Record Shopping Etiquette
The do’s, the don’ts, and best practices when it comes to shopping for vinyl.
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.
London’s Alabaster DePlume releases meditative album ‘To Cy & Lee: Instrumentals Vol. 1’
Manchester-born, London-based composer, saxophonist and visionary Alabaster DePlume follows-up his breakthrough 2018 album The Corner Of A Sphere on Lost Map Records, with a brilliant new full-length recording, titled To Cy & Lee: Instruments Vol. 1. This new record is a co-release between Lost Map, International Anthem Recordings, and Total Refreshment Centre Records.
Strut releases second volume highlighting French Caribbean label Disques Debs
The London-based Strut label follows-up the first volume in a multi-compilation series celebrating the musical archives of the legendary Guadeloupe imprint Disques Debs, with another remarkable recording titled, Cadence Revolution: Disques Debs International Vol. 2. Where last year’s release focused on some of the label’s earliest recordings during it’s first decade, this latest compilation highlight’s the label’s standout releases during the seventies and early eighties.
Mad About Records Reissues Reggie Andrews’ 1969 jazz “holy grail” album ‘Mystic Beauty’
Due to popular demand, the Portuguese-based Mad About Records has reissued, for a second time, Reggie Andrews and The Fellowship’s highly obscure 1969 spiritual jazz masterpiece Mystic Beauty. The first pressing of this reissue sold out very quickly last year, following it’s late July release.
London’s Collocutor, led by Tamar Osborn, releases highly-anticipated third album ‘Continuation’
Since releasing their breakthrough debut album Instead in 2014, Collocutor has become one of the most dynamic jazz groups to emerge out of London. Led by baritone saxophonist Tamar Osborn, who has also been a key contributor over the past half-decade on numerous genre-defying recording projects, collaborating with artists like Emanative, Sarathy Korwar, Khalab, Jessica Lauren, Tenesha The WordSmith, Penya, Siti Muharam and many others. A newly re-vamped ensemble returns with their highly-anticipated third album Continuation.
UK’s cosmic psychedelic-funk group The Heliocentrics release new album on Madlib’s label
Led by drummer Malcolm Catto and bassist Jake Ferguson, the London-based cosmic-jazz-meets-psychedelic-funk ensemble The Heliocentrics have been at the forefront of some of the most forward-thinking records over the past two decades, collaborating with legendary artists like Mulatu Astatke, Lloyd Miller, Orlando Julius, Melvin Van Peebles and many others. The group has just released a great new album on groundbreaking producer Madlib’s label, Madlib Invazion.
Favorite Recordings releases jazz-funk/disco single ‘Recalling You’ by Andre Solomko
Paris-based label Favorite Recordings has recently released a great new disco-influenced jazz-funk single “Recalling You” from Finland-based saxophonist and producer Andre Solomko.
London drummer & producer Moses Boyd releases brilliant new album ‘Dark Matter’
Over the past half-decade, drummer, producer, and composer Moses Boyd has been one of the most creative minds to have come out of the London jazz scene. He gained international praise for his 2016 jazz dance gem “Rye Shuffle Lane,” and has been featured on some of the best jazz releases to have come out of the UK region, collaborating with Binker Golding, Nubya Garcia, Theon Cross, Zara McFarlane, and others. After releasing a number of great recordings under Moses Boyd Exodus alias, Boyd releases a brilliant new album under his own name titled Dark Matter.
Mr Bongo re-launches it’s in-demand series of Brazilian 45 releases
Now in their 31st year, the Brighton-based label Mr Bongo has consistently been at the forefront in releasing some of the deepest and most obscure Brazilian reissues. This year, the label/record shop has re-launched their well-curated series of classic Brazilian 45s, featuring a vibrant new design, and a fresh batch of unearthed Brazilian rarities.
Makaya McCraven brings new life to Gil Scott-Heron’s final recording
XL Recordings celebrates the 10 year anniversary of the late great Gil Scott-Heron’s final studio recording I’m New Here, prior to his passing in May of 2011, with a re-worked version of the album by visionary Chicago-based composer, producer, and drummer Makaya McCraven, titled We’re New Again.
