Fat Freddy’s Drop has already achieved rock star status in their native New Zealand and continues to attract large crowds throughout Europe. Now with their second full length release “Dr Boondigga and The Big BW”, the seven piece band aim for world wide recognition and based on this recording, they may be ready to pull it off. The band’s musical style is an amalgamation of reggae, dub, soul and funk and the musical acumen throughout the group is impressive considering that each member has played vital roles in various groups before merging into this band. The production and horn arrangements shine on the opening track, “Big BW”, a mid-tempo soulful number augmented by the falsetto voice of Joe Dukie, who blesses all remaining tunes as well. “Shiverman” is a ten minute jam session that starts off with a funky electric guitar riffs and features Hopepa on Trombone. “The Raft” is a reggae/dub number complete with a thumping bass line that would be just an average tune if it were performed by a lesser band. Instead the musicianship of this group and Dukie’s vocal abilities make this a bona fide winner.  “The Camel” starts out with a wicked improvised electric guitar solo before settling into a funky mid-tempo groove that provides plenty of space for Joe Dukie and special guest Alice Russell to glide over. One listen of this cd will have you checking the FFD website for tour dates. As great as this record will sound coming through your speakers, the experience of hearing them live will cement your admiration for this talented band for years to come. Highly recommended.

Reg Dancy

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Without question, there are more than a handful of folks that doubted that Disco would still be relevant yet here we are thirty years later and Disco still has a home in the hearts of many. You can thank artists like Al Kent for giving it the respect it deserves. Fresh off his project with the Million Dollar Orchestra, Al pays tribute to the genre and the DJ’s that made the music so beloved by many and a lightning rod for others with “Secret Sounds”. Al starts things off with an intro for an advertisement for hustle lessons, the featured dance from the early seventies that everyone tried to master with varying degrees of success. This is followed up with the synth flavored disco track “I like it”. “Come back home” is a soulful tune due in large part to Tyrone Taylor on vocals and laced with strings that would make Vince Montana proud. This is arguably the best track on the disc. Normally I don’t get caught up with interludes but in this case it does provide a service in paying respect to the DJ’s in general and to pioneers like Jellybean Benitez and Tee Scott in particular. The impact they had would set the tone for all the prominent DJ’s of today. Other notable tracks include “Get Funky” starts out with a simple keyboard melody before sequeing into a funky disco stomper with horns. “Reverb is your friend” is a sublime mid-tempo track that isn’t quite a disco track; instead it’s a lovely reverb instrumental that could fit nicely into any lounge today. The disc concludes with the percussion laden “Tenner Rap”, a surefire disco jam floor filler. Al Kent’s love for disco is unsurpassed and if you ever loved the music, you’ll appreciate his dedication and no doubt enjoy “Secret sounds”.

Reg Dancy

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It’s not uncommon for artists to explore various musical styles on separate projects but on “Double-Booked”, Robert Glasper brings two worlds together on one very impressive record. Glasper’s fourth release starts out in the traditional jazz trio setting and begins with “No Worries”. Robert starts this wonderful tune off with a entertaining intro before sequeing into a gorgeous melody. Drummer Chris Dave creates plenty of space and Vicente Archer always provides the right notes for Glasper’s glorious soundscapes. “59 South” is another lovely composition where Robert strikes the right balance between sheer power and delicacy. Things get a little funky as we segue to the experimental set. Robert starts things off with Herbie Hancock’s multi-rhythmic fusion gem “Butterfly”, which also features Casey Benjamin on the vocorder. Casey shines again on alto sax on the spirited aptly named “festival”. “All Matter” is a beautiful ballad that is augmented by the vocals of Bilal. There aren’t many discs out that can capture the essence of beauty on one hand and deliver the funk flavored deep grooves on another but this one does. This is one fabulous record that you shouldn’t miss.

Reg Dancy

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Unless you took up residence on the moon two years ago, you surely were among those who celebrated a new voice in Jazz. With “The Dreamer”, Jose James serenaded jazz and non-jazz lovers with a voice not heard since the likes of Johnny Hartman. His velvet tone coupled with outstanding compositions made “The Dreamer” a huge hit. Two years later, Jose returns with “Black Magic” and it’s clear that he’s intent on not reinventing the wheel. Instead he steps out of the box and crafts a gorgeous disc filled with a variety of compositional styles that embarks on an exploration of deep spiritual love and the joy that it brings. The disc starts out with “Code”. The flying Lotus production is a down-tempo hypnotic groover that will have your head nodding within seconds. From this point on, love and sensuality permeates throughout the disc. “Touch” is an intimate portrayal of a man expressing his deep feelings for his mate. Pianist Gideon Van Gelder, who produced and arranged the tune, lays down a beautiful melody for Jose to work his eh, magic. No pun intended. “Promise You Love” is an up-tempo beat driven gem that’s produced by DJ Mitsu The Beats and features Jordana De Lovely on accompanying vocals and Takuya Kuroda on trumpet. “The greater Good” is a soft jazzy number that features precision horn arrangements as well as Gideon on fender Rhodes while Jose courts a woman who may ultimately be the special lady he desires. Jordana appears again on the Taylor McFerrin produced “Love Conversation”, a track that oozes warmth and sensitivity exchanged between two lovers. “No Tellin” may be the only track that resembles anything close to “The Dreamer”. Produced by James, this is a haunting ballad arranged in a trio format that also features him on piano as well. Whatever you do, don’t bother comparing the two discs. Clearly “Black Magic” stands on it’s own as an exceptional record by a rising star. Without a doubt you need this in your collection.

Reg Dancy

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When you listen to the music of Build An Ark, you are truly convinced that music can inspire those who are in need of spiritual healing. It is their mission to spread peace and unity through the music. It is because of tragic events such as the Rodney King beating and riots that took place in band leader Carlos Nino’s hometown of Los Angeles and 9/11 that moved him to deliver the fantastic “Peace with every step” and that follow that one up with “Dawn”. As impressive as those releases were “Love Pt. 1” is without a doubt their best yet. Carlos and the ensemble blend elements of 60’s soul, jazz and even a little folk that captures the spirit of John Coltrane’s latter work, as well as Pharoah Sanders and Joni Mitchell. One of the many reasons that make this record so enjoyable is the musical arrangements are a thing of beauty, considering that the collective membership has grown to more than 40. As a result the live instrumentation reaches symphony proportions. It doesn’t hurt that most of the songs were recorded live and it evident upon the first listen. There are many songs here to savor but standouts include “Celebrate”, featuring long time contributor and baritone vocalist Dwight Trible. “Sunflowers in my Garden” is simply a beautiful tune is written and sung by Waberi Jordan . Waberi, whose voice may remind you of Roberta Flack brings tenderness to this serene recording. Another long time contributor is Miquel Atwood-Ferguson and on “World Peace Now” he sits in the piano chair, provides Flute arrangements as well as playing the violin and Viola to this warm and peaceful instrumental. If you’re spirits aren’t lifted after listening to “Love” check your pulse. This is one record you shouldn’t miss.

Reg Dancy

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You would be hard pressed to find 2 more influential contributors to the world of drum n bass than Dego and DJ Marky. Obviously the good folks at BBE had similar thoughts and decided to combine their talents in one package. “The Kings of drum n bass” is really two cd’s in one with Dego and MJ Marky each delivering over 60 minutes of uninterrupted music. Dego, known for his ground breaking work as one half of 4Hero brings along that soulful element that is so prevalent in their musical catalogue while Marky’s signature hardcore edgy style is a nice change of pace and is sure to keep your body moving. This is essential listening for drum n bass lovers

Reg Dancy

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When trumpeter Matthew Halsall dropped his debut “Sending My Love”, his relaxed tone and superb compositions caught the ears of many by surprise. With a successful debut comes expectations but Halsall appears to be more than up to the task. “Colour You” is supreme quality modal jazz where elusive harmonies soar and the synergy that exists among Matthew and the quintet is simply marvelous. Their chemistry shines on the title track, where Matthew’s free flowing effortless playing is a thing of beauty. Also noteworthy is the work of pianist Adam Fairhall, who seamlessly fills spaces with lyrical playing reminiscent of McCoy Tyner. On the track “Together”, Matthew’s fluid solos and the playing of Rachael Gladwin on harp create the perfect balance to this hauntingly beautiful ballad. On “I’ve found joy”, Matthew and tenor saxophonist Nat Birchall engage in restraint yet adventurous rhythmic soloing that sounds as though they’ve been playing together for years.  “I’ve been here before” is another beautiful ballad showcases the delicate brushwork of drummer Gaz Hughes who performs on tracks 3-6 while Marek Dorcik handles the rest. Simply stated, “Colour You” is a virtuoso performance by Matthew Halsall. Once again the bar has been raised because I can’t to hear what he does next. Highly recommended.

Reg Dancy

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Hailing from Germany , Jerker Kluge and his Deep Jazz ensemble deliver a spirited collection of 60’s inspired jazz that would fit nicely in the Impulse or Blue Note library. Kluge, shifting between double bass and upright bass wrote two of the compositions and co-wrote another (Starlings Talk). The opening title track is a mellow modal number that is driven by Florian Riedl on flute and Julia Fehenberger on vocals. “Black Tiger” is a riveting number that showcases superb soloing by Martin Fredebeul on Soprano sax, followed by Ulrich Wangenheim on bass clarinet and Till Martin on Tenor. The up-tempo bop “Red Smoke” also features the three horn players but it’s the work of pianist Jo Junghanss that steals the show. His inspired playing here and on the other tracks is simply breathtaking. Jerker doesn’t break any new ground here but he succeeds by breathing new life into the genre and the result is timeless music that any jazz enthusiast will enjoy.

Reg Dancy

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There are compilations that come and go and then there are some where the heat just keeps coming, track after track after track. The DUCK compilation falls under the latter. DUCK is a concept album that features producers from Derby , UK such as Atjazz, Clyde and Bleep District. This disc also serves a dual purpose not only by delivering quality music but by making charitable contributions. The proceeds from this project go to MacMillan cancer research and QUAD, Derby ’s visual arts studio. Each track contains a musical or lyrical element relating to the unassuming town that resides in the midland of England as well some live instrumentation. The disc starts out with the Brazilian mid-tempo “Teu Sorriso” (Your Smile) by YSE, ripe with wonderful guitar work by Carlos and vocals by Nego. Things heat up right after that with “I Got Soul” by Supalouisa, a energetic dance floor filler. Former Mantis recordings member and Derby native Clyde contributes to the cause with the funky “Swedish Blue”. Atjazz’s “Kidnapped in Kathmandu-rby” is a chilled out dance floor gem that has strong appeal. Make no mistake, a disc full of thumping beats like this and a worthy cause to match easily makes this purchase money well spent.

Reg Dancy

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It’s easy to lose sight of all the quality remixes that emerged during the eighties. After all, a new 12” inch seemingly dropped daily or whenever we frequented our favorite clubs from back in the day. We would rush to our local record shop humming a tune we heard the night before as the top DJ’s were making their mark remixing future dance classics. Thanks to John Morales, we have an opportunity to relive some of those moments with “The M&M Mixes. It’s only fitting since many of those dance classics were mixed by John himself. The “M&M Mixes” is an excellent collection of some of his greatest remixes that were beloved by the dance music community. The disc starts out with “Weekend” a huge club hit mixed by John and also produced by the legendary producer Patrick Adams. Another pleasant surprise and no doubt a worthy addition to this disc is “I want you all tonight” by the late Curtis Hairston. And any compilation that highlights classic club tracks would be shamed if it didn’t include Inner Life’s “Ain’t No Mountain High enough”, which features the great Jocelyn Brown. The ten minute dance floor filler still sounds superb twenty years later. The M&M mixes is a tremendous time travel through a important period in the culture of dance music. The dance music that you love today owes a debt of gratitude to John Morales and the rest of the pioneers that laid it down before them. This compilation will enhance your appreciation as well as keep your body moving. After a self-imposed exile that has lasted nearly ten years, it’s great to have John back blessing us with his timeless music.

Reg Dancy

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