Since their first release in 1974, Detroit based record label Strata Records has gained a mythical status amongst music fans and crate-diggers alike, despite its relatively short initial lifespan. The seminal, revolutionary label (formed by Kenny Cox, Charles Moore, and others) has been applauded by everyone from Theo Parrish to Gilles Peterson, with it’s emotive raw cuts of Detroit Soul & Jazz becoming the stuff of legend. Following the completion of their successful Kickstarter campaign spearheaded by DJ Amir back in 2020 , DJ Amir and 180 Proof Records now team up with BBE Music proudly present ‘Strata Records – The Sound Of Detroit – Reimagined By Jazzanova’. With this new full-length project, Berlin based stalwarts Jazzanova have been invited to rework, reinterpret and reimagine some of the standout moments from Strata’s heralded catalogue. Bringing the flavours of Berlin (a city synonymous with electronic music) to the city that helped lay the foundations for what followed.
The first single ‘Creative Musicians’ also features remixes by Waajeed and Henrik Schwarz. This is no ‘covers’ album, rather a brand-new celebration of the iconic imprint, as Jazzanova’s take on Lyman Woodard Organization’s musical manifesto ‘Creative Musicians’ makes clear from its Afrobeat-inspired horn arrangements, drum track, and syncopated tempo. The vocalist for these sessions is Sean Haefeli, who originally hails from Indianapolis. He brings a relaxed urgency to his contributions, sounding like a young Gil Scott-Heron. On the remixes, utilising his 20 plus year friendship with legendary Detroit DJ/Producer extraordinaire, Waajeed, Amir enlists him for a special four-to-the-floor mix that not only keeps that organic vibe but also adds a unique contemporary Detroit flavour. Henrik Schwarz needs little introduction to fans of eclectic electronic sounds. For over thirty years, his amazing body of work has packed dance floors worldwide. Henrik takes ‘Creative Musicians’ in a slightly different direction, retaining many of Jazzanova’s original elements while adding his signature sound to the mix, providing another dance floor scorcher. And just to give you proper context, the package also includes the cult-classic, much-loved original version by the Lyman Woodard Organization.
About 180 Proof x Strata Records
When Brooklyn-based (now Berlin based) DJ Amir Abdullah discovered the freestyle funk album ‘Saturday Night Special’ by The Lyman Woodard Organization on Strata, it sparked an ongoing journey into the musical heart of Detroit’s jazz community. Amir and his partner, Kon, were premier league crate diggers and famous worldwide for their ground-breaking On Track mixtapes, which revealed that elusive soul, jazz, and funk grooves and breaks that underpinned the hip hop of the day. Following this discovery, Amir Abdullah found himself on a mission. In 2012, he joined forces with Barbara Cox, wife of Kenny Cox, and launched his own 180 Proof label to reissue Strata Records’ influential back catalogue, including around 30 unreleased sessions. The story of Strata Inc. rises out of the insurrection that rocked the city of Detroit in July ’67 at the height of the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement. The 12th Street Riot, as it’s known, was sparked by the same police brutality that continues to fuel today’s Black Lives Matter movement.