Yearly Archives: 2006

I bought this album on the strength of hearing one track which we know can be a little risky nowadays but “Way In Jazz” is as good as I was hoping. Things kick off with the well known “Favourite Things” which is, yes, a little obvious but it has to be said it’s a great version. The rest of the tracks are a damn fine selection of Jazz that is not a million miles away from Nicola Conte and Five Corners Quintet, with an amazing array of guest vocalists and the exceptional Nathan Haines on sax and flute plus a top notch horn section featuring Ingrid Laubrock. Here is another ace soundtrack for the summer.

Simon Harrison

Yes, The Baker Brothers are back with another fine selection of all things funky. Vocals again are supplied by Vanessa Freeman, who always sounds great with whatever productions are thrown at her. Ensure you give “Winding Rhythm” a listen for proof. On the first few listens, I’m not quite convinced that “Bakers Dozen” is in the same league as their debut “Ten Paces” but there is more than enough quality here to ensure that you give it a listen and add it to your wants list.

Simon Harrison

Finally, we have the debut album from the man behind Red Astaire who is responsible for many releases on Gamm, Jugglin, Swedish Brandy, and here is yet another alias for Freddie Cruger: 3 Foot People. For a producer who has covered most styles over the last few years, this is basically downbeat with a mix of hip hop, dub reggae, soul and jazz. It’s great to hear more from Linn whose vocals always work a treat with Freddie’s productions. Make sure you hunt down Freddie & Linn “Keep on Playing” which was one of the best tracks from 2004. Great album to compliment Freddie’s label.

Simon Harrison

I was rather excited to get this album mainly due to it being the return of Osunlade. He’s been hammering out remixes ten to the dozen and all of them of supreme quality and of the 4/4 variety. This is the second opportunity to see where the well known DJ and producer is at musically and yes we already know it’s going to be deep. What I didn’t realise before was that Osunlade plays just about every instrument and produces all the tracks. He may have done that on his previous album “Paradigm” but I never checked the sleeve notes. All the tracks are beautifully structured and vary from deep percussion house, to funk and tracks that are more downbeat than you might expect. Osunlade now lives in Greece which may well explain the slight change in direction and I hope this change will be reflected in his next remixes.

Simon Harrison

With his status as a leading light of independent Hip-Hop already cemented, Boston-bred MC, Mr. Lif returns with a bang, delivering an explosive, but cerebral commentary on the state of US society. It is unfortunate then, that his immense lyrical talent is often drowned-out here by a relentlessly tough, speaker-puncturing production style, courtesy of Def Jux honcho El-P. It’s not all bad news, but the chaos of the Funk and Rock-fuelled soundscape makes it tough to appreciate the presence of a gifted vocalist.

Tom Breslin

Introducing us to a stable of new artists from ‘down under’, the debut compilation from this Sydney-based label guides us seamlessly through Future Jazz and Broken Beat territory, Click-House, twisted Electro, and poppy Nu-Disco, whilst maintaining a techy, synth-driven feeling throughout. Despite a plateau in the middle, the CD starts and finishes strongly and, with nods to labels like Dialect and 20:20 Vision, there is some high-quality electronic music here that will have you dancing round your bedroom in no time.

Tom Breslin

Just before I received ‘Unreleased’, I found out that Jocelyn had been on a reality TV show and even though this may well boost sales of this album, I was a little unsure what to expect. Of course I have no idea how well she did, but with a voice as good as Jocelyn’s it was unlikely the real world would vote for a real talent, rather than some second-rate pop star. One thing for sure is that Jocelyn has an amazing voice and had featured on far too many tracks to mention here. All fourteen tracks here are certainly aimed at the modern soul scene and a pleasure to listen to. The standout track for me is the excellent ‘She’d Called’, which is Jocelyn at her best. Ensure you give this a listen.

Simon Harrison

Mr Peterson is currently churning out compilations at an alarming rate but you’ve got to give it to him, they are always quality selections. Here is the second instalment of all things Brazilian and it keeps with the same formula as the first. CD1 is old school from the 60’s and 70’s, and CD2 features tracks from the last few years and of course includes various big name remixers. My preference is CD1 but I’m not convinced we needed to hear another version of ‘California Soul’. The other thirteen tracks are an excellent mix up with sprinklings of funk, samba and jazz. My current faves from CD2 are tracks by Bugz in the Attic, Zero Db, Bruno E Sexteto and some ace drum & bass from Drumagick.
Gilles is recording 6 podcasts to cover the different aspect of Brazil’s music culture. Check them out here: www.brahma.com/gillespeterson

Simon Harrison

Yet another corking compilation from Tru Thoughts and it features all their heavyweight artists including Alice Russell, The Nostalgia 77 Octet, The Bamboos, Diesler and more. If you’re a vinyl junkie there is a chance you may have picked up a few of these tracks: if not this is a must. Tracks worthy of your attention are Quantic & Nickodemus’ "Mi Swing Es Tropical", Diesler’s remix of Nirobi & Barakas "Bungee Jump Against Racism", Polar Pair v Maddslinky’s "Over My Head" and DJ Vadim’s remix of Alice Russell’s "A Fly In The Hand". Check out the Tru Thoughts website now because you can purchase this for a bargain reduced price.

Simon Harrison

2006 is certainly going to be quite a year for Max Cole, with three projects being released over the following months. First we have Max’s excellent debut for the ever consistent Wah Wah stable. Max has a lovely if unique voice which just gets better and better with every play. The single “Mo High” which was released in 2005 stood out to be that little bit different, but those not convinced will find a slightly different vibe here and it’s a pleasure to listen to. Initially a bedroom producer who knows that it’s not all about electronics he is also a dab hand at various instruments, giving this the live feel suited to Max’s vocals and wonderful guest vocalists Deborah Jordan and Lucy May. The next two projects from Max are Moto Tengu and Other Worlds: can’t wait.

Simon Harrison

At the end of 2004 the four track limited 12″ sampler was released and all the tracks blew me away, proving Omar had not lost his touch. Two of those tracks are included here and still sound as good as ever. “It’s So” became a massive broken Beat anthem and is still heard here, there and everywhere. What we have here are fourteen tracks and proof that Omar is at the top of his game. He’s covered all the bases with heavy Hiphop beats featuring Common and Rodney P, hints of R&B with Sing and “Stylin”, Latin Jazz on “Be A Man” and of course “Feeling You” with Stevie Wonder back on top form. The quality never lets up and to finish the album off is the simply brilliant “Ghana Emotion”, which I just can’t get enough of. The standard has been set for album of 2006.

Simon Harrison

Geoff Wilkinson is back with US3’s fifth album with a live jazz flavour with live musicians contributing on trumpet, double bass, jazz guitar, piano and saxophone. Vocals come from two new rappers Akil Dasan and Gaston, both of whom were found by Geoff in New York’s Nuyorican Poets Cafe. This style may have been done many times before but "Schizophonic" has a real sense of fun in the lyrics and in the Brazilian/Jazz rhythms and grooves. Not sure this will appeal to the hiphop heads but it will certainly find a home with Nu-Jazz and modern thinking Jazz heads. Give it a listen – you’ll be hooked.

Simon Harrison

Nomo’s 2nd album continues the heavy percussion and horn laced Afro-jazz vibe established on their 1st self-titled outing from 2004. ‘New Tones’ is a consistently good set throughout but pay special attention to ‘Hand And Mouth’ and the title track (spelled ‘Nu Tones’ for some reason) which has a bass line reminiscent of that on Lonnie Liston Smith’s ‘Expansions’. This one is destined to mash up the dance floors in the coming months. Also look out for the recent 12" on Kindred Spirits which features 4 tracks from the 1st album.

Andy Allen

Paolo Fedreghini and Marco Bianchi together with Schema’s co-founder Luciano Cantone are The Invisible Session. There are no real surprises here just the type of solid Italian jazz we have long come to expect from Schema. Jenny B handles most of the vocal chores throughout this set and particularly shines on the stunning mid-tempo groove ‘Til The End’ and the single ‘To The Powerful’, a deep and mystical affair.

Andy Allen

Kindred Spirits launch their new imprint, Free Spirits Series, in fine style with this much sought after rarity. ‘Alborada’ was originally released on Trova Records in 1976 by The Prime Element, a band formed by Argentinian musician / composer / arranger, Carlos Franzetti shortly after his move from Buenos Aires to New York. It fuses spiritual and modal jazz with soul and a heavy dose of Latin, to take us on a truly satisfying musical journey, with delights such as ‘Southamelodic’, ‘In The Dawn Of Time’, ‘The Prime Element’ and ‘Lola’. One not to be missed!

Andy Allen