BeatCaffeine’s Weekly Record Rundown 11.01.24
This week’s BeatCaffeine Weekly Record Rundown features the latest brilliant release from London-based cosmic composer and keyboardist Greg Foat, the highly anticipated new album from São Paulo trio Caixa Cubo on Far Out Recordings, Soundway’s latest compilation diving into the exploratory sounds of Nigeria, and a memorable live session from Jeff Parker and his ETA IVtet on International Anthem.
Greg Foat — ‘The Rituals of Infinity’
(Ameritz Music)
London composer and keyboardist Greg Foat, who seems to release a new record every couple of months over the past few years (and we are not mad about it), is back with his latest cosmic excursion, titled The Rituals of Infinity. This incredible 7-track album includes all of those elements we love about Foat’s music, spacey analog keyboard grooves, cinematic atmospheric textures and an overall sound that will have the listener transported to a new socially cosmic dimension. The album also features the legendary saxophonist Art Themen, who was also featured on Foat’s 2023 recording Off-Piste. Overall, another masterful release from one of today’s true music pioneers.
Caixa Cubo — ‘Modo Avião’
(Far Out Recordings)
The São Paulo-based jazz-funk/fusion trio Caixa Cubo returns for their highly anticipated full-length release for Joe Davis’ superb Far Out Recordings, titled Modo Avião. Receiving a ton of rotational play by Gilles Peterson, Colin Curtis, Kev Beadle and many others, this 13-track album is arguably their best to date, blending together funky cosmic keys with heavy-hitting bass grooves and dynamic percussion rhythms. Made up of Henrique Gomide (keyboards), Noa Stroeter (bass), and João Fideles (drums), this brilliant recording has a sound reminiscence of 70s fusion pioneers Azymuth and Marcos Resende while still looking forward into the future. Definitely one of the best albums of 2024!
Nigeria Special Volume 3: Electronic Innovation Meets Culture And Tradition 1978-93
(Soundway Records)
The London-based Soundway Records continues their longtime expansive deep dive into the rare and funky sounds from the Nigeria region with their latest compilation, Nigeria Special Volume 3: Electronic Innovation Meets Culture And Tradition 1978-93. Compiled by Miles Cleret and Jeremy Spellacey, this new release features 19 tracks over 3xLPs and explores one of the most experimental periods for Nigerian music, when artists and producers began to fuse new technologies and innovative electric instruments like drum machines and synthesizers into their music with influences of highlife, juju, Afrobeat and Afropop. This well-crafted compilation also includes a large 8 page booklet with detailed liner notes, record scans and never-seen-before photos.
Jeff Parker ETA IVtet — ‘The Way Out of Easy‘
(International Anthem)
International Anthem has released a remarkable new live album from boundary-pushing guitarist Jeff Parker and his ETA IVtet featuring saxophonist Josh Johnson, bassist Anna Butterss, and drummer Jay Bellerose, capturing one of the group’s Monday night performances at the Los Angeles-based Enfield Tennis Academy. Recorded on January 2nd, 2023, this 4-track 70-minute set provides us a macro-lens view of the ever-refining, infinite organic essence of the ensemble as they stretch out across a single night. Not realizing it at the time of the recording, this turned out to be the final year for the venue, which the group performed weekly to packed audiences for 7 years. This recording beautifully documents an important chapter in Los Angeles’s improvisational jazz scene.
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