If there’s one person that personifies the eclectic and entrepreneurial spirit of London’s underground club scene, it’s (deep breath) Wah Wah 45s label boss, DJ, promoter, radio host and music journalist Dom Servini. Having started DJing alongside the legendary Snowboy back in Brighton in the 90’s, he’s accumulated a string of residencies, parties and worldwide venue appearances under his belt since, including his monthly Wah Wah 45s get togethers at Floripa and regular appearances across London at places such as The Big Chill Bar, Vibe Bar and The Jazz Cafe. Our man Dom is a party-starter in the truest sense of the word. So of course when he agreed to appear at The Jazz Meet this Sunday, as part of our 2nd Birthday celebrations, you could say we were ‘over the moon’!
Of course, for those of you who know the deeper history of our event, you will also understand how much of an influential figure Dom has been to us in the past. He resided over the original permutation of his very party all those years ago back in an Islington boozer, alongside current Jazz Meet musicians Jake Telford and Jessica Lauren, and was resident DJ at the long-running Favourite Things jam at Proud Galleries that preceded our Jazz Meet event, so he obviously knows a thing or two about jazz. Elsewhere of course you can find him fronting the weekly Unherd Radio Show on Colourful Radio Tuesday evenings on DAB, as well as hosting the monthly Wah Wah Radio session alongside Scrimshire. Then to top it all off,  he’s the main man behind that little record label we’ve already mentioned .. a label which has just reissued this little jazz rarity!
So what better way to prepare for this week’s event than to ask the man to give us five of his favourite jazz tunes? Below he shares those five heaters by way of his well-travelled DJ bag. Go on, check them out… the Abbey Lincoln is beautiful for starters.
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Abbey Lincoln – When Malindy Sings (from the album ‘Straight Ahead’)
One of the most underrated, great jazz voices, plus a cheeky early Wah Wah 45s sample! Shhhhh….
Kenny Clarke & Francy Boland – Un Graso De Areia (from the album ‘Latin Kaleidoscope’)
Possibly my favourite latin/jazz dancer of all time.
Henri-Pierre Noel – Simbi (from the album ‘Piano’)
Serious, heavyweight “Kompa funk” piano jazz from the Haitian/Canadian master. Just re-issued on Wah Wah 45s.
Mario Rusca Quartet – Pretext (from the album ‘Suspension’
Uplifting piano led bizniz from 1975 straight out the Motherland.
Richie Havens – Sugar Plum (taken from ‘Something Else Again’)
Not even remotely dance floor, but still one of the most gorgeous pieces of soul/jazz ever made.
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As a little extra goodness, here’s a re-up of a little Jazz Meet special on Dom’s radio show earlier this year. Jessica tries to keep the boys in check but they weren’t having it. At least there’s some decent tunes in the mix!
Come join the fun this Sunday for our 2nd Birthday at Floripa to find out what else Dom might be hiding in that bag of his, and to also catch the latest finds from Jazz Meet Residents Rob Coley, Sid Ford and Jarred Rice plus more importantly The Jazz Meet Band live on stage! It all goes down Sunday 16th December 5pm-11.30pm at Floripa, 91-93 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3HZ FREE ENTRY
Prior to this Sunday’s 2nd birthday sesh at Floripa, we have a little rustle through our guest Dom Servini’s DJ box. The Abbey Lincoln tune is a bit special! http://www.thejazzmeet.com/friends-and-features/the-dj-box-with-dom-servini-wah-wah-45s/