6th September 2021
Hiromasa Suzuki – Out Of Focus [Columbia]
Foat, Heinola, Åkerblom – Feline Fantasy [Jazzaggression Records]
Timo Lassy – Foreign Routes [We Jazz Records]
Web Web x Max Herre – Whirlin’ [Compost Records]
Anthony Joseph – Who Will Save The World? [Heavenly Sweetness]
Alemayehu Eshete – Alteleyeshegnem [Heavenly Sweetness]
Jembaa Groove – Bassa Bassa [Agogo Records]
Scrimshire feat. Cleveland Watkiss – The Pile [Albert’s Favourites]
Georgie Sweet – Circled [Futuristica Music]
Mista Monk feat. Elf Tranzporter & Naked eYe – How We Living (Dr Drumah Remix) [Inner Tribe Records]
Czarface & MF DOOM – This Is Canon Now [Silver Age]
Dizz1 – Konotakosuke Yaro [Rush Hour]
EESKRA – Belong [Ramrock Records]
Bubbha Thomas and The Lightmen – Boogie Down (PT. 2) [Pressure Makes Diamonds]
Netwerk – Hard To Give It Up [Past Due]
OYOBI feat. Qvln & Ahyko – Rey Xango ( [Atjazz Record Company]
Axis Choir – I See The Sun [Newborn Records Inc.]
Kuna Maze – Bill [Tru Thoughts Recordings]
Cassius Select – Mess Mutual [BRUK]
Soulparlor feat. Colonel Red – To Be More [Inner Tribe Records]
sUb_modU – All Around [Tru Thoughts Recordings]
The Pleasure Principle feat. Heidi Vogel – Coral Drive Hustler [Expressive Records]
Portico Quartet – Impressions [Gondwana Records]
Ce Ce Rogers – Someday [Atlantic]
Inkswel: Mind Beats Vol.1 [Inner Tribe]
It has been a busy year for Austrailian producer Jules Habib aka InksWel. He dropped the deeply satisfying “Astral Love” earlier this year. Now he returns with the intergalactic beat tape “Mind Beats Vol.1”. Inkswel chops up an array of dark and moody beats surrounded with outtakes of interviews of Sun Ra. Among the highlights are “Journey For All Men” filled with spacey chords and thick beats. “War” is another banger laced with cosmic synths and features rapper Social Change. “One For Doom” is a fitting tribute to the late iconic rapper. In fact if you’re fans of Doom or beatmakers such as Madlib then you’ll certainly vibe to this.
Jerome Thomas: That Special Sauce [Rhythm Section]
Hackney based vocalist Jerome Thomas has been building a reputation as soul singer to keep an eye on for a number of years. Various projects over the have offered a tease of his velvet falsetto. Once you caught a listen you were left wondering when are we gonna get more? Well, the wait is over. “That special Sauce”, Thomas’s full length debut on Rhythm Section International is filled with hot buttered soul gems dripping with sensuality and romanticism. Thomas ecshews electronics in favor of a six piece band and the result is an organic session that provides the canvas for his passionate lyrics. On the slow burning “Secret” Thomas’s subdued yet seductive vocals sets the mood for an intimate connection. “Settle Down” is fueled by the subtle yet poignant bass licks. The laidback drumming is in the pocket and tailor made for Kwesi Mcintosh’s melodic bass grooves sprinkled throughout the disc. Despite the fact there’s only seven tracks here you’ll get caught up in the rapture nonetheless. Simply stated this is blue lights in the basement music from a rising star in UK soul.
The Fantastics: Take A Shot [BBE]
Hard to believe it’s been nine years since The Fantastics last full length release. The band turned over their roster and only two members remain from the original lineup. Recently they have gone out on the road to try out their new material and based on this new release, the audience gave marks. “Take Another Shot”, their third lp is filled with high energy funk and soul jazz compositions that have become their trademark. Keyboardist Greg Boraman, one of the original members has tapped into new blood to push the band’s music forward. Guitarist James Byron brings an open minded approach to genre bending compositions resonating throughout the recording. Vocalist Selene Fleming’s resume includes appearances with Incognito and Leroy Hutson. She punctuates a number of tunes here like “Say You Will” and “Can’t Decide”. The latter is an organ fueled psychedelic tune with rip roaring guitars. Mark Norton’s melodic flute is front and center on the mellow soul jazz tunes “Better Than Dead” and “Oblique”. Overall it’s a strong ten track album that will certainly satisfy your soul jazz palette.
Balimaya Project: Wolo So [Jazz Re:freshed]
The Balimaya project is a collective of Uk musicians collaborating on Mande music. Mande is a family of ethnic groups from West Africa. Led by UK based Djembe musician Yahael Camara Onono, the group consists of members of burgeoning bands Kokoroko and Seed Ensemble. “Soninka Patronba” begins with warm percussions and a brimming horn section. The tune shifts tempos from mellow to spirited high energy grooves. “City Of God” is a meditative blend of Kora, trumpet and Trombone rhythms. “Dakan” is another polyrhythmnic tune bursting with hypnotic percussions, soothing keys and sublime horn arrangements. A marvelous record that flows with spirited energy and enthusiasm. This is a showcase of the abundance of talented UK musicians with a foundation of Jazz and their pulse on the Mande culture.
The Kondi Band: We Famous [Strut]
“We Famous”, the sophomore release from Sierra Leonean native Sorie Kondi, DJ/Producer Chief Boima and Will LV better known as The Kondi Band. The ten track disc are filled with West African rhythms, specifically Freetown Sierra Leone. Boima discovered Kondi through a youtube video and eventually arranged for him to travel to the States. During that visit the duo scheduled five live dates and eventually made their way to the studio. “We Famous”, four years in the making is the follow up to their 2016 debut. “Don’t Follow Sweetness” is an infectious tune highlighting Kondi’s vocals as well as his mastery of the thumb piano. “She Doesn’t Love You” is enhanced by Boima’s use of electronics and features guest vocals from fellow Sierra Leone native Mariama Jalloh. “It’s God’s World” is another dance floor filler with an infectious groove that features Sweatson Klank. This is another winner from Strut records who have a knack for finding hidden gems. None any bigger than Kondi.
30th August 2021
Samael Senja feat. Donna Odain – Some Fun
EVM128 – Dance Don’t Sleep [CoOp Presents]
Tommy Rawson – Ads Mood [Bergerac]
Blakai feat. Lady Alma – Work It Out [Ten50]
Myele Manzanza – Quinnies For The Boys [DeepMatter Records]
Sunbear – Let Love Flow for Peace [Soul Train]
Jonathon Hansen – What Its Meant To Me [Favorite Recordings]
Break Reform – Perfect Season [Abstract Blue Recordings]
Aru-2 & Kzyboost – Shooby Dooby [Bastard Jazz Recordings]
Silent Titan feat. Anthony OKS – How Life Won [Low Key Source]
MMYYKK – Bout Dat [Rhythm Section]
G’emma – Water [Sonar Kollektiv]
Ishmael Ensemble – Feather [Severn Songs]
Awkward Corners feat. Kitty Whitelaw – Marshland Lullaby [Shapes Of Rhythm]
Sven Wunder – Pentimento [Piano Piano Records]
Foat, Heinola, Åkerblom – Valley Of The Black Cats [Jazzaggression Records]
Spirits Rejoice – Makes Me Wonder Why [Matsuli Music]
Lloyd McNeill – Tzigane [Soul Jazz Records]
Kansas Smitty – Bump [7K!]
On Our Own Clock – Dune Dance [Mushroom Hour Half Hour]
Gabrielito Gonzalez & La Verdad – Bacalao Con Pan
Hawa feat. Rosemary Martins – Risin’ To The Top [Stix Records]
Tryangle Man – Night Jazz [Atjazz Record Company]
Park Ave. feat. Tony Jenkins – Don’t Turn Your Love (Dangerous Mix) [Movin’ Records]
Sean McCabe & Karmasound feat. Erik Rico – A New Day [Phuture Shock Musik]
Sir Shina Peters – Yabis (Deep Space Orchestra’s Low Down McDuff Edit)
23rd August 2021
40 Winks – We’re Flying [Project Mooncircle]
DJ Simon S feat. LaNote – What Goes Around [Futuristica Music]
Edseven feat. Tan Brown – Heart Wars (Steve Spacek Remix) [Inner Tribe Records]
Czarface & MF DOOM – Doom Unto Others [Silver Age]
Damu The Fudgemunk feat. Blu – Four Better or Worse (Pt. 2) [Def Pressé/KPM]
Machinedrum feat. Deniro Farrar – Stone Age [Ninja Tune]
Elf Tranzporter feat. Rayjah45 – Soul Step [Inner Tribe Records]
Jaguar Skills & Omar – Loving Someone Part 1 [Nope23]
Agustin Pereyra Lucena Quartet – 3 Horas Da Manha [Far Out Recordings]
Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble – Wet Walnuts And Whipped Cream [Jazz Room Records]
Balimaya Project – Soninka Patronba [Jazz Refreshed]
B-ahwe – Circles
Khruangbin & Harvey Sutherland – One to Remember (Forget Me Nots Dub) [Dead Oceans]
Nimbus Sextet – Deep Dark Blue Lights (Chris Read Remix) [Acid Jazz]
Kondi Band feat. Sweatson Klank – It’s God’s World (So Don’t Do Bad) [Strut Records]
Aybee feat. Erik Rico – So Much Greater [Deepblak]
Footshooter & André Espeut – Looking Back [Boomerang Records]
Kaidi Tatham & Dego – Got Me Puzzled [2000 Black]
Calibre – Broken [Signature Recordings]
Unknown Artist 002 – A1 [Unknown – Untitled]
Diephuis & Natasha Watts – Time Will Never Stop (Deep Mix) [Atjazz Record Company]
Delano Smith & Brian Kage – D Spirit [Michigander]
Shur-i-kan & Milton Jackson – Hit Thinking [Freerange Records]
Tryangle Man – Night Jazz [Atjazz Record Company]
Apparel Wax – B1 [Apparel Music]
16th August 2021
Blaze feat. Alexander Hope – Wonderland (Original MIx) [Slide ‘N’ Slide]
Lucky Mereki – Your Lips [Re:Warm]
!Sooks – Imagine (Atjazz Galaxy Aart Remix) [Atjazz Record Company]
Simon Hinter – Helena [Freerange Records]
The Palmer Initiative – Terra [Hot Haus Recs]
Afronaught – Transcend Me [Apollo]
Mark Graham – Freedom Stylin’
Teymori – Sekondi [Wax Museum Records]
Brief Work – Jump! (Extended Dance Mix)
Heaven And Earth – He Don’t Really Love You [WMOT Records]
Innerzone Orchestra – Bug In The Bass Bin (Jazz Version) [Planet E]
Intense – Positive Notions [Good Looking Records]
LMajor – Can’t Do It [Astrophonica]
MMYYKK – Divine [Rhythm Section]
Jerome Thomas – Settle Down [Rhythm Section]
Sola Rosa – You Don’t Know (DIZZ1 Remix)
Ebi Soda – Dimmsdale [Tru Thoughts Recordings]
Kutiman – Guruji [Siyal Music]
On Our Own Clock – Dune Dance [Mushroom Hour Half Hour]
Raúl Monsalve y los Forajidos feat. Luzmira Zerpa – Bocón (Orestes Gomez Remix) [Olindo Records]
John Haycock – Honey Mango [Limefield Records]
Web Web x Max Herre feat. Mulatu Astatke – Meskel Flowers [Compost Records]
Scrimshire feat. Jessica Lauren – Within Without [Albert’s Favourites]
9th August 2021
Timo Lassy – Sointu [We Jazz Records]
The Cinematic Orchestra – Familiar Ground [Ninja Tune]
Yesterday’s New Quintet – Elle’s Theme [Stones Throw Records]
The Seshen – Close Your Eyes (SNVS Remix) [Tru Thoughts Recordings]
Alexis Davis – Closer To Ubiquity
Breakthrough feat. Bahamadia – Chalk It Up [Ki/oon Records]
Bahamadia – Da Jawn [Chrysalis]
Super db – Take Me Back [Légère Recordings]
Reuben Vaun Smith – Deliciosa [Soundway Records]
My Friend Dario – Malvasia (Blair French Remix) [NuNorthern Soul]
Andre Luiz – Filhos de Odé (Tahira Rework)
Archie The Goldfish – On a Summer’s Day [Funkiwala Records]
Àbáse – Agangatolú [Oshu Records]
N’draman Blintch – Cosmic Sounds [Hot Mule]
K-65 – In My Mind [Seagrave]
Lamb – Górecki (Global Communications Remix) [Fontana]
As Valet feat. J.Mcfysian & La Note – Verite Sur L’amour [Futuristica Music]
Minus & MRDolly feat. Mary Raisekings – A Thousand Miles [Jazzego]
Tommy Rawson – Illusions [Bergerac]
Kerri Chandler Presents Arnold Jarvis – Inspiration [Freetown Records]
Trinidadian Deep – Dub Rockas [Phuture Shock Musik]
James Toney Jr. Project – Better Days [Life Line Records]
Apparel Wax – 008A2 [Apparel Music]