Follow me to the PoPcorn (VA, 2016)

Follow Me To The Popcorn, coming out 9 September on Jazzman Records.

Originating in Belgium at the end of the 60s/early 70s, Popcorn was a scene with an emphasis on often obscure black American records. Drawing parallels with the Northern Soul scene from around the same time, young people flocked from all over Belgium to cram into a converted barn to dance to these exotic sounds. Whilst Northern favoured an often uptempo 60s soul sound, popcorn focused almost entirely on slower numbers.

There still remains some confusion as to what exactly Popcorn means in musical terms. Not following established genre conventions, The Popcorn sound is hard to pin down - there are Soul, Blues, Ska, Pop, Jazz and Latin records which are all Popcorn – and all are represented here.

VA - 25 Years of Mr Bongo [Mr Bongo Records, 2014]

Mr Bongo started life in 1989 as a small record shop underneath Daddy Kool’s Reggae Store on Berwick Street in London. They were the first shop to sell vinyl releases from independent hip-hop labels such as Def Jam, Rawkus, Nervous and Big Beat outside of the USA. They also became the established bearer for hard-to-find, classic Latin music, particularly Brazilian, outside of the Americas. Such characters as Gilles Peterson and clubs such as Dingwalls championed this music and in the following years Mr Bongo established itself as the leader and provider for whole scene.

VA - The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club, Vol. 3 (2014)

...a few words by the man himself...

The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club returns - and Volume 3 is a truly international round up of all things hip, happening and gorgeously groovy!

Since Volume 2 was released a year ago, I've continued my mission to spread the sound of good grooves right around the world, not just via my radio shows on 6Music and BBC Radio 2, or by DJ-ing to a huge sea of humanity at Glastonbury Festival 2014, but I also took my trunk of funk to Australia to spread my kind of dance floor dynamite to Antipodean audiences hungry for fresh soulful sounds and some foot stomping funk.

VA - Wah Wah 45s: We Wah Fifteen (2014)

This year Wah Wah 45s, reach a landmark fifteen years in the music business. What began as a 'hobby' label run by Hospital Records boss Chris Goss and his late brother Simon, has grown into a full time job for label directors Dom Servini and Adam Scrimshire, ably assisted by young buck Neil Bopperson.

Wah Wah 45s now has over a dozen artists on its books, and many of them are featured on this exhaustive compilation, charting fifteen years of this fiercely independent soulful record label, and as you would expect, a soulful strand runs through it, from the brassy funk and jazz of Hackney Colliery Band (with their hand-to-find first single Money), Colman Brothers (On a Better Day) and The Gene Dudley Group (the summertime smasher Minnie) to the sonorous dubwise sounds of Resonators (with the classic Sweet Love Affair) via Paper Tiger and Lea Lea's more electronic edge, and Scrimshire, Stac and Bev Lee Harling's lush, organic leanings. And that's without mentioning a little Kompa Funk from our Haitian born Canadian pianist Henri-Pierre Noel demonstrating his vocal prowess, as well as his awesome piano skills on Merci Bon Dieu.

V/A - The Wah Wah version (2014)

 Wah Wah 45s celebrate the joy of the cover version! The label has always had a keen ear for a re-working of a classic piece of music, whether it be an unexpected brass take of a soft rock or hip hop cut from Hackney Colliery Band, or a sultry rendition of a soul nugget from Stac, with the only conditions being that the cover takes the original piece of music somewhere new, fresh and exciting.

The label's 15thanniversary seemed like a good time to not only re-visit a number of very canny covers from over the years, but also to throw in a couple of new and exclusive ones for good measure too and as a way of saying thank you for all your support over the last decade and a half.

VA - Footprints ep (2014)

Jazz & Milk is back with a brand new compilation series featuring previously unreleased tracks by international label artists, friends & family!

Everyone familiar with Jazz & Milk probably knows about the importance of musical diversity to the label's spirit. However, once you listen closer you will definitely hear the connecting force, a rhythmic and soulful foundation of these 15 tracks. The sum of the album's musical influences lead back to Africa and its long lasting impact on numerous modern music genres throughout the world. A good many times such musical footprints are shining through on this record ranging from Jazz, Funk, Afrobeat, Cumbia, Ethio-Jazz to Hip Hop, deep House and Bass music. While each style is unique, they have a strong rhythmic element in common.

VA - Let's Boogaloo vol. 6 (2014

After 4 years in the making finally a new chapter of RK's premier collection Let's BOOGALOO sees the light. This time legendary compiler Dean Rudland, who is responsible of dozens of wicked compilations on BGP, Kent and Blue Note, digs deep into - mythical NYC latin boogaloo producer - Bobby Marin's catalogue to bring you an explosive collection of (northern) soul, deep funk and latin jazz tunes from Spanish Harlem aka El Barrio. Most of the tracks that are featured in this new volume arrive straight from Bobby Marin, Bobby has been one of the main contributors and a leading figure behind the latin Boogaloo movement in the mid 60s in New York producing and working close together with stars such us Joe Cuba, Eddie Palmieri, Machito, Riccardo Marrero, not to mention his own combo the legendary Latin Blues Band, recently sampled by DJ Premier as the hook to Christina Aguilera's 'Ain't No Other Man'. 

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.

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.

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.

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. 

VA - Spiritual Jazz 4: Americans in Europe (2013)

by JAZZMAN RECORDS

It's well known that throughout the 20th century, fed up with poor working conditions and racism in their home country, many American jazz musicians chose to leave the US in order to live and work in Europe. What's less well known is how their music developed and evolved during their time on the continent, and how the experience of being a musician in Europe was to shape their respective lives.

Over the years countless jazz concerts, festivals and recordings featuring American jazz musicians have taken place all over Europe, yet it's remarkable how few of these musical artifacts have been evaluated by the jazz community. We seek to assess the European experiences of the American jazzmen, with a specific focus on the progressive sounds of modal jazz and the avant garde. We examine the recordings made by those who crossed the Atlantic just to take in a short tour, as well as those who made more frequent trips, and of course those for whom Europe ultimately became their permanent place of residence.

V/A - Record Kicks 10th (2013)

10th Anniversary compilation from renowned funk & soul record label; Record Kicks.

To many, Record Kicks are synonymous with the continued interest in funk and soul music. Tirelessly putting out 7” vinyl and albums from many fantastic new, contemporary acts. And now it is time for the much lauded Italian record label to celebrate their fine catalogue.

After 109 releases (of which 90 have been on vinyl), 51 international artists released, and over 43,000 7” vinyl records pressed, it’s time for Record Kicks to celebrate their 10th anniversary!

From deep funk to (northern) soul, afrobeat, dancefloor jazz and rocksteady, what you hold in your hands is a collection of Record Kicks hits filled up with many exclusive contributions that will give you the full spectrum of the sounds that Record Kicks love.

VA - Soul Spectrum Records Vol. 1 (2012)

Soul Spectrum Records is a sub-label of Jazzman Records and is curated by Euan Fryer. Soul Spectrum Records are prolific in the area of releasing hard to find soulful dancefloor re-issues on 7-inch vinyl, and now they’re releasing their first compilation; Soul Spectrum Records Volume One. The compilation includes some rarities, including the ultra rare $8000 7” from Fluorescent Smogg, as well as a couple of fresh edits of old tunes, and a newer cut by Kings Go Forth to finish the release.

When it comes to making available once more lost, forgotten and overlooked soulful masterpieces, Jazzman Records’ expertise is considered second to none.

VA - Brownswood Bubblers Nine (2012)

“Brownswood Bubblers provides a platform for unsung heroes and emerging talent from the Worldwide underground. The series distils the stream of exciting new artists that have become semi-permanent fixtures in Gilles’ playlists and DJ sets of late to create a suite of perfect bumps.”

Gilles Peterson comes correct with his ninth instalment in the much-loved Bubblers series. Shining a spotlight on under-the-radar talent the world over, Bubblers returns with a line up as diverse and exciting as the record bag from which they came; a musical barometer to gauge the sound and stars of 2013.

Sonar Kollektiv 15 Years Of Volxmusik (comp, 2012)

You’ll always find a reason to party if you will. Sonar Kollektiv’s 15th anniversary is more than just another invitation to let one’s hair down though.

Sonar Kollektiv was founded in 1997 by Jazzanova. Designed as a platform for own releases it soon attracted numerous new discoveries and like-minded musicians to lead their trumps right here. Still it was never the intention of Sonar Kollektiv to pursue one specific sound or provide an already existing scene. Each and every release on the label (250 and counting) was at all times meant to illustrate the musical taste of the collective, its flavourful development and recollection of past sounds. The various compilations and label showcases played a big part of it. From the renowed „Secret Love“ compilation (No. 6 has been released in October 2012), the „Computer Incarnations For World Peace“ edition, the „...Boadcasting“ and „....Mixing“-series to the „Romanian Jazz“ label showcase Sonar Kollektiv continuously cares about broadening its own and the horizon of any type of music lovers. 

The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club (comp - 2012)

Actor, stand up comedian, poet, radio presenter and club DJ, Craig Charles, has been a dedicated soul boy from a tender age. In fact, he was raised on the sounds of sweet soul, "My father came over from Guyana in the West Indies and he brought a load of records over with him. There was always Ray Charles playing in the house, The Platters, Aretha Franklin and Otis Redding. My Dad would play all this old stuff. In fact I was very close to getting called Otis when I was born! One of my earliest memories is my mum and dad dancing around the kitchen to Ray Charles' I've Got A Woman. I remember the look of sheer joy and exhilaration on their faces. I was hooked! 

VA - DOME Twenty Years (2012)

To celebrate 20 years of Dome Records, a stunning 3-CD collection has just been released featuring the label's many highlights, a lavish 40-page booklet containing notes by founder Peter Robinson and many previously unpublished photos.

From Beverley Knight, Lulu and Hil St Soul in the '90s to Incognito, Eric Roberson, Avery Sunshine and Drizabone Soul Family in the label’s second decade, Dome has always had its finger on the soul music pulse.

CDs 1 and 2 of the box set contain highlights from Dome’s first 20 years, while CD3 includes new songs, previously unreleased remixes, radio performances and exclusive live recordings.

VA - Sounds From The Soul Underground (2012)

Tracks by some of the greatest contemporary acts from all over the globe, working within the genres of soul, funk, afrobeat, latin and jazz.

With a hard to find rarity from Ray Camacho & The Tear Drops, a DJ Format remix of a Speedometer single, brand new, previously unheard material from Nick Van Gelder, new Freestyle signing Jessica Lauren Four, and The Andy Tolman Cartel as well as a smattering of recent dance floor destroyers from established Freestyle acts and like minded artists and record labels across the globe, Sounds From The Soul Underground provides an eclectic snapshot of the magnificently healthy international underground music scene.

OUT NOW ON FREESTYLE RECORDS 

VA - Spiritual Jazz vol. 2

 ‘Esoteric, modal and deep jazz from the European undergound, 1960-78’ 

OUT NOW ON JAZZMAN RECORDS 

As the ‘60s progressed, cultural and political revolutions occurred both in the US and in Europe. Jazz was both a victim and a saviour, with radical developments in the music occurring in both continents. In the US, artists took control of their own musical destiny as small labels broke away from the mainstream, expressing new and creative visions of freedom and peace against a backdrop of civil unrest, repression and war.
 In ‘60s Europe the jazz community forged ahead with a different revolution; that of breaking away from mere emulation of their American counterparts. A distinctive, European jazz sound began to develop that combined traditional music from across Europe and around the world with the creative freedom so abundant in American jazz. Over time the most forward-thinking creative talents of the post-Coltrane European jazz generation crafted and nurtured sophisticated and multi-faceted styles of jazz that were as radical as they were beautiful, giving modern jazz a characteristically European flavour.