Juno Recommends Brokenbeat / Nu Jazz: October 2022

Review: It's not clear as to what a 'Hyper-Dimensional Expansion Beam' is, but we do have a clear idea of what it sounds like in the abstract. The trio made up of nu-Afrofuturists King Shabaka, Danalogue and Betamax warn us not to look up on this latest LP masterwork, owing to the group's cosmic chops for fusing dancehall, jazz and psychdance musical elements. Perfect for the coming storm, this is a cinematic jazzdance you can't miss.

Review: Omar is a real British musical institution and as such it's surprising but also not so shocking, he has recently completed a stint on BBC soap Eastenders. This cheeky 7" is a reissue of the title track from his album The Man and a fine example of his perfectly soulful vocals and mellifluous melodies over nice broken beat and nu jazz sounds. It represents some of his best work and this contemporary take uses the final few bars of the original track as its starting point in a "part 2" style.

Review: J. Rawls is something of a super producer who has worked with many legends of the game such as The Beastie Boys and Talib Kweli. After his sold-out 2022 album, JazzHop, he follows it up with a couple of the many superb collabs he has done over the years. 'I Believe' is a steamy and low-slung house tune with warming bass and buttery vocal coos power by crispy boom bap. As the title suggests, 'Brazil' is a summery sound that takes you to Latin America with paddy kicks, wooden percussion and big horns that all get the good vibes flowing.

Review: Although they've collaborated a lot over the last decade, the two tracks on this seven-inch single date back to Stefan Ringer and Chris Irvin's first joint studio session. Remarkably given their friendship and long working relationship, it's also the pair's first collaborative release. A-side 'Callin' Me', which features vocals written and performed by Voyce Lashae (real name Alicia Leshik) is particularly potent - a squelchy, deep, soulful and off-kilter chunk of broken beat/souful electrofunk fusion rich in jazz-funk synth sounds, undulating electronic bass and crunchy machine percussion. The pair's jazz-funk and P-funk influences are even more evident on flipside 'Heels On', a similarly soulful, house-style number that sits somewhere between Kaidi Tatham and Prince.

Review: Some expansive, cinematic, orchestral spiritual jazz for you here, from the trio of talents that Fumio Itabashi, Kuniyiki and Henrik Schwarz. While the latter two are generally better-known for their deep and sometimes tech-tinged house and ambient productions, the original mix of 'Watarese' (featured here on side B) is a dense, immersive jazz soundscape laden with evocative Japanese vocals, improvised piano, moody orchestration and definite nods towards vintage free-jazz. Spiritual Life supremo Joaquin 'Joe' Clausell provides the remix and, somewhat predictably, steals the show. His take is gently rhythmic, sun-splashed spiritual jazz full of hand percussion, fluid piano motifs and rubbery double bass.

Review: Lu-Fuki has dipped into his vaults to dig for treasure and boy has he found it. This lush EP draws together some brilliantly dusty deep house and seductively lo-fi hip hop onto one crucial 12" that is limited to just 100 copies. The nagging chords and melancholic bass of 'Cameron' sinks you into a reflective mood from the off then 'Hum' explores Theo Parrish-style realness and rawness. 'Untitled' is a short and sketchy skit and 'November' seduces with its busted beats. 'Fast Action' is all off-gird hits and daubs of synth and then there is romance in the air on 'Ta Teasha Love'.

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.

Review: Oscar Jerome, Oscar Worldpeace and Franc Moody have got new music coming on the latest Blue Note Re:imagined compilation this year which is already getting us hella excited. Before we hear what is sure to be a contemporary great, we get treated to a couple of singles from it on this tidy 45 rpm. Jerome Oscar & Oscar Worldpeace go first with '(Why You So) Green With Envy' which fuses jazz styles for across the age with Worldpeace's tight and thoughtful bars. On the flip side is Franc Moody with 'Cristo Redentor' which balances jazz's traditional past with its freshest future.