-up to her critically acclaimed 2019 project Awakening Pt. I. I had the pleasure of chatting with her virtually on Zoom, and it was truly inspiring. 

We explored her musical influences, reminisced about her experiences at the Umbria Jazz Festival, and discussed her connection to Gil Scott-Heron. We also delved into the messages and creative process behind Awakening Pt. II.
 
We wrapped up our conversation by talking about her approach to songwriting and the challenges of releasing an album independently. It was such a delightful exchange, and I really hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed our conversation! 🎧

Let's talk about today's episode:
 
👉🏻 Let's connect on Instagram
 
👉🏻 Drop me a note at hello@musictravelguide.net

Nicola Conte, a talented Italian DJ, producer, guitarist, and bandleader, has gained recognition for his distinctive contributions to the acid jazz genre. Growing up in the charming city of Bari in southern Italy, he always had a deep passion for expressing himself through music.

Inspired by his journeys to London and influenced by what was happening between jazz and clubs in the UK with people like Paul Murphy and Gilles Peterson, Nicola embarked on a mission to cultivate an alternative cultural scene by putting on parties with other forward-thinking DJs and musicians within Bari.

This led him to establish the renowned Fez Club - a vibrant space where individuals could fully immerse themselves in an entirely new world inspired by London's dynamic cultural landscape. In doing so, Nicola laid the groundwork for what would become known as the Italian acid jazz movement. Through his creativity and musical prowess, Nicola has left an indelible mark on the industry while continuing to captivate audiences worldwide with his unique soundscapes.

I'm highly grateful for having the chance to sit down with Nicola, as he also shared advice on spreading culture by studying music and great insights for aspiring DJs and musicians who want to express themselves through music. Enjoy listening! 🎧

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Alogte Oho is the number one Frafra gospel artist from within the vibrant music scene of Bolgatanga in Northern Ghana. Bolgatanga and its environs are the birthplace of most of the musicians in Frafra country and, thus, the cultural epicentre of northern Ghana.

At thirteen, Oho joined the church choir, deeply impressed by its energy and spirituality, and gained his first experience of professional studio recordings. In 2013, Oho met German producer Max Weissenfeldt, with whom he recorded the internationally acclaimed album 'Mam Yinne Wa'. (2013)

In today's episode, I Oho and Max Weissenweldt will take you on a journey to what Frafra Gospel really is, the story of their first meeting in Ghana, and the inspirations behind their latest works; above all, 'O Yinne!' (Album, 2023).

Having the chance to meet Oho and Max was an absolute delight. It provided a valuable opportunity to gain insight into a scene I genuinely hope will flourish and make its mark globally. Enjoy listening! 🎧

Curious to know about our Club Membership?

By joining the Music Travel Guide Club, you open up to exciting community events and broaden your music knowledge through our guest speaker's insights.

You can learn more and join the CLUB MEMBERSHIP HERE. 👈🏻

On this Club members-only Talk Series, I am excited to welcome multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, DJ, and collector Mauricio Fleury.

For over two decades, Mauricio has been a dynamic presence in the vibrant city of São Paulo.

For the last 20 years, Mauricio has been on the road and in studio with great artists from Brazil and abroad, such as Gal Costa, João Donato, Bixiga 70, Tony Allen, Quantic, and Marlena Shaw.

Mauricio discusses one of the most underrated Brazilian genius, Pedro Santos. As a first track, we listened to Desengano da Vista - a track included in Pedro dos Santos' 1968 psychedelic Brazilian masterpiece Krishnanda.

I am very grateful to Mauricio for generously giving his time, humour and insightful anecdotes.

Speaking of our Club, I am thrilled to announce that our brand-new Community Membership is about to open its door officially. 🎉

For this occasion, we invite you to join us on JUNE 27 at 7 pm (CEST) for a special FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY EVENT in conversation with Red Bird and Strokovic.

Get ready to connect with fellow music lovers and meet DJs, musicians, producers and singers/songwriters worldwide.

SAVE YOUR FREE SPOT RIGHT AWAY HERE

We can't wait to meet you!

In today's episode, I sit down with Berlin-based jazz poet, vocalist and pianist Sean Haefeli to discuss his thinking process in jazz poetry and how Strata Records - The Sound of Detroit Reimagined by Jazzanova (Album - 2022) came to life. I hope you take something amazing from our chat! Enjoy the listening 🎧

Want to join a community of black music lovers?

📆 Do not miss our next Online Meetup on April 4 at 7 pm (CET)

🎶 Meet great music enthusiasts and connect with DJs, musicians, & Record collectors.

Secure your free spot NOW

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In today's episode, I sit down with the great London-based saxophonist and composer Camilla George to discover more about the new UK jazz scene revival and her latest release 'Ibio-Ibio' (Album - 2022). Listen in and enjoy this insightful chat! 🎧🙂

Want to join a community of black music lovers?

Do not miss our first Community Event on March 25 at Rhinoçeros in Berlin.

Meet great music enthusiasts and join us for an inspiring afternoon to explore Afro-Brazilian music with Mauricio Fleury.

Secure your ticket

Is there something particular you'd love to share/ask me?

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Connect with Music Travel Guide:

Subscribe to the monthly newsletter to keep updated on our next events and receive a curated list of the best jazz events and club nights in Berlin.

Follow Music Travel Guide on Instagram.

Want to support Music Travel Guide? ❤️

So if you value everything I share and want to support Music Travel Guide in preserving the legacy of black music, buy me a "coffee" here.

Thank you so much for your support! 🙏

The Paradise Garage. One of the most important and influential clubs in New York. Michele Saunders, a Parisian native turned lifelong New Yorker, knows it well. Growing up listening to her father's records, Michele found her passion in exploring the crossroads between Jazz and Rock at least. Her lifelong passion for music took shape when she moved to America, catching the world-famous Amateur night at the Apollo Theatre in Haarlem and experiencing the legendary Paradise Garage alongside Larry Levan. In today's chat, we discussed all this, starting from her childhood, the time spent in New York City in the 70s and 80s and, of course, the legendary Paradise Garage.

Enjoy listening 🎧

Today's episode is sponsored by L.U.V. YOUR HOUSE - House Music Dj Collective Berlin.

Don't miss their live set at Paloma Bar on Thursday, February 9.

02:50 Growing up listening to Jazz

06:18 James Balwin & The Cellar

08:00 The introduction at the Paradise Garage

14:02 A church on the dancefloor

15:27 The music at the Paradise Garage

16:59 New York Dance Music Culture in the early '80s

21:20 Larry Levan

23:47 The last night at the Paradise Garage

27:53 The history NYC club Better Days

Would you like to discuss today's episode with a global community of music enthusiasts?

Music Travel Guide is an online and in-person music lover community hosting speaking events on record collecting and all things black music.

Join us on February 7 for the next ONLINE Music Travel Guide Meetup!

👉 Free Registrations Here

Connect with Music Travel Guide:

Subscribe to the monthly newsletter to keep updated on our next events and receive a curated list of the best jazz events and club nights in Berlin.

Follow Music Travel Guide on Instagram.

Want to support Music Travel Guide? ❤️

So if you value everything I share with you and want to support Music Travel Guide in preserving the legacy of black music, you can buy me a "coffee" here.

Thank you so much for your support! 🙏

"I felt more connected to the keyboard because it just encompasses everything. You can play rhythm, bass, harmony and melody." The keyboard. That's how I met Àbáse. Such an exceptional and pure talent. Szabolcs blends rhythms and melodies from all over the world. He has been living in Berlin since 2018, growing up in Budapest and listening to jazz and hip-hop. The two biggest influences are Africa and Brazil. In all this, his love for creating creative black music. In today's episode, we started talking about his first steps into music, the importance of living in Rio de Janerio and Salvador discovering Brazilian music legends, to his latest album, "Laroyê",.

I hope you enjoy the exchange! 🙂🎙

09:36 The importance of club culture

11:46 Hip-Hop: the biggest inspiration

16:27 Exploring Brazil and its music culture

21:59 The creation process behind "Laroyê" (Album - 2021)

32:57 Salvador: the cradle of Brazil's Afro-Brazilian heritage

36:36 Marcos Valle

37:40 Àbáse's musical concept

40:00 Àbáse & Stevo Atambire (Album "Invocation" - 2019)

Want to join a community of black music lovers, musicians and vinyl collectors worldwide?

Join us on December 13th for the next ONLINE Music Travel Guide Meetup!

Free Registrations Here 👉 https://www.eventbrite.de/e/music-travel-guide-meetup-virtual-edition-djs-musicians-vinyl-lovers-tickets-473959404337

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Today, it's my birthday! For the occasion, I've decided to share a special interview with Tim Lawrence, one of the most profoundly passionate music historians of the New York Dance scene of the 70s and early 80s I have ever met. And what better day to honour the legacy of David Mancuso? Birthdays. David loved birthdays. In the children's home where he grew up, Sister Alicia used to hold birthday parties for all the kids under her care.

I've spoken about this with Tim Lawrence and the other issues related to the music at The loft, David Mancuso and the History Of New York City party culture. Tim is a Professor of Cultural Studies and Co-director of the Centre for Cultural Studies Research. He teaches music and is the author of seminal books. One above all, "Love saves the day". A brilliant documentation of the dance and disco scene in New York during the 1970s with interviews from key players in the era, such as Frankie Knuckles, Francis Grasso, Nicky Siano, etc. In today's interview, Tim passionately shared the details and his own experiences. Honestly, it was more than an interview. I wish I could spend more time listening to Tim, shedding light on the contribution of music legends and what New York in the 70s was all about.

I hope you will experience the same! ✨

Enjoy listening 🎙

03:18 Tim and its first connection to music

09:14 House Music and New York City in the early 1990's

14:29 Little Louie Vega and the new epitome of NY Dance Music Culture

16:35 The meeting with David Mancuso

20:08 The Loft - A genuine underground party music

24:14 David Mancuso's philosophy: entering into a music conversation

27:50 Love Saves The Day

34:22 The music at The Loft

49:30 Paradise Garage, Larry Levan, Frankie Knuckles inspired by The Loft

52:20 The Loft vs Studio 54

57:01 "Joy" -The Party in New York City (2017)

Thanks for listening ✨

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Thank you so much for your support! 🙏