Review: Ebi Soda - frank dean and andrew (Tru-Thoughts Recordings)

"Off-kilter jazz crew Ebi Soda" release their third album, 'frank dean and andrew' with 11 tracks that takes other worldly to another world.

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Leftfield jazzy downtempo fans have a new favourite group; especially if you add some cinematic OST, dubby, avant-garde, punk into the mix.  

Ebi Soda are 'jazz-disruptors' as we are told these tracks evolve from countless hours of jam sessions which is perhaps most evident in the seamlessly cool compositions rather than any angular 'free' jazz elements. 

Kicking off with one of the longer tracks, 'bamboo' it sets the tone whilst 'toucan' flys high into the sky (Ed. might be one for Guinness to investigate) whilst much of the album is in the moody of dubstep on jazz (like 'location' - Ed. Croydon?) but I hear more Jah Wobble's PIL period punk-dub.  And on 'milk in my console', with added trombone, I think of the spirit of Rico plus the eerie 'freely' with string quartet(?).

Jianbo adds a rap to 'red in tokyo' which doesn't sound out of place with the other tracks but previous single, 'when pluto was a planet and everything was cool' (see review HERE) does stand out even though it's a bit different - what would Jerry Dammers have made of this if he was given the producer reins?

The album ends on the 11 minute tour de force, 'insectoid creatures are infesting the land' when build upon the excellence of the previous ten tracks.

As a reminder, last year when I was chatting to Tru-Thoughts head honcho Robert Luis at We Out Here Festival, corto.alto were 'the' hot jazz collective (and subsequently their album was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize "Album Of The Year" 2024) and this year,  I won't be surprised if 'frank dean and andrew' is shortlisted for the Mercury Prize "Album Of The Year" 2025!

Having featured on Soul-Jazz's compilation 'Kaleidoscope (New Spirits Known & Unknown)' along with loads more on the jazzy new wave, Ebi Soda have found their time whether they know it or not. 

BUY LINK: https://truthoughts.ffm.to/frank.OPR

Artwork by Ez Goomi: ezgoomi.com

Artist: Ebi Soda

Title:  frank dean and andrew

Release date: 19th September, 2025

Label : Tru-Thoughts Recordings

Catalog Number: TRUD466D

Format: Vinyl / CD/ Cassette / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Jimi Tenor Love Is The Language (Versions) (Philophon)

Hot on the heals of his appearance at We Out Here Festival, the jazz space cowboy from Finland, Jimi Tenor is back to speak the language of love in 3 ways, on a massive 12" with 'Love Is The Language'.

You'll recall Jimi's flautist excellence stood out (Ed. as always) on the 7" 'My Mind' from last year (see review HERE).

Now in 12" format, this is proper nu-jazz versions of "Afro-centric cosmic 60s library Ra-ist vibe" as envisioned as more cinematic weirdness from Critical Ass along with the original and a full on house re-work by Koti Koti.

I've said it before that Jimi always looks to me like a jazz-mod that's lost his space-ship (which is a good thing) and I think he's had a significant birthday recently but he's lost none of his 60s hippy sharpness; after all, love is the language.

Artist: Jimi Tenor 

Title:  Love Is The Language (Versions)

Release date: 19th September, 2025

Label : Philophon Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: 12" Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Flash Atkins All Stars - Sanza Mibale Ya Bo Pemi EP1 (Paper Recordings)

It's usually a derogatory term to be labeled 'FLASH' but not in the case of Flash Atkins as he's put together a All Star team headed by Felix Ngindu with four cutting edge versions of 'Sanza Mibale Ya Bo Pemi' that are the essence of 'Afro-Disco' golden era.

If you missed the 70s New York Disco excess of Studio 54 and the influx of Afro influence, particularly Nigeria and Ghana, there is no need to worry as Felix Ngindu (who sings in his native Lingala language from DRC) with a the Osibisa/Kuti/AWB street jazz-funkin band is on fire.

There's the original version and a dub plus a Bosq remix as a 'Boogie Bounce' and a 'Boogie Bounce Dub' and all four tracks are hostage to the (Hot Damn!) Haggis Horn duo of Atholl Ransome (sax) and Malcolm Strachan (trumpet/trombone).

Love the heavy congos and bass on the Flash Dub and it's almost retro-Funkadelic (I'm told the 'Weatherall' crew are including a Funkadelic track a compilation so Brit-funk is getting trendy again?) whilst Bosq has a whole history of his own when n it comes to tropical disco funk having previously worked with The Ibibio Horns and on the remix, case in point, Borka & The Gang's 'Tem Que Sonhar' (see review HERE)

So I can see why Paper Recordings thought it was a good idea to BOSQ on board but they could have phoned Weedyman (after his “Kananga’s Revenge” EP - see review HERE) or Lakeshouse (after 'Renate's Dan' with Hot Toddy & Gouldian Finch Remixes - see review HERE); well, you never know there's time yet.

BUY LINK:  All Stars EP 1: Sanza Mibale Ya Bo Pemi | Flash Atkins

Artist: Flash Atkins All Stars 

Title: Sanza Mibale Ya Bo Pemi EP1

Release date: 29th SeptemberC 2025

Label : Paper Recordings
Catalog Number : TBC
Format:  12" Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Soothsayers - Fly Higher (Wah Wah 45s)

The WAH WAH 45s 26th anniversary party has the mighty Soothsayers with a VINYL release of their 11th album, get in early! 

We're long term fans of the label as you can tell from the many reviews on YATM and this is another excellent release.

OK, so we're still waiting for a certain Dom Servini (Wah Wah 45s top man, Jazz FM, Soho Radio and many more) who in the past has been playing out the Hectic Extension of the previous singles to actually have an official release of one.  And members of Soothsayers have links with the South Coast but even so, this 10 tracks is the band at their Afrobeat/reggae/dub best.

I honestly think this is their best work to date. The musicianship, the guests, the production, the three-part harmonies, the message, but above all the song-writing, are all on point.

The album is out this Friday on vinyl LP (and digital via Bandcamp) only. It'll get a full release on evil Spotify and elsewhere in January 2026.

If you've seen Youthsayers at any of their gigs/festival events, you'll know these guys have a legacy to follow them; and you can add 'Fly Higher' to that too!

BUY LINK: https://soothsayers.bandcamp.com/album/fly-higher

Live Shows

September 21st The Jazz Café, London
October 10th Eco Park, Porthtowan, Cornwall
October 11th The Jam Jar, Bristol
October 24th Brundenall, Leeds
October 25th The Vale, Mossley
November 8th The Hall, Hastings
December 12th Fox & Firkin, London
December 19th Bossaphonik, Cowley Workers Club, Oxford

Artist: Soothsayers  

Release: Fly Higher 
Release Date: 19th September, 2025
Label: Wah Wah 45s
Catalog Number: TBC
Format:VINYL LP Digital / BANDCAMP

Review: Trinidadian Deep, Boo Williams, Cee ElAssaad, Doug Gomes - Freedom, Innovation, Resonance Vol 1. (Ensouled)

How many 'names' can Cee ElAssaad get on the first 12" vinyl release on his Ensouled label?  Well, quite a few as he launches 'Freedom, Innovation, Resonance' Vol 1.

We know Cee ElAssaad knows lots of folks like Beatkozina with the recent 'Beauty Is Magic' (see review HERE), Jaidene Veda (see review HERE), Gee Lane and Blurum (see review HERE), QVLN (see review HERE), Masaki Morii (see HERE) along with Doug Gomes (on the remix - see HERE) and with Trinidadian Deep (see review HERE).

So we're expecting a lot and we get it!  Trinidadian Deep's track 'Movements of Sound' with a Cee ElAssaad remix and on the flip, it's Boo Williams' 'My Place' plus Cee and Doug in dancehall groove for 'Jam It To The Riddim'.

You will immediately get why they've gone the extra 12" to get these four tracks on vinyl and with a 'Vol 1' on the label, they're free to continue this innovation as the dance community will have total resonance to this movement; of sound you might say.

I expect at least one of these tracks will be on this months' "Best Of" Colour & Pitch Sessions mixtape by Sumsuch and if it was down to me, it'd be 'My Place' as a funkin' train of a track.

BUY LINK / Pre Order: https://juno.co.uk

Artist: Trinidadian Deep, Boo Williams, Cee ElAssaad, Doug Gomes 

Title: Freedom, Innovation, Resonance Vol. 1

Release date: 15th September, 2025

Label : Ensouled

Catalog Number : ENSLDV001

Format: Digital / Bandcamp   

Review: Linda Mirada - Qué largo es el verano (Lovemonk)

Fans of Linda Mirada's last album "Con Mi Tiempo Y El Progreso" with its Lovemonk Latin disco synth-pop must have been wondering if there was ever going to be a new one: lucky 13 years on, it's here as 'Qué largo es el verano'.

Lovemonk Records, the Madrid based label, most well known for being the home of Gecko Turner and Chip Wickham together with the more recent Commonsur and Keita Sano & Sauce81, have gone the extra mile to catch the current wave of 80s pop in southern Europe with flashes of Italo disco" with Linda's support of North Satellite on production, mixing by Metro Area’s Bart Davenport and Daniel Collás of The Phenomenal Handclap Band who recently released 'We Are Worlds Away' (see review HERE) and you hear more than a faint echo with 'Qué largo es el verano' (which is a good thing).

It's a collections of songs (7 in all plus a remix) which pay to listen to chronologically as it starts of a bit 80s synth pop ('Bajo un mismo techo') and building up to a bit of Wham horn section ('Si la brisa es buena) as it "moves between intimate hedonism and gentle melancholy".  I'll have to take the label's work for it as my Spanish is more than limited but if you were digging for an album/period that was at the sohphisted Euro-pop of 80s with early electropop and "splashes of disco" at the poolparty that isn't old hat, 'Qué largo es el verano' is it.

And to a large part of this 'fresh/current' sound is due to the input of the Brooklyn ears of The Phenomenal Handclap Band members and the reason I was a little coy about the remix earlier is tha if you know there's a PHB Dub remix (Si la brisa es buena), you'd head for it in all it's magnificence.

Kind of hope they do some more as disco dub if ready for the beach if the breeze is nice and we know how good they are on the remix buttons as they popped up on Peter Matson's 'Hotel PM' album on Bastard Jazz (see review HERE).

The spirit of Kid Creole & Chic Cocconuts lives on - where's me Hawaiian shirt and pina colada? 

BUY LINK: Qué largo es el verano | Linda Mirada

Artist: Linda Mirada
Title:   Qué largo es el verano (w/The Phenomenal Handclap Band Remix)
Release date: 19th September, 2025
Label : Lovemonk Records
Catalog Number : TBC
Format:  Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Graham Collier - Graham Collier's Hoarded Dreams (Cuneiform Records)

Thanks to Cuneiform Records you now have a great opportunity for one weekend ONLY to buy this brilliant album from for only $5.

This sale ends 11:59pm UTC on September 14, 2025 and the coupon code is "FIVE" after typing in '10' into the name your price field.

BANDCAMP BUY LINK: Hoarded Dreams | Graham Collier | Cuneiform Records

And here's an review I did for flyglobalmusic sometime ago at the original re-issue.

You may recall, when Graham was at Ray’s Jazz, he was promoting the release of this CD recorded live at the Bracknell Jazz Festival in 1983.

Collier is the composer and he directs this specially invited 19 piece band that includes Geoff Warren (who played the sax and flute on the UK jazz-funk classic ‘Southern Freeez’ a couple of years earlier), John Surman, Kenny Wheeler and Tomasz Stanko for this one-off occassion.

The ‘Hoarded Dreams’ come in seven parts, conveniently entitled Part 1 to 7. It starts like a manic mass horned ‘Flight Of The Bumble Bee’ which knocks the stuffing out of the audience. Thankfully, mid-way through Part 2, the audience has caught up and you can feel their joy throughout an incredibly powerful 14 and a half minutes.

Little wonder that by Part 3, they all need to catch their collective breath and the guitar of Ed Speight (one for fans of Mr. Lamdin) and Juhani Aaltonen (sax) gets all late night downtempo before Collier lets off the reins and they’re at the races again. As an aside, I also see Aaltonen was on last years’ big 12”, the Didier’s 06 Edit of ‘Ufology’ by the Finnish Big Band Jazz.

And then can you imagine what a trio of trombones can do? Malcolm Griffiths, Eje Thelin and Conny Bauer get their chance to lead a big band on a ‘free’ Ellington style number. A hoarded dream of Mr. Collier?

Part 5 is another long one and starts minimal with Tomasz Stańko getting all-experimental on a solo (with Ashley Brown getting busy on the drums). Very UnSafe as Roger Dean breaks down on the piano with Conny Bauer doing an ‘Alan Tomlinson’ of sorts. Not to be outdone, Wheeler, Surman, and Stanko join Bauer on a blow out at the end which sounds an unholy mess compared to, say, ‘Southern Freeez’.

‘Part 6’ is like a sax-lead version of ‘Part 5’ with Themen taking on all comers including John Schröder on guitar. Makes you wonder what Mr. Lamdin could do with a remix project if he wasn’t so busy releasing his own albums?

Talking of which, If you thought the Nostalgia 77 Octet’s live CD recorded live at the Jazz Café, Seven’s & Eight’s (which included a version of Collier’s ‘Down Another Road’) was good, Hoarded Dreams is even better.

As “jazz happens in real time, ONCE!”, it’s a good job someone recorded this and nearly 25 years on, a wider audience of jazz fans have finally “caught up” with the folks at Bracknell that day and the collective Hoarded Dreams of Graham Collier.

Reviewed: Graham Collier — Hoarded Dreams recorded live at the Bracknell Jazz Festival in 1983 (Cuneiform Records) Cat. No. Rune 252 Released: 07 Mar 2007
Credits: Guitar [Electric] — Ed Speight , John Schröder Producer, Composed By — Graham Collier Saxophone [Alto}, Flute [Alto] — Geoff Warren Saxophone [Tenor, Alto] — Juhanni Aaltonen Trombone — Conny Bauer , Eje Thelin , Malcolm Griffths Trumpet, Flugelhorn — Tomasz Stanko , Kenny Wheeler , Henry Lowther , Manfred Schoof , Ted Curson Tuba — Dave Powell Bass — Paul Bridge Piano — Roger Dean Drums, Percussion — Ashley Brown Saxophone [Tenor, Alto] — Matthias Schubert , Art Themen Saxophone [Baritone], Clarinet [Bass] — John Surman

Tracklisting:
1 Part 1 (2:53)
2 Part 2 (14:30)
3 Part 3 (11:21)
4 Part 4 (10:30)
5 Part 5 (14:35)
6 Part 6 (13:54)
7 Part 7 (2:30)

Links:
www.jazzcontinuum.com the web site of Graham Collier
www.myspace.com/raysjazz
www.foyles.co.uk

—Gerry Hectic
Saturday 21 April 2007

Review: Tema Due (Nicola Conte, Nico Lahs) - EP2 (Schema Records)

Tema Due are back with the follow-up to EP1 - yep!  You've guessed it, the imaginatively entitled 'EP2' with the fantastically imaginative young Brazilian percussionist Gabriel Prado and pianist Pietro Lussu!

And those with good memories will recall that Pietro featured on Enrico Bracco's 'Flying In A Box' (see review HERE) and both of them featured on the Conte produced 'Italia' by Till Brönner (see review HERE).

So, you'll instantly recognise that 'EP2' is firmly in the Schema 'school' of "Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, Latin and all points south of the Italian base of the label for many years" along with the likes of Gerardo Frisina, 'Insight' Vol. 2 (see review HERE).

Tema Due, Conte and Lahs, know Latin jazz dance and have also given Brazilian 'Far Out' favourite Nina Miranda on 'Share Your Love' and another jazz pianist, Giovanni Guidi but it's the heavy percussion on 'Galaxy Bloom' with Lonnie Liston Smith keys backed up with 'Praise To The Sunshine' that steels the show.

Now we're in the swing of things, there will be an EP3 to preceed the album; I wonder if they can think of a better title than 'EP1, EP2 & EP3'? 

BUY LINK: Music | Schema Records

Artist: Tema Due (Nicola Conte, Nico Lahs)

Title:  EP2

Release date: 12th September, 2025

Label : Schema Records

Catalog Number : SC548

Format: 12" Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Arrumar - Matsena LP (Ostowana)

When it comes to artwork, you know what they are about 'covers' and however cheeky a meerkat looks in silhouette, the simple truth is that this is 'the' Ostowana release you need as the summer fades away. 

Here's something that's awesome in many ways as a full nine tracks expand (most are in the 7-9 minute duraton) which includes a Indo-downtempo dub track 'Matsena' featuring Henrikraabe. 

And how can 'Africa Dzonga' sound so sunset sizzling with 'Naturalist' being No. 1 on the David Attenborough Autumn Chart.

Anyone watching the latest series of Alone in South Africa's Great Karoo Desert know will know how difficult it is to survive, but what Arrumar has managed to produce as a debut album that sits on the Afro-House vs. electronic escarpment of his home village of Bushbuckridge/Mapulaneng.

Did I say this is stunning?  A fantastic mix of modern and traditional that'll make sure this isn't the last time you'll hear Arrumar.

BBBBB

Artist: Arrumar

Title: Matsena LP 

Release date: 26th September, 2025

Label: Ostowana

Catalog Number: OST134

Format: Digital

Event: TDE100 - London Exhibition - Celebrating The Art, Culture and Music of The Disco Express

The Disco Express train, now known as TDE 100 - London Exhibition has arrived at Platform Shoreditch "Celebrating The Art, Culture and Music of The Disco Express" and you don't want to miss this halt stop.

In a week that sees the release of Dirty Supercar's 'Get Down Boogie' that comes with the coup of a  John Morales Extended Remix (see review HERE), 2025 sees TDE from London to Paris, NYC, Amsterdam, Mexico City and beyond as the celebrations of #100 start to get into full swing/boiler box.

Starting with a landmark exhibition taking place at The Book Club in Shoreditch, this 4-day celebration will bring together our global community under one roof, running from Wednesday 17th September to Saturday 20th September 2025.

Upstairs at The Book Club, experience the warmth of vinyl each evening as DJs spin records from 5PM–10PM, followed by exclusive recorded club sets downstairs in the club room from our resident DJs from 9PM–12AM. These nightly soundscapes will set the tone for an unmissable week. This free exhibition will feature curated artwork from past events, vinyl releases, exclusive framed pieces, archival posters, and brand new merchandise available to purchase. Visitors can expect a dynamic visual and audio experience that celebrates The Disco Express' journey, from underground parties to global dance floors. The celebration will culminate in a blowout party at Metropolis on Saturday 20th September, reuniting our resident DJs from across the globe and bringing the TDE100 exhibition to an unforgetable close. Join us as we reflect, connect and keep the fire burning. And don't forget to check our interview with Tom Lilly of last year HERE.

P.S. If you're really stoked up for this, there's a one night only TDE at ADE as "a moving club train through the Netherlands, featuring three unique stages, a stacked international lineup, and a journey like no other".  It won't be run with an ex-BR Class 77 (withdrawn from the Netherlands in 1983) what a celebration: seven carriages, three stages, one moving train,

100 releases, 5 years, Infinite memories.

LONDON EXHIBITION: TDE100 - London Exhibition - Celebrating The Art, Culture and Music of The Disco Express at The Book Club, London

THE DISCO EXPRESS AT ADE: 23rd October 2025: TDE - Club Train by Night: Celebrating 100 Releases on The Disco Express at Amsterdam Central Station, Amsterdam · Tickets

BUY LINK / Pre-Order: https://go.protonradio.com

Artist: Dirty Supercar 

Title: Get Down Boogie / Body Slam EP
Release date: 12th September, 2025
Label : The Disco Express
Catalog Number : XPRESS94A1
Format:  Digital / Streaming / Bandcamp