Tough Times

Tough Times

at from 6 to 10pm

listen to the set

recorded live · 4 hrs 5 min

This instrumental set is anchored in vintage soul-jazz and instrumental funk—Hammond organ workouts, horn-driven grooves, and the heavy, drum-forward sound of contemporary outfits like Menahan Street Band, The Budos Band, and El Michels Affair sitting comfortably alongside originals from Grant Green, Herbie Hancock, and Eddie Harris.

  1. Les McCann - Burnin' Coal (0:00)
  2. Lee Morgan - Yes I Can, No You Can't (2:30)
  3. Brother Jack McDuff - The Vibrator (10:00)
  4. Booker T. & The M.G.'s - Fuquawi (13:00)
  5. The Rugged Nuggets - Eleventh Hour (16:30)
  6. Jean-Claude Vannier - La horse (BOF "La horse") (20:00)
  7. Menahan Street Band - The Starchaser (24:00)
  8. Sandro Galileo, Eraserhood Sound - Ribelle Di Mare (26:00)
  9. The Budos Band - King Charles (29:00)
  10. Ramsey Lewis - Uhuru (32:00)
  11. The Invaders - Can’t Get Next To You (34:00)
  12. Burçak Tarlası - Mustafa Özkent (36:30)
  13. Ennio Morricone - Svolta Definitiva (39:30)
  14. Waltel Branco - Luar do Sertão (44:00)
  15. Roy Ayers - Priscilla’s Theme (47:00)
  16. ESG - Tiny Sticks (51:00)
  17. R.E.M. - King of the Road (54:00)
  18. The Monkees - You Told Me (55:30)
  19. The Go! Team - Everyone's a V.I.P. to Someone (58:00)
  20. Link Wray - Rumble (1:02:30)
  21. Neil Young - The Emperor of Wyoming (1:04:30)
  22. The Beatles - Flying (Remastered 2009) (1:06:30)
  23. Herbie Hancock - Wiggle Waggle (1:09:00)
  24. Isaac Hayes - No Name Bar (1:14:30)
  25. Hailu Mergia & Dahlak Band - Sintayehu (1:18:30)
  26. The Upsetters - Return of Django (1:24:30)
  27. Camper Van Beethoven - Vladivostok (1:27:00)
  28. Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band - My Jamaican Dub (1:29:30)
  29. Leon Dinero - Heartbreak (1:32:00)
  30. Lee "Scratch" Perry - Sin Semilla Kaya Dub (1:36:00)
  31. Bob Marley - Kaya (1:37:00)
  32. Lee "Scratch" Perry - Sin Semilla Kaya Dub (1:37:30)
  33. Cornershop - It's Indian Tobacco My Friend (1:39:00)
  34. Dr. Octagon - Technical Difficulties (Instrumental) (1:41:30)
  35. El Michels Affair - Verbal Intercourse (1:44:00)
  36. The Rugged Nuggets - Ease Back Interlude (1:47:00)
  37. Menahan Street Band - Midnight Morning (1:48:30)
  38. The Beta Band - B + a (Remaster) (1:51:00)
  39. Fugazi - Lusty Scripps (1:57:30)
  40. Bobbi Humphrey - Jasper Country Man (2:01:30)
  41. Herbie Mann - Muscle Shoals Nitty Gritty (2:06:00)
  42. George Benson - Breezin' (2:13:00)
  43. Bob James - Take Me To the Mardi Gras (2:18:00)
  44. Grant Green - The Windjammer (2:23:30)
  45. The Budos Band - Up From the South (2:29:00)
  46. The Blackbyrds - The Baby (2:32:30)
  47. James Brown - Top of the Stack (2:37:30)
  48. Ray Charles - Rockhouse, Pts. 1 & 2 (2:40:30)
  49. Eddie Harris - Freedom Jazz Dance (LP Version) (2:44:30)
  50. Pete Rock (feat. The Soul Brothers) - Told Y'all (2:54:00)
  51. Tommy Guerrero - Where Water Once Was (2:57:30)
  52. Bananagun - Takotsubo (3:01:00)
  53. Boards of Canada - Roygbiv (3:04:30)
  54. Dr. Octagon - Blue Flowers (3:06:30)
  55. David Holmes - 69 Police (Radio Edit) (3:10:00)
  56. The Rugged Nuggets - Rugged Walk (3:14:30)
  57. Ramsey Lewis - If You’ve Got It, Flaunt It, Pt. 1 (3:17:30)
  58. Grant Green - Sookie Sookie (Live) (3:20:30)
  59. Eddie Harris - Sham Time (LP Version) (3:31:30)
  60. Herbie Hancock - Fat Mama (3:38:00)
  61. Duke Pearson - The Moana Surf (3:42:00)
  62. Donald Byrd - The Little Rasti (3:48:00)

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