BeatCaffeine’s Favorite Compilations of 2020

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BeatCaffeine’s Favorite Compilations of 2020

Similar to the work that goes into reissuing a rare recording can probably also be said for a well-crafted compilation. Often years in the making, there are a number of elements, including discovery, theme, selection of tracks, licensing, and a complimentary editorial component. This past year, a number of brilliantly timeless and curated compilations were released, some highlighting a specific genre or region, while others focused on an artist or a label. Regardless, here are some of the favorites from the past twelve months.

BeatCaffeine’s Favorite Compilations of 2020

15. Various — ‘Island Sounds From Japan 2009-2016’
(Time Capsule)

Compiled by Time Capsule label boss Kay Suzuki, this incredible five-track compilation EP focuses on the cross-pollination and fusion of different genres that have been consistent in much of modern Japan music for decades, including an eclectic collection of tropically influenced sounds that range from jazz, reggae, psych, and indigenously rooted instrumental music. The compilation focuses on three specific groundbreaking artists or groups that consist of Speak No Evil, Aquatuki, and Keiichi Tanaka. One of the most uniquely original sounding recordings of 2020!

14. Various — ‘Kaleidoscope: New Spirts Known and Unknown’
(Soul Jazz Records)

Soul Jazz Records released an incredible expansive compilation, titled Kaleidoscope: New Spirits Known & Unknown, featuring many of the groundbreaking artists that are fueling the UK jazz scene. Featuring artists like Matthew Halsall, Yazmin Lacey, Ill Considered, Tenderlonious, Tamar Collocutor, Chip Wickham, Emma-Jean Thackray, Joe Armon-Jones, Nubya Garcia and so many others, this triple-vinyl release really focuses on those musicians that have been self-publishing or releasing their recordings through independent labels. From jazz-funk, deep soulful vocals, spiritual melodies, electronic-based fusion experimentations, and modal grooves, this compilations covers a wide variety of sub-genres and breakthrough artists from across the UK region.

Worm Discs — New Horizons - A Bristol 'Jazz' Sound

13. Various — ‘New Horizons: A Bristol ‘Jazz’ Sound’
(Worm Discs)

After making their mark for a number of years hosting notable parties and events, the Bristol-based collective Worm Disco Club have launched a brand new label called Worm Discs, and released a brilliant new compilation highlighting the Bristolian jazz sound, titled New Horizons. With London getting much of the UK jazz attention these days, this eleven-track recording helps showcase some of the most groundbreaking acts currently making waves 120 miles west of Big Ben. The compilation features Ishmael Ensemble, Waldo’s Gift, Snazzback, Run Logan Run, China Bowls, BaDaBooM!, Lyrebird, and Alun Elliott-Williams. Even though many of these acts might be a bit unknown right now, even to the most avid jazz fans, one listen through this compilation will truly show the collective talent that is sonically blooming out of this city, featuring a heavy forward-thinking dose of jazz-funk, soulful, and psychedelic jazz grooves.

Jazzman — Spiritual Jazz vol 12 — Impulse!

12. Various — ‘Spiritual Jazz Vol. 12: Impulse!’
(Jazzman Records)

Through it’s highly acclaimed Spiritual Jazz compilation series, the London-based label Jazzman Records has shed light and unearthed some of the greatest and most obscure spiritual jazz recordings from all corners of the globe. Most recently, the series has dove deep into the vaults of groundbreaking labels like Blue Note, Prestige, and Steeplechase. With their 12th volume of the series, Jazzman continues it’s label focus, exploring “the house that Trane built,” better known as Impulse! Records. With this 17-track triple LP, Jazzman has brilliantly compiled many of the greatest recordings and spiritual jazz moments from the Impulse! archives. From “Part 1 Acknowledgment” from John Coltane’s A Love Supreme, to Michael White’s meditative spiritual “The Blessing Song” and Freddie Hubbard’s often overlooked soulful hard-bop gem “The 7th Day”, this expansive compilation covers a lot of ground.

I also recommend checking out Volume 11 in the series, highlighting the Copenhagen-based and highly under-the-radar imprint SteepleChase Records.

11. Various — ‘Color De Trópico’
(El Palmas Music)

Barcelona-based label El Palmas Music released an incredible compilation that shines a light on some of the most obscure gems out of Venezuela between the years 1966 and 1978. Compiled by DJ El Palmas and El Dragón Criollo, this eight-track recording helps document an important time musically in the country based on monumental changes in the economy and government policies. In this period, Venezuelan musicians fused together a wide range of global influences and styles, with the hope to create a more “modern” identity, blending together jazz, rock, salsa, funk, psych, and disco with the region’s more traditionally-rooted sounds like guajira, cumbia, cha-cha-cha, and joropo. This fruitful period resulted in producing many Venezuelan musical pioneers, and this compilation does an brilliant job exploring some of this music.

10. Various — ‘Door To The Cosmos’
(On The Corner)

Over the past decade, London’s On The Corner records has been one of the most forward-thinking labels, releasing innovative futuristic music that blurs the lines between jazz, electronic music, African, Latin, broken beat and beyond. To celebrate the milestone of their tenth release, the label put out a limited edition triple vinyl gatefold compilation highlights many of the artists that have contributed to the label over the past several years. From intergalactic jazz-funk to mind-melting electronics and Afrobeat, the door to the cosmos seem to have swung wide open with this must-own recording, and their certainly is a lot to explore.

9. Various — ‘WAMONO A to Z Vol. I: Japanese Jazz Funk & Rare Groove 1968-1980’
(Wamono A to Z)

Following the publishing of the now out-of-print Wamono A to Z records guide book by the renowned remixer, compiler, and producer DJ Yoshizawa Dynamite and fellow DJ/record collector Chintam, the two have teamed up again to release a series of compilations highlighting “the Wamono sound,” featuring some of the most rare jazz, funk, soul, and disco music to come out of Japan since the sixties. For the first volume in the new series, the two DJs focus on highly obscure jazz-funk and rare groove produced in Japan during 1968 to 1980. Fully licensed, this is the first time that many of these tracks have ever been made available outside of Japan.

8. Various — ‘Colin Curtis Presents Jazz Dance Fusion’
(Z Records)

Legendary UK deejay Colin Curtis released the second volume of his superb Jazz Dance Fusion compilation series. Where the first record focused on seventies-era selections from the great vaults of Muse Records, volume two features a brilliant collection of vocal jazz and Latin-flavored cuts, all of which where previously never released on both vinyl or CD. Not only is this double LP incredible from start to finish, this compilation is also a great introduction into many under-the-radar artists and releases that are probably unknown to even the deepest jazz collectors.

7. Various — ‘Cadence Revolution: Disques Debs International Vol. 2’
(Strut)

The London-based Strut label follows-up the first volume in a multi-compilation series celebrating the musical archives of the legendary Guadeloupe imprint Disques Debs, with another remarkable recording titled, Cadence Revolution: Disques Debs International Vol. 2. Compiled by Hugo Mendez (Sofrito) and Emile Omar (Roseaux), the compilation focuses on the labels development of the unique Cadence sound, pulling together a wide-array of disparate Afro-Latin influences into a Pan-Caribbean blend of rhythms, styles and languages. During the seventies, this music dominated Caribbean region dancehalls and clubs.

6. Various — ‘Mr Bongo Record Club Vol. 4’
(Mr Bongo)

In what has been truly an incredible compilation series over the past few years, the good people at the Brighton-based label and record shop have put out the fourth volume of their extremely well-curated and highly-acclaimed Mr Bongo Record Club. Similar to the other recordings in the series, this new fifteen-track two-LP release features a wide range of music from all corners of the globe, including Mr Bongo staff favorites and some of the most obscure Brazilian, African, soul, funk, and disco gems. This compilation series continues to be an incredible platform in unearthing many forgotten and lost rarities.

5. Ranil — ‘Ranil y su Conjunto Tropical (Limited Dance Edition)’
(Analog Africa)

In what might be my most listen to compilation of 2020, Analog Africa’s Ranil y su Conjunto Tropical celebrates the music of Peruvian singer, bandleader, and record label entrepreneur Raúl Llerena Vásquez aka Ranil. Based out of the city of Iquitos, Ranil was a pioneer of an Amazonian style of Cumbia and established one of the first record labels in the region, known as Produccions Llerena. Fusing together Cumbia, psychedelic Latin sounds, and tropical Brazilian-influenced grooves, this is some of the greatest dance music to ever come out of Peru. An absolute must-own release!

4. Various — ‘Soul Love Now: The Black Fire Records Story 1975-1993’
(Strut)

Celebrating the seminal spiritual jazz and conscious soul label Black Fire Records, Strut released a great new retrospective recording that dove deep into the under-the-radar label. Heavily influenced by black-owned independent labels like Strata-East and Tribe, the Black Fire label was formed by DJ and record producer Jimmy Gray, who resided out of Richmond, Virginia. Active from 1975 through 1993, this label featured a number of groundbreaking albums from the legendary spiritual jazz-funk group Oneness Of Juju (formerly known as Juju), as well as some lesser-known but brilliant albums with artists like soul man Wayne Davis, early go go pioneers Experience Unlimited, Ghanaian master percussionist Okyerema Asante, and talented collectives including Southern Energy Ensemble and music / drama troupe Theatre West.

3. Various — ‘Mogadisco: Dancing Mogadishu (Somalia 1972-1991)’
(Analog Africa)

The German-based Analog Africa label helped shed light in 2018 on the Somalian funk group Dur-Dur Band with an incredible triple LP featuring the band’s first two albums. In late December 2019 (adding it to this year’s “Favorites” list because of it’s late release), the label follow-up up that release with a brand new twelve-track compilation that continues to deeply explore the Somalian funk scene of the seventies through the early nineties. The music on this record is incredibly unique, featuring a blend of traditional Somali music with disco grooves, soulful vocals, Banaadiri beats, and Afrobeat influenced funk rhythms. This compilation also features some of the most notable and active groups in the region during this period, including tracks by the Dur-Dur Band, Omar Shooli, Mukhtar Ramadan Iidi, Bakaka Band, Fadumo Qassim & Shareero Band, Iftin Band, and Shimaali & Killer.

Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad — Jazz Is Dead

2. Various — ‘Jazz Is Dead’
(Jazz Is Dead)

In a year that saw five incredible releases, you can make the argument that no other label might of had a more active year than Jazz Is Dead, a label and concert presenter run by Los Angeles based producers/multi-instrumentalists Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad (of A Tribe Called Quest). There first release was a brilliant eight-track compilation featuring new recordings from jazz legends Roy Ayers, Gary Bartz, Doug Carn, João Donato, Brian Jackson, Azymuth, and Marcos Valle. The tracks where recorded at Younge’s all-analog Linear Labs studio over this past year while each artist was in residency at the well-curated Jazz Is Dead concert series, which wass held at the Lodge Room in Los Angeles’ Highland Park neighborhood. Each track is a collaborative effort between the featured artist, and Muhammad and Younge, both of whom play multiple instruments on the record. Each session does a great job of capturing the brilliance of each iconic artist, with the production bringing out those essential elements that are found on some of the artist’s classic recordings.

Various — ‘Blue Note Re:imagined’
(Blue Note Records / Decca Records)

Following a number of limited-edition 7inch singles, Blue Note and Decca Records released an incredible compilation, titled Blue Note Re:imagined, featuring many of the UK’s most breakthrough jazz artists re-working classic material from the Blue Note vaults, including compositions by Wayne Shorter, Bobby Hutcherson, Andrew Hill, Donald Byrd, Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson and more. The compilation includes unique renditions of this material by Shabaka Hutchings, Ezra Collective, Nubya Garcia, Skinny Pelembe, Emma-Jean Thackray, Mr Jukes, Steam Down, Yazmin Lacey, Poppy Ajudha, Jordan Rakei, Fieh, Ishmael Ensemble, Blue Lab Beats, Melt Yourself Down, Alfa Mist, and Jorja Smith. Even though the Blue Note material touched on this record includes many of the greatest jazz compositions every written, and isn’t in need of any “re-imagining”, however this impressive group of musicians have really been creative in taking the foundation of that music and making something completely new and original.