BeatCaffeine’s Weekly Record Rundown January 23, 2026
This year’s first edition of BeatCaffeine’s Weekly Record Rundown, we highlight the much-anticipated new album from Chris Bangs and Mick Talbot, Japan’s 45 Trio and their new Jazz Room Records 7inch celebrating Brazilian piano great Tenorio Jr., in addition to a couple “must-own” releases that came out near the end of last year from Lance Ferguson and Louie Vega’s Elements of Life.
Chris Bangs & Mick Talbot — ‘Smokin’ Aces’
(Acid Jazz Records)
Pioneering UK DJ and producer Chris Bangs teams up once again with keyboard maestro Mick Talbot — celebrated for his work with The Style Council — to deliver Smokin’ Aces, their bold new album on Acid Jazz Records. Following the widespread acclaim of their 2022 release Back To Business and the runaway success of the sold-out 7-inch single “K-Jee,” the duo returns in top form. Three years in the making, this 12-track collection captures a vibrant, forward-thinking vision of acid jazz, blending classic grooves, soulful melodies, and contemporary production into a sound that’s both classic and irresistibly modern.
45 Trio — ‘Nebulosa / Tenorio’ 7″
(Jazz Room Records)
Paul Murphy’s Jazz Room Records ushers in the new year with a superb new 7-inch release featuring the remarkable Tokyo-based group 45 Trio and their tribute to the enigmatic Brazilian pianist Tenorio Jr. Designed for the dance floor, side A delivers a vibrant cover of “Nebulosa” — originally released in 1964 and still celebrated as a pinnacle of piano jazz — while the flip side offers the trio’s heartfelt homage to Tenorio, fusing together samba and funky jazz grooves.
Lance Ferguson — ‘Rare Groove Spectrum, Vol. 3’
(Tru Thoughts)
Released ahead of the 2025 holidays, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and DJ Lance Ferguson returns with the third installment of his acclaimed Rare Groove Spectrum series for Tru Thoughts. Vol. 3 continues his tradition of inventive reinterpretations, including fresh takes on Idris Muhammad’s 1977 jazz-funk classic “Could Heaven Ever Be Like This,” Jungle’s cult favorite “Dominoes,” and Billie Eilish’s “My Future,” featuring powerhouse vocalist Rita Satch. Blending crate-digger sensibilities with refined studio artistry, Ferguson spans obscure ’70s Australian jazz-funk, Big Band soul breaks, and Latin-fusion gems. The focus track, “Losalamitoslatinfunklovesong,” reimagines Gene Harris’s Latin-fusion cut through a Bossa Nova lens.
Elements of Life — ‘Maria Fumaca / Giant Steps (Tito Puente Tribute)’ 7″
(BBE Music)
Another must own 7inch released in late 2025 — Louie Vega’s Elements of Life return with Maria Fumaça / Giant Steps (Tito Puente Tribute), a powerful double-sided single release celebrating Latin jazz and soulful fusion. Reimagining Banda Black Rio’s Brazilian classic and John Coltrane’s timeless standard, Vega and his all-star ensemble deliver lush orchestration, infectious percussion, and vibrant energy—while honoring the legacy of the late great Tito Puente.
