With twenty years in the game The New Mastersounds need no introduction. They continue to be pioneers of funk and soul and their new release “Shake It” doesn’t disappoint. As the title suggests they’ve shaken things up a bit by shedding the fusion from their previous recordings for a grittier funky sound. Acclaimed soul singer Lamar Williams Jr joins the band for this session and immediately puts his stamp on these body shaking recordings. “Let’s Go Back” kicks off with Eddie Roberts down south bluesy guitar riff before morphing into New Orleans funk along with soaring vocals from Williams Jr. “Taking Me Down” flourishes with Afrobeat rhythms and lively percussion from Thievery Corporation drummer Jeff Franca. “Kings & Queens” is another heater with funky horns and a soulful rhythm section. From slow burners to high energy grooves NMS have added another jewel in their  crown with another jam packed lp.

Reg Dancy

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Natural Lateral is a four piece band assembled organically out of frequent jam sessions at the Lazy Robot Studio in North London. The quartet’s musical range flows between Brazilian rhythms, modal Jazz and a touch of fusion woven together. “Bossa Blue” kicks the disc off with infectious percussion and warm Brazilian melodies. “Days with Amber” is bluesy modal tune that features Oli Arlotto on sax. “Safe as Sound” is laid back Latin jazz funk laced with a melodic vibaphone groove. Aziz Mustafa, Ozan Nidayi, Malte From and Tim Balasubramaniam make up the rest of the band. Together they’ve created a relaxed atmosphere with free flowing rhythms that evolve into a deeply satisfying album.

Reg Dancy

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Canadian singer songwriter and now London resident Rhi is back with her sophomore release. “The Pale Queen” is filled with haunting down tempo soundscapes and raw unabashed lyrics that made her debut “Reverie” such a success. “Plain Jane” is driven by brooding synths and a heavy bottom. Sensual whispers coat the hypnotic throb of “It Was Love”. The tempo picks up a notch with the chill-hop flavored “The Tempter”. Chilled out electronica combined with soft spoken vocals makes for the perfect sonic marriage. Rhi pulls it off with ease.

Reg Dancy

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Bastard Jazz consistently delivers quality recordings spanning a variety of genres since 2001. “2 Steps Away” the debut lp from The Pendletons is no exception. The duo of E Da Boss and Trailer Limon showcase their love of vintage boogie funk reminiscent of the eighties era that produced so many funk bands. Now armed with a full horn section to mesh with the band, they’re set to take their sound to another level. The sublime “Blessings for the World” opens the album with an infectious groove augmented by gorgeous harmonic vocals and keys. Guitarist Jeff Locket’s spirited plucking fuels “No Regrets” an uplifting boogie funk banger that would fit easily into a Shalamar or Dynasty catalogue. “19 Flavors” is disco funk at it’s best ripe with a thumping rhythm, pulsating groove and vocals by Ishtar to top it off. The Pendletons are all about making that feel good music that slips into your body and forces you to move. If you don’t you need to check your pulse.

Reg Dancy

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“So Far” is the debut of South London native Ego Ella May. The ten track lp features three previously released songs from the “Zero” ep back in 2015. May also displays a flair for clever song-writing. Evidence of that lies with the gorgeous “Tea and Sympathy” where her lush emotive vocals float over the hypnotic hip-hop inspired beats courtesy of producer Wu-Lu and Budgie. “Underwater” and “Come On” are dreamy slow burning tunes with the latter featuring Kojey Radical. Of course the title track is the sweetener which kicks off the disc. May’s seductive vocals lure you in and from that point you’re willingly along for the ride. Each song is a blissful journey through the art of story telling. Four years after hitting the scene, “So Far” is certainly worth the wait.

Reg Dancy

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Dj/Producer Dego has consistently delivered infectious soul infused dance tracks that defy any genre via his 2000black imprint. With his third full length lp “Too Much” the grooves are a bit subdued compared to previous releases yet pack plenty of punch to shake your hips and move your feet. Once again he’s enlisted an array of esteemed vocalists to take his compositions to the next level. Highlights include “A Strong Move For Truth” featuring West London vocalist Nadine Charles. “Just Leave it” featuring House vocalist Lady Alma is another foot stomper. Instrumental tracks like “Unknown Faults”, “You Are Virgo” and “Ogawa Okasan Said Just Play” capture the essence of the disc with funky extended grooves complemented by tasty synths. This is what we’ve come to expect from Dego. He weaves various cultures of soul, bruk and boogie into his signature sound that’s noticeable from the first note. Prepare to get your groove on.

Reg Dancy

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South London beat maker Hector Plimmer’s brand new lp “Next to Nothing” is a hauntingly beautiful album filled with ethereal moods and ambient soundscapes. Plimmer’s flair for abstract beats and rhythms was apparent on his debut “Sunshine”. With this release his arrangements flow like a suite with each track complementing the next. The title track opens the album with Emma Jean Thackery’s soloing over the hums of Ego Ella May and other harmonies. Andrew Ashong adds hypnotic vocal patterns over Plimmer’s infectious Rhodes on “Somebody Else”. The spacey overtones of “Joyfulness” are complemented by the blissful vocals of Alexa Harley. “Stack” featuring Pie Eye Collective is a polyrhythmnic gem and one of many engaging instrumentals. This is an adventurous recording that you’ll find irresistible. Bring it along with you on long drives or simply to vibe out. It will be worth it.

Reg Dancy

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“Rainbow Deux” is the final opus from one of our most treasured songwriters, the late singer Leon Ware. The album was completed around August of 2016, six months before his transition. Co-produced by Taylor Graves, a notable songwriter in his own right. The two were close friends as well as Los Angeles residents which placed them at the center of the talented L.A. musical eco system. Hence the cameo appearances from Kamasi Washington and Thundercat among others. When it came to sensual romantic songwriting no one did it better than Ware. Just go back and listen to Marvin Gaye’s “I Want You” in addition to countless other contributions throughout his career. There’s plenty to savor here with quality recordings throughout this lp. “For The Rainbow” is a sultry tune that opens with sparkling keys and percussion, setting the table for Ware’s buttery falsetto vocals. “The Darkest Night” is a mid-tempo stomper with an infectious head nodding groove. The sun soaked sounds of “Samba Dreams” and “Wishful Thinking” are a reflection of Ware’s affinity for Brazilian rhythms. The latter is a gorgeous number filled with wind swept strings and melodic guitar rhythms. The irony here is that “Rainbow Deux” is easily one of his best albums he has ever released. Graves production is top notch and his keyboard arrangements superb. Just thinking of him gone is sad but this record will serve as a reminder of his greatness.

Reg Dancy

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“Revolutions”, the third lp from the London based band Resolution 88 is drenched in 70s inspired jazz funk. Tom O’Grady’s melodic arrangements elevate the band’s sound from the traditional raw funk and soul band. Things get off to a rousing start with “Pitching Up”. The track opens up with Tiago Coimbra’s funky electric guitar while O’Grady’s swirling Rhodes plays well off Alex Hitchcock’s tenor. “Runout Groove” has a simmering drum and bass groove. Ric Elsworth’s spirited drumming sets the tone for O’Grady’s wizardry on rhodes and Coimbra’s hypnotic bass. “Tracking Force” jams at a frentic pace as each member flexes their musical chops. Clearly the band found inspiration in Herbie Hancock’s ground breaking “Head Hunters”. While they didn’t craft the blueprint for jazz funk they’re doing a superb job at carrying the torch.

Reg Dancy

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J Jazz Volume2 picks up the marvellous Volume 1 left off. “Deep Modern Jazz from Japan 1969-1984” is the second instalment of rare Japanese recordings compiled by Tony Higgins and Mike Peden. The duo once again compiled a list from their personal collection. They figured we would enjoy them as much as they do and they were right. There’s much to savour with nearly 120 minutes of quality recordings. The disc kicks off with the brilliant “Dragon Dance”. The late Tenor sax legend Harold Land was performing in Japan when he received an invitation to record with pianist Makoto Terashita. The result is a spirited up-tempo hard bop delight. “Mother Of The Future” is seventies inspired jazz funk from the Electro Keyboard Orchestra. “Fallout” features the New Herd, a popular big band. Higgins and Peden have tapped into a gold mine of obscure recordings largely forgotten. Thanks to their contacts in Japan and BBE for shinning a light on these hidden gems.

Reg Dancy

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