If you’re like me and you can’t get enough of the rare groove sounds don’t despair, BBE records have come to your rescue with “Strange Breaks & Mr Thing”. Mr Thing is known for spicing up the crowds with his infectious blend of hip-hop, soul and funk so you should expect nothing less here. While most of these gems will probably be unfamiliar to you, that won’t stop you from moving and grooving along with each track. Selections like “Searching” by Jake Wade and the Soul Searchers will get your body revved up. If you’re familiar with The Meters, then you’ll no doubt enjoy this one. Other notables include “Love is just a word” by Johnny Griffith, Inc, which has that soulful orchestrated sound reminiscent of the Love unlimited Orchestra so you know that’s gonna be hot. As I continued my spins through the disc, I immediately smiled when I listened to “You made a believer (Out of me)” by Ruby Andrews. This track was sampled by Q-Tip on The Renaissance and was one of my favorite songs on that disc. No wonder, the soulful vocals by Ms Andrews and the thumping bassline makes it funky enough to stand on its own. There are a couple of covers like The Jacksons “ABC” and Sly and the Family Stone’s “It’s a family affair” that are just okay. The Jimmy Castor cover of “It’s just begun” by The Hot city Bump band is much better. There is little else however to diminish the overall quality of material featured here and is certainly worth checking out. As long as we have DJ’s like Mr Thing digging in their crates, the rare groves and funky breaks will always stir up those good vibes and have us heading towards the closet for our dancing shoes.

Reg Dancy

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We all know that Gilles Peterson loves all flavors of music but it seems as though he has a special place in his heart for the wonderful music pouring out of Brazil. His latest “Brazilika” is the latest release that focuses on the sounds of Brazil and he has assembled a impressive list of heavy hitters young and old. There are twenty three tracks here including five unreleased tracks. The disc plays out as a continuous mix and moves along at a crisp pace but what matters most is that you’re treated to seventy three minutes of scintillating heart pumping music. There are many standouts including “Os Escravos Do Jo” by Friends from Rio 2 feat. Celia Vaz. “Canto Pre Oxum” is a lovely samba by The Ipanemas. “Chegada” is a gentle peaceful acoustic song by Joyce, Nana Vasconcelos, Mauri. If that wasn’t enough, there are several notable remixes such as world renowned DJ/producer Osunlade’s rework of Na Batida Do Agogo’s “Grupo Batuque”. Arthur Verocai’s “Tudo Do Bom” receives an alternate take courtesy of DJ/producer Domu. Of course we can’t have an A list of Brazil’s musical all stars and not include Azymuth. Band leader Alex Malheiros appears with the band on “Depois Do Carnival” and once again with his daughter Sabrina on “Uno Esta”. Once again Gilles doesn’t disappoint with his compilations and this one is no exception. “Brazilika” is a terrific record that provides a sample of the burgeoning talent of musicians on the Far Out recordings roster. Be prepared to serve your musical palette to a healthy serving of some of the finest music Brazil has to offer.

Reg Dancy

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The saxophone is arguably the most seductive instrument there is. The level of tonality and harmonies that the elite musicians create can captivate you unlike any other instrument. It certainly helps when you’re creating spirited music like Nat Birchall is doing on his release “Akhenaten”. Nat has been around for many years, thirty to be exact yet this is his first release as a leader since 1999’s “The Sixth Sense”. He has kept busy by working in Matthew Halsall’s groups as well as Arun Ghosh’s jazz ensemble. That’s a shame because “Akhenaten” is a deep spiritual session that will endear itself to all lovers of post bop jazz. It’s clear that Nat has been inspired by the likes of John Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders, his compositions feature a high degree of passion and sensuality and his solos can exceed long stretches. The disc starts out with “Mica’s Dance”, a haunting blues tune with a lovely melody and simple chords that the quartet elevates to greater heights. “A Prayer for…” speaks for itself, a moving gospel inspired tune that will send chills down your spine. “Many Blessings” is a beautiful ballad that finds Nat blowing passionately while pianist Adam Fairhall’s solos are majestic. What a wonderful record Nat has created here. With only four tracks listed here, let’s hope there’s another recording coming soon. For any jazz aficionado, this would be a welcome addition for your collection.

Reg Dancy

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One can only imagine the wealth of Cuban recordings that have been isolated from the rest of the world but thanks to Australian DJ and Cuban record collector Tom Wieland we now have a window to what lies within that rich musical culture. “Revolucion!” contains 12 hip shaking funky grooves known as Los Van Van that represent post revolutionary Cuban music. Los Van Van was created by bass player Juan Formell and it is known as fusing pre Castro charanga with soul and funk and the mixture is highly combustible to one’s nervous system. Translated, you’ll find it very difficult not to move your feet and shimying your hips. “Recital En Descarga” is bursting with lively percussion, funky horns and simple but enchanting chords. “Cuando Liego a Mi Casa” starts out with Juan formell’s killer bass riff, creating plenty of space for the congas and the lush string section. “Baila Guiro son Wambari” is a high octane dance floor filler that will have you breaking out in a sweat long before the song’s conclusion. With quality recordings such as these, one wonders how many other gems Juan composed that are buried in the vaults. Until we find out, do yourself a favor and treat yourself to some of the finest music you never heard of before. You won’t soon forget it.

Reg Dancy

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I always hold out hope that every year there will be at half dozen releases that will come out of nowhere and take me by surprise. After hearing about Michael Olatuja and finally listening to his glorious debut “Speak”, I knew I had a strong candidate to add to the top of the list. I wasn’t immediately familiar with Michael but after checking his background I started to discover that he wasn’t much of a newcomer at all. He has worked with a number of artists, including a stint in Terence Blanchard’s band. His apprenticeship has served him well. “Speak” is a musical ménage of jazz inspired rhythms, neo soul delights and spiritually influenced tunes that inspire hope for peace, love and brighter days ahead. Michael has also surrounded himself with some very talented vocalists and musicians tailor made for his compositions. One of those artists is the immensely talented Eska. I have heard Eska appear on several compositions but her performance on “After Call” easily ranks as one of my favorites. The Late Lynden David Hall reminds us what a treasured soul he was on “Hold On”, a mid-tempo soul groover aimed at lifting one’s spirits from the basements of despair and reminding everyone that prosperity is within reach. Eska appears again on “Yi Yipada”, a highly rhythmic tune has elements of jazz, samba and funk and is certainly one of the most enjoyable selections here. “Walk with me” is a spiritual lullaby that features Olatuja’s wife Alicia, who sounds a little like Lizz Wright and proves to be very talented in her own right. On the finale, “Mama Ola”, Michael eases back into the jazz chair and crafts a beautiful melodic composition that features Jason Rebello’s impeccable piano soloing as well as Jean Toussaint on sax. “Speak” is a tour de force of the highest order for the talented bassist. Clearly Michael Olatuja’s spirituality and his musical journey have molded him into an important artist who is barely scratching the surface of his talents. Based on this recording, we haven’t heard anything yet. Highly recommended.

Reg Dancy

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There are few rappers in the game that can release just two albums over a ten year span and remain prominent, let alone relevant. Mos Def is one of those few rappers who keeps us yearning for more because of his undeniable talent and the body of work he has attained thus far. With two critically acclaimed albums under his belt (one as a member of Black Star alongside Talib Qweli), the level of expectations can be enormous. To his credit Mos hasn’t taken the easy route and simply make “Black on both Sides part 2”. The challenge of expanding the musical boundaries while maintaining creditability can be daunting (the new danger comes to mind). With “The Ecstatic” it appears that Mos has finally found the happy medium. “The Ecstatic” features all star production from Madlib, Chad Hugo and the late J-Dilla and succeeds in creating head nod music as well as providing thought provoking lyrics. The album starts out with “Supermagic”, armed with hard hitting beats, crackling electric guitar riffs and a Middle Eastern flavor. It’s not your typical boom bap record but it definitely works. Other highlights include “Quiet Dog”, the beats and percussion played on here are infectious. If you don’t move to this then check your pulse. “Roses” featuring Georgia Anne Muldrow is easily one of the best tracks on the album. Mos is in top form spitting verses while Ms Muldrow’s lyrics and blissful voice caresses the chorus over a piano laden beat. “History” finds Mos teamed up once again with Talib Qweli. Playing off each other over a J-Dilla beat, the two prove why they make up one of the best one two punches in hip-hop. This is the album that fans of Mos Def have been waiting for. The “Ecstatic” proves that Mos hasn’t lost his touch and in fact sounds better than ever.

Reg Dancy

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Twenty three year Paul Movahedi, aka the Clonious is more than just a beatmaker. He is a musician with an affinity for straight ahead jazz and ability to improvise with various genres. On his fantastic debut “Between the dots”, he blends his jazz influences with hip-hop samples and creates a sonic mix of adventurous electronic music with subtle insertions of live instrumentation. The Clonious abstract compositions works wonders on songs like “One at a time”, where Muhsinah’s soulful eclectic phrasings are the perfect compliment to his spacey arrangements. “Bugs n’ fools” features lush vocals on the chorus and a funky stinging rhythm guitar. “Dataflow” strikes a delicate balance between tripped out fusion and hip-hop with satisfying results. “Lovelights” is a spaced out funk gem that features Dudley Perkins and Georgia Anne Muldrow. “Between the dots” is a triumphant debut that will excite listeners who are open to a hybrid of electronic beats with a hip-hop jazz esthetic. The Clonious ability to create sounds that venture out of the comfort zone will make him a household name in short time. Get familiar.

Reg Dancy

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4Hero receives the ultimate compliment when various artists provide alternate takes on their rich catalogue of timeless music. “Extensions” features an acclaimed list of musicians who transform their tunes into an elegant acoustic jazz ensemble. The Sonar Kollektiv Orchester starts things off with “Universal Love”, which becomes a symphonic beauty that is augmented by the vocals of Clara Hill, Esther Cowens and Wilson Michaels. The Robert Mitchell Trio does a masterful job by turning “Third Stream” into an acoustic gem. With so many superb performances it’s difficult to select a standout but Ayanna Witter-Johnson’s cover of “Give In” certainly deserves honorable mention. Ayanna, who has performed with Courtney Pine’s Jazz Warriors has such a beautiful voice that it’s a crime she doesn’t have her own album to listen to. Other highlights include the Sub Ensemble’s version of “Humans” and “Star Chasers” gets flipped into an acoustic folk jazz. This marvelous collection will not only satisfy 4Hero fans but will invite an entire new audience to the legacy that Marc Mac and Dego have built.

Reg Dancy

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Listening to “Havana Cultura” for the first time is like tasting a succulent plate of Paella; all the flavors are dancing in your mouth and you just lean back and enjoy every bite. Like all great meals require the right amount of seasoning, “Havana Cultura” contains the right mix of diverse musicians that will appeal to generations young and old. Right from the onset, Cultura heats up with Pa Gozar, a percolating piano driven track by the nine piece Havana Cultura Band who performs on all tracks on disc 1. “Ipacuba” features singer Danay, who emerges as talent to keep an eye on. Her lovely voice and the amazing percussionist on board make this track a keeper. Danay appears several cuts but one particular favorite is “Think Twice”. A tune that starts out soft and sublime and then shifts into a funky hip hop jam that pays homage to the late great J Dilla. “Chereke Son” is another winner that features the amazing Mayra Caridad Valdes on vocals. On disc 2 you are treated to a showcase of up and coming hip-hop artists like Doble Filo, an experimental hip-hop group who are very impressive on “Amor Internacional”. Telmary Diaz is a rapper/poetess and displays remarkable ability on “Spiritual Sin Egoismo”. Los Aldeanos is already one of Cuba’s most respected hip-hop groups and provide plenty evidence on the fiery “Pasa El Borrador”. There are so many performances to applaud and for that we must give kudos to Gilles Peterson for giving these musicians the exposure they deserve. “Havana Cultura” provides a glimpse into the evolution of Cuban music and it’s wealth of talented musicians. Listen and enjoy.

Reg Dancy

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The cover of Diamond District’s new album displays an abstract picture of the White House but there lies a world that while only a few miles away feels like light years away for the people who live in it. Fortunately for us we have three guys from the DC area to wax poetic on their city the way they see it. Diamond District is the brainchild of rapper/producer Oddisee along with members X.O and YU. Together they represent the nation’s capitol with raw uncut hip-hop with “In the ruff”. Oddisee adeptly blends gritty beats with soulful grooves while providing tales of life in the district (Washington D.C.) and the obstacles to rise above it. All three members display great chemistry and their rhyming skills are definitely on point as they trade verses off one another. The opening track “Streets won’t let me chill” is about man’s struggle to stay on the straight path without succumbing to negative elements around him. “I mean business” is an absolute banger that utilizes the Gang Starr classic “Mass Appeal” with great results. The title track “In the Ruff” serves as a reminder to the crew to never give up their quest to live the high life. Overall, “In the ruff” deserves an A for hard hitting beats, supreme production by Oddisee and thought provoking lyrics. If you like that boom bap hip-hop in the mode of Pete Rock or J Dilla then this cd is definitely for you.

Reg Dancy

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