Category: FEATURED RELEASES

Da Lata — Jungle Kitten

London’s Da Lata covers Manfredo Fest’s Brazilian fusion classic “Jungle Kitten” on brilliant new single

The London-based Afro-Brazilian soulful jazz duo known as Da Lata, featuring multi-instrumentalist and producer Chris Franck and legendary DJ and producer Patrick Forge (Dingwalls) have returned with an incredible new twelve-inch single featuring new renditions of two essential Brazilian jazz dance classics in Manfredo Fest’s 1979 “Jungle Kitten” and Raffaela Renzulli Ensemble’s 1987 “Asking Eyes”.

James Brandon Lewis — Jesup Wagon

NYC saxophonist James Brandon Lewis & Red Lily Quintet release astonishing new album ‘Jesup Wagon’

Over the past decade, New York City based tenor saxophonist and composer James Brandon Lewis has made his mark as one of the leading and most cutting-edge artists in jazz. Voted “Rising Star Tenor Saxophonist” in the 2020 DownBeat Magazine International Critic’s Poll, Lewis very much carries on the torch of those great saxophonists that came before him, like John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Eric Dolphy, Albert Ayler, Pharoah Sanders and others. He has just released his highly-anticipated new album with his group the Red Lily Quintet, titled Jesup Wagon on the Brooklyn-based AUM Fidelity label.

Alfa Mist — Bring Backs

UK pianist & producer Alfa Mist returns with superb new groove-oriented jazz album ‘Bring Backs’

From his collaborative work with Yussef Dayes, 44th Move with Richard Spaven, and a number of breakthrough recordings of his own, including his highly acclaimed 2017 debut Antiphon and stellar follow-up Structuralism, the London-based producer, self-taught pianist, and rapper Alfa Mist has become one of the leading artists among today’s UK jazz scene. He returns with a brilliant new groove-oriented jazz full-length album, titled Bring Backs.

Kenny Mann with Liquid Pleasure

Mad About Records reissues 1980 modern soul “Holy Grail” album from Kenny Mann with Liquid Pleasure

After a number of years of re-releasing some of the best and most obscure recordings, you can basically guarantee that if Portugal’s Mad About Records is putting something out, it’s going to be absolutely incredible. That string of essential releases continues with their recent reissue of the 1980 modern soul full-length gem from vocalist and keyboardist Kenny Mann and his group Liquid Pleasure.

GALXTC - Life Is A Mirror (Space Grapes)

GALXTC release incredible new Brit-funk twelve-inch ‘Life Is A Mirror’ on Space Grapes label

With the massive new album from STR4TA and other recent releases from Koji Ono (w/ members of Atmosfear), The Expansions (2018 track “Mariposa” specifically) and others, it feels like their is bit of a Brit-funk revitalization that is brewing. The momentum to take this DIY new-wave-jazz-funk sound, that originated in the UK during the late 70s and early 80s, into the future continues with an incredible new twelve-inch single, titled ‘Life Is A Mirror’, from the French group GALXTC.

Kaidi Tatham — An Insight To All Minds

Broken Beat innovator Kaidi Tatham releases brilliant cosmic jazz album ‘An Insight To All Minds’

Following last year’s superb collaborative EP with Andrew Ashong and the reissue of his groundbreaking 2008 sophomore solo recording In Search Of Hope, pioneering producer and keyboardist Kaidi Tatham, who has made his mark as one the most innovative broken beat artists over the past two decades, has just released an absolutely incredible new cosmic jazz album, titled An Insight To All Minds on First Word Records.

Damon Locks & Black Monument Ensemble — NOW

Damon Locks & Black Monument Ensemble return with incredible new powerful spiritual jazz album ‘NOW’

Over the last couple of years, the Chicago-based collective Black Monument Ensemble, led by visual/sound artist, and producer Damon Locks have released some of the most powerful and forward-thinking music. Their 2019 debut, Where Future Unfolds was arguably the best album to come out that year, and last year, the group put out the timely and very much needed uplifting track “Stay Beautiful”. Locks and the stellar ensemble have returned to release an absolutely brilliant new sophomore record on International Anthem, titled NOW.

Kuji Ono — Ricochet / Maloja Pass

Koji Ono teams up with members of Atmosfear on great new Brit-funk 12″ single

Thanks to Gilles Peterson and Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick’s highly acclaimed STR4TA project, the late 70s-early 80s UK-based DIY new wave jazz-funk sound, known as Brit-funk is beginning to see a nice resurgence. A number of other artists and projects also seem to be resurfacing as of late, including French multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer Koji Ono, who recently released a brilliant new twelve-inch single on the Paris-based label Chuwanaga. Receiving some assistance from two key players of the pioneering band Atmosfear, this new single features legendary bassist and founding member Lester Batchelor (aka “LB”), and the group’s current drummer Roy Mistry.