Category: FEATURED RELEASES

John Carroll Kirby — Septet

LA-based producer/pianist John Carroll Kirby releases brilliant new cosmic jazz LP ‘Septet’ on Stones Throw

Los Angeles-based composer, producer, and pianist John Carroll Kirby, who has made a strong name for himself over the last several years collaborating with everyone from Solange (produced three tracks on A Seat At The Table, and featured on When I Get Home), and Blood Orange, to Frank Ocean, Miley Cyrus and many others. On top of these high-profile collaborative works, Kirby has also released a number of incredible albums on his own via the Stones Throw label, and he returns with arguably his best album to date, titled Septet.

Gerald Cleaver — Griots

Prolific Detroit jazz drummer Gerald Cleaver releases brilliant experimental electronic album ‘Griots’

Highly accomplished Detroit-born drummer Gerald Cleaver, who has been a staple among the New York jazz scene performing in forward-thinking groups with artists like Matthew Shipp, William Parker, Michael Formanek, Chris Lightcap, Joshua Abrams, Craig Taborn, Steve Swell and many others, returns with an experimental new album, titled Griots, that explores the depths of electronic music.

Sneaky Jesus — For Joseph Riddle

Rising Poland jazz quintet Sneaky Jesus releases superb debut album ‘For Joseph Riddle’

Over the last several years, Poland has produced some of today’s most forward-thinking and innovative jazz artists and ensembles like EABS, Wojtek Mazolewski, Piotr Damasiewicz, and Bloto to just name a few. We can now add the Wrocław-based Sneaky Jesus to that last list, as the Polish quintet has just released a superb debut album, titled For Joseph Riddle on the South London label Shapes Of Rhythm.

Wildflower — Better Times

Innovative trio Wildflower release brilliant new recording ‘Better Times’ on Tropic of Love

The innovative London-based trio, featuring bassist and founding member of Ill Considered Leon Brichard, saxophonist Idris Rahman (Soothsayers), and drummer Tom Skinner (Sons of Kemet), have followed up last year’s outstanding album Season 2, with a brilliant new four-track EP, titled Better Times. This also marks the debut release on notable London-based Portuguese DJ Mafalda Daniel‘s new label Tropic of Love Music.

BeatCaffeine Recommendations — Record Store Day 2021

BeatCaffeine’s Record Store Day 2021 ‘Drop 1’ Recommendations

As we move into the warmer months of summer, it’s great to see that many of the record shops that were either closed for over a year and/or only doing online sales are finally opening up again. In my opinion, it doesn’t get much better than a Saturday trip (or any day really) to the local record shop(s). Somewhat similar to last year, this year’s typical annual Record Store Day has been broken up into not just one, but two Saturdays (or what is being referred to as “Drop 1” & “Drop 2”) on June 12th and July 17th.

Yelfris Valdés — For The One ... Remixed

Yelfris Valdés breakthrough 2019 debut ‘For The Ones…’ gets remixed by Quantic, LCSM, Osunlade, K15 and others

In 2019, Cuban-born London-residing trumpeter Yelfris Valdés released his highly praised debut full-length album For The Ones … (named BeatCaffeine’s ‘2019 Album of The Year‘ & one of the ‘Jazz Albums of the 2010s‘ ). The incredible ten-track recording combines his Cuban roots and Yoruba traditions mixed with London-influenced jazz and electronic music. Now, through the assistance of some of the most forward-thinking producers, the dancefloor heat gets turned up tenfold as this breakthrough recording gets the remix treatment on For The Ones … Remixed.

Jose Mauro — A Viagem Das Horas

Far Out Recordings releases José Mauro’s 1970 forgotten Brazilian masterpiece ‘A Viagem Das Horas’

In what comes with a remarkable backstory, London’s Far Out Recordings has reissued for the first time ever, the 1970 forgotten masterpiece from Brazilian composer, singer, and guitarist José Mauro, titled A Viagem Das Horas. This exciting new issue of the recording also includes three previously unreleased and unheard tracks from the original studio sessions.

Color De Tropico Vol 2

El Palmas Music releases Vol.2 of their brilliant ‘Color de Trópico’ series featuring the sounds of 60s & 70s-era Venezuela

Following the release of last year’s incredible Color de Trópico compilation (which made the list of BeatCaffeine’s “Favorite Compilations of 2020“), the Barcelona-based label El Palmas Music returns with the highly-anticipated second volume of the series, further shining a light on some of the most obscure gems out of Venezuela during the sixties and seventies.