Record Shopping Etiquette
The do’s, the don’ts, and best practices when it comes to shopping for vinyl.
Building off the foundation of last year’s superb Fusion Global Sounds compilation release (included on BeatCaffeine’s Favorite Compilations of 2022), Favorite Recordings comes back with the second edition of the series, featuring eight obscure jazz-funk and fusion tracks produced between 1976 and 1984 in various parts of the world.
Chicago-based drummer Daniel Villarreal follows up last year’s breakthrough solo debut Panamá 77 with a superb new album on International Anthem, featuring guitarist Jeff Parker and bassist Anna Butterss, titled Lados B.
The London-based Night Dreamer label continues their string of incredible Direct-To-Disc recordings with arguably their best session to date, featuring Chicago multi-instrumentalist and composer Isaiah Collier with a superb group that includes gospel soul singer Jimetta Rose, AACM and former Art Ensemble of Chicago trumpet player Corey Wilkes and others, titled Parallel Universe.
For over 30 years, Mr Bongo label and record shop has been at the forefront of some of the most notable Brazilian, African, hip-hop, and Latin reissue releases. The UK-based label and record shop continue their high quality output of rare material as they launch their new Cuban Classic Series, beginning with the hard-to-find reissue of Grupo Los Yoyi’s 1977 fusion gem.
Following up their superb breakthrough 2022 debut album Transforma, the Italian-rooted Collettivo Immaginario, which is led by Italian-born Los Angeles-based drummer, producer and DJ Tommaso Cappellato, turn up the dancefloor heat on the group’s brand new limited-edition 12″ single Tempo Al Tempo.
Building off the foundation of his previous Finnish collaborative recordings for the Jazzaggression label, London-based composer and cosmic jazz keyboard wiz Greg Foat has once again teamed up with a superb cast of Finland-based musicians, including legendary saxophonist Eero Koivistoinen on a brilliant brand new album titled Feathers.
For over six decades, there has arguably not been a more pioneering duo that has brought together the sounds of Brazilian jazz, fusion, and samba more so than Airto Moreira and Flora Purim. Through their own collaborations and individual works, the legendary musical tag-team and longtime life partners have over time gained a vast global fan base that includes everything from UK’s jazz-funk and jazz dance scenes, to experimental jazz and Brazilian-rooted music fans. This month, the London-based label BBE is releasing the highly anticipated 5LP Box Set, titled A Celebration: 60 Years – Sounds, Dreams & Other Stories, highlighting some of their most notable tracks.
Since the release of the series’ first compilation back in 2018, in addition to two follow-up compilation recordings and a growing number of select album reissues, BBE’s J Jazz has become the most definite collection exploring innovative and rare Japanese jazz. Curated by Tony Higgins and Mike Peden, the highly anticipated fourth compilation dives deep into one of the biggest and most diverse labels in Japan, Nippon Columbia.
Over the last few years, trumpeter, composer and bandleader Nick Walters has become one of the prominent figures among the creative London jazz scene. Following up on the superb releases that focused on the incorporation of traditional Indian sounds (Padmāsana), and the exploration of sounds from space (Singularity), he returns with a revitalization of his sextet, who last appeared together on his 2019 album Active Imagination, with a brilliant new recording on his D.O.T. label, titled Marine Mood.
In much anticipation, the Ottawa-based collective Atlantis Jazz Ensemble return with a brilliant new recording on Marlow Records, titled Celestial Suite. Originally spawning as a project by pianist Pierre Chrétien and alto saxophonist Zakari Frantz of The Souljazz Orchestra back in 2013, this represents the group’s first release since their 2016 breakthrough album Ocean Suite.