Roger Sanchez's Choice
[Last updated: 08.02.2007 0:32]
I've just posted a set of sleeve notes I wrote for Azuli's Roger
Sanchez Choice. I'm quite pleased with the way it's all come out,
although to begin with I had my doubts about getting involved in the
project. I remember being quite into a number of Sanchez's early 1990s
releases on Stricly Rhythm, Nervous, etc., and on the few occasions I
play out I still turn to his remix of Incognito's "Pieces of A Dream",
which was a classic at the Feel Real night at the Gardening Club. Then
again, what's Sanchez released in the last ten years that's been
essential listening? Nothing that's been brought to my attention.
In the end the quality of the compilation persuaded me that it was worth getting involved in this release ⎯ and it's certainly a highlight in what's already proving to be an excellent series. The research also threw some interesting material about Queens, breakdancing and Arthur Russell. The classics-oriented perspective of Azuli's Choice series also meant that I could focus on history rather than (in Sanchez's case) the less inspiring recent past.
Showcasing a number of records that crossed over between the (pre-rap) hip hop scene and New York's downtown party scene, the first side is especially intriguing ⎯ and these records still sound hot. Equally intriguing, although much less appealing, was the task of having to deal with Roger Sanchez's assistant, Olga, who flipped out at every given opportunity. It was really the most ridiculous scenario I've ever encountered in ten years of writing about dance music ⎯ but luckily I was able to forget about the whole thing because, after weeks upon weeks of pleading, Sanchez finally gave me a decent interview.
In the end the quality of the compilation persuaded me that it was worth getting involved in this release ⎯ and it's certainly a highlight in what's already proving to be an excellent series. The research also threw some interesting material about Queens, breakdancing and Arthur Russell. The classics-oriented perspective of Azuli's Choice series also meant that I could focus on history rather than (in Sanchez's case) the less inspiring recent past.
Showcasing a number of records that crossed over between the (pre-rap) hip hop scene and New York's downtown party scene, the first side is especially intriguing ⎯ and these records still sound hot. Equally intriguing, although much less appealing, was the task of having to deal with Roger Sanchez's assistant, Olga, who flipped out at every given opportunity. It was really the most ridiculous scenario I've ever encountered in ten years of writing about dance music ⎯ but luckily I was able to forget about the whole thing because, after weeks upon weeks of pleading, Sanchez finally gave me a decent interview.