Lorenzo Morresi & Le Isole – Pop Flop [Space Echo Records]
Italian DJ/Producer Lorenzo Morresi and Le Isole pay tribute to “library music” on his latest release “Pop Flop”. Library Music are obscure vinyl recordings written strictly for radio and television. These string laden jazz funk recordings were written by an array classically trained composers. Producer Luciano Cantone, who co-produced some of the recordings owns a large collection of rare library gems. Together they breathe new life into these recordings and lay down the groundwork for this impressive album. The disc kicks off with “Shalom”, a cosmic jazz funk heater. “Savana Urbana” is a mellow experimental number with a haunting groove. The ten track disc is filled with other cinematic compositions worth digging into. With Cantone’s vast collection I would expect to hear recordings like this from Morresi. This record deserves an encore.
17th July 2023
Makèz feat. Allysha Joy – Love You More [Sonic Soil]
Mitch von Arx – Confusion Fusion [CoOp Presents]
Piers Kirwan – Galactic [Last Forever Records]
I:Cube – Vaccum Jackers (Maurice Fulton Remix) [Versatile Records]
Kayyak – Dreaming Place [rumpelmusig]
Osunlade feat. Maiya James – Same Thing (Atjazz Remix) [Reel People Music]
Pat Bedeau & Hannah Khemoh – Always (SoulLab Remix) [Atjazz Record Company]
The Angels – Johnny Boy [BBE Music]
Immy Owusu – Flashback [Hopestreet Recordings]
Idrissa Soumaoro – N’den tedi [Mieruba]
Bobby Oroza & El Michels Affair – Whatcha Know [Big Crown Records]
Slowe – Calibrate [Tru Thoughts Recordings]
Sofia Grant – Ochre [Jazz Re:freshed]
Christian Knobel – Sambomambo [Compost Records]
Exército de Bebês – Avós da Experiência [Mr Bongo]
Marcel Vogel & LYMA – Flame On [Boogie Angst]
Break Reform – Waiting (Domu Remix) [Futuristica Music]
Soul II Soul – Fairplay [10 Records]
Amanda Whiting – Where Would You Be (Chris Cracknell Remix feat. Peach & Mat Lloyd) [Albert’s Favourites]
everwave – Mounds
Jane in Palma – Mixup Blender [WNCL Recordings]
Machinedrum feat. Jesse Boykins III – Wait 4 U (DJ Phil Remix) [Ninja Tune]
Tommy The Cat – On Secret Ground [Cat In The Bag Records]
Wheel Up – We Are The Magic [Tru Thoughts Recordings]
Danny Wheeler aka Wheel Up returns with his sophomore lp “We Are The Magic”. The West London based producer is one of the new torch bearers of the broken beat sound. This album however, is much more than that. The opening track “Infinity” will win you over with warm ethereal vibes. It’s co-produced by Harry Bryson aka Abacus, who brings a touch of drum n bass flavor that he’s known for. The tempo is scaled back a bit but the strings and the wicked bass will take you back to the early days of 4hero. Wheeler has also enlisted an array of superb vocalists that give the tunes wings. On “More Life” Wheeler creates an intimate mood tailor made for the angelic vocals of Victoria Port to draw you into her world of song. Port, one half of the duo Anushka also shines on the title track as well. “Singularity” featuring Steelo will certainly fill a dance floor. It has all the ingredients, a strong groove, infectious drumming, electronics and tasty vocals. Whether he’s dj’ing or producing, Wheeler has his finger on the pulse of club culture. This is another superb release that packs plenty of heat.
10th July 2023
Gene Harris – Cristo Redentor Part II [Blue Note Records]
The Circling Sun – Jewel [Soundway Records]
The Peter Franks Group – From The Heart [Futuristica Music]
Nicola Conte – Life Forces [Far Out Recordings]
Ceu Da Boca – Clarissa [Philips]
Moriah Plaza – Mais Amor [Batov Records]
The Garifuna Collective & Umalali – Mérua [Heavenly Sweetness]
Captain Planet feat. Taj Bethel – Mirage [Bastard Jazz Recordings]
Wipe The Needle feat. Stan Smith – Peace & Love [Boogie Cafe]
Fels – Broken Signs [Pressure Dome]
J-Felix feat. Sol Goodman – Peace of Mind [OVN Records]
Eeskra – Belong [Ramrock Blue Records]
Hidden Orchestra – Little Buddy Move [Lone Figures]
everwave – Lean Into You
At One feat. Sabrina Chyld – Could You Be? [Atjazz Record Company]
Muzari & Gugupash – Ingwe [Foliage Records]
Siraba – Kômo Fôlly (St Germain Remix) [Secret Teachings]
Afronaut feat. Son Del Batey – Golpe Tuyo Calinda [Bitasweet]
Goldie – Inner City Life (Trevino Remix) [London Records]
Kutiman – Sun Don’t Shine (Nenor Remix) [Siyal Music]
Ten City – That’s The Way Love Is (DFNY & PIEK Remix) [BuenoBueno Discos]
Boomclap – Coffee At Waylands [Atjazz Record Company]
Richie Weeks – My Baby Loves To Freak [Past Due Records]
VA – The Jazz Room Vol. 2 compiled by Paul Murphy [BBE Music]
Vol. 2 of BBE label head Paul Murphy’s “The Jazz Room” series highlights swinging Jazz, sizzling Latin Jazz grooves and much more. The tasty tracks chosen here will take you back to a time where the Jazz club was the place to be to get your party on. Evidence of that begins with the percussive Latin banger “Manteca” from Ceasr’s Salad. “Rebel No. 23” has a swinging 60s soul jazz groove courtesy of Tenor sax/Flutist Chip Wickham. Parisian based Florian Pellissier is one of the priemer pianists worldwide. Pellissier and his quintet come out swinging hard with “The Hipster”. Murphy certainly has great taste as Vol. 1 has demonstrated. Once again he delivers another marvelous compilation to expose you to hidden gems old and new.
https://paulmurphy.bandcamp.com/album/the-jazz-room-vol-2-compiled-by-paul-murphy
Tommaso Cappellato – Dancing Around Fire [Pavimento Fertile]
LA based drummer/composer Tommaso Cappellato teams up with the Italian Collective Pavimento Fertile to deliver the infectious dance EP “Dancing Around Fire”. Cappellato’s latest features dynamic dance flavored compositions certain to inject instant body movement. The opener “Made of Golden Light” gets its hooks in you with a wicked bass line aligned with spacey synths. Latin St Juste’s feathery vocals adds a warm touch. The title track is filled with cosmic funk. Cappellaro demonstrates his dexterity not just on the drums but on the keys as well. While the dance tracks instantly pop out the gate, the mid-tempo tunes provide an equal amount of energy. Although there’s only seven tracks here, Cappellato’s latest is a high octane spacey funk deluxe that definitely hits the mark and is worthy of repeated listens.
https://tommasocappellato.bandcamp.com/album/dancing-around-fire
3rd July 2023
Pete Josef – Sunny Side Up [Sonar Kollektiv]
El Michels Affair & Black Thought – Miracle [Big Crown]
Gan Gemi – Image II [One House]
Bala Desejo – Dourado Dourado [Mr Bongo]
John Beltran – Em Trancoso [Oath]
Nimbus Sextet – Impulsive [Nuovi Fratelli Produzioni]
Lyman Woodard Organization – Joy Road [BBE Music]
Takeo Moriyama – Watarase [BBE Music]
Born74 & Onj – Freedom To Choose [Tru Thoughts Recordings]
Effersay – Azadi [Studio Rockers]
Tommy The Cat – Strange Nights [E-Beamz]
Nasty Habits – Shadow Boxing [31 Records]
Danny Breaks – The Jellyfish [Alphabet Zoo]
Stefano De Santis – Sick With Rhyme [Ramrock Red Records]
Nathan Haines feat. Lyric L – Doot Dude [Chillifunk Records]
Greg Surmacz – What We Can Assume [XVI Records]
Kʒːlu – Arc Of The Rising Sun (Jonny Miller Remix) [Tangential Music]
Greg Paulus & Taylor Bense – Heat Makes Sense [Freerange Records]
Jimpster & Crackazat – My Harmony [Freerange Records]
Ruth Waters & The State of Mind Show Band – Superstar Part 1 [Miles Away Records]
China Charmeleon feat. Rona Ray – Invisible [Stay True Sounds]
Marcel Vogel & LYMA – Free Time [Boogie Angst]
ecad – Tinatoos
Roisin Murphy – Fader [Ninja Tune]
Caixa Cubo – Agoro [Jazz & Milk Recordings]
“Agoro” is the new release from the Brazilian trio Caixa Cubo. Their eight track release is a free flowing soundscape of warm rhythms, soft melodies and tenderlyrics. It’s layered on top of burning Brazilian Jazz funk. The opening track “Asase” is a simmering tune filled with hypnotic fender rhodes and a engaging chorus. The title track erupts with boundless energy highlighted by Trumpeter Matthias Schriefl. Schriefl’s flurries are the ying to the bands yang. Joao Fideles’s drumming will lift your feet off the ground and Henrique Gomide’s funky vamping are a warm summer breeze of rhythms. Although the disc wraps up around twenty five minutes, it packs a punch nonetheless. This ia a formidable trio to keep an eye on.
26th June 2023
everwave – Freedom Praise
SHOKAZULU – Uniquely Fresh [2000 Black]
Atjazz – Kidnapped [Atjazz Record Company]
Makèz feat. Allysha Joy & Gallowstreet – Love You More [Sonic Soil]
Sentinel 793 – Source Of Course [Universal Magnetic]
Simon Mavin – Good Hair Day (Harvey Sutherland Remix) [Bastard Jazz Recordings]
John Dean – Time’s Gunna Stop (Che Wilson Brukd Remix) [Atjazz Record Company]
Iman Houssein – Theodora [BBE Music]
Fels – Broken Signs [Pressure Dome]
Feiertag feat. Oshun – Law of Attraction [Sonar Kollektiv]
Buscrates – Floating In The Wind [Bastard Jazz Recordings]
Kirk Degiorgio – Mittani [BBE Music]
Knoel Scott feat. Marshall Allen – Makanda [Night Dreamer]
Eddie Gomez – Down Stretch [Black Hawk Records]
Debbie Cameron & Richard Boone – Stop Foolin’ Yourself [Compost Records]
Pedro Ricardo & Damian Botigue – Mar de Fora [Canela En Surco]
Medline – Azul [My Bags]
Secret Night Gang – Do For You [Brownswood Recordings]
Men From The Nile feat. Peven Everett – Watch Them Come!!! (Jazzanova REmixx) [Undaground Therapy Muzik]
Offshore And Coen feat. Amorelle – Where Is The Soul? [Atjazz Record Company]
Quantic feat. Andreya Triana – Run [Pias]
Reuben Vaun Smith – No Puedo Esperar [Ubiquity Records]
Atjazz – Labfunk [Atjazz Record Company]
The Circling Sun – The Circling Sun [Soundway Records]
The New Zealand based collective The Circling Sun channel the spirits of Pharoah
Sanders and Alice Coltrane on their marvelous debut. Fellow New Zealnder, producer Julien Dyne serves as the primary songwriter and he delivers. The six track lp is a blissful ride of spiritual jazz that will resonate with any fan of the genre. Among the highlights are “Kohan”, a blissful tune driven by the bass rhythms of Ben Turua building the canvas for all to shine. The heavenly chorus aligned with J.Y. Lee’s warm melodic flute makes for a fantastic voyage. “Spirits” evolves with a wave of piano rhythms and hypnotic percussion. Lee’s Soprano lifts the tune to another level. Each track is a delight in its own right that’s filled vibrant energy and superb performances. Highly recommended.