Record Shopping Etiquette
The do’s, the don’ts, and best practices when it comes to shopping for vinyl.
Vibration Black Finger releases adventurous new spiritual jazz album on Jazzman Records
Highly accomplished UK-based DJ and producer, Lascelle ‘Lascelles’ Gordon, who was also a founding member of legendary acid-jazz group The Brand New Heavies, returns with a brilliant new Vibration Black Finger full-length album on Jazzman Records, titled Can You See What I’m Trying to Say.
Soul-Jazz legend Roy Ayers releases incredible new album on Jazz Is Dead
Soul-jazz legend Roy Ayers, who made his mark in the seventies and early eighties with classic recordings like He’s Coming, Ubiquity, Red Black & Green, Vibrations, Everybody Loves The Sunshine, and so many others, has teamed up with Los Angeles based producers/multi-instrumentalists Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad (of also Tribe Called Quest) to release a brand new album on the newly formed Jazz Is Dead label.
BeatCaffeine guest mix featured on 91.3FM WYEP Dubmission radio show
On Saturday, June 20th, Kerem Gokmen invited to me to put together a guest mix for his weekly Dubmission show on the Pittsburgh, PA based independent radio station 91.3FM WYEP. Given that it was a little while since my last mix, I was honored and excited to compile a mix for this broadcast.
SAULT releases groundbreaking album ‘Untitled (Black Is)’, speaking out against racism & police brutality
The mysterious group SAULT took 2019 by storm with two breakthrough albums 5 and 7. Over time, we have learned that this foward-thinking eclectic UK-based collective consists of producer Dean “Inflo” Wynton Josiah, vocalist Cleo Sol, and rapper/vocalist Melisa Young (aka Kid Sister). The trio has appropriately on Juneteenth, put out their third album Untitled (Black Is), which a powerful and timely release that speaks directly to the Black Lives Matter movement.
Listen Here: Angela Davis & Terri Lyne Carrington speak to the impact of Nina Simone’s 1970 classic ‘Black Gold’
For this week’s Listen Here post, we are sharing a fascinating and informative episode from the Classic Album Sundays and Studio 360 podcast series This Woman’s Work, which highlights classic albums by female artists who have made a lasting impact on music and pop culture. On this episode, iconic activist and scholar Angela Davis, and drummer/composer Terri Lyne Carrington discuss Nina Simone’s 1970 classic album Black Gold, and it’s significant impact during the civil rights movement in the US.
IG Culture’s LCSM releases Afro-futuristic cosmic jazz soundtrack ‘Earthbound’
UK broken beat legend and producer IG Culture follows up last year’s breakthrough EP1 release under his LCSM ‘Likwid Continual Space Motion’ alias, with a groundbreaking new 18-track Afro-futuristic soundtrack, titled Earthbound on the Amsterdam-based label Super-Sonic Jazz.
London jazz quartet Ruby Rushton release new jazz dance 7inch single ‘Sun Khosi’
The London-based quartet Ruby Rushton, led by composer, flautist, and producer Tenderlonious (aka Ed Cawthorne) and featuring trumpeter Nick Walters, keyboardist Aidan Shepherd, and drummer Tim Carnegie have just released a new limited-edition seven-inch single featuring two incredible Afro-tinged jazz-funk tracks including “Sun Khosi” and “Chrysalis”.
Spiritual jazz greats Kahil El’Zabar & David Murray team up on brilliant new album ‘Spirit Groove’
Spiritual jazz legend and multi-percussionist Kahil El’Zabar teams up again with longtime collaborator and tenor saxophone great David Murray on a brilliant new recording on Spiritmuse Records, titled Spirit Groove.
Listen Here: Artform Radio w/ Adrian Younge & special guest Brian Jackson
As a way to help promote those that are speaking out against racism, I am starting a new ongoing feature on BeatCaffeine called “Listen Here” (named after Eddie Harris’ 1968 soul jazz classic) where I will share recommended media, literature, and other resourceful information that is addressing this issue. These recommendations will include podcasts, radio shows, books, art exhibits, anti-racist organizations and more.
Ostinato Records releases first ever international album from Djibouti by Group RTD
New York’s Ostinato Records has recently released a new album from Djibouti-based ensemble Group RTD, titled The Dancing Devils of Djibout. This recording represents the first ever international record to come out of the small East African country.
Black Lives Matter
Over the past week, I haven’t posted much on this site. I’ve chosen to instead take a step back, listen, learn, understand my privilege as a white man who is very immersed in black music and culture, and think about the ways I can fight against racial injustices and police brutality. I know I can do more, I need to do more, and I will do more.
Jazz great Gary Bartz teams up with London’s Maisha on new Night Dreamer recording
Legendary saxophonist Gary Bartz has been at the forefront of some of the greatest recordings over the past six decades, performing alongside Art Blakey, Miles Davis, Pharoah Sanders, Woody Shaw, McCoy Tyner, Jackie McLean and numerous others, while also putting out many groundbreaking records with his own bands, including the spiritual jazz ensemble NTU Troop, and collaborating with the Mizell Brothers on the jazz-funk anthem “Music Is My Sanctuary”. On his latest recording, the jazz great teams up with leading UK group Maisha on a a special straight-to-disc session for the London-based label, Night Dreamer.
French saxophonist Laurent Bardainne’s new project Tigre d’eau Douce release brilliant debut
Paris-based composer, bandleader and tenor saxophonist Laurent Bardainne, who has Pharrell Williams, Cassius, Tony Allen and many others, has released the debut full-length of his latest quintet project Tigre d’eau Douce, titled Love Is Everywhere on Heavenly Sweetness.
