Black and Diamond – Furniture Of the Mind Rearranging [We Jazz Records]
Finnish label We Jazz continues to be at the forefront of avant garde and left of center jazz. The latest band added to their roster is the Chicago based band Black Diamond. Their We Jazz debut is titled “Furniture Of the Mind Rearranging”. Artie Black, who shines on Tenor and bass clarinet is joined by Hunter Diamond who also plays tenor as well as flute. The quartet is rounded out with mainstays Matt Ulery on double bass and drummer Neil Hemphill. The band’s compositions are understated however the melodies are hypnotic and meditative. The opening track “Carrying The Stick” finds Black and Diamond in unison on tenor and flute. Ulery punciates the melody with deep grooves while drummer Hemphill splashes the tune with engaging cymbals. “Zoetic” kicks off with Black and Diamond both on tenor playing off each other. Ulery and Hemphill ease their way into focus. The remaining two tracks, “MyCelium” and “Motor Neurons” features Black and Diamond in duo format. The duo effortlessly interweave phrases and ideas. Overall an impressive release filled with minimalistic yet intimate recordings. While well known in Chicago this should expose the quartet to a wider audience.
https://wejazzrecords.bandcamp.com/album/furniture-of-the-mind-rearranging
Jamie Finlay – Sun Dogs [Wah Wah 45s]
Pianist/Composer Jamie Finlay dropped his first single back in 2005. It feels a bit wrong that we have waited so long for an album. “Sun Dogs” is his full length debut on Wah Wah 45s. Finlay has assembled an array of extraordinary musicians to lift his compositions to another level. Multi-instrumentalist Caitlin LM combines her blissful vocals and baritone sax to “Staring At The Sun”. Vocalist Ellen Beth Abdi is featured throughout this set. “Rain Will Come” is a spiritual jazz number where her vocals will stimulate your eardrums. “Destroy Create (Part 2)” is another highlight. The cosmic track features Abdi once again along with the vocals of Kemani Anderson. Finlay’s bass guitar rhythms are at the heart of the track. Trumpeter Bryan Corbett’s soloing along with MAtt Steele’s glorious rhodes provides a welcoming boost. “Parhellon” is a thematic tune that draws inspiration from Detroit techno. It all adds up to a marvelous album that will catapult it’s way into your rotation. My hope is that the wait isn’t so long for the next album.
9th September 2024
Nala Sinephro – Continuum 8 [Warp Records]
Andert Tysma – Tall Tall [Apollo Records]
Tommy The Cat – Warehouse Dub [Cat In The Bag Records]
Sub:liminal feat. Tempza – Stories In The Night Sky [Fokuz Recordings]
Archangel – Ravekid [Fokuz Recordings]
Feiertag – Persistence [R&S Records]
Gang Starr – It’z A Setup [Virgin]
Mad SKillz – Unseen World [Big Beat]
Stan Smith & Wipe The Needle – Movements [Inner Tribe Records]
Şatellites – Zülüf Dökülmüs Yüze [Batov Records]
Aliza – All The Way [Siyal Music]
Rayowa – In The Sunshine [The Disco Express]
Moods feat. High Høøps – Good Vibrations [Boogie Angst]
Crazy P – Keep On (Daniel Wang And Brennan Green “Vas Referens” Mix) [Paper Recordings]
Crazy P – Lie Lost (Maurice Fulton Remix) [2020 Vision]
Crazy P – Love On The Line [2020 Vision]
Divorce From New York – What´s Jazz [Tokonoma Records]
Rahaan – What You Are To Me [BBE Music]
Crackazat – Can’t Blame A Soul [Stay True Sounds]
Soren Skov Orbit – Naration [Frederiksberg Records]
Esteban Adame – On The Boulevard [UTx]
Rick Panzer – Pre-Stretch Warm-Up [BBE Music]
Greg Foat & Gigi Masin – The Fish Factory Sessions [Strut Records]
“The Fish Factory Sessions” from Greg Foat & Gigi Masin picks up where the 2022 release “Dolphin” left off. The four tack release features four sublime recordings filled with warmth and ambience. Foat displays impeccable touch and tenderness on “Viento Calido”. Masin is renowned for his ambient compositions and “Three Piece Suite” finds him at his best. The fifteen minute tune is a voyage of cascading melodies certain to take you on a peaceful journey. Masin’s emotive compositions combined Foat’s superb playing makes for a beautiful collaboration. Close your eyes, lean back and enjoy.
https://gregfoat.bandcamp.com/album/the-fish-factory-sessions
VA – Love & Purpose (Volume One) [First Word Records]
“Love & Purpose” is the brainchild of First Word label head Aly Gillani. Gillani lays out the musical progression of UK soul from the eighties to the present for independent artists. The disc begins with “Dazzle You” and “Searching”, two obscure slices of eighties synth heavy soul from Dazzle and Robyn. “Tell Me How It Feels” is one track that received international acclaim from 52nd St. “Hard Work” by Children Of Zeus represents the new face of UK soul. It’s a lovers rock inspired tune showcasing the honey soaked vocals of Tyler Daley. Lynda Dawn is another voice to get familiar with. “Roses” is laidback mid-tempo soul tailor made for chill out moments. Gillani has set the standard by creating one of the premier independent record labels for the last twenty years. From UK artists to the US, First Word has always delivered and this superb release is no exception.
https://firstwordrecords.bandcamp.com/album/love-purpose-volume-one
2nd September 2024
Steve Cobby – United States of Africa 2 [Déclassé]
Mistura Pura – C.da Deserto [Ubiquity Records]
Paul White – Peace In Chaos [R&S Records]
Floating Points Ensemble – Almost In Profile [Ninja Tune]
Rayowa – In The Sunshine [The Disco Express]
Freda Payne – Band Of Gold [Vintage Champagne Records]
Diana Ross – Love Hangover [Tamla Motown]
Henry Butler – L.A. Samba [MCA Impulse!]
Black Diamond – Say To Yourself [We Jazz Records]
Herbert feat. Momoko Gill – Fallen [Accidental Records]
Soul Clap feat. Khyenci – Amazement [Soul Clap Records]
Orlando Voorn – Power Of Beauty [Contrafact Records]
Elise – Poseidon (Greg Gauthier Dance Culture Remix) [Atjazz Record Company]
Roy Ayers – What’s The T? (Delfonic Edit) [BBE Music]
Matthaus – Scat Box [Stickman Records]
Jamie Finlay – Staring At The Sun [Wah Wah 45s]
Magro feat. Rapturous – Need a Friend [Sonar Kollektiv]
Rosie From The Block & Sean McCabe – Wake Up [Phuture Shock Musik]
Quiet Dawn – Follow Your Instincts Part 1 [First Word Records]
Scrimshire – 128bpm Rhodes MatE [Albert’s Favourites]
London Elektricity – Round The Corner (Landslide Remix) [Hospital Records]
Bungle – Receding [Scientific Records]
Nemy – Bad Timing [Rebel Music]
Unknown Artist – Blue Dream [Fokuz Recordings]
26th August 2024
Aim feat. YZ – From Here To Fame [Grand Central Records]
Dave Guy – Pinky Ring [Big Crown Records]
Mos Def – Umi Says [Rawkus]
Illa J & Ash Walker – What?! [BBE Music]
Vinícius Mendes – Memorial dos Sentimentos Escusos [Notes On A Journey]
Esteban Adame – Hi Tech Jazz [UTx]
Finn Rees – End of The Line [Mr Bongo Records]
Dora Morelenbaum – Caco [Mr Bongo Records]
Inês Loubet – Olha Rio (Tahira Remix) [Albert’s Favourites]
Marcos Valle – Bora Meu Bem [Far Out Recordings]
Mörk – Sweet [Albert’s Favourites]
Eddie Logix – FMPM [Rocksteady Disco]
Ambient Jazz Ensemble – I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun [Here & Now Recordings]
Maykors – Kyoto [Celsius Recordings]
Th’Acquisition – Step Up [Bouman Records]
Marble Elephant – Alone [Lunar Records]
Chez-N-Trent – The Choice (Windy City Club) [KMS Records]
Yuu Udagawa – The Peaceful Dawn [Compost Records]
Harold Matthews Jr & Sean McCabe – This Place (Glenn Underground Remix) [Good Vibrations Music]
2fox feat. Liam Bailey & BB James – So Long (Oliver Night Remix) [Soul Quest Records]
Wipe The Needle & Venuz Beats – Sally Bed Hopper [Boogie Cafe]
Quiet Village – Reunion [The Quiet Village]
V.B.Kühl – Smart Prison
Glenn Echo & Daniel Meinecke – What Happened To Yesterday Vol. 2 [MotorCity Wine]
“What Happened To Yesterday Vol 2”, the third lp from Glenn Echo and Daniel Meinecke picks up from where Vol 1 left off. That means a heavy dose of dub rhythms and wobbly synth tunes. Meinecke displays his command of the moog and the rhodes while Echo’s production keeps the listener heavily engaged. “Three Season Crank” is filled with infectious reggae rhythms. Electric guitarist Raja Kassis pushes the rhythm forward with his hypnotic chords. “Pull My String” is another mellow tune punctuated by outer world synths. “Off The Rails” differs from the rest of the tunes in tempo only and could easily be found in club roation. The combination of ear popping percussion and psychadelic synths adds up to a certified banger. Echo and Meinecke deliver another dubbed out gem that hits the mark.
https://glennechodanielmeinecke.bandcamp.com/album/mcwr019-what-happened-to-yesterday-vol-2
19th August 2024
Crystal Winds – Signs Of Winter’s Time [BBE Music]
Resolution 88 feat. Vanessa Haynes – Love Will Come Around [Synthethesia Records]
New Visionaries – Brasiliance [Love Monk Records]
Nicola Conte feat. Jose James – Goddess Of The Sea [Schema Records]
Ariel – Black Wing [Jazzroom Records]
Atlantis Jazz Ensemble – Breaking Dawn [Marlow Records]
The Jones Girls – Nights Over Egypt (Tom Moulton Remix) [Harmless Records]
Marcos Valle & Leon Ware – Feels So Good [Far Out Recordings]
Jono McCleery – To See You Again [Sonar Kollektiv]
2000Black feat. Samii – Circus Ride [2000Black]
Mitch von Arx feat. Oliver Night – We Drop (Bruk Version) [CoOp Presents]
Philippa & Jimpster – All I Wanted [Freerange Records]
2fox feat. Laville – Elevation [Soul Clap Records]
Theo Parrish – Solitary Flight [Sound Signature]
Sumsuch & Will Brock – Free Born Man [Colour and Pitch]
Inkswel feat. Robert Owens & Leonard Charles – Space Love (Steve Spacek Remix) [Cosmocities]
Magic Number – All I Ever Wanted (Atjazz Astro Remix) [Atjazz Record Company]
beatsbyhand – SARS [Stay True Sounds]
Amp Fiddler – Faith (Jazzanova Remix) [Genuine]
Photay – Air Lock [Mexican Summer]
Halftone – Shutdown [Celsius Recordings]
DJ Roots – Sorriso De Flor [Innerground Records]
12th August 2024
James Alexander Bright – Fall For You [Athens Of The North]
Masahiko Satoh & Takeo Moriyama feat. Leon Brichard & ldris Rahman – Watarase [BBE Music]
Woody Shaw – Orange Crescent [Elektra Musician]
Finn Rees – Crossing [Mr Bongo Records]
Mustafa – Silent World [Eating Standing Publishing]
Tamil Rogeon – Gift Of The Gab [BBE Music]
Lawne – Heather’s Leather [Wah Wah 45s]
Lea Lisa – Poem For The Lost Souls (Broken Mix) [Smallville Records]
Lovetempo – But I Do [Razor-N-Tape]
New Sector Movements – Bless (TREV Remix) [First Word/Coop Presents]
Bruk Rogers feat. Wipe The Needle – Jelly Head [Tru Thoughts Recordings]
Ghosten – Step Into The Light [Apparel Music]
K15 – Elemental [Mother Tongue Records]
Blaze – Moonwalk [Nuphonic]
Cee ElAssaad feat. QVLN – Ore Yeye O [Ensouled]
Midnight Blue – Because Of You [Past Due Records]
Nas – Get Down (The QSO Mix) [Rebtuz]
Eric B & Rakim – Follow The Leader [MCA Records]
Public Enemy – Party For Your Right To Fight [Def Jam Recordings]
Run DMC – King Of Rock [Profile Records]
Run DMC – My Adidas [Profile Records]
Run DMC – Sucker M.C.’s [Profile Records]