Bastard Jazz, the label itself, has always been know as eclectic/underground in the electronic, funk, soul, hip-hop, reggae since its inception so here's a couple of more tracks to open your ears and eyes!
Celebrating the 25th anniversary this year, the NYC based lable has come a long way from the break/dub samples of 'Natural Collie' ('The Dubbled Up EP' - BJ005 with Dr. Rubberfunk remex!) to last year's disco/funk/boogie/housee album by Peter Matson, 'Hotel PM' (see review HERE).
And this, the first single by Eric Demuro, Venice based bass player who focuses on "groove, experimental and electronic music" is more evidence of their open-minded approach that's very much jazz-funk (and more) as the Italian OST jazz-library gets a injection of "elastic bass lines, warm Rhodes textures, and loose, patient percussion" on 'Freedom Layers (Pilchard Rounds'.
The low-slung space funk then gets amplified on 'Ara Macao', featuring Fanni Zahár (flute) as a percussive Steve Reich vs. Lonnie Liston Smith in the rain-forest with marimba that's as much jazz-dance as headphone.
The is an introduction as Demuro has an upcoming album, 'Simulacra' in June which may or not be included in the Birthday competition on social meda run by Bastard Jazz to win ALL thier releases on vinyl - which would weigh more than a ton! All you have to do is name you're favourite label release! I'm thinking 'Ara Macao'!
Artist: Eric Demuro
Title:Ara Macao / Freedom Layers (Pilchard Rounds)
Release date: 8th May, 2025
Label : Bastard Jazz Recordings
Catalog Number : TBC
Format: Vinyl (pre-order) / Digital / Bandcamp
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