Review: We're big fans of these educational 7"s that often crop up, with a legendary hip hop jam on one side and the source of some its samples appearing on the flip. This time out we get A Tribe Called Quest's deep cut 'Sucka N***a' - which is taken from their legendary Midnight Marauders album - with its buttery rhymes and funky bass buried deep within. Jack Wilkins's 'Red Clay' on the flip isn't that much of a deviation. Though it's slower and free from the rhymes, it is a brilliantly effective and emotive cut. More like this please.
Review: Neil Anderson's Original Gravity loves to look back and revive forgotten classics and that is what it does again here with a quick reissue of something it dropped back in March. This time out it is two more massive slices of tasty Latin funk getting served up. The first is Abram & Nestor's 'Four Minutes Of Funk' which is indeed four minutes of funk that will unite dancefloors from here to eternity with its big organ magic. Nestor Alvarez' 'El Trombonista' is as you might guess denied by its big trombone and also boasts some great horn work. Do not sleep.
Review: Bernard "Pretty" Purdie and his Playboys were an iconic funk group of the late 70s who had big hits with the likes of Gil Scott Heron on his seminal 'The Revolution Will Not Be Televised' single. A year later on the same label, Flying Dutchman, they served up the 'Heavy Soul Slinger' single which gets reissued here. It's driven by big drum breaks and funky hits, with plenty of lush chords and rolling basslines all taking you on a high class and sophisticated trip. On the a-side is Harold Alexander 's 'Mama Soul' from the same era, but with a much more experimental sound rooted in wordless ad libs and frantic flutes.
Review: The Mighty Eye label has been mighty fine in its work so far and this 16th outing is another doozy for funk lovers. The Ancient Cosmonauts are at the helm and that's a perfect name for a band that blends classic funk with cosmic moods. 'Free As I Wanna Be' is conversational and instrumental brilliance with sombre lead horns and gentle live drums sinking you into a mellow mood. 'Intergalactical Travel' takes flight on more astral lines and has a little more bite in the drums but this is still a warm, heartfelt sound.
Review: There's not a lot of information out there about Arcade of Serpe, so let's skip the back story and cut to the chase. If that's really an appropriate turn of phrase here. Nothing about Cave Adventure feels rushed. Nothing. In fact, it's quite the opposite, opening on dub-wise bass and playful organs, the atmosphere - somewhere between lackadaisical, come down, BBQ, and psychedelic - subtly rises, although not to a crescendo as much as a delicate fade out after a few minutes strutting to the funk-laden groove. Flip it to find more explorations in the sonic ether, with 'Unicorn Rider' smoothly stepping out into a surreal track that uses space and emptiness to accentuate the noises that are there, which mirror, if not directly reflect, the opening title tune. It's quiet, but you won't forget it in a hurry.
Review: Flour Flies embarks on a new series of releases entitled Italian Library Songbook where contemporary artists put their spin on great soundtracks of theist. First to add their own new reinterpretations are Neapolitan producer pAd and London singer-songwriter Jessica Duncan. They tackle Alessandro Alessandroni's 'Philadelphia' and turn out something brilliantly soulful: 'Do You Wanna Get Close' is a lush and club ready sound that is backed with the glorious original on the flip side. This is a promising start to what is sure to be a much loved series.
Review: Kaymany & Asestar hail from Rome, a city where many musicians spend most of their days producing sounds for the television industry and even shopping malls. That's part of the reason the country has such a reparation for great jazz-funk sounds and now adding to that cannon are Kaymany & Asestar. 'Effimera' is glossy and feel good disco with retro future chords, while 'Digressione' has a Bob James style energy to it with its high speed funky bass and incidental chords. 'Capao' closes in Latin fashion with manic keys and more plucked and funky bass slaps making you shake every limb.
Review: Both of Joshua Abrams first two albums have been reissued this month, and this is the debut from 2010. At the time the artist said it was written with a view to countering "the commodification of time and the diminishing attention span that accompanies it by offering music with an irresistible groove, rooted in the sinuous rhythms of the human body and the full play of our senses." He sure pulled it off with elan across six tracks built around his own playing of the guimbri, a North African three-stringed bass lute. This is intoxicating, non linear avant-jazz that is utterly meditative.
Review: Gbefabi was recorded on a hot night in a gospel music studio in Accra's New Town district. Ghanaian trombonist Elikplim Kofi and American guitarist Nathaniel Braddock, who first met in 2017, reunited and were joined by percussionists Nii Addotey Brown and Daniel Tettey Black for these sessions which blend traditional and avant-garde sounds while merging folkloric instruments with free improvisation. The music is influenced by Ghana's diverse modern soundscapes so feels both local and cosmopolitan. The musicians' diverse backgrounds bring a rare, spiritual energy to this most standout record.
Review: In celebration of 50 years in the performing arts, Idris Ackamoor presents Artistic Being for Record Store Day 2025-a powerful blend of jazz, spoken word and activism. Featuring the voices of acclaimed actor Danny Glover and stage legend Rhodessa Jones, this record captures highlights from the Underground Jazz Cabaret, which was performed during Black History Month 2024 at The Lab in San Francisco. Co-produced by Ackamoor's Cultural Odyssey, the release fuses poetic storytelling with evocative musical textures while reflecting on social justice, identity and resilience. Artistic Being is a profound statement from a visionary artist.
Review: Cannonball Adderley Somethin' Else gets the Tone Poet audiophile treatment now on this latest reissue from Blue Note. With the help of standout additional artists Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Hank Jones and Sam Jones, this is a record with a deep musical heritage and plenty of fine moments. The include the stunning performance of 'Autumn Leaves' and a fine title track along with the more romantic, slow shuffling and late night cuddliness of 'Dancing In The Dark.' Mastered by Kevin Gray from original master tapes and pressed to 180g vinyl, this is a must buy for jazz fans.
Review: When keyboardist Thomas Jonsson, guitarist and bassist oMar Gudjonsson, saxophonist oSkar Gudjonsson and drummer Magnus Trygvason Eliassen take the stage, they channel the raw resilience of Northern Europe's islanders who have endured long, icy winters for centuries. Their energy transcends genres and has proven to captivate jazz enthusiasts, rock fans and ravers alike. This primal, non-verbal expression predates language yet remains deeply contemporary by blending cosmic vastness with free imagination and profound mysticism. Their music is a convergence of timeless human impulses and fresh creativity. It's challenging but hugely rewarding.
Review: Soul and jazz meet head to head on this new LP from Hot Casa, to truly bring the two genres into their natural alignment. Hola Adisa Farrar is a vocalist who hails from California via Jamaican roots, while Florian Pellissier brings though his Parisian jazz stronghold, and the pair lay down some unmissable Dingwalls-reminiscent gems. In fact, this is the perfect sort of album for those diggers looking for that perfect jazz-funk record, the one that slipped away; the drumming across all of the tracks is hypnotic but changes enough to retain that mysticism, the pianos glide over the melodies in a delicate but playful way, and Farrar's vocals are an utter beauty spilled all over the rhythm. A must have, and a warmly recommended album. Supported by Mukatsuku.
Review: Adja Fassa's debut album is a genre-colliding triumph of alternative r&b, neo-soul and jazz co-produced by Adam Scrimshire. Across 11 tracks, Adja dissects capitalism's influence on intimacy with sharp wit, layered symbolism and soulful grooves whether she's reimagining jazz standards or delivering dystopian vignettes of modern labor. Throughout these tracks her storytelling is bold, critical and playfully mystical. From the rebellious 'Sucking on my Emphatitties' to the haunting title track, this is protest music wrapped in velvet tones. Visually complemented by four self-designed tarot cards, the album is a rich conceptual tapestry for fans of greats like D'Angelo.
Review: Agustin Pereyra Lucena's 1980 album La Rana was recorded in Oslo and is a wonderful exhibition of his exceptional guitar interpretations of compositions by Ivan Lins, Antonio Carlos Jobim and his friend Baden Powell, all alongside his own original works including the 15-minute masterpiece 'Encuentro De Sombras.' Featuring bassist Guillermo Reuter, flautist Ruben Izarrualde and drummer Finn Sletten, La Rana blends South American rhythms with Norwegian landscapes and reflects Agustin's warmth, humility, and joyful connection to music and life and the title track is a standout that offers a unique rendition of Joao Donato's 'A Ra' from his 1973 album Quem E Quem.
Though My Eyes Go To Sleep My Heart Does Not Forget You
To The Lonely Sea
Waiting For The Dawn
Review: British-Bahrani composer and trumpeter Yazz Ahmed has long been one of the most unique artists within the UK jazz scene, frequently producing music that draws on the Arabic side of her heritage (she even went as far as commissioning a unique 'quarter-tone' flugelhorn in order to play 'blue notes' not found in Western jazz and classical music). Even so, A Paradise In The Hold - her first studio album for nearly six years - is a startling concoction. Drawing influence from ambient, dub and electronica as well as jazz and Arabic music, it features Ahmed's first compositions for voice. Frequently haunting, immersive, and quietly exotic, the album sits in a unique sonic space that's never less than beguiling and intoxicating. Award nominations await!
Review: The yokobue is a distinct Japanese make of flute, and it was mastered by one Michiko Akao, who brought the instrument to the popular sphere with 'The World Of Michiko Akao'. Spanning downtempo funk, robo-disco and loopy ambient, this new reissue of the album by LITA is its best rendition yet, with a new remaster shedding stellar light on the production chops of Shigeaki Saegusa. An instrumental dream for new age collectors the world over.
Review: Jazzman has excavated another jazz "holy grail" here - one of the few albums ever recorded by San Francisco-based pianist (and local hero) Al Tanner. It was initially released back in 1967 by the obscure, but arguably significant, Touche label, and while popular within Californian jazz circles, garnered little exposure or sales elsewhere. It remains a fantastic album, with Tanner being joined by drummer William 'Smiley' Winters, bassist Edgar Williams, saxophonist Roy Henderson, and flautist/trumpeter George Alexander to attractively dance through a range of pleasingly breezy, musically detailed modal workouts. It's a genuinely impressive album all told, so praise must be given to Jazzman for unearthing and reissuing it.
Review: The magnificent Luaka Bop label has been showcasing the work of Alhaji Waziri Oshomah - a master of Afro sounds and rhythms that cut deep - for a while now across several albums and compilations. He hails from Edo State in southern Nigeria and is known for holding sermons of the religious as well as musical sort. After various volumes of work and the superb World Spirituality Classics 3: The Muslim Highlife Of Alhaji Waziri Oshomah record comes this new series of gems that show off his unique take on international rhythms across four long, ever evolving and always engaging grooves.
Review: Rashied Ali had a unique talent for transforming unlikely sound pairings into masterpieces. Following Interstellar Space with John Coltrane and Duo Exchange with Frank Lowe, he joined forces with violinist Leroy Jenkins for this album in 1975. Jenkins was fresh from the Revolutionary Ensemble and composed all pieces for this rare duet, which is now reissued on vinyl for the first time in nearly half a century. The deluxe set includes an unreleased session exploring standards, the sounds of Coltrane and some truly wild improvisations. A top treasure for jazz-heads.
Sun Ra & His Myth Science Arkestra - "Somewhere In Space"
Sun Ra & His Solar-Myth Arkestra - "The Lady With The Golden Stockings"
Sun Ra & His Afro Infinity Arkestra - "Somebody Else's World"
Sun Ra & His Solar-Myth Arkestra - "Plutonian Nights"
The Sun Ra Arkestra - "Angels & Demons At Play"
Sun Ra - "Island In The Sun"
Sun Ra - "Rocket Number Nine Take Off For Planet Venus"
Sun Ra & His Arkestra - "Afro Black"
Sun Ra & His Intergalactic Infinity Arkestra - "Have You Heard The Latest News From Neptune"
Sun Ra & His Myth Science Arkestra - "We Travel The Spaceways"
Sun Ra & His Solar Arkestra - "Reflects Motion" (part 1 previously unreleased)
Sun Ra & His Solar Arkestra - "Reflects Motion" (part 2)
Sun Ra - "Ancient Ethiopia"
Review: There have been plenty of retrospectives on the absolutely essential work of Sun Ra and his Arkestra over the years, but trust Strut to go that bit deeper when they elected to focus on the Sun God himself. As the extensive title suggests, this collection places the focus on proceedings in the hands of Marshall Allen, the longest serving member of the Arkestra and current band leader. The results mean In The Orbit Of Ra feels a whole lot more personal and indepth, with over 25 years worth of Sun Ra-lead music documented. It's all been fully remastered from the original tapes and is pretty much the most conclusive introduction to the work of this pioneer one could hope for. In addition to the 13 track double vinyl set, this release also includes the double CD edition which includes a further 7 Ra gems!
Review: Ballads provide comfort and can elevate us when filled with genuine emotion and lead us into romance or reverie if we allow them. This second orchestral collaboration between renowned Swiss trumpeter Franco Ambrosetti and Grammy-winning arranger Alan Broadbent achieves this beautifully. The album's title reflects Franco's heartfelt approach on flugelhorn. Supported by an all-star lineup including pianist Broadbent, guitarist John Scofield, bassist Scott Colley, drummer Peter Erskine, and a 29-piece orchestra arranged and conducted by Broadbent, Ambrosetti masterfully tugs at heartstrings with a selection of four original compositions and four carefully chosen covers.
Review: You have a genuine piece of musical history here. The Anchors may not be remembered by many, but made a significant impact on everyone who does. Black Soul is the third and - to all musicologist knowledge - last record put out by this pioneering South African funk-soul outfit. Straight out of the Johannesburg township of Alexandria at the height of Apartheid, they became known for exceptional musicianship and reinterpreting the classic Memphis, USA sound for their own oppressed community. Part three of that legacy takes things much, much further, though. So, we can definitely still hear those Mid South sounds that represent the very essence of soul, but here the aesthetic becomes something altogether different, Afro and specific to time and place. Homage paid to the genre founders, but drawing on personal circumstances to own things for themselves.
Review: In 2002, pianist and composer Andrew Hill's A Beautiful Day captured a landmark Birdland performance that also revealed a new facet of his own artistry. Now, A Beautiful Day, Revisited from Palmetto Records enhances this experience with a remixed and remastered edition that expands the recording's depth and detail. Producer Matt Balitsaris adds previously unreleased material, including a second, unique rendition of the title track and a lengthened version of '11/8' featuring Hill's introductions of each ensemble member. Hill's band, with improvisers like Greg Tardy, Marty Ehrlich and Ron Horton, creates a rich, expressive soundscape that balances Hill's compositional elegance with spontaneous, free-jazz momentum.
There Is No, There Is No (Dedicated To Rich Nichols) (3:16)
(It's So) Natural (3:36)
Only For Love (5:15)
Tough Times In The Rag Trade (LP3) (5:13)
Damper (3:36)
God's Grace (3:28)
Peace '26 (5:02)
Space Oddity (6:18)
The Bear (4:53)
Brothers (5:24)
Review: Outside In decided to highlight Ray Angry's exceptional talent as a top pianist with the new album Three. Solo piano, a tradition that runs through jazz greats like Art Tatum to Keith Jarrett, is the perfect platform to showcase Angry's brilliance so in the fall of 2022 he visited Reservoir Studios, sat at the Steinway piano, and played for two hours straight. The result was an extraordinary torrent of music, blending classical, jazz, and pop, all unique to Ray. Now the best of it is served up in this bumper box set with a deluxe booklet with writings by Questlove and Black Thought.
Dream A Little Dream Of Me (feat Ella Fitzgerald) (3:08)
La Vie En Rose (3:25)
On The Sunny Side Of The Street (5:52)
When You're Smiling (The Whole World Smiles With You) (4:05)
Cheek To Cheek (feat Ella Fitzgerald) (5:48)
Cabaret (2:46)
It's Been A Long, Long Time (2:21)
They Can't Take That Away From Me (feat Ella Fitzgerald) (4:34)
Moon River (2:59)
Blueberry Hill (3:19)
What A Wonderful World (2:18)
Review: Louis Armstrong had an unparalleled impact on American popular music. Verve Records now celebrates his legacy with an all-new collection featuring his greatest hits and most timeless recordings. This release complements Louis In London, which highlights the influence on jazz of a man known for his joyful presence and who once said he was on a mission to spread happiness - this collection underscores that purpose. His contributions shaped the course of music history and that can be heard here in these gloriously catchy and indelible jazz sounds, many of which are well loved by even those without a passion for jazz.
Review: Warren Oree is an acoustic bassist, producer and composer who founded The Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble in Philadelphia in 1979. The adventurous outfit are eclectic and have a far from predictable sound that combines acoustic sounds with African and Middle Eastern influences, a hint of Afro-Cuban Orientalism, spiritual jazz and avant garden flourishes. This album was recorded in 1980 and has a truly worldwide sound that very much fits in with the sound of the current jazz revival. There is cool jazz on 'Wet Walnuts and Whipped Cream', percussive drenched grooves on the title track and much more besides. A real classic.
Review: Ary Lobo hails from the North of Brazil and has been considered something of a master of vocal indigenous styles like Baiao, Coco, Batuque and other related genres ever since he dropped his first album Forro con Ary Lobo in 1958. He suffered from prejudices against his northern musical styles throughout his career but still managed to eventually make his mark and become a real favourite and now Analog Africa has put together this vital and limited edition 180 gram gatefold album Ary Lobo 1958-1966 which collects his most standout works from all across a key eight-year period. A fine overview of an important figure in the evolution of Brazilian music.
Review: Although her Afro Harping album might be more popular, legendary American harpist Dorothy Ashby's debut The Jazz Harpist is equally as essential. It was her debut record in 1957 on the Regent label and is a record which generally credits the Detroiter as being the first artist to translate harp to bebop and jazz in a real way. Traditionally more seen as an instrument associated with classical music, Ashby remove it from its genteel past and dropped it into a more modern and edgy context with stunning results. This glorious album is the best way to understand that transformation.
Review: Ethio Jazz is a landmark album by contemporary Ethiopian music pioneer Mulatu Astatke from back in 1974 on Ethiopia's Amha Records. It features melancholic wind melodies and a polyrhythmic rhythm section that soon draws you in while sultry vibraphone and smoky organ tones blend the essence of American jazz with Ethiopian musical traditions. This unique fusion creates a sound that remains a high point in Astatke's career and the Ethio Jazz genre overall. It's a faultless demonstration of Mulatu's ambitious creativity and one that masterfully balances diverse musical elements. For that reason, this timeless album continues to resonate in the jazz world and beyond.
Review: The reissues of the seminal Black Jazz catalogue keep on coming thick and fast. This one focuses on the only group to ever have recorded on the label. The Awakening were one of the greats of the early 70s but never quite got their dues, which is said to be because of being held back by the Black Jazz label's distribution woes. Their early records are hard to find and expensive when you do and this, Mirage, was their second in 1973. It features a line-up of Chicago based musicians plus bassist Rufus Reid on a couple of tracks. Spiritual jazz, free jazz, soul jazz and fusion jazz all feature across the seven sizzling cuts.
Review: This classic Roy Ayers album seems to get reissued almost exactly every 10 years, and every time it quickly disappears, so move fast for this latest drop by Nature Sounds. The album has just four tunes across two sides of vinyl and has talented musicians like Joe Henderson, Charles Tolliver, Bruno Carr, Jack Wilson and more all featuring. It is one of Roy's earlier works from back in 1967, before he became a funk, acid jazz & r&b icon, and has elements of his mad vibraphone skills front and centre. he super cool tracks are infused with the sunny sounds that Roy is so well loved for.
Review: Ayizan's lone album, 'Dilijans' originally came in 1984. Since then, it has been seen as something of a slept-on, hard-to-find classic. Musically it joined the dots between "compas" (a style popular in Dominica and the Antilles) with folk, jazz, funk and soul. This is the latest reissue and a great chance to cop a record that is the epitome of breezy, soulful, sun-kissed tropical goodness. Top tunes range from the chant-along, carnival-ready flex of the title track and marimba-fired, beat-free brilliance of 'Tem'.
Review: Albert Ayler was a trailblazing avant-garde saxophonist lost far too soon, and not long before his death he performed an iconic pair of performances at Fondation Maeght in Saint Paul de Vence outside Nice. While excerpts from the performances have been previously released, this is the first time they appear in their entirety, alongside each other as a testament to a truly powerful force in jazz. This four-CD edition comes with an extensive 100-page booklet loaded with essays and quotes from authorities and contemporary music luminaries of all sorts, making it a standout document for all serious jazz lovers to cherish.
Review: Before they found fame with their 1975 debut album, Azymuth divided their time between working as backing musicians (attending recording sessions with some of Brazil's top talent) and recording experimental home demos. Recently rediscovered, these demos are finally being given a release thanks to the efforts of Far Out chief Joe Davis. There's much to admire on this first batch (a second volume is also available) of previously unheard early recordings, from the high-octane Brazilian funk insanity of "Prefacio" and Jimmy Smith-esque "Melo De Cuica", to the spacey samba/jazz-funk fusion of "Xingo (Version One)" and the relaxed, slow-burn brilliance of seven minute B-side opener "Laranjeiras".
Review: Breaking the Shell is an innovative new release from a top trio formed of drummer Andrew Cyrille, guitarist Bill Frisell, and pipe organist Kit Downes. Their much anticipated album features a rare and captivating blend of instruments including things such as electric guitar, pipe organ, and drums and therefore offers a fresh sound across 11 new cuts. The collaboration creates a meditative exploration of sound along the way and that allows these three visionary musicians to explore new dimensions of creativity and expression at every turn.
Review: Painter, musician, actor, director and producer. John Lurie has done a lot in his time, whether that's appearing in 19 movies, composing for 20 TV shows and films - including some of those he was the star of - or producing primitivist art work. Here, we get to engage with two of those back catalogues, even if only because these are scores to a pair of his most iconic flicks. Always cool and stripped, Lurie's stuff is the kind of experimental-leaning jazz that works so well when setting the scene. And this applies off screen, IRL too: pressing play here will only serve to create a mood wherever you are, no matter what you're doing. One of shadowy streets, yellow hued spots, smoky barrooms and dark backrooms, a sense of after hours exploration.
Review: The much loved and always essential Jazz Is Dead series hits instalment number eight here. The project was only conceived in 2020 by musicians and producers Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad and aims to work with jazz legends on new material. This time it is Gil-Scott Heron's famous partner Brain Jackson in the spotlight. There are plenty of languid grooves that float on airy drumming with acoustic piano and electric bass also weaved in. Afro-Cuban flavours colour closeR 'Ethiopian Sunshower,' which is the most sedate of the lot.
Review: On the latest instalment in their essential Jazz is Dead series, musical polymaths Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad have joined forces with Katalyst, a Los Angeles-based collective of musicians whose work is inspired by their 1960s Californian predecessors Afrikan People's Arkestra and Union of God Musicians Ascension Association. What's an offer is undeniably impressive and, at genuinely life-affirming, with the assembled cast doing a superb job of joining the dots between spiritual jazz, soul-jazz, horizontal jazz-funk and deeper, more sun-kissed flavours. Highlights are plentiful and include, though are no way limited to, the breezy 'Juneteenth', the languid dancefloor shuffle and sustained electric piano motifs of 'The Avenues' and the morning-fresh wonder that is 'Daybreak'.
Review: Strut present an exclusive collaboration between two jazz greats, multireedist Bennie Maupin and percussionist Adam Rudolph, on Symphonic Tone Poem For Brother Yusef, originally commissioned by the 2020 Angel City Jazz festival in Claremont. This long yet impressive album weaves across a sonic landscape in five movements, blending electronics, sax and voice and binding them all together via the deft use of intervals and improv. A strong and moving debut from the clear clarinetist and the percussive polymath.
Review: A Monster's Expedition + Earlier Adventures is a double disc collection of music from four different video games (namely A Monster's Expedition, Sokobond, Cosmic Express and A Good Snowman Is Hard to Build) all composed by Eli Rainsberry, Allison Walker, Nick Dymond, and Priscilla Snow. Each one is utterly unique to the game and each one comes laden with beautiful soothing atmospheres delicately coloured with ponderous and whimsical melodies that will distract you from whatever you are doing they are so gorgeous. This is music to get lost in and it comes with superbly serene artwork from Andre Rodrigues.
Review: Trumpeter and composer Wadada Leo Smith and pianist and organist Amina Claudine Myers are both esteemed in their fields and this album is when they united for their first recorded collaboration. It is a much-anticipated release amongst fans of their work and their extraordinary convergence highlights the enduring power of artistic connection and the evolution of musical mastery. Set against the backdrop of Central Park's serene mosaic, with its reservoir, lake, paths, and gardens, this album reflects the harmonious blend of their talents and the nature around them so adds up to a transformative musical journey.
Review: Encore has been remastered from the original tapes and features 11 compositions by Arthur Verocai who was joined by the legendary Azymuth, Ivan Lins and a nine-piece string section. The album was a long-awaited follow-up to his 1972 debut so bridges 35 years and bottles up Brazilian influences with American soul and cinematic experimentation. Initially overlooked amongst his wider canon, Verocai's debut gained cult status thanks to Far Out Recordings' Joe Davis who rediscovered it in the late 80s. In 2004, producer Dave Brinkworth brought Verocai back to the studio to reignite his musical brilliance. A master arranger, Verocai's work with Brazilian legends shaped his visionary sound and have helped to cement him as a timeless force in music history.
The Midnight Hour - "Jazz Is Dead" (Georgia Anne Muldrow Geemix) (2:42)
Joao Donato - "Desejo De Amor" (Akili remix) (1:49)
Joao Donato - "Liaisons" (Dibiase remix) (6:03)
Azymuth - "Rendor Do Samba" (DJ Spinna remix) (5:27)
Review: Since launching the Jazz is Dead series two years ago, Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muuhammad have released eight studio albums - each a collaboration with a different figure from the jazz and soul spectrum - and a compilation of instrumental takes. It makes sense, then, that volume 10 is a remix album, with a variety of producers putting their stamp on cuts from the pair's expansive joint catalogue. As you'd expect, it's packed to the rafters with killer hip-hop, downtempo and broken beat reworks, with highlights including Cut Chemist's head-nodding, cinematic hip-hop take on Gary Bartz hook-up 'Soulsea', Shigeto's contemporary spiritual jazz revision of Brian Jackson co-production 'Nacy Wilson', and DJ Spinna's squelchy, house-not-house rub of Azymouth collaboration 'Rendor Do Samba'. Soulful, jazz-fired perfection.
We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services.