BeatCaffeine’s Weekly Record Rundown 06.14.24
For this week’s edition of BeatCaffeine’s Record Rundown, we touch on a wide range of new releases from around the globe, including the massive debut from London’s Afro-Cuban jazz big band, the New Regency Orchestra, a double-sided heater from Colin Curtis‘ label featuring Italian producer and keyboard wiz Stefano De Santis, Jazzman Records‘ exploration into the legendary Riverside catalogue on their latest Spiritual Jazz compilation, South African multi-instrumental Malcolm Jiyane Tree-O‘s highly-anticipated sophomore full-length, and a collection of music from Brazil’s Vinícius Mendes.
BEATCAFFEINE’S RECORD OF THE WEEK
New Regency Orchestra — ‘s/t’
(Mr Bongo)
Led by the person behind London’s Total Refreshment Centre and co-founder of Church of Sound, Lex Blondin, New Regency Orchestra is an 18-piece Afro-Cuban jazz big band, inspired by the musical melting pot of NYC in the 1950s, but with the forward-thinking approach from the region’s best Latin and jazz musicians. The group’s brilliant 12-track self-tilted debut, released on the Mr Bongo label, features a wide selection new superb renditions of timeless Afro-Cuban jazz classics, including music by Tito Puente, Chico O’Farrill, René Hernandez, Rafael Labasta, Sahib Shihab and more. It’s a 50s Latin time machine into the future!
MORE BEATCAFFEINE RECOMMENDATIONS
Stefano De Santis — ‘Santos ’79’ 7″
(Colin Curtis Presents)
Legendary UK DJ and radio broadcaster Colin Curtis continues his onslaught of superb releases off his label in 2024 with another “must-own” record from Italian producer and keyboard wiz Stefano De Santis. The A-side of this 7inch release includes the heavy dancefloor friendly “Santos ’79”, which is an uptempo cosmic jazz juggernaut. On the flip, “Moon Over Rio” has a futuristic samba vibe that’s perfect for the warmer months ahead. Definitely one of the releases of the summer!
Various — ‘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. As with all releases in this series, this brilliant compilation dives in and highlights the deepest and most vibrant selections of the label’s catalogue. 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.
Malcolm Jiyane Tree-O — ‘True Story’
(New Soil / Mushroom Hour)
One of the leading musicians at the forefront of South Africa’s vibrant jazz scene, Malcolm Jiyane Tree-O, releases his highly-anticipated sophomore full-length, True Story, is a metaphorical autobiography that transmutes personal loss into a universally relatable statement about the wretched lot of his compatriots. Backed by the core unit of Ayanda Zalekile (bass), Lungile Kunene (drums), Gontse Makhene (percussion) and Nkosinathi Mathunjwa (piano/keys), along with a slew of contributors, many of them part of Mushroom Hour’s pool of collaborators, the remarkable 9-track album fuses together a wide range of sounds and influences, including spiritual jazz, funky township and highlife grooves, soulful chants and vocal melodies, and dynamic percussion rhythms.
Vinícius Mendes — ‘Macunaísmo Tardio Vol.1 & 2’
(Notes On A Journey Records)
Deep in the musical traditions founded by pioneers Milton Nascimento and Lô Borges, Vinícius Mendes is a saxophonist, flautist, composer, improviser and researcher from the inland state of Minas Gerais in Brazil. Finally available in full via Sonar Kollektiv’s sub-label Notes On A Journey, Macunaísmo Tardio Vol. 1 & 2 were originally recorded in 2021 and 2022. The 12-track album features original compositions by Mendes himself, as well as fresh arrangements of Brazilian classics from Lucca Noacco, Toninho Horta and a brilliant version of Joyce Moreno’s dance floor classic “Aldeia de Ogum”. The instrumental recording includes a nice blend of samba grooves, jazz fusion, and Latin percussion rhythms that at times has a bit of an early Azymuth feel.
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