• Record Shopping Etiquette

    The do’s, the don’ts, and best practices when it comes to shopping for vinyl.

    Record Shopping Etiquette
  • BeatCaffeine's Favorite Recordings

    Browse through BeatCaffeine's favorite new recordings, compilations, reissues, tracks and more from the past few years.

    BeatCaffeine's Favorite Records of 2018
  • The 100 Best Jazz-Funk Songs

    From Roy Ayers to Lonnie Liston Smith, here are the essential jazz-funk tracks of the late sixties and seventies.

    100 Best Jazz Funk Tracks
  • 20 Essential Sun Ra Records

    Sun Ra was one of the most original and creative musical minds of the last century. Here are 20 essential records from the Afro-futuristic legend.

    Sun Ra Essentials
  • Diggin' In with Detroit's Tribe

    We take a closer look at one of the most legendary jazz collectives of the 70s in Detroit’s Tribe, and some of their groundbreaking recordings.

    Diggin' In with Detroit's Tribe
  • 15 Essential Roy Ayers Records

    Composer, vibraphonist, and vocalist Roy Ayers is one of the greatest jazz-funk musicians of our time. Here are 15 essential records from the legendary artist.

    Roy Ayers 15 Essential Records
Sun Ra Essential Records

BeatCaffeine’s 20 Most Essential Sun Ra Records

Sun Ra was one of the most originally unique and forward-thinking composers and bandleaders of the last century. Claiming that he came to Earth from Saturn to spread the message of peace, the experimental pianist/ keyboardist and his ever-evolving ensemble the Arkestra fused together 40s era big band swing with bebop, the blues, free improvisation, spacey electronics, call-and-response chants, and psyched-out jazz-funk grooves to create a signature sound that always seemed to push the boundaries. 

Universal Togetherness Band — Dreamality / Lucky Stars

FUNK 45: Numero Group unearth two unreleased tracks by Universal Togetherness Band

In 2014, the Numero Group label helped introduce the world to the Chicago-based funk group The Universal Togetherness Band with three incredible releases, including one full-length album and two 7inch singles. Just when many of us thought we’ve heard everything from this late seventies-early eighties band, the label has just put out a brand new 45rpm single featuring two previously unreleased tracks.

EABS — Slavic Spirits

Polish septet EABS in search of “Slavic melancholy” on new full-length release

Following a number of critically acclaimed releases dedicated to Polish Jazz legend Krzysztof Komeda, including their 2017 debut Repetitions (Letters To Krzysztof Komeda) and their incredible 2018 Kraksa / Svantetic 12″ single, the Poland-based Electro Acoustic Beat Sessions jazz collective, better known as EABS, return with a new full-length album inspired by “Slavic melancholy.”