Manchester based producer and DJ Contours has been making waves over the last few years exploring the spaces, rhythms and textures that sit between House, Jazz, Afro-Beat, Electronica and Hip Hop.
Having been exposed to an eclectic range of music from an early age, Contours DJ sets usually traverse a litany of sounds and influences. Growing up playing drums and percussion, Contours’ productions draw heavily upon this, incorporating sounds and rhythms from Africa and Latin America coupled with those more often heard spilling out of dark sweaty basement clubs. Contours sound has seen him find a home on London’s Rhythm Section imprint alongside the likes of Al Dobson Jr, Henry Wu and Choas in the CBD. As well as his own productions, Contours featured as the drummer on longstanding jam partner Werkha’s debut album released on Tru-Thoughts records.
We asked the NTS and Reform Radio host to delve into his collection and record a mix of some of his prized Jazz gems for us.
‘This mix focuses on some of my favourite jazz tracks from records I’ve collected over the years. It takes in the spiritual sounds of Alice Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders and Lonnie Liston Smith through to the percussion and drum focused works of Max Roach and Solomon Ilori. There is a nod to the European Jazz fusion movement of the 1970’s in Placebo, and to the work of Ethio-Jazz pioneer Mulatu Astatke who was taking jazz in a different direction at the same time. Some more contemporary stuff from Makaya McCraven is also lodged in there. Hope you dig the mix!’
Tracklist:
Lonnie Liston Smith – Journey Into Space
Pharaoh Sanders – Greetings to Saud
Wayne Shorter – Mahjong
Mulatu Astatke – Asmarina
Placebo – Aria
Makaya Mccraven – Finances
Freddie Hubbard – Red Clay
Alice Coltrane – Stopover Bombay
Max Roach – Absolutions
Solomon Ilori – Igbesi Aiye (Song of Praise to God)
Pharaoh Sanders – You’ve Got To Have Freedom