Search results: Due

Review: Legendary Italian jazz bassist Giovanni Tommaso is a founding member of the Perigeo band, one of the most important ever jazz-rock ensembles. Back in 1969, he composed this album and then released it a year later on Sermi. It was his first solo work and has long been hard to find depositor its cult status. The artist himself managed to unearth a copy in his archives which is what this reissue has been taken from. The misspelling in the title is part of its charm as is the electric bass and contrabass of young Tommaso, jamming it out with a sting section and freely colliding jazz-funk, free jazz and jazz-rock. The whole thing has been lovingly restored for superior sound.

Review: Not just a super-rare set of dreamy soul jazz but also a neat piece of independent label history: JSR were a Jersey-based imprint with an open source attitude to their business, allowing ambitious young musicians their first break contract-free (albeit with limited pressings) In 1980 Coleman took them up on the offer, played most of the instruments himself and even designed the artwork: Taking Care Of Business is quite a literal title. It's literally brilliant, too; just check the Shuggy style vocal leans on "Due Consideration" or the swooning Roy Ayers style vibraphone magic of "Sweet Bird" and you'll see exactly what we mean. Stunning.

Review: Creative Art Ensemble's 1981 record One Step Out remains a highly sought after jazz gem. It came direct from the radical jazz underground of LA and with its spiritual overtones and Arkestra regulars including reedsman Dadisi Komolafe, drummer Woody 'Sonship' Theus and altoist Gary Bias, it is a true tour de force. The frenzied drumming, the freeform vocal work and wild, wandering solos all make for a truly intense record.

Review: There's always something to catch the ear in the tradition of disco and funk from Naples, and so it goes with this diggers' delight by Stani Labonia. Originally released on It/RCA in 1978, it's an album with a quirk in its lavish arrangements, which were put together by the likes of Pino Daniele and many other respected figures from the history of Neaopolitan music. It's Labonia who gives the album its unique, wild energy though, while Jenny Sorrenti brings some wonderful vocal additions to 'E Jennifer Non Sa'. If you're into the world of European soul oddities from yesteryear, you're going to love this reissue on La Matta.

Review: Since 2019, Nairo "Papik" Poggi has served up a trio of Cocktail Italy albums, all of which make use of an impressive variety of (mostly) Italian musicians and vocalists. Volume Four sticks to the same script as its predecessors, serving up sun-flecked, often soulful treats that variously mix and match elements of classic string-laden jazz, soul-jazz, jazz-funk, P-funk, bossa-nova and Latin jazz. Basically, it's music to enjoy while sat somewhere hot (either in the sunshine or by a roaring fire) with a glass of something tasty and refreshing in hand. Highlights include the revivalist disco-soul of 'Primavera (featuring Nadyne Rush)', synth-laden Danny Losito hook-up 'Prima di Andare Via', mid-80s Italo-disco-goes-jazz number 'Notti (featuring Anna Fondi) and superbly summery dancefloor workout 'Ti Sento (featuring Vittoria Siggillino)'.