Pheno's Lounge

This episode is all about a one of a kind singer/songwriter, a man straight out of the soul tradition, a modern day crooner, who sang from his heart.  The one and only Frankie Beverly. 

With his band Maze they blazed a string of unforgettable songs, albums and live concert recordings that had every backyard cookout and college campus ablaze. Songs of love, songs of joy, songs of pain, songs of social importance. I put as much of it in this 2-hour celebration I could, so you can have more and more HAPPY FEELINGS!!

Enjoy,
Brian "Katzpheno" Phoenix 

"...'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, that's life
Tryna make ends meet, you're a slave to money then you die.
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down,
you know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah

No change, I can change...." - lyrics from Bittersweet Symphony - The Verve

It be's that way sometimes.... life can be bitter and it can be sweet, all at the same time it seems. I have lived through enough bad times to attest that, the tomorrow I was so worried about was never quite as bad as I thought it would be once it arrived. On the contrary them good old days I reminisce about could never live up to my brash retelling. In other words, much of the pain and the joy we experience in life is of our own invention. The truth of it all is usually somewhere in the middle.

Is our life bitter or is it sweet, it is up to each of us to compose and conduct our own symphony and make the music real.

Enjoy the mix,
- Brian "Katzpheno" Phoenix

featuring:
Mark Morrison - Return Of The Mack (D-Influence Vibe Mix) (1996)
Umbo & Balatz - Play Button (2009)
Brenda Russell - Way Back When (Joey Negro Extended Disco Mix) (2018)
The Foreign Exchange - Take Off The Blues (2008)
Robert Glasper featuring Yebba - Over (2022)
Wilton Felder - Lilies Of The Nile (1993)
Pieces Of A Dream - Soul Intent (2009)
Kandace Springs - Novocain Heart (2016)
FKJ - Lying Together (2017)
Basia - New Day For You (2013)
The Verve - Bittersweet Symphony (1997)
Marcus Miller - Sublimity (2018)
 

"The more we see, the less we open our eyes and we sometimes forget who we are." - Incognito from the song "Yesterday's Dreams" (2000)

Here is a reminder... you are a child of the most high, the great I AM, and as such you are more beautiful, complex, capable and powerful that you can possibly imagine. Yesterday's dreams make tomorrow's paradise! Get Busy!

Enjoy the mix,

Brian "Katzpheno" Phoenix

Sabrina Malherios - Saudade Rio (2005)
Ronny Jordan - Heaven (2003)
Buscrates featuring Laura Benack - You Got Me (2019)
Incognito - Testerday's Dreams (2000)
Dexter Wansel featuring The Jones Girls - The Sweetest Pain (1979)
Mike Phillips - You Have Reached Mike Phillips (2002)
Nuyorican Soul featuring George Benson - You Can Do It Baby (1997)
Joe Leavy - Inside You (2017)
Jeff Lorber Fusion - Hidden Agenda (2017)
Snarky Puppy featuring Chantae Cann - Free Your Dreams (2013)
Kem featuring Snoop Dogg - Downtown (2014)

Spring has sprung! Yay! 

Spring always feels special after our crummy days of winter, although to be perfectly frank, spring didn't start off very springy, I mean how strange, why on April 8th, we even had a total solar eclipse! Haven't seen that in the US since 2017.

But now that the moon has had its 15 minutes of fame during daylight hours, the sun now resumes its place of daytime dominance (aside from the occasional cloud cover). So let's all SHINE!!

Enjoy the mix,
Brian "Katzpheno" Phoenix

featuring:
Robert Glasper featuring Tiffany Gouche & D Smoke - Shine (2022)
Takuya Kuroda - Change (2020)
Lianne La Havas - Read My Mind (2020)
Donald Harrison - All My Love (2006)
The Gene Dunlap Band - When All Is Said And Done (2000)
Al Jarreau - Golden Girl (1986)
Pieces Of A Dream - Things Are Looking Up (2009)
The Brand New Heavies - Day Break (1994)
Miguel Migs featuring Ledisi - Breakin' It Down (2002)
Bonus Points - Long Exposure (2016)
Khruangbin -Mr. White (2015)
Kindred Family Soul - Love Has No Recession (2011)

Your Official Weekend Soundtrack Has Arrived!

DJ Katzpheno with another specially curated mix of musical goodies submitted for your pleasure. This episode works best.... after midnight.

Enjoy,
Brian "Katzpheno" Phoenix

featuring:
Boney James - Wanna Show U Sumthin' (2009)
Norman Connors featuring Antionette - Sweetest Taboo (2009)
Rahsaan Patterson - Catch Me When I Fall (2019)
Lianne LaHavas - Midnight (2015)
Euge Groove - Old EDU (2012)
Zachary Breaux - The 135th Street Theme (1997)
Rad. - Venus Drops (1993)
Phonte & Eric Roberson - Something (2016)
Common Knowledge - The Untouchables Of India (2015)
Stevie Wonder - Golden Lady (1973)
James PJ Spraggins - 70 x 7 (2015)
Raquel Rodriguez - Mile High (2017)
John Legend - Wanna Be Loved (2013)    

What Time Is It???

Time for another excursion into the Land Of Good Good Music! See you when you get there.... always on time.

Enjoy,
Brian "Katzpheno" Phoenix

featuring:
Chaka Khan - Spoon (1998)
Hidden Beach Artists - Always On Time (2002)
Pieces Of A Dream - Anyway You Want It (1997)
Gato Barbieri - Blue Gala (1997)
Urban Knights - Brazilica (2005)
Brooklyn Funk Essentials - By And Bye (1998)
Neos - Indian Diary (1997)
George Duke - Mercy (2008)
The RH Factor - Pastor T (2003)
Lalah Hathaway - Tragic Inevitability (2008)
Vinx - Tomorrow Is Just Another Day (2000)
Pete Downes & Steve Littler - Skywatcher (2009)

2024 is here and like you I am eagerly anticipating the best part! 

What will be the best part of 2024, when will the best part start, how will I know the best part has shown up, do I get advanced warning and most important... how long will the best part last?

Well folks, the truth is the best part can happen anytime you want it to. The fact is we have the power to make ANY MOMENT the best part of our day. How it shows up requires recognition, remove your blinders, how long it lasts depends on the power of the moment.  Some moments come and go, some never end, that is the power of our mind and our memories.

A wise man once told me what we think about we bring about, too often we think about the worst parts of what we have experienced. We dwell in the past and we often end up with more of the worst parts. If we can learn to focus on the best experiences and forget the worst, more of the best will surely come our way - again and again! 

2024 can be what ever you want it to be....just keep it simple, focus on the best.

Enjoy the mix!
Brian "Katzpheno" Phoenix

featuring:
The Brand New Heavies - Love Is (2006)
Phil Perry - Desire (2008)
Herbie Hancock - Love Is Stronger Than Pride (1995)
Pieces Of A Dream - Stand Up (2009)
Potatohead People featuring De La Soul & Kapok - Baby Got Work (2020)
Zo! featuring Sy Smith - Crash (2019)
Brandon Williams featuring Frank McComb - Feel Free (2014)
Daniel Caesar & H.E.R. - Best Part (2017)
Al Jarreau - Tell Me What I Gotta Do (1986)
Sting - If I Ever Lose My Faith In You (1993)
The Crusaders - Keep That Same Old Feeling (Bonus Points Poolside Bar Remix) (2016)
The Crusaders - Time Bomb (1974)
Bluey - Life Between The Notes (2015)
Paul Hardcastle - No Stress At All (2013) 

The final Pheno's Lounge episode of 2023, chock full of musical goodies! 

Enjoy,
DJ Katzpheno

featuring:
Wayne Shorter - Children Of The Night (1994)
Outside - 144 Brooklyn Place Mansions (1994)
George Duke - You Never Know (2013)
Dwele - What Profit (2012)
Takuya Karoda - Change (2020)
Larry Carlton - You Make Me Feel Brand New (2010)
Steely Dan - Black Cow (1977)
Anderson .Paak - Reachin' Too Much (2019)
Blendzbeatz - Main Source (2021)
Robert Glasper featuring Erykah Badu - Afro Blue (2012)
Teena Marie - Baby I Love You (2009)
Brian Culbertson - Let's Stay In Tonight (2008)
Eric Roberson - Just Imagine (2014) 

Yes, I know it has been a minute. I been gone so long, got you shook up, like a fiend without cook up! Well fret no more my lovely's... things are looking up  - because DJ Katzpheno has once again come thru with... The Hook Up!

Enjoy,
DJ Katzpheno 

featuring:
Courtney Pine [featuring: Cassandra Wilson - I've Known Rivers (1998)
Incognito - Barumba (Danial Manunick's Mix) (1996)
Guordan Banks - Keep You In Mind (2016)
Bonus Points - Hammock Days (2016)
Anderson .Paak - Yada Yada (2019)
Donald Harrison & Christian Scott - The Hook Up (2010)
Side Effect - Always There (1976)
Michael Henderson & Roberta Flack - At The Concert (1977)
Sweetback [featuring: Amel Larrieux] - You Will Rise (Cottonbelly's PG Mix) (1996)
Art Of Soul - La Plage (2002)
Shaun Munday - Losing My Cool (2022)

Once again it's on!!

Homecoming season at colleges and universities all across the nation including at my old school.... HU YOU KNOW!! 

I graduated in 1985 and yet it seems like it was merely 30 odd years ago, strange. Ahhh, but "Still We Rise"! The Bison Herd will once more assemble all over NW Washington DC as we celebrate how much we loved those school days.

I put this mix together to celebrate and recall the years I was a dandy on the campus of Howard University - THE MECCA. 1980 - 1985 (hey why rush it, ya know). Hope y'all dig it, this IS your official HBCU soundtrack for the 80's.

Enjoy responsibly,

DJ Katzpheno