Tag: Spiritual Jazz

Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble — Open Me, A Higher Consciousness of Sound and Spirit

Kahil El’Zabar celebrates 50 years of the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble with new album

Legendary multi-percussionist, bandleader, vocalist, composer, educator, and former Chair of the Association of Creative Musicians (AACM), Kahil El’Zabar has been a staple among the Chicago jazz scene for over half a century. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of his pioneering group, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, he has released a brilliant new album on the Spiritmuse label, titled Open Me, A Higher Consciousness of Sound and Spirit.

Austin Peralta — 'Endless Planets' (Deluxe Version)

Brainfeeder releases 2011 cosmic jazz classic from Austin Peralta on vinyl

After 13 years since its initial CD/Digital-only release in 2011, Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder label is releasing for the first time on vinyl, the late great Austin Peralta’s cosmic jazz classic Endless Planets. This record was the label’s first dive into jazz, helping set the stage for artists like Kamasi Washington, Thundercat, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Kneedelus, and others.

Rahsaan Roland Kirk — Live in Paris 1970

Live 1970 recording of Rahsaan Roland Kirk performing in Paris released

The French label Transversales Disques continues its string of brilliant live ORTF recordings captured at Grand Auditorium’s Studio 104 in Paris’ Maison de la Radio (aka the headquarters of Radio France) with an early 70s session from legendary jazz multi-instrumentalist Rahsaan Roland Kirk. This is the latest in a growing series that has included jazz greats Pharoah Sanders, Archie Shepp, Don Cherry, and Ahmad Jamal.

The Yussed Dayes Experience — Live From Malibu

The Yussef Dayes Experience releases ‘Live from Malibu’ session

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”.

BeatCaffeine's Favorite Tracks of 2023

BeatCaffeine’s Favorite Tracks of 2023

With the final “best of” list for 2023, I dive into some of our favorite tracks of the year. Out of all of the year-end lists, this is easily the most difficult to pull together given how many great tracks are worthy to be included in such a list. This year, I went about this differently. Instead of just listing the tracks, I also included the album, 12″ or 7″ that the track was associated with in hopes to encourage everyone to be purchasing the vinyl or digital releases (which is important for these artists and labels!). No commentary included with these, we’ll just let the music do all the talking.

BeatCaffeine's Favorite Compilations of 2023

BeatCaffeine’s Favorite Compilations of 2023

Now in the final days of 2023, we take a look back at some of the essential compilation releases over the past 12 months. From tropical grooves to jazz dance, spiritual, soulful house and obscure selections from around the globe, there were many incredible must-own compilations to dive into.

BeatCaffeine's Favorite Reissues of 2023

BeatCaffeine’s Favorite Reissues, Lost Recordings & Retrospectives of 2023

As with new music releases, 2023 was an outstanding year for reissues and previously unreleased recordings. It feels like with every great new release or artists that breaks through on the scene, there are still so many records from the past to still discover and dive into as a listener. The quality of the actual reissue releases themselves also seems to improve in time. The care and work that goes into many of these releases is astonishing and handled like the artifacts that they truly are.

BeatCaffeine's Favorite Albums of 2023

BeatCaffeine’s Favorite Albums of 2023

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.

Isaiah Collier — Parallel Universe

Isaiah Collier releases brilliant direct-to-disc spiritual jazz album on Night Dreamer

The London-based Night Dreamer label continues their string of incredible Direct-To-Disc recordings with arguably their best session to date, featuring Chicago multi-instrumentalist and composer Isaiah Collier with a superb group that includes gospel soul singer Jimetta Rose, AACM and former Art Ensemble of Chicago trumpet player Corey Wilkes and others, titled Parallel Universe.