Submotion Orchestra - Colour Theory (2016)

After the success of 2014’s Alium, Submotion Orchestra raise the bar yet again with their new album, Colour Theory. Renowned for their stunning live performances, for “smoky jazz, skittering live percussion and swooping synths” (Mojo), the band have this time taken a conscious decision to focus their energy and attention on to their production, shaping a record of immense poise and epic scope, where attention to detail and shape has resulted in a new dynamism and contemporary sheen. As producer Dom Ruckspin puts it, “we wanted to go somewhere radically different.” While Colour Theory is indeed radically different, it also stays true to what made Submotion Orchestra so exciting to begin with.

The James Hunter Six - Hold On ! (2016)

This may be James Hunter’s fourth album, but it is his first Daptone record.  Produced by Daptone’s own Bosco Mann (Gabriel Roth) at Penrose Recorders (Daptone West) near his home in Riverside, California, ‘Hold On!’ is a perfect portrait of an artist at the top of his game. James Hunter has been on the scene for enough years to acquire plenty of feathers in his cap. Billboard charts, Grammy nominations, and Van Morrison collaborations aside, he has earned an international reputation as a Rhythm and Blues troubadour for his command of the microphone both on stage and in studio. This album, however, is something far deeper than just another notch in his belt. It is truly an artist’s vision come to fruition.

GoGo Penguin - Man Made Object (2016)

It’s been an astonishing couple of years for GoGo Penguin, the UK trio of drummer Rob Turner, double bassist Nick Blacka and pianist Chris Illingworth. Their trademark mash-up of minimalist piano themes, deeply propulsive bass lines and electronica-inspired drums has seen their 2014 album v2.0 shortlisted for the Mercury Prize and fuelled their exhilarating live shows from their hometown of Manchester to Montreal and Paris to London. Drawing on a heady brew of influences from Brian Eno, John Cage, Massive Attack and Aphex Twin, GoGo Penguin has created a brave new sound that is wholly their own.

Matthew Halsall & The Gondwana Orchestra – Into Forever (2015)

Over the course of five albums, Manchester based trumpeter, composer, arranger and band-leader Matthew Halsall has carved out a niche for himself on the UK music scene as one of it's brightest talents. His languid, soulful music has won friends from Jamie Cullum and Gilles Peterson to Jazz FM and Mojo as well as an ever-growing international following. His new album Into Forever, puts the spotlight on Halsall the composer, arranger and producer. Halsall draws on a diverse range of influences from Alice Coltrane, Dorothy Ashby, Phil Cohran and Leon Thomas to the more contemporary sounds of The Cinematic Orchestra, Max Richter and Nils Frahm to deliver his most complete recording to date.

The Gregg Foat Group - Live at The Playboy Club, London (2014)

 The Greg Foat Group are currently the resident band at the Playboy Club, located in Mayfair, London. Earlier this year a couple of nights were recorded for Jazzman, and the results are here for all to enjoy. Recorded live and direct onto 1" analogue tape the album captures the energy and atmosphere of the group at their regular gig. Awash with library-esque soundtrack-themed jazz grooves with a modal edge, jazz has never been so much fun! This is the 3rd album by the Greg Foat Group on Jazzman, and is the first album to be recorded live at the Playboy Club for over 40 years.

Shaun Escoffery - In The Red Room (2014)

UK vocalist Shaun Escoffery, whose classic hits “Space Rider” and “Days Like This” are enjoyed by club goers worldwide, is back with a stunning new album “In The Red Room” which combines sheer gospel-tinged power – as on the single “Nature’s Call” – with soulful subtlety on ballads such as “Nobody Knows” and “Do U Remember”.

From his first recording with D-Influence at the tender age of 17, Shaun Escoffery has been one of the UK’s finest vocal talents – a singer with a glorious Isleys/Curtis Mayfield falsetto.  Along the way he has enjoyed support from Elton John – who has hailed Shaun as one of his favourite new artists – and actor Idris Elba, one of his oldest friends, who has contributed a remix of lead single “Nature’s Call”.

Prince Fatty meets Nostalgia 77 - In The Kingdom of Dub (2014)

The worlds of dub and jazz collide when Prince Fatty meets Nostalgia 77 ‘In The Kingdom Of Dub’; this intriguing collaborative album, out 22^nd September on Tru Thoughts, sees two like minded musical explorers joining forces to illuminate the shared roots and spirit of rebellion at the heart of these two genres. Early tastemaker support includes confirmed reviews in The Wire, Clash, Q, DJ Mag and Blues & Soul, and radio play from Jamie Cullum (BBC R2).

Prince Fatty – maverick producer of Hollie Cook and countless pop and reggae legends alongside his own Soundsystem projects – puts his spin on the music of bluesy jazz wunderkind Nostalgia 77, for a full set of exclusive new versions of tracks from across the latter’s prolific career, including collaborations with Alice Russell, Keith and Julie Tippett and Beth Rowley. The result is a deep, energetic and transporting listen, with an intense flavour that celebrates and builds upon the sonic and cultural beauty of both jazz and dub.

Red Snapper - Hyena (2014)

 

The first thing that strikes you about the new Red Snapper album is how much the band have raised their game. There's no reason why bands shouldn't get better over time, it's just that a lot of names don't stay hungry and creative.

To start with it's a great idea; an album inspired by the band’s recent soundtrack for cult 70s Senegalese road movie "ToukiBouki" - the first independent African film which was recently restored by Martin Scorcese and which is first and foremost an afro-funk odyssey in itself. Red Snapper have toured with the film for a year, playing the soundtrack live to audiences across Europe; themes from the score having been developed and extended to form Hyena. Hitting the studio at the end of this long haul on the road has delivered a super-tight energized performance, reminiscent of a 1970’s approach to recording.

Hugh Gledhill - Big Dinosaur Mouth (2014)

 Big Dinosaur Mouth is the debut album from London-based funk and soul guitarist Hugh Gledhill (The Jezebel Sextet, The James Taylor Quartet) on Sookie Records, featuring Hugh Gledhill on guitar, Seamus Beaghen (Trio Valore), on Hammond, Burundian singer/songwriter Mudibu on vocals, and the Killer Horns (Alice Russell).

Nine new songs blend Memphis soul, boogaloo guitar, Hammond and horns - all captured with outstanding sound quality on analogue tape. Mudibu features on four vocal tracks including 'Under Our Eyes' and 'Time, Strength...; Patience', two ballads inspired by Steve Cropper and Booker T & The MGs, plus the radio-friendly 'Don't Rush' with its summer soul groove, ska chorus and big finale.

Jah Wobble presents PJ Higgins - Inspiration (2014)

 During a long and varied career spanning five decades, Jah Wobble has recorded more than thirty solo albums and contributed to innumerable projects. On the route from the post punk of Public Image Limited (PiL) via dubby dance music (epitomised by Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart) to world music and ambient in all its facets, the exceptionally gifted bass player hasn't left out any genre of note in modern music.  

With "Inspiration", Jah Wobble returns to his roots, the love of his youth: reggae music. With the singer PJ Higgins, he found the perfect companion, voice and songwriter to accomplish this endeavour with flying colours – a match made in heaven. Higgins has collaborated with a host of artists over the years, lending her quirky and distinct anecdotes to many a project and recordings. Currently, she co-fronts the critically acclaimed Dub Colossus, who were winners of the Songlines Cross Cultural Collaboration 2013. The album was co-written and co-produced with Alex McGowan at his London-based Space Eko Recording Studio.  His previous collaborations include Tricky, Martina Topley Bird, Wilko Johnson and many more...  

The Impellers - My Certainty (2014)

“My Certainty” is the third album by The Impellers. With their previous releases “Robot Legs /Freestyle) and “This Is Not A Drill” /Légère/Mocambo) the band from Brighton have established themselves as a tight and authentic raw funk unit. With “My Certainty” the band - featuring vocalist Clair Witcher and composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Glenn Fallows - explore fresh territory. “We wanted this album to be different to other material we’ve produced, but still keeping the big and heavy sound which people have liked about us. There’s a couple of reasons why we hope this album will surprise people,” Clair Witcher explains.

Crowd Company - Now or Never (2014)

Crowd Company rose from the ranks of London’s burgeoning funk/soul sceneto assert themselves as an act to watch out for, with engaging live performancesand a finely tuned sound based on retro grooves with a soulful edge and a moderntwist. After playing in venues such as The 100 Club and Band On The Wall, and sharing stages with artists such as George Porter Jr of The Meters, this 8 piece is now ready to reveal itself to the world with its debut full-length release, “Now Or Never” which sees the participation of Joe Tatton from The New Mastersounds and Alan Evans from Soulive.

Christine Tobin - A Thousand Kisses Deep (2014)

‘A Thousand Kisses Deep’ is a beautiful re-working of eleven Leonard Cohen songs and is Tobin’s 2014 salute to the legendary Canadian singer, songwriter and poet in the year of his 80th birthday. In her own songwriting, Christine Tobin specializes in idiosyncratic, highly musical poetic vignettes with a strong sense of story, so it's no surprise she weaves such magic with the profound, sensual and mysterious songs of Cohen. She has been a lifelong fan and has always included one of his songs in her live programme since the mid-90s.

The New Mastersounds - Therapy (2014)

“Therapy” is the ninth studio album by The New Mastersounds, the now multi-national funk band originally from Leeds/England. With a new perspective in sound and vision, Eddie Roberts (Guitar), Simon Allen (Drums), Joe Tatton (Keyboards) and Pete Shand (Bass) recorded 12 fresh tracks in Denver/Colorado USA, aiming for a forward thinking sound mixing vintage funk with raw soul, smart jazz and original disco.

“Music and the creation of music has always been my therapy,” says Eddie Roberts. “It has been a way of working through ideas, feelings, frustrations. In creating music, especially instrumental music, it is an incredible outlet for pent-up emotions. People often tell me how much energy they draw from our music, often in a therapeutic way. I find the idea incredible that from my feelings, turned into music, that same music then generates feelings in the listener. It is an exchange much like the physics of music itself: from a string vibration into an electrical signal, and back from electrical signal into vibrating sound waves. I hope that this album will be as therapeutic and valuable to the listener as it was to me creating it.”

Antony Joseph - Time (2014)

 Few contemporary poets teach creative writing at the University of London while, at the same time, bowling over large audiences at festivals around the world. Anthony Joseph has also published four volumes of poetry and a novel, and is currently working towards a doctorate. As if all this weren’t enough, he is releasing his fifth album, the result of a true meeting of artistic minds, with the New York based bassist and singer Meshell Ndegeocello.

“Time” should go a long way towards engraving Anthony Joseph’s name in the history books of great black music.

Nostalgia 77 - A Journey Too Far (2014)

‘A Journey Too Far’ is out on 10^th February 2014. The fifth studio LP from Benedic Lamdin under his main Nostalgia 77 moniker, this album finds the respected producer, composer, songwriter and guitarist further developing his creative partnership with rising German singer Josa Peit, whose rich, quirky lead vocals grace nine of the 11 tracks; with country-soul supremo Jeb Loy Nichols (Island) singing the remaining two in his loose and charismatic style.

Zara McFarlane - If You Knew Her (2014)

Listening to Zara McFarlane's new album you can't help but thinking that she is 21st century Alice Coltrane or Nina Simone soaked up in London drizzle and with a warmth in her soul that these fine ladies somehow lacked. In her follow up to that absolutely marvelous ep from 2010 (on heavy rotation in the TJ headquarters ever since) Until Tomorrow, and she's already broken away from any comparison to any other artist whatsoever. See for example how she appropriates Junior Murvin's Police and Thieves moving it into the new millenium and giving it more space to breathe and a whole new context (I'm thinking about the London riots here but it just might be me) to be associated with.

There are tracks in this record destined to become modern classics. Angie La La featuring Leron Thomas on vocals trumpet is one of them, a jazz zen love song equal to the best work of say an Abbey Lincoln god rest her soul.

Nick Pride & The Pimptones - Rejuiced Phat Shake (2014)

Newcastle’s finest funk and soul outfit Nick Pride & The Pimptones return with their second full length album „Rejuiced Phat Shake“, a collection of 14 smart grooves and a fearless blend of soul, jazz & funk tinged with rhythm & blues, disco, Latin, New Orleans Brass and Northern Soul.

After the strong impact of their debut album „Midnight Feast Of Jazz“ (released in 2011 on Record Kicks from Milan/Italy) guitarist, composer, arranger and producer Nick Pride was determined to take his vision a step further towards connecting the grit and power of original soul music with the immediacy and joy of a cool, modern pop song. „I was always a fan of amazing pop songwriters like Burt Bacharach and Holland-Dozier-Holland, but on the other hand, being a dedicated musician, I love the raw energy of being on stage with a funk band.“ With the Pimptones’ regular rhythm combo, a tight horns section and the additional presence of a soaring string quartet, the new album „Rejuiced Phat Shake“ is a well-crafted studio work, while Nick Pride was able to focus on his skills as a songwriter: „I am happy to have a rock solid foundation with my guys, it means we can try all this funky and diverse stuff in the studio, while also being a tight unit on stage.”

Heidi Vogel - Turn Up The Quiet (2013)

Heidi Vogel debuts her solo album ‘Turn up the Quiet’ following on from her many successes with the critically acclaimed Cinematic Orchestra (Ninja Tune). A deeply moving collection of classic 60s/70s Brazilian songs, interpreted and presented in a unique, intimate fashion and with a timeless sound.

Heidi has a voice that comes from the deepest places of the heart. Her honest interpretation of songs, and powerful stage presence make her an utterly beguiling performer and this is the blend that emerges from her debut solo album ‘Turn up the Quiet’ where she elegantly interprets songs of great composers such as Antonio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius de Moraes and Joe Henderson.

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!