Record Shopping Etiquette
The do’s, the don’ts, and best practices when it comes to shopping for vinyl.
LA-based producer/pianist John Carroll Kirby returns with a new cosmic jazz gem ‘Blowout’
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.
London pianist Greg Foat teams up with ambient maestro Gigi Masin for cosmic full-length ‘Dolphin’
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.
Now-Again Records reissues Holy Grail album from Alvin Batiste’s Southern University Jazz Ensemble
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.
Italian spiritual jazz dance pioneer Nicola Conte releases superb new album ‘Umoja’ on Far Out Recordings
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.
South London collective Speakers Corner Quartet release highly collaborative debut ‘Further Out Than The Edge’
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 releases brilliant new EP on Ten Lovers Music
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.
Bernardo Pinheiro puts out new rendition of Marcos Valle and Azymuth’s “Virabrequim”
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”.
Polish cosmic jazz ensemble EABS teams up with Pakistan trio Jaubi
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.
Rising London-based pianist & producer Yoni Mayraz releases debut LP ‘Dybbuk Tse!’
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).
London’s Scrimshire channels frustration and anger on brilliant new album ‘Paroxysm’
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).
