Tag: Jazz Dance

Gerardo Frisina — Joyful Sound

Italian producer Gerardo Frisina continues to push the boundaries on new LP ‘Joyful Sound’

When it comes to seamlessly blurring the sounds of jazz, house, and Afro-Latin music, Italian composer and producer Gerardo Frisina has set the standard, releasing six highly acclaimed full-length albums and numerous essential EPs, 12inch singles, remixes and more over a two decade span. As a follow-up to last year’s superb Soul Drum EP, the modern-day jazz dancefloor pioneer has returned with a brilliant new 2xLP on Schema Records, titled Joyful Sound.

Fela Kuti / Ezra Collective - Shakara - 50th Anniversary

50th Anniversary Edition of Fela Kuti’s ‘Shakara’ includes new renditions from Ezra Collective

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of arguably the greatest Afrobeat album ever recorded, in Fela Kuti and The Africa 70’s Shakara, Brooklyn’s Partisan Records has put out a special edition reissue of the two-track classic that includes an additional 7inch record featuring new renditions of both “Lady” and “Shakara (Oloje)” by one of the leading lights among the London jazz scene, Ezra Collective.

45trio — I Love You

Tokyo’s 45trio covers Weldon Irvine’s soulful classic “I Love You”

A record that seemed to receive a lot of worthy play across numerous notable online radio shows (Colin Curtis, Kev Beadle, and others) during the final two months of 2022, was 45trio’s brilliant instrumental of Weldon Irvine’s soulful 1976 classic ‘I Love You’. Led by pianist and producer SWING-O, the Tokyo-based group, which formed back in 2009, also features bassist Sunapanng and drummer Masahiko Kubo.

BeatCaffeine's Best Compilations of 2022

BeatCaffeine’s Favorite Compilations of 2022

As we wind down the final days of 2022, we take a look back at just some of the essential compilation releases over the past 12 months. From rare dance floor jazz to spiritual grooves and obscure Brazilian gems, there was a lot to absorb from some of the year’s best compiled releases. Similar to what we’ve seen with recent reissues, each year it seems like the quality of compilations continue to excel, with labels, record collectors, archivists, and DJs putting together some of the most interesting selections of music from all corners of the world.

Ezra Collective — Where I'm Meant To Be

London’s Ezra Collective returns with incredible new album ‘Where I’m Meant To Be’

Ever since the group’s 2016 EP Chapter 7, the five-piece Ezra Collective have been at the forefront of the thriving London jazz scene, releasing the highly acclaimed follow-up EP Juan Pablo: The Philosopher (2017), their debut LP You Can’t Steal My Joy (2019) and a few limited singles. The quintet returns with an incredible new full-length on the Brooklyn-based label Partisan Records, titled Where I’m Meant To Be.

STR4TA — STR4TASFEAR

Gilles Peterson and Jean Paul “Bluey” Maunick return with brilliant sophomore STR4TA album

Highly influential London-based DJ, broadcaster, and producer Gilles Peterson and pioneering multi-instrumentalist, producer, composer, and bandleader Jean Paul “Bluey” Maunick (Incognito, Light of The World, Freeez) helped lead last year’s Brit-funk revitalization with the release of their remarkable debut LP Aspects, under the alias STR4TA (which was named BeatCaffeine’s Favorite Album of 2021). In much anticipation, they have teamed up again for a follow-up release, titled STR4TASFEAR (as a nod to the groundbreaking British group Atmosfear), that continues to pay homage to the Brit-funk sound.