Tracklist
| Antoine Clamaran | Keep On Tryin' (Hott 22 Remix) | - |
| George Duke | Brazilian Love Affair (Mike Perry Extended Vocal Mix) | - |
| Wi-Fi | Be Without You (Raul Rincon Remix) | - |
| Tune Brothers | I Like It (Ian Carey's Ghetto Fabulous Mix) | - |
| Simmons & Christopher | Weekend (Raul Rincon Remix) | AATW |
| Cafe Groove | Why U Wanna Do Me Wrong? (Soul Avengerz Vocal Mix) | Hit! Records |
I love piano house. It's that simple. I first got into it in the early 90s when house music moved from the synthesizer based acid house and early techno that people were producing into the Italian "Italo-house" that unsurprisingly came out of Italy! There were hundreds of great tunes that came out and they helped to move the house sound on from bleepy techno to a more soulful sound. A play a lot of funky piano house in my sets so I thought I'd try and play some of the great piano tunes that have come out in 2006.
This mix kicks off with a great tune by French producer Antoine Clamaran. The funky American remix team Hott 22 build up this soulful tune with some pumping keys combined with the smooth vocal and a some layered pads and strings. We then head off into old school piano territory for Mike Perry's remix of "Brazilian Love Affair" by George Duke. A classic old jazz tune that builds up into a big room tune where the pianos echo round your head forever!
We've then got the funky house sounds of the producer of the year, Raul Rincon. He turns "Be Without You" by Wi-Fi into a percussion-laden piano anthem. The pianos remind me of the old hardcore classic "Feel Reel Good" by Manix which was later got sampled by Rockford Files for their 1994 club hit "Sexy Dancer". Raul Rincon has the midas touch when it comes to remix and I'm sure he'll carry on into 2007 with his funky house sounds.
Hot Spanish producer Ian Carey then takes on the hot German producers the Tune Brothers and their awesome old school sounding "I Like It". Ian provides us with a dirty 2006 bassline but kicks in some nagging piano keys which just seem to build and build. This is a proper 2am tune which sends the crowds wild. I've then put in Simmons and Christopher's new tune "Weekend". This is a cover of an old disco anthem by Class Action which was made famous by Todd Terry in the early 90s. Again Raul Rincon works his remix magic and drops a funky bassline, chunky rhodes and pianos and a cheeky synth lead line. Another classic remix from the wunderkind of German house!
The final tune in the piano mix is a new tune by Cafe Groove called "Why U Wanna Do Me Wrong?". A great soulful remix by the Soul Avengerz ends the mix nicely as they create a future piano anthem. Lovely!