Back catalogue: Funk Soul & Jazz

Notes: Introducing Jazzman's own exclusive range of brand new 7" hard-wearing wooden record cases, in equal measure stylish and functional, solving the age-old problem of storing, transporting & displaying your precious 45s once and for all!

The PRO Large holds 150 x 7" records, and is available in your choice of 2 finishes: Dark Walnut or Graphite Grey.

This new updated design is again custom made to an exact specification in limited numbers. They don't just look the business, they've been built for professional use and will last for many years to come.

Ugly, bulky industrial cheap n' nasty mass-produced flight cases they are not! No flimsy plastic, chipboard, MDF or cheap cardboard either! These cases are hand-crafted from ethically-sourced & hard-wearing wood, the ultimate 7" record cases for all serious record collectors & professional DJs.

Each case has been hand-made in the EU from wood that has been sourced from managed and sustainable forests. They have been custom built to Jazzman's exact specifications before being stained and lacquered for a durable finish:

The lid is fully removable via detachable metal hinges so you have unfettered access to your records
Interior lined with soft & durable black felt to add both extra cushioning and a luxurious feel. Each interior is also embossed once with Jazzman's shiny 45CASE logo
All corners made with extra strong interlocking dovetail joints
Dual metal catches on the front are lockable with padlocks (not included) to keep your records secure from unwanted attention
Strong metal brackets feature on all corners to further protect against knocks & damage
Wood sourced from managed and sustainable forests
The base has 4 sturdy rubber feet to protect the bottom of the case when standing
Each cases has dual compartments, securely holding up to 150 of your prized 7" records. The interior dimensions will also accommodate double-bagged 45s.

Important note: due to the innate variability of wood grain, each box is unique and will differ slightly to the image shown. Records are for illustration purposes only and are not included!

Details:

Exterior size: 420 x 220 x 220mm
Weight when empty: 3.2kg (7lb)
Weight with 150 records: 11kg (24lb)

"I'm really impressed with this box, nobody's made them like this for years, a nice new home for my best stuff" - Mark 'Butch' Dobson (World #1 Northern Soul DJ)

"Jazzman are already known for making great records, well done to them for making the nicest record boxes I've seen in years" - Norman Jay MBE

"Sturdy and with a classic design, this is the best 7" box I have come across" - Eddie Pillar (Acid Jazz)

"Northern, Funk, Rockabilly, Garage - these are the boxes to keep 'em in, f*** marvellous!" - The Legendary Keb Darge

Review: Hip-hop artist Shing02 (Shing Annen) is a longstanding fixture of chill hop, and is notable for his cross-cultural focus, having been born in Japan but growing up in Western cities. With a precise, multilingual emceeing style few of his contemporaries can match, he's also known for his involvement with Nujabes and the soundtrack for Samurai Champloo, we're happy to see he's still hard at it. 'Real With You' is a collaboration with contemporary lo-fi hip-hop/chill-hop artist 14? and is a bright and serene wonker, lyrically dealing in themes of going with the flow, revisiting memories and letting go.

Review: Slip into something comfortable and prepare to get sexed up by this new one from Newcastle's Six Nine Records. It features tracks by 3TOB, an outfit originally born in 2019 by band members of Tone and earlier in the year they dropped the sultry hip-hop, soul and r&b album Trading Places. Those tracks are "My Baby' and 'Love Will Find Its Way' and neither were on the album and have been streaming only up to now. They are a timeless fusion of heart-melting harmonies and silky beats for those loved up late night sessions.

Review: Measured Mile records puts two classy soul tracks onto the same 7". Originally released in 1974, Act 1 - 'It's The Same Old Story' is often looked over classic of the era. Act 1 hailed from Detroit and featured Raeford Gerald, Roger Terry, Reggie Ross and George Barker. The band had two minor hits but often people recall 'It's The Same Old Story' as their favorite of their only full album. Ivano Fossati's 'Night Of The Wolf' is found on the B-side. A jam song that verges slightly into Latin music, asks for quite a sum of money for its original copy. Both tracks add up to a real gem of a 7".

Review: This release was deftly crafted by Visceral Grooves in collaboration with Dig. Find. Listen. Sample. Chop. Repeat., featuring the duo of LA artists Sankofa and J. Dankworth. Side A is a killer instrumental hip-hop cover of the Billy Brooks' classic 40 Days, while side B is a slow-burning original composition by the band Aesthetic, lifted from the forthcoming album 'Anesthetic'.

Review: A strikingly unique dance music project from Nagasaki producer, DJ and sound director Keisuke Yamazoe, Aflex Combo has always been an impressive project, straddling several EPs stretching back to 2002 - and all centring, in the artist's own words, on "heavy funk beats and obscure jazz and Latin samples", albeit with the aid of live musicians. The intermingling of live-recorded and sampled material is always an exciting prospect, often to the extent that we can't tell the difference. Indeed, on this latest reissue of the artist's first ever track - the 2002 cut 'Dazzling' and the formerly unheard 'Etsom Ne' - we recall two janky, blissful jazzdance cuts, splayed across two spray-tanned sides. The former track hears bowing basses and trilling pianos whirl around the mix, as if lost in a nostalgic Millennium-bugged miasma; the latter is much more muted, its most striking elements being its boxy drum machine and expert flute line, betraying a well-integrated highlife influence.

Review: Hot Casa France reissue a sultry drum workout from master Turkish darbouka player Yasar Akpence's 2004 album 'Passion Percussion'. 'Desert wind' layers unbelievably tight darbouka trills and phrases over a pulsing, almost dembow-esque core, making for a perfect Balearic DJ tool for any occasion. We can imagine this one bookending hypnotic techno wormholes in a small hours Donato Dozzy set, with its wide stereo drum intrusions and tight production longing to be aired off a suitably weighty soundsystem. Truly chameleonic and compelling music!

Review: As part of the RELOVED series from Four Flies - co-curated with fellow indie label Little Beat More - comes one of a handful new reinterpreted versions of Alessandro Alessandroni's 'Tema di Susie', the star soundtrack cut from the 1976 Italian noir film Sangue Di Sbirro. With the film regaling a gangland drama centring on revenge, passion, and the madness of love, Alessandroni's original minute-and-a-half-long cut is an eerily serene counterpoint to its themes and here appears alongside a new remix from French producer Mounika, who fleshes out the original cinematic-soul number's circa-140bpm headnod and serene flauting with beefier drums and wilder piano flourishes; this is a juxtaposition you can hear as clearly as day here, on this A-and-B'd delight.

Review: Soul Jazz Records promise this is a one off and strictly limited pressing of Alien Starr's 'World Of Ecstasy.' It is a faithful reproduction of the original in terms of art and sound and has been restored from the label after they included it on their excellent recent Space Funk 2 - Afro-Futurist Electro Funk In Space 1976-84 compilation. tUSA in 1985 featuring big slap bass energy, hand claps, drum funk and electro boogie bass. .

Review: Heat Rock add yet another breaksy heater to their repertoire and, in so doing, welcome two wicked producers from across the pond into their roster; Altered Tapes from Chicago, and Double A from New Zealand. The former stalwart goes in on an infamous flute loop from The Beatnuts, working in phat kicks and sawn-off breakbeats for a pacier, dancier instrumental version. Double A backs this up on the B with, dedicating a prayer and an amen to the same Dirty South classic. A must-have DJ tool for the aspiring breaks-purveyor.

Review: Original Gravity's very own identity-invention Nestor Alvarez returns with yet another two new and hot Latin funk productions. 'Plata O Plomo' takes its namesake from an old Spanish adage, literally translating to English to mean "silver or lead", implying that the recipient of the phrase must either accept a bribe or lose their life. In keeping with this heavy-handed theme, the track is punchy and surface-tense as a bullet yet to exit the barrel. Meanwhile, 'Reality For Nuttin' gets at an equally nihilistic and existential theme, all while finding joy in the conundrum of life with huge rhythm guitars and pop-out pianos and brasses.

Review: From the 1979 LP Accadde A... by Arawak, this superb 7" showcases standout Italian Library recordings that you need in your life. Arawak, one of Luciano Simoncini's many pseudonyms, crafted compositions for film scores, radio, and television in Italy and this album remained obscure until the legendary Madlib heavily sampled it in 2000 and drove up the price of originals. The LP received its first reissue by Golden Pavilion in 2017 so fans could cop it once more and now two of the best bits from it are on their own record. Both tracks oscillate between mellow dreamy atmospheres and irresistible drum breaks with 'Bali' being sampled in 'Real Eyes' by Quasimoto in 2000, and b-side jam coming on strong with bagpipes intertwined with punchy bass and steady drums.

Review: ARN4L2's first-ever solo vinyl project is a doozy. Across five cuts he looks to the dance floor from his own unique perspective and mixes up Congolese soukous, Colombian Bullerengue, Nigerian highlife, Caribbean soca, and good old house music. His style is colourful and psychedelic and it really is fresh across the hurried, skittish percussive rhythms of 'Rompecuero' and deeper Afro-funk and soul of 'Caribe.' 'Kampangola' brings great instrumental displays and 'Papasukus' is pure summer music. A super strong EP from an artist well worth watching this year.

Review: In a meeting between generations of broken beat titans, Andrew Ashong and Kaidi Thatham's Sankofa Season rightly earned classic status soon after its release in 2020, and now we're being taken back into the heart of these tracks with a heavyweight remix package from some serious talent. Mala's imperious dubstep touch brings some low-end pressure to 'Low Ceilings' or Shy One chopping up 'Learning Lessons' in her peerless deft style, there's a lot of ground covered by this considered gathering of minds. Special mention goes to Equiknoxx's Gavsborg and Shanique Marie, bringing a sweetly soulful touch to 'To Your Heart'.

Review: With both tracks now coming out for the first time on 7" vinyl, the 'Liquid Love' and 'What's The T?' 7" single is a must get for all Roy Ayers fans and serious music collectors, not least as 2023 witnesses Roy's final ever tour of live dates. This release is a fitting tribute to the career of one of the most influential musicians in global Black music history and each track represents his virtuosity as a vibesman and his versatility across genres. 'Liquid Love' is taken from the 2015 BBE released album of Roy's unreleased material, Virgin Ubiquity II and is a wicked mid-tempo track where Roy's vibraphone complements an amazing female vocal arrangement to create harmonies and melody over a tough-as-you-like breakbeat, bassline and keyboard riff.

Review: Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band is an enigmatic steel pan collective from Hamburg that has a hardcore fan following around the world and a new album on the way that is superb. They are loved for their covers of hip-hop classics and last year served up a version of the Stranger Things theme tune but this time out we get 'Love For The Sake Of Dub' of 45 rpm. It is another pair of funky tunes with the signature brass sounds front and centre as the fat bottom rhythms roll deep and fleshy. Another gem from this leftfield outfit.

Review: They're best known for covering hip-hop classics in their unique, funk band plus steel pans vibe, but Germany's Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band show there are spookier arrows in their quiver when the time of year demands it. Two special halloween themed cover versions grace this 7", the first a rendition of the theme from TV show of the moment 'Stranger Things', the second their version of the title theme from the film 'Halloween', originally penned by the master soundtrack maker himself John Carpenter. Both have a slightly cheeky, quirky and rather joyful atmosphere, tending more towards the cute rather than the spooky side of all hallows, but don't let their lack of scariness put you off, they're both delightful.010920

Review: Huzzah! New music from Liam Bailey, who has voiced a couple of the most gorgeous reggae, soul and dub fusion 7"s we've got in our collection in recent years. He has, we're told, recently been recording a new album and the two tunes pressed up here on Big Crown are taken from it. El Michels Affair man Leon Michels is the go-to producer once more for Bailey and they strike gold as always with 'Dance With Me'. It is a hella catchy two-stepper that harks back to the earliest days of reggae. On the flip, 'Mercy Tree' has hard-hitting drums and big horns that come with a powerhouse vocal that speaks of racial tensions that sadly persist throughout the world. It's a standup jam with a potent message.

Review: Original Gravity have been carrying Curtis Baker and the Bravehearts for the past few years, slipping out a clutch of his hot and heavy blues tunes and covers. On this latest single, he's tackling the mighty 'Spoonful', originally written by Willie Dixon and first made famous by Etta James, Howlin' Wolf and eventually Cream. Baker more than does the track justice, hitting a note somewhere close to The Doors' groovy kind of psychedelia, locking in so hard it has to stretch over both sides of the 7".

Review: This release is a story of serendipitous stars aligning. Having released Bala Desejo's anthemic single, 'Baile De Mascaras', back in May 2023, Mr. Bongo could sense that they had a summer classic on their hands. The label always thought that it had the potential to find fans in a dance music audience; and in a further twist of fate, the sensational DJ, producer, and radio presenter Jamz Supernova recently graced their Great Escape in-store event with a phenomenal DJ set. After some feverish digging and emailing to her team, Bongo discovered that she was a fan of the original song and had made a personal edit to play in her DJ sets. Gilles had heard Jamz spinning the edit and asked for a copy, and by sheer coincidence and good fortune, it all fell into place. The track is a beast of an edit that gets heavier and deeper as it progresses.

Review: These two tracks from Mike Bandoni and Chip Wickham have been a long time coming. The two stablemates from the 'Craig Charles Fantasy Funk Band' have been discussing a collaboration for years and now; and it's finally in the bag! Mike brings his trademark killer funky drums (recorded by the legendary Malcolm Catto), percussion, Rhodes, bass and vintage guitar vibes to the party, whilst Chip delivers some sublime and highly complimentary work on sax and flute. 'Infinity Pool' sounds like a long-lost Bobbi Humphrey-meets-Bob James composition, with the flute taking centre stage - underpinned by what can only be described as mammoth funk grooves on every other instrument - while 'Get It!' is a cool number, channelling a phenomenally infectious groove and hook, both of which remain in the brain for days.

Review: Get yourself geared up for festival season with some fierce party starters certified with the Glitterbox stamp. Melvo Baptiste leads the charge with 'Sweat', a sizzling disco house stomper with Dames Brown giving the biggest diva energy on her show-stopping vocal. Lovebirds bring unbridled joy on the Philly string swoon and slinky b-line funk of 'Burn It Down', while Art Of Tones & Inaya Day keep it peak time on the sassy strutter 'Give My Love'. Young Pulse & Fleur De Mur complete the set with 'Smooth Sweet Talker', another bright and bold vocal cut par excellence.

Review: Stevie Wonder's 'Pastime Paradise' has thus far been less recognised as an original soul wonderwork, and more so as a sample by American rapper Coolio on the derivative 'Gangster's Paradise'. Though still having been covered by many artists over the years, Major Keys records highlights this enduring 1981 cover of Wonder's 'Paradise' by Latin percussionist Ray Barretto as among their favourites, if not their absolute favourite. Now the label reissue the gem, flaunting its up-to-date, nigh timeless feel; it's the opposite of a miracle that this has never before been released on a 12" single record, despite the fact that it is a favourite on the floors of jazz and soul rooms the world over. It also flips it with Barretto's own 'La Cuna' and 'Mambotango', taken from the same 1981 LP.

Review: This 2024 edition marks the return of Joe Bataan, via the same track that made his name in 2004. Vampi Soul first welcomed the Latin Soul king to the label two decades back, facilitating the release of his 2005 album Call My Name. The pre-release singles for the album were 'Chick-A-Boom' and 'Cycles Of You', packed onto a single 7"; these quickly became DJs' favourites and have thus since remained long out of print. As it was twenty years ago, 'Chick-A-Boom' is a simultaneously upbeat but ghostly track, with Bataan's vocals quadrupling up in a wall of sound while providing the vibe equivalent of a Jackie Chan flick. 'Call My Name', meanwhile, goes heavy on the clavichord and synth whistle, as Bataan revels in a funereal theme, dancing, thundersticking into the great beyond.

Review: The Bayara Citizens dropped the original 'Ju/Ru Music' 7" on Joe Clausell's Sacred Rhythm label back in 2006. It has become a rather pricey little 45 prm that now gets reissued as two different, dubbed out Afro rhythms with swirling guitar licks. The Afrikan Art opener on the a-side is full of sunshine and Latin vibes thanks to the superbly plucked strings and shuffling groves, while the flip is the Afrikan dub Drum Drums version - darker, more percussive more moody. Both sides bring something different to any dub set.

Review: Canadian recording sensation Gary Beals dropped his new single 'All of Me' back in summer ahead of his latest new album The Melody Within which arrived in autumn. It's another joyous and uplifting single that has big claps and shiny keys all topped off with his soaring and super sweet vocals that carry an infectious energy and capture the spirit of summer. On the flip is a more downbeat soul slow burner with sentimental lyrics and pained acoustic guitar lines that really tug on the heartstrings. He says, "All of Me is just another extension of the feelgood music I've always desired to make" and we agree.

Review: Izipho Soul celebrates its 100th release with another gem. This latest 7" channels the velvety vocals of Barry Whyte, featuring Lawrence Beamen's timeless hit 'Thinking of You.' Initially recorded in 2008, the track has been eagerly awaited for a vinyl release. Finally, it's here, sounding more vibrant than ever. The 7" remix, expertly crafted by Don Turney at DKS Productions, breathes new life into this classic, elevating its charm even further. On the flip side, 'Been a Long Time' brings dynamic energy straight from Oakland, California, rounding out this impressive release from Izipho Soul.

Review: Hawaiian label Izipho Soul makes it to the not-so-small milestone of 100 releases here. This latest 7" is another pearler that channels the buttery baritone of Barry Whyte. It takes the form of Lawrence Beamen's timeless hit 'Thinking of You,' initially recorded in 2008, which has long been sought after for a vinyl release. Finally, after years of anticipation, it's here and sounding more vibrant than ever. The 7" remix, skilfully crafted by Don Turney at DKS Productions, injects new life into this classic, enhancing its allure even further. On the flip side is 'Been a Long Time,' a dynamic track straight from Oakland, California.

Review: Well Curated is a series of releases and parties that - in its own words - "reflects the ethnomusicology of the last 50 years of music" - and aims to reach into all genres, merging classic styles and breaking down barriers. Steve Spacek occupies the A-side with the breezy broken beat and soul-in-space of 'Alone In Da Sun', while Lukid's 'Hair Of The Dog' is a more intense counterpart, with wobbling sub-bass and swirling, surging atmospherics hovering above.

Review: Sweden's mash-up maestro Beatconductor returns with six tracks of masterfully cross-pollinated bangers on this hand-stamped white label. On tap we have edits of the likes of Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder, Elvis et al., indicating a worthy breadth of knowledge of both classics and non-classics - but all classily recontextualized in ways only the Beatconductor himself can manage. Set to heavyweight 12" wax on two sides, we're certain this one'll serve you well for drunken Saturday dancefloors and upmarket, warmly-lit Sundays alike.

Review: Composer Matt Berry aims to mimic the classic iconic Library Music label KPM with this new outing on Acid Jazz. It is the first in a series of such releases and it does a fine job of following in the label's tradition of providing the musical bedrock for classic British TV series and international movies. KPM used composers such as Alan Hawkshaw and Keith Mansfield and Berry proves he is right up there with this 7". 'Top Brass' is a funky instrumental with dramatic strings that add a sense of tension to the rude boy swagger of the rhythm. On the flip is a more stripped-back 'Bare Essentials mix' which is just as good and a little more menacing.

Review: Kay-Dee Records comes at us with a 45 double-hitter, presenting Bert Hector's 'The Phoenix' and 'The Kraken' with Kenny Dope on remix duties. On the first record, we're treated to 'The Phoenix', a sure-fire funk gem with a super-warm sound - beat is as cool as it gets, with a laid-back and funky attitude sitting beneath a joyous intermingling of sitar, flute, brass and guitar, all performed at expert levels. 'The Kraken', meanwhile, channels a killer groove, strutting at 85 bpm and incorporating a huge brass section which pumps loud, while flute solos and funky Wah-guitar chops take things up a notch.

Review: Betty & The Code Red is a life and creative partnership between Benin-born Tunde Obazee and his girlfriend Betty. The pair grew up in Nigeria and would play all manner of instruments to entertain people at the local school before staying together as they went on to live in Italy and the US. Obazee performed at colleges and universities despite no formal training and eventually recorded a selection of tunes together including a small album on relatively new bits of gear like the Yamaha RX7. Especial has collated some of their best work across two new EPs, this being one of them.

Review: There is always a good backstory to the music that Emotional Rescue releases and this EP is a case in point. It comes from Betty & The Code Red and Betty was the girlfriend of Tunde Obazee, a Nigerian-born artist who used music as a "non-violent tool to express his socio-political opinions on global injustice." The pair would entertain people on campus by playing anything they could get their hands on, informed by the old Edo folk songs they had grown up around. They went on to live in Italy and the US and start a family as well as lay down self-released songs that have become cult classics. A selection of them feature on this, the first of two EPs from the pair.

Review: For seven years, Matasuna Records has been dedicated to uncovering musical gems from the past. Now, they introduce a thrilling contemporary find: Barcelona-based band Bidaide. Their debut 7" vinyl single features two unreleased tracks, 'Batua' and 'Love Me & Give Up', both of which showcase their eclectic blend of soul, funk, psychedelic rock, reggae-dub, and library music. 'Batua' on the A-side delivers an energetic fusion of funky rhythms, agile guitar dialogues, and vibrant brass overlays. On the B-side, 'Love Me & Give Up' offers a soulful, relaxed vibe with Motown-esque charm. Bidaide's evolution from a duo to a vibrant band culminates in this dynamic release.

Review: This is a translucent vinyl yellow version (though we also have a regular black pressing) of some reissued soul treasure from 1983, penned and produced by the legendary Larry McGee. Over four decades old, it seamlessly blends disco, UK street soul, and boogie into an irresistible tune, perfect for both dance floors and romantic home listening. With lovestruck vocals, persuasive basslines, and sultry saxophone lines, "Space Lady" captivates from start to finish. Flip over this 7" vinyl, and you'll discover an extended version tailor-made for DJs, ensuring smoother deployment on the turntables. A true gem that shines bright, even after all these years.

Review: Super Spicy's Super Spicy Recipe series is back with a sixth mouthwatering offering and once again it's a super hot outing of party-ready house and disco sounds. First up is the irresistibly colourful disco charm of Birdee with the freewheeling 'Underground' and its groove-infused piano. Label boss Monsieur Van Pratt then adds his own spin to a rare groove classic with a lung-busting soul vocal and Pato Watson is in edit mode as he tweaks 'Ella Fue' to perfection. Italian don Paul Older brings some funky jazz fusion sounds to his steamy 'Turkish Lights, C. Da Afro keeps it a party with his 'Nothing But The Funk' and Mexican Juan Soto slips into a more deep and loved-up funk-house vibe on 'All Is Full Of Love'.

Review: A new single release from the amazing Betty Black, following her first two releases 'Cry Me A River' and 'Sweet Dreams', both also available on Skyline Recordings. Whereas the first two releases were covers, the label now delivers a wholly original slice of Betty material, 'Lonely Man'. This single-sided soul stomper is a veritable wall of sound, in which Black sings of emotional miserliness, rainy days, bleeding hearts and missed opportunities against a lively backing, making for a sure-to-be hit.

Review: Polish group Bloto are emblematic of the adventurous spirit which drives Astigmatic forwards as a label. There's a strong, instrument-oriented jazz backbone to the music, but it equally functions as daring, inventive club music. Drop the needle on 'Szlam', the A-side of this new 7" from the Wroclaw-based outfit and you'd think you were hearing some DMZ-informed soundsystem pressure. That's as much about the looping flute refrain as the breakstep roll of the drums and one note bass drops, but there's still the scintillating energy of a live band powering the sonics. B-side workout 'Scieki' is a moody strutter with a dash of acidic snarl in its stomping bassline and some eerie keys on top, coming on like horror jazz for dimly lit dancefloors.

Review: Blue Mode and El Chavo present two fantastic new cover versions. The A-side is of course one of the biggest tunes of the grunge era, and is here lent a jazzy, funky, groovy alteration by Blue Mode - though it is an ostensible Nirvana cut, the band were influenced by everything from the Gap Band to Louie Louie and a fair smattering of 80s indie here. This production by Chip Wickham mixes a swinging 60s Blue Note vibe and acid jazz refrains, brings it bang-up-to-date with contemporary nu-jazz. Side B is a boogaloo Latin jazz version of the Lonnie Smith track 'Hola Muneca', beloved of the acid jazz era's foremost DJs, and formerly released on a now impossible-to-find 7" single that shifts for crazy prices.

Review: Funkyjaws Music is back with more music to make your jaw go funky, this time in the form of a second volume of its Let's Dance series. It features a quartet of esteemed tune makers starting with Frank Booker's 'Yes No Maybe' which is a horn laced and loose-limbed delight, while go-slow master Eddie C brings his classy touch to the funky licks of 'Love Dancing Theme.' There are plenty of cosmic synth waves to Black Truffle's 'Dancing Through The Night' while the LTJ Xperience close down with a super laid back and summery vibe on 'Sunny Groove.'

Review: We have always got time for new heat from Big Crown and that's just what we have here from Brainstory. This trio of artists take cues from the label's co-owner Leon Michels and his work interpreting the Wu-Tang but with this own energy. They dropped a first EP back in 2014 and since then have looked to jazz, hip-hop old and new, soul and cinematic opulence for their inspiration. This new 7" comes as the outfit is finishing off its second full length and is a fine taster of what to expect with a show stopping two-sider that will soon find its way into you heart.

Review: Bread & Souls is a new project dreamt up by Italian entrepreneur and music lover Franco Fusari. For this he invited Mark de Clive-Lowe to direct and produce his roving vision: a series of collaborations with the cream of boogie and jazzdance's best performers and instrumentalists, including the likes of Bembe Segue, Vanessa Freeman, Paul Randolph, Rich Medina, Tommaso Cappellato and more. Under the banner of Bread & Souls, these eight originals and six remixes hit hard yet smooth, sliding down the proverbial aural gullet like a well-made Manhattan.

Review: Bread & Souls is an ensemble of musicians, singers, DJs, producers and, most of all, long term friends: a globally-spread family re-gathered by Franco Fusari - entrepreneur, music lover and dreamer. 'Find The Beauty' is the project's 7" preview track (preceding the full project), featuring Detroit-based Paul Randolph on vocals, Tommaso Cappellato on drums, Marcus Machado on guitar and Taku Hirano on percussion, all directed by eclectic project leader and producer Mark de Clive-Lowe, the pianist and true electronic-jazz pioneer. A remarkably well-rounded disco-jazzdance sprawler full of glitzing swing and synthetic ornaments, there's something in 'Find The Beauty' for all the family.

Review: Multi-talented artist James Alexander Bright unveils soulful anthem 'Fall For You' and funky track 'Viper Flames' in the superb Athens of the North, all as a tease his forthcoming third solo album on the label in mid-2024. Reflecting on love's power in 'Fall For You', Bright's upcoming release follows his acclaimed debut album 'Headroom' and contributions to Groove Armada's 'Edge Of The Horizon'. His second album, 'Float', garnered praise for its eclectic blend of styles. These new tuns show what he is all about - sunny soul with standout keys and dreamy vocals that melt even the stoniest of hearts.

Review: Bobby Byrd comes strutting on posthumously through to Sedsoulsociety with 'Never Get Enough'. This ineluctable treat was first released on Brownstone Recordings sometime during the early 70s funk heyday, and was produced and arranged by none other than that ingenious titan, James Brown, together with the beautiful 'My Concerto'. We usually wouldn't forgive the removal of the latter track from any reissue, but we're making an exception here, for the fact that an even greater treat lines this B-side reissue: a formerly unreleased instrumental of said James Brown classic production. Funk completists hardly need to be told not to sleep on this one.

Review: Susan Cadogan is an esteemed reggae vocalist who has been since the 1970s. Now she continues her musical journey with this cover single which is taken from her excellent 2020 album Hurt So Good - Storybook Revisited, distributed by Burning Sounds. Side-A features a rendition of the reggae classic by Dawn Penn, while Side-B offers a sweet soul interpretation of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes' track. Enhanced with Japanese-inspired artwork on the jacket, this release showcases Cadogan's timeless talent and versatility as it bridges the gap between reggae and soul music across generations.

Review: Richard Caiton has many great soul treasures in his arsenal and several labels have gone digging for them over the years. After a great reissue of his 'Thank You' gem on Record Store Day last year, now Upright have dug out 'I Like To Get Near To You.' He originally recorded it for the label back in 1969 and it is one of the standouts in his discography all these years later. It is a super short but super sweet soulful gem with raw drums and horns leading the way next to life-affirming strings and a heart aching vocal.

Review: Northern Soul heads rejoice - Cam Cameron's delightful 1968 gem 'They Say' is back on 45 rpm thanks to Soul Junction. Cameron is a Black American artist who has a stunning voice, as you can hear here, but is one of many such talents to apparently have only ever recorded one tune before disappearing never to be heard from again. More's the pity. His real name was Alvin Cameron and he wrote this one while the lush strings come from the late John Andrew Cameron, a hugely respected arranger, producer and songwriter who had a big impact in the soul scene in the 60s and 70s in Chicago.

Review: Berkeley-born Cornell CC Carter returns with 'The Change,' which is the lead single from his upcoming album on Expansion. Initially making waves with his debut album Vindicated Soul in 2017, Carter has become a force in the UK soul scene with subsequent albums such as One Love, Absolutely, and Next Life. With a storied career that includes collaborations with The Isley Brothers and performances alongside James Brown, he has been a staple on Expansion's Soul Togetherness and Luxury Soul series, and graced the stage at the Luxury Soul Weekender in Blackpool. Here 'The Change' comes with 'Sometimes,' which is produced by Brian Carter and offers a nice counterpoint to the a-side.