Tag: Jazz Funk
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) continue their deep dive into the world of DIY Brit-funk with a limited-edition STR4TA white label 12inch, featuring two new remixes of tracks taken from their 2022 album, STR4TASFEAR.
Following a slew of standout singles and their 2019 breakthrough album Super-vilains, the 8-piece French jazz-funk group Cotonete has returned with a brilliant new eclectic album on the Heavenly Sweetness label, titled Victoire De La Musique (which takes a dig at the annual French music award ceremony).
Originally released in limited quantities through Rough Trade Records back in December 2023, and now more broadly released through Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood label, London-based drummer phenomenon Yussef Dayes and his stellar quintet return with another brilliant live session, performing music from last year’s highly acclaimed Black Classical Music album, new originals and a superb cover of Jaco Pistorius’ “Portrait of Tracy”.
Steve Conry’s brilliant Ten Lovers Music kicks off 2024 with a massive cosmic jazz 7inch single release, titled Espresso, from Italian producer and multi-instrumentalist Marcello Cassanelli.
In what is arguably one of the most anticipated releases of early 2024, Paul Murphy’s superb Jazz Room Records will be issuing a must-own 7inch single this month from Japanese producer and bassist Takumi Moriya, featuring his brilliant new take on Joe McPhee’s 1970 soul-jazz classic “Shakey Jake”.
As a follow-up to their first European tour in May of 2023, the highly active and talented Tokyo-based trio Nautilus has recently released a live recording, taken from their last date of the trip at the legendary King Georg in Cologne, Germany.
Nik Weston’s superb Mukatsuku label kicks off the new year with a highly-anticipated limited-edition new twelve-inch single of Echoes Of A New Dawn Orchestra covering Kyoto Jazz Massive’s 2001 classic “Substream”.
Before we look ahead to this year’s forthcoming releases, let’s take a look back at another superb reissue from this past Fall from the Italian-based label Eating Standing in vibraphonist Enzo Randisi’s 1979 highly obscured self-titled album.
We continue our deep dive into our favorite releases of 2023 with a look at some of the standout EPs. As usual, there were a number of quality releases, including four from legendary UK DJ Colin Curtis on his vinyl-only imprint label. Plenty of jazz dance, cosmic grooves, and all around good vibes to absorb with these selections.
Almost another year around the sun, and that means it’s that time again (hard to believe), where we revisit some of the best releases of the year. In regards of new music, 2023 was another incredible year. As always, it was admittedly extremely challenging pulling together a “best of” list, however I’m excited to have been able to expand to 40 releases, which still didn’t feel like enough. As always, I’m sure I missed a few worthy selections.
