Released late last year, Glaswegian trombonist and composer Liam Shortall’s corto.alto outfit released one of the strongest EPs of funky, expressive jazz of 2021 on Worm Discs. With nods to hip hop, Detroit jazz-funk and with arrangements so tight that they should be illegal for one so young, Liam is a talent to be bookmarked whether you regard yourself as a jazz connoisseur or just have a passing interest. Read / Listen here
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New Regency Orchestra live at Earth (Theatre) (EFG London Jazz Festival 2021) - a review
The New Regency Orchestra is a twenty-piece Afro-Cuban jazz ensemble made up of some of London’s hottest jazz musicians and our good friend Oli Brunetti (Olindo Records / Colectivo Futuro) was lucky enough to catch them live as part of this year’s EFG London Jazz Festival. Check out his excellent review here…
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Omar Sosa & Seckou Keita - EFG London Jazz Festival Photo by John Reed
Omar Sosa and Seckou Keita live at Lakeside Arts (24 Nov 2021) - a review
Omar Sosa is a Grammy nominated Cuban pianist, Seckou Keita, a Senegalese kora master and recent BBC Radio 2 Folk Musician of the Year and Gustavo Ovalles, a Venezuelan percussionist and the world class trio have been stunning audiences everywhere on their recent ‘Suba’ tour. Tim Hills caught them at their date at Lakeside Arts in Nottingham and wrote us a review. Read / Listen here
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PHOTO CREDIT: Emile Holba
Damon Locks - Black Monument Ensemble + Angel Bat Dawid live at EartH (Theatre) (EFG London Jazz Festival 2021) - A review
The EartH (Theatre) in Hackney hosted a double bill of extraordinary power and artistry with Damon Locks Black Monument Ensemble and Angel Bat Dawid taking us to the outer edges and back again for this Monday night gig for the EFG London Jazz Festival. Read our review here
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PHOTO CREDIT: Tatiana Gorilovsky
Aynur - Live at Barbican Centre (EFG London Jazz Festival 2021) - a review
Being invited to review this show by the great Kurdish-Turkish singer Aynur as part of the 2021 edition of the EFG London Jazz Festival turned out to be a gift for the ages as the great wood-panelled hall of the Barbican Centre became a triumphant celebration of Kurdish song and culture. Read our review of this spectacular event
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Photo Credit: Alex Kozobolis
Kinkajous 'Being Waves' (Running Circle) - a review
On the eve of a much awaited Kinkajous UK tour, Mauro Ferreiro reviews their brilliant second album ‘Being Waves’ that was released in September on Nottingham’s fine Running Circle imprint. Read / Listen here
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Dave De Rose & Dan Nicholls 'Plants Heal' (DDR) - a review
‘Plants Heal’ is released today and is a short, beautifully weighted album of natural ambience and surprising moments of electro-acoustic tension culled from two days of constant improvisation. Meditative and impressionistic, the record is both relaxing and confrontational in the most calming way from two of the leading lights of the experimental scene. Read / Listen here
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Nilza Costa - an interview
Nilza Costa is a singer/songwriter from Salvador de Bahia living in Italy and her new album ‘Le notti di San Patrizio’ is an uncommon combination of traditional Brazilian rhythms and melodies and European jazz forms. It’s a beautiful thing so I pinged her a few questions.. Listen / Read here
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Penya 'False Prophets' (Liminal Recordings) - video and Cuba Solidarity Campaign
The genre-busting Penya have a brand new remix EP on the way and for the first three months, all the Bandcamp sales raised from their brilliant new single ‘False Prophets’ will be going towards the COVID-19 Medical Appeal for Cuba via the Cuba Solidarity Campaign. Afro-latino rhythms from the past hurtling into the future is their game and we’re big fans. Check the superb video and order the remix pack here
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Jan Van 'Streams' (Teranga Beat) - a review
‘Streams’ is an excellent album of cinematic noir created live by rhythmic maestro Jan Van aka Yannis Angelolopoulos and the cream of Athens’ jazz and improvisational musicians. Funky, spacious and reflective, their unique fusion of contemporary improv jazz and laïkodimotiko (local, popular music) is a fine blend indeed. Read / Listen here
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Credit - Nicola Schmid
Howald 'Amnis Alsace' (BlauBlau Records) - a review
A touching and poetic soundtrack to a filmic diary that was made in response to the music from Swiss multi-instrumentalist Dimitri Howald. Touching on Afro-Brazilian, jazz, post-rock and 80s New Wave flavours. Read / Listen / Watch the film here
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Atakora Manu 'AFRO HIGHLIFE' / 'OMINTIMINIM' (BBE) - a review
In celebration of 100 years of recorded Ghanaian Highlife, BBE release this gorgeous double pack of mid-80s albums by the underappreciated but wonderful Atakora Manu. A brilliant melding of ‘palmwine’ blues and eccentric synth work that stands it out from most Highlife that we are usually exposed to. Read / Listen
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Ballaké Sissoko 'A Touma' (NØ FØRMAT!) - a review
For his second album of 2021, the master kora player Ballaké Sissoko recorded eight solo compositions in one day inside a chapel in Belgium. It is a stunning journey of emotion, virtuosity and West African folk-blues and as good as any kora recordings that I have been lucky enough to discover. Read / Listen
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Blue Dream 'Trip To LA' (Tangential Music) - a review
Andy Compton and friends have created a woozy, sunshine album of Californian sunset music utilising vintage synths and drum machines, warm guitars and the cool soulful voice of Irantzu Pujadas. The sound of a white isle bar or of falling in love, this is a must for fans of Eddie Chacon, Shuggie Otis or A Man Called Adam. Pure vibes. Read / Listen
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Dolenz 'Kuntur EP' (Exit Records) - a review
At times full of menace, at others deeply soulful, Dolenz’ forthcoming EP for the always groundbreaking Exit Records is a must for fans of experimental beatmaking. Deep and tough electronica collides with the odd end of hip hop with top shelf results - including collaborations with underground legend Steve Spacek and UK rapper Sonnyjim. Read / Listen
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Awkward Corners 'Amateur Dramatics' (Shapes Of Rhythm) - a review
The brand new LP from Chris Menist’s ‘Awkward Corners’ project unfolds like an old book of tales, personal reflections and feelings gently whispering into your chest. Deep electronics, lush live instrumentation and the otherworldly reed work of Tamar Collocutor make this an essential immersive experience. Read / Listen
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Elijah Minnelli 'SLATS' (Breadminster County Council) - a preview
Elijah Minnelli creates dub that effortlessly brings cumbia, western and eastern folk idioms into the sound and it is brilliant. His new single is out in August on the Breadminster County Council label. Here is a preview. Read / Listen
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Marco Woolf 'Lets Build This House' (Phlexx Records) - Video Premiere
We are delighted to premiere the brand new video single from the inspirational alt-jazz artist Marco Woolf. A gorgeous and intimate video of compelling potency featuring many of Marco’s own family members, the single will be released on Friday 9th July on Phlexx Records as a second taster of his brilliant forthcoming EP ‘Francine, i’. Watch / Read here…
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Yelfris Valdés 'For The Ones (Remixed)' (Música Macondo Records) - a review
A classy remix package of Yelfris Valdés 'For The Ones' LP on Música Macondo Records sees Tim Garcia harnessing a serious line-up of producers to explore and rework the original gold into new shapes whilst retaining the spiritual Yoruba force originally intended. An essential listen for lovers of broken beat, deep house and the real thing. Read / listen here
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Champyun Clouds 'Champyun Clouds' (Hongo Malo) - an interview & review
Champyun Clouds are Neil Tolliday (aka Nail) and Asa Hudson and during lockdown they have churned out a whole load of great tunes that bridge the gap between The Beta Band, odd soundtracks, Serge Gainsbourg, Flaming Lips and deep electronic warmth seemingly effortlessly. Read / Listen here.
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