As we wind down the final days of 2024, we take a look back at some of the essential compilation releases over the past 12 months. From tropical grooves to jazz dance, spiritual, cosmic and obscure selections from around the globe, these well-crafted records helped shine a much-needed light on some incredible gems from many under-the-radar talented artists and musicians.

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 2024

10. Outer Spaceways Incorporated: Kronos Quartet & Friends Meet Sun Ra
(Red Hot Org)

An impressive release by the New York City-based non-profit Red Hot Org and highly-acclaimed Bay Area string ensemble Kronos Quartet that celebrates the music of Sun Ra. The 13-track compilation brings together Kronos, who includes violinists David Harrington and John Sherba, violaist Hank Dutt, and cellist Paul Wiancko with a wide array of other music pioneers and forward-thinking artists like Laurie Anderson, Laraaji, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Terry Riley, Jacob Garchik, Zachary James Watkins and others, including the longtime leader of the Sun Ra Arkestra Marshall Allen. This represents the fourth in a series of albums, put out by Red Hot Org paying tribute to the Afrofuturism pioneer.

9. Super Disco Pirata: De Tepito Para El Mundo 1965 – 1980
(Analog Africa)

One of two remarkable compilations featured on this list from German-based label Analog Africa, beginning with Super Disco Pirata: De Tepito Para El Mundo 1965 – 1980, an expansive 23-track release highlighting illegally manufactured vinyl records out of Mexico City containing rare and highly-sought hits from Perú, Ecuador, Colombia and beyond. These bootleg compilations – known as “pirata” – were originally pressed during graveyard shift on recycled vinyl in editions of no more than 500 and were cheaply produced and sold just as cheaply to people who otherwise wouldn’t have been able to afford them. They were played extensively in every corner of Mexico’s heavily-populated barrios where, in addition to educating the ears of the youngsters, they also promoted some of the best tropical music recorded in Latin America. 

8. Entangled Grounds: The Sound of XJAZZ! Berlin
(XJAZZ!)

Berlin’s biggest and most forward-thinking jazz festival, XJAZZ!, issued a superb 10-track compilation that helps captures the spirit of collaboration that is ever so present at this festival and brings together the brightest minds of the Berlin music community. Recorded over five wintery days in 2023 at Brewery Studios, unique collaborations were made alongside individual artists to showcase the sound so often experienced each year at XJAZZ!. Featured artists included Szabolcs ‘Szabi’ Bognár (Àbáse), Moses Yoofee, douniah, Sera Kalo, Sofia Efty, Z.F.E.X, Wayne Snow, Sonic Interventions, Sofia Efty, Petter Eldh and more.

7. The Congregation: Jazz Alliance International
Compiled by Massimiliano “Jazzcat” Conti 
(Right Tempo)

Italian DJ, broadcaster and internationally respected Mixcloud selector Massimiliano “Jazzcat” Conti has teamed up with the Milan-based label Right Tempo on a brilliant new compilation, titled The Congregation: Jazz Alliance International, that highlights some of today’s most forward-thinking jazz that’s currently being released. In celebration of the label’s 30th anniversary, this superb 2LP compilation features twelve standout tracks that have been previously released over the last couple of years, including selection from British/Trinidadian poet Anthony Joseph, Los Angeles spiritual soul-jazz ensemble Jimetta Rose & The Voices of Creation, Leeds based trumpeter Malcolm Strachan, modern-day jazz dance pioneer Nicola Conte, Italian drummer Francesco Sotgiu, the late great Mexican percussionist Tino Contreras, and much more. 

6. Ghana Special 2: Electronic Highlife & Afro Sounds In The Diaspora, 1980​-​93
(Soundway Records)

The always brilliant London-based label Soundway continued their exploration into the funky sounds from the Ghana region with another superb compilation in 2024. More than 20 years after the release of the heavy funk and Afrobeat-focused Ghana Soundz compilations and their massive 2009 Ghana Specialrelease, Soundway turns their focus to the rare highlife and Afro sounds of the 80s and early 90s, which uniquely incorporates a fusion of experimental electronics, and reggae and soul influences.

5. Congo Funk! – Sound Madness From The Shores Of The Mighty Congo River (Kinshasa​/​Brazzaville 1969​-​1982)
(Analog Africa)

Another incredible release from Analog Africa, which unearths a number of funky selections from two influential capital cities along the Congo River. Featuring 14 superb tracks, this record includes obscure selections from both the south shore city of Kinshasa, which is the capital of Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly known as Zaïre), and the more northern city of Brazzaville, which is the capital of the Congo Republic. Building off the financial, cultural, and musical impact that came with 1974’s Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman “Rumble In The Jungle” boxing match and the complimentary music festival ‘Rumble’, which featured the legendary James Brown, younger generations became highly influenced to start their own funk-inspired groups. This musical explosion marked the beginning of a golden age for Congolese music and independent record labels.

4. Spiritual Jazz 16: Riverside etc.
(Jazzman Records)

Over the last several years, Jazzman Records’ incredible Spiritual Jazz series has issued 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 the London-based label 16th volume of the compilation collection, the focus shifts to the legendary label Riverside and and its associated sub-label releases. Founded in 1953 by Orrin Keepnews and Bill Grauer, Riverside became an important purveyor in issuing some of the most cutting-edge jazz at the time, from bebop, hard bop, and cool, to modal and Latin jazz. Some of the highlights include Joe Henderson and Alice Coltrane’s “Earth”, Werner-Rosengren Swedish Jazz Quartet’s “Bombastica”, McCoy Tyner’s “Valley of Life”, Sal Nistico Quintet’s “Ariscene”, Blue Mitchell’s “Turquoise”, Lee Konitz Quintet’s “Thumb Under” and much more.

3. Timeless Jazz Classics Vol.01
Compiled by Gilles Peterson
(Music On Vinyl / Timeless Records)

Netherlands-based Timeless Records, which released some prominent recordings in the mid 70s and through the 80s, and legendary London DJ, broadcaster and producer Gilles Peterson reprise their 2015 compilation, which feature standout tracks from recordings released on the label. Originally only issued in Japan on CD, this is the first time this compilation has been released on vinyl. Pharoah Sanders, Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers, Cedar Walton, Eddie Harris, Tom Grant, Joanne Bracken and others. The record also includes a bonus track of a previously unreleased version of ”Gibraltar (Alternate Take)” by Kirk Lightsey Trio with Freddie Hubbard. The compilation originally came out on grey vinyl on Record Store Day back in April, and has since been released on black vinyl(!!!).

2. Klinkhamer Records Vol.2
Compiled by Michel Veenstra
(BBE / If Music Presents)

As a much-anticipated follow-up to their 2022 compilation debut, Dutch vinyl shop Klinkhamer Records and owner Michel Veenstra have teamed up again with London’s BBE Records to release Volume 2, featuring another superb selection of obscure eclectic gems from the 70s and 80s that you will most likely not hear anywhere else. Featuring eight tracks, this well-curated release includes everything from spiritual grooves and vocal jazz, to folk funk and smooth blue-eyed soul nuggets. Notably, the inclusion of Rick Panzer’s jazz dance gem “Pre-Stretch Warm Up” led BBE to also release the 1979 full-length Music For Complete Jazz Dance Class With Lea Darwin later in the year.

1. Colin Curtis presents Jazz Dance Fusion Vol 4 — Part 1 & 2
Compiled By Colin Curtis
(Z Records)

Legendary UK DJ Colin Curtis, who has been at the forefront of both the jazz dance and Northern soul scenes, released the fourth volume of his brilliant Jazz Dance Fusion compilation series featuring new and unreleased dancefloor focused jazz selections that have either previously never been issued on vinyl, or have slid slightly under-the-radar. This massive two-part 2LP vinyl release (4 LPs Total!) features 26 tracks of music from all corners of the globe, spanning anywhere from vocal jazz and fusion, to samba, Latin grooves and just about everything in-between. Both releases strongly reflect the sound and selections that Colin highlights on his superb weekly Jazz Dance Fusion radio show for The Hitmix 107.5 FM. The great news is Colin has already announced that the fifth volume of the series will be out in early 2025!

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