Review: A timely revisit to two of the stand out covers on Italian jazz/lounge posterboy Andrea Balducci's 2012 album Bloom. "Spooky" is a soft, sweet and succinctly measured take on Shapiro and Middlebrooks' mid 60s standard while "Hurts So Bad" is a respectful twist on Weinstein, Harshman and Randazzo's similar era classic that was made famous by Linda Ronstadt years later.
Review: Although little known in the UK, Sicilian singer Mario Biondi has sold huge amounts of records in his native Italy. It's not surprising, really, given the quality of his Barry White-esque deep and soulful vocal style. Here he pops up on Schema, offering up the seductive, slow dance-friendly silkiness of "Never Stop Dreaming" and the warm and groovy Philly Soul revivalism "Stay With Me". That track is given the once over by fellow Italian LTJ Xperience. Interestingly, his full vocal remix is faster, warmer and looser than his normal metronomic productions, while retaining his usual DJ-friendly grooves. His soulful house style instrumental Dub is pretty darn tasty, too.
Review: Nicola Conte's 'Do You Feel Like I Feel' and 'Ghana' were initially part of his 2011 album, 'Love & Revolution,' a project that showcased a vibrant mix of Italian and international jazz talent. Produced during sessions at Tommy Cavalieri's studios, this album never saw a vinyl releaseiuntil now. Schema Records is rectifying this with a new 2-LP edition, set to include these standout tracks. The 45rpm single, featuring 'Do You Feel Like I Feel' and 'Ghana,' highlights the core of Conte's vision: the soulful resonance of the former and the Latin-jazz flair of the latter. Both tracks are enhanced by Magnus Lindgren's arrangements and feature Gregory Porter, whose vocals, though still emerging at the time, are already a testament to his rising status in the jazz world. With this vinyl release, Conte's modern jazz masterpiece receives the physical format it deserves, offering a fresh opportunity to appreciate its intricate compositions and collaborations.
Nigeria (Tall Black Guy Boogie Love remix - feat Broken Keys) (4:05)
Nigeria (Tall Black Guy Boogie Love remix - instrumental version) (4:05)
African Spirits (Andres extended remix) (5:33)
Review: Nicola Conte is one of the central figures in the Schema story, and his nu jazz and broken beat partnership with Gianluca Petrella has yielded some golden music in recent years. Nigeria originally came out in 2018, and then last year popped up on the duo's People Need People LP, but now it's getting a proper remix treatment which sees Tall Black Guy twisting the track out as a heady disco house roller for sundown moments when you need a little jazzy flair in the proceedings. That version comes in vocal and instrumental versions, and then the mighty Andres steps up for one of his simmering groove escapades as he delivers an extended remix of 'African Spirits'.
Review: Nicola Conte and Gianluca Petrella follow up last year's beautiful "African Spirits / New World Shuffle" with two more lavish instrumentals. "Sun Song" lives up to its name with wave after wave of heated musicianship from the belting harmonies to the light-touch keys. "Nigeria" taps deep into the source too as it drives us through the heart of Lagos with full horns and sweeping keys. Spiritual, sun-splashed and vital.
New World Shuffle (feat Bridgette Amofah - DJ Spinna Galactic Soul remix) (8:10)
Inner Light (feat Raashan Ahmad - Anthony Nicholson Miquifaye remix) (8:41)
Review: Earlier this year, we were treated to two top-notch Joaquin 'Joe' Claussell remixes of 'Inner Light', one of the standout cuts from Nicola Conte and Gianluca Petrella's fantastic collaborative album People Need People. Here we're treated to two more fresh takes on cuts from that essential LP. On side A, DJ Spinna gives his 'galactic soul' take on 'New World Shuffle', re-imagining the track as a languid but floor-friendly fusion of cosmic soul, neo-boogie, deep house and contemporary jazz-funk electronics. Equally as impressive is former Ron Trent protege Anthony Nicholson's remix of 'Inner Light', where twinkling jazz pianos, spacey synth sounds, evocative synth-strings and Raashan Ahmad's fine spoken word vocals rise above a sumptuous and luxurious deep house groove.
Review: Gerardo Frisina, the Italian musician and producer renowned for his expertise in Latin jazz, delivers a captivating experience with Mystical Funk on Schema records. Side-1 presents 'Mystical Funk,' a mesmerizing blend of tribal drums, smooth funk grooves, and island vibes that transport listeners to exotic landscapes. On Side-2, 'Spaced Out' takes a more urban direction, featuring an infectious hip-hop/funk beat infused with sophisticated organ sounds and hints of jazz influences. Frisina's masterful production seamlessly merges diverse elements into cohesive compositions that exude elegance and groove.
Review: Those who've been following the nu-jazz scene since the sound's early 2000s hey-day should be familiar with Gerardo Frisina, a Schema regular whose Latin Jazz inspired releases are rarely less than superb. "Marombo" is another superb outing. The A-side original mix is as percussive as you'd expect, with tons of South American style drums and a head-cracking double bass line, but also doffs a cap to jazz-house and the echoing sounds of dub. We'd file it under "dubbed-out Latin jazz-house", which is a niche sub-genre worth embracing. Frisina layers up the percussion further on the equally trippy, club-ready flipside "Part 2" version, which gives greater prominence to the Latin vocal samples buried deep in the A-side mix.
Review: Five years on from their debut collaborative EP 'Frisina Meets Toco', modern Brasilian dance artists Gerardo Frisina and Toco return for a second faceoff, this time with liaising artist Luzia Dvorek serving as ringmaster. Centring on samba-infused jazz and deep house with mystical and folk influences, "deixa passar" translates from Portuguese to "let it pass", though the mood is certainly not outright passive. This delectably quartered slice of carnivalesque dance music is rather rich in sonic papaya juice, charting sustained vocal contrasts between Toco and Luzia against smoky and furnaced beats. Aperient track 'Deixa Passar' leans heaviest on languid piano, whilst dozier mists emerge on the B-side in the form of 'Ile' and its rework by Gerardo Frisina, bringing pan flutes, strings, breathy vocal counterpoints, cabasa shaker, and subtle bass undercurrents.
Review: Italian pianist and composer Paolo first came to light during the acid jazz explosion in the early 90s. Largely overlooked by his UK counterparts, his Trio's albums Do It and Ombre are both well worthy investments for any funk fans. As is "Chameleon". Delivered in two parts, both jams are tighter than a bouncer's crotch squeeze and about a million times funkier. "Part 2" pips it for a highlight thank to its leniency towards sultry wig out territory. Lovely stuff.
Review: In this offering, the Italian project led by Stefano Trione, pairs the lush 80s-inspired groove of 'In The Sand' with the unreleased gem 'Tudo Pra Ela,' a sultry disco track that embodies the warmth and richness of Tirone's signature style. 'In The Sand' pays homage to the rare groove classic from iLevel, its tropical rhythm and sunny vibe transported through Julia St. Louis's breezy vocals and Marco Brioschi's trumpet melodies, creating an almost cinematic dancefloor experience. On the flip, 'Tudo Pra Ela' delves into a sophisticated disco sound, where Toco's delicate vocals intertwine with sensual backing from Priscila Ribas and a bassline from Edu Hebling that carries the track effortlessly into the early 80s. The perfect synthesis of Stefano's love for vintage sounds and contemporary finesse.
Review: Stefano Tirone has been a stalwart of the Italian scene since making his debut on legendary Italian house label Calypso Records way back in 1992. Since then, his productions have become increasingly more jazz and soul focused, with a sizeable side order of groovy downtempo beats. His latest seven-inch single begins with "Try My Love", a hazy chunk of head-nodding jazz-funk/soul fusion rich in languid synthesizer solos, lazy grooves, hazy horns and soulful vocals. It's really good all told, though we'd argue that flipside "Odoya" - a wiggling chunk of Afro-tinged mid-tempo funk - is even better. Either way, it's another rock solid release from the effervescent Tirone.
Do You Feel Like I Feel (feat Gregory Porter) (3:44)
Love & Revolution (feat Melanie Charles) (3:27)
Here (feat Jose James) (3:54)
I’m The Air (feat Veronika Harcsa) (4:06)
Scarborough Fair (feat Alice Ricciardi) (3:57)
Shiva (feat Melanie Charles) (5:24)
Quiet Dawn (feat Melanie Charles) (4:41)
Ra In Egypt (feat Ghalia Benali) (4:00)
Freedom Day (feat Nailah Porter) (5:11)
Ghana (feat Gregory Porter) (5:10)
Temple Of Far East (feat Jose James) (6:08)
All Praises To Allah (4:29)
The Happiness Tree (feat Veronika Harcsa) (4:28)
Love From The Sun (feat Jose James & Nailah Porter) (4:30)
Black Spirits (feat Nailah Porter) (5:40)
The Black Apostles (4:47)
Forest Flower (5:32)
Review: The opening track on this LP sets the tone perfectly, with Gregory Porter's unmistakable voice bringing a nostalgic groove to the forefront. His rich, soulful delivery is matched by a supporting cast that includes Jose James, whose jazzy flair complements Porter's performance effortlessly. The music takes you on a journey, moving through soulful rhythms, jazz-inspired melodies and r&b hooks, with each track feeling timeless yet current. There's a warmth and ease throughout, as the artists build layers of sound that invite you in and keep you there, making it an album that begs for repeated listens.
Review: Long-established Italian producer Nicola Conte started working with jazz trombobist Gianluca Petrella back in 2017. In the years since, they've released a string of singles that fuse contemporary house sounds with the rhythms and musical styles of Africa. Here they present their collaborative debut album, People Need People, an effortlessly soulful affair that draws deeply on the pair's joint love of deep jazz-funk (see 'Hold On To Your Dreams') and the funk-fuelled goodness of Afrobeat ('Nigeria'). Throw in versions of those previously released singles (think 'African Spirits' and 'New World Shuffle' for starters), and you've got a highly entertaining full of high-quality musicianship and plenty of life-affirming melodic motifs.
Universal Language (Revisited - instrumental) (5:33)
Universal Message (4:39)
Review: After reuniting the Cosmic Renaissance project, and following up the release of the album Universal Language in 2022, Gianluca Petrella returns with a new five-track EP, 'Universal Message', again on Schema. Recontextualizing the vision of the album, this follow-up extends its impressive jazzdance and hip-house vision, with Petrella ever-revolving his style towards new Afro-jazz-futurist vortices, abandoning the band concept towards an electronic aesthetic with a profound spiritual concept to boot.
Review: The Dining Rooms' tenth studio album, Songs to Make Love To, marks a milestone in their 25-year artistic journey. Stefano Ghittoni and Cesare Malfatti, the Milanese duo behind the project, continue to push boundaries with their signature blend of psychedelic folk, cinematic atmospheres and hip-hop-inspired downtempo rhythms. Divided into instrumental and vocal tracks, the album shines with the duo's mastery of their craft, with guest appearances by Chiara Castello, Egeeno and Toco adding layers of depth and diversity to the sonic landscape. The artwork, featuring pieces by Tatjana Zonca, sets the stage for an exploration of love in its myriad forms - from the explicit act of loving to the intricacies of relationships and the concept of liberated love beyond possession. What sets Songs to Make Love To apart is its incorporation of anthropological and ethnomusicological themes, drawing inspiration from field recordings of urban sounds from around the world. This fusion of classic TDR sound with sounds from Genoese carruggi, Milanese dockyards and global cities like Istanbul and Sao Paulo adds a rich texture to the album, elevating it to a truly excellent listening experience.
Review: Since his debut with Schema Records in 2001, Gerardo Frisina has poured his soul into modernising styles such as Latin jazz, funk, and soul. In Sight Vol. 1 now introduces a fresh batch of such cosmo-futuristic moodsetters, continuing a trend that was first set in motion with his debut Moving Ahead (2020). Now the new album, preluded by singles 'Mindoro' and 'Desejar', hears seven tracks, including a cinematic bossa supernova 'O SoNho' as well as an exclusive cut from a rare and revered 10" deep cut from 2009. Frisina's attention to detail ensures the standout vibe of each composition, bringing a one-of-a-kind club-orientation to a rich atmospheric mantle.
In The Name Of Love (feat Laura Fedele - extended remix) (3:53)
Blow My Mind (feat Afra Kane - remix) (3:23)
Flying Away (feat Afra Kane - remix) (3:48)
Rosa Da Ribeira (feat Toco - extended remix) (5:40)
(Got To) Move On (feat Afra Kane - remix) (3:31)
No Meio Do Samba (feat Toco - remix) (3:24)
Odoya (feat Toco - The Invisible Session remix) (4:46)
Midnight Sun (remix) (3:16)
Review: Stefano Tirone is one of Schema Records's main men and here he remixes his own last album Moby and Soul. He reworks it into a more dance floor friendly disco sound with bright nu-disco melodies and slinky drums. It is an homage to the original sounds of the 70s and 80s and American DJ Larry Levan and Italian Baldelli. Opener 'Body & Soul' kicks off with nice fresh and upbeat vibes and then there are summery Balearic sounds like the gorgeous 'Flying Away' and the groovy 'In The Name Of Love' (feat Laura Fedele - extended remix). 'No Meio Do Samba' then sinks into hip swinging house territory.
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