BeatCaffeine’s Favorite Compilations of 2023
Now in the final days of 2023, we take a look back at some of the essential compilation releases over the past 12 months. From tropical grooves to jazz dance, spiritual, soulful house and obscure selections from around the globe, there were many incredible must-own compilations to dive into.
As I’ve stated before, when it comes to organizing a record release, there might not be a more challenging venture than compiling music for a compilation. Unlike a Spotify playlist, these releases require sourcing and licensing the music, which takes much more time and energy than simply selecting digital tracks. Compilations also continue to play an important part in telling a story about either a time period, a region, a sub-genre of a sub-genre, a legendary club, artist, or DJ, and many times all of the above. They often also serve as musical “gateway drugs” into whole worlds of lesser known music for listeners, in which they can continue to explore well beyond each release.
As always, shoutout to all the labels and people involved in seeing these compilations to the finish line. It’s a ton of work, however is an important musical vehicle of discover for so many!
Here are BeatCaffeine’s Favorite Compilations of 2023
10. Various — ‘Club Coco ¡AHORA! The Latin Sound of Now’
Compiled by Coco María
(Bongo Joe)
Originally from Saltillo, Mexico, Coco María is well-traveled DJ and former Worldwide FM radio host, who has lived in London, Berlin, and now Amsterdam. Following last year’s brilliant Afro-Latin compilation Club Coco, she teamed up again with Bongo Joe with the second edition of the series, featuring 14 Latin inspired tracks from international bands and producers. This record highlights some of the most innovative artists among the tropical and Latin music scenes, including Las Mijas, Los Pirañas, Juan Hundred, Candeleros, Acid Coco, Dip In The Dub, Iko Chérie, Lola’s Dice, Guess What, Raz Olsher and more, in addition to Ronald Snijders’ 1985 cosmic jazz-funk gem “Off The Groove”. It’s clear the sun is out and the heat is turnin’ out year round at Club Coco.
9. Various — ‘With Love: Volume 2’
Compiled by Miche
(Mr Bongo)
London-based DJ Miche (aka Michael Davies) and Mr Bongo follow-up last year’s superb With Love compilation with the highly-anticipated second volume of the series. Where Volume 1 leaned on the soulful side, Volume 2 is primed more for the dancefloor, featuring 15 obscure tracks that take the listener everywhere from an anthemic gospel version of Stevie Wonder’s “As” by The Family Tree to self-released Brazilian 45s by Banda 22 and Zé Da Lata, to a funky Chilean disco cut by Rogers Mitchell, an AOR two-step groover from the Pennsylvania-based band Maxwell and so much more!
8. Various — ‘Tokyo Crossover Night (Shuya Okino’s unreleased tracks)’
Compiled by Shuya Okino
(Village Again)
In what could be considered more of a retrospective, Shuya Okino, who is one of the masterminds behind Kyoto Jazz Massive and Kyoto Jazz Sextet, in addition to the owner of the renowned music venue The Room in Tokyo, compiles 10 tracks of previously unreleased material in which Okino is involved with in some way (producing, writing, remixing, etc.). The compilation features never-before-released material from Kyoto Jazz Massive, Kyoto Jazz Quartet, Kyoto Jazz Sextet, Echoes Of A New Dawn Orchestra, ROOT SOUL, MIOMATIC, and selections under Shuya Okino’s name. The selections have a strong jazz dance feel, with elements of broken beat, soulful house, and electro. Here is hoping that this compilation, or at least some of the tracks, will see a vinyl release in the near future!
7. Various — ‘Fusion Global Sounds Vol. 2’
Compiled by Charles Maurice
(Favorite Recordings)
Building off the foundation of last year’s superb Fusion Global Sounds compilation release, Favorite Recordings comes back with the second edition of the series, featuring eight obscure jazz-funk and fusion tracks produced between 1976 and 1984 in various parts of the world. Compiled by Favorite Recordings founder, label boss Charles Maurice, this brilliant recording spans many regions including from Brazil, Philippines, Netherlands, Poland, and the United States, with a sound that leans more Brazilian in style. There is everything here from jazz dance and cosmic grooves, to samba, tropical fusion, and mellower atmospheric vibes.
6. Various — ‘Luke Una Presents É Soul Cultura Vol.2’
Compiled by Luke Una
(Mr Bongo)
As a follow-up to last year’s incredible compilation, UK-based DJ, radio broadcaster, and selector Luke Una, who made his mark in the underground scenes of Manchester beginning in the mid-80s, teamed up again with Mr Bongo to release the equally as impressive Volume 2 of the compilation series. The 18-track recording continues along the same musical expansiveness that was present on Volume 1, at times venturing into the deeper, spiritual, soulful, downtempo, experimental side of things, and featuring everything from cosmic psychedelic grooves, otherworldly electronic sounds, house, funky soul, obscure cuts from around the world and more.
5. Various — ‘Strata Records: The Sound of Detroit’ Vol. 1
Compiled by DJ Amir
(BBE Music / 180 Proof Records)
DJ Amir, through his 180 Proof Records, has been officially reissuing and releasing previously unheard material from Strata Records for the past decade. Now with the help of London’s BBE, he has put together a brilliant compilation featuring some of the most essential tracks to have come out on the legendary 70’s Detroit jazz label. Featuring 16 tracks over 3xLPs, this incredibly diverse selection of tracks from the label’s vaults includes everything from well-known favorites, to the more obscure and previously unreleased cuts. Some of the highlights are Kenny Cox’s 13-minute epic jazz dancer “Beyond The Dream”, Sam Sanders’ soulful “Face At My Window”, Larry Nozero’s cosmic gem “Tune For L.N.”, TJ’s bluesy demo recording “Time Is Wasting”, Ursula Walker’s rendition of Herbie Hancock’s “Maiden Voyage”, and The Lyman Woodard Organization’s all-time 1975 classic “Saturday Night Special”.
4. Various — ‘The Jazz Room Vol.2’
Compiled by Paul Murphy
(BBE)
Featuring 13 incredible selections aimed at the dancefloor, this eclectic compilation compiled by jazz dance pioneer Paul Murphy covers a lot of territory, from heavy funk gems out of New Orleans to Latin grooves, cosmic jazz and just about everything in between. The record features mostly selections from over the past 20 years with highlight’s that include Daniel Crawford‘s 2014 rendition of Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat anthem “Water No Get Enemy”, Cruisic‘s modern take on Azymuth favorite “Jazz Carnival”, Clare Fischer‘s 1980 jazz dance classic “African Flute”, Chip Wickham‘s 2018 jazz-funk cut “Rebel No. 23”, César Salad‘s under-the-radar 2009 version of Dizzy Gillespie’s signature “Manteca”, Golden Brown‘s clever Brubeck-meets-The Stranglers mashup “Take Vibe”, and so many others.
3. Various — ‘Spiritual Jazz 14: Private’
Compiled by Jazzman Gerald
(Jazzman Records)
Over the span of the last two decades, the London-based Jazzman Records has been issuing their incredible Spiritual Jazz series, with a number of volumes that have focused on some of the most groundbreaking and prolific jazz labels, including Blue Note, Prestige, Impulse!, and Steeplechase. For Volume 14, label owner Jazzman Gerald dives deep into the well and unearths rare gems that didn’t come out on a label and were ultimately released as a private press recording. This brilliant 14-track compilation features some of the most obscure spiritual jazz recordings you’ll never find, including standout selections like Erni Clark’s “By the Grace of God, I Am”, Elysian Spring’s “Lotus”, Mary Lou Williams’ “Communion Song: The World”, Carmelo Garcia’s “Ethiopia”, Cullen Knight’s “A’Keem (Brother)”, Don Menza’s “Spanish Boots”, Compass’s “Pharoahs Thing” and many more.
2. Various — ‘Glücklich IV‘
Compiled by Rainer Trüby
(Compost)
After 20 years since the last volume was released, legendary German producer and DJ Rainer Trüby (formerly of A Forest Mighty Black) returned with the sixth compilation of his iconic Glücklich compilation series, unearthing rare Brazilian-influenced gems old and new from around the globe. This record features everything from jazz dance and samba to soulful vocal cuts, Balearic and house grooves. Some of the many highlights include Jon Lucien‘s “Come With Me To Rio” (1983), A Bossa Elétrica‘s 2011 rendition of Roy Ayer’s “Everybody Loves The Sunshine” (“Sob A Luz Do Sol”), Trüby and Corrado Bucci‘s remix of Sonzeira‘s “The Mystery Of Man”, Jean-Marc Jafet‘s “Offering”(1985), and Grupo Ébano‘s “Pé No Chão”.
1.Various — ‘J Jazz Vol. 4: Deep Modern Jazz from Japan – Nippon Columbia 1968 -1981’
Compiled by Tony Higgins and Mike Peden
(BBE)
Since the release of the series’ first compilation back in 2018, in addition to two follow-up compilation recordings and a growing number of select album reissues, BBE’s J Jazz has become the most definite collection exploring innovative and rare Japanese jazz. Curated by Tony Higgins and Mike Peden, the fourth compilation dives deep into one of the biggest and most diverse labels in Japan, Nippon Columbia. Featuring 16 tracks over 3LPs, this remarkable compilation focuses on the label’s fruitful years 1968-1981, and highlights a wide array of tracks ranging from solo to big band, jazz classical interpretations and heavy jazz-funk, to post-bop, samba fusion, modal and psyched-out grooves.
