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Plunky & Oneness Of Juju – Made Through Ritual [Strut Records]
“Made Through Ritual” is the first album in forty years from Plunky & Oneness of Juju. James “Plunky” Branch and Jimmy Grey founded Black Fire records in 1975 and released their debut “African Rhythms”. They were part of a musical Afro centric revolution that sparked a number of independent labels to express their message. Plunky was inspired by the artists of this era, specifically Pharoah Sanders and Archie Shepp. “Black Unity”, an early recording by Oneness of Juju, was written by Sanders. Plunky would go on to compose spiritual compositions filled with seventies funk grooves and African polyrhythms. This new release is produced by Plunky’s Son Jamiah and Grey’s Son Jamal Grey. The opener “Share This Love” is warm and mellow soul highlighted by vocalist Charlayne “Chyp” Green. “Shades of Light” is another mellow burner filled with hypnotic tenor and flute melodies. The powerful finale “Children of The Drum” features poet Roscoe Burnem. Jamiah and Jamal capture the essence of their elders’ compositions. They blend samples from earlier recordings along with live instrumentation to re-imagine these poignant recordings. It feels as though they haven’t skipped a beat.
https://onenessofjuju.bandcamp.com/album/made-through-ritual
The Circling Sun – Orbits [Soundway Records]
“Orbits”, the sophomore lp from the New Zealand band The Circling Sun picks up where their debut, “Spirits” left off. That means an array of hypnotic spiritual Jazz to warm your soul. The eight piece band channels the spirit of Pharoah Sanders, Alice Coltrane and Rahsaan Roland Kirk. That’s evident with the opening track, “Constellation”. The ensemble are joined by the Love Affinity Choir delivering heavenly harmonies. Tenor saxophonist Cameron Allen joins in with ferocious flurries while pianist Joe Kaptein counters with a melodic touch that seems to be everywhere at once. The Brazilian fueled “Flying” soars on the wizardry of Kaptein’s fendor rhodes and splashes of synths. A marvelous release packed with good vibes, superb performances across seven tracks. Press play and repeat.
TC Kylie & The Hourglass – RE:birth [Legere Recordings]
Japanese pianist TC Kylie & The Hourglass’s debut “Rebirth” incorporates Japanese, Hong Kong and British influences. The title track starts off with a warm piano melody that sets the stage for a wave of lush strings. Instantly you recognize her prowess as an arranger. “Stage” is another gorgeous tune that demosnstrates Kylie’s touch as well as her intensity. The flurries of flute melodies layered on top brings the tune closer to nature. Overall “Rebirth” shows that Kylie is adept at creating contemporary Jazz recordings that’ worthy of your attention.
Herbert & Momoko – Clay [Strut Records]
Uk producer Matthew Herbert and drummer/vocalist Momoko Gill collaborate on the blissful album “Clay”. The album weaves from the dance floor to quiet introspective moments. The peaceful opener “Calm Water” is a melancholy tune where Momoko yearns about getting closer to nature. Herbert’s sound is close to nature as well. He has a tone that is warm and subtle yet poignant. This comes through in his dance recordings as well as his film scores. “Fallen Again” is another highlight where Momoko’s tender vocals float over a early morning groove. “Babystar” is a polished chilled out dance floor banger. Momoko and Herbert have worked together before. Momoko covered Herbert’s “The Horse Is Here”. Herbert’s production aligned with Gill’s melodic arrangements are a superb match. Gill’s vocals are as tasty as butter on warm toast. The compositions are full of color and euphoric textures. Simply a marvelous record and one of the best of the year.
Joy Spheres Rees – Solina [BBE Music]
Joy Spheres Rees is the trio of vocalist Allysha Joy, DJ/Producer Hidden Spheres and pianist Finn Rees. “Solina” is an intimate and ethereal recording that fuses the talents of each member. Together they compose nine tracks that touch on romance and spirituality. “Trust The Feeling” is warm and seductive with Joy instructing her partner to let go of any inhibitions. “When Will The Day Come” is a meditative yet intimate tune. Joy’s lush vocals and phrasing aligned with euphoric strings create a mood of passion. “Promise Me Love” is a balearic tune armed with Rees warm synths and Spheres deep grooves. Joy’s tone is in tune with the sound. The result is a mid-tempo gem filled with warmth and plenty of bounce. Bright moments abound on this record. The trio demonstrate their chemistry while the melodies stay with you long after the song is over.
Omar – Brighter The Days [Impressive Collective / BBE Music]
“Brighter The Days”, the ninth album from Omar was originally recorded around the pandemic. The beauty of the UK soul star is his recordings have never followed trends. It has made for a catalog of cherished timeless recordings. It also helps when you have a label that firmly supports your musical vision. Now signed to BBE, he’s free to continue delivering compositions in his own image. Lyefook has made a number of friends on both sides of the pond over his storied career. Many are on board here to take this release to another level. “Holding On to Life” is a mid-tempo burner that features the songstress Ledisi. “Lovey Dovey” is another highlight where he’s joined by vocalists Eric Robeson and Rahemm DeVaughn. The samba flavored “Latin Salsa” demonstrates that Omar can groove in all manner of styles. With eighteen tracks in all, there’s plenty of essential recordings to soothe your Omar fix. The wait has been long but this lp is worth the wait.
Don Glori – Paper Can’t Wrap Fire [Mr Bongo]
Gordon Li, aka Don Glori returns with his third release. “Paper Can’t Wrap Fire” has plenty of the same flavors his previous compositions. That means an array of fusion forays combining soul, jazz and Brazilian rhythms. Vocalist ML Hall jumps on three tracks. One of those tracks, “Brown Eyes” combines Hall’s falsetto vocals with Glori’s sublime piano arrangements. Glori’s warm and melodic arrangements shine on “Song For Ants”. The tune begins with a flurry of horns layered over wordless phrasing. Glori tops it off with rhythmnic and harmonically adventurous soloing. “Power” is another highlight that begins with a heavenly choir layered over vibrant fender rhodes and a samba groove. Glori has built an impressive catalog. This release from the multi-instrumentalist may be his best.
Aldorande – Trois [Favorite Recordings]
“Trois” is the latest release from the Parisian band Aldorande. The five member group led by bassist Virgile Raffaelli deliver an array of cosmic jazz funk bangers. The compositions may transport you to the late seventies jazz funk period and give off Lonnie Listen Smith vibes. Florian Pellissier’s spacey synths and multiple variations of keys elevate burning tracks like “Gulf Of Mexico” and “Back To Mother Love”. He’s not alone. Laurent Guillet’s plucky guitar adds a touch of spice as well. “Opium Des Nuits” is one of a number of simmering mellow tunes highlighted by the rhythmic percussion work from Erwan Loeffel. If you want to journey through the galaxy of jazz funk then this is the record for you.
Gilles Torrent – Buleria [Jazzman Records]
Swiss Tenor Saxophonist Gilles Torrent is following the path of the esteemed tenor legends that have set the bar. Certainly John Coltrane heads the top of that list and his influence resonates throughout this disc. “Buleria”, his latest release is a modal jazz gem that pays tribute to the Tenor titan. The opener “Dense Tropicale” is a modal flavoured tune with Flamenco style sketches. “Ouannassa” is a warm and beautiful ballad that will instantly remind you of “Naima”, the Coltrane classic that Torrent also covers here. “Bahia” is an exotic modal journey that transports you to the sites of Iberia. Overall the compositions here are less intense and more elegant. Torrent and his band are in their element here. They have delivered a marvellous collection of warm and melodic modal compositions certainly worth a listen or two.
Black Loops – Always Moving [Freerange Records]
“Always Moving”, the new release from Black Loops seamlessly weaves soul, funk and House grooves into a high energy after hours album. The Italian DJ/Producer has been crafting 12 inch house bangers for a decade. He demonstrates that he’s much more than that by utilising live drumming and electronics. The opening track “CDMK” grabs your attention with a funky groove and shades of broken beat. “Detroit Love” featuring Byron The Aquarius is a nod to Detroit Deep House. Vocalist Marlena Dee is featured on four tracks. She’s joined by fellow vocalist Harvey Sutherland on the house heater “Pleasure Ride”. An impressive collection of beats and grooves that has a little something for everyone.