Record Shopping Etiquette
The do’s, the don’ts, and best practices when it comes to shopping for vinyl.
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.
Matasuna Records reissues two Latin funk classics from Nico Gomez And His Afro Percussion Inc’s 1971 ‘Ritual’
The Berlin-based label Matasuna Records has recently put out a pair of 7inch releases featuring two essential Latin funk gems from Nico Gomez And His Afro Percussion Inc’s “holy grail” classic Ritual.
Demos from Ohio-based soul-funk collective 24-Carat Black released on new record ‘III’
Numero Group has unearthed and recently released what looks to be the final demo material ever recorded from the now legendary seventies-era soul group 24-Carat Black, simply titled III.
Jazzman Records celebrates saxophonist Muriel Grossmann’s early recordings on great new compilation
Even though Austrian saxophonist and composer Muriel Grossmann has released a dozen albums over the past thirteen years, it seems that she is just beginning to receive the global-acclaim that she ultimately deserves. As a follow-up to two brilliant releases over the past couple of years for the Estonia-based RR GEMS label, in Golden Rule (2018) and Reverence (2019), UK’s Jazzman Records has released a great new compilation highlighting some of Grossmann’s earlier recordings.
London’s 2000Black label releases mysterious cosmic jazz dance recording ‘Project X’
Based out of London and run by highly-acclaimed producer Dego (Pavel Kostiuk, 4hero), the 200Black label collective ( named after a 1975 Roy Ayers’ recording) have recently released a brilliant jazz-influenced dancefloor recording from a mysterious group that goes by Project X.
