It's not a problem that I can't fix, coz' I can do it… IN DA MIX

Looks like “Better late than never“ is more than a proper french saying, refering to this week’s edition dedicated to the latest developments from the japanese scene. This meaning that our Nik (Weston) is back on the blocks… editorialy speaking, this comes without to say. Ooops, by the way, we have a special event this week-end at it’s ‘L’Ambassade in Lyon’s third birthday celebration. It begins tonight with Jose Lagarellos, DJ Nad, DJ Rico, Thomas Villard and Jean Freeze alongside resident DJ Manoo behind the desks, keeps on tomorrow with DJ Deep and ends up Saturday night with Ibadan’s supremo Jerome Sydenham.

More info : www.ambassade-club.com If in London this Saturday (the 15th), the WhistleBump people have their last party of this year at the Electrowerkz (behind Angel tube) starring France’s deep house… ambassador, DJ Deep with residents Simon Haggis and Andy Crowther.

More info : www.whistlebump.co.uk

JAPAN’S CORNER by NIK WESTON

Tokyo has been very busy of late as they've just had this Tokyo Crossover Jazz festival organised by Shuya Okino (kyoto Jazz Massive) which took place at the end of october between 31.10.2003 & 02.11.2003. Line ups included lives from Jazztronik, Raphael Sebbag and Sleepwalker, but also contributions from Yukihiro Fukutomi, Shuya & Yoshihiro Okino (Kyoto Jazz Massive), Tsuyoshi Sato (Rockakongs), Patrick Forge, Phil Asher (Restless Soul), Calm, Jazzysport Crew (Masaya Fantasista, Wassupski, Naoki Nishida & DJ Mitsu The Beats…). More info : www.tokyocrossoverjazzfestival.jp

As for other stuff ? Well, both Koop and Hird have been on tour here and there are several releases which have caught my eyes’N’ears. I think two of the four Incognito 12“s are out commercially now, that are both great (kyoto Jazz Masive and Yukihiro Fukutomi mixes on there). The two others are to follow soon including Danny Krivit and Dimitri from Paris mixes). Soul Sauce who put both the Earth, Wind & Fire and Jacksons packages together have released the second Racla 12'' with former UFO, Toshio Matsuura and Soul Sauce mixes on it .Speaking of E,W &F, there's a new japanese only single with Sunaga T mixes of “Never“ which is jazzy as is a Fukutomi collaboration with Yukimi Nagano for a single on a new label called Raindog. Fukutomi has also done an exclusive track for italian label Head to Toe called ''It’s Just'' and remixed Don Carlos for a stonking anthem called ''Take Me Higher'' with Michelle Weeks on vocals. Should be out Stateside very soon on Irma Unlimited.

There's a great new single by D.O.I. on experimental label Revirth which starts off with beats slipping into a beautiful mellow keys workout at the half way stage.Turns my legs to jelly every time… Speaking of wobblyness, check out the B-side to the Koop single on Michael Reinboths exellent German label , Compost. Has an awesome version of Carmen Lundy's ''Never Let You Go'' with Yukimi Nagano on vocals. Spoke to Gilles Peterson about it in Marseille and he's a die hard Carmen Lundy fan. Me ? I love it but there again… How can you not get the shakes when you hear Yukimi's voice on anything ? She also happens to turn up on the new Hird and Similou singles on swedish label DNM. Peterson is in love with the melancholic “Fading Blues“ track on Hird’s B –side, which her golden tonsils grace upon…

DJ Kent & KZA release their debut album as Force of Nature through Exceptional Records on 17.11.2003 and it’s AWESOME ! Check it : more styles represented on the album than London Fashion week and deserves to be investigated. More info : www.exceptionalrecords.co.uk

Ex-Compost artist Victor Davies is now signed to Columbia in Japan and so far pre sold 40,000 units of his new album. The vinyl edition of the album is only being sold in Japan and pressed up on his own Afro Gigolo imprint. Self promotion time I guess.

Sakura Aural Bliss is my latest Japanese compilation this time on USA Label Kriztal and includes material from Calm, Yukihiro Fukutomi, United Future Organisation, Chari Chari, Sunaga T + an array of underground japanese artists. Check this link for soundbites : www.kriztal.com/catalog/enlarge.asp?id=31

There will be a limited four track vinyl sampler being pressed up soon, with all four tracks taken from the album having never commercially available on vinyl before.

Especial Records have a new Bakura (Domu & Marin)single released in early december on their Osaka label. Sleepwalker, also on the label will be coming to London in early December 1,2,3,4 to play support to the saxophone legend, Pharoah Saunders. More info : www.jazzcafe.co.uk Prior to the band coming over to UK they also play on 29.11.2003 as a part of a japanese event in Graz,Vienna with DJ’s from Kyoto Jazz Massive, UFO plus Chari Chari , Juzu etc......takes place Ort Les Viperes - Lenkail 8010 Graz. Entry is 10 €.

JAPAN CORNER HOT 10

DJ MITSU THE BEATS featuring DWELE Right Here (Planet Groove)

BAKURA Veya Veya/Thinking About (Especial)

VARIOUS Sakura Aural Bliss 4 Track Sampler (Kriztal)

ELECTRIC Sheep -Naked Noon (Quality/HMV)

DON CARLOS featuring MICHELLE WEEKS Take Me Higher — Yukihiro Fukutomi Remix (Irma Unlimited)

D.O.I. Audible EP 2 (Revirth)

SEXOPHONE Fade Portrait (Music Conception)

VARIOUS Feel Between The Line (Music Conception)

FORCE OF NATURE LP (Exceptional)

Wanna hear more Japanese material ? Then why not check the 2 hour radio show ''forwardsbackwards'' I do alongside the mighty Nigel Prankster on www.milkaudio.com. New show posted every 2 weeks on the site and we have a special show playing those japanese bits you may have difficulty in hearing outside of the land of the rising sun as well as music from around the world on a boogie, jazz, funk, hipty hop & nu beats tip. The show is available for syndication and currently also available on right-on fm in France & www.quantumlounge.net in Australia !

IN DA MIX TENNERZ

SOUL CENTRAL Strigs Of Life — The Danny Krivit Re-edits (Whistle Bump)

IVAN IACOBUCCI featuring BLACK SHAMPU I’m Leavin’ — Main Mix (King Street)

INFINITY featuring MALIK Back 2 Chicago (King Street)

SARA DEVINE Take Me Home — MAW Mixes (white)

AZTEC MYSTIC Aguila — The Fix Mix, by ORLANDO VOORN (UR)

MARIAH CAREY Heart Break —Version 940 (white)

Charivari — Malik’s Remix (white)

GLENN UNDERGROUND Trust (Vocal) (Large)

DA LATA Serious (Palm Beats)

GERARDO FRISINA Inviolation — Album Version (Schema/promo)

This week's playlists come courtesy of

NICOLA CONTE (Schema Records, Milano)

NICOLA CONTE Nefertiti (Schema/CDR)

GERARDO FRISINA Intenso (Schema)

HIRD I Love You My Friend EP (DNM)

ASTOR PIAZZOLLA Vuelvo Al Sur — Koop Remix (Milan)

DOCTOR ABSTRACT Struck On Jazz (Schema)

SPIRITUAL SOUTH Green Gold (Afro Art)

ROSALIA DE SOUZA Zona Sul — Raw Deal Remix (Schema/CDR)

BRUNO E Dada — Remix (Sambaloco)

INVERSE CINEMATICS Shot The Pianist (Fluid Ounce)

FERNANDA PORTO Jeito Novo — Nicola Conte Remix (Sambaloco/CDR)

CUKI (Soul Seduction, Vienna)

PEVEN EVERETT Kissing Game/Puerto Rico (Kindred Spirits)

JEFF BRADSHAW featuring GLENN LEWIS Beyond The Stars (Hidden Beach)

YAZIKO Hip Hip, Chin Chin (Artcore)

V/A : INSIDE SCANDINAVIA LP (Raw Fusion/CDR)

DA LATA Serious (Palm Beats)

DANI SICILIANO Likes LP (!K7/CDR)

ENNIO MORRICONE Ritratto d'Autore — Moonstarr Remix (Compost)

RUSTIC HUT Fathead Paranoia (PTR)

MADDSLINKY featuring Mr J Calling Out (Askew/CDR)

NICO DE CEGLIA (Presslab Records/RIN/Radio 1, London)

THE RAPTURE Sister Saviour — DFA Remix (Vertigo)

FREELAND Supernatural Thing (Marine Parade)

LICK: THE FROG VS BIGHAIR Lick The Frog (U-Freqs)

ILS MUSIC — Evil Nine Remix (Marine Parade)

MISSY ZEZE & PRESSLABOYS EFX (SAW)

UNKLE In A State — DFA Remix (Mo' Wax)

BURNZ BROTHERZ Machine (Thrust)

FRANCESCO FARFA Universal Love (Ocean Trax)

FUNK D'VOID Emotional Content (Soma)

LAMB Wonder — Dead Guys Remix (Mercury)

RUSH HOUR (Amsterdam)

V/A : SUN RA DEDICATION — THE MYTH LIVES ON LP (Kindred Spirits)

ROY AYERS Searching — The Africa 70 Version/Brand New Feeling (Rapster)

MARK de CLIVE-LOWE Relax...Unwind (MAW)

IRIDITE PRODUCTIONS Electron Music (Iridite)

V/A : CHORD CONTROL (Technoir Audio)

LOVE AND SALT Un tour du monde (Tamara)

RECLOOSE Us vs Us— Kid Sublime Remix (Rush Hour)

MONOLAKE Momentum LP (Monolake)

A TRIBE CALLED QUEST I C U (Doin' It) (Violator/Jive)

JAYLIB Champion Sound LP (Stones Throw)

S.U.M.O. (Stockholm)

OWUSU & GREEN Never More (Naked)

4SIDERS Sol y Mas (Project)

JEFF MALULEKE Mambo (House Afrika)

TROUBLE MEN In the Air/Underground (Kif)

WAGON COOKIN Mar — Trüby Trio Remix (Debaile/Appetizers)

PHARELL Frontin — Yam Who Remix (Yam)

ROD BAKSTEEN Stolen Soul (test)

PEPE BRADOCK & MICHELLE WEEKS Distorted Echoes (Kif)

HENRIK SCHWARZ Welcome to Sunday Music (Sunday Music)

URSULA 1000 Samba 1000 — Rob Mello Remix (ESL)