Tag: Jazz Funk
Following the breakthrough success of last year’s album Ignite, the London-based cosmic jazz ensemble The Sultan’s Swing return with a masterful new follow-up recording in Matter Of Urgency on Lazy Robot Records.
Thanks to Gilles Peterson and Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick’s highly acclaimed STR4TA project, the late 70s-early 80s UK-based DIY new wave jazz-funk sound, known as Brit-funk is beginning to see a nice resurgence. A number of other artists and projects also seem to be resurfacing as of late, including French multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer Koji Ono, who recently released a brilliant new twelve-inch single on the Paris-based label Chuwanaga. Receiving some assistance from two key players of the pioneering band Atmosfear, this new single features legendary bassist and founding member Lester Batchelor (aka “LB”), and the group’s current drummer Roy Mistry.
For the latest release in the absolutely brilliant Jazz Is Dead series, Los Angeles based producers/multi-instrumentalists Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad have joined forces with legendary saxophonist and composer Gary Bartz on an incredible new full-length album.
Composer and pianist Ken Rhodes’ highly obscure 1974 jazz-funk recording Profiles has recently seen a limited-edition reissue by the French independent label Sconsolato. Originally released by the small German jazz label AMAYANA, this album represents the well-travelled musician’s most notable work as a bandleader.
Every year, there are a number of remarkable releases that weren’t originally on most people’s radar, and that is certainly the case with Los Angeles-based composer and pianist Matthew “Honeybee” Little’s superb debut album Liner Notes on San Diego’s Common Good Records. Over the last several years, Little has been making his mark among the LA jazz scene, playing with like-minded exploratory artists like Josef Leimberg, Shafiq Husayn, Jason McGuiness, and others.
UK’s Mr Bongo label continues their impressive string of releases with a recent reissue of the highly-obscure 1972 seven-inch double-side single from South African session group The Toreadors, featuring two incredible funky soul jazz gems, “Thembi” and “Gwinyitshe”.
Following a digital release of last September, the seventh album from highly talented São Paulo jazz-funk trio Caixa Cubo, titled Angela, sees an eagerly-awaited vinyl release through the London-based label Heavenly Recordings.
The 10-piece UK-based collective Nubiyan Twist, led by producer and guitarist Tom Excell, have released a brilliant and expansive new album on the Strut label, titled Freedom Fables, featuring an all-star cast of special guest vocalists including Cherise, Nick Richards, Ego Ella May, Ria Moran, London jazz great Soweto Kinch, rising Ghanaian star K.O.G. and highlife legend Pat Thomas.
Bristol, UK based ensemble Dundundun, who feature members whom have collaborated with The Heavy, Alice Russell, Pete Josef, DJ Die, Dele Sosimi, and others, have recently released their brilliant debut twelve-inch on Worm Discs (one of our favorite new labels!).
UK’s Mr Bongo is always reissuing some of the greatest and most obscure titles from yesteryears, however they have certainly outdone themselves again with their latest reissue of Teaspoon And The Waves’ rare 1977 self-titled album, featuring a heavy dose of South African jazz-funk.
