Review: The Cromagnon Band introduces 'Bad Night' as the lead single from their upcoming album Mode, which marks their second LP and debut on BBE Music. The album blends cinematic, psychedelic dark funk with Nordic psych-jazz, classical, boom-bap hip-hop breaks, and riff-heavy rock. Accompanied by the exclusive track 'Quadrant,' not featured on the album, the vinyl 45 release adds a unique gem to collectors' shelves. Both tracks provide a glimpse into the band's forthcoming album, showcasing their eclectic musical influences and distinctive recording style-capturing live jam sessions that evolve from sampled breaks, riffs, and melodies into intricate instrumental compositions.
Little Orphan Boy (Two Soul Fusion Downtempo remix) (10:25)
Little Orphan Boy (Two Soul Fusion instrumental) (14:00)
Review: Josh Milan and Louie Vega are real heavyweights and as Soul Fusion they step up here to remix the legendary 'Little Orphan Boy' which is the second single taken from album 'This Is Brian Jackson', the veteran artist's first true solo LP in over 20 years. They do so across four different versions and give it a vintage treatment. The extended 'Two Soul Fusion' mix brings back golden era of Masters at Work with a Latin-infused percussion groove while the 'Downtempo' remix lets Brian Jackson's vocals ride over a stripped back but just as soulful arrangement.
Review: Jazzanova remains one of the most musically astute and adventurous acts in the electric scene. Their sounds never seem to age and fuse everything from jazz to funk to soul. That makes them perfect for remixing by more dance floor-orientated producers and that is what we get here. Alongside an original tune 'Creative Musicians' Detroit talent Waajeed brings his warm machine soul and deep grooves, Henrick Schwarz's signature melodic majesty and serene sounds are on display and further dubs and instrumentals are also included. This one really packs a punch for fans of broken beat.
Gustav Brom Orchestra - "Calling Up The Rain" (5:32)
Frederic Rabold Crew - "Ride On" (3:28)
Stan Kenton & His Orchestra - "Samba De Haps" (3:56)
Larry Rose Band - "The Sand" (5:25)
Review: The concept behind this new collection on BBE is a simple but effective one: sommelier Frederic Beneix has picked out a selection of wines, and beat maker DJ Cam has dug deep to serve up some rare but fitting musical accompaniments that were produced in the same year. Wine4Melomanes, therefore, is a unique collection of sounds from all over Europe that connects the complexity and sensuality of a tipple with the rhythm and melody of a song. Most are lush and sophisticated jazz cuts that sound good whether you're drinking or not. Delicious.
Introduction & Lost My Love (feat Sean Haefeli) (4:35)
Creative Musicians (feat Sean Haefeli) (3:36)
Joy Road (3:53)
Face At My Window (feat Sean Haefeli) (3:28)
Root In 7-4 Plus (feat Sean Haefeli) (10:02)
Inside Ourselves (5:52)
Beyond The Dream (feat Sean Haefeli) (3:31)
Saturday Night Special (6:12)
Orotunds (3:18)
Scorpio's Child (5:53)
Loser (feat Sean Haefeli) (3:27)
Review: Strata Records is one of the most important notches in Detroit's jazz heritage. From Lyman Woodard Organization's Saturday Night Special to Malauwi's self-titled LP, their short catalogue was nonetheless vital. BBE have revisited the label with reissues in the past, and now they've invited nu jazz scene leaders Jazzanova to re-imagine some of the cuts from the Strata archives in their own fusion style. From Woodard classics like 'Joy Road', 'Creative Musicians' and 'Saturday Night Special' to Malauwi's 'Root in 7/4 Plus', these are seminal works approached with care and flair by a band who have undoubtedly proved themselves worthy over the years.
Review: Jessica Lauren is a cornerstone of the UK jazz scene who has spent decades enhancing recordings and performances for legends like Jean Carne, Dexter Wansel and The Heliocentrics. As a core member of Emanative, her talents are well-known and her latest release, Film, affirms her status as a forward-thinking artist. Originally recorded in 1997 and released on CD in 1999, Film has been remastered and is now reissued on gatefold vinyl. The album's fusion of modal jazz, electronica, library music and field recordings feels remarkably current and blends acoustic and electric pianos, harpsichord and synths in a beguiling fashion. As such, Film cements Jessica's place as an innovative musical visionary.
Aint About Me - "Watching Tarot Card XVI Come To Life" (3:03)
Dreamcastmoe & Shungu - "Don't Let Me Down" (1:16)
Iman Houssein - "Their Eyes" (3:22)
Qur’an Shaheed - "Thrive" (6:29)
Makaya McCraven - "Crash Course" (4:24)
CoS - "Ayy Thank Full" (3:08)
Trian Kayhatu - "OK Dan" (3:17)
Regal86 - "Parado En La Esquina" (3:46)
Abrahamblue - "Joanna" (3:45)
DJ Spinn - "Synthshot" (3:18)
Igor Jadranin - "NUB" (1:57)
Shlundee - "Acid 2 Acid" (6:16)
LB Aka Labat - "Ca Chauffe Tonton" (5:20)
Elisa Bee - "A Sun That Never Goes Down" (5:28)
Pippin - "Ro" (2:27)
Review: Compilation maestros BBE are back with another gem, this time from Belgian DJ and tastemaker Lefto. His The Beauty is Inside is a 19-track gem from across the musical spectrum with sounds from all over the world. It shines a light and shows respect to everything from Ethiopian singer Alemayehu Eshete to South African singer and actress Patience Africa via Spanish composer Pedro Ruy-Blas. All these original tracks are from up-and-coming artists who Lefto feel deserve a bigger platform. It makes for a fascinating listen and serves up plenty of red hot talents.
Aint About Me - "Watching Tarot Card XVI Come To Life"
Alemayehu Eshete - "Alteleyeshegnem"
Pedro Ruy Blas - "Membrillo"
Patience Africa - "By Hook Or By Crook"
Dreamcastmoe & Shungu - "Don't Let Me Down"
Iman Houssein - "Their Eyes"
Abrahamblue - "Joanna"
Qura An Shaheed - "Thrive"
Makaya McCraven - "Crash Course"
COS - "Ayy Thank Full"
Trian Kayhatu - "OK Dan"
Lefto Early Bird - "E40"
Regal86 - "Parado En La Esquina"
DJ Spinn - "Synthshot"
Igor Jadranin - "NUB"
Shlundee - "Acid 2 Acid"
LB Aka Labat - "Pai Pai"
Elisa Bee - "A Sun That Never Goes Down"
Pippin - "Ro"
Review: In truth, not all DJs are genuine "tastemakers", but Lefto most certainly is. Like the similarly minded - if far older and more experienced - Gilles Peterson, Lefto gets as much pleasure from introducing people to new and obscure music, as he does from rocking clubs. It's for that reason The Beauty Is Inside, a terrific, lightly blended mix of eclectic, far-sighted sounds hand-picked by the Belgian, is such essential listening. It naturally contains some slept-on tackle from the past - see the cuts by Ethiopian singer Alemayeu Eshete and South African artist Patience Africa - but even more killer contemporary fare, with highlights including the contributions of Qur'an Shaheed, Elisa Bee, fellow Belgians abrahamblue and contemporary jazz hero Makaya McCraven.
Original Nairobi Afro Band - "Soul Makossa (No 1)" (7") (4:20)
Sir Victor Uwaifo & His Melody Maestroes - "Jungle Beat (Mutaba)" (3:05)
Review: Jump 'N' Funk started life as a small event in New York, organized by Rich Medina in order to pay tribute to the genius of Fela Kuti. Since then, parties have been held across the world, with Medina and guests showcasing music by, or inspired by, the Nigerian Afrobeat legend. This debut Jump N Funk compilation follows a similar formula, delivering both purist Afrobeat cuts (see Fela's punchy "Stalemate", and "Na Oil" by son Seun and his band, Egypt 80), and tracks in other styles that draw heavily on the style. Highlights in the latter category include the hazy Afro hip-hop of Aquil, a tasty Afro-house dub of River Ocean's cover of Timmy Thomas' classic "Why Can't We Live Together", and the lazy, sun-kissed glory of Kutiman's "Bango Fields".
I Don't Remember The Last Time I Saw Stars (11:11)
Review: Following their acclaimed debut album Sugar Honey Iced Tea!, NYC duo Musclecars aka Craig Handfield and Brandon Weems are back with a double pack of alternate versions and remixes featuring house legends Louie Vega and Maurice Fulton. Vega reworks 'Tonight' with orchestral flair and festival-ready dub versions including the NV South Jersey Mix and his Bronx Dub. Maurice Fulton's remix of 'Hello?' blends his signature live bass and punchy percussion to add a whimsical touch to the introspective original. The pack also includes stripped-down versions of 'Ha Ya! (Eternal Life)' and 'Water' plus a full side of Musclecars' 'I Don't Remember The Last Time I Saw Stars.'
MckNasty - "Sundown" (feat The MAC SiStars) (4:44)
Cecilia Stalín - "CPW" (5:21)
The Nabatean - "Hangers On" (6:01)
Jazz Chronicles - "Bologna" (6:29)
Souled - "Dancing On Holiday" (7:02)
One51 - "Bring Me To Your Life" (feat Heidi Vogel) (5:31)
Tommy Rawson - "Illusions" (5:23)
P'taah - "Staring At The Sun" (5:31)
Xantone Blacq - "Search For The Sun" (Platinum remix) (5:24)
Ian O'Brien - "Love Beams" (4:40)
Review: If Music presents: You Need This! An Introduction to the Handson Family from the legends at BBE is a must-have double album that highlights the rich heritage of Black music, not that we really needed reminding of course. Compiled by London DJ duo the Handson Family, this collection features tracks from plenty of key artists such as Emanative, Ty, Cecilia Stalin, and Xantone Blacq and across all 14 songs, the diverse sounds and styles of recent Black music are laid bare and offer an educational experience in Black music genres while also capturing the essence of the duo's influential DJ sets and radio shows.
Review: Waaju & Majid Bekkas's Alouane exemplifies the power of collaboration during challenging times. As bringing overseas artists to the UK grows increasingly difficult, this record bridges cultural and generational gaps while capturing the vibrant energy of live collaboration post-Covid-19. Conceived by Waaju bandleader Ben Brown, the album features his expansive arrangements of traditional Gnawa songs and blends Bekkas' musical prowess with Waaju's signature grooves and trippy delays. Bekkas, a key figure in Moroccan Gnawa music, had never collaborated with a UK band until this project. Alouane, meaning "colours" in Arabic, reflects the seven integral colours of Gnawa music, each invoking different spirits.
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