Category: FEATURED RELEASES

Various — Spiritual Jazz: Private

Jazzman Records unearths rare private press gems on Spiritual Jazz 14

Over the span of the last two decades, in which Jazzman Records has been issuing their incredible Spiritual Jazz series, the London-based label has issued a number of volumes that have focused on some of the most groundbreaking and prolific jazz labels, including Blue Note, Prestige, Impulse!, and Steeplechase. For the latest release, titled Spiritual Jazz 14: Private, label owner Jazzman Gerald dives deep into the well and unearths rare gems that didn’t come out on a label and were ultimately released as a private press recording.

Max Beesley’s High Vibes — Zeus

Acid Jazz pioneer Max Beesley returns with long-awaited ‘High Vibes’ debut full-length

UK-based multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer Max Beesley, who has performed alongside notable artists like Incognito, The Brand New Heavies, Jamiroquai, Paul Weller and others, has returned with his ‘High Vibes’ and releases the project’s debut full-length on Légère Recordings, titled Zeus. This marks the first release for the project since he put out two classic 12inches under the same alias on Boogie Back Records during the height of the acid jazz movement in 1993-1994.

Matthew Halswell — An Ever Changing View

UK trumpeter Matthew Halsall releases new explorative album ‘An Ever Changing View’

With over 15 releases to his name since 2008, and the running of his fantastic label Gondwana Records, composer, trumpeter and bandleader Matthew Halsall has been one the most active and prominent jazz artists of his generation. It seems like with each release, the Manchester-based musician continues to push his sound to new heights, and that certainly is the case with his latest brilliant full-length, titled An Ever Changing View.

Menagerie — The Shores of Infinity

Lance Ferguson led spiritual jazz group Menagerie return with brilliant new album ‘The Shores Of Infinity’

The Australian 9-piece group, Menagerie follows up their breakthrough 2021 full-length Many Worlds with arguably their best recording to date, titled The Shores Of Infinity. Marking their third release for the London-based Freestyle Records label, this is one of the many notable projects led by producer, songwriter, guitarist, DJ and recording artist Lance Ferguson (The Bamboos, Rare Groove Spectrum).

Tenderlonious — You Know I Care

Tenderlonious explores influential jazz classics on ‘You Know I Care’

For about a decade, UK-based producer, composer, multi-instrumentalist and 22a label boss, Ed ‘Tenderlonious’ Cawthorne has been one of today’s most forward-thinking artists, incorporating jazz, house, electronic beats, Latin, classical Indian music and more into his recordings. For his latest release, titled You Know I Care, he focuses his energy on exploring the classic jazz material that has inspired him over the years.

Yussef Dayes — Black Classical Music

Visionary London drummer Yussef Dayes releases debut full-length ‘Black Classical Music’

Ever since his collaborative breakthrough Black Focus album with Kamaal Williams back in 2016, Yussef Dayes has quickly become one the leading musicians among London’s surging jazz scene. Since that time, the drummer, composer and bandleader has released a number of outstanding EPs, singles, live sessions, and additional collaborative efforts. Now he has just released his highly-anticipated full-length debut, titled Black Classical Music on Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood label.

Jaimie Branch — Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((world war))

International Anthem releases incredible posthumous album from the late great trumpeter Jaimie Branch

Late last August, the music world was stunned and saddened when the heartbreaking news circulated of Jaimie Branch’s sudden passing. At that point, the adventurous trumpeter and composer was one of leading young artists among the jazz scene. On the one year anniversary of her death, International Anthem, which is responsible for all of her previous releases, has put out Jaimie’s final album with her Fly or Die quartet, titled Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((world war)).

Colin Curtis Presents GeeW and Stefano De Santis

Colin Curtis presents superb new EPs from GeeW and Stefano De Santis

Over the last couple of years, legendary UK jazz dance and Northern soul DJ Colin Curtis has been issuing some superb limited-edition vinyl-only EPs under his Colin Curtis Presents imprint label. These releases fall perfectly in-line with the kind of dancefloor-focused jazz music that is prominent on his weekly Sunday Jazz Dance Fusion radio show for The Hitmix 107.5 FM. Recently, he has added two more incredible titles to the growing discography in GeeW‘s Supernova EP and Stefano De Santis A Kind of Prayer EP.