Review: Dan The Drum + Ronnie Turner - JazzCazz ft Emma Noble (Ramrock Red Records)

Trust a serious musicologist 'of the cover' version like Jo Wallace (Ramrock/F*CLR head honcho) to know that the 1980 disco chart buster 'Casanova' by Coffee was not the original version!  

The original tribute to the exploits attributed to Giovanni Jacopo Casanova was sung by Ruby Andrews in 1967 and I bet they'd never have imagined that song re-interpreted as Dan 'The Drum' Spalding and Ronnie Turner have in 2024 with Emma Noble on vocals. It's full of cool 60s Blue Note/Dave Brubeck 'Take Five' swing with Emma's vocals perfect for the jazzification of the lyrics; "Hey boy, your playing days are over". They've even squeezed in a bit of a nod to hip-hop and dub; kinda US3 'Cantaloop' that was just as massive.

We're told there's lots more to come from this Spalding/Turner set up that's going to appeal to BBC 6 Music's obvious candidates like Craig Charles (what did I say on his latest compilation on BBE - see review HERE) and Gilles Peterson - and way beyond.....trust me

Artist: Dan The Drum + Ronnie Turner

Title: JazzCazz ft Emma Noble 

Release date: 26th July, 2024

Label : Ramrock Red Records.

Catalog Number : RRR063

Format :  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Mzala Wa Afrika - Resurrection EP (Ostowana)

It may not be "Coming Home" but you can't keep a good thing down and here's some 'Resurrection' to proove it from Mzala Wa Afrika.

If you thought the 'uMsindo weNdlovu EP' by AfroNerd and featuring Notha Shoto was good (and we certainly thought it was better than that, see review HERE), you're going to love this new 3-track EP on Ostowana even more!

We've got a deep dub flava on the high plains  with 'Amasiko' (Original Afromix) that has all the elements of sunrise, sunset and morning chorus infused in the synths.  Definitely my favourite (and in the office) but don't rule out the opener, 'Ngikhulule Set Me Free' featurig the vocals of Nhlanseko which is your main room stomper/dreamer and the 'Samburu' chant.

We're told this is a "must-listen for all Afro House music aficionados", but this has a much wider appeal and any of the tracks could be included in our sets - watch out for the 'Best Of' July session.

Artist:  Mzala Wa Afrika 

Title: Resurrection EP

Release date: 26th July, 2024

Label: Ostowana

Catalog Number: OST065

Format: Digital

Review: BAVHU - Everybody Groove (Altra Moda)

After BBC Proms did 'D-I-S-C-O' last week, lets get all Latin-disco boogie down with the BAVHU and watch 'Everybody Groove'.

This is ideal 'Ring My Bell' party people music and it's outta New Zealand!

Last year they released a cover of 'Always Dancin' but for 'Everybody Groove', more cowbells is the order for the summer and get that bit of sax - it's like a Radio 1 Summer Roadshow of old (without the sleeze) but with the extended version rocking it.

P.S. Make sure you get the Extended version

Artist: BAVHU

Title: Everybody Move

Release date: 24th July, 2024

Label: Be Adult Music

Catalog Number: WP2698

Format: Digital / Bandcamp.

Review: Fred Everything & Robert Owens - Never (Osunlade & Waajeed Remixes) (Lazy Days Recordings)

They say, "Never look a gift horse in the mouth", and as Robert Owens' vocals are the gift that keeps on giving, here's some monster remixes for your summer of love. 

Taken from the album 'Love, Care, Kindness & Hope (see review HERE), did I not predict the the magic vocals of Robert Owen would mean that all the big heads will be lining up for a remix.

Well, Osunlade and Waajeed are some pretty big heads and all together there's eight version of this modern classic to enjoy here.

And much like Mr Everything himself, it's hard to choose amongst the Yoruba Soul, Waajeed's, the Cosmic Vox/Dub and orginals including various instrumentals (I know it sounds a silly thing to say when Mr Owens is on it, but never overlook an instrumental is what I say).

Never would have thought would you?

All the usual suspects are on this already, Jazzanova, Laurent Garnier, Aroop Roy, Daz-I-Kue, Moodymann, Colin Dale, Stu Patterson, Bill Brewster, Ashley Beedle, Sumsuch and more, i.e. all your favourite DJs!

Artist:  Fred Everything & Robert Owens 

Title: Never (Osunlade & Waajeed Remixes) 

Release date: 19th July, 2024

Label : Lazy Days Recordings

Catalog Number : LZD106

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Garden City Movement - Never On Time (Anova Music)

You don't have to know your Welwyn from your Letchworth's to be a fan of this Garden City Movement as they release a debut album, 'Never On Time'.

Well I don't know about their time keeping, but they certainly have issues about sticking to one music genre as these 13 tracks are coherently all over the place (which is a good thing).

Picking up on some Or Kantor vibes ('Sarda Sarda' being you current favourite album, see review HERE) to Prince pop-R&B, to duet soul-funk al la MF Robots ('Spinnin') and loads more; that's the 'Allure' of this album.

With a cast of fellow students of Town Planning, sorry I mean cool soul-jazz pop funk, Eden Ladin, Jenny Penkin, Sefi Zisling, Dreamcast, Sefi Zisling, Berry Sakharof this is going to make so many playlists it's like a Garden City Movement re-energised, re-born, re-danced (you get the idea).

Artist:  Garden City Movement 

Title:  Never On Time

Release date: 19th July, 2024 

Label : Anova Music

Catalog Number :  -

Format:  Digital  

Review: VA - John G​ó​mez and Nick The Record Present TANGENT (Mr Bongo)

Known as a record dealer's digger, Nick The Record has been after the rarest and the best disco/soul/jazz and other dancefloor gold for over 30 years and can you imagine the team up with John G​ó​mez, another DJ with links to Music From Memory, Rush Hour and shows on NTS Radio as they joined forces for the club night they called, Tangent.

After 10 years of Tangent, is it time for the residents sit down and pick the best tracks for a  compilation to celebrate?  Too right it is, even if there's less tracks than the number of balloons in the cover photograph.  Even so, it'd still an impressive 18 tracks, many of which are probably going to be new to you as they find themselves a newer and wider audience.

The single, 'Tet Chajé' by Kajou is a bit of a relevation as it must be pretty rare as a Haitian disco hit from 1985 (a real mix of influences to say the least).  Backed with Miguel Perikás' 'Laberinto' that throws some Italo-jazzy keys on the Balearics with some warped synth combined it's like a Shalamar meets a disco Quincy Jones with Bob James and Shakatak.

Whilst they do love a 80s disco, 'No Way To Control It' (very 'Automatic') you don't last 10 year in London clubland on this alone.  And with this wealth of diging connections, you'll find a best mate like Dany Tyler (50% of edit experts, Idjut Boys) ready to enjoy a tour de force de Disco with a Nick the Record & Dan Tyler Re-Edit, 'Quelle Drôle De Vie'.

So you'd expect disco, house, Afro-Français, edits, remixes but these DJ's are no limited to these comparisions as the album itself kicks off with some reggae sound system riddems from... Thailand; of course!  And includes 80s hip-hop rap with King B's 'Love Is Crazy' from, Cameroon.

'Amek, Amek' is mad African soukous so is going for silly prices for original copies on t'internet and everything else on the album so get the double vinyl whilst you can. And where would you even start to look for Pellegrin El Kady's 'Sevia de Carnaval'?

It's like a wierd world cup of dancefloor! And you'll find this pair going head to head at WeOutHere Festival in August when The Bowl stage in Dorset will be turned into a little bit of trendy London for TANGENT on the Thursday afternoon.  You never know, you might find some of the regulars and early fans like DJ Andy Smith, OOFT!, Daddy Bones, DJ Tom B. (Avenida Brasil / Bongo Joe Rec), T Bird, Jim Lister (1BTN), Stu Patterson (Faith, etc), Timo Maas, Tim 'Love' Lee - you get the vibe.

Artist: Various Artists

Title: John G​ó​mez and Nick the Record Present TANGENT

Release date: 12th July, 2024 

Label : Mr Bongo 

Catalog Number : MRBCDLP303

Format : 2XLP (Limited Edition - Cream) / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Superposition - II (We Jazz Records)

Assume the Superposition for even more future free jazz from We Jazz Records.

To follow Superposition's first album, 'II' finds leader Olavi Louhivuori (drums), Linda Fredriksson (alto and baritone sax), Adele Sauros (tenor sax) and Mikael Saastomoinne (bass) in a 'free' punk jazz frame of mind with the sax section mixing up angry and melodic moods; sometimes on the same track!

Somewhat different to 'Agatha 2' (Kerkko Koskinen, Linda &. UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra - see reveiw HERE) and Olavi was also on Linda's 'Juniper' album.

Recommend for fans of Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry (in their Scandavian period?), 'out there' ESP-Disk (get anything you see on this label) and the recently re-'discovered', Andrew Hill and a perfect follow up to Black Diamond's 'Furniture Of the Mind Rearranging' (see review HERE) 

Artist: Superposition 
Title: II
Release date: 19th July, 2024
Label : We Jazz Records
Catalog Number : WJLP72
Format: LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: RAH & The Ruffcats - Orile To Berlin (Sonar Kollektiv)

As if to celebrate the Euro 2024, RAH & The Ruffcats party from 'Orile To Berlin' this summer.

Wah Wah 45s' championed 'From London To Lagos' (see review HERE) and Fela Kuti's own right hand man, Dele Sosimi (see HERE) and now Sonar Kollekitv have gone all Afrobeat as RAH (original from Orile, Lagos) and joined up with supergroup backing band The Ruffcats (Berlin).

The vocals are in a combination of English and Nigerian and cross between soul, funk and Afrobeat with the added 'seal' of approval as the nine tracks have been produced by Jochen Ströh (he of Ebo Taylor's classic 'Love & Death').

There's certainly some Ebo in RAH's vocals ('Agidi') and the band are just as tight as Afrobeat versions of Timmion's Cold Diamond & Mink or Daptones Menahan Street Band. 

There's a couple more with guests, the slightly dubbed 'Wake Up (They Are The People Of The Myths) featuring the Afro-space futurism poety King Khan (in an Anthony Joseph way) and the sultry jazz sax of 'Inside Out' featuring Melane on vocals.

Fans of Fela, Taylor, Pat Thomas, Sosimi,BBE Africa and similar will love this and it is setting a high crossbar this summer.  Prepare to have; 'MoonSun', 'Ide Osun (Mantra)', 'Sorry' and 'Kaya' on repeat

So different to the label's last release, Feiertag's EP. 'ON/OFF' (see review HERE) but you can tell from the cover artwork the Sun Ra connection with the planets - Rapturous Apollo Helios is about to move your world.

Title: RAH & The Ruffcats 

Title: Orile To Berlin

Release date: 12th July, 2024

Label : Sonar Kollektiv

Catalog Number : SK487D 

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Attilio Zanchi - Mingus Portrait (DJ Farrapo Remixes) (Right Tempo PRO)

Attilio Zanchi's interpretations have been given the once over by DJ Farrapo and its the current must have in your jazz dance box.

We've just had Zanchi's album 'Mingus Portrait' (see review HERE) and we were wondering how the Right Tempo off-shoot (Right Tempo PRO) were going to follow the instant classic first release, RT 0001 PRO, 'Seasons In My Mind (Remixes)' by Yellowtail featuring Mark Murphy (see review HERE). 

Well, I can't say that they gone even better, but it's pretty close as DJ Farrapo has provided a jazz shoe friendly version of 'Boogie Stop Shuffle' that was already Jazz Room friendly to start with, plus a dub version and two versions of 'For Harry Carne'.

DJ Farrapo is best known in these parts as being 50% of DJ Farrapo & Yanez with their 7", 'Baiano Vem Baiano Vai' / 'Dubaiano' that came out when Paul 'Jazz Room' Murphy was running Afro Art.

Expect to hear this on my Radio WOMAD mix and all the other DJ suspects, Gilles Peterson, Patrick Forge, Kevin Beedle, Ashley Beadle, Colin Curtis, Colin Parnell, Paul Murphy (himself) and many more!

Artist: Attilio Zanchi 
Title: Mingus Portrait (DJ Farrapo Remixes) 
Release date: 10th July, 2024 

Label : Right Tempo Pro

Catalog Number : RT 002 PRO 

Format :Vinyl/ Digital / Bandcamp

Review: The Stance Brothers - Sao Paolo / Timmy (We Jazz Records)

Get this now before they run out!

Such was the response to the album 'Durkus' (see review HERE), We Jazz Records have gone the extra mile, well 7", with two glorious tracks.

You'll see I said 'Sao Paolo' puts Teppo "Teddy Rock" Mäkynen (aka The Stance Brothers' as "super cool nu-jazz hip-hop Malib vs. Mizell Brothers of the north".

The a-side being drenched in Roy Ayres and the new track on the flip, proper Bobby Hutcherson.

What may come as a surprise is that The Stance Brothers also come in the guise of a four piece band and they'll be appearing at the Odysseus Festival and the Flow Festival in Finland this summer.

Artist: The Stance Brothers

Title: Sao Paolo / Timmy

Release date: 12th July, 2024

Label : We Jazz Records

Catalog Number : WJ0719

Format: LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp