Henri Texier is a Parisian self taught double bassist who was a prominent player throughout the 60’s playing with many of the big US names including Donald Bryd and Bud Powell that were visiting Paris Jazz clubs during this period.

Texier went on to produce three incredible solo albums in the late 70’s including ‘Amir’ (75) ‘Varech’ (77) and ‘A Cordes Et a Cris’ (79). All of these albums were released on French label ‘Bleu’ and feature Texier playing flute and Cello both of which he taught himself in the early 70’s.

Art Blakely is a jazz drumming pioneer famous for infusing swing jazz with elements of blues and gospel music. His band the jazz messengers provided a platform for many aspiring jazz musicians over its 30 year existence between 1954 to the early 80’s. Art made a point of playing around younger musician to keep his playing fresh. When he was a youngster he played alongside the some of the great jazz musicians of the time such as Cannonball Alderly. Miles Davis, and Hank Mobley.

He’s taking a bit of a back seat in this song, Moanin, but his grove is impecable and says more than any solo.

Coltrane is definitely one of my music idols. For me his music perfectly balances free improvisation and structure, creating tension whilst allowing for space and freedom within his melodies and rythms. In my mind this is an essential part of modern dance music. Just look at the way villalobos holds his crowd in a tight groove whilst simultaneously stabbing them with new sounds and rythms. This cycle of tension-apprehension-relief is something both these gurus have mastered.