[Doc] Muscle Shoals (Greg 'Freddy' Camalier, 2013)

 Located alongside the Tennessee River, Muscle Shoals, Alabama is the unlikely breeding ground for some of America's most creative and defiant music. Under the spiritual influence of the "Singing River," as Native Americans called it, the music of Muscle Shoals has helped create some of the most important and resonant songs of all time. At its heart is Rick Hall who founded FAME Studios.

Overcoming crushing poverty and staggering tragedies, Hall brought black and white together in Alabama's cauldron of racial hostility to create music for the generations. He is responsible for creating the "Muscle Shoals sound" and The Swampers, the house band at FAME that eventually left to start their own successful studio, known as Muscle Shoals Sound. Greg Allman, Bono, Clarence Carter, Mick Jagger, Etta James, Alicia Keys, Keith Richards, Percy Sledge and others bear witness to Muscle Shoals' magnetism, mystery and why it remains influential today. -

Lauren Desberg - Sideways ep (2013)

Born in Los Angeles to a musical family, Lauren Desberg has been living and breathing music since day one. Desberg discovered her love of jazz at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA) where she honed her vocal skills. While attending LACHSA, Desberg was selected to participate in several programs including the Gibson-Baldwin Grammy Jazz Ensembles and the Brubeck Summer Jazz Colony. 

Desberg attended Berklee College of Music in Boston on scholarship and graduated in 2012. While at Berklee, Desberg won the ASCAP Foundation’s Leiber and Stoller Music Award. She sang with the Beantown Swing Orchestra and participated in numerous Berklee events and ensembles. 
Award-winning jazz & world music vocalist Gretchen Parlato has been a mentor of Desberg’s since she was a teenager. Desberg took voice lessons from Parlato throughout LACHSA to her time at Berklee and, after encouragement from fellow musicians, she approached Parlato about producing a demo which eventually became her 5-track EP, Sideways.

Kerbside Collection - Mind The Curb (2013)

“A gritty rhythm section of old school drums and Fender or upright bass, alongside funky Hammond and Rhodes, with some sweet George Benson-ish jazz guitar licks on top.” From the quiet tropical suburban back streets of Australia's 3rd largest city (Brisbane) comes a young all instrumental ensemble called Kerbside Collection, creating a mixture of some forgotten rare groove sounds – good times instrumental jazz funk with a touch of soul.
The sound of Ravi Welsh (Guitar), Jason “Paprika” Bell (Drum & percussion), Chris Poulsen (Hammond & Fender Rhodes) and Jeremy O’Connor (Fender “P” & double bass) harks back to the 60s and 70s Californian West Coast music of artists such as Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Chico Hamilton, Joe Sample and The Crusaders, whilst tipping its’ hat to today’s contemporaries keeping the ‘feel’ alive (Soulive, Bobby Hughes, James Taylor Quartet, Eddie Roberts & The New Mastersounds, The Menahan Street Band, The Stance Brothers, Frootful etc).

The Electric Peanut Butter Co - Trans​-​Atlantic Psych Classics Vol. 2 (2013)

A collaboration between Ubiquity artists Shawn Lee & Adrian Quesada

As mutual fans of each others work, both Shawn and Adrian always looked for a way to work with each other and after meeting in Adrian’s hometown of Austin in 2010 for SXSW it was decided it was time to get to work once their respective schedules freed up. Inspired by ‘60s freaky psychedelic folk, rock, soul and all funky tidbits in-between and bands such as Los Angeles Negros, Federal Duck, US69 and El Chicano the duo set forth on their task to create “Trans-Atlantic Psych Classics Vol.2.” The album’s name references the recording process behind it’s creation. Both heavily steeped in studio experience and amazing multi-instrumentalists in their own regard, partial songs and sometimes single tracks were recorded and sent back and forth across the pond.

Lay Far - So Many Ways (2013)

Several years in the making, “So Many Ways” is the artistic manifestation of one’s own freedom, the attempt to reflect the diversity of the world around us, the countless opportunities, scenarios and creative means we all have. It’s a breath-taking soulful journey, where uplifting house tracks (Let Me Fly Away, A Little Faith, Can’t Help It) interchange with serious political messages (Stand Up), romantic dance ballads (Summer Vacation, A Piece of Devotion, So Many Years), infectious jazzy grooves (Yes You Can, When I’m Seeing You), introspective bangers (That Dream, We Are the Drum) and ironic interludes, making fun of trends and consumerism culture. Drawing his influences from mid 70’s jazz and funk, Brazilian fusion, electroacoustic music, afrobeat, soul, hip-hop and mixing them together in a very unique, mysterious manner (like only Russians can do), Lay-Far managed to create a comprehensive, multi- layered piece of work, which is sure to satisfy the trinity of body, mind and spirit! Essential listening for the fans of warm, analogue, organic and deep sound!

Ian O'Brien - Understanding is Everything (2013)

" In so far as an instrumental record can, this work represents my resolute opposition to war and violence of any nature. Despite the sometimes disturbing world we live in, I continue to dream of World Peace and co-operation between people and nations no matter how absurd that may sound, or how far we may be from that place and time. One day, the day will come when all wars and conflicts will end - the day the last person says "no more."
This album is simply my dream of that day." (Ian O'Brien)

V/A - White Mink: Black Cotton vol. 3 (2013)

The sounds and style of the 1920s and 30s turned upside down and smuggled into the 21st century.

White Mink : Black Cotton (Electro Swing vs Speakeasy Jazz) Vol. 3 is a double digipack CD compilation and download album. As with the previous album-charting, silver-disc'd CDs, side one (White Mink) presents a diverse modern take, while the other side (Black Cotton) is all vintage. It is the latest, long-awaited, instalment in Freshly Squeezed's hugely succesful and highly influencial album series described as "Electro Swing's first landmark moment" by Mixmag. It is this series more than any other that was part of the van-guard of a global zeitgeist and that sets the gold standard for this new genre.

The Cactus Channel - Wooden Boy (2013)

It’s soul music, baby, but not as we know it. The backbeat and the handclaps are still there and the horns still sound. The bass bumps, the organ screams and the guitars still twang, but the singer has left the room. Everything is shades of blue. This is soul music for the after hours. For the solitary dancers and the lonely hearts. The soundtrack to solitary headlights on a midnight highway. What to call it? Who cares! Can you dance to it? Just try not to. No one’s telling you to throw your hands up in the air, but no one would be surprised if you did. It’s dark here, so you can do your own thing.

Wooden Boy  was recorded by The Cactus Channel — a ten-piece band from Melbourne, Australia — all born in the 90s and raised on the internet.

The Pepper Pots - We Must Fight (2013)

The Pepper Pots will release their new record "We Must Fight" on the back of 10 years and 6 albums, world tours that have taken in the United States, Japan, the UK, France, Russia and Germany and collaborations with some of the most important artists in the recent history of Soul music (Binky Griptite, Eli ‘Paperboy’ Reed) as well as the past (the Impressions, Maxine Brown). These 10 years have seen the band's approach to Old School Soul mature into this, their best album so far, representing a leap forward for both the songs and the sound of the group.

Hartley & Wolfe - Bespoke Future (2013)

Coming in a long line of esteemed ground breaking British soul artists from Loose Ends, Soul2Soul, Spacek, Omar, to Amy Winehouse, Hartley & Wolfe grab the baton in creating something quite unique, different and new. Not quite R’n’B or neo soul, not quite American ‘urban’ or electronica .... perhaps more working man’s soul in sound but yet ticks a lot of musical boxes at the same time. Think Isley Brothers meets Rick James in terms of vocal delivery. Raspy deep felt, weathered classic soul with a big voice meets intergalactic pimped out grooves with bass-lines that would make Lee Scratch Perry’s Upsetters proud!

Alessandro Scala Quartet - Viaggio Stellare (2013)

 

The new album by Alessandro Scala connects itself to the fertile and alluring scene of contemporary Hard-Bop that is constantly proving its quality with solid results, especially in Italy. This work is a perfect balance of traditional  influences and contemporary inspirations, an intense and fruitful study that leads to a new, rich and articulate way of expression. Through his original compositions and the intense dialogue with trumpeter Fabrizio Bosso and trombonist Roberto Rossi, Alessandro consciously builds a sparse and sometimes lyrical language, enhanced by the rhythm section provided by Nico Menci, Paolo Ghetti and Stefano Paolini. The result is vivid and bright. Another valuable piece has been added our considerable Jazz history.

- Paolo Fresu

The Bamboos - Fever In The Road (2013)

Australian soul music innovators TheBamboos return with their genre-defying new album, ‘Fever In The Road’, released 8th November on Pacific Theatre through Inertia, with a national tour starting on 29th November.

Band leader Lance Ferguson once again enlisted John Castle (Washington, Josh Pyke, Gossling, Pez and Kate Miller-Heidke) to co-produce ‘Fever In The Road’, the band’s sixth record and first on Ferguson’s own label. This repeats the same winning combination that worked on the band’s breakthrough 2012 album ‘Medicine Man’, which garnered them three ARIA Award nominations (Best Independent Release, Best Urban Album & Best Live Act), and saw the single “I Got Burned” feat. Tim Rogers reach #54 in Triple J’s Hottest 100.

Submotion Orchestra - 1968 ep (2013)

With two incredibly successful albums under their belt Submotion Orchestra bring their latest five track EP to UK independent Circus Records. The seven-piece group that formed in 2009 have forged a large loyal fan base with their blend of Electronica, Jazz, Dub and Soul, music that has been described as ‘stunning’ by The Guardian and ‘seductive’ by The Times.

Following a chance meeting in London with Circus co-founder Flux Pavilion who declared his love for the band, SubMo promptly signed to the label reaffirming the notion that Circus have always sought to release only the highest quality music, regardless of genre. Flux Pavilion says "to release Submo on Circus is amazing, I’ve always been a big fan of their music.”

 

Funky Mama - Funky Mama ep (2013)

After exploding onto the scene in September with single "Ottobre: fuga dalla stazione centrale",which caught the attention of stations worldwide with airplay that went from Radio Helsinki to Sydney's much respected 2SER or John Warr's cult radio show "Afrobase" on Juice fm Brighton, new Italian afro-funk outfit Funky Mama is now ready to reveal it's debut self-titled EP out on limited edition vinyl + CD and digital download. "Funky Mama EP" contains 4 original instrumental tracks of explosive afrobeat-inspired grooves served with the typical warmth and rawness that characterizes Southern Italy, where the band members are all originally from.

Clara Hill - Walk The Distance (2013)

After a four-year break from recording, Clara Hill returns with "Walk The Distance", which takes her back to her early youth. The unselfconscious sound experiments that have always accompanied her are met here with new inspirations, leading to an album that sounds intimate and incredibly familiar, yet otherworldly.

As a young girl, an East German Triola, a Bulgarian plastic guitar and a small plastic piano formed the basis of her musical world. Throughout her youth, Clara Hill was influenced by music, but her focus was on sound experiments rather than the quest for the perfect composition. The plucking of the strings on her first piano or the melancholic sounds of the bells of a grandfather clock today reawaken formative memories.

VA - Jukebox Jam vol. 2 (2013)

The original Jukebox Jam Blues & Rhythm Revue compilation album was released in September 2011, a collection which brought together the dynamic and varied R&B sounds of Liam Large's London based club night and reissue label. With an action-packed, all-killer set, it quickly became an instant classic, a comp of vintage sounds which truly stood out in an ever-saturated market.

Two years on, and the second volume of Jukebox Jam is unleashed, another collection of 23 obscure masterpieces from mid-century America. Perhaps even more ambitious than Vol 1, the follow-up broadens the scope of investigation by digging both deeper back into the 1940s - with a couple of jazzy blues numbers, and further into the 1960s - with gritty rock and roll and early Detroit soul both featuring prominently.

Smoove - First Class (2013)

Smoove is the archetypal B Boy made good. Despite his huge international success with Smoove & Turrell and his ability to craft jazz, soul, latin, hip hop and funk into world beating dancefloor killers – he can still be found every weekend he’s not playing live jumping on a plane or a train to go and DJ in Germany , Russia , Italy, Ibiza or just down to Manchester, Bristol or London wherever his diary tells him he has to go..

Wherever it is, his incredible skills behind the decks mean that he gets asked back and the breadth of the music seamlessly joined by his turntablist skills jumps from disco to funk, jazz to soul, hip hop to house and back again.

The Fontanelles - Horns of Freedom (2013)

The Fontanelles are the newest signings to First Word Records. Originally formed to be the onstage band for the London run of Fela! The Musical, the band’s natural chemistry was such that they instinctively continued performing together when the show ended. They took the energy of the stage show and started working on original material, adding reggae, ethio-jazzand ska influences to the afrobeat source. The Fontanelles sound is truly their own, with their incandescent live shows a focal point for their unique energy as a band.

Teotima - Counting the Ways (2013)

Counting The Ways is the debut album from Teotima, a 14 piece spiritual jazz ensemble from London. Guitarist-composer Greg Sanders started Teotima; taking powerful, elegant but deceptively complex grooves of West Africa, Cuba and Brazil and adding the sensibility of classic American soul and funk he brought together a loose collective of musicians in 2011 to workshop ideas.

As an intrinsically live project, all the individual band members were key to the project and their improvisation is a central part of the album. Recorded as-live at London's Fishmarket Studios under the watchful eye of engineer Ben 'Nostalgia 77' Lamdin, the record achieves a synchronicity that only this kind of old-fashioned approach can produce.

Fox Capture Plan - Trinity (2013)

FOX CAPTURE PLAN - A killer debut from an ultra-cool trio – a group that features members of Jabberloop and Immigrant's Bossa Band – and who work here in a core Japanese club jazz style that's somewhere between the work of Quasimode and Indigo Jam Unit – but a lot more stripped-down than both! Most tracks just feature live drums, piano, and acoustic bass – working at a pace that's highly rhythmic, and very hard-driving – yet with a freedom and lyrical grace that's way more jazz than club! Ryo Kishimoto's piano lines are filled with fire, but still stick strongly to the groove – creating these elliptical patterns that are really wonderful, and completely hypnotic all the way through. 

Caroline Lacaze - En Route (2013)

'En Route' is the stunning debut album of young soulful French chanteuse Caroline Lacaze. It tells her story as a musical roadtrip.

The 'swinging mademoiselle' released a string of successful 45s on renowned labels such as Mocambo, Tramp Records and Legère Recordings, appeared on the Mighty Mocambos' album "The Future is Here" and became a regular feature of the group on the subsequent tour throughout Europe - including support shows for Lee Fields (in Amsterdam's Paradiso and London's Islington Assembly Hall) and a radio live performance at the BBC6 Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show.

Bahama Soul Club - The Cuban Tapes (2013)

Darker, deeper a bit more mystic than what you probably expected from The Bahama Soul Club. Alluring Tiki blended through Jazz with Afro-Cuban rhythms and instrumentation, environmental sounds and lush romatic themes and not without a twinkled eye for the Exotica genre.
„Sure everything is based on Bahama Soul-ish kind of established and reknown rhythm and sound, but this time we spotted more on the composition with more harmonies and a soft spot on fine melodies. If you try to visualize a splendid Jazzband in a cuban night club in the mid 60s. Then you probably got it.“

VA - The Craig Charles Funk&Soul Club 2 (2013)

Yes - it's back! The boom bappest, fattest and funkiest collection of sounds made for soul searching sore ears -The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club returns!

Since the release of Volume 1 in 2012, Craig has barely had a chance to change his socks, presenting his massively popular radio show on BBC 6 Music and having been on an almost constant DJ tour - dragging his Trunk Of Funk far and wide to play for increasingly large audiences, including kicking off the Glastonbury Festival with a four-hour set, causing all manner of musical mayhem at WOMAD 2013, tearing the roof off the Soundwave festival in Croatia - as well as hosting his regular club nights at Manchester's Band On The Wall - with block rocking live shows from names like US funk legend Lee Fields, Spain's Sweet Vandals and Australia's toughest raw funk collective Deep Street Soul amongst many others.

Mirror To The Soul (2012)

  Mirror To The Soul from Soul Jazz Records on Vimeo.

Mirror to the Soul is a new 2-hour documentary film about the Caribbean, which is made up entirely of footage from British Pathénewsreels (short news pieces of two or three minutes in length) thatwere filmed during the period 1922-1970. The film presents many aspects of Caribbean life – from bananaplantations to Voodoo ceremonies, Calypsonians to revolutionaries.

As well as an insight into aspects of West Indian life, the film alsoallows us to see how a private British film company presented a constructed Caribbean identity to the outside world. Consequently the film tells us as much about British society and its own identity and values – especially in regard to attitudes towards its then colonies – as it does those of the Caribbean itself.

Robert Glasper Experiment - Black Radio 2 (2013)

Breakthrough success can often be a tough act to follow. But with a little help from some notable friends, Robert Glasper Experiment is set to up the ante with the follow-up to his successful GRAMMY-winning album Black Radio. Flaunting a diverse array of featured guests including Common, Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy, Brandy, Jill Scott, Dwele, Marsha Ambrosius, Anthony Hamilton, Faith Evans, Norah Jones, Snoop Dogg, Lupe Fiasco, Luke James, Emeli Sandé, Lalah Hathaway, and Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Black Radio 2 is certain to surprise and delight critics and fans alike. With a unique fusion of R&B, jazz, and hip-hop that brazenly traverses the boundaries of all three genres, Black Radio 2 finds Glasper and his musical cohorts creating in a vibrant new chasm, brilliantly contrasting its predecessor in the process.

The Liberators - Power Struggle (2013)

"The new Liberators album is peppered with dark, sinister grooves worth of the fiercest dancefloor battles" Martín Perna (Antibalas)

The Liberators are back with the brand new album "Power struggle". Born in an unused factory space in urban Sydney, The Liberators - a compelling 10-piece Afrofunkjazz steamroller - have relentlessly pushed their sound to become leaders in the Australian Afrobeat resurgence. With their second album "Power Struggle", The Liberators have gone deeper and darker into the polyrhythmic, horn-driven realms of Afrobeat, producing eight weighty songs worthy of fueling any revolution. With a maturing mix of jazz, latin, soul and funk, it's obvious the sounds of fracturing world events echo throughout the album. The Liberators produced Power Struggle in Sydney, recording straight to tape in a no-nonsense, no-overdub fashion, capturing the phenomenal vibe of their live shows.

The Gene Dudley Group - The Hilo Bay Halfway ep (2013)

The Gene Dudley Group represents an outpouring of deep soul and funk music from obscenely talented 27 year-old multi-instrumentalist residing in North London; Gene Dudley.
The debut album, Saturday Shifting, released earlier this year, caused quite a stir and quickly gained this deeply soulful producer a new army of fans, with Kenny Dope, Huey Morgan and Daz-I-Kue all singing its praises!
One of the most popular tracks from the album is the up-tempo, tropical flavoured cut The Hilo Bay Halfway - available here on vinyl for the first time. It comes complete with an exclusive 'Disco Dub Remix' from Gene himself, who uses hand claps, synths and some seriously squelchy bass to take this club monster in another, equally foot friendly direction; and one from label mate Scrimshire, whose afro flavoured guitar licks and quirky keyboard sounds guarantee similar dance floor destruction.

Jah Wobble - Odds & Sods & Epilogues (Book & Cd, 2013)

From the author of Memoirs of a Geezer an illustrated book and CD of his poetry, covering a diverse range of subjects, ranging from the Nature of Mind, Ancient Greece, through to Post Modernism, by way of Matter transference and the indignity of being a member of the Cockney Diaspora. The poems are thought provoking, poignant, mesmeric, uproarious and at times a bit disturbing when dystopian realms are ventured into. There are great illustrations by Richard Shields, that aptly mirror the surreal nature of Jah Wobble s idiosyncratic take on life. The musical versions of the poetry on the accompanying CD are by no means a mere add on; they take the poems into another dimension. Looks like Jah Wobble is a true Polymath, we knew he could play bass, lead bands and compose. We then found out, via Geezer that he could write prose. Looks like we can now add poetry to that list. Outstanding. Make him Poet Laureate!

Guida DePalma & Jazzinho - Veludo (2013)

(JazzFm)

Veludo (Velvet) is the 3rd studio album from Portuguese soul-jazz outfit Jazzinho, the creative brainchild of experienced singer/songwriter and free spirit Guida De Palma. From her attic studio in Lisbon she creates an Anglo-Portuguese blend of bossa and samba infused sounds that are both introspective and joyfully outgoing. The first offering from the CD was an instant hit with Jazz FM, 'A Seed In You' featuring the soul legend Leon Ware. It turned out he was a big fan of Jazzinho and sparked their collaboration released in advance of the rest of the completed project.  

Alex Barck - Reunion (2013)

Now, it’s official: Alex Barck is back in his home town Berlin. For a whole year he lived together with his family on the small, remote island La Reunion in the Indian Ocean. To recover from his turbulent life as a DJ, as member of Jazzanova, as A&R manager of Sonar Kolletiv, as one half of Prommer & Barck and as a busy record digger? Far from it! Now with his debut solo album in the luggage he returns back to the party capital of the world.
The island, the ocean, the African influences, the detachment from the hectic club scene must have done Barck especially good. “Reunion“ is a mature club album with harsh pop appeal, lots of soul, a deepness as abyssal as the Sunda Trench and a very unique, characteristic thumbprint.

Calibro 35 - Traditori Di Tutti (2013)

There's one thing that Italians do better than others; funky soundtracks. Quentin Tarantino knows best, "soundtracks from Italian movies of the '60s and the '70s are the THING!" Calibro 35 does with music what Tarantino does with films. They borrow what they love and they make it their own. With Rolling Stone magazine's words "Calibro 35 are the most fascinating, "retro-maniac" and genuine thing, that happened to Italy in the last years", think; The Budos Band meets Morricone.

Calibro 35 land on Record Kicks with their new album Traditori di Tutti, the forth LP by Milan's combo, inspired by noir masterpiece novel Betrayers published by the father of Italian noir, award-winning and Tarantino's crime fiction favorite author; Giorgio Scerbanenco.

Gazzara - The Bossa Lounge Experience (2013)

“The Bossa Lounge Experience” is the new album by GAZZARA. A familiar title for long time followers of the act led by keyboardist and producer Francesco Gazzara, as it recalls the group’s past collaborations with some brazilian music stars (jazz singer Ithamara Koorax, poet, lyric writer Paulo Sergio Valle) and also the band’s old infatuation for the repertoire of Eumir Deodato.

Their sixth album to date - released by Irma Records after GAZZARA returned to this label following 2 CD’s “Brother And Sister“ (2006) and “My Cup Of Tea“ (2009) produced by Silence/Ritmica - fully reveals the band’s musical preferences through a number of cover versions - some totally unexpected - produced and arranged with the recognizable GAZZARA style. The album sound is rooted in the traditional bossa trio formula ( Azymuth), with Rhodes electric piano and Hammond organ perfectly suited to an extremely tight rhythmic session (Massimo Sanna on bass, Mauro “Mirtao” Mirti on drum and percussion, both founder members of GAZZARA) which balances vintage soundtrack moods with samba/funk dance grooves.

DaLata - Fabiola (2013)

‘Fabiola’ started taking shape in 2010 after Patrick Forge returned to London from living in Japan. He met up with Chris Franck and they took the first tentative steps towards making a new record. Drawing together a worldwide family of collaborators both old and new, they embarked upon a new era of DaLata. ‘Fabiola’ their first album in ten years, features a host of talent including Luiz Gabriel Lopes (Graveola) (Brazil), Mayra Andrade (Cape Verde), Miguel Atwood Ferguson (USA) Rich Medina (USA) Marcelo Janeci (Brazil) Luisa Maita (Brazil), Fabricio FBC (Brazil), Sacha Gabriel (Canada), Jason Yarde (UK), Finn Peters (UK) and Diabel Cissokho (Senegal) who have all helped craft a record with a raw and live approach fusing Afro-Brazilian influences with a dance-floor sensibility.

Harleighblu - Forget Me Not (2013)

Forget Me Not’, out 14th October, is the debut album from Harleighblu, a truly distinctive 21-year-old singer who signed to Tru Thoughts earlier this year and is attracting a mass of tastemaker love, and a spiralling fanbase, for her deep and edgy hip hop-infused soul music. Major crossover support, alongside her confirmation as Echoes Magazine’s October cover star (following the likes of Laura Mvula and Omar) clarifies her status as the hottest new voice on the scene. 

Electro Deluxe - Home (2013)

Electro Deluxe is a French band which consists of Thomas Faure (saxophone, programming) Jérémie Coke (bass), Arnaud Renaville (drums), Gaël Cadoux (keyboards), James Copley (voice),Vincent Payen (trumpet) and Bertrand Luzignant (trombone) . They started off in 2001 and melting elements of funk, soul and hip hop they started to evolve into their own category of electro-jazz. Home is their fifth album and it's arguably their best and most ambitious yet. Filled with dancefloor grooves, ecstatic brass and Stevie Wonder-ish fever keys, Home is set to become one of the essential funk n' soul outings not only in France but also worldwide.

Kairos 4tet - Everything We Hold (2013)

 

Adam Waldmann is a young man with big hair, a big smile and big ideas.  Just three years ago, the young saxophonist burst onto the scene with his band Kairos 4tet, delivering a stunning debut that swiftly positioned him as a cornerstone of the British jazz scene. With melodies that worm their way into your brain and stay there long after the final notes ring out, Waldmann is celebrated for his gift of bridging the elusive gap between crossover appeal and serious jazz cred. 

EverythingWe Hold is Kairos 4tet's third album and first recording for Naim Jazz.  This time, in a bid to push the boundaries of his own creativity, Waldmann explores in great depth the art of song. In doing so, Waldmann forged relationships that not only presented him with new musical vistas, but inspired him immensely on what became an exploration of the human condition. To that end, this album sees Waldmann collaborating with lyricist, film maker, and actor Rupert Friend (Pride & Prejudice, Young Victoria, Homeland), a writing partnership first hinted at on Kairos 4tet's second album, Statement of Intent.  With one half of the album featuring vocals, Everything We Hold is Waldmann's most unapologetically diverse album to date.

Ross McHenry - Distant Oceans (2013)

Ross is an ARIA (Australian Record Industry Association award) nominated composer, producer and bass player whose diverse body of work carefully walks the line somewhere between instrumental jazz and the current wave of post-Dilla producers. His previous projects (including The Shaolin Afronauts) have seen him tour worldwide and led to him taking part in 2010's Red Bull Music Academy (where he met label-mate kidkanevil amongst others).

The Jazzinvaders ft Dr. Lonnie Smith - That's What You Always Say (2013)

‘That’s What You Say!’ was definitely one of the most heartfelt sayings when Hammond Legend Dr. Lonnie Smith shared the studio with The Jazzinvaders in the summer of 2012.

After meeting and gigging earlier in 2012, Dr Lonnie and The Jazzinvaders decided it would be fun to spend some days in the studio to see what would happen. When the opportunity occurred, new material was written in practically no time at all and after three days of recording there appeared to be a completely spontaneous 4^th album recorded live in the studio! Finding a suitable title for the upcoming album wasn’t that hard. The Doctor appeared to be a great storyteller and this one quote was stuck in our memory: “That’s What You Say!” needed to be the title of the new album, an album that reflects a fruitful co-operation and lots of respect.

Jimi Tenor & Impostor Orchestra - Exocosmos (2013)

Jimi Tenor featuring Impostor Orchestra LP, Exocosmos, is more than a decade´s worth of sessions emerging from a parallel cosmos. Sometimes the meetings take place in a living room, sometimes inside an electronic sequencer. Fields of rhythms have emerged through the hands of children playing sticks. The composer’s pen has been a conduit of the horizon where past and present choose their sides. The LP which is immediately intimate yet metamorphose into massive, the search for a magic moment has been profound. Tribulation and delight are equally true in Exocosmos.

Master Plan Inc (2013, Jazzman Rec)

All serious record collectors agree that finding rare records can be a difficult, time consuming and often expensive business. Finding previously unknown records takes this challenge to another level; another step further and you're into the realm of lost master tapes, acetates and demos in record company archives - take one step further still and you've just stepped into a black hole: the mysterious, unknown world of private recordings made by individual musicians, never before circulated beyond the four walls of their studio or home.

Such is the case with Master Plan Inc, a band from Chicago led by Fred Shorts. With just one single to their name - an uber-rarity rated at over $2000 - nobody had any idea that within the confines of a studio archive and Shorts' private residence there would be a wealth of other recordings on acetate, reel-to-reel tape and cassette.

Imperial Wharf Jazz Festival 2013

Thursday 19th September, 6–10 pm
Saturday 21st September, 1–10 pm

The Boulevard, Imperial Wharf, London SW6 2QD

Imperial Wharf not only offers a wide range of haute cuisine restaurants, retail and leisure opportunities but also hosts the highly acclaimed Imperial Wharf Jazz Festival.

The Imperial Wharf Jazz Festival has established itself as London's premier stage for some of Britain's finest musicians. The free event, held on the Boulevard at Imperial Wharf, presents some of the very best jazz artists in the UK and gives Londoners the opportunity to hear these great artists in a fantastic surrounding.

For more info click here 

Corduroy - Very Yeah (2013)

 Corduroy return to the stage this Saturday 21 September 2013 (O2 Academy, Islington, London, UK) with Matt Deighton from fellow acid jazzmen Mother Earth. For info and tickets click here

Having evolved out of cult 80s bands Boys Wonder and Doctor & The Medics, CORDUROY were one of the principal architects of the early 90s ACID JAZZ sound, releasing five albums between 1992 and 1999 for the Acid Jazz and Big Cat labels. Their Acid Jazz-era recordings have been out-of-print for many years. Each album is housed in a cute replica card sleeve within a stylish box set, which also sports a 16-page booklet featuring rare photos and new sleeve-notes from Corduroy bassist Rich Searle. In total, VERY YEAH boasts 22 non-album tracks, 17 of which are previously unreleased! 

Trombone Shorty - Say That To Say This (2013)

 

Troy ‘Trombone Shorty’ Andrews has God-given talent, natural charisma and a relentless drive to bridge music’s past and future. His third outing for Verve Records, Say That To Say This (Sept. 10), was co-produced by Andrews and kindred spirit Raphael Saadiq, and sounds like nothing else out there, as Andrews and his longtime band, Orleans Avenue – guitarist Pete Murano, bassist Mike Ballard and drummer Joey Peebles – continue their natural musical evolution. In a very real sense, the torch is passed from one great New Orleans band to another on the new album, which features the first new studio recording from the original members of the legendary Meters in 36 years, as they revisit their 1977 classic ‘Be My Lady,’ with Andrews singing lead and playing horns.

V/A - Brownswood Bubblers 10 (2013)

There's plenty bubbling up this time around – a rich range of contemporary tracks that show that our man Gilles Peterson still has his ear to the ground for the best new sounds around! The vibe is very soulful – and tracks are a wonderful blend of older modes and very fresh future elements – served up back to back in a way that few other collections could ever handle this well – the same sort of special feeling we get when we dig Gilles in a club or on the air! And even ten volumes in, the man's still opening up our ears to so much wonderful stuff – quite a feat, but that's why we've been digging his sounds for 25 years. 

Pink Martini - Get Happy (2013)

In their own words:

In January 2012, Thomas Lauderdale and our trusty audio engineer Dave Friedlander flew to Los Angeles to visit Thomas’s new friend, Phyllis Diller. While there, Thomas bought a dozen of Phyllis’s bright colorful paintings… and they recorded Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile”, which turned out to be Phyllis Diller’s final recording, and became the soundtrack for the many tributes to her when she passed away six months later.

Thus began the 18-month odyssey to record Get Happy, the long-awaited studio follow-up to 2009′s Splendor in the Grass, an odyssey which featured a calvacade of vocal royalty visiting our Portland studios, including exotic cabaret sensation Meow Meow, sunny French eccentric Philippe Katerine, the handsome and brilliant radio superstar Ari Shapiro, warm-hearted wunder-siblings The von Trapps, and a riveting appearance by the exquisite Rufus Wainwright!

John Zorn - Dreamachines (2013)

By Thom Jurek (AMG) 

Dreamachines marks the third part of a trilogy of sorts, influenced by the works and techniques of William S. Burroughs and Brion Gysin, who together developed the cut-up method Third Mind collaboration and other creative and improvisational strategies. As a composer, John Zorn has utilized their techniques and thought throughout his career; it has been most obvious in the cut-and-paste methodology of his Naked City group, and in the two previous tribute recordings to Burroughs and Gysin that preceded this one: the vanguard multi-part suite Interzone that appeared in 2010, and 2011's Nova Express.

Soren Bebe Trio - Eva (2013)

The fourth studio album from the internationally acclaimed popular Danish piano trio ‘Soren Bebe Trio’features a collaboration and guest appearance with the great American bass player Marc Johnson. Recorded in New York at Sear Sound Studios by master technician James Farber, the sound is simply as good as it gets. The band have recently seen an ever expanding international fan base and have began to build a musical following and reputation, playing in Brazil, USA, Morocco, Poland and also South Korea and Hong Kong in 2013. 

Frootful - Heavyweight (2013)

In 2011, Frootful released their debut album Colours on Freestyle Records to great acclaim, with everyone from Osunlade, Craig Charles and Diesler praising its modern-yet-retro blend of 60s soul, rocksteady, dance floor friendly jazz and R&B, whilst Jazz FM made it an Album Of The Week. The debut single taken from it, 'Fish In The Sea' became a club hit, and also featured in Steven Soderbergh's hit movie Magic Mike.

Fast-forward to 2013, and guitarist Nick Radford and crew return with an equally eclectic collection of songs and grooves that make up the new album, Heavyweight. The title originates from a soul night Nick used to play 45s at, but also tips its hat to the art of producing a record, in aiming to get an authentically heavy sound down - from the writing, engineering and recording, through to the final mixing and mastering. Co-producer Krzysztof Oktalski played a big role in getting such a sound down, himself a big Northern Soul collector, who worked with Larry Stabbins and members of Portishead on his Stonephace album (on Tru Thoughts).

Nils Landgren Funk Unit - Teamwork (2013)

This might well be the best Funk Unit that Nils Landgren has had gathered around him since 2010: technically outstanding, this is a group of team players who combine well with a great groove connection. James Brown meets Parliament meets Crusaders meets Funk Unit: that's one way you could describe the musical concept on"Teamwork". It is pure party feeling, the notes whirl coolly through the ranks, superb horn sets alternate with ecstatic solos, dance beats, smooth vocals and strong melodies, but there is also time for elegance and heartfelt blues. "Teamwork" is all that and then some, played by a dream team of sweat-inducing funk workers with soul in their blood.

Theo Parrish - Black Jazz Signature (2013)

by Michael Harkin (XLR8TR)

Those familiar with Theo Parrish likely know that the Detroit producer cultivates the cosmo-spiritual in everything he does, from his original productions to every cut he plays in his DJ sets. How appropriate it is, then, that he was asked to put together a mix of his favorite tracks from a most spiritual record label: Black Jazz, which operated for six years out of Oakland, California in the early '70s. During its run, the imprint focused primarily on what it described as "African spiritual jazz," often with a fusion or funk bent to it, the label's sounds reflecting the culture of the then-recent civil rights movement.

Maysa - Blue Velvet Soul (2013)

Maysa holds unique status in the world of R&B/Jazz. Her incomparably lush, sensuous vocals have garnered her legions of loyal, loving fans. As featured vocalist of the UK super group Incognito, core member of Stevie Wonder's Wonderlove and, of course, through her own albums and concerts, Maysa has been thrilling R&B and Jazz audiences for decades.
Blue Velvet Soul is far and away the most sensuous and heartfelt recording of her brilliant career. Maysa thrills us with a stirring rendition of Quiet Fire a loving tribute to her mentor and role model Nancy Wilson that will leave you breathless.