Legendary Brazilian jazz-funk and fusion band Azymuth have teamed up with Los Angeles based producers/multi-instrumentalists Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad to release a brilliant new full-length album on the Younge and Muhammad’s Jazz Is Dead label.

Consistently pushing the boundaries of their own music forward, this new recording sees the highly influential trio, featuring drummer Ivan “Mamão” Conti, bassist Alex Malheiros, and keyboardist Kiko Continentino (who joined the band in 2012) at their best. The album strongly recaptures the essence of the group’s seventies-era sound that led to groundbreaking records like Azimüth (1975), Águia Não Come Mosca (1977), and Light As A Feather (1979), while still incorporating a fresh modern-feel. Over the eight-track session, the group nicely blends jazz-funk grooves, with psychedelic and cosmic tones, wah-wah guitar and warm analog keys melodies, backed by Brazilian-influence rhythms and percussion.

As with all Jazz Is Dead releases, this album was recorded at Younge’s all analog Linear Labs studio in Los Angeles, and was a collaborative writing and recording process with Younge and Muhammad also playing a wide array of instruments on each track.

Overall, this is another great release from what has been a very impressive series so far. Through this collaboration and creative platform, Azymuth is able to elevate their sound once again, and further show us why they are considered by many as the greatest Brazilian fusion band of our time.

Azymuth, Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad — ‘JID 004’
(Jazz Is Dead)

1. Ao Redor Do Samba
2. Sumaré
3. Cat Jump
4. Fall Afternoon
5. Friendship Samba
6. Apocalíptico
7. Pulando Corda
8. Quiet Storm

BUY RECORD

• Brazilian
• Jazz Funk
• New Releases