BeatCaffeine’s Weekly Record Rundown 09.27.24
This week’s BeatCaffeine Record Rundown includes the return of 2023 Mercury Prize winning band Ezra Collective with their highly-anticipated new album, a dancefloor primed EP from Quantic, saxophonist Nubya Garcia’s incredible 12-track Odyssey, and beautifully haunting live album from Polish pianist and vocalist Hania Rani.
Here are BeatCaffeine’s Weekly Record Rundown
Ezra Collective — ‘Dance, No One’s Watching’
(Partisan Records)
One of the most exciting groups to emerge out of the current London jazz scene, Ezra Collective, returns with their highly-anticipated new album, titled Dance, No One’s Watching. The 2023 Mercury Prize winners include bandleader and drummer Femi Koleoso, tenor saxophonist James Mollison, trumpeter Ife Ogunjobi, keyboardist Joe Armon-Jones, and bassist TJ Koleoso. This brilliant and expansive 19-track 2xVinyl release the many dance floors they encountered on their recent travels from London to Chicago, Lagos to Sydney, and in many other parts of the world. The full-length blends together jazz-funk, Afrobeat, and dub. The album also has a ton energy, probably as a result of the band being surprised by a group of close friends and family during sessions that turned into all out celebratory dance parties. One of the best albums of 2024, no doubt!
Quantic — ‘Tropics’
(Aus Music)
The highly talented and very eclectic producer and multi-instrumentalist Quantic (aka Will Holland) kicks off a special series of EPs from Aus Music to mark their 200th release, titled Tropics. This superb record features 3-tracks that are primed for the dancefloor that has a heavy dose of disco-fied rhythms, soulful house, cosmic grooves and beats. Canadian vocalist Laura Roy is also featured on the incredible trance-like cut “Born Again”. Definitely coming to a dancefloor near you soon!
Nubya Garcia — ‘Odyssey’
(Concord Jazz)
Another artist at the forefront of London’s jazz scene, tenor saxophonist, bandleader and composer Nubya Garcia follows up her breakthrough 2020 album SOURCE, with another brilliant full-length release for Concord Jazz, titled Odyssey. Produced by Garcia in collaboration with Kwes, the session also includes and impressive cast of supporting musicians like Joe Armon-Jones on keys, Daniel Casimir on bass, drummer Sam Jones and special guests esperanza spalding and Georgia Anne Muldrow. Great from start to finish, the incredible 12-track recording blends orchestral arrangements with jazz, R&B and dub grooves. Garcia continues to push her sound to new heights with each and every release.
Hania Rani — ‘Nostalgia’
(Gondwana Records)
On the 6th of October 2023, the release date of her third solo album Ghosts, Polish pianist and vocalist Hania Rani organized a special album release concert with a string ensemble in a very unique location of Witold Lutosławski’s Concert Studio at the Polish Radio in Warsaw. Located in the Mokotów district in Warsaw, Polish Radio has played an important role both professionally and personally for Rani during her life. This truly mesmerizing concert, which blends minimalism, atmospheric textures and tones, beautifully haunting melodies, and experimental electronics has now been released on Matthew Halsall’s Gondwana Records. The well-crafted deluxe LP comes with a 16-page booklet featuring Hania’s unique analogue photos, along with her thoughts on the recording process, studios, and the compositions themselves.
