15th June 2020
Roos Jonker & Dean Tippet – Vrijdagmiddag II [Sonar Kollektiv]
Friends from Rio – Vera Cruz [Far Out Recordings]
Airto Moreira – Sete Sementes [Montuno Records]
Mala feat. Danay Suarez – Noche Sueños [Brownswood Recordings]
Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad feat. Roy Ayers – Synchronize Vibrations [Jazz Is Dead]
Roy Ayers – Reaching The Highest Pleasure [BBE Music]
Little Dragon – 4ever [Off The Wall Records]
[dajzœlski] – Envie [Coffee Break Records]
Lo Down – Fright Nights [Grifter Recordings]
TY feat. Durrty Goodz – The Real Ones [BBE Music]
N400 – Coppermill [Bridge The Gap Mgt]
Jackson Mathod – The Park [Bridge The Gap Mgt]
JAF Trio – Nostalgia [We Jazz Records]
Irene Kral – Wheelers And Dealers [Catalyst Records]
Pete Josef – Giants [Sonar Kollektiv]
Bob James – Storm King [CTI Records]
Fred und Luna – No Glashütte No Harksheide [Compost Records]
Awkward Corners – I’ll Do It Tomorrow (Emanative Remix) [Shapes Of Rhythm]
junk-E-cat – Music Talks To Me [Mutterkomplex]
Simbad feat. Ammo Moses – Time Off [Atjazz Record Company]
Loftsoul X Soul T – Freedom (Hideo Kobayashi Remix) [Makin Moves]
Delhikate – Head Krash [Museek Record Label]
Jonny Miller feat. JD73 – Apollo (Demo Pass) [Atjazz Record Company]
Stephen Encinas – Disco Illusion [Invisible City Editions]
Rockie Robbins – My Old Friend [A&M Records]
The Two Tons – Never Like This [Fantasy Honey Records]
8th June 2020
Genevieve Artadi – Living Like I Know I’m Gonna Die [Brainfeeder]
Sun Aura – Candlelight [Sun Aura Records]
DJ Juco feat. Hidenka – I Like Dreams In A Broken World [Refreshment Records]
ZND – Dangerous Connection
Nicola Conte & Gianluca Petrella – The Higher Love [Schema Records]
Blundetto – Feel The Cold [Heavenly Sweetness]
Mato – Maiden Voyage [Stix]
Terea – Pretty Bird [Jazzman Records]
Dee Dee Bridgewater – Afro Blue [Mr Bongo]
Steve Parks – Movin’ In The Right Direction [Luv N’ Haight]
Peshay – Breakin’ [Peshay Music]
Mamilah – Disappear
Haggis Horns feat. John McCallum – Shoulder To Shoulder [Haggis Records]
Lucky Brown & The S.G.’s – Pecan Trees Speak To Each Other [Tramp Records]
Etuk Ubong – Africa Today [Night Dreamer Records]
Waaju feat. Will Heard – Time’s Got A Hold [Olindo Records]
44th Move – Fly [Black Acre]
Atjazz feat. Sarai Jazz – The Only One [Atjazz Record Company]
Natalie Slade – Gimme Ya Love [Eglo Records]
Special Request – I Wish Time Didn’t Matter
Tony Allen – Calling (DJ Nem Remix)
Bande-Gamboa – No Guine [Heavenly Sweetness]
Judy Roberts – The Roadrunner [Inner City Records]
Cotonete – Layla (Alex Attias Remix) [Heavenly Sweetness]
Hector Plimmer feat. Andrew Ashong – Wall Street (Matthew Herbert’s Street Dub) [Albert’s Favourites]
Future Beat Alliance – Time Stamp [Reward System]
Ross McHenry: Nothing Remains Unchanged [First Word]
With each new full length recording Ross McHenry is demonstrating that he’s a premier bass player and composer on the rise. “Nothing Remains Unchanged” is McHenry’s fourth album for First Word Records. He’s joined once again by Pianist Matthew Sheens but Eric Harland replaces Myele Manzanza on drums and premier tenor saxophonist Ben Wendel sits in for the first time. Together they make a formidable quartet and the music certainly reflects that. “Complicated Us” starts us off with a warm harmonic interaction between Wendel and Sheens that sustains throughout. Harland’s gentle brushes and subtle cymbals intensifies as the track nears it’s end. “Woods” is tailor made for Sheens glorious piano melodies and Wendel’s swirling horn flourishes. Over the course of ten minutes “This I Give To You” begins as a gentle ballad that builds into an exhilarating crescendo. You won’t find fault with any track here. McHenry hits the mark with another superb recording that’s adventurous and engaging. He’s becoming one of the most prolific musicians on the scene today.
Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Mohammad: Jazz Is Dead [Jazz Is Dead]
“Jazz Is Dead” is the brainchild of Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad. Their previous release was the self titled “Midnight Hour” from 2018 and this release follows the same formula. That is an organic collection of jazz funk session recordings backed by their own rhythm section. Fronting these sessions are a number of legendary musicians certain to elevate any recording. “Hey Lover” is mid-tempo jazz funk with a hypnotic drum snare beat that features the signature voice of Roy Ayers. “Apocaliptico” is psychedelic jazz rock from Asymuth that’s reminiscent of their late seventies catalog. “Nao Sala Da Praca” is filled with warm samba rhythms enhanced by the vocals of Brazilian icon Marcos Valle. With notable appearances from Gary Bartz, Doug Carn and Joao Donato, rest assured these compositions live up to the hype. Where “The Midnight Hour” featured twenty tracks this release has just eight but in this case less is certainly more. Clearly the time spent digging through the crates and tapes of seventies hidden gems has paid off. A terrific collection of authentic soul, jazz and Brazilian compositions that you shouldn’t miss.
Key Elements: Key Elements [Sonar Kollektiv]
DJ/Producer Marian Tone has been a fixture on the Berlin scene and his DJ sets feature his love for hip-hop, electronica and broken beat. Key Elements, his long awaited project on Sonar Kollektiv fuses these genres seamlessly with a touch of jazz to elevate this recording. Tone is joined by Drummer Waldi and Keyboardist and bassist Jim Dunloop. The opening track “Mike Needs Sugat” is laced with sweet colorful chordal soundscapes. “Orchestra Mode” is bursting with crystallizing keyboard like chords and bombastic drums. “Sua Onda” swings while shifting tempos, textures. and broken beat rhythms against a backdrop of gorgeous rhodes melodies. Toneis hits the mark with an impressive debut that’s harmonic and melodic. I’m already looking forward to what he does next.
The Colours That Rise: Grey Doubt [Rhythm Section International]
Producer Simeon Jones and Nathanael Williams form the duo known as The Colours That Rise. Their latest release “Grey Doubt” is lo-fi celestial electronica built on funk, broken beat grooves and spacey synths. This is the follow up to their impressive EP “2020”. “Hype Lane” is laid back galactic funk with a wobbly 70s wah wah groove. “The Juice” is a touch of afro house highlighted by the vocals of Andrew Ashong. The aptly titled “Atmosphere” erupts with warm and mellow chords merged with the sultry vocals of Yazmin Lacey. The compositions here are intertwined with dialogue alleging that black people are living on Mars. The point being that you must be mindful of the conspiracy theories that are floating in the universe. It’s tastefully done and blends seamlessly with the spacey compositions on tap here. I recommend you take a trip through this galaxy of gorgeous grooves and enjoy the ride.
Gary Bartz & Maisha: Night Dreamer Direct To Disc Sessions [Night Dreamer Records]
Night Dreamer records has made quite a splash with their direct to disc sessions. Their last release was the sublime duet between Brazilian vocalists Seu Jorge and Roge. The latest entry is the collaboration of legendary alto saxophonist Gary Bartz and the UK spiritual jazz group Maisha. Led by drummer Jake Long, Maisha has been amongst a lengthy list of promient musicians leading the new wave on the UK jazz renaissance. The band and Bartz first met during the We Out Here festival in 2019 hosted by Gilles Peterson. Another encounter was the London Jazz Festival that celebrated the 50th anniversary of Bartz’s spiritual jazz album “Another Earth”. A chremistry was quickly formed which brings us to this direct to disc one take recording. “Let’s Dance” is filled with afro caribbean rhythms serving as a canvas for Bartz’s warm and adventurous horn melodies. “Uhuru Sasa” is 70s inspired soul jazz with a burning laid back groove. The only quibble is that there’s only five tracks here but these are five exceptional tracks nonetheless. It’s our fortune that the forces of nature brought this pairing together. Simply a brillant record that hopefully entices them to return for an encore.
1st June 2020
Bergsonist feat. Tonina – Womankind’s Beauty [Hypercolour]
Quaid – Mirage [Apron Records]
Niklas Wandt – Erdtöne [Kryptox]
Aleksi Heinola Quintet – Drift (Live at Lonna 3.7.19) [We Jazz Records]
Asher Gamedze – Siyabulela [On The Corner Records]
Jan Simonsen Quintet – Martin [Jazzaggression Records]
Vibration Black Finger – The Glory [Jazzman Records]
Lady Blackbird – Blackbird [Foundation Music]
George Duke – Foosh [MPS Records]
Leron Thomas – Corporate [Lewis Recordings]
Darrow Fletcher – (What Are We Gonna Do About) This Mess [Kent Select]
Footshooter feat. Izzy Risk – Slipped Back [Dance Regular]
Agent K – Ladies [Laws Of Motion]
Kutiman – Copasavana [Siyal Music]
Erik Tagg – Marja’s Tune [P-Vine]
Logic System – Be Yourself [Wewantsounds]
Samuel Jonathan Johnson – Sweet Love [Be With Records]
Marquis Hawkes – Voyage [Unknown To The Unknown]
Mr Beatnick – Invisible Escalator [Mythstery Records]
Black Classical – Medassi [On The Corner Records]
Arnaud D feat. Rescue Poetix – Chasing Dreams [Atjazz Record Company]
Girls Of The Internet – By My Side [Drab Queen]
25th May 2020
Chip Wickham – Interstellar [Love Monk]
Lamont Johnson – Philosophers Store [Masterscores]
Gary Bartz & Maisha – The Stank [Night Dreamer]
Limoncello – Musica Aqui [Far Out Recordings]
Erik Tagg – Got To Be Lovin’ You [P-Vine]
Larry Rose Band – Who Conned The Lady [BBE Music]
Phyllis Hyman – You Know How To Love Me [Arista Records]
Bandé-Gamboa – Festa Na Praia [Heavenly Sweetness]
Fairuz – Aloula (Version 1) [Wewantsounds]
Deborah Jordan – Horizon [Futuristica Music]
Pugs Atomz & Inkswel feat. Planetself – Invite The Light [Sonar Kollektiv]
OXP feat. Grand Puba & Pudgee – In The 90’s [NBN Records]
DJ Juco feat. Mr Pug & DJ Katslaw – Lotus Sonido [Refreshment Records]
Inkswel feat. Tableek – Spread Love [Inner Tribe Records]
Sahin Gultekin – Vur Zilleri (Fattish Rework) [Topkapı Plak]
Eko – Ndolo Embe Mulema [Africa Seven]
Awkward Corners – Straight Ahead [Shapes Of Rhythm]
Afterlife – Wanderlust [Subatomic] Into the Heat EP
Atjazz, At One & Emilie Chick – Lxve [Atjazz Record Company]
Jullian Gomes feat. Zaki Ibrahim – Stay [Atjazz Record Company]
The Milk – Feels So Good (Scrimshire Bruk Up The Family Remix) [Wah Wah 45s]
M-Scape – Feel Good [Last Forever Records]
Geoffroy – Broken Bone (67100 Dub Ina Bruk Remix) [Dope Tones Records]
1Luv – Black Daylight [SunTzu Sound]
18th May 2020
LaTique – R.J.C.T.S (Rare Touch) [Atjazz Record Company]
Mr Beatnick – Noah’s Mood [Mythstery Records]
Natalie Slade – Love Light (Holloway Remix) [Eglo Records]
Captain Over – Jupiterrr [XVI Records]
Gaye Su Akyol – Akil Olmayinca (Jonny Rock’s Tropical Soundfactory Remix) [Vesvese Records]
Kutiman Orchestra – Saluf (Live at the Ogen) [Siyal Music]
Etuk Ubong – African Struggle [Night Dreamer Records]
Voilaaa – Tenor Jam for Manu [Favorite Recordings]
Rabii Harnoune & V.B.Kühl – Yomali [Tru Thoughts Recordings]
Brain Rays Quiet – Hemlock [Seagrave]
Mahakala – Blue [Mahakala]
BHLB feat. Nicolai – What Would You Do [Streetology Studios]
DJ Mitsu The Beats – Time and Tide [Jazzy Sport]
Mecca:83 – Fulton Street
Sauce81 – Dreamy Planet [Ultra Vybe Records]
Gaijin Blues – Bahamut (The Town Provider) (Emanative Remix) [Shapes Of Rhythm]
Bone Idols & Aphletik feat. TY – Keep On [Above The Clouds Recordings]
TY – We Don’t Care [Big Dada Recordings]
TY – Heart Is Breaking [BBE Music]
TY feat. Roots Manuva – Oh U Want More? (Refix) [Big Dada Recordings]
TY – Groovement (Pt. 1) [Big Dada Recordings]
Natalie Williams feat. TY And Eska – The Way We Like It [East Side Records]
TY feat. Eska – Sophisticated & Coarse [Talkin’ Loud]
Nextmen feat. TY – Turn It Up a Little [Scenario Records]
TY – Somehow Somewhere Someway (Kaidi Tatham Remix) [Jazz Re:freshed]
TY – Wait A Minute [Big Dada Recordings]