Review: This album transports listeners to 1950s and 60s Colombia, where the tropical sounds of the Caribbean and Pacific coasts dominated the mainland music scene. Edmundo Arias, alongside Lucho Bermudez and Pacho Galan, was one of the pivotal figures of this era, yet his introverted nature kept him out of the spotlight, making his contributions less celebrated than his peers. Born in Tulua in 1925, Arias came from a musical family and mastered several instruments. After his father's death in 1948, he and his brother moved to Medellin, the epicenter of Colombia's music industry. Arias quickly established himself as a talented musician, composer, arranger, and band leader for leading labels like Zeida, Ondina, Silver, and Sonolux. Despite his preference for working behind the scenes, Arias' impact was profound, collaborating with numerous musicians and mentoring young artists. His prolific output included hundreds of compositions and numerous albums. This compilation, Guepa Je!, shows the finest of Arias' work from the 50s and 60s, a period often regarded as the pinnacle of his career. Enjoy the vibrant, joyous sounds of Colombia's tropical music heritage.
Review: Chet Baker's Round Midnight 79 is a captivating live studio album that showcases his exceptional talent as a jazz trumpeter and song arranger. Recorded in one take with no overdubs, the album captures the raw energy and intimacy of a live performance. Baker's trumpet playing is both sultry and expressive, particularly on tracks like 'What's New?'. Accompanied by Rachel Gould's cabaret-style singing on 'All Blues', adds a unique touch to the album. The supporting musicians, including Henry Florens on piano, Jean-Paul Florens on guitar, Jim Richardson on bass, and Tony Mann on drums, provide a solid foundation for Baker's improvisations. Together, they create a cohesive and captivating soundscape that transports listeners to a smoky jazz club. It is a timeless album that continues to captivate and inspire listeners to this day.
Review: Handful of Soul was a successful album that sold over 300,000 copies when first released back in 2006. Now reissued by Schema Records in a special edition double vinyl set on blue transparent wax, it reminds us of Mario Biondi's remarkable voice. Hailing from Catania, Sicily, it resonates with soul and rhythm & blues influences and contemporaries like Gregory Porter. The record traverses jazz and soul, offering captivating vocal melodies and dance-worthy rhythms and is supported by trumpeter Fabrizio Bosso and his High Five Quintet who showcase an exceptional interplay among top Italian jazz musicians and deliver instinctive jazz performances.
Review: The Cosmic Tones Research Trio's All Is Sound is a profound blend of healing music rooted in gospel, blues, and spiritual jazz. Led by alto saxophonist Roman Norfleet, alongside cellist Harlan Silverman and pianist Kennedy Verrett, the trio creates an immersive soundscape perfect for meditation and mindfulness. Each track unfolds with a peaceful, meditative quality, gently building layers of sound through the interplay of sax, cello, piano, flutes and even didgeridoo. The album's melodies are delicate yet rich, reminiscent of the spiritual jazz of Sun Ra, Alice Coltrane, and Pharoah Sanders. Tracks like 'Creation' and 'Black Rest' invite deep introspection, while 'Peace Prayer' and 'Nada Brahma' echo with a restorative, almost mystical atmosphere. With its slow-building compositions and organic instrumentation, All Is Sound offers a unique, serene listening experience a d a powerful healing force. The trio's commitment to creating purposeful, mindful music shines through, making this a great example of work in the contemporary spiritual jazz genre.
Review: Amancio D'Silva is one of those musical legends whose ability to output new music was thought to have naturally dwindled after his passing in 1996. Think again: the Indian jazz guitarist and spiritual drone composer here posthumously delivers a slew of Carnatic explorations in voice, guitar, piano, and electronic raga-inflected hums that have never before seen the light of day. Recorded in 1982, 'Raag Bhairagi', 'Sapana', 'Song For Francesca' and 'Raag Kafi' are intended as sonic expressions of the unconscious mind, conveying its utterances and flutterings when in its resting state.
Review: 5 Borough Breaks is back with more of that red hot dancefloor heat in hip-hop form with another couple of gems. The one kick off with Da Youngstas and the second single from their debut album in 1992. 'Pass The Mic' rides on crisp boom bap drums with big horns and some mad speedy mic work. On the flip, as is always with way with this series, is the sample source - namely Lou Donaldson's 'Pot Belly' from his 1970 album Pretty Things. It's a nice smooth jazz number with Rhodes chords warming it through and gently tumbling rhythms from Idris Muhammad on drums.
Review: Don Cherry's vast discography has got myriad highlights. Some are mad and hard to explain, some are trippy and immersive, and some are mystical. On The Eternal Now - one of two albums cut for Sonet - he was joined by Swedish players like Bernt Rosengren, Agneta Arnstrom, and Bengt Berger. The vibe is very much worldly jazz and it is layered with strange percussion, gongs, pianos, and other percussive instruments. Vocals from Cherry himself can also be found along the way and as such this is one of his most expansive works.
Review: There's no denying that Quem E Quem is arguably the standout album by Joao Donato, a star of Brasil's MPB (short for "musica populera brasileira") scene who continues to record to this day. The album is naturally heavily influenced by American soul and jazz-funk, but has an altogether more pastoral tone, with Donato's dewy-eyed, heart-felt vocals coming gift-wrapped in gentle samba and bossanova melodies, Pat Metheny style guitar solos, breeze-fresh flute solos and jaunty pianos. It's a blend that results in a superb mixture of up-tempo cuts and more reflective songs, all of which are as delightful as slowly watching the sun set somewhere hot and sunny.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
The Frog (2:36)
Celestial Showers (2:33)
Bambu (2:18)
Lunar Tune (4:52)
Cade Joel? (The Beautiful One) (2:08)
Debutante's Ball (2:57)
Straight Jacket (3:24)
Mosquito (Fly) (2:56)
Almas-Irmas (1:53)
Malandro (2:34)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
Joao Donato is one of the most well known and prolific stars of Brasil's MPB (which is short for "musica populera brasileira") scene. He has toped several highly sought of albums and is still turning them out today despite already having assured his legacy. A Bad Donato is something of a move away from his Brazilian bossa nova roots - instead the album, which was recorded in LA, is electric and eclectic with funk, psychedelic pop and groovy Fender Rhodes driven sounds. This reissue on Verve By Request comes on nice heavyweight 180g vinyl with classics like 'The Frog' and 'Lunar Tune' still sounding fresh.
Review: Emahoy Tsegue-Maryam Guebrou is an Ethiopian nun known for her unique solo piano playing. For three decades she lived a reclusive life with only rare performances, including one at the Jewish Community Center in Washington, D.C. in 2008. Featured here are recordings sourced from the '60s of her truly captivating performances and are deservedly reissued by the Portland, Oregon based Mississippi/Little Axe Records. Featured here are all original compositions available for the first time on vinyl beyond the original early editions, said to be near impossible to find.
Review: Strut's reissue of Experience Unlimited's 1977 debut Free Yourself offers a fresh dive into a seminal record that paved the way for Washington D.C.'s go-go scene. Originally released in 1977, this album fuses soul, jazz, and funk-rock, showcasing the band's eclectic and pioneering style. Formed in 1973, Experience Unlimited caught the eye of Black Fire Records' Jimmy Gray after a school talent show victory. Bandleader Gregory "Sugar Bear" Elliott recalls their early days in the studio with a sense of youthful spontaneity, capturing their genuine selves. Free Yourself reflects this spirit with its vibrant and varied tracks. From the soulful reflections of 'Peace Gone Away' to the funk-driven 'Funky Consciousness' and the nascent go-go grooves of the title track, the album radiates positive energy and innovation. The reissue preserves the original artwork, including Malik Edwards' cover painting, and features remastering by The Carvery. Accompanied by a new interview with Sugar Bear and rare photos, this edition brings a crucial piece of music history back into the spotlight.
Review: Much celebrated new school jazz crew Ezra Collective finally unveil their highly anticipated new album Where I'm Meant To Be after a big summer single 'Victory Dance' got us all excited. This record comes on limited edition orange vinyl and is a life-affirming romp with their famous hybrid sound tasing in all manner of different styles, eras and scenes. Some high-profile features from Sampa The Great, Kojey Radical, Emile Sande and Nao bring extra goodness to this record which is certainly a product of the current London scene but also owes a debt to the sounds of southern Africa. It all adds up to a real doozy.
Review: The vibrant Cuban music scene of the 1970s thrived with creativity, and FA-5's self-titled 1976 album perfectly captures that energy. Part of Mr Bongo's Cuban Classics series, the record blends Latin rock, funk, soul, disco, and Afro-Cuban rhythms into an eclectic and captivating sound. The funk-heavy opener, 'Muevete Con Las Fuerzas Del Corazon' features an infectious bassline, lively horns and drum breaks, setting the tone for a genre-hopping journey. With standout tracks like the Latin disco-funk 'Casa De Ladrillo' and a cover of Commodores' 'Brick House' this hidden gem, which was produced by Tony TaNo, is a must-have for both fans and collectors.
Review: Acclaimed French DJ, producer and multi-instrumentalist with FKJ has long been a favourite amongst lovers of jazz, soul and broken beat. His first album French Kiwi Juice from back in 2017 took us deeper than ever into his unique world and along the way he paid homages to his inspirations with a real sense of musical maturity. It is a warm, sensuous place to be even now with elements of contemporary jazz, synth-pop, nu-disco, funk and more all taken in and churned out. This limited edition reissue is well worth picking up.
Review: In January 1945, trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie laid down 'Be Bop (Dizzy's Fingers)' in New York City, a month prior to pioneering the first modern jazz recordings, 'Groovin' High' and 'Blue N' Boogie.' This era marked a transition from big bands to smaller combos, fostering a more intimate musical landscape. Gillespie's late-career exploration, showcased here in Norman Granz's Pablo releases, features a quartet anchored by guitarist Joe Pass, bassist Ray Brown and drummer Mickey Roker. Their rendition of bop classics exhibit Gillespie's enduring brilliance. Supplementing the originals are alternate takes of some other standards from their arsenal all of which reveal Gillespie's improvisational prowess and arranging ingenuity.
Review: Grupo Irakere's Teatro Amadeo Roldan Recital is a landmark recording in Cuban music history. Originally released in 1974 and reissued in 2024, the album showcases a unique blend of Afro-Cuban jazz, funk, Latin jazz, and even classic rock. The big band sound, featuring guitars and percussion, creates an over-the-top energy that is both infectious and exhilarating. This album is not just a piece of Cuban music history, but a testament to the power of music to fuse different genres and create something truly unique and unforgettable.
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