Juno Recommends Brokenbeat / Nu Jazz: March 2024

Review: The Galaxy Sound Co US is now up to number 41 in their buy-on-sight 'Series: 1$ Bin Breaks'. It's another vital 45 rpm that packs a lot in with plenty of epic sound sources that you will recognise and love from some of your favourite hip-hop joints. Artists like Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, Puff Daddy, De La Soul, Ghostface Killah, J Dilla, Redman and Alicia Keys have called upon the sounds you will hear here from original artists like Odessa, Milt Jackson With The Ray Brown Big Band, Issac Hayes and many more. File this one under essential breaks, library sounds and jazz nuggets.

Review: The DFA debut of longstanding member Jayson Green also signals the revival of the classic DFA twelve-inch format, so you might playfully suggest it stands for Dying Formats Always. Jay has lent his vocals to various bands such as Panthers, Violent Bullshit, Cheeseburger, and the renowned hardcore group Orchid, always showcasing his wit and humor without veering into cynicism. Assuming a bandleader role, he presents a classic A-side here with the low slung funk of 'Local Jerk,' which was recorded during a lively party. It has tight disco drums, resounding claps and a groove-inducing bassline with big horns. On the B-side, 'I Need Love' unfolds as a darkly humorous nightlife satire.

Review: Larry Manteca's Zombie Mandingo album arrived back in 2013 and in the danced plus has only ever been available digitally. Now it makes its debut on wax and remains a bold listen that was devised as a soundtrack to a non-existent exploitation film. It fuses funk, jazz, and Afrobeat influences with plenty of niche cinematic references such as the zombies in Lucio Fulci's horrors and Umberto Lenzi's cannibalistic adventures. The resulting mash up is beguiling to say the least with horror-tinged exotica next to Fela Kuti rhythms and elements of Italian Library music and colourful psychedelia. A boundary pushing work to say the least.

Review: First released in digital and CD formats via Sacred Rhythm, 'Progessive Roots Evolution: A Song For Healing' hears Joaqin 'Joe' Claussell's indelible style of long-form spiritual house music re-flaunted to especial somatic ends. Intentionally crafted as a piece that bridges the needs of both the music and dance communities to whom Claussell is mutually close, this is a suite divided into multiple sections that feed on one another; they appose elements of samba, jazz and house, with ambient interstices and even ruminative piano meltdowns ('Healer', 'Heloise'). This ultra limited yellow LP edition is the audiophile's preference, its dynamism best flaunted on the floaty but driving 'Cosmic Arts' mix.

Review: Yussef Days is a masterful drummer who has invigorated contemporary jazz and broken beat scenes with several different and equally brilliant projects. The Yussef Dayes Experience Live At Joshua Tree Presented By Soulection is the latest and finds him anchoring music that is inspired by the world's most well-known nature reserve. It is a spiritually uplifting selection with the likes of Elijah Fox on keys and synth and features five tracks that will transport you to the blissful location in an instant.

Review: XL Regular's album Store Duties arrives via Artisjok Records and is a fulsome statement of his sound. He hails from Rome and is a young and innovative producer who draws from jazz, broken beat, house and soul, and layers in a lasting love of percussions and grooves. His resulting concoctions are both dancefloor-friendly and artistically rich as they mix up traditional and contemporary influences, as shown here. These are lush broken beats with alluring vocal samples, meaningful chords and plenty of cosmic flourishes. From the retro cool of 'Moovin Too Fast' to the irresistible funk of 'BXL Midi Stepper' this is an accomplished debut.

Review: Thornato's Bennu album was first released in 2021 and proved a quick hit. Wonderwheel now reissues it on limited translucent blue vinyl which is as mesmerising as the fusion of global rhythms and electronic beats contained within. From the infectious opening and worldly grooves of 'Bennu' to the darker vocals and heavier drums of 'Rhinoceros', each track showcases Thornato's mastery of blending traditional instrumentation with modern production techniques. Standout cuts like 'Shu Swamp' seamlessly weave together influences from around the world with claps, xylophones, chanting vocals and shuffling rhythms that exude vibrant energy. A truly global blend of bass and beats this album will bring plenty of warmth into your life.

Review: Oceanvs Orientalis and Ilhan Ersahin first entered each other's orbits by chance at a performance at Turkey's Cappadox Festival in 2018. Orientalis is renowned for his fusion of Eastern musical motifs and traditions with cutting-edge electronica, while Ilhan Ersahin has long plowed a unique path uniting assorted musical strains from around the world via an exploratory jazz-improv sensibility. Following two tracks ('Mesta' and 'Pire') co-written by Ilhan and OvO and released as collaborations, as well as two more Ersahin / OvO co-writes ('Revenge Of The Wankers' and 'Television') released under OvO's name alone, a fresh and exciting new song, '1980', now heralds a full-length collaboration slated to land in Spring 2024. The track's title hints at a certain nostalgic bent, all while still keeping its gaze firmly fixed on the future as it evokes sun-drenched, bygone good times. The 10" edition adds several extra versions, one of which spotlights the multi-instrumental mastery of Darkside's Dave Harrington, and the other the mesmerizing vocal stylings of Gaye Su Akyol.

Review: Eddie Piller and Dean Rudland's Acid Jazz (Not Jazz): We've Got A Funky Beat is a vibrant compilation that celebrates the eclectic and groove-driven sound of acid jazz. It takes in a well-curated and eclectic selection of definitive tracks from the genre's heyday that all perfectly capture the essence of the movement which is defined by its infectious rhythms, jazz melodies, and silky beats. Along the way, there are non-stop funky basslines and energetic brass sections. Each song exudes a sense of excitement and spontaneity that is so characteristic of acid jazz which rightly has such an enduring appeal to contemporary audiences.

Review: This is a limited edition 'silent' grey vinyl version of Ariel Kalma, Jeremiah Chiu, and Marta Sofia Honer's The Closest Thing to Silence. The album is one that defies conventions and offers ethereal compositions and intricate soundscapes that immerse listeners in contemplation. Kalma's mastery of wind instruments, Chiu's electronic experimentation, and Honer's emotive vocals seamlessly blend, creating a serene tapestry of sound. Each track unfolds like a meditative journey, guiding listeners through evocative landscapes of sound. This collaborative effort highlights the beauty of stillness, inviting introspection and appreciation for the artistry that emerges from such moments. This, then, is a testament to the transformative power of collaborative creativity.