Total Refreshment & International Anthem release 12″ featuring Emma-Jean Thackray, Gilles Peterson remix
One of the best releases in 2018 was Makaya McCraven’s widely collaborative Where We Come From (CHICAGOxLONDON Mixtape), a recording that brought together some of the most forward-thinking musicians and beat makers from both Chicago and London. One of the many standout tracks from that session was London-based producer and multi-instrumentalist Emma-Jean Thackray’s “Too Shy”. Total Refreshment Records and International Anthem have teamed up again to release an extended version on a new twelve-inch single.
The extended version of “Too Shy” is how Thackray originally envisioned the track, running one-minute longer and including a funky half-time outro groove. The production itself is a hard-hitting hypnotic broken beat cut that also features Thackray on vocals.
On the b-side, Gilles Peterson has put together a brilliant edit of “Run ‘Dem,” also featured on McCraven’s CHICAGOxLONDON Mixtape. Re-worked, and primed for the dance floor, this electric head-nodding medley features McCraven on drums, tubist Theon Cross, keyboard wiz Joe Armon-Jones, and Soweto Kinch on both saxophone and vocals.
Overall, another solid joint release from Total Refreshment and International Anthem, two labels that continue to push the needle forward and help redefine the sound of jazz today.
Emma-Jean Thackray — ‘Too Shy’ 12″
(Total Refreshment Records/ International Anthem Recordings)
A SIDE: Emma-Jean Thackray – Too Shy (12″ version)
B SIDE: Makaya McCraven – Run ‘Dem (Gilles Peterson edit)
