Mieke Miami – Birdland [Sonar Kollektiv]
“Birdland” the latest release from Berlin based Mieke Miami is an unapologetic blending of folk, psychadelia with jazz sensibiliies. Miami’s first two releases centered around evocative folk tunes tailored made for her soft vocals. With “Birdland” she taps into her love for jazz. As a result the album has a suite like structure that allows the songs themes and imagery to flow seamlessly. The opener “Whispering Pine” has a hypnotic breezy groove punctuated by her tender vocals and flute melodies. “Same River” is a free flowing composition filled wordless phrasing and burning fender rhodes. “Mahady O’Mahony” combines a touch of psychadelia with haunting sax rhythms. With the exception of the Dusty Springfield classic “Son of A Preacher Man”, Miami wrote and produced the entire project. Sonar Kollektiv’s roster is filled with an array of talented artists and Miami is no exception. Miami is indeed making a name for herself with this engaging release.
25th November 2024
Andert Tysma – Waltz For Anubis [Apollo Records]
K15 – Behind My Eyes [Esencia]
Les Hommes – Veronique [Sudden Hunger Records]
Vier – Count-A-Round [Tramp Records]
Roy Haynes – Quiet Fire [Galaxy]
Stanley Cowell – El Space-O [Galaxy]
Art Pepper – Mambo Koyama [Galaxy]
The Bongo Hop feat. Lucas Santtana – Magica Bonita [Underdog Records]
Caixa Cubo – Foguinho [Far Out Recordings]
Sam Nóbrega – Somos [Freestyle Records]
Orchestra Mambo International – Baila Mi Cha Cha [ATA Records]
Gerardo Frisina & Toco feat. Luzia Dvorek – Deixa Passar [Schema Records]
Azymuth – Arabutã (Daniel Maunick Dub-Part 2) [Far Out Recordings]
Collettivo Immaginario – Luna Gioia [Space Grapes]
Tuxedo – Hold Up [Funk On Sight]
The Salsoul Orchestra – Runaway [Salsoul Records]
Cosmo Klein & The Campers – Soul Fiction (Jonny Miller Remix) [Best’s Friends]
Ed Temple – Don’t Wait [Templé Musiq]
Auntie Flo – Aker The Lion God [A State of Flo records]
HNQO – Grizzly Gett [Apparel Music]
Malik Hendricks – Goin’ Down [Phuture Shock Musik]
Swag – Partido Alto [Version]
Seba – Air [Spearhead]
Creatures & Crystal Clear – Where The Magic Lives [Rebel Music]
Tommy The Cat – 6 Million Ways [Cat In The Bag Records]
Esteban Adame – Bittersweet [UTx]
Los Angeles based pianist Esteban Adame’s debut album “Bittersweet” glides from bebbop to techno and fusion. Adame’s career spans more than twenty years, He spent several years in Detroit working with legendary producer MAd Mike Banks of Underground Resistance. Through that relationship he would contribute to the electronic jazz band Galaxy to Galaxy. In 2022 Adames formed a quartet to showcase his love for improvisation. Those members of the quartet are on board for this release. Tenor sax man Frank Fontaine’s glorious flurries are sprinkled htroughout the hard swinging title track. Joey De Leon’s congas light a fire on the afro cuban flavored “Bottom Up”. Adame’s Detroit influence is prominent on “Hi Tech Jazz”, a soulful fusion burner. The “Bottom Up” remix is a mash up of Detroit dub and straight ahead jazz. It displays the beauty of two worlds colliding seamlessly. Adames may not be a household name but make no mistake, he’s a talented pianist and composer. A marvelous record worthy of repeated listens.
18th November 2024
Quincy Jones – Gula Matari [A&M Records]
Quincy Jones – Is It Love That We’re Missin’ [A&M Records]
The Brothers Johnson – Q [A&M Records]
Rufus & Chaka Khan – Live In Me [MCA Records]
Terry Callier – Holdin’ On [Talkin’ Loud]
Jono McCleery – Reconcile [Sonar Kollektiv]
Marc Mac presents Visioneers – Still Making Memories [Omniverse Records]
Black Star – The Main Thing Is To Keep The Main Thing The Main Thing [Rhymesayers]
Tableek feat. Boogie Fields – Black Jack
Scrimshire – Willow [Albert’s Favourites]
Tomin – Movement [International Anthem]
Nubiyan Twist feat. Ria Moran – All The Same [Strut Records]
Ronald Snijders – Maseko [Night Dreamer]
Rick Panzer – Jazz Turns [BBE Music]
Noro Morales Quintet– Saona (Gilles Peterson Remix) [Fania Records]
Stefano De Santis – Tokyo 80′ [Quattro Bambole Music]
Inkswel & Andre Espeut – Yesterdays Gone [Compost Records]
Flying Moth – Sky Is Looking Me [Apparel Music]
Erik Rico & C. Boogie – Love Everlasting (Marc Mac Remix) [Cosmocities Records]
Flex Luthor, Msymiakos & Riffz – Abyss [Cat In The Bag Records]
Soul Intent – Ignition Sequence [Lossless Music]
Dee Cee feat. Gene Boi & Villa – Imali [Sondela Recordings]
Tom Noble – Please Take Me There [Razor-N-Tape]
11th November 2024
Quincy Jones feat. James Ingram – One Hundred Ways [A&M Records]
Quincy Jones feat. Leon Ware, Al Jarreau & Minnie Riperton – If I Ever Lose This Heaven [A&M]
Quincy Jones – Tell Me A Bedtime Story [A&M Records]
Quincy Jones – Soul Bossa Nova [Polygram]
Michael Jackson – I Can’t Help It [Epic]
Joel Sarakula – Authenticity [Legere Recordings]
Sair feat. Andre Espeut – Hold Up (Reworked) [Neon Finger Records]
Orpheus – Do It This Way [Athens Of The North]
Work Money Death – The River Becomes The Stream [ATA Records]
Bronze, Silver & Brass – Renard’s Groove [Timmion Records]
The Modulations – It’s Rough Out Here [Buddah Records]
K15 – Measured Resistance [Esencia]
Mark de Clive-Lowe – Mantra [Mashibeats]
Slimy Ape – Clueless
Tommy The Cat – Watch Me [Cat In The Bag]
Evasion – Promise Me [Fokuz Recordings]
Alexander Flood feat. Cazeaux O.S.L.O – Life Is A Rhythm [Atjazz Record Company]
WheelUP & Sio – Magnetic [Tru Thoughts Recordings]
Coflo – If It Goes (Deeper Mix) [Cataleya Music]
Mark E – Take A Deep Breath [Merc]
Ralf GUM feat. Monica Blaire – AWA (Atjazz Love Soul Remix) [Foliage Records]
Blair French – Whispers Of You [Rocksteady Disco]
The Black Science Orchestra – The Altered States [Junior Boy’s Own]
Titeknots & Pollena – Bones [Something Play Something]
Jazzbois – Still Blunted
Budapest resident trio Jazzbois specializes in hip-hop inspired jazz fusion. “Still Blunted”, their latest release is filled with a plethora of funky beats and sun drenched synth arrangements. “Chrome”, a bumpin’ mid-tempo tune is ignited by the thumping bass of Viktor Sagi. Dom Beats adds funky sax flurries on top of the groove. Bencze Molnar’s smoothing keys are the final touch. “Darker Than Disco” is high octane fusion with funky synths and infectious beats. “TooHi” is a funk jazz infused rework to the Stevie Wonder classic. If you enjoy jazz inspired beat makers like Kiefer you’ll no doubt enjoy this one. Their instrumentation combined with hip-hop sensibilities add up to definite satisfaction.
4th November 2024
Visioneers – Ike’s Mood I [Omniverse]
Richard Spaven feat. Wilchild – Spaven’s Arc [Fine Line Records]
Tableek – Actions and Intentions
Summer Pearl – The Creator [Kitto Records]
Tristan de Liège feat. Bryony Jarman-Pinto – Wanderer
Nubiyan Twist feat. Ria Moran – All The Same [Strut Records]
Banda Black Rio – Mr Funky Samba [Mr Bongo]
MOMO feat. Jessica Lauren – Pára [Batov Records]
Marcos Valle – Para De Fazer Besteira [Far Out Recordings]
Cesar Mariano & CIA – Metrópole [Sony]
Merry Clayton – Emotion [MCA Records]
Esteban Adame – Hi Tech Jazz [UTx]
P’taah – Staring at the Sun [BBE Music]
everwave – Modulation
Skuff – Magic Box [Rebel Music]
Duophonix – Dreaming City (SD Remix) [Fokuz Recordings]
V.B.Kühl feat. Sye – Twighlight Nights
Inkswel & Andre Espeut feat. Abstract Rude – Downtown Love [Compost Records]
Jullian Gomes, Kuniyuki Takahashi & Sio – Let Me Go (Atjazz Astro Remix) [World Without End]
Loxodrome – Emberfall (Dub) [Cyphon]
AD Bourke – Equinox [Five Fold Records]
Salphunk – Live On (Paris Mix) [Universo Positivo]
Exodus – Together Forever [Wave Classics]
Chilam Balam – Yaxuma [Partyfine]
Allysha Joy – The Making of Silk [First Word Records]
With “The Making of Silk” singer/songwriter/keyboardist Allysha Joy is in the mood for love. The eleven track release is a marvelous collection of dreamy emotive compositions as only Allysha can interpet them. The opener “Nothing To Prove” is a sublime recording where Joy confesses her unabashed pure love for someone. Finn Rees chips in with warm synth and rhodes arrangements. “Hold On” is augmented by Oscar Jerome’s hypnotic guitar. Joy states that her love is strong enough to allow someone the freedom to be the best version of themselves. The recordings are lifted by some of her long time friends from Melbourne who also happen to be superb musicians. Drummer Ziggy Zeitgeist appears on several tracks. Jace Xl provides backing vocals throughout the album. The result is engaging live instrumentation and string arrangements that linger in your soul. Add Joy’s blissful vocals and songwriting and you have a recording that will stir your heartstrings.
Paul White – Peace in Chaos [R&S Records]
“Peace in Chaos” is the third lp on R & S records from multi-instrumentalist Paul White. The eleven track release is a collection of ethereal synth heavy compositions. “Glory in Stories” is an electro pop treat filled with lush arrangements and soothing vocal harmonies. The aptly titled “Surreal” is a dreamy mid-tempo tune that is filled with joyful euphoric vibes. White has solidified himself as a premier producer who has worked with an array of musicians from Sudan Archives to Danny Brown. This release finds him front and center, crafting a record in his own personal vision. The result is a blissful journey that will brighten your mood.
28th October 2024
Ernesto & The Basement Gospel – Is It True? (Atjazz Remix) [Atjazz Record Company]
Liberty City – Some Lovin’ [Murk Records]
Inkswel & Andre Espeut – Dangerous Times [Compost Records]
Kerri Chandler feat. Nae (SA) – Caged Bird (Atjazz Remix) [Kaoz Theory]
Caixa Cubo – Modo Avião [Far Out Recordings]
Richard Spaven – Sole Subject [Fine Line Records]
LCSM (Likwid Continual Space Motion) – The Score [Super Sonic Jazz]
Stefano De Santis – Roy [Quattro Bambole Music]
P’Taah – Compressed Light [Ubiquity]
Raf Reza – Space Strut [Star Creature]
Erik Tagg – Soul Touch [Céleste]
Les Hommes – The Hip Heart [Sudden Hunger Records]
Frederic Rabold Inspiration Orchestra – Berlin [Tramp Records]
Menagerie – Daniedas Dance [Freestyle Records]
Ludivine Issambourg feat. Laurent De Wilde – Hop Scotch [Heavenly Sweetness]
Copa Salvo – Mindful [Jazz Room Records]
Ginger Johnson and His African Messengers – Adura [Freestyle Records/BBE Music]
Ginger Johnson and His African Messengers – Nawa [BBE Music]
Tommy The Cat – Poisonous Youth [Cat In The Bag]
nCamargo & Impression – Part Of Me (Random Movement Remix) [Flight Pattern Records]
Falty DL – Heart & Soul [Ninja Tune]
Jack Sparrow – Torment