Author: TJ Gorton
London-based keyboard wiz Joe Armon-Jones, who is also a member of the UK Afrobeat-inspired group Ezra Collective and a regular collaborator with saxophonist Nubya Garcia, follows up his two incredible breakthrough solo releases on Gilles Peterson’s Brownwood Recordings, with a superb 10-inch single Pray on his newly launch label Aquarii.
French label Ici Bientôt has unearthed and reissued an incredible 1985 spiritual and meditative album, titled Comme Au Moulin by a highly innovative five-piece Paris-based collective called Nyssa Musique, whom were born out ongoing rehearsals that took place in a contemporary dance class hall, upstairs from the notable venue New Morning.
Throughout the seventies and into the early eighties, jazz-funk legend Brian Jackson collaborated with the late great Gil Scott-Heron on some of the most forward-thinking and socially conscious music of the decade, releasing tracks like “The Bottle”, “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”, “Johannesburg” and numerous others. For the eighth installment in the breakthrough Jazz Is Dead series, Los Angeles based producers/multi-instrumentalists Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad have teamed up with Jackson for his first new album in 20 years.
One of the last year’s best albums, and a recording that really captured the emotion of 2020 well, was New York harpist Brandee Younger and bassist Dezron Douglas Force Majeure. Following this beautifully homemade session (recorded in the couple’s apartment), Younger steps out on her own to release a brilliant full-length on Impulse!, titled Somewhere Different.
Bristol-based experimental jazz collective Ishmael Ensemble, led by saxophonist and producer Pete Cunningham, return following their breakthrough 2019 debut A State of Flow, with another brilliant and expansive new album title Visions of Light.
Every year, there are always a number of unanticipated releases that seem to come out of nowhere and become future classics. That certainly was the case with the debut release from a superb trio cast of beat makers, producers, and instrumentalists known as Turbulance, whom have recently released their incredible debut on CoOperation Records.
London’s Strut Records continues it’s superb series diving deep into the vaults of Jimmy Gray’s now considered legendary Richmond, Virginia based label Black Fire Records with another highly in-demand reissue of Southern Energy Ensemble’s 1977 masterpiece Southern Energy.
Making the most out of the unfortunate lockdown, Glasgow-based pianist, keyboardist, and composer Josef Akin, who also plays in two excellent groups Amara and GABO, returns with an absolutely brilliant new album titled, Flightcase on London’s Sola Terra label.
Just in time for the warmer summer months, New York-based Frederiksberg Records have recently released a fantastic retrospective EP celebrating the tropical sounds of legendary Caribbean Mocko Jumbie and musician Hugo Moolenaar.
Highly innovative Italian drummer, composer, and producer Tommaso Cappellato, who has recently relocated to Los Angeles, launches his new Domanda Music label with a brilliant cosmic jazz recording, titled Pioneered, featuring an impressive cast of musicians like Shahzad Ismaily, Jaimie Branch, Val Jeanty, Afrikan Sciences, Michael Blake, Yusuke Yamamoto, Donato Dozzy, and others.
In what is certainly one of the most anticipated albums of 2021, the highly talented London-based multi-instrumentalist, producer, composer, vocalist and DJ, Emma-Jean Thackray returns with an incredible new full-length album titled Yellow on her own Movementt label.
One of the leading groups among the Bristol scene, the seven-piece ensemble known as Snazzback, has just released their widely expansive sophomore album In The Place on Worm Discs, a newer Bristol-based label that has quickly made a strong impression with already a number of essential releases.
Toronto based record label We Are Busy Bodies has recently reissued the rare 1980 recording by the collaborative supergroup ensemble Eboni Band, featuring musicians from Ivory Coast based Eboni Records and prime Motown session players, including funk legend and longtime JB’s bandleader Fred Wesley.
