Record Shopping Etiquette
The do’s, the don’ts, and best practices when it comes to shopping for vinyl.
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.
BeatCaffeine’s 10 Essential McCoy Tyner Albums
On March 6th, we sadly lost innovative composer, bandleader and pianist McCoy Tyner. For over 60 years, he has been one of the greatest jazz artists of our time, beginning in the sixties with his longtime stint in John Coltrane’s legendary quartet with Jimmy Garrison, and Elvin Jones, as well as his time leading his own groups featuring jazz greats like Bobby Hutcherson, Gary Bartz, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter and many others.
New 12″ single featuring two rare tracks from French jazz-funk group Cortex
The Paris-based Trad Vibe Records, who reissued Cortex’s 1975 rare masterpiece Troupeau Bleu back in 2010, has released a brand new single featuring the group’s 1979 jazz-funk medley “Mary & Jeff + Devils Dance,” along with the brilliant Fender Rhodes led version of the track.
Multi-instrumentalist and producer Emma-Jean Thackray launches label, releases ‘Rain Dance’ EP
London-based multi-instrumentalist, DJ, and producer Emma-Jean Thackray follows up her 2018 breakthrough Ley Lines EP on The Vinyl Factory imprint with a brilliant new cosmic jazz recording, titled Rain Dance, released on her brand new label Movementt.
London pianist Greg Foat teams up with Techno legend Linkwood on new electro-jazz full-length
London-based pianist and composer Greg Foat continues his recent string of great releases through the Edinburgh label Athens of the North, teaming up with house and techno legend Linkwood on a great new instrumental full-length recording.
