Record Shopping Etiquette
The do’s, the don’ts, and best practices when it comes to shopping for vinyl.
Since the release of the highly-acclaimed debut Eastern Flowers back in 2019, Stockholm-based composer and artist Sven Wunder has quickly built a very strong global following, releasing numerous recordings for both Mr. Bongo and his own label Piano Piano. In September, he will issue his fourth and arguably best full-length to date, titled Late Again.
After 20 years since the last volume was released, legendary German producer and DJ Rainer Trüby (formerly of A Forest Mighty Black) has just released the sixth compilation of his iconic Glücklich compilation series, unearthing rare Brazilian-influenced gems old and new from around the globe.
London’s Jazzman Records continues its incredible Holy Grail Series with a couple of new additions, including the extremely rare 1967 modal jazz gem Happiness Is… Takin’ Care of Natural Business… Dig? by San Francisco pianist Al Tanner and his trio.
Paul Murphy’s Jazz Room Records continues their string of must-own releases with the recent reissue of Japanese drummer Hideo Shiraki’s rare 1962 Brazilian jazz full-length, titled Hideo Shiraki Plays Bossa Nova.
On top of collaborating with some of the biggest names in music like Solange, Frank Ocean, Harry Styles and others, Los Angeles-based producer, composer, arranger and pianist John Carroll Kirby has been also making a name for himself over the last several years as a solo artist, releasing a number highly-acclaimed records under his own name for the Stones Throw label. He continues this remarkable string of impressive output with a superb new album, titled Blowout.
Highly-acclaimed London composer, producer and pianist Greg Foat returns with his second outstanding record of 2023 (see ‘Off-Piste‘), this time teaming up with Venetian ambient maestro Gigi Masin for a laid back cosmic full-length on the Strut label, titled Dolphin.
Eothen “Egon” Alapatt’s superb Now-Again Records has recently reissued the Southern University Jazz Ensemble’s very rare 1973 spiritual jazz “Holy Grail” record, titled Goes to Africa With Love. Originally given away as souvenirs at Southern University, this represents the first-ever commercial release of this album.
Since founding the Bari-based bohemian cultural movement and club night Fez at the dawn of the 90s, Italian producer, composer, guitarist, DJ, and bandleader Nicola Conte has been at the forefront of both today’s modern jazz dance and cosmic spiritual music scenes with 30 albums/EPs, 10 compilations and over 200 remixes to his name. He returns with a superb new album, titled Umoja on the London-based label Far Out Recordings.
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.