NICOLA CONTE Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Nicola Conte returns to his regular haunt of Far Out for another excursion into sweetest spiritual jazz and jazz funk, steeped in the sound of 70s studio gold and full of feeling. As a veteran of Blue Note, Impulse! and Schema, the Italian artist has a serious legacy behind him, and his series of Brazilian compilations in the Viagem series cemented his deep knowledge for the full global spectrum of jazz. Such spirit comes through in abundance on Umoja as Conte folds elements of Afrobeat and North American jazz into his spiralling, joyous and soul-charged sound, with the likes of Zara McFarlane and Myles Sanko lending their added talents to this outstanding record.

Review: Although he's probably most associated with the IRMA imprint, nu-jazz mainstay Nicola Conte has also enjoyed a long and prosperous relationship with Joe Davis' Brazilian-focused Far Out Recordings imprint. Umoja, the bandleader/producer/guitarist's latest solo album, naturally features some nods to samba-jazz and bossa-nova (the latter being a style he explored a lot in the 90s and noughties), but also nods aplenty to 70s independent spiritual and free-jazz', cosmic jazz, Afrobeat, jazz-funk and obscure private press soul releases. Laden with fine lead vocals, incredible musicianship and lusciously warming grooves, it's a retro-futurist set that just screams 'proper summer listening'. Don't sleep!