Tag: Jazz

Airto & Flora Purim - A Celebration: 60 Years - Sounds, Dreams & Other Stories

BBE celebrates 60 years of music from Brazilian legends Airto Moreira and Flora Purim with 5LP Box Set

For over six decades, there has arguably not been a more pioneering duo that has brought together the sounds of Brazilian jazz, fusion, and samba more so than Airto Moreira and Flora Purim. Through their own collaborations and individual works, the legendary musical tag-team and longtime life partners have over time gained a vast global fan base that includes everything from UK’s jazz-funk and jazz dance scenes, to experimental jazz and Brazilian-rooted music fans. This month, the London-based label BBE is releasing the highly anticipated 5LP Box Set, titled A Celebration: 60 Years – Sounds, Dreams & Other Stories, highlighting some of their most notable tracks.

J Jazz Vol. 4: Deep Modern Jazz from Japan - Nippon Columbia 1968 -1981

BBE’s superb Japanese Jazz compilation series returns, dives into the Nippon Columbia label

Since the release of the series’ first compilation back in 2018, in addition to two follow-up compilation recordings and a growing number of select album reissues, BBE’s J Jazz has become the most definite collection exploring innovative and rare Japanese jazz. Curated by Tony Higgins and Mike Peden, the highly anticipated fourth compilation dives deep into one of the biggest and most diverse labels in Japan, Nippon Columbia.

Nick Walters — Marine Moods

London trumpeter Nick Walters returns with jazz-fusion recording ‘Marine Mood’

Over the last few years, trumpeter, composer and bandleader Nick Walters has become one of the prominent figures among the creative London jazz scene. Following up on the superb releases that focused on the incorporation of traditional Indian sounds (Padm​ā​sana), and the exploration of sounds from space (Singularity), he returns with a revitalization of his sextet, who last appeared together on his 2019 album Active Imagination, with a brilliant new recording on his D.O.T. label, titled Marine Mood.

Atlantis Jazz Ensemble — Celestial Suite

Atlantis Jazz Ensemble return with spiritual soul jazz ‘Celestial Suite’

In much anticipation, the Ottawa-based collective Atlantis Jazz Ensemble return with a brilliant new recording on Marlow Records, titled Celestial Suite. Originally spawning as a project by pianist Pierre Chrétien and alto saxophonist Zakari Frantz of The Souljazz Orchestra back in 2013, this represents the group’s first release since their 2016 breakthrough album Ocean Suite.

Various — Spiritual Jazz: Private

Jazzman Records unearths rare private press gems on Spiritual Jazz 14

Over the span of the last two decades, in which Jazzman Records has been issuing their incredible Spiritual Jazz series, the London-based label has issued a number of volumes that have focused on some of the most groundbreaking and prolific jazz labels, including Blue Note, Prestige, Impulse!, and Steeplechase. For the latest release, titled Spiritual Jazz 14: Private, label owner Jazzman Gerald dives deep into the well and unearths rare gems that didn’t come out on a label and were ultimately released as a private press recording.

Max Beesley’s High Vibes — Zeus

Acid Jazz pioneer Max Beesley returns with long-awaited ‘High Vibes’ debut full-length

UK-based multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer Max Beesley, who has performed alongside notable artists like Incognito, The Brand New Heavies, Jamiroquai, Paul Weller and others, has returned with his ‘High Vibes’ and releases the project’s debut full-length on Légère Recordings, titled Zeus. This marks the first release for the project since he put out two classic 12inches under the same alias on Boogie Back Records during the height of the acid jazz movement in 1993-1994.

Matthew Halswell — An Ever Changing View

UK trumpeter Matthew Halsall releases new explorative album ‘An Ever Changing View’

With over 15 releases to his name since 2008, and the running of his fantastic label Gondwana Records, composer, trumpeter and bandleader Matthew Halsall has been one the most active and prominent jazz artists of his generation. It seems like with each release, the Manchester-based musician continues to push his sound to new heights, and that certainly is the case with his latest brilliant full-length, titled An Ever Changing View.

Pharoah Sanders — Pharoah Harvest Time

Luaka Bop releases expanded reissue of Pharoah Sanders’ classic 1977 album ‘Pharoah’

On September 24, 2022, the entire jazz world and beyond mourned the passing of the late great Pharoah Sanders, who was one of the most influential and groundbreaking artists of our time. Almost a year later, in what has become one of the most highly anticipated reissues of 2023, Luaka Bop has re-released an expanded edition of Pharoah Sanders’ classic 1977 album Pharoah.

Menagerie — The Shores of Infinity

Lance Ferguson led spiritual jazz group Menagerie return with brilliant new album ‘The Shores Of Infinity’

The Australian 9-piece group, Menagerie follows up their breakthrough 2021 full-length Many Worlds with arguably their best recording to date, titled The Shores Of Infinity. Marking their third release for the London-based Freestyle Records label, this is one of the many notable projects led by producer, songwriter, guitarist, DJ and recording artist Lance Ferguson (The Bamboos, Rare Groove Spectrum).