Category Archives: Reviews

First Word was started back in 2003 by DJ Gilla (Aly Gillani) & Andy H in my home city of Leeds and has since developed into a widely respected and diverse label. Their latest release, Counting The Ways by Teotima, a fourteen piece ensemble put together and headed by guitarist and composer Greg Sanders is a real treasure. Horns and swirling strings wrap around soul, jazz, Latin and African rhythms to create an intoxicating mix. Vocalist Ellie Rose Rusbridge adds her haunting folky styling to the wonderful title track and Orange Lamps, both of which are my personal favourites but not to be overlooked are Nearly Everything which has Afro-beat undercurrents and the funky Gloves Off. This album is up there with the likes of The Cinematic Orchestra and The Heritage Orchestra!

Andy Allen

Whilst I am a big fan of the Schema label, in more recent times I feel they haven’t been quite as consistent. With See The Light however, the debut from Helsinki based jazz sextet, the label is again right on point. Led by pianist Kari Setala, who produced and wrote the majority of the material here, Mighty Mighty really kick from the offset with top class dancers such as Backyard Boogie, Dark Sun, Karma, Time’s Up, a version of Stevie Wonder’s Too High plus the title track. Simba sees the band move into Headhunters territory, producing a great slab of spacey jazz-funk but they are equally adept on the down tempo cuts as evidenced on Once Again and the fusion excursion Seventh Sign. A very strong album!

Andy Allen

UK jazz vocalist Zara McFarlane made waves with her 2011 debut Until Tomorrow and her new album, If You Knew Her is even stronger. Angie La La is the first track to grab my attention, a firing dancer which sees Zara using an impressive vocal technique which comes off like a warbling bird. It also features trumpeter/vocalist Lebron Thomas whose rich baritone vocal delivery interplays with Zara’s voice beautifully. There’s a delightful take on Junior Murvin’s reggae classic Police & Thieves, plus the stunning waltz The Games We Played on which Zara is accompanied by piano only. It’s so simple but so powerful it stopped me in my tracks. In a similar vein and with the same impact is Love, the album’s closing track, but touch down anywhere on this set and you’re in for a real treat.

Andy Allen

In 1970 the late, great pianist Michael Garrick released The Heart Is A Lotus on Argo, featuring vocalist Norma Winstone. Previously unreleased, Prelude to Heart Is A Lotus was recorded two years earlier for a BBC radio broadcast and includes three titles from that 1970 release but without Norma. The set does however feature other British jazz royalty, Don Rendell and Ian Carr on saxophone/flute and trumpet respectively. It opens with the title track, a modal masterpiece with Garrick playing harpsichord, which adds an unusual but compelling flavour. The spiritual Temple Dancer takes on an Eastern mood and Song By The Sea is a beautiful gentle piece laced with flute and delicate piano work. Although these are the standout moments for me, this album will serve as a welcome addition for any collector of British jazz.

Andy Allen

An appropriate title for this set by jazz saxophonist Herb Geller, who was indeed an American living and working in Hamburg. Originally released in Germany on Nova in 1975, with a condensed version re-titled Rhyme & Reason issued on Atlantic for the US market the same year, this album has long been in demand, mainly due to the appearance of legendary vocalist Mark Murphy on three tracks. Space A La Mode is probably the most well known of these due to it’s inclusion on a rather suspect looking compilation back in the early 90s but the other Murphy fronted tunes, Sudden Senility and The Power Of A Smile are also wonderful examples of vocal fusion which journey through varying tempos and moods. Earl Jordan is a vocalist I can find very few other recordings by but he puts in a strong performance on the funked up Rhyme & Reason. Tidal Wave, an instrumental dancer is also worthy of note and as for the rest of the album it is made up of instrumental versions of the four vocal tracks.

Andy Allen

You might be familiar with the Shez Raja Collective from his impressive record "Mystic Radikal". ."Soho Live", is the bass guitarist latest recording and it’s an all-star jam session focusing on atmospheric soulful jazz compositions. Raja’s funky bass rhythms set the tone for his accomplished guests to stretch out and they do exactly that. "Karmic Flow" showcases Violinist Pascal Roggins, who creates wonderful melodies throughout the disc. Soweto Kinch drops by and delivers spirited hip-hop rhymes as well. "Eastern Revolution" is another banger filled with slow burning grooves and Middle Eastern rhythms that features Aaron Liddard’s scorching sax solo. Monika Lidke provides vocal phrasings to compliment Raja’s funky bass licks on "Chakras On The Wall". With other notable appearances like Andy Phelps and Shabaka Hutchings, the latter appearing on "Adrenalize", "Soho Live" is certain to provide a funky good time.

Reg Dancy

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Five years after her debut, Algebra Blessett returns with "Recovery". This fourteen track release showcases Algebra’s broad range with a mix of soulful bass heavy tracks, acoustic tunes and some tasty ballads to balance everything out. "Right Next To You" and "Nobody But You" are filled with thick beats and  certain to keep your head on a steady nod. "Writers Block" is a tender tune that finds Algebra wrestling with penning a love song while managing her own emotions. "Better For Me" is a bittersweet ballad where she laments about the unfulfilled dreams of a lost relationship. Indeed Algebra’s superb songwriting skills combined with tight production leads to an entertaining record that serves notice that quality RnB is alive and well.

Reg Dancy

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"Let’s Boogaloo", presented by Dean Rudland is a celebration of the storied legacy 60’s Latin Music. With most of the music produced by Bobby Marin, Vol. 6 features rare and unreleased material that originated out of East Harlem, the birthplace of the burgeoning Nuyorican sound. There’s plenty to savor here starting with the opener, The Machito Orchestra’s stirring rendition of Sam & Dave’s "Hold On I’m Coming". The Ocho Band, led by Chico Mendoza is a simmering Latin Jazz tune that was produced Marin. "There’s No Other Girl" is a slow burning number by The Latin Chords. Heavily influenced by the music of James Brown and Jackie Wilson, Marin’s fusion of soulful RnB and Latin rhythms still resonate today. This disc is a wonderful reminder of where it all started.

Reg Dancy

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Zaf Chowdhry and Mark Taylor, soul music connoisseurs return with their second installment of the "Americana – Rock Your Soul" series. Volume two continues with another collection of rare unreleased material from the 70’s and 80’s. Just like Vol.1 there are a few hidden gems, however this collection is a bit more upbeat and engaging than Vol.1. That’s quite evident by the opening track "There’s A New Group In Town", by A Breakaway. "Vaya Mulata" by Luc Cusineau is laid back funk with a stirring touch of the Wah Wah guitar. "Give It To You" is sweet atmospheric Disco by RCR. Jaye P. Morgan delivers a smooth ballad with an eighties vibe complete with soothing vocals and synths on "Here Is Where Love Belongs". Overall this is a much more enjoyable set than Vol.1. While they’re aren’t any knockout tracks, there’s enough to keep you entertained for the journey through the archives of the Black American songbook.

Reg Dancy

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The Parisian label Heavenly Sweetness once again have dug deep into their vaults to showcase some of the most obscure yet very stimulating Jazz compositions. "Freedom Jazz France", a collection of spiritual Jazz recordings spanning from the mid to late sixties from artists who had taken up residence in Paris for one reason or another. No matter the reason, there are timeless treasures like "Note So High", a hard bop tune that features vocals from vocalist Stella Levitt. "Colchiques" is  sublime modal jazz from organist Eddie Louiss. "La Musique d’ orphee" is celestial jazz with melodic background vocals. These recordings certainly were influenced by the burgeoning free jazz movement of the late sixties yet each artist has their own unique story to share and their impressive compositions are a testament to that. Overall this is a fascinating listen and another superb release from Heavenly Sweetness.

Reg Dancy

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Producer and mufti-instrumentalist Mike Fabs, aka Lord Echo first made his impact from his work with the reggae dub group The Black Seeds. He followed up that successful release with his sparkling debut "Melodies" in 2010 which featured some hypnotic dub beats, wicked grooves and tasty vocals as well. With his sophomore release "Curiosities" he incorporates vintage 60’s rhythms with authentic reggae grooves certain to keep your finger on the repeat button. One of those highlights include "Bohemian Idol" which features Toby Laing of Fat Freddy’s Drop on vocals. "Digital Haircut" features a wicked groove reminiscent of James Brown’s "Sex Machine". "Put It In My Head" blends reggae grooves with a disco beat. In addition, Mara TK’s velvet falsetto takes it to another level. Overall "Curiosities" demonstrates Fabs growth as a producer and a keen ear for classic grooves. Like his debut, this release is a winner and deserves a place in your playlist.

Reg Dancy

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Far out can always be relied upon to bring us the finest in Brazilian music and this debut album from Otis Trio is no exception. Whilst the core group are indeed a trio on 74 Club they have greatly expanded the band to produce a very full jazz sound. There’s plenty of vibes on offer here which is always sure to draw me in and although there is a tendency to head off into free-jazz territory in places there are some beautiful moments. Try the brooding No Oceano and Montag’s Dream, a heady spiritual piece.

Andy Allen

Reissued as two separate LPs or as two albums on one CD, these rare recordings were originally only released as private pressings in late 70s. The music on display ranges from raw disco funk through to heart wrenching pop ballads, mainly fronted by a female vocalist who sounds remarkably like Minnie Ripperton. Whilst much of the material is not my bag I must draw your attention to the dance floor winner There’s A New Group In Town and the sweet sweet groove of Who Was It This Time.

Andy Allen

Time is the 4th studio album for soul poet Anthony Joseph. Produced by Meshell Ndegeocello and backed by a new band, this new project sees Anthony making a shift from the Afro-funk sound he was creating with his Spasm Band. The sound is still soulful and jazzy but takes more of a back seat in supporting the poetry and is particularly effective on the low slung space funk of Hustle To Live which has a killer popping bass line, the ambient Shine and Joy, a tasty slab of Jazz-Funk.

Andy Allen

Long before "Rap Album One", Jon Wayne showcased his skills as a producer with the instrumental album "Bowser" as well his three "Cassette" mixtape series. So it’s no surprise to find him successfully performing dual roles on his Stones Throw debut. JonWayne’s dark yet introspective lyrics serves as an open book that reveals a man with a plan who has little time for playing the fake thug role. This is evident on the track like"Find Me In The Future". where he states "You won’t find me doing those silly dances with the proverbial gun to my face. This ain’t Kansas!". On "You Can Love Me When I’m Dead" he displays his lyrical skills and art of story telling over a chilling chopped up piano sample. Other highlights include "Black Magic" and "The Come Up". "Rap Album One" succeeds due to JonWayne’s ability to wax poetic on his story as opposed to rehashing tired cliches. For hip-hop heads who can appreciate lyrical skills and tight production, he’s certainly worth checking out.

Reg Dancy

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