Ronald Snijders – Penta [Night Dreamer]
Dutch-Surinamese multi-instrumentalist Ronald Snijders latest release “Penta” is his debut for Night Dreamer records. The label known for it’s direct to disc recordings. Snijders released four albums between 1977-1983. Over four decades he has over fifty releases. Snijders supporting cast are premier musicians in their own right. Drummer Yoran Vroom, bassist Jeroen Vierdag and Mike Del Ferro on keys. Together they create a thumping groove for Snijders melodic flurries to soar. The opening track “Kaseko Sisters” kicks hard with a heavy bass groove and heavenly flute harmonies. “Ode To Wayne Shorter” is a mediative tribute where Snijders is joined by Efraim Trujillo on soprano sax. Snijders is widely recognised in the Netherlands, having received the Boy Edgar prize in 2022. However his recordings have been largely obscure outside the Netherlands. Night Dreamer has reissued his earlier work. It’s worth the effort to give those recordings a proper listen. This recording is certainly worth supporting as well.
17th March 2025
Roy Ayers – Brand New Feeling [BBE Music]
Roy Ayers – Hummin [Polydor]
Roy Ayers Ubiquity – People And The World [Polydor]
Roy Ayers Ubiquity – 2000 Black [Polydor]
Eighties Ladies – Tell Him [Universal Sound]
Roy Ayers – Sweet Tears [Polydor]
Roy Ayers – Slip ‘N’ Slide [CBS]
Erykah Badu – Cleva [Motown]
Guru – Take A Look (At Yourself) [Chrysalis]
Summer Pearl – The Interlude [Kitto Records]
Kalaido feat. Sam Miles – Midnight Curry Diner
Edison Machado – Serena [Far Out Recordings]
Kometa – Haze [Kos.Mos.Music]
Bonobo – Nightlite (Zero dB Reconstruction) [Ninja Tune]
Far Out Monster Disco Orchestra – Black Sun (Joe Claussell Remix) [Far Out Recordings]
Josh One – Contemplation (King Britt Funke Mix) [Electromatrix]
Lafayette – Sol De Verão [Mr Bongo]
Kerrier Collective & Wolf Peaches – Fake Silence [Colour and Pitch]
Oliver Lutz – Paffee Mountain
Kuna Maze – Layers [Tru Thoughts Recordings]
Electric Machine – It’s Worth Its Weigh In Gold [Erezioni]
Roy Ayers – Liquid Love [BBE Music]
10th March 2025
Angie Stone – Bring Your Heart [MCA Records]
Omar feat. Angie Stone – Stylin’ [Ether Records]
Reel People feat. Angie Stone – Don’t Stop The Music [Reel People Music]
Rayko – Eye To Eye (Rayko Dragon Soul Edit) [Retrospective]
Natalie Slade – Unquenchable Craving [BBE Music]
Collettivo Immaginario – Tempo al Tempo [Domanda Music]
Ronald-Snijders – Ode To Wayne Shorter [Night Dreamer]
TC.KYLIE x The Hourglass – Merry-Go-Round Of Life
Jazzanova – Another New Day (Little Big Beat Studio Live Session) [Sonar Kollektiv]
Florence Adooni – Uh-Ah Song [Philophon]
WheelUP feat. Allysha Joy – Folding [Tru Thoughts Recordings]
Virtual Suspects feat. Gwen McCrae – Gotta Have Your Love [JML Records]
Changer – Porgy [Fokuz Recordings]
Bruk Rogers – Get Stronger [BBE Music]
WheelUP feat. Abacus – Flash [Tru Thoughts Recordings]
TshegoTMM and Pat Lezizmo – Life Is Too Short [Atjazz Record Company]
Charles Webster & Muzi – Bakulindele [Stay True Sounds]
Sai Galaxy feat. Millicent – You Are Not Alone [Inner Tribe Records]
Last Nubian & Dougan feat. Erik Rico – Paradise [Flat White Records]
Yam Who? feat. Noel McKoy – Summertime [Papa Records]
Raphael Saadiq – Sky’s The Limit (Yam Who’s Spiritual Rework) [Yam Who]
Alison Crockett – UR (Yam Who Remix) [Wah Wah 45s]
Hipnotic – Lonely (Yam Who? Re-Edit)
Yam Who? – The Star Of A Story [Ubiquity Records]
Lawne – Attic [Wah Wah 45s]
Joe Nicklin and Joe Martin are the duo known as Lawne. Their debut LP “Attic” is a mashup of Afrobeat Dub and psychedelic rhythms. The title is inspired by their attic that was transformed into a makeshift studio. The opening track “Mamasong” is an uptempo burst of wah wah guitar rhythms, thumping bass and tasty synths.”Beta Pan” starts out with psychedelic dub rhythms before shifting the tempo up a notch. At this point the tune becomes a high energy bass heavy banger. “Ame Tova” is a sublime tune that follows the same formula. There are vocal harmonies sprinkled throughout but this is mainly an instrumental vehicle. Nicklin and Martin have created a vibe here in the form of a melodic soundtrack. A marvelous debut worthy of repeated listens.
3rd March 2025
Roberta Flack – Bridge Over Troubled Water [Atlantic]
Roberta Flack – Tryin’ Times [Atlantic]
Roberta Flack – River [Atlantic]
Roberta Flack feat. Donny Hathaway – Back Together Again [Atlantic]
FloFilz & Kofi Stone – Doves [Melting Pot Music]
O.Boogie feat. Tableek – Paperchaser [Rush Hour]
ecad – Opposites
Joy Spheres Rees – Trust The Feeling [BBE Music]
S-Tone Inc. & Toco – Longe De Voce [Schema Records]
Raúl Monsalve y Los Forajidos – Como el Sol [Olindo Records]
Manu Dibango – Waka Juju Part 3 [Wewantsounds]
Close Counters – Close To Me [Northside]
Guti pres. Modal Tune – Armenian Like [El Nuevo Sonido Latino]
Starsky – Erebus [Cat In The Bag Records]
Unreal & Kelle – Slaughterhouse [Kos.Mos.Music]
Unknown Artist – Check The Rhyme [Fokuz Recordings]
Mark Millington – Overdrive [Albert’s Favourites]
Don Glori – Power [Mr Bongo Records]
ANAN – Back [Space Echo Records]
Plastic Bamboo – Touki Bouki [Star Creature]
Tom Noble – Love Trip [Razor-N-Tape]
John Beltran – O Pátio [MotorCity Wine]
Coflo feat. Nimiwari – Visions (Backside Dub) [Cataleya Music]
Close Counters – Lovers Dance Academy [Northside]
Melbourne natives Finn Rees and Allan McConnell are the duo better known as Close Counters. In a short time they have built a reputation for crafting infectious groove inspired soulful recordings in the shape of house and broken beat. “Lovers Dance Academy” their latest release is filled with high energy compositions. In addition, some of their Melbourne friends are on board to lift these tracks to another level. “Constant Love” is infectious up-tempo boogie funk with fellow Melbourne native Jace XL on vocals. “Waiting All Night” is another sonic banger with warm synths that features Allysha Joy. “Freedom We’re Needing” takes the party to a fever pitch. Led by Shiv on vocals, the high energy tune is laced with warm percussion and gorgeous piano melodies. These guys are rapidly building a catalogue of tunes that are well worth checking out. This new release brings a lot of heat. A clever title with recordings that certainly deliver.
https://closecounters.bandcamp.com/album/lovers-dance-academy
24th February 2025
Edison Machado & Boa Nova – Janeiro [Far Out Recordings]
Bill Laurance – Neverending City [GroundUP Music]
Zola Marcelle – Names [Jazz Re:freshed]
Mu Quintet – Enos [Jazzaggression Records]
Mark de Clive-Lowe – Heart [BBE Music]
Antonio Adolfo – Vê [Artezanal]
Kaidi Tatham – So Happy [First Word Records]
Ellis Aaron – Stay Close (Sentinel 793 Remix)
Mitch von Arx – Babble Bass
Jazzanova – Allee Der Kosmonauten [Jazzanova Compost Records]
WheelUP feat. Allysha Joy – Folding [Tru Thoughts Recordings]
Con-Figure – Butterflies Of The Night [Celsius Recordings]
Leniz – Forgotten Glory [Fokuz Recordings]
Anushka – Overwhelmed (DJ Die Remix) [BBE Music]
Fred Everything feat. Robert Owens – Never (Alternate Version) [Lazy Days Recordings]
Charles Petersohn – Children Of Zu Zu [Compost Records]
Max Sinàl & KingCrowney feat. Liv East – Intentions [Soul Quest Records]
Orlando Voorn & Han Litz – Composers [Universo Positivo]
Inkswel feat. Colonel Red – Astro Soul (Best In Me) [Playground Records]
Emanative & Liz Elensky – Eye Dive (Energy)
Wipe The Needle & Venuz Beats x Shezar – We Shall Overcome (Frankie Feliciano Remix) [Makin’ Moves]
Causa – Crosswinds [Glenview]
Peven Everett & Inkswel – Stronger (Inkswel’s Boogie Mix) [Cosmocities]
Inkswel & Andre Espeut – Synchronicities [Compost Records]
If there’s a category for hardest working DJ/Producer then Inkswel would certainly be a finalist for the title. “Synchronicities”, his latest project is a collaboration with UK singer songwriter Andre Espeut. Inkswel dishes up a collection of funk n soul gems for Espeut’s soulful vocals to shine. “Play With Fire” is a gritty tune fueled by organ and guitar grooves. “Downtown” is a trip to funky town that features Los Angeles rapper Abstract Rude. “Callin 4 U” is a taste of synth powered broken beat goodness featuring Amsterdam flautist Han Litz. Inkswel’s compositions have no shortage of infectious funk and soul grooves. This release is no exception.
17th February 2025
Thoma feat. Madeleine Rauch – Descender [Folded Music]
Omar – Dancing (K15 Remix)
Soulparlor – Digital Soul (Naut’s L8 Nite Dub) [BBE Music]
Afronaut feat. Suheir Hammad – Eye Will Not (Bruk Rogers Remix) [CoOperation Records]
Black Loops feat. Marlena Dae – Experience [Freerange Records]
Kuna Maze – Blast [Tru Thoughts Recordings]
John Beltran – O Pátio [MotorCity Wine]
Diogo Strausz – Canto Das Três Raças [Razor-N-Tape]
Inês Loubet – Quatro de Dezembro [Albert’s Favourites]
Arthur Verocai – Sylvia [Mr Bongo]
Arthur Verocai – Na Boca do Sol [Mr Bongo]
Lance Ferguson – L’océan de toi [Pacific Theatre]
Colonel Red – Livin’ In The Sky [Inner Tribe Records]
4Hero – We Who Are Not As Others (Jazzanova Mix) [Jazzanova Compost Records]
Bert H – VLT [Waterframes Music]
Flytronix – Transfer [Moving Shadow]
Omar – Can We Go Out? [BBE Music]
Johnny Likes Jazz – Riffs for Cris
Charles Earland – Intergalactic Love Song [Mercury]
Cinema Royal – Affair In Redondo [Rhythm Section International]
Thakzin & Divine Keys – Stick Around [Stay True Sounds]
BoomClap feat. Sabrina Chyld – Come Here [Atjazz Record Company]
Far Out Monster Disco Orchestra – Black Sun (Joe Claussell Remix) [Far Out Recordings]
Tomin – Untitled Dirge [International Anthem]
The new album from multi-instrumentalist Tomin Perea-Chamblee and his septet expands the horizons of the big band sound. The ten track release demonstrates his prowess as a composer as all but two tracks are originals. The septet is composed of musicians from Brooklyn to Chicago. “Untitled Dirge” is an emotive tune with layers of harmony. Tomin’s trombone melodies along with Cellists Clerida Eltime and Lester St Louis create orchestral moments that resonate long after the track has finished. The tone feels somber at first but shifts to hope for a new beginning. The punchy bass from Luke Stewart sets the tone on “Movement”. Tomin’s heavenly flute melodies are undeniably soothing. Although recorded live, Tomin’s overdubbing of trombone, cellos, bass clarinet and flute heightens the mood throughout. Tomin’s re-imagination of the big band results in an exploration of moods, rhythms and gorgeous melodies. The Brooklyn based musician is certainly on the rise.
10th February 2025
Surprise Chef – Bully Ball [Big Crown Records]
Madvillain – Meat Grinder [Stones Throw Records]
Madvillain feat. Viktor Vaughn – Fancy Clown [Stones Throw Records]
Madvillain – All Caps [Stones Throw Records]
Silvan Strauss feat. Mehdi Qamoum – Sudan [Kabul Fire]
Nyron Higor – Ciranda [Far Out Recordings]
La BOA / Tony Allen – Patas Arriba [Comet Records]
Rail Band – Massar [Mr Bongo]
Ramon Pirmée – An Mwe [Strut Records]
Nat Birchall – Dance Of The Mystic [Sound Soul And Spirit Records]
Alessandroni E Il Suo Complesso – Momento In Due [Far Out Recordings]
Dennis Liber feat. Ricardo Benitez – Hidden Island [Rocksteady Disco]
Tea White – Earth Over Us [Stay True Sounds]
WheelUP feat. Abacus – Juggle [Tru Thoughts Recordings]
Simbad feat. Melo – After The Dance (Bugz In The Attic Remix) [Raw Fusion]
Nuspirit Helsinki – Seis Por Ocho [Jazzanova Compost Records]
Sho-Nuff – Hold On For Love [Wewantsounds]
King Errisson – Well, Have A Nice Day (Edit) [Moton Records Inc.]
Close Counters feat. Allysha Joy – Waiting All Night [Close Counters]
Late Nite City – Higher Ground [Late Nites]
Kirk Degiorgio – Lost [Cyphon Recordings]
The Lost Souldancer – No More Voices [COD3 QR]
Friend Within – What’s Going On [The Circuit Group]
Tommy The Cat – Sunset Vibes EP [Cat In The Bag]
Dogger – Broken Home [1985 Music]
Photek – T-Raenon [Op-ART]
E-ZRollers – Believe (Photek Remix) [Moving Shadow]
3rd February 2025
Frankson – Just Say [LxL, DxD]
Kibbi Gibbon – Still Dreamin’ [Star Creature]
Massiande & Oliver Night – Don’t Hold Me Back [Makin’ Moves]
Vick Lavender – The Messenger [Cataleya Music]
Knoe1 & Tim Tucker – Girl UR Freaky [Star Creature]
Anané – Let Me Be Your Fantasy (Dimitri from Paris Remix) [Nervous Records]
Megatronic – Casey Screams [Freerange Records]
Robert Burbidge & André Espeut – Leaf [Tangential Music]
RAH & The Ruffcats – Wake Up (Yoruba Soul Mixes) [Sonar Kollektiv]
Tommy The Cat – New Window [Cat In The Bag Records]
Decaz – Seasons Change [Celsius Recordings]
Courtney Pine – Don’t X’plain (Flytronix Mix) [Talkin’ Loud]
Nick Marks – Into The Void [Marks Brothers]
The Mighty Tiny & The Many Few – The Reward [Ånd&]
The Crusaders – Sweet N’ Sour [MCA]
Trinka – Grego [Agogo Records]
Leila Pinheiro – Tudo Em Cima [Spacetalk Records]
George Melvin Quintet – It’s Good Not To Forget [Tramp Records]
Allexa Nava – Cycles/Circles [Jazz Re:freshed]
Jimi Tenor & Kabu Kabu – Hot Baby [Ubiquity Records]
Brother Ali – D.R.U.M [Mello Music Group]
The Roots feat. Jill Scott – Complexity [MCA]
Scrimshire – Music For Autumn Lovers [Albert’s Favourites]
Adam Scrimshire’s latest release focuses on the seasonal transition to Autumn. “Music For Autumn Lovers” captures the emotional shift we all experience with nature. Physically and mentally moving from outdoors to indoors and essentially into hibernation. Scrimshire performs all instruments here with his continued excellance. “Hazel” begins with pensive acoustic guitar rhythms. The melancholy “Willow” is another moody tune heighthen by euphoric strings and hints of drum n bass. These two tracks along with “Blackthorn” and “Hawthorn” were recently written and produced by Scrimshire. The other tracks were part of an earlier EP released in 2022. Scrimshire paints a vivid picture of the beauty of Autumn through the eyes of his reflective compositions. The result is a deeply personal expression of moods that you’ll enjoy in all seasons.
https://scrimshire.bandcamp.com/album/music-for-autumn-lovers-2
27th January 2025
Jazzanova feat. Clara Hill – No Use (Little Big Beat Studio Live Session) [Sonar Kollektiv]
Cinema Royal – The True North [Rhythm Section International]
Dusty X As Valet – Mada [Oioji Records]
44th Move feat. Quelle Chris – The Move [Black Acre]
Buzz – Garasumado [Wewantsounds]
Sababa 5 & Sophia Solomon – Shehzadi [Batov Records]
Julia Mestra – Sou Fera [Mr Bongo]
Rogê – O Topo Do Coqueiro [Diamond West]
Célia Wa – Démounaj [Heavenly Sweetness]
anaiis & Grupo Cosmo – Toda Cor [5DB]
Nightmares On Wax – Typical (DJ Fitchie Remix) [Warp Records]
Marcus Intalex & ST. Files – Universe [Metalheadz]
Blade – Third Bounce [Fokuz Recordings]
Ellis Aaron – Stay Close (Sentinel 793 Remix)
Streeton – Prophets [To The Rock]
Ian O’Brien – Yemura [Peacefrog Records]
Livy Ekemezie – Get It Down [Odion Livingstone]
Peter Matson feat. Kendra Morris – White Noise [Bastard Jazz Recordings]
The Blackbyrds – Love Is Love [Fantasy]
Victor Santana – Jilter All Day [COD3 QR]
Black Loops feat. Marlena Dae – Electrical [Freerange Records]
Kapote – Jerks of Neukölln [Toy Tonics]
Heritage Listed – Strictly Love [Apparel Music]
Radic The Myth feat. Jimpster – Summer Solstice [Freerange Records]
Ronald Snijders – Fusionize [Night Dreamer]
Roy Haynes – You Name It / Lift Every Voice And Sing [Wewantsounds]
Joel Sarakula – Soft Focus [Legere Recordings]
Joel Sarakula’s latest release “Soft Focus” is a collection of light funk and jazzy pop recordings. Born in Sydney Austraila Sarakula has built a following around the UK where he’s now a resident, “I’ll Get By Without You”, produced by Shawn Lee is a laid back blue eyed soul stomper. “Back For Your Love” has a touch of Northern Soul with jazzy synths and funky wah wah guitar rhythms. “Midnight Movie” is a sunny uptempo tune with a touch of samba. “Soft Focus” is a time capsule into late seventies soulful pop recordings. Sarakula’s falsetto will remind you of crooners like Michael McDonald and Boz Scaggs. The recordings will inject you with good vibes while yearning for simpler times.