One customer was playing a very cool selection of tunes that I immediately liked. I was unfamiliar with many of the songs but that didn’t matter, it was the vibe the music created that I was interested in. It was stylish, easy on the ear and complemented the venue and its audience perfectly. The set exposed me to loads of new tracks and a mixture of ages seemed to enjoy the tunes.

After his set, I spoke to the DJ and asked him about his music choices. He explained that the music was a fusion of jazz, soul and funk, often featuring well-known artists including Michael Jackson, Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder, Rose Royce, Donna Summer and even the Beastie Boys.
I couldn’t wait to add some tracks to my DJ music library and program them into a warm-up set for a client who had requested a cool, elegant mood but using tracks that wouldn’t get everyone singing and dancing yet. He particularly wanted the early part of the evening to be more of a social gathering where guests could catch up with each other, grab a bite to eat and enjoy a few drinks before the tempo was raised later in the evening.

There were a number of music options available to me, including bar and lounge tunes or some soul, funk and groove featuring popular tunes from each genre. However, I really wanted to offer my guests something unique, so I mixed in some of the new tracks I’d discovered at the record store.

The reaction was exactly as my client had requested and I built the set gradually until the time was right to up the tempo and unleash the main party set. I was complimented several times on my music selection and even revisited the style for an ‘after dark’ set where I played a chilled set for an hour after the main party using a selection of jazz, soul and funk, with my final tune being the excellent ‘House Party’ by Fred Wesley.

The success of the event is often down to the music we play, from the moment guests arrive to the last song of the night.

So, why not check out some jazz, soul and funk? Add it to your DJ music library. Embrace the fusion. And share these feel-good vibes with your clients!

Mastermix have created Essential Hits: Jazz Soul Funk featuring 50 individual tracks.


1// ‘Part 3 Street Corner’ – Ashford & Simpson
2// ‘Song For Junior’ – Beastie Boys
3// ‘Chillin' Out’ – Fatback Band
4// ‘Shake’ – Gap Band
5// ‘Woman Of The World’ – Marvin Gaye
6// ‘Stars In Your Eyes (Special Disco Mix)’ – Herbie Hancock
7// ‘Inside You’ – Eddie Henderson
8// ‘Can’t Fake The Feeling’ – Geraldine Hunt
9// ‘Too Many Fish In The Sea’ – Frankie Knuckles, Adeva
10// ‘Steppin' Out’ – Kool & The Gang
11// 'You Rock My World’ – Michael Jackson
12// ‘Clouds’ – Chaka Khan
13// ‘Turn It On’ – Level 42
14// ‘Evolution’ – Magnam
15// ‘You’re The First, The Last, My Everything’ – Papik, Frances Alina
16// ‘Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is’ – Rose Royce
17// ‘(If It) Hurts Just A Little’ – Donna Summer
18// ‘House Party’ – Fred Wesley
19// ‘Another Star’ – Stevie Wonder
20// ‘I Like What You’re Doing To Me’ - Young & Company