Record Shopping Etiquette
The do’s, the don’ts, and best practices when it comes to shopping for vinyl.
The highly-talented South London ensemble, Speakers Corner Quartet, who got their start in 2006 as the house band at the legendary Brixton spoken word/hip hop night Speakers Corner, and later as a backing group for some of today’s most forward-thinking artists (Sampha, Kae Tempest, Tirzah, Dean Blunt, the late MF DOOM, and Lianne La Havas), have stepped out on their own with a brilliant debut album featuring an A-list of special guest collaborators, titled Further Out Than The Edge.
Japanese percussionist Takashi Nakazato, who has performed with notable groups like Jazztronik, Kyoto Jazz Massive, Jaribu Afrobeat Arkestra, and others, returns with his third release for Steve Conry’s Manchester-based Ten Lovers Music label, titled Secret Society EP.
Following a string of sought-after 12inch releases and re-dits on labels like Barefoot Beats, Cocada Music, Kampana and others, Pará-based producer Bernardo Pinheiro has recently released an incredible new rendition of Marcos Valle and Azymuth’s classic jazz dance gem “Virabrequim”, from the 1973 soundtrack “O Fabuloso Fittipaldi”.
Two of Astigmatic Records’ most adventurous and groundbreaking artists, in Wrocław, Poland-based spiritual ensemble EABS (Electro-Acoustic Beat Sessions), and Lahore, Pakistan trio Jaubi have teamed-up to release an incredible new full-length, titled In Search of a Better Tomorrow.
Since the release of his 2020 EP Rough Cuts, London-based Israeli-born pianist and producer Yoni Mayraz has been making a strong name for himself, actively performing at numerous major venues and festivals around the world including London’s legendary Ronnie Scott’s and The Jazz Cafe. He just released his debut LP on Astigmatic Records, titled Dybbuk Tse! (which comes from Jewish folklore, meaning a command to remove a malevolent wandering spirit from a possessed body).
Over the last decade, London-based Adam Scrimshire, who on his recordings simply goes by Scrimshire, has made his mark as one of today’s most forward-thinking producers. As a direct response to the frustration and anger that he felt in October 2022 related to the ongoing failures of the UK government, along with the horrible treatment of refugees, lower income individuals and more, he teamed up with an impressive cast of UK musicians and recorded this remarkably passionate new album, titled Paroxysm (which means: any sudden, uncontrollable outburst; a fit of emotion or action).
One of Australia’s most creative and upcoming versatile drummers and bandleaders Alexander Flood has recently released his third, and arguably his best recording to date in Oscillate off the German-based label Jakarta Records.
For what seems like at least a year now, music from Los Angeles-based community choir The Voices of Creation, led by vocalist, songwriter, arranger, and producer Jimetta Rose has seen some strong rotation from the likes of some notable DJs and radio broadcasters including Kev Beadle, Colin Curtis, Gilles Peterson, David Paterson and others. The group’s highly-anticipated debut album, titled How Good It Is has recently been released on London’s Day Dreamer label (subsidiary to Night Dreamer Records).
Following a string of essential releases in 2022, legendary UK jazz and Northern soul DJ Colin Curtis continues to add to his impressive “Presents” series by putting out EPs from two acts that are at the forefront of the current UK jazz dance scene in Roderick Stewart and Ben Sinkie-led Juju ensemble, and producer and percussionist Glenn Worthington, aka GeeW.
Over the past decade, South Africa has been a hotbed for some of the most forward-thinking artists and innovative music. One of the artists that has been at the forefront of this scene is composer, pianist, and vocalist Bokani Dyer, who was featured on the highly-acclaimed 2021 compilation Indaba Is. He has just released a superb and extensive new album on Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood Recordings, titled Radio Sechaba.