BeatCaffeine’s Weekly Record Rundown Oct 31, 2025
Catching up on some essential releases over the last couple of weeks — this edition of BeatCaffeine’s Weekly Record Rundown highlight’s the superb debut Brazilian flavored album from Babo Moreno, the incredible collaborative EP featuring Brian Jackson, Masters at Work, Omar and others, and the return of two prominent UK-based groups that have released brand new albums, Ruby Rushton and Da Lata.
Babo Moreno — ‘s/t’
(Matsuka)
After collaborating with iconic artists such as Sault, Jacob Collier, Terry Callier, Alfa Mist, Jalen Ngonda, and Airto Moreira, London-based Fabio De Oliveira steps into the spotlight under his new alias, Babo Moreno, with a brilliant self-titled debut album. The project stands at the forefront of a new generation of British-Brazilian instrumental music that is making a strong impact on the scene, blending jazz, Brazilian-rooted rhythms and percussion, and Balearic grooves. The recording features an outstanding lineup of musicians, including Dennis Rollins (Maceo Parker, Monty Alexander), 2023 Mercury Prize winner Ife Ogunjobi (Ezra Collective), Gilli Lopes (Dom Salvador, Duduka Da Fonseca), and Tamar Osborn (Collocutor, Flock), with a special contribution from Baque Luar—a London-based collective of female and non-binary vocalists and percussionists. Great from start to finish, this is a strong debut outing and definitely one of the top albums of 2025.
Brian Jackson — ‘EP One’
(BBE Music)
A meeting of iconic musical minds: jazz legend, multi-instrumentalist, and longtime Gil Scott-Heron collaborator Brian Jackson joins forces with pioneering house duo Masters at Work (Louie Vega and Kenny Dope) to reimagine the 1974 jazz-funk classic “The Bottle,” featuring UK soul great Omar. Masters at Work elevate the track with a vibrant new production that preserves its core groove while transforming it into a modern dancefloor masterpiece. Released as part of an expansive 2xVinyl EP, the project also includes a number of dub versions of “The Bottle,” along with a fresh take on “Winter in America,” featuring Rich Medina, and a soulful downtempo rendition of “New York City.” This serves as the first preview of Brian Jackson’s highly anticipated 3xLP album, Now More Than Ever.
Ruby Rushton — ‘Legacy!’
(22a)
One of the UK’s most accomplished jazz quartets, Ruby Rushton—led by multi-instrumentalist Tenderlonious (aka Ed Cawthorne) and keyboardist Aidan Shepherd, alongside trumpeter Nick Walters and drummer Tim Carnegie—returns with an impressive new release on the 22a label titled Legacy!. This 10-track recording, marking the group’s fifth studio album, captures them at their creative peak, highlighting each musician’s virtuosic abilities alongside Tenderlonious’s refined production. Recorded over four days, the session blends layered horn and flute lines with dynamic rhythms and captivating melodies. It stands out as one of the finest jazz albums of the year.
Da Lata — ‘Edge of Blue’
(Da Lata Music)
London’s Da Lata, an eclectic project led by multi-instrumentalist and producer Chris Franck alongside legendary DJ Patrick Forge, returns with what is arguably their most complete album to date, Edge of Blue. Continuing the project’s foundational blend of Brazilian and jazz influences, this superb 10-track recording represents an evolution in the group’s sound and songwriting. It features lush textures, Tropicalia and Balearic-inspired grooves, and, for the first time, Franck’s own vocals. Flowing seamlessly from track to track, the album stands as a richly cohesive and sonically unified work from start to finish.
