Tag: Soul

BeatCaffeine's Favorite Tracks of January-June 2024

BeatCaffeine’s Favorite Tracks of 2024 … So Far

We’ve crossed the midway mark of 2024, and therefore it’s a great time to highlight some of BeatCaffeine’s favorite 30 tracks of the year … so far! With so many highly-anticipated releases forthcoming, this list will definitely change by year’s end, however it’s worth putting a spotlight on some of the choice cuts that have been released over the year’s first 6 months.

Dave Guy — Footwork

Highly acclaimed trumpeter Dave Guy makes solo debut with new 7inch single

Brooklyn-based trumpeter Dave Guy has been a contributing member of some the most groundbreaking groups over the last twenty-plus years, including The Roots, The Dap Kings, Menahan Street Band, El Michels Affair, and The Budos Band, and has shared the stage with everyone from Amy Winehouse and Lizzo to Lee Fields, Sharon Jones, Charles Bradley, and others. He now steps out on his own, and releases his debut 7inch release for Big Crown Records.

Roberta Flack — Lost Takes, Arc Records

Gilles Peterson’s Arc Records releases late 1960s unreleased recordings by Roberta Flack

Under the guidance and direction from London-based DJ, radio broadcaster, and music producer Gilles Peterson, his reissue-focused label Arc Records has recently been diving deep into the Atlantic jazz archives, re-releasing mono versions of Max Roach’s 1968 of Members, Don’t Git Weary and Yusef Lateef’s 1969 Yusef Lateef’s Detroit Latitude 42° 30′ Longitude 83°. With the labels latest release of the series, they unearth a collection of tracks recorded by Roberta Flack in the sessions leading up to the recording of her seminal 1969 debut album First Take.

Speakers Corner Quartet — Further Out Than The Edge

South London collective Speakers Corner Quartet release highly collaborative debut ‘Further Out Than The Edge’

The highly-talented South London ensemble, Speakers Corner Quartet, who got their start in 2006 as the house band at the legendary Brixton spoken word/hip hop night Speakers Corner, and later as a backing group for some of today’s most forward-thinking artists (Sampha, Kae Tempest, Tirzah, Dean Blunt, the late MF DOOM, and Lianne La Havas), have stepped out on their own with a brilliant debut album featuring an A-list of special guest collaborators, titled Further Out Than The Edge.

Jimetta Rose & The Voices of Creation — How Good It Is

Los Angeles-based Jimetta Rose & The Voices of Creation release spiritually-charged uplifting debut

For what seems like at least a year now, music from Los Angeles-based community choir The Voices of Creation, led by vocalist, songwriter, arranger, and producer Jimetta Rose has seen some strong rotation from the likes of some notable DJs and radio broadcasters including Kev Beadle, Colin Curtis, Gilles Peterson, David Paterson and others. The group’s highly-anticipated debut album, titled How Good It Is has recently been released on London’s Day Dreamer label (subsidiary to Night Dreamer Records).

Charles Stepney — Step On Step

International Anthem unearths recordings from late legendary producer Charles Stepney

In what has certainly been one of the most anticipated releases of the year, Chicago’s International Anthem has unearthed and released the eponymous debut album, titled Step On Step, by the late great producer, arranger, and composer Charles Stepney (1931-1976), featuring never-heard-before 4-track tape demo recordings. During the 60s and 70s, Stepney was a essential contributor to some of the greatest recordings of that time by Earth, Wind & Fire, Terry Callier, Ramsey Lewis, The Dells, The Rotary Connection, Deniece Williams, Minnie Riperton, Marlena Shaw, Muddy Waters, and so many others.

Brian Jackson — This is Brian Jackson

The legendary Brian Jackson releases first solo album in 20 years

Throughout the seventies and into the early eighties, jazz-funk legend Brian Jackson collaborated with the late great Gil Scott-Heron on some of the most forward-thinking and socially conscious music of our time, releasing tracks like “The Bottle”, “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”, “Johannesburg” and numerous others. Following up on last year’s collaborative effort with Jazz Is Dead, Jackson returns with his first solo album in over 20 years, titled This Is Brian Jackson on BBE.