A sunshine laden jazz-funk banger from virtuosic trumpeter Jackson Mathod and his ridiculously tight band here from his upcoming ‘Come On Now EP’ on new label Bridge the Gap x New Soil - Read / Listen
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Los Kenya 'Siempre Afro-Latino' (Música Infinita/Olindo Records) - a review
A ridiculously fresh sounding Venezuelan salsa LP reissued for the first time since 1968 from one of the most prolific bandleaders of the time, Ray Perez. Hip, sexy, full of swagger and serious playing, Música Infinita/Olindo Records have done this reissue the right way, with beautiful new artwork and a fat remaster from The Carvery. Read / Listen here
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Noori (Photo by Janto Djassi)
Noori & his Dorpa Band 'BEJA POWER! Electric Soul & Brass from Sudan’s Red Sea Coast' (Ostinato Records) - a review
Through a chance viewing of a video on Sudanese Tik Tok, the people at Ostinato Records came across the ancient and well-hidden music of the Beja culture. Oppressed by successive regimes, the Beja go back to Ancient Egyptian times but until now, very few have heard their beautiful, evocative melodies until Noori, his one-of-a-kind tambo-guitar and his Dorpa Band recorded these six tracks of serious blues power. Not just the blues though, scattered amongst these ancient melodies lie the sounds of the world. Read / Listen here
Read MoreOzan Tekin 'Orange Jam' (Gülbaba Records) - SINGLE PREMIERE
PREMIERE! A poignant, spacey, minimalist piano piece pulled from Turkish composer and multi-instrumentalist Ozan Tekin’s new album on Gülbaba Records which will be released on 27th May. The sound of an immigrant’s journey back home, not really sure if the German home of his present or his home country truly belongs to him or him to them. Read / Listen here
Read MoreCaytra 'You Lost' - Single Premiere
PREMIERE! The new single from London jazz trio Caytra is a hurtling four to the floor dance workout underpinned by a rock solid rhythm section and understated guitars and synths. From their forthcoming self-titled, self-produced album, ‘You Lost’ could fit into any DJ set that needs a bit of jazz-funk / Brit-funk energy to get the dance fizzing. Listen here….
Read MoreGuohan 'Feeling' (Darker Than Wax) - Single Premiere!
PREMIERE ALERT! We are hyped to offer the premiere of the first single from Guohan’s forthcoming ‘City Of The Sun And Moon’ EP. Simply titled ‘Feeling’ - his signature use of hypnotic field recording loops, dusty percussion and Moodyman style repetitive funk is in full effect but with that 90s deeper-than-deep house thing going on. It’s a bomb! Listen here…
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Rumpistol 'ISOLA' (Raske Plader) - a review
Award-winning Danish pianist, composer and electronic musician Rumpistol (aka Jens B. Christiansen) has created a beautifully immersive album that sits somewhere between neo-classical composition, slow-burning jazz and pastoral whimsy, and should tickle the heartstrings of fans of Max Richter, Nils Frahm and Ryuichi Sakamoto. Read / Listen
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Photo by Helen Bradshaw
Werkha 'All Werk Is Play' (First Word Records) - a review
Mancunian producer Werkha has finally done a full length album and he has pushed and pulled his core ingredients of broken beat, UKG and wonky electronic jazzy grooves into a very tasty new realm. Read / Listen here
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Alawari 'Alawari' (April Records) - a review
Alawari are a young 7 piece jazz collective from Denmark and this, their debut album, is a truly stunning musical document that seems to manage to capture the troubled times that we are living through. A brilliant mix of lush classical arrangements with levels of uninhibited free jazz expression, the record is “Inspired by the spirit of revolution and ancient war” and it sounds like it. Exceptional. Read / Listen here
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Music That Speaks To.... Jules Brennan
Jules Brennan is a British born, Kyoto-based multi-instrumentalist, DJ and producer and as he has just released his brilliant new solo album of Japanese inspired funk-jazz-soundtracky grooves called ‘Wamono’, we asked him to choose some music that speaks to him. From Jimmy McGriff to funky anime soundtracks, we can hear how he created his own unique sound. Read / Listen here
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MD. AFTER HUSSAIN & PAQ 'MATIR GAAN (SONGS OF THE EARTH)' (Hive Mind Records) - a review
Hive Mind Records once again give us something we never knew we needed. A stunning collaboration between Bangladeshi migrant MD After and Italian electronic artist Andrea Rusconi offers a meditative collision of cosmic synths and ancient Baul songs that are as mystical as they are psychedelic - a great release. Read / Listen here
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'Music & Social #1' - Billy Bang 'Lucky Man' documentary screening, DJ set, drinks & food.
Truth & Lies Music and Beam Editions are pleased to present: 'Music & Social #1' - Billy Bang 'Lucky Man' documentary screening, DJ set, drinks & food. Read on for event and ticket details…
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Milton Gulli 'Quotidiano' (Tangential Music) - press release
‘Quotidiano’ is the classy new album from one of Lisbon’s most accomplished artists, Milton Gulli. A true musical artist whose Mozambican heritage and cultural upbringing in the African diasporic suburbs of Portugal's capital have given him a rich palette of musical influences that he harnesses with great skill and energy. Sunshine music with a serious message… Read / Listen here
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John Morales Presents 'Teddy Pendergrass - The Voice - Remixed With Philly Love' [Album Trailer]
BBE's Peter Adarkwah and John Morales chat about new album 'Teddy Pendergrass - The Voice - Remixed With Philly Love', out March 11th 2022 on vinyl and CD on BBE. Watch here
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Ka Safar - Photo credit Eugene McLaughlin
Ka Safar 'Ancient Tribal Hearts' (2 Headed Deer) - a review
Ka Safar are a thirteen-headed world jazz outfit from the centre of the UK who appear to be trying to reach the centre of the cosmos on their brand new album ‘Ancient Tribal Hearts’. From original Arkestra style groove-freakouts to arrangements of ancient musical and religious notations, this is a remarkable record bursting with energy and ideas that needs to be in the collections of those who love Alice Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, Sun Ra et al. Read / Listen
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Jazzanova 'Face At My Window' (BBE/180 Proof) - rehearsal video exclusive
Check out a sneaky video exclusive of Jazzanova in rehearsal mode in support of the release of the second single from the DJ Amir led project: Strata Records - The Sound of Detroit - Reimagined By Jazzanova
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sneaky jesus 'Bugs (Groove Professor Remix)' (Shapes Of Rhythm) - PREMIERE
We’re mightily pleased to premiere this beat-heavy dubbed out remix of ‘Bugs’ by hot new Polish jazz outfit sneaky jesus on the always on point Shapes Of Rhythm imprint. Think Major Force with a huge horn section, this is a moody beauty from Groove Professor. Listen here
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David Wertman at U Mass - first time Lynne heard him play April 1980
David Wertman & Sun Ensemble 'Wide Eye Culture' (BBE) - a preview
The great bassist David Wertman left the free jazz loft scene of 70s New York to live a life of spiritual harmony in the rural charms of the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts with his wife and musical partner Lynne Meryl but they never stopped making sublime music. BBE have compiled some exceptional (and rare) recordings from the early 80s into a superb new release called ‘Wide Eye Culture’. Here we offer excerpts from the in depth liner notes, in particular from the revealing interviews between Lynne and BBE’s Will Sumsuch. Read here…
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Photo: Daniel Rodríguez
Isaac Sasson 'Canciones de Isaac' (Olindo Records) - a review
Isaac Sasson has released an album of perfectly poised gentleness containing thirteen evocative folky vignettes of life and family in Venezuela and Barcelona. Field recordings of nature accompany his tender voice, exquisite songwriting and light touch multi-instrumentalism. It’s a stunning record. Read / Listen
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Jazzanova and DJ Amir - photo credit Braden Harris
'Strata Records - The Sound Of Detroit - Reimagined By Jazzanova’ (BBE/180 Proof) - first single alert!
Finally…the first fruits from DJ Amir’s invitation to Jazzanova to reimagine, rework and revitalise some of the revolutionary Detroit label Strata Records’ brilliant but outrageously underexposed catalogue of music are here! With tracks and remixes from Jazzanova, Waajeed and Henrik Schwarz, this is essential… Read / Listen here
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