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Various Artists - San Francisco Sessions: JT Donaldson & Lance Desardi
Created On January 21st, 2005 by Chewporka
(OM Records/Stomp)
This new release originates from far away in sunny California courtesy of San Francisco based label OM Records. The San Francisco Sessions is now up to its fifth volume with this release and has always aimed to showcase the best in underground talent. Previous volumes of this title have been mixed names such as by Kaskade, Mark Farina and DJ Garth. The double-disc collection features two of the hottest house music producers & DJs in underground US house music scene. Disk Both DeSardi & J.T. Donaldson originate from Dallas, Texas, where they were co-founders of the Hazy Daze Collective responsible for Fair Park Records. The release is full of diverse house tunes from the likes of the Lawn Chair Generals, Royskopp, Alexander East and many more.
Lance DeSardi is known for his funked-up production & crowd pleasing DJ sets. He has also dabbled in production having released The Decked out EP on Fair Park, and the Doghouse EP on Choice Cuts, to name a few. J.T. Donaldson has been involved in the house production scene consistently for a number of years. Having had the chance to DJ all over the world J.T. has produced for labels such as Seasons, Push & Pull and Choice Cuts. The sound he promotes is deep, soulful house music and this shows clearly through the tunes he delivers on the first disc of this compilation.
The first of the two disks is mixed by Donaldson and he kicks off the vibe with a couple of funky chilled house tracks with a soulful acapella flying overhead. As the mix continues he pushes the sound a little deeper with tracks such as Savannah – Night Of Music where the sharp punchy bass, and soft rhodes keyboard sounds roll along with the deep house beats. The mix does contain a high proportion of vocal numbers and the funky house vibe really shines through. Highlight tracks include Freaks – Love Hates which has a great blasé vibe to the vocal which are chopped and sliced to good effect. One of Donaldson’s productions ‘Trust Me’ is probably my favourite with a slow deep bassline, brass grooves over a phat house beat and sultry female vocals. Mula – All In The Head is also simple and effective with its smooth layered bass and melody patterns work so well together.
The second disc is presented coutesy of label-mate Lance De Sardi who also kicks off with a nice tripped out accapella over the first track Reflection – Cube Loop. The tunes that follow are much more minimal than the funky sound of Donaldson’s mix. Soon the nice clean chilled sounds make way for some deeper sounds with a bit of attitude such as Stefan Goldmann – Shimmer & Vernon Douglas Meets Tyler Lewis – Right Right & Grey Love – Nurse. As the mix continues we hear some nice eclectic acid house melodies and tougher percussion in tracks such as Cajmere Feat Walter Phillips – Midnight. Other highlights include the amazing vocals featured in Lullabies Feat Karine – Marmelade and the ultra-cool bassline of Lawn Chair Generals – Tell You Something.
Overall, both cds are mixed well and will no doubt be an interesting listen for any funky/deep house fans. Donaldson’s mix develops in pace nicely after starting off at quite a chilled pace, then finishing with a barrage of funky house tunes. After seeing him play a fairly good chilled set at Parklife this summer the mix lives up to the style of music he was playing at the event. Feel good, chilled deep house; the sort of music that won’t get in the way of conversation with that special someone. The second disk by De Sardi was great and rolled though a number of interesting acid house tunes. If either of these two sound like your thing then most definitely check out this release.
