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Monday, April 22, 2013

058° .A PORTRAIT OF MANU BOUBLI IN 17 TRACKS AND 85 QUESTIONS.

While 2010 and 2011, I've been lucky enough to have Manu and Paulo as my bosses, at Superfly Records! One year and a half where I've learned so much. I'll never be able to thank them enough for the trust they put in me and for the inestimable knowledge they shared with me!
In between, I also have to admit that those years has been extremely valuable to my humble record collection ('Basement vol.1 & vol.2 among other).

The pictures and questions that follows has been made while those years and stayed in my hard-drive until now. Pics has been shot at Manu's place and while a digging trip in Brussels.

And as always, the questions are accompanied by a 17 tracks compilation selected by Manu through his own record collection!
A mixture of Spiritual and Afro rooted Jazz, West Indies Fusion, Obscure Rare Groove, Latin, Afro Psych and Vocal Jazz.
Enjoy!

Born on November 15th 1965 in Paris.
Raised in Paris during the 70's amongst different varieties of music : Psychedelic rock, free jazz, french songwriters, Gregorian chants and classical music, reggae & rocksteady, ...
Beginning of the 80ʼs...Paris is burning, the Palace is the place to be… Rocking on The Specials, The Clash, LKJ, Devo, Kraftwerk, ...
End of the 80ʼs... While pursuing studies in politics, starts Djing at the Bus Palladium in Paris spinning a mix of californian music with funk, soul and hip-hop.
Early 90ʼs... Important figure in the birth of the acid-jazz parisian scene managing and DJing for 8 years at the Cithea Club in Paris.
Compiler of the first bar compilation in France (ʻCithea Liveʼin 1995) and starts working with live bands including M, Magic Malik Orchestra, Tony Allen, ...
1998 ... Founder of Comet Records, home of Tony Allen, Bumcello, Doctor L, ...
Spin eclectic DJ sets worldwide (Tokyo, Toronto, Shanghai, Moscow, Paris, Lisbon, London, Hong Kong, …), write for various magazines, compile Rare Groove collections ('Modern Afro Rythms' on Comet or ʻThe Vibeʼ for BMG) and deal worldwide highly collectible records.
Producer & remixer as well with Rare Moods, together with his pal Doctor L.
2005 … Starts a new label, Mind Records, blending afro, folk and jazz influences...
2007 … With his new company Dizzyness Music, works as sound designer for fashion company and Italian design company.
2009 … Launching with Paulo Goncalves a record shop based in Paris and specialized in vynil, both new and collectors; Superfly Records.
2010 ... Superfly Records became also a record label specialized in reissuing rare and collectible records in limited top quality vinyl edition.

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While 2010 and 2011, I've been lucky enough to have Manu and Paulo as my bosses, at Superfly Records! One year and a half where I've learned so much. I'll never be able to thank them enough for the trust they put in me and for the inestimable knowledge they shared with me!
In between, I also have to admit that those years has been extremely valuable to my humble record collection ('Basement vol.1 & vol.2 among other).

The pictures and questions that follows has been made while those years and stayed in my hard-drive until now. Pics has been shot at Manu's place and while a digging trip in Brussels.

And as always, the questions are accompanied by a 17 tracks compilation selected by Manu through his own record collection!
A mixture of Spiritual and Afro rooted Jazz, West Indies Fusion, Obscure Rare Groove, Latin, Afro Psych and Vocal Jazz.
Enjoy!


01° CAPUCINE - Les éléphants    taken from 'Capucine' Lp
02° HENRI TEXIER - Amir    taken from his 'Amir' Lp
03° CHAMPAIGN CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ BAND - Turkish Bath    taken from their 'Jazz 71' Lp
04° AFRICAN AMERICAN JAZZ ENSEMBLE - Funky Nassau    taken from their 'Malcom X College' Lp
05° THE GALE BELLE QUARTET - Taste Of Honey    taken from the 'Plays Euphoria in Jazz' Lp
06° EDMONY KRATER ET ZEPISS - Tijan    taken from their 'Tijan Pou Velo' Lp
07° SONNY STITT - Summertime    taken from his 'When Sonny Blows Blue' Lp
08° SOCIETY OF SEVEN - Summertime    taken from their 'Simply Ourselves' Lp
09° GEORGE SHEARING - Aquarius    taken from his 'The Way We Are' Lp
10° MENELIK WOSSENACHEW - Chereka    taken from the self-titled 7"
11° FRANCO et l’orchestre O.K. JAZZ - Ikuwa Ndinga    taken from the self-titled 7"
12° ORCHESTRE TEMBO - Yebo Edi Pachanga    taken from the self-titled 7"
13° WILLIE COLON - The Hustler    taken from his 'The Hustler' Lp
14° ORQUESTA INTERNATIONAL - Mucho Control    taken from their 'Mima la Pululera' Lp
15° SHADES OF JOY - Icarus Revealed    taken from their self-titled Lp
16° STEVE KUHN - The Meaning of Love    taken from his self-titled Lp
17° JAZZ CO/OP - À La Coltrane    taken from his self-titled Lp

Name: Manu Boubli
Birth: 15/11/1965 - Paris / France
Astrologic Sign: Scorpio
Nationality: French
Religious View: No
Political View: No more!
Family Status: Married
Kids: 4 (3 girls + 1 boy)!
City you live in: Paris
Activity: Dj / Producer / Sound Designer / Record Shop Owner
Digging Since: End of the 80's!
Website: SuperflyRecords.com

Main styles present in your record collection:
Jazz & Rare Groove (all kind of grooves, really...)

Little name dropping of musicians you're/you've been listening the most often:
Coltrane / Sun Ra / Fela Kuti / Yusef Lateef / ...

Initiators / Person(s) that brings you into music:
So many at different periods! First my parents (Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin,...). Then the resident Dj at Bus Palladium during the 80's (Gil Scott-Heron, Maze,...) and finally Gilles Peterson...

The first record/artist that strike you as far as you remember, while kid:
Surprisingly, always think as The Clash 'London Calling' as the most influential/important Lp for me as a kid!

Records that changed your musical approach:
Too many to name them! My musical approach's main point is keeping my ears open!

Three musical UFO's:
- Sun ra 'Sleeping Beauty' (Saturn)
- Cymande 'The Message' (Janus)
- Fela Kuti 'Shakara' (Afrodisia)

According to you, some of the best:
. Musician: John Coltrane
. Band: Funkadelic
. Lyricist: Terry Callier
. Singer: James Brown
. Producer: Charles Stepney
. Dj: Quest Love from the Roots! Best party Dj ever!
. Label: Blue Note
. Instrument: Fender Rhodes
. Blog: Not one in particular but all those Jazz related blogs that brings rare music available for everyone at no cost!

Favorite Format: LP definitely!

Favorite place to dig: Record shop for sure!

Favorite record shop: Disk Union Shibuya, Tokyo. Amazing, truly!

According to you, the best city in the world to dig:
Would say NewYork & Tokyo... both are great!

4 best records collected:
- Joki Freund Sextet 'Yogi Jazz' (CBS/Germany)
- Mulatu of Ethiopia 'Same' (Worthy/Usa)
- Bobby Paunetto 'The Modern Sound of' (Mardi Gras/Usa)
- Elysian Spring 'Same" (Despa/Usa)

The best piece you ever find, the rarest, your best lucky find:
Probably the Ricardo Marrero Lp 'A Taste' on TSG! Found it in a Paris record fair for 6 euros!

The best deal ever made:
Manage to get all Saba Lp's from my uncle collection for free! I'm talking about Mark Murphy, Nathan Davis, Fats Sadi, Novi Singers, Tony Scott,...!

The best miss:
Left one day an original of 'Sons & Daughters of Lite', did not know what it was! Got another copy since...

The best swindle:
One of my first trade in London! Gave the guy Noel Mc Ghie & Doris (Originals!) and got in trade a Dave Pike on Mps and a Dizzy Gillespie on Perception!

The first record you bought: Hard to remember... Probably a bad 45...
The last record you bought: Some crapy 20cts records at Boulimier! But who knows?

The most expensive record you bought? At what price? Wich seller?
Always manage to trade expensive records! Maybe an obscure Private West-Indies Jazz record, 'Guadeloupe Reflexion', bought 350€ to a friend of mine!

The unfound yet:
So many! If I think of one, probably David Lee Jr on Supernal!

Best track ever:
. to kill the dancefloor: 'Nuther'n Like Thuther'n' by Willis Jackson
. to believe: 'Love is Everywhere' by Pharoah Sanders
. for your funerals: 'I Can't Keep from Crying Sometimes' by The Deirdre Wilson Tabac

Track
of The Week: The new Cee-Lo track 'I Want You'!
of the Month: Mark Capanni 'I Believe in Miracles' on Jazzman!
of the Year: Steve Kuhn 'The Meaning of Love' on Buddah!

Please quote 5 persons that, according to you, changed musical history:
Chuck Berry / Bob Marley / James Brown / John Coltrane / Fela Kuti

3 stroking personnalities according to you, of the last century:
Malcom X / Pelé / Stanley Kubrick

3 words to describe what politics needs nowadays:
Honesty, Non Profit, Solidarity

In few words, what does 'independant/underground culture' make you think of:
Soon to be popular!

Your favorite writers:
James Elroy, Chester Himes, Gil Scott-Heron,...

Your favorite type of literature: Mostly Thriller

Favorite books about music: Record cover books are my fav!

Favorite magazine / newspaper: Wax Poetics!

Do you like comics? If yes, please quote your 3 favorites:
Used to be deep into comics! So let's say Old School... The Silver Surfer, Wolverine & The Fantastic 4

One or two favorite director and why in a few words/adjectives:
Stanley Kubrick - Genius
Martin Scorcese - Deep & Dope

Favorite movies: Too many!

Favorite OST: Bullit / Blow Up / Get Carter

Favorite movies melting cinematic and musical qualities:
Ralph Bakshi's movies (Frits The Cat, Coonskin,...)

Favorite philosophical subject: What's life for ?

Some of your most loved painter or graphic artist:
Lichtenstein, Warhol & all Pop Art artists.
Futura, Emory Douglas, Basquiat, Matti Klarwein,...

Favorite museum: Beaubourg in Paris, Moma & Guggenheim in NY!

The first show you attempted:
Bob Marley Live in Paris at Le Bourget (I was probably 12 or 13)

The last: Gilles P & Theo Parrish in Paris last week!

What was the job you wanted to do while kid: Doctor or Football player!

One thing that changed your life: Girls!

Please quote three other passions that jazz your life: Party, Sport & Sex!

Favorite
. Dance: Jerk
. Meal: Pasta, all kind
. Drink: Whisky Sour
. Drug: Weed
. Way of transport: Vespa
. Animal: Dog (big)
. Sport: Football for sure! OM forever!

The best visited country:
So many! Usa obviously, but China is amazing, Japan very intense, Thaïland so cool, Sweden very friendly, ...

Next country you would like to visit: Australia / New Zealand!

Best place to play record: Small club / beautiful people!

Best place to make party: Beach party!

One sentence that could be a device:
"Who know what tomorrow may bring"

Three words to describe digging: Exiting, Intrigging, Learn!

Three wishes: Peace / Love / Harmony

Last kind words: Music is the weapon!


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Don't forget to check one of the best online record catalog available for sell at:
www.superflyrecords.com

9 comments:

  1. Portrait et courrier absolument parfait...
    Je me sens presque ridicule à côté de Manu et les autres...
    Les photos illustrées sont des pures chefs d'oeuvres.

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    Replies
    1. Nicolas! Merci!
      Merci 1000 fois pour ton commentaire! Tu me laisses sans voix avec les pommettes qui rougissent...! Il n'y a qu'un point sue lequel je ne suis absolument pas d'accord... (2eme ligne, 5eme mot) mais alors pas d'accord du tout! C'est d'ailleurs vraiment dommage que l'on est pas eu le temps de faire qqch avant mon départ... ce n'est que partie remise et je te promet que lors de mon prochain passage en France on va s'occuper de ce problème en priorité! Enfin si tu es tjs d'accord! :)
      Merci encore pour tout! Et à vite j'espère!
      Abraços,
      fred.

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  2. What a great look — and deep content. I'm sure the sounds will be fine. Thanks.

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    Replies
    1. Many thanks to you Jonathan! Hope you enjoyed the sounds!
      All the best, fred.

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  3. Quel bonheur que cette compil !! Vous me direz, on ne pouvait pas en attendre moins de la part du fondateur de Comet Records, Monsieur à qui je dois des heures et de heures de bonheur, la découverte de Doctor L... et - pour l'anecdote - l'exhumation ici même d'un Henri Texier que j'avais fini par croire être le seul à apprécier !
    Merci pour l'article donc et la présentation d'un grand monsieur (j'insiste !), et plus largement pour le blog.

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  4. Manu & Gilles P definitely changed my life and opened my ears forever.
    But nobody got me dancin as crazy as Manu did in the good old days at Cithéa, forever a fan :)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for your comment Tom! Wish I could have known those Cithéa's nights! Sounds like legendary!

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