Record Shopping Etiquette
The do’s, the don’ts, and best practices when it comes to shopping for vinyl.
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.
London’s Da Lata covers Manfredo Fest’s Brazilian fusion classic “Jungle Kitten” on brilliant new single
The London-based Afro-Brazilian soulful jazz duo known as Da Lata, featuring multi-instrumentalist and producer Chris Franck and legendary DJ and producer Patrick Forge (Dingwalls) have returned with an incredible new twelve-inch single featuring new renditions of two essential Brazilian jazz dance classics in Manfredo Fest’s 1979 “Jungle Kitten” and Raffaela Renzulli Ensemble’s 1987 “Asking Eyes”.
NYC saxophonist James Brandon Lewis & Red Lily Quintet release astonishing new album ‘Jesup Wagon’
Over the past decade, New York City based tenor saxophonist and composer James Brandon Lewis has made his mark as one of the leading and most cutting-edge artists in jazz. Voted “Rising Star Tenor Saxophonist” in the 2020 DownBeat Magazine International Critic’s Poll, Lewis very much carries on the torch of those great saxophonists that came before him, like John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Eric Dolphy, Albert Ayler, Pharoah Sanders and others. He has just released his highly-anticipated new album with his group the Red Lily Quintet, titled Jesup Wagon on the Brooklyn-based AUM Fidelity label.
UK pianist & producer Alfa Mist returns with superb new groove-oriented jazz album ‘Bring Backs’
From his collaborative work with Yussef Dayes, 44th Move with Richard Spaven, and a number of breakthrough recordings of his own, including his highly acclaimed 2017 debut Antiphon and stellar follow-up Structuralism, the London-based producer, self-taught pianist, and rapper Alfa Mist has become one of the leading artists among today’s UK jazz scene. He returns with a brilliant new groove-oriented jazz full-length album, titled Bring Backs.
Mad About Records reissues 1980 modern soul “Holy Grail” album from Kenny Mann with Liquid Pleasure
After a number of years of re-releasing some of the best and most obscure recordings, you can basically guarantee that if Portugal’s Mad About Records is putting something out, it’s going to be absolutely incredible. That string of essential releases continues with their recent reissue of the 1980 modern soul full-length gem from vocalist and keyboardist Kenny Mann and his group Liquid Pleasure.
Jazz Room Records reissues obscure 1964 cool jazz dance 7inch ‘Le Monocle Rit Jaune’ by Michel Magne
Fresh off of the reissue release of Khan Jamal’s 1984 spiritual jazz “holy grail” Infinity, Paul Murphy’s Jazz Room Records has just reissued the highly obscure 1964 cool jazz 7inch Le Monocle Rit Jaune by highly prolific French film composer Michel Magne.
GALXTC release incredible new Brit-funk twelve-inch ‘Life Is A Mirror’ on Space Grapes label
With the massive new album from STR4TA and other recent releases from Koji Ono (w/ members of Atmosfear), The Expansions (2018 track “Mariposa” specifically) and others, it feels like their is bit of a Brit-funk revitalization that is brewing. The momentum to take this DIY new-wave-jazz-funk sound, that originated in the UK during the late 70s and early 80s, into the future continues with an incredible new twelve-inch single, titled ‘Life Is A Mirror’, from the French group GALXTC.
Hot Mule releases retrospective of Guinea-Bissau activist and poet José Carlos Schwarz & Le Cobiana Djazz
The Paris-based label Hot Mule, which has produced some of the best reissues over the past few years, has just released an incredible retrospective celebrating the music of poet and activist José Carlos Schwarz and his superb group Le Cobiana Djazz, who were highly influential and outspoken in the fight for the West African county of Guinea-Bissau’s independence during the 70s.
London’s Lord & Dego return with a brilliant new self-titled EP featuring heavy dose of boogie-fied jazz-funk
Broken Beat pioneers Denis “Dego” McFarlane of 4Hero and Matt Lord of the legendary Bugz In The Attic collective follow-up their outstanding 2018 collaborative debut release One Way To Another, with a brilliant new self-titled EP on the 2000 Black label.
