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.

Hot Coins - Damage is Done (2013)

An estranged homage to late 70s NYC anti-culture, realized through the eyes of a Scottish born electronic musician living in modern day Berlin.

The man behind Hot Coins, Danny Berman, is best known by his Red Rack’em moniker. A purveyor of the finest club music from hip hop and soul through to house and techno. A DJ/producer who has progressively climbed electronic music’s precipitous ladder of approval. A vinyl obsessive. A party starter from NG to BK.
Quietly working on Hot Coins for the past four years, this very personal project is sonically inspired by Berman’s love of dance music’s fruitful 78-82 period that embraced the cross pollination of emerging post-punk, disco and electro scenes. Goths and futurists in England danced to Kraftwerk and DAF, New York punks and no-wavers danced to ESG and ‘Planet Rock’. Good times…

Adieu Claude Nobs...

 Claude Nobs (February 4, 1936 – January 10, 2013) was the founder and general manager of the Montreux Jazz Festival.

Nobs was born in Montreux, Switzerland. After apprenticing as a cook, Nobs worked in the Tourism Office of Montreux. He later went to New York, where he met Nesuhi Ertegün, the then-president of Atlantic Records. He also met Roberta Flack and invited her to the Rose d’Or de Montreux. Later, Aretha Franklin made her first visit to Europe thanks to him.

At the age of 31, while he was director of the Tourism Office of Montreux, he organized the first jazz festival featuring artists such as Charles Lloyd, Keith Jarrett, Ron McLure and Jack DeJohnette. This new festival was an immediate success, and gained a reputation far beyond Switzerland. Nobs quickly transformed his festival into an international gathering place for lovers of jazz.

Seravince - Hear to See (2013)

Seravince is an exciting new project from keyboardist and composer Vincent Helbers (aka Flowriders). His "Hear To See" album is sophisticated and effortless as its grooves seep out of the speakers. It is a deceptively fiery statement from an artist that continues to defy categorisation. This isn't neo soul, nu-jazz or any other limiting term you care to file it against. It's from the heart, well made and worth listening to from the first till last.

The significant contribution of virtuoso drummer Richard Spaven (Jose James, Flying Lotus, Robert Mitchell 3io, Guru), makes for the perfect counterbalance to ensemble pieces. Gentle jazz-inspired solos – and sensual vocals courtesy of Sharlene Hector (Basement Jaxx, Corinne Bailey Rae, Mark de Clive Lowe) and Renee Neufville (Zhane, RH Factor) – can often be anodyne.

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.

Hundred Strong & Joseph Malij - All Ain't The Same (2013)

All Ain't The Same is a collaboration between Bristol producer Ben Dubuisson, AKA Hundred Strong, and Glasgow singer/songwriter Joseph Malik. Having recorded the title track, All Ain't The Same, for previous label Altered Vibes some seven years previously, the full length collaboration has been some time in the making. However, it was only a chance conversation early in 2012 between Dubuisson and Malik that led to an exchange of ideas and the completion of the long vaunted project.

Working from his basement studio in central Bristol, Dubuisson sent instrumental files to Malik who drew upon his years of musical and life experiences to create a soulful yet cutting sound. 

Andrea Balducci - Bloom (2012)

Being born an acquainted singer hailing from the classic swing tradition, Balducci's timbre resembles crooners such as Frank Sinatra or the newer generations, Micheal Bublé and Jamie Cullum.

This debut album represents a great artistic challenge, an example of Schema’s research and production work.

The reaserch has identified  a selection of songs capable to enhance the best qualities of his voice and involve him emotionally; a rich ensemble of tracks studied across several musical genres with the aim of showing off the interpretation.

Jose James - No Beginning No End (2013)

“No Beginning No End sums up how I feel about music right now,” says José James of his Blue Note Records debut. “I don’t want to be confined to any particular style. I decided I didn’t want to be considered a jazz singer anymore and that was really freeing. Once I realized that jazz singing is just something that I do and it’s just a label, it freed me as an artist to just write without any boundaries.”

No Beginning No End is a seamless musical experience that moves between different styles with remarkable fluidity, bound together by James’ transcendent voice. It marks a new chapter in the artistic journey of the 33-year-old singer/songwriter. Conceived, recorded and produced independently without any recording contract, the album is his most personal statement yet.

Hiatus Kaiyote – Tawk Tomahawk (2012)

HiatusKaiyote are future soul. Based in Melbourne, the four-piece fuses neo-soul, hip-hop and electronic beats along with flavours of Latin, jazz and opera, all presented with a cinematic sheen.

The band formed in mid-2011, and ever since, they have been rackingup accolades, including album of the week on Gilles Peterson’s show on BBC Music 6, and props from luminaries such as Eyrkah Badu, Questlove, Shafiq Husayn, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, James Poyser, Pharaoh Monch and Jean Grae.

Their debut release, Tawk Tomahawk, peaked in the Top 10 played Albums on KCRW in June and July, 2012. The band has shared bills with Brainfeeder Records artists, Taylor McFerrin, Lapalux and oOoOO, Warp legends Chris Clark and Harmonic 313, sound genius Robin Fox.

A Bow and a Fond Farewell to... Fontella Bass (1940-2012)

Fontella Bass was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the daughter of gospel singer Martha Bass (a member of the Clara Ward Singers). At an early age, Fontella showed great musical talent – at five years old she was providing the piano accompaniment for her grandmother's singing at funeral services, she was singing in her church's choir at six years old and by the time she was nine she was accompanying her mother on tours throughout the American South and Southwest.

Fontella continued touring with her mother until the age of sixteen. As a teenager, Bass was attracted by more secular music. She began singing R&B songs at local contests and fairs while attending Soldan High School where she graduated from in 1958. At seventeen, she started her professional career working at the Showboat Club near Chain of Rocks, Missouri. In 1961, she auditioned on a dare for the Leon Claxton carnival show and was hired to play piano and sing in the chorus for two weeks, making $175 per week for the two weeks it was in town. She wanted to go on tour with Claxton but her mother refused and according to Bass "... she literally dragged me off the train". It was during this brief stint with Claxton that she was heard by vocalist Little Milton and his bandleader Oliver Sain who hired her to back Little Milton on piano for concerts and recording.

Positive Flow - Flow Lines

UK-based multi-instrumentalist Positive Flow releases his long-awaited debut album for TDR! 'Flow Lines' is a rich tapestry of organic electronica interwoven with real strings – a hallmark of classic LPs.
The album features an array of vocal talent from British soul supremo and chart stormer Omar to Stacy Epps, Colonel Red, Vanessa Freeman, Andre Espeut, Heidi Vogel (Cinematic Orchestra) and more. From the soul-laden future club classic 'My Prediction' through to the brokenbeat Azymuth tinged 'Orange & Brown' to the Minnie Ripperton inspired 'Children Of The Sun' – the album joins all the dots between future soul, funk and house.

The Sure Co. - 5ive (2012)

 

 

 

The Sure Co. is a brand new collaboration between drummer Richard Spaven and pianist Grant Windsor. The project also features Neville Malcolm on bass. Whilst working on so many projects both touring and recording together – José James, Gregory Porter, Nailah Porter, Ty – Richard, Grant and Neville often discussed putting together a band. It was whilst on the road in Germany with Nailah Porter, during a soundcheck in fact, that enough was enough and it was decided that it was time to produce The Sure Co. record.

Marc de Clive-Lowe - Take the Space Trane (free download, 2012)

Out February 4th/5th, ‘Take The Space Trane’ is the new album from producer, composer and musician Mark de Clive-Lowe in collaboration with the Rotterdam Jazz Orchestra. Below is a free download of the title track, announced via The Revivalist.

The album brings together a selection of bespoke compositions and existing cuts from across MdCL’s highly prolific career, as well as a cover of the jazz standard, “Caravan” – all realised with traditional big band arrangements and instrumentation.

Keep on Groovin'!!! Happy New Year!