Record Shopping Etiquette
The do’s, the don’ts, and best practices when it comes to shopping for vinyl.
The Maghreban & Idris Rahman release electronic version of Steve Reid’s “Lions of Juda”
As a contribution to help support the Steve Reid Foundation, which is a non-profit organization aimed at helping musicians who are in crisis, the UK-based beat maker/producer The Maghreban (aka Ayman Rostom) and saxophonist Idris Rahman (Wildflower, Ill Considered, Soothsayers) have released a new electronic-meets-cosmic jazz rendition of Steve Reid’s 1976 spiritual jazz-funk classic “Lions of Juda”.
Gilles Peterson’s presents new compilation featuring live sessions from London’s Maida Vale Studios
About 18 months ago, Gilles Peterson had the opportunity to present a live session on his BBC 6 radio show at London’s legendary Maida Vale Studios. Recorded specifically in studio MV4, which is where the classic John Peel sessions took place, the London-based DJ, record label owner, and music producer brought together some of the most forward-thinking jazz artists currently making waves in the UK scene. Now those memorable sessions are finally going to be available on a new compilation, appropriately titled Gilles Peterson Presents: MV4.
Damon Locks & Black Monument Ensemble remind us to “Stay Beautiful” on new single
In 2019 (which feels like an eternity ago), the Chicago-based collective Black Monument Ensemble, led by visual and sound artist Damon Locks, released one of the best and most groundbreaking albums from this past year on International Anthem, titled Where Future Unfolds. This week, the group has released a very timely and powerful new single, called “Stay Beautiful,” which was recorded live back in November 2018 at the Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago, as part of Red Bull Music Festival.
Rising UK vocalist Yazmin Lacey releases new soulful EP ‘Morning Matters’
Nottingham-based soul singer Yazmin Lacey has continued to make waves within the UK scene over the past few years, releasing a number of great EPs including 2018’s When The Sun Dips 90 Degrees and her debut Black Moon in 2017. She has just released a brilliant new five-track album, titled Morning Matters.
BBE Music continues their J Jazz series w/ Hideto Sasaki & Toshiyuki Sekine Quartet’s hard-bop gem ‘Stop Over’
The London-based BBE Muisc label continues it’s remarkable J Jazz series, dedicated to some of the finest and most obscure Japanese jazz recordings from the late sixties to early eighties, curated by Tony Higgins and Mike Peden, with a reissue of Hideto Sasaki and Toshiyuki Sekine Quartet +1’s 1976 hard-bop masterpiece Stop Over.
Outtakes from Marvin Gaye’s 1972 ‘Trouble Man’ soundtrack released on vinyl for the first time
During the same week that we remember and celebrate the late great soul legend Marvin Gaye, who was born on April 2, 1939 and tragically passed on April 1st, 1984, Tamla records will be releasing, for the first time on vinyl, a collection of outtakes from his incredible 1972 soundtrack to Ivan Dixon’s film Trouble Man.
Avant-jazz collective Irreversible Entanglements returns with powerful new album ‘Who Sent You?’
Formed a few years ago in response to the ongoing police brutality that was happening in the U.S., Irreversible Entanglements are one of the most thought-provoking and forward-thinking jazz collectives. Following their 2017 breakthrough self-titled debut, the quintet returns with an incredible new album, titled Who Sent You?, released jointly by International Anthem and Don Giovanni Records.
Azymuth iconic drummer Ivan ‘Mamão’ Conti releases new single ‘Katmandu’
Iconic drummer Ivan ‘Mamão’ Conti of the legendary Brazilian jazz-funk band Azymuth, follows up his stellar 2019 solo album Poison Fruit, with a great new twelve-inch single, titled Katmandu via Far Out Recordings.
German quartet Web Web release brilliant new spiritual full-length ‘Worshippers’
The Munich-based quartet Web Web continues to make their mark on the scene, following the release of two stellar recordings in Oracle (2017) and Dance Of The Demon (2018), with a brilliant new album, titled Worshippers, their third on the highly-acclaimed German label, Compost Records.
London groove-based trio Wildflower release new album ‘Season 2’
The stellar London-based trio, featuring bassist and founding member of Ill Considered Leon Brichard, saxophonist and reeds player Idris Rahman (also of Soothsayers), and drummer Tom Skinner of both Sons of Kemet and Hello Skinny, have released a great new album, titled Season 2 through Ill Considered’s very much DIY label.
BeatCaffeine’s ‘Work From Home’ Jazz Playlist
Even though some regions have been dealing with COVID-19 for over two months, for many of us, it seems like the world has changed over night. With many of us now (as we should) “sheltering in place,” and working from home, I thought I would put together a curated an uplifting jazz-focused playlist designed to help spark creativity throughout the day.
Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad release ‘Jazz Is Dead’ compilation featuring iconic jazz legends
Los Angeles based producers/multi-instrumentalists Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad (of Tribe Called Quest), who are the masterminds behind The Midnight Hour, have recently released an incredible new compilation, titled Jazz Is Dead, featuring new recordings from jazz legends Roy Ayers, Gary Bartz, Doug Carn, João Donato, Brian Jackson, Azymuth, and Marcos Valle.
Shabaka Hutchings and The Ancestors release incredible new Impulse! album ‘We Are Sent Here By History’
Over the past half decade, Shabaka Hutchings has been one of the most breakthrough artists to come out of the resurgent London jazz scene. Over the past couple of years, the composer and saxophonist’s other two groups, Sons of Kemet and The Comet Is Coming, have released a number of incredible recording via the legendary Impulse! label. Following up on the ensemble’s 2016 Brownswood debut, Wisdom of Elders, Hutchings reunites with his South African collective The Ancestors on a brilliant new conceptual album, titled We Are Sent Here By History.
