Various Artists: Backstreet Brit Funk Vol.2 Compiled by Joey Negro [Z Records]
Leave it to premiere DJ Joey Negro to assemble another enormous selection of rare gems. Brit Funk Vol.2 has dusted off some hidden UK funk tracks from the late seventies and early eighties that will have you searching for your platform dancing shoes. There’s plenty to savor from this double lp that features several unreleased tracks. Among the highlights are Eastbound Expressway’s “Never Let Go”, a late seventies funk groove with a break beat that certainly jump started parties back in the day. “Ease Your Mind” by Touchdown has an infectious uptempo groove and swirling horn rhythm that has found it’s way into several DJ’s playlist today. “You Gotta Get It” by Congress is another banger with a wicked synth laden bass groove. Eight years after Vol.1 Negro hits the mark once again.
John Coltrane: Both Directions At Once – The Lost Album [Impulse]
This is comparable to finding buried treasure. Or as Sonny Rollins said, “It’s like finding a new room in the Great Pyramid”. I’m referring to the recently discovered recording by the infamous John Coltrane quartet. These are compositions that Coltrane recorded on March 6, 1963 the day before his duet recording with Johnny Hartman. At this stage in his relationship with Impulse he had the ability to come into the studio and record whenever he wanted. The result of this session is seven tunes, three of them untitled. The album opens with “Untitled Original 11383”, a fiery tune with Coltrane on Soprano. The quartet is in peak form with Elvin Jones pulsating polyrhythms and McCoy Tyner’s soloing provide superb support. “Untitled Original 11386” finds the quartet hitting hard on the Latin flavored melody. “Villa” is a bluesy number with Coltrane recording alternative takes on Tenor and Soprano. What can be said about this quartet that hasn’t been said already. Just another tremendous record by one of the best quartets of all time. Don’t hesitate to purchase.
Serge Gamesbourg: Boston Goes Disco! [BBE]
“Boston Goes Disco” is a deep drive into the underground world of late 70s early 80s Boston Disco. Boston native DJ/Producer Serge Gamesbourg shines a light on forgotten tunes from Massachusetts. Among this 20 track release are a few notable selections. “All In Good Time” by Wildlife is your typical blueprint disco number with swirling strings and a funky groove. Gamesbourg’s edit of funky bass driven “I’m Gonna Get You” is a highlight. The Christopher Michael Band’s “You Make Me Happy” bridges the gap between funk and Disco. Gamesbourg’s edits and reworks breathes new life into these tunes. For Disco afficionados you’ll certainly find some gems throughout this disc.
Jonny Drop: The Only Sound [Albert’s Favourites]
Drummer/beatmaker Jonny Drop’s last solo release “Beat Tape” demonstrated a niche for soulful hip hop infused grooves. Since then he formed the jazz funk band The Expansions where his sound continues to evolve. On his latest solo record it’s evident that his growth as an artist has gone to another level. “The Only Sound” is a warm imaginative soulful journey ripe with beautiful vocals, quality samples and instrumentation. “The Looking Glass” is an blissful mid tempo beauty that features heavenly vocals from Sarah Williams White. Grace Walker blesses the soulful guitar driven “Flashlight”. “Moon Food” is tinged with psychedelic rhythms and features premiere reedist Tamar Osborn on flute. Drop seamlessly blends live drumming with loops and beats so you can’t tell one from the other. It all adds up to an superb listening experience that you’ll have on repeat
Various Artists: Cosmic Forest – The Spiritual Sounds of MPS [MPS]
“Cosmic Forest”, Nicola Conte’s latest compilation is a journey into the vaults of Musik Produktion Schwarzwald (MPS). The German label has a catalogue of approximately 500 albums filled with Spiritual jazz composed by premiere musicians from around the world. MPS founder Hans Georg Brunner recognized the wave of 60s spiritual jazz and re-positioned the label to reflect the trend. It must have been a daunting task to choose from this collection but Conte has done an impressive job. The hypnotic “Evolution” is filled with intense rhythms by saxophonist Nathan Davis who lived in Germany during the sixties. “Revelation” is another highlight. Influenced by Eastern mysticism trumpter Hannibal Marvin Peterson’s blistering solos are augmented by swirling piano melodies and percussion. The meditative “Soledad” De Murcia” has a Latin feel courtesy of Pianist Michael Naura and vibraphonist Wolfgang Schluter. There’s no filler here, just a superb collection of tunes you’ll want to get familiar with from an underrated label
24 September 2018
GMG – Nippo [Thirty Year Records]
Martin Iveson feat. Sarai Jazz – Playground [Atjazz Record Company]
DJ 3000 – Escapia [Motech Records]
Djrum – Blue Violet [R&S Records]
Jazzanova feat. Zakes Bantwini – In The Morning (Atjazz Afrotech Remix) [Sonar Kollektiv]
Roisin Murphy – Jacuzzi Rollercoaster [The Vinyl Factory]
Super Paolo – Funk City (B. Bravo Remix) [Disco Milk Records]
Wildlife – All In Good Time (Original 12) [BBE Music]
Herbert – Pen [Phono/Accidental Jnr]
Trio Ternura – A Gira [Melodies International]
Moontribe – Moontribe [Fortuna Records]
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley – Adwoa [Mr Bongo]
Ian O’Brien – Spiraling Prism [BBE Music]
Brandon Coleman feat. Patrice Quinn & Techdizzle – Giant Feelings [Brainfeeder]
Babs Robert & The Love Planet – Architexture [seriE.WOC]
Amaro Freitas – Trupe [Far Out Recordings]
Koichi Matsukaze Trio + Toshiyuki Daitoku – Zekatsuma Selbst [BBE Music]
Michael Naura Quartet – Soledad De Murcia [MPS Records]
Brandon Coleman – Walk Free (Flying Lotus Remix) [Brainfeeder]
Fevra feat. D. Hart x Falcxne – Sands Of Time [Darker Than Wax]
Georgia Anne Muldrow – Aerosol [Brainfeeder]
Aswad – Back To Africa [Island Records]
Felbm – Memoirists [Soundway Records]
Retiree – House Or Home [Rhythm Section]
Long Arm – I Walk, I Fly [Project Mooncircle]
17 September 2018
Paradise – Stop And Think [Z Records]
Veira Krew – Sexy Lady [Z Records]
The Expansions – Transcoso [Albert’s Favourites]
The Detroit Experiment – Enterluud [Planet E]
Julien Dyne – Hours [Soundway Records]
Tantsui – Day Of The End [Nopassport]
JD73 – Swing ‘Til It Hurts [Monumental]
Kenneth Scott – The Future We Must Live In Now, Forever [Souvenir Music]
Max Graef – Entrance [Tartelet Records]
Innerzone Orchestra – Basic Math [Talkin’ Loud]
Anthony Joseph – Milligan (The Ocean) [Heavenly Sweetness]
Web Web – Agowu [Compost Records]
Jack Sels – Night In Tunisia [Sdban]
Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – Alamode [Impulse! Records]
Bowman Trio – The Hillary Step [We Jazz Records]
Onyx Collective feat. Sporting Life – Space-Wars [Big Dada]
Hunrosa – We Know [Wah Wah 45s]
Fatima – Dang [Eglo Records]
DJ Jazzy Jeff feat. Oddisee - Musik Lounge [Rapster Records]
Nicole Mitchell And Haki Madhubuti – Often Hard To Believe [Black Earth Music]
Paul Randolph – Heavy (Ashley Beedle’s ‘North Street’ Remix) [Ramrock Blue]
Eugene Record – Your Love (Ain’t Nothing Like It) [Warner Bros. Records]
10 September 2018
Long Arm – Lullaby [Project Mooncircle]
Jesse Futerman feat. Rise – One for Irvine [Jus Like Music Records]
Makers – Don’t Challenge Me [Midnight]
C-Ras – Spectre [Beat Department]
Marcos Valle – Nova Bossa Nova (New Bossa) [Far Out Recordings]
S-Tone Inc. – Luz da Joaca (Gerardo Frisina Dub) [Schema Records]
Skymark – Back In The Real Days [Modern Sun Records]
Ratgrave – Ein Kola bitte [Apron]
Kool Customer – Nice Touch [Bastard Jazz Recordings]
Brandon Coleman – All Around The World [Brainfeeder]
Tower Of Power – Do You Like That? [Artistry Music]
Reel People feat. Omar – Thinking About Your Love [Reel People Music]
Yan Tregger – Catchy [BBE Music]
Skull Snaps – My Hang Up Is You [Mr Bongo]
Dengue Dengue Dengue – Dileke [On The Corner Records]
Amduscias – She-Witch [Space Hardware]
Fred P & SMBD – Angel Dust [Modern Dialect]
Herbert – People That Make The Music [Phono/Accidental Jnr]
Simbad feat. Brian Temba – Take My Hand (Jimpster Remix) [Freerange Records]
Roman Flügel – Song With Blue [Compost Records]
Bobby Hutcherson feat. Harold Land – Prints Tie [Blue Note Records]
Ryo Fukui – Mellow Dream [We Release Jazz]
Amaro Freitas – Mantra [Far Out Recordings]
Takeo Moriyama – East Plants [BBE Music]
3 September 2018
Roberta Flack – Sunday And Sister Jones [Atlantic]
Freddie Chavez – Cold Rainy Day [Izipho Records]
Lady Lee – Simple Things [Mr Bongo]
Esinam – Birds Fly Under a Heavy Sky [SDBAN Ultra]
Ryo Fukui – Horizon [We Release Jazz]
Harold Vick – Stop and Cop [Pure Pleasure Records]
Marco Di Marco Trio – I Miei Ricordi [Arision]
The Lewis Express – Straight Seven Strut [ATA Records]
Lucky Brown & The S.G.’s – Longhorn Waltzcha [Tramp Records]
Barış Manço – Lonely Man [Pharaway Sounds]
The Deli – Rainy Day In Japan [Cold Busted]
Plantself feat. Blurum13 & Funkwig – Chosen [Tokyo Dawn Records]
TY – Somehow Somewhere Someway (Kaidi Tatham Remix) [Jazz Re:Freshed]
Imagination – So Good, So Right [R&B Records]
Tom Noble – Lord I’m Trying [BBE Records]
Atmosfear – Return of LB [Mr Bongo]
Herbert – Shuffler [Phono/Accidental Jnr]
Pokopoko – Stipperflip [Tomorrow Is Now Kid!]
Afroschnitzel feat. Negin Z – Praise Of Oya [Nightgrooves]
Innocent Sorcerers – The Score (Theme From The Movie Innocent Sorcerers) [Raw Fusion Recordings]
Children of Zeus – Vibrations (Zed Bias Remix) [First Word Records]
String Theorem – Night Poetry [Clipp.Art]
Nat Birchall Meets Al Breadwinner: Sound Almighty [Tradition Disc]
Manchester based Tenor Saxophonist Nat Birchall has carved out an impressive resume of spiritual jazz recordings, specifically on Matthew Halsall’s Gondwana label. On “Sound Almighty” he teams up with Al Breadwinner & the Breadwinners, a reggae group also based in Manchester. Birchall’s fluid horn floats seamlessly across the Breadwinners rhythm section that features Vin Gordon on Trombone, David Fullwood on Trumpet and Stally on Baritone sax. Founder Al Breadwinner’s guitar rhythms and percussion bring it all together. The ten track disc flows with meditative traditional reggae dub rhythms. Among the highlights are “Ancient Wisdom” and “Freedom Skank”. “Amiak Dub” is hypnotic dub at it’s best. An impressive collaboration that’s worthy of repeated listens.