Brokenbeat / Nu Jazz Recommendations November 2010

Review: Round seven of All City's highly collectable ten inch series drops with perhaps the most impressive pairing to date. Dam Funk needs little introduction to anyone with a passing interest in fine music, and the Stones Throw funkateer displays all his unique talent on the two tracks that plaster the A Side. It's easy to visualise the woozy synth led snap of "Night Stroll" sound tracking a twilight sojourn through the hilly surrounds of Silverlake LA. Complementing this is the low slung sexx funk of "3012 Luv Affair", with Dam in full on organ wig-out mode. On the flip Computer Jay drops three tracks of heavy percussive heat with opener "Phantom" betraying the punk-funk intro with a spectral beatdown characterised by reverberant breaks. "Vice" showcases Jay's ease with intricate drum programming and is augmented by a fuzzed out 8 bit melody, while the oscilatting analogue drama of "Rare Type" proves to be brilliantly different.

Review: Italian imprint Neroli grace us with the second in a series of 12 inches prepped to celebrate their 10th anniversary. Volcov's label is known for excelling in many styles and that's aptly demonstrated here. Jus Ed's better half Jenifa Mayanja kicks off with future boogie of "Sunset" which sees her ethereal voice glide over an increasingly off kilter jazz bump. Chicago veteran Anthony Nicholson follows with relentlessly uplifting vocal assisted groove of "Communication". The real gold however is nestled on the B Side, with "So" from Mancunian Be (Prime Numbers/Wolf Music) a heaving mass of Detroit influenced brilliance which locks into a Rhodes heavy and delightfully soul flecked groove midway through. Nutmeg aka UK legend Dego rounds things off on a high with the rusted bruk step danger of "Tangent".

Review: GAMM wind the clocks back to the days of yore when broken beat was de jour, SBTRKT was known as Aaron Jerome and the label was in its pomp with this release from Pedders. Awesome afro bruk styles from the mysterious producer on Akula with a killer funk organ, twisted vocals and face screwing, squelching beat programming. Given how open both DJs and crowds are to sets that straddle any number of genres, both the original and extended version will kill in any number of environments. Complementing this is the roots reggae meets bumping beatdown slo-mo house of "Boma Yea". Another gem from the Scandinavian imprint.

Review: For anyone not particularly au fait with how important Gilles Peterson's long running Worldwide show has been to breaking new music, this exhaustive double LP retrospective is all the evidence you require. The emphasis on track selection has been to choose the artists which Peterson has debuted on his weekly broadcast, which is syndicated across the globe. Thus there are some classic tracks such as Amerie's "One Thing" and "Galang" from MIA which were premiered long before the artists became international sensations (or should that be sensationalists in the case of M.I.A?). Alongside these and the likes of Winehouse and Dizzee, there are tracks from artists such as Benga, Quasimoto, Recloose and Theo Parrish - all big names within their respective realms and no doubt helped by exposure on Worldwide. This release is made all the more special by the conclusive sleeve notes compiled by Peterson and those who have worked alongside him over the years and some brilliant photography that charts his rise in the game.