It’s not often I buy compilations but recently there have been some absolute gems. Here John Kong hand picks a brilliant selection of Canada’s finest jazz recordings and how many of us really knew that their jazz scene was so good. All the tracks were chosen for today’s dancefloors and Mr Kong deserves a pat on the back because they do exactly what they say on the sleeve. These tracks only received infrequent airplay on CBC and were available in very limited quantities, so it’s great to have a starter, to kick off the show. Simply this is beautiful and a great to start your Canadian jazz collection.

Simon Harrison

This has been a long time coming and it’s great to have the finished copy. Things kick off with the amazing title track, which has been on playlists for well over a year and still sounds fresh. ‘Blue Eye Blak’ will satisfy the broken beats head with tracks like ‘Gotta Be A Place For Us’ and ‘Movin On’ and also for people just on the lookout for a damn good album, this has it all. This is a fantastic debut and yes, all the production was done by the man himself. Top marks to People Records

Simon Harrison

Looking at this album sleeve I was really unsure what to expect: electro or some new wave gubbins but this is a down right beautiful album, which wipes the floor with all the ‘lounge’ style compilations that are currently flooding the market. Things kick off with the lovely ‘Whistling In Tongues’ and all you need to do is sit back and listen to the wonderful experimental sounds. Perfect listening for when you need to calm down when stuck in a traffic jam.

Simon Harrison

I think most of you have heard or read about the Broadcite collective, so I won’t go into too much detail but these guys have been around for a number of years, creating their own music scene in London. We are now finally starting to their productions released on their own label and here is their first compilation, which features tracks signed from Public Transit and Sonar Kollektiv. This maintains the idea that anything goes but quality music is Broadcite’s number one objective. With tracks that cover just about every style inc. Funk, Broken Beat, Nu Jazz, Electro and Soul, you just can’t go wrong, adding this to your musical collection.

Simon Harrison

Simon S, Nanar and JJ aka Break Reform return after releasing numerous singles and the amazing debut album ‘Fractures’. You will have also in your collection the last two singles featuring remixes from Domu, Yam Who and Sidewinder, which has built up more than enough hype for the imminent release of ‘Reformation’.

There is no doubt in my mind that Nanar is one of the most gifted singers and lyricists around today and once you’ve listened to all of this album I’m certain you’ll agree. It’s wonderful to have them back and all you need to do now is check out the live show at a venue near you.

Simon Harrison

Espen is the producer who previously recorded as Bobby Hughes and on the soundtrack for Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels. This beautiful album features vocals by Kinny who is a classically trained opera singer, but her love for reggae and jazz always came first and touring with a reggae band resulted in her visiting Norway and deciding to live there.

‘Forgetting To Remember’ is the kind of quality production you’d expect from a release on Tru Thoughts, with far too many highlights to mention. Just because a number of the big named djs seem to be missing this, ensure you don’t.

Simon Harrison

Two years ago I received the compilation ‘Shapes One’ from Tru Thoughts, which featured un-signed artists of unbelievable quality. The one track that stood out for me was ‘Cotton Wool’, produced by an artist called Diesler and I knew he was going to be an artist to watch out for. Two years down the line and the 20 year old producer from Lancashire finally releases his debut LP on Tru Thoughts.

The album kicks off with the now classic for me ‘Cotton Wool’ and the quality never drops with anthems like ‘Burnley Wallet’ and ‘Heist Theme’. As you’d expect he mixes up the styles which blow any dancefloor apart and the perfect sound track for the summer. The album is released on CD format with all tracks available for vinyl junkies through three separate EP’s.

Simon Harrison

Hipnosis drop their second long player “Carrousel” on Perfect Toy Records after their much praised debut album ‘Jazz’. Here they continue the traditional jazz theme to stunning affect with all nine tracks being new compositions. The lp kicks off with the self titled track featuring the wonderful vocals of Merit Ostermann that will completely blow you away. In fact I’ve played ‘Carrousel’ to a number of friends and they have bought the lp because of that one track, need I say more. If you’re a fan of Ricky Tick Records, Teddy Rock Seven and Nicola Conte, make sure you have this at the top of your wants list.

Simon Harrison

In February 2004 my Basic Soul Radio Show was lucky enough to have a guest mix from Zeljko Kerleta, the man behind Cosmic Sounds Records, and during that 60 minute mix he dazzled us with some amazing rare European jazz classics. Three tracks in, he played a track by the RTB Big Band, which completely blew me away, and Zeljko mentioned that he would be re-releasing this album very soon.

A few weeks ago this beautifully packaged cd arrived and I was straight on the phone purchasing one of the limited 500 copies vinyl copies [you’ve been warned]. Featured here is a collection of 70s recordings by the Radio Television Beograd Jazz Orchestra, very much in the style of MPS, which should have you all slavering at the mouth. All the tracks are original compositions and feature some of the great European talents around at the time, including Dusko Goykovich, Gerd Dudek and Allan Skidmore, to name a few. We should all thank Zeljko because we’ve all been given a chance to listen to this wonderful lost gem.

Simon Harrison

The first question to be asked is when on earth does Will Holland get time to sleep, with six albums behind him in just four years. You’d be thinking he would be ready for a rock band/pop band break to find himself but no, he’s back with his storming live band where there’s no room for sampling, just pure funk and jazz. Like ‘Stampede’ there are some big cover versions and I think only Alice Russell could get away with covering Nina Simone’s ‘Feeling Good’ to such great effect, she can be found singing her heart out on 5 of the album’s 11 tracks. Their fantastic version of Mr Scruff’s ‘Get A Move On’ is here, as are some reworked instrumentals that featured on the Rebtuz bootlegs. Simply the Quantic Soul Orchestra rule.

Simon Harrison