Record Shopping Etiquette
The do’s, the don’ts, and best practices when it comes to shopping for vinyl.
Innovative trio Wildflower release brilliant new recording ‘Better Times’ on Tropic of Love
The innovative London-based trio, featuring bassist and founding member of Ill Considered Leon Brichard, saxophonist Idris Rahman (Soothsayers), and drummer Tom Skinner (Sons of Kemet), have followed up last year’s outstanding album Season 2, with a brilliant new four-track EP, titled Better Times. This also marks the debut release on notable London-based Portuguese DJ Mafalda Daniel‘s new label Tropic of Love Music.
BeatCaffeine’s Record Store Day 2021 ‘Drop 1’ Recommendations
As we move into the warmer months of summer, it’s great to see that many of the record shops that were either closed for over a year and/or only doing online sales are finally opening up again. In my opinion, it doesn’t get much better than a Saturday trip (or any day really) to the local record shop(s). Somewhat similar to last year, this year’s typical annual Record Store Day has been broken up into not just one, but two Saturdays (or what is being referred to as “Drop 1” & “Drop 2”) on June 12th and July 17th.
Jazzman Records reissues Ron Everett’s 1977 obscure soul jazz holy grail ‘Glitter of The City’
One can make the argument, that the term “Holy Grail” is sometimes used a bit too loosely, however that certainly isn’t the case when applied to Ron Everett’s 1977 obscure soul jazz masterpiece Glitter Of The City. Originally self-released in 1977 on a shoestring budget, UK’s Jazzman Records has recently reissued the essential recording as a part of it’s ongoing superb Jazzman Holy Grail series.
Jazz Is Dead teams up with Brazilian great João Donato on latest release in the series
For the seventh release in what continues to be an absolutely brilliant Jazz Is Dead series, Los Angeles based producers/multi-instrumentalists Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad have teamed up with legendary Brazilian composer and pianist João Donato on a superb new full-length album.
Yelfris Valdés breakthrough 2019 debut ‘For The Ones…’ gets remixed by Quantic, LCSM, Osunlade, K15 and others
In 2019, Cuban-born London-residing trumpeter Yelfris Valdés released his highly praised debut full-length album For The Ones … (named BeatCaffeine’s ‘2019 Album of The Year‘ & one of the ‘Jazz Albums of the 2010s‘ ). The incredible ten-track recording combines his Cuban roots and Yoruba traditions mixed with London-influenced jazz and electronic music. Now, through the assistance of some of the most forward-thinking producers, the dancefloor heat gets turned up tenfold as this breakthrough recording gets the remix treatment on For The Ones … Remixed.
Strut releases Byard Lancaster’s 1992 soulful spiritual jazz album ‘My Pure Joy’ on vinyl for the first time
Following last year’s phenomenal compilation Soul Love Now and a number of revisited album releases from groundbreaking artists like Oneness Of Juju (aka Juju), Lon Moshe, and others, London’s Strut Records continues it’s ongoing spotlight on the now considered legendary Richmond, Virginia label Black Fire (run by Jimmy Gray) with a reissue of the late Philadelphia reedman Byard Lancaster’s 1992 soulful spiritual jazz recording My Pure Joy. Originally released on CD three years after it was recorded, due the label’s financial challenges, this marks the first time this album has ever been released on vinyl.
Far Out Recordings releases José Mauro’s 1970 forgotten Brazilian masterpiece ‘A Viagem Das Horas’
In what comes with a remarkable backstory, London’s Far Out Recordings has reissued for the first time ever, the 1970 forgotten masterpiece from Brazilian composer, singer, and guitarist José Mauro, titled A Viagem Das Horas. This exciting new issue of the recording also includes three previously unreleased and unheard tracks from the original studio sessions.
Bongo Joe presents incredible new Latin dance compilation curated by Coco Maria
With the warmer months and the ability to gather again upon us, Amsterdam-based label Bongo Joe and Worldwide FM radio DJ Coco María have teamed up to release one of the dance floor records of the summer with a brilliant new Afro-Latin compilation, titled Club Coco.
El Palmas Music releases Vol.2 of their brilliant ‘Color de Trópico’ series featuring the sounds of 60s & 70s-era Venezuela
Following the release of last year’s incredible Color de Trópico compilation (which made the list of BeatCaffeine’s “Favorite Compilations of 2020“), the Barcelona-based label El Palmas Music returns with the highly-anticipated second volume of the series, further shining a light on some of the most obscure gems out of Venezuela during the sixties and seventies.
New Belfast label Sounds Familiar kicks off ‘7 Inch Nails’ series with Broken Beat pioneer Kaidi Tatham
The brand new Belfast, Ireland-based label Sounds Familiar launches it’s “7 Inch Nails” series with two stunning tracks from Broken Beat pioneer and keyboard wiz Kaidi Tatham. This brilliant new release kicks off what will be a string of 7inch singles from the label featuring a number of extraordinary artists.
Explosive London-based quartet Sons of Kemet return with adventurous & collaborative album ‘Black To The Future’
The groundbreaking London-based two horn-two drummer quartet known as Sons of Kemet featuring saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings, tuba player Theon Cross, and drummers Tom Skinner and Edward Wakili-Hick have returned following their breakthrough 2018 Mercury Prize-nominated album Your Queen Is a Reptile, with their most adventurous and collaborative album to date, titled Black To The Future.
Melodies International ‘Record Club’ kicks off with two jazz dance classics selected by Four Tet
London-based reissue label Melodies International, run by Floating Points (aka Sam Shepherd) and Mafalda, have just launched their Melodies Record Club series featuring “mini compilations” in a twelve-inch format selected by notable DJs and artists. The series kicks off with a bang, with highly-acclaimed and innovative producer and DJ Four Tet (aka Kieran Hebden) selecting two peak-time jazz dance classics that he used to spin regularly at the now legendary Plastic People nightclub in London.
LA-based percussionist & producer Carlos Niño with a superb cast of musicians release cosmic ambient jazz masterpiece
You know that moment, often in a time of frustration or in a stressful state, when you are seeking for something to help transport you to another peaceful and meditative dimension? The prolific Los Angeles-based producer, percussionist, and DJ Carlos Niño and superb cast of musicians, many at the center of the creative music scene in Southern California, have provided that spiritual transportation through an absolute cosmic ambient jazz masterpiece recording, titled More Energy Fields, Current on Chicago’s International Anthem label.
