95bFM: The Swap Meet

Last night's show was three hours for James Gadson, one of THE seminal drummers of soul, funk and disco, who left us this week. If you don't know the name, you almost certainly know the unmistakable 16 note accents, deep pocket playing that underpins some of the most beloved soul, funk and R&B records ever made. From the raw funk of Dyke & the Blazers and Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd St Band, through the sophistication of Phyllis Hyman and Patrice Rushen, to Bill Withers' timeless catalogue and D'Angelo proving Gadson's genius translated across generations - every track on last night's show had one thing in common, and that was the man wielding the sticks. Three hours is barely enough time to scratch the surface of what James Gadson contributed to recorded music. A session drummer at the heart of the Los Angeles soul scene, he played on an extraordinary breadth of records, often uncredited, always indispensable. We went deep to tip our hat to a true giant. Rest easy sir.

Last night's show was three hours for James Gadson, one of THE seminal drummers of soul, funk and disco, who left us this week. If you don't know the name, you almost certainly know the unmistakable 16 note accents, deep pocket playing that underpins some of the most beloved soul, funk and R&B records ever made. From the raw funk of Dyke & the Blazers and Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd St Band, through the sophistication of Phyllis Hyman and Patrice Rushen, to Bill Withers' timeless catalogue and D'Angelo proving Gadson's genius translated across generations - every track on last night's show had one thing in common, and that was the man wielding the sticks. Three hours is barely enough time to scratch the surface of what James Gadson contributed to recorded music. A session drummer at the heart of the Los Angeles soul scene, he played on an extraordinary breadth of records, often uncredited, always indispensable. We went deep to tip our hat to a true giant. Rest easy sir.

It's the Tairāwhiti takeover at the Meet today with b-boy Matty B and aural archiologist Cassawarrior joining host Campbell Ngata for essential selects to keep the b airways stocked with all the funky treats you have come to depend on for your Sunday afternoon listening pleasure.

Oogun in the area!  This edition of Swap Meet on 95bFM sees Oogun of Drunk Elephant Sound take the controls again. We have to kick off with Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 (as he's just announched a show 30 May at the Auckland Town Hall), celebrate 40 years of Anita Baker's Rapture LP. From there the show journeys through Hammond organ jazz courtesy of Jimmy Smith & Wes Montgomery, the irresistible samba groove of birthday boy Jorge Ben, Zanzibari taarab rhythms from Rashid Makame, and the hypnotic desert blues of DJ Bamanan. Rail Band and Orchestra OK Jazz bring the golden age of Malian and Congolese rumba into the mix, while Ebo Taylor and the Souljazz Orchestra represent the broader Pan-African sweep that runs through the whole set. Oogun also brings original productions - "Version for Version" and "Deep Architecture" teaming with OSC alias  sitting alongside dub selections from Mungo's Hifi, Matty G and Jaffa Sound that give the show its NuZillund reggae tip. We spin Gang Starr to salute Preem's birthday, Ethiopian jazz textures arrive via Zena's "Kazanchis" (Brownswood) and AHC's "Push Me Pull You," and the cosmic soul of Nona Hendryx and Azimuth round things out. Press the button.

Oogun in the area!  This edition of Swap Meet on 95bFM sees Oogun of Drunk Elephant Sound take the controls again. We have to kick off with Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 (as he's just announched a show 30 May at the Auckland Town Hall), celebrate 40 years of Anita Baker's Rapture LP. From there the show journeys through Hammond organ jazz courtesy of Jimmy Smith & Wes Montgomery, the irresistible samba groove of birthday boy Jorge Ben, Zanzibari taarab rhythms from Rashid Makame, and the hypnotic desert blues of DJ Bamanan. Rail Band and Orchestra OK Jazz bring the golden age of Malian and Congolese rumba into the mix, while Ebo Taylor and the Souljazz Orchestra represent the broader Pan-African sweep that runs through the whole set. Oogun also brings original productions - "Version for Version" and "Deep Architecture" teaming with OSC alias  sitting alongside dub selections from Mungo's Hifi, Matty G and Jaffa Sound that give the show its NuZillund reggae tip. We spin Gang Starr to salute Preem's birthday, Ethiopian jazz textures arrive via Zena's "Kazanchis" (Brownswood) and AHC's "Push Me Pull You," and the cosmic soul of Nona Hendryx and Azimuth round things out. Press the button.

This week the Swap Meet opened with recent gear from Benny Sings, Larry June, Moonchild, Mike, DoomCannon, Jenevieve among others. We tipped the hat to Bob Power, the legendary engineer who passed this week, so we marked the occasion with ATCQ and Roots tunes that set the bar. If you don't know what Bob Power did for hip-hop and soul read the internet until you do. From there things got loose in the best way: rare soul, boogie, Gary Clail/On-U, Millie Jackson talking about her fireplace, afrobeat cuts, hip-house, and a stretch of late-night Philly and Detroit flavours via Vikter Duplaix and Wajeed. Laura Nyro supplied the dollar bin jam from her Golden Jubilee minted record "Smile", Gladys Knight, and Kurt Elling with the WDR Big Band sending everyone home feeling like they'd been somewhere worth going. Good show. Glad you're listening back - big up yourself.

Sunday the first of March: J & K are back on deck for The Swap Meet. Turns out it was a good day to be born - Oliver Sain, Willie Mitchell, Norman Connors and Harry Belafonte all blew out candles on this date, so naturally we pay our respects. We also took a moment to celebrate some fifty-year anniversaries: Dr Tree's landmark New Zealand fusion record, the Ohio Players' Contradiction, and Kool & The Gang's Love & Understanding all turning half a century old still killing. And we said farewell to Willie Colón, the South Bronx trombone legend who helped build salsa into what it is, gone this week at 75. Fresh music from Mark de Clive-Lowe, Andrea Lombardini, Tommaso Cappelato and Larry June inside the jam too, alongside the usual gear for the weekly rummage. Press the button.

This week on the show Mr Campbell Ngata takes to the booth with dusty fingers and a crick in his neck after a serious dig through the Real Groovy sale bins. Expect a prime stack of low-cost, high-quality heat - soul, gospel, fusion, disco rap, boogie and jazz, all served up on crackly wax.

RIP Ebo Taylor! We have Isaac Tucker Drummer and DJ pops by to spin us some inspirations, and some tunes from his band Spektrum, including unreleased material. Expect Brazilian, Trini, Disco killers and much more.

Kirk's back again with another mixed bag. This time celebrating the birthdays of Al Johnson, Anderson .Paak, J Dilla, Geraldine Hunt, Major Harris, Leon Haywood & Lenny Williams. 40 year anniversaries of album releases from Nu Shooz, Princess, Gwen Guthrie, Lenny Williams & Toney Lee. All that & loads more. Turn it up & enjoy.   

RIP Ebo Taylor! We have Isaac Tucker Drummer and DJ pops by to spin us some inspirations, and some tunes from his band Spektrum, including unreleased material. Expect Brazilian, Trini, Disco killers and much more.

This week in the stack we celebrate birthdays of Joe Sample and Rick James. RIP Sly Dunbar. It's forty years since Janet Jackson's Control dropped, so that's in the mix too... Otherwise it's the usual - papering over the cracks between Brazilian boogie, Turkish psych, bit of Latin, jazz-funk, soul, whatever else made sense at the time. Three hours from the crates as usual.

Tairāwhiti in your area, bringing you what you need at the Swap Meet today! Helmed by Campbell Ngata who always brings the rare, raw and ridiculously funky, and accompanied by Cassawarrior who this week shifts his focus to the Ethiopian crates - expect the vibes to be lumpy and mesmerising, and the vocals to be otherworldly, and you left wanting more. Press the button!

Tairāwhiti in your area, bringing you what you need at the Swap Meet today! Helmed by Campbell Ngata who always brings the rare, raw and ridiculously funky, and accompanied by Cassawarrior who this week shifts his focus to the Ethiopian crates - expect the vibes to be lumpy and mesmerising, and the vocals to be otherworldly, and you left wanting more. Press the button!

Sorry for the bCast delay! This week's show was helmed by Jubt with special guest OoGuN of Drunk Elephant Sound in tow. Tunes ranged from spiritual jazz, central african electrified thumb piano, West African highlife, Syrian dance floor bangers, and heavy UK dub pressure to boot. You know what it is: from gospel, jazz fusion, or cooking it up with of Nigerian and Ghanaian music from the golden age, not to mention OoGuN's own goodies to join the mernagerie of Italian library bits, a Latin twist, something for the Deadheads, and a UK digi rarity that settles all arguments about who's the baddest. Press the button whynot?!

​Kirk's back for his last show of the year. Celebrating a few birthdays this time by playing songs from: Grover Washington, Jr. (12th Dec), Modaji (17th Dec), Angie Stone (18th Dec), Lenny White (19th Dec), Yvonne Gage (20th Dec), Betty Wright (21st Dec), Gwen McCrae (21st Dec), Esther Phillips (23rd Dec), Eugene Record (23rd Dec), Merry Clayton (25th Dec).  Also sadly marking the passing this year of: Gwen McCrae (Died 21st Feb), Angie Stone (Died 1st March), Malcolm-Jamal Warner (Died 20th July) & most recently Carl Carlton (Died 14th Dec) so played 3 favourites from him.  Starting slower, ending faster. Spanning from 1970's, 1980's, 1990's, 2000's, 2010's, 2020's right up until 2025. Turn it up & enjoy!   

Tonight we spin some 2025 favourites alongside a couple to mark the passing of legendary guitarists Phil Upcharch and Steve Cropper. We are joined in the studio by Dusty Crates.

Welcome to our latest dig with K&J are back with another three hours of global funk, soul, and rhythm that spans four decades and about as many continents. This week's selections run from Karriem Riggins' jazz-inflected collaboration with GENA and Liv.e on "Circlesz" to the sunbaked Braziliana of Vania Bastos and Chico De Abreu, with detours through Tokyo city pop courtesy of Kaoru Akimoto's "Wagamama na high heels" and some proper Nigerian funk from Mannix Okonkwo. Whether it's the yachty sophistication of Hamish Stuart's "Midnight Rush" or the raw energy of Goat's "Ouroboros," every track here earned its spot through one criterion: prone to induce ear-worm infestations. Press play on this bcast for the full experience: from which pressing of Ramsey Lewis you need to hunt down to the scene that birthed Jimmy Salcedo's Colombian psychedelia. Forty tracks that prove the best funk has no borders, and a universal visa!

It's your funkle Campbell back again with silly season selections to soothe the sore head after too many [insert cheapest beverage work can get away with paying you] at the work Xmas party. Soul, jazz, tropical and disco nuggets to help you forget!

It's your funkle Campbell back again with silly season selections to soothe the sore head after too many [insert cheapest beverage work can get away with paying you] at the work Xmas party. Soul, jazz, tropical and disco nuggets to help you forget!