Over the past 20 years, Nostalgia 77 has been the eclectic work of UK producer Ben Lamdin, exploring the forward-thinking sounds of jazz, soul, and electronic music. Lamdin reunites with longtime collaborator and arranger Riaan Vosloo to release arguably the project’s best album to date in The Loneliest Flower In The Village.

Out now on the always incredible Jazzman label, this 9-track recording fuses together the perfect blend of spiritual deep jazz grooves, haunting melodies, and South African influences. The album features a mix of both originals and a number of standout covers, including Chris McGregor’s “Dakar,” Abdullah Ibrahim’s “Ishmael,” and Sun Ra’s “Love in Outer Space”.

Performing on the record is Gareth Lockrane(flute), James Allsop(tenor saxophone), Alex Bonney(trumpet), longtime 77 stalwart Riaan Vosloo(bass), Ross Stanley(piano and organ) and Tim Giles(drums). The session was ultimately birthed out of COVID and the strong desire for the ensemble to just be in the same room and perform together again.

With Lamdin pulling together a fantastic group of musicians and revisiting Nostalgia 77’s early jazz-inspired roots, he has produced one the early standout recordings of 2023.

Nostalgia 77 — ‘The Loneliest Flower in the Village’
(Jazzman Records)

1. Dakar
2. Ishmael
3. The Sun is Big
4. The Hooper
5. Flower
6. Love in Outer Space
7. Folk Tune
8. Foothills
9. The Loneliest Flower in the Village

BUY RECORD

• Jazz
• Spiritual Jazz