Marcello Napoletano Presents Ra Toth and the Brigantes Orchestra – Introspettivo EP [BH025]

The last time that Marcello Napoletano flew this far off the radar was on Jamal Moss Mathematics label back in 2012. Now the follow up release comes on another outsider label, Berceuse Heorique and again, Napoletano treats the listener to another freeform selection. While the Italian producer’s house grooves have always been unconventional, going all the way back to Listen In Dreaming, this is in a whole different realm of weirdness. “Introspettivo” kick starts the release with doubled up beats and mad percussive whirrs and clicks and deranged cowbells. “New Old Think” goes in a jazzy direction with sax squalls fused with Patrick Pulsinger-style atmospherics and “Sunplasemood” ends the release with dubbed out beats and space invader bleeps.

listen

Marcello Napoletano Presents Ra Toth and the Brigantes Orchestra – Introspettivo EP [BH025]

Floating Points – Elaenia [PLUTO001]

For the past ten years, all roads Shepherd has followed have been slowly leading to ‘Elaenia’ – an album with roots deep in his formative years, and one that draws upon everything Shepherd has done so far. An album that provides context to the music that Shepherd has been making to date. Every DJ set he’s performed, every talent he has produced, every composition he has written are thought of as precursors to ‘Elaenia’ – a dazzling score which puts Shepherd in the spotlight as a composer who has produced an album that bridges the gap between his rapturous dance music and formative classical roots. Drawing inspiration from classical, jazz, electronic music, soul and even Brazilian popular music, ‘Elaenia’ – named after the bird of the same name – is the epitome of the forward-thinking Floating Points vision in 2015.

listen

Floating Points – Elaenia [PLUTO001]

GE-OLOGY feat. Mark De Clive-Lowe ‎– Moon Circuitry [SS058]

GE OLOGY feat MARK DE CLIVE LOWE - Moon Circuitry

The latest Sound Signature release comes from one-time conscious hip-hop producer GE-OLOGY and one-time go-to jazz keys-man Mark De Clive-Lowe. The latter’s brilliant synthesizer and piano work is arguably the highlight of both tracks here. On the spacey, P-funk influenced space-house swing of “Moon Circuitry” he does his best impression of Herbie Hancock, while “Escape On The Lodge Freeway” boasts intricate jazz solos atop a slightly tougher, chunkier deep house groove.

listen

GE-OLOGY feat. Mark De Clive-Lowe ‎– Moon Circuitry [SS058]

Jimi Tenor & UMO – Mysterium Magnum [HRKL004LP]

Jimi Tenor has made an instrumental album “Mysterium Magnum” with the Finnish “national” Jazz Orchestra, UMO. UMO is a professional 16 piece orchestra. Specialized in jazz and contemporary rhythm music. Throughout it´s history UMO has had a focus on Finnish composers and has performed hundreds of compositions that were made especially for UMO. Jimi Tenor is a Finnish composer/performing artist maybe best known for his electronic music from the 90´s. This album is the first album that´s is composed entirely for a big band. In 2003 Jimi Tenor had his own big band and made a 6-week European tour, which included Montreux Jazz and North Sea Jazz Festivals. After 2003 Jimi Tenor has worked with an afrobeat group Kabukabu and made three albums with them: “Joystone” (2007, Sähkö), “4th Dimension” (2008, Sähkö) and “The Mystery of Aether” (2012, Kindred Spirits) In 2009 Jimi Tenor made an album with the afrobeat legend Tony Allen called “Information Inspiration” (2009, Strut) Mysterium Magnum was recorded at the rehearsal space of UMO, which is situated at the YLE studios in Helsinki. The music on “Mysterium Magnum” is not typical big band music.

listen

Jimi Tenor & UMO – Mysterium Magnum [HRKL004LP]

The Dangerfeel Newbies – What Am I Here For? [NDATL016]

Soulful fusionists The Dangerfeel Newbies are an interesting proposition. Certainly, the Atlanta-based trio has made an impression on NDATL Muzik boss Kai Alice, who’s decided to release a trio of his own interpretations of Hariet album highlight “What Am I Here For”. He begins by delivering a classic soulful house interpretation, placing the original’s superb vocal and twinkling jazz pianos right at the heart of the action. Those superb piano lines come to the fore on his Piano Instrumental, before the Late Night Mix sees Alice sauntering off on a hazy, duvet-warm deep house tip. Best of all, though, is the bonus remix of “Swingin’ With The New Jacks”, a fizzing, rolling deep house groover replete with vibraphone solos and battling jazz horns.

listen

The Dangerfeel Newbies – What Am I Here For? [NDATL016]

A Band Called Flash – Mother Confessor [FVW002]

Some proper jazz funk here. Ron Trent executive produced EP that reminds of bands like Atmosfear. Inspired by the Jazz Funk elements of UK outfit Atmosfear and the alternative Disco sounds of Dinosaur L, presented here on this EP are five tracks that embrace the energy of live dance music. Reminiscent of the early 80s Boogie sound, A Band Called Flash will surely capture the attention of the more eclectic, global dance floor.

listen

A Band Called Flash – Mother Confessor [FVW002]

Hodini – Money $ex 03 [MS003]

The mysterious Hodini takes the wheel on this, the third outing on Money $ex. Another triumphant tapestry of sample sources, reinvented and ramped up into an effortlessly effective extended player, taking dusty MPC sample sessions through a variety of moods from head-nod bumpers to wayward House numbers – Swing set to stun all the way and another top quality outing on this label Collaborating with the very best of Germany’s new school.

listen

Hodini – Money $ex 03 [MS003]

Tim Deluxe – Love Is [SRNYC018]

Dropping ahead of the release of Tim Deluxe’s new studio LP The Radicle, ‘Love Is’ is the next single taken from the album, presented here in its original form as well as an additional dub version. A jazz-fueled, bluesy masterpiece with a heart wrenching vocal , sublime live instrumentation and incredible production values.

listen

Continue reading “Tim Deluxe – Love Is [SRNYC018]”

Tim Deluxe – Love Is [SRNYC018]

VA – Stollwerck Sampler [ERC026]

Emotional Rescue returns to the post war music of West Germany and the work of Dominik Von Senger and his cohorts based around the Dunkelziffer project. This special “Sampler” EP of recordings was produced as their part in Cologne’s Stollwerck art complex, that acted as a home and inspiration to their musical experiments. Based within the disused industrial warehouses spaces of Stollwerck, a mix of post-hippies, punks and anarchists created a community within that fed off each other’s artistic endeavours.

listen

VA – Stollwerck Sampler [ERC026]

Dego – The More Things Stay The Same [BLACKLP004]

The More Things Stay the Same is Dego’s sophomore solo LP – a collection of soulful, mid-tempo melodies laced with warm synths, impeccable beats and masterful musicianship rooted in Jazz Fusion, classic Funk and Electro. In making the album, dego digs deep into his life experiences. From the first track to the last, his sonic signature inscribes his impressions on the duality of life. Dego says: The More Things Stay the Same is about the state of play – truth can bring despair as well as hope. The two sit side by side. Like history often repeating mistakes, but also bringing learning and progress. For the LP, dego leads a team of stellar musicians and trusted co-conspirators: multi-instrumentalists Kaidi Tatham, Mr Mensah and Matt Lord, as well as vocalist Sharlene Hector of Basement Jaxx fame. Hip-hop artist TY also makes an appearance on The Middle Ground. With The More Things Stay the Same, dego carries out the vision of his influential 2000BLACK label and collective, formed in 1998 to continue the legacy of black music and to contribute to what makes soul, boogie and dance music great.

listen

Dego – The More Things Stay The Same [BLACKLP004]

The Greg Foat Group – The Dancers at the Edge of Time [JMANLP083]

”This major new release from the Greg Foat Group sees celebrated jazz quintet making the most of the acoustics of an ancient church, accompanied by a full ensemble of supporting musicians. The fourth album from the celebrated jazz combo will further delight Foat fans who have been consistently enthralled by the taste and finesse with which they execute their beguiling arrangements and instrumentation. Last year, during the long, hot summer of 2014, a couple of tons of vintage studio gear were bundled into an ancient church on the charming and picturesque village of Ventnor on the Isle of Wight. There the centuries-old church organ was the centerpiece and the Group was accompanied a string quartet and woodwinds to create a musical style like no other. The resulting hauntingly sublime sounds need not only fill vaulted chapel ceilings, but our hearts and ears as well. Recorded across three of the hottest days in summer, direct onto 1” tape and with all the rich, live analogue sound and the hallowed magnificence that church acoustics can bring, The Dancers at the End of Time features the classic Foat group with guesting local musicians and friends, and celebrates the summertime and beach ambience of living on the island.”

listen

The Greg Foat Group – The Dancers at the Edge of Time [JMANLP083]

Piero Piccioni – Colpo Rovente [BEAT067]

‘Colpo Rovente’ is one of the rarest soundtrack albums in the Italian film music history. This soundtrack stands out from the traditional period into the psychedelic era. Soft-spoken and suave cool jazz, along with hallucinogenic go-go sounds appears throughout the film and soundtrack. Dynamic big band tunes are stunningly matched with impossibly beautiful jazz funk scores infused with a touch of bossa nova.

listen

Piero Piccioni – Colpo Rovente [BEAT067]

Johnny Hammond – Gears [M9062]

Top quality remastered reissue of one of the holy grails of the Jazz Funk scene, the incredible Gears LP by organ player Johnny Hammond. Originally released in 1975, this masterpiece is considered to be possibly the finest moment from legendary production and arrangement team the Mizell Brothers and its easy to see why as this wonderful LP just oozes timeless perfection with every track. Boundary breakers at the time, they all manage to still sound as fresh as ever. Standouts include the awesome Loft classic Los Conquistadores Chocolates, a psychedelic sweaty floor-filling dancer which hit big at Ron Hardys Chicago Music Box as well as in NYC; Shifting Gears a seriously funky breaks and block party anthem with all the right ingredients which was heavily sampled in hip hop during the 80s and 90s; plus Fantasy a big DJ Rahaan favourite and the sublime jazz funk groove of Tell Me What To Do.

listen

Johnny Hammond – Gears [M9062]

Skymark – Waves From The Nucleus [MSLP005]

”Waves From The Nucleus” is a mixture of Spiritual Jazz, Brazilian Fusion, Soul, Disco and Boogie, composed, played and recorded by Skymark with his electric piano and old synths. This album is highly influenced by the golden years 70s-80s and the summer breeze from the marvelous city.

listen

Skymark – Waves From The Nucleus [MSLP005]

The Greg Foat Group – Live at the Playboy Club, London [JMANLP071]

The Greg Foat Group are currently the resident band at the Playboy Club, located in Mayfair, London. Earlier this year a couple of nights were recorded for Jazzman, and the results are here for all to enjoy. Recorded live and direct onto 1” analogue tape the album captures the energy and atmosphere of the group at their regular gig. Awash with library-esque soundtrack-themed jazz grooves with a modal edge, jazz has never been so much fun! This is the 3rd album by the Greg Foat Group on Jazzman, and is the first album to be recorded live at the Playboy Club for over 40 years.

listen

The Greg Foat Group – Live at the Playboy Club, London [JMANLP071]

Rolf Kuhn – Stop Time! [SONOL085]

First release of a previously unknown album from the personal archives of ”clarinet bird” Rolf Khn, recorded 1962 in Hamburg. Outstanding modern jazz and hard bop session featuring Klaus Doldinger (ts), Ingfried Hoffmann (org/ p), Cees See (d) and Herman Schoonderwalt (b), with plenty of tunes made famous by Horace Silver (”Sister Sadie”), Charlie Parker (”Au Privave”), Miles Davis (”Solar”) or Thelonious Monk (”Bemsha Swing”) – all arranged by Khn. Comes as limited vinyl LP commemorating the 85th birthday of Rolf Khn, carefully mastered in 2014, with unreleased photos and new sleeve notes written by Khn’s biographer Maxi Sickert.

listen

Rolf Kuhn – Stop Time! [SONOL085]

Florian Pellissier Quintet – Biches Bleues [HS114]

FLORIAN PELLISSIER QUINTET - Biches Bleues

Timeless, Florian Pellissier Quintet journey through jazz from Paris to New York. A rule of the game is to find the flavor of New Yorkers groups from the 60’s to mix with European musicians of the time. Organic, inspired, it would take ten years of concerts and two albums to reach the goal: ”iches Bleue” promises to be a gateway album, a hidden passageway between eras, a scientific miracle. A sax, trumpet, piano, bass and drums, no artifice, a simple sound.

listen

Florian Pellissier Quintet – Biches Bleues [HS114]

Kazanchis + 1 – Dinkenesh [MG105]

Kazanchis + 1 - Dinkenesh

Trio Kazanchis got together by coincidence in 2009 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s musical hotspot while playing Jam Sessions in Melaku Belay’s Club Fendika and Mulatu Astatke’s own African- Jazz Club before touring Europe most underground venues and related festivals. The original line-up is Jeroen Visser (NL, Baritonsax & FarfisaOrgan), Mesele Asmamaw (ETH, Krar & Vox) and Fabien Duscombs (F, Drums). Endris Hassen (ETH, masinqo) joined the group in 2013 (he’s the +1). Kazanchis +1 plays songs with an Ethiopian origin, either modern or traditional, and an European 80’s touch combined with free energetic improvisation using highly-developed Ethiopian pentatonic scales for slow trance-like to up-tempo energetic moods. The band’s choice of instruments showed itself on European stages as very elastic, nicely melting together, as well as a challenging combination, all in all successful. Mesele Asmamaw, described as the Jimi Hendricks on his instrument the electric Krar (the 6-string Ethiopian Lyre), has become known as innovator & virtuose of his instrument in Ethiopia. Fabien Duscombs, the quicksilver drummer from Toulouse lays down the perfect grid for Mesele to play his syncopating accents. Jeroen Visser glues them two tightly together providing bass and chords with his Farfisa Organ/Synth, or challenges with his baritone sax. Since summer 2013 the amazing Masinqo-player (one stringed violin) Endris Hassen has become full member of the group, completing the sound and surprisingly even reinforcing the Trio-Feel.

listen

Kazanchis + 1 – Dinkenesh [MG105]