Back catalogue: Funk Soul & Jazz

Review: REPRESS ALERT!: Funkyjaws Music is back to make your body move with the latest instalment in its ongoing edit series, Let's Dance, this time with a sixth sizzling volume. Monsieur Van Pratt's loose and languid 'Besame' opens up with some gorgeous strings and funky guitar licks then Kiko Navarro brings a rich Afro flavour with the shuffling and percussive rhythms of 'Bosinga'. Bogdan Ra's 'Get On The Floor' is a fresh take on a disco classic with irresistible vocal charm and swooning pads. Last of all, Zaffa demands you 'Shake It' and you surely will as he layers up wet claps, sliding hi-hats and lively drums into a big-hearted party starter.

Review: ukuoka-based band MuchaMuchaM, known for their breakthrough debut album Qantikala, returns with a collaborative EP featuring Malaysian singer-songwriter Zee Avi. After performing together at The Creators' Co-Write stage in 2023, the two artists have crafted a unique sound that blends their distinct Asian influences. The EP features the modern acoustic track 'Day By Day', a cover of 'Sad and Unfulfilled' and the Asian dance number 'Oyasumi na Sayang', sung in Malay. The EP's cover artwork, inspired by Borneo, was designed by Fukuoka-based illustrator TOYAMEG, further enhancing its cross-cultural appeal.

Review: Now released officially, Zackey Force Funk & XL Middleton's 'Hey MF / Phone Home' first came in a cloud of hype amid the decision by MoFunk to release "exactly ONE" copy of the test pressing to whomever proved themself keen enough to own it. We're not surprised that the label might anticipate such fan fervour, since this is a uniquely totalising modern funk gem, manifesting technically as a Johnny Chingas cover but in practice evidencing the relentlessly singular, syncretic combined production style of the LA natives. Chingas' original lyrics are invidious but infectious, a mood coaxed further out by the duo's breathy talkbox usage: "hey motherfucker, who do you think you are? you think you so much better than everybody else... what do you mean I'm a fake DJ?!"

Review: Zaffa Kreations aka Zafra Brothers dropped only two EPs under this alias, one in 1981, and one in 1987. This is a reissue of the former, which for an original copy will cost you a few quid because it has become something of a mini-classic. The EP opens up with 'Will I See You Tonight' (Tony Humphries Special mix) which is a mid-tempo disco stepper with a brilliantly oversized and bulbous bassline, hip-swinging claps and a vocal line delivered with real coolness. The original version appears on the a-side and has more disco energy and a less strident beat for more playful moments.

Review: Jazz-funk twosome Zamie (Jadie Kiggundu AKA Ziggy Funk and pal Jamie McShane) impressed with their recent album, Fortuitous. On this EP, two of the set's most potent cuts have been given the remix treatment with club dancefloors in mind. Incognito main man Bluey handles side A, offering up a smooth, groovy and musically detailed take on 'Smash N Grab' that peppers a slap-bass-propelled groove with spacey synth pads, jammed out Rhodes stabs and all manner of life-affirming electric piano solos. Over on side B, Glaswegian veteran Al Kent takes 'Wildfire' down the disco, turning in a near 11-minute, Tom Moulton style rub rich in punchy synth-horns, snaking sax solos and spacey synth solos aplenty. Colourful, grown-up disco with a jazz-funk flex... more please!

Review: ZAN's latest album is currently 26 in the UK soul chart s it's no wonder the label it came on has pressed up this 12" with a couple of mixes of one of its standout tunes on as well as a new jam. The first is an extended mix of 'Follow My Heart' that has timeless synth soul and lush boogie disco drums with wet claps and cowbells a plenty. Then comes Bangsy's 808 disco mix which is a little more blissed out and low-slung with funky guitar riffs and lovely vocal hooks. Also included is the new cut 'Everlasting' which is a dubbed-out, reverb-drenched street soul stepper with retro keys to melt the heart.

Review: Brand new promo pressure from veteran label Right Tempo, hailing from Milan. Pushing acid jazz and downtempo since 1993, they here continue to demonstrate just how it's done exactly with Attilio Zanchi's 'Mingus Portrait' and their remixes by their very own resident DJ Farrapo. Forfending brasher breaks or whackout jazz - in favour of a set of much steamier, downtemporal distillations - Zanchi's originally, already romantic takes on Charles Mingus' sonic world are lent an even slinkier feline essence by the remixer. Ever further realising Zanchi's dream of honing Mingus' essence, the best of the bunch has to be the slow burner 'For Harry Carney'.

Review: Zopelar's 'Horizonte' is a captivating exploration of soulful house and jazzy influences, blending rich melodies with upbeat grooves. The title track, 'Horizonte', delivers a jazzy Detroit house vibe, setting the tone with smooth rhythm and deep bass. 'Let It Live' brings an uptempo energy, with a soulful saxophone that adds a distinctive layer of warmth. On the flip side, 'Pure Heart' strikes a perfect balance between house and techno, nostalgic yet fresh with its groovy, melodic appeal. 'Venus' stands out with its dreamy 90s-inspired piano, uplifting spirits and evoking an emotional connection. Closing with 'Serena (feat PR.A.DO)', the EP ends on a high note, leaving a lingering sense of euphoria. Each track blends beautifully crafted melodies with rhythmic intricacies, making 'Horizonte' a standout for anyone craving jazzy, soulful house with a modern twist.

Review: Zy The Way hails from Taiwan and are a jazz ensemble that interlaces their dynamic sounds with ancient Chinese poetry compiled by Confucius. They also bring in more contemporary compositions which results in an utterly original sound and great gateway to some of the world's oldest literary works. They recently finished a debut full-length album and now the single 'Blue Collar' from it comes on limited edition vinyl. The track tells the ancient tale of young scholars in love with a powerful narrative and moving melodies. The one and only DJ Spinna steps up on the flip to offer his own classy deep-house remix.

Review:  Zy The Way hail from Taiwan and are recognised as pioneers of the jazz scene in Asia. Their signature style is to infuse their work with ancient Chinese poetry and their first outing 'A Different Destiny,' reimagined 3,000-year-old poems curated by Confucius and earned them plenty of plaudits. Now, they unveil two EPs as a prelude to their upcoming album. Collaborating with renowned remixers who operate at the jazz-electronic crossroads, they present 'Ten Acres' with a remarkable remix by Mark de Clive Lowe. Maintaining jazz's essence while igniting the dancefloor, this EP bridges East and West, past and present and shows Zy The Way as a transformative musical force who are pushing boundaries.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Missing sleeve but otherwise in perfect working condition***


Zy The Way hail from Taiwan and are recognised as pioneers of the jazz scene in Asia. Their signature style is to infuse their work with ancient Chinese poetry and their first outing 'A Different Destiny,' reimagined 3,000-year-old poems curated by Confucius and earned them plenty of plaudits. Now, they unveil two EPs as a prelude to their upcoming album. Collaborating with renowned remixers who operate at the jazz-electronic crossroads, they present 'Ten Acres' with a remarkable remix by Mark de Clive Lowe. Maintaining jazz's essence while igniting the dancefloor, this EP bridges East and West, past and present and shows Zy The Way as a transformative musical force who are pushing boundaries.

Review: This limited gatefold edition compilation, curated by Leri Ahel & Zeljko Luketic, brings together 18 rare disco tracks from Yugoslavian artists, pressed on 2 x vinyl. Featuring the likes of KIM Band, Gabi Novak, Arian, Ljupka Dimitrovska, and more, the collection is sourced from original master tapes, ensuring pristine audio quality. Disco, a Trojan horse in Yugoslavia's pop music scene, thrived for an unexpectedly long time. Influenced by American and European disco acts like Boney M and Amanda Lear, Yugoslav producers and record companies like Jugoton and PGP RTB embraced the genre's vibrant energy. The scene fostered a unique blend of genre hybrids, electronic experimentation, and bold themes, with artists creating memorable and innovative disco music. This compilation captures the spirit of that era, shows both chart-toppers like Zdravko Colic and experimental gems. It highlights the creativity and freedom that disco provided, allowing musicians to push boundaries and deliver unforgettable tunes.

Review: Pellegrino & Zodyaco's skillfully intertwine Neapolitan disco, funk, jazz and world music while channelling a spirit of creative escape of this new album, which is inspired by Henri Laborit's 'Eloge de la fuite'. It explores conscious escapism as a return to authenticity and seeks a "common language" through sound by merging Mediterranean melodies with global rhythms, vintage instruments and ethnic percussion that all bridge past and present. Four years after his last outing, Morphe, Pellegrino is still in top form here with a soulful, genre-blurring portrait of modern Naples that reflects the fact that, in the city, musical traditions meet modern experimentation.

Review: Following the success of their standout single 'Feel The Rush,' Zaimie returns with Black Velvet, a lush new long player that blends jazz, funk, soul and global rhythms that all expand on the group's signature sound while remaining rooted in groove and emotion. Each track showcases Zaimie's refined musicianship and evolving songwriting, from silky basslines to soaring melodies on 'New Life' to more horn-led celebrations like 'Weekender Breeze' and sunny vocal charmers like 'Can't Do Without It'. Black Velvet feels timeless and contemporary and makes for a confident step forward for Zaimie, who are ever more polished and full of soul.

Review: Spain's Zanja Records is a new label dedicated to the promotion of Cuban music and culture. Its inaugural EP The Zanja All Stars: Cuban Jam Session Vol 1 features singers El Indio, Maria Victoria, El Nene, and Ondy, under the musical direction of Julito Padron. All are top Cuban talents who perform "Descargas, Montunos, Instrumental Jazz, and Son" with authenticity and great charm. These percussive, shuffling grooves are alive with wandering basslines and expressive vocals that take you to the heart of the country in an instant. Big horns and jazzy keys, orchestral grandeur and street-wise realness all make them brilliantly irresistible.

Review: The latest record to waft from the Four Flies feeding ground focuses on Paolo Zavallone, an elusive musician and patron of the DIY music label Paloma Records, which only saw five records released. After venturing into the world of music publishing in 1983, Zavallone would either produce licensed-for-film music himself, or consign the task to his peers, chiefly his friend Mauro Malavasi. This record, made up of a quint of nameless, coverless records, captures the highlights of the sottofondi style, i.e. incidental music made largely for early 80s Italian comedy series on TV. Easy listening fusion blends with pots-and-pans avant-gardism ('Cronaca Nera' particularly), proving the remarkably prescient range of an obscure musician.

Review: Originally formed for a one-time performance at the 2017 Bath Festival, vocalist and violinist Alice Zawadzki, pianist Fred Thomas and bassist Misha Mullov-Abbado have crafted a beautifully nuanced collection of songs drawing from diverse traditions such as European folk, Sephardic Jewish, and Latin American music. The album's title, meaning Behind the Mountains in Polish, reflects its rich, cross-cultural roots. Zawadzki's haunting voice brings the listener into each piece, while Thomas and Mullov-Abbado's instrumental interplay creates an evocative, fluid backdrop. Standout tracks include 'Sueltate as Cintas', where delicate piano and bass intertwine under Zawadzki's spellbinding vocals, and 'Tonada de Luna Llena', which rises and falls with an emotional intensity that builds on Venezuelan composer Simon Diaz's melody. Throughout the album, the trio's seamless fusion of folk, jazz and classical elements creates a unique sonic palette. Thomas' arrangement of James Joyce's Gentle Lady is another highlight, blending poetic lyrics with soft instrumental flourishes. Recorded in Switzerland under the direction of ECM's Manfred Eicher, Za Gorami is a stunning result to their collective chemistry.

Review: Udacha family band Zdehvedo Gob is a collective of musicians who all hail from various cities around the world. It consists of Udacha label head Alexey Kalik as well as drummer Roman Shestaev and Gamayun associates Anton Dvoenko and Stas Mitrofanov and they all got together in the studio in Moscow in summer 2023 and the results are now presented on this new album. Employing an organic music approach to instrumentation combined with subtle electronics, the group go wild for various combinations of off-kilter percussion, organ, chant and birdsong in full ceremonial swing, they trace a path through the various branches of 20th century minimalism, pan-global folk-ism's and the harmonious collective consciousness that My Life In A Bush Of Ghosts encapsulated. It's a gorgeous mix of world, jazz, spiritual percussive, experimental music that rides on nice loose and vibrant rhythms with a great mix of synthetic and organic sounds all offering plenty for the mind as well as the body to get excited about.

Review: Ziggy and the extended ZFEX crew return with their most ambitious project yet, a double album that dives deep into the tension between creative instinct and artistic intention. Spanning 15 tracks recorded between Berlin and London, the record sees the collective pushing their signature fusion of jazz, funk, and electronic influences into bold new spaces, with a fresh embrace of disco and highlife grooves. Throughout, vintage synths and off-kilter percussion meet the addition of electric guitar, adding a raw, expressive edge to the band's evolving sound. 'Astras Theme' sets the stage with a swirling, cinematic introduction, while 'Radicalise' brings a frenetic energy, driven by tightly wound rhythms and razor-sharp instrumentation. Elsewhere, 'Shine Your Light' channels a cosmic funk sensibility, balancing the album's introspective moments with sheer dancefloor exuberance. With contributions from a diverse lineup of forward-thinking musicians across Europe, the UK, and Australiaiincluding appearances from Oscar Jerome and Tom Driesslerithis record stands as the most dynamic and exploratory incarnation of ZFEX to date. It's a project that refuses to sit still, capturing the restless spirit of a band constantly evolving yet always deeply rooted in groove.

Review: Zero 7's LateNightTales debut, Another Late Night, was first released in 2002, shortly after the electronica duo had been nominated for a Mercury Prize in light of their debut record Simple Things. The inevitable vaunting of their music reached its peak when one well-known pundit described their music as "the Sistine Chapels of music in a sea of affordable accommodation." Unlike their expertly crafted originals in the vein of trip-hop, downtempo and acid jazz, their LateNightTales album is of course a selectors' DJ compilation, which to this day incites its invitees (usually musicians as well as DJs) to select and remix tunes only as though they were sleepwalking through the dream fantasies made up by their own musical influences. Here, Zero 7 share various musical traumata, manifest and latent interpretations of songs, by the likes of The Cinematic Orchestra, Quasimoto, Jim O'Rourke, Serge Gainsbourg, Don Blackman, The Stylistics, Joy Zipper, Slum Village and Da Lata, all of which, as we can patently hear, fed into their relatively unpeggable, interwoven chillout sound.

Review: In many ways its weird that Hans Zimmer has only won two Oscars - Best Original Score for The Lion King and 2021's Dune remake, alongside four Grammys. Before we reel off a fraction of the movies he's soundtracked, allow us to clear our throat. OK, let's do it - Gladiator, Inception, Blade Runner 2049, Interstellar, The Dark Knight, The Last Samurai, The Rock, we could go on and on. But while Zimmer is often associated with big budget, big screen spectaculars, he's also scored a slew of more intimate films. Like the Jessica Tandy, Morgan Freeman and Dan Aykroyd comedy drama classic, Driving Miss Daisy. Showcasing a more human side to his oeuvre, the five original tracks here are beautiful, sweet, tender, and truly moving. Meanwhile, the addition of Eartha Kitt's seminal Christmas anthem, 'Santa Baby', and Louis Armstrong's timeless 'Kiss of Fire', elevate the package.

Review: Zy The Way's debut album, Then and Now, skilfully merges ancient Chinese poetry with jazz, improvisation and global musical inspirations. Drawing cues from the Shijing, China's first poetry anthology, this adventures record connects historical themes with contemporary sound nd features collaboration with scholar Dr. Annie Luman Ren. Aong the way, the artist explores timeless concepts having already earned two Global Music Awards and gaining international acclaim. Notable tracks like 'Blue Collar' and 'Agile' shine brightly and, additionally, remixes by Mark de Clive-Lowe and DJ Spinna offer new interpretations to add even more richness.