Back catalogue: Funk Soul & Jazz

Review: Roy Ayers at his most transcendent. 'Everybody Loves the Sunshine' is more than a summertime anthemiit's a spiritual moodboard that's shaped jazz-funk, soul, r&b and hip-hop for nearly 50 years. Ayers, born in Los Angeles and raised in its fertile fusion scene, places the vibraphone at the music's heart, coaxing heat-haze tones from sparse chords, synths, and that honeyed chorus. Flip it over and the instrumental version unlocks a deeper layer: stripped of vocals, it becomes a pure groove, drifting and hypnotic. What lingers is the balanceibetween melancholy and bliss, rhythm and release. A rare track that feels entirely unhurried yet quietly radical, now preserved in a limited pressing that looks as golden as it sounds.

Review: Few recordings capture the easy intensity of a summer afternoon like 'Everybody Loves the Sunshine'. Released in 1976 and wrapped in slow-drifting synths and soft falsettos, the track became a touchstone not just for Roy Ayers, but for 70s soul and beyond. Born in Los Angeles, Ayers helped define the jazz-funk crossover, placing the vibraphone at the centre of a sound both hazy and sharply detailed. The original vocal take on the A-side still melts under its own warmth; the instrumental on the flip uncovers the careful architecture beneath. Issued here on 7" black wax following Ayers' recent passing, this reissue feels like both a keepsake and a quiet honouring of an artist who shaped a whole way of listening.

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: Daniel Sommer's Sounds & Sequences, the second entry in his Nordic Trilogy, ventures deeper into the nuances of Nordic improvisation. Featuring Norwegian trumpeter Arve Henriksen and Swedish bassist Johannes Lundberg, the album takes an adventurous approach, blending chamber music, spiritual jazz and ambient influences. Recorded at Gothenburg's Studio Epidemin, the trio navigated the sessions without set guidelines, letting intuitive improvisation guide each track. The album's atmosphere is distinctly expansive and haunting. In 'Vejen Til Epidemic', Henriksen's ethereal trumpet melodies float over Lundberg's deep bass and Sommer's textured cymbal accents, creating a tone both ominous and inviting. 'Hey, Superhero' adds a more aggressive edge, as Henriksen's airy trumpet soars against grounding basslines and Sommer's more assertive stick work. 'On Blue - Seven', subtle electronic touches and reverberant trumpet evoke a foghorn's call in a shadowy soundscape, while Beautiful Daisy brings in Henriksen's otherworldly falsetto, crafting an eerie, ritualistic feel. The title track's primal drumming and electronic effects add a rock-infused urgency, with Henriksen's falsetto peaking in a raw crescendo. Sounds & Sequences boldly explores Nordic soundscapes, blending electronic and acoustic realms in a stirring album.

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.