Review: The Heliocentrics, Marshall Allen, Knoel Scott, Bilal – Nuclear War (Strut)

A 'jazz' Record Store Day release that isn't as re-issue but is over 10 years old and celebrates Sun Ra, Marshall Allen, Malcolm Catto and "Yellow & Orange 'hazardous' vinyl" must be world a look'?  Oh, yes - 'Nuclear War' and Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Awards, 2015!

The Heliocentrics (the Sun Ra 'arkestra' centred on Malcolm Catto and Jake Ferguson) who team up with a number of jazz giants from the leftfield, like Lloyd Miller (see below), Mulatu Astake, Orlando Julius, were booked to play at Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Award gig in 2015, check the line-up HERE, to give Marshall Allen a life-time achievement award and for Catto, the John Peel Award.

This EP(LP?) is the, up until now, reheasal Malcolm has had on his hard-drive for over ten years which, of course, showcases Ra's apocalypic vision of 'Nuclear War' (full background HERE).

Allen sounds as good then as he does now (Ed. 101 years old and counting) and the only moan is each track should be at least a whole side of the 'Yellow & Orange "hazardous" vinyl' - anyway it reminded me of the review I did for the LLoyd Miller album in 2010.  Miller himself passed in 2024 aged 86 and; "Dr. Miller was also known as Kurosh Ali Khan, a name he used while hosting a prime-time television show in Tehran, Iran in the 1970s". 

Nuclear War, Where Pathways Meet, Angels And Demons At Play, Astro Black ft. Bilal

Internet Archive link:  LLOYD MILLER & THE HELIOCENTRICS - LLOYD MILLER & THE HELIOCENTRICS | FLY | EUROPE: REVIEWS

Artist: The Heliocentrics, Marshall Allen, Knoel Scott ft. Bilal

Title: Nuclear War (Record Store Day 2006 Release) 

Release date : 18th April, 2026

Label : Strut

Catalog Number : STRUT279LP

Format: LP Vinyl 

Lloyd Miller & The Heliocentrics - Lloyd Miller & The Heliocentrics When I first heard about this one, I admit that I was a little excited and the combination of Lloyd Miller and The Heliocentrics is just that, excitement.
You’ll recall that The Heliocentrics have been turning up on the pages of FLY Global Music with increasing regularity from to the debut album Out There to last years’ award winning Inspiration Information collaboration with the Godfather of Ethio Jazz, Mulatu Astatke (full review HERE and still sounding brilliant on the Jazz Chronicle decks on a monthly basis). And in truth, the sneaky 10” was the first I saw of this new release (at May’s Jazz Chronicles in the hands of a certain Martin Gordon) so the album has been the talk of the message boards ever since. But it’s not only The Heliocentrics (as lead by Malcom Catto) that we’ve heard of before. Lloyd Miller was destined to be an underground jazzman by definition being the son of a professional clarinet player and coming from New Orleans. He had his first 78 out in 1950 and then in the late 50s followed his Dad to Iran and absorbed himself in the music and instruments of Persia and the Middle East. And then, like many other jazz musicians from the U.S. he found Europe’s ears receptive to his jazz leanings and lived in Switzerland, Belgium, Sweden and Germany and toured with Eddie Harris and Don Ellis (he of the Turkish Baths; you see the connection?). Anyway, we already know that his favourite ex-pat home was in Paris where he teamed up with the ‘left bank’ of Jef Gilson (see reviews of Soul Of Africa) and worth checking the re-issue with Lloyd Miller on Free Spirits on Kindred Spirits. You don’t need to get all these previous releases (or even Jazzman’s compilation A Lifetime In Oriental Jazz) to appreciate this new album. In fact, I’m in two minds whether you need to as this is brilliant. ‘Electricone’ is fantastic introduction, ‘Nava’ fades out far too soon and the track ‘Pari Ruu’ just is crate digger’s Indo-eastern jazz heavenwithout spending hours diggin’ or the cash buyin’. That’s just the first three tracks! Whether it’s the Heliocentrics or Miller that provide, what the label say is “a freeform mix of Eastern arrangements, jazz and angular psychedelics” is debateable but there’s no doubting that together they prove to be a spiritual force. ‘Salendro’ is a neat diversion that hails from the Far East whilst ‘Spirit Jazz’ is Far East - West Coast and all cosmic points in-between: and therefore for fans of Pharoah Sanders to Nat Birchall and all points in-between. For funky jazzster that are friends of Alice [Coltrane], ‘Modality’ is fantastic! In fact, I’m struggling to say “fantastic” enough here. ‘Rain Dance’ goes indo, ‘Lloyd Lets Loose’ is beat poet jazz meets Peanuts freestyle ‘Latin’ is a proper Astatke-esque jazz piano groover that sets your feet a-movin’ and your heart a-pumpin’ that make’s it a modern classic even before it’s released. And ‘Charhargah’ isn’t far behind in its modal cool whilst ‘Sunda Sunset’ is a suitable chill out ending to the CD. You don’t have to be on the hubble bubble pipe to get this vibe and just as exciting as the album, we’re promised a tour next year (Oh! don’t you wanna be on that tour bus?) And whilst we’re in the vibe, must mention that the artwork for the album features a specially commissioned illustration by artist Alex Williamson with photography by Alexis Maryon and I’d say there’s it’s got that Eastern look at say a Roald Dahl story which is just about the right pitch if you ask me. On a final note, how does this work? Metro’s Album of the Week gets 3 stars and Lloyd Miller (Age 72) and The Heliocentrics gets 4 stars on the same page! In the Jazz Chronicles, there was and always will be a place for Lloyd Miller (and the Heliocentrics for that matter) but Lloyd is certainly no jazz drop out - more of a jazz must get: fantastic! Reviewed: Lloyd Miller & The Heliocentrics - Lloyd Miller & The Heliocentrics (Strut) Cat. No. STRUT060CD Release date: 19th July 2010 Tracklisting: 1 Electricone (3:42) 2 Nava (4:55) 3 Pari Ruu (4:15) 4 Salendro (2:08) 5 Spirit Jazz (6:55) 6 Modality (3:19) 7 Rain Dance (3:22) 8 Lloyd Lets Loose (3:30) 9 Bali Bronze (6:14) 10 Latin (3:16) 11 Charhargah (4:07) 12 Sunda Sunset (5:39) Links: www.strut-records .com http://e-edition.metro.co.uk The Metro 19th July 2010 p38 “A stunning return for a man who inexplicably dropped out of jazz history” John Lewis —Gerry Hectic Wednesday 21 July 2010

Review: Stimulator Jones - Stimulator Tracks Vol. 2 (Star Creature)

"What we're gonna do right here is go back, way back, back into time." - well, we are but we're also going to look forward to Vol. 2 of 'Stimulator Tracks' from Stimulator Jones on Star Creature as he's being inspired by the past to find star tracks of the future.

You don't have to go that far back to get Vol. 1 as it was only this summer that we had the four track 12" that squelched it's boogie acid on the dancefloor particularly 'Night Walk' as the acid drops on synth backing vocals in a 80s disco groove that works it's magic every time.

Could Vol. 2 match this or even be better?  Well, I suppose once you've jumped ships from Stones Throw after a couple of albums of beats/jazz/funk/soul of 'Enviroments Striving For Perfection' you're going to have more than one weapon in ya arsenal.  And this is deep in manoevres from backroom to mainroom with 'Cytoplasm' - as your 303s go cyborg crazy in a bubblin' soup.

Talking of mainrooms, what's that classic I can here interupting our backroom get down on 'Fantasies'; this is track on it's own is going to make this 12" fly as it crosses many decades of house - you've got to get up to this one. 

'Hold Plz' is like another Chicago loop soundtrack with a killer bassline whilst the lead track, 'Cali Red' is the most danceable of the lot with disco space synths and sirens warning us that this is a big track.

Mr. Jones' appeared on the emerging talent showcase, Gilles Peterson's 'Brownswood Bubblers' back in 2017 (Ed. that's Vol. 12 that also featured Madison McFerrin and Chip Wickham!) was an indication that we'd see him in the future so it was no surprise that 'Stimulator Tracks Vol. 1' was great; and now I believe Vol. 2 is even better!

Buy Link: Stimulator Jones - The Stimulator Tracks Vol 2

Artist: Stimulator Jones 

Title:  Stimulator Tracks Vol. 2 

Release date: 17th January, 2025

Label : Star Creature

Catalog Number : SC1258

Format: 12" / Digital / Bandcamp Link HERE The Stimulator Tracks Vol 2 | Stimulator Jones 

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

Reeview: V/A - I Like It Like That (A Collection Of The Sought Ater And Sold Out Fania 12 Inch Singles) (Mr Bongo)

I was reminded this week that Fania Records are cellebrating their 60th year and before we hear much more of that, time to dig out a much loved Mr Bongo CD from 2008!

Apart from the CD, I seem to recall that there was some companion 12" to go along with this set: 14 tracks remixed by so of the big names at the time including Aaron Jerome (now better known as Sbtrakt), Quantic, 4 Hero, Bugz In The Attic and some big names then and now, Louie Vega (of course), DJ Andy Smith, Ashley Beadle and Gilles Peterson.

The remix CD seems to have "disappeared" (we used to have so much fun with this back in the day when the Salsa Class from up the road came down to our Wednesday night session in Bournemouth) but CD2 is still with me with 14 tracks of originals featuring legendary music from Willie Colón, Héctor Lavoe, Tito Puente, Ray Barretto and Rubén Blades among many others.

Expect to hear Robero Roena's 'Take Five', 'Saona' by Nora Morales and, of course, 'I Like It Like That' by Peter Rodriquez throughout the summer.

This is not currently available on Mr Bongo's Bandcamp site so the campaign starts here for the re-issue; in the meantime, check out the new Mr. Bongo album, 'New Regency Orchestra' that's packed with Fania flavas (see review HERE). 

Happy birthday Fania.

"Kicking off the year-long celebration and available now is a newly remastered reissue for La Gran Fuga (The Big Break), the 1970 masterpiece from the magnificent salsa duo Willie Colón and Héctor Lavoe. The Gold-certified sixth collaboration has been newly remastered, featuring (AAA) lacquers cut from the original master tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio and pressed on 180-gram vinyl, with a classic tip-on jacket and, as an added bonus, an 11” x 22” insert featuring Izzy Sanabria’s famous cover art—an FBI wanted poster with the bandleader’s mugshot—which took inspiration from Colón’s “Malo” alter-ego. La Gran Fuga is also finally available in 192/24 hi-res digital audio on all major music platforms"

Original review 18th July 2008 - FlyGlobalMusic.

Review: David Lyn – The World I Hear (Essence of Life) (MWL Productions)

Music Without Labels are on the edge with David Lyn's new album, 'The World I Hear (Essence of Life)' and it won't take long to go over and fall in love with this album.

For a start off, you may not know the name David Lyn but he's attracted a wide range of people that you will know like Elbert Philips (a Frankie Knuckles protoge and he of A.MA records remixes - see review HERE), Andy Compton (amazingly prolific deep house/Balearic with The Rurals), Arema Arega (Gilles Peterson's Havana Cultura), Born74 (who with Arema have been on Ramrock Red - loads of reviews on YATM) and even DJ legend Dr. Bob Jones has contributed!

So with this talent together with Lyn's own contribution on flute, clarinet, saxophone and piano we've got an album to champion.

With the title that sounds like it's deeply mediative, wellness focused like the amazing openers with vocals by Vuyelwa Mgatyelwa who sings on 'Bayede (Hail The King)' which connects effortlesly with 'Hamba Manzi (Water Flows)' and the last track, 'Let It Flow' (this last one is a monster that's already featured on the Illicit Grooves Radio show with DJ Bob Hill).

There's a rumour that Gilles Peterson is going to feature one of these tracks on his BBC 6 Music show but it's equally as likely he (and anyone else for that matter) will pick the Afro-house inspired 'Connections', the Latin-jazz dance focused 'Maria Juana' (the one that features Arema Arega and Born74) or 'Drum Connection' (the one with the Elbert Phillps remix) are all set for future dancefloors and festivals this year?

And here's a new name to us, King Stuff on 'I Need A Melody' which morphs into 'Ingoma Yakudala (An Old Song)' which sounds a bit like TY(RIP) in South Africa which would be/and is great.  There's also more than a leaning into gospel/soul/house 'You Told Me This' and 'Hey Lord'; if there's going to be a remix album, it's going to be a stunner, calling all Osunlades and Joe Clausells out there!

Prepare to hear this throughout the summer; and did someone say, "Sète" (Gilles Peterson's festival in the South of France in July), Dingwalls Reunions (check out Mark Murphy's "latest" single - see review HERE) or even Dorset's "We Out Here Festival" in August?

There's a bonus with the digital release of continuous 45 minute mix and it's hard to believe this is a debut album as it's so complete and polished but it's no surprised that more are planned: but for now, don't stop dancing to 'Maria Juana' and  'Drum Connection'.

Artist: David Lyn 

Title: The World I Hear (Essence of Life)

Release date: 1st June, 2024

Label: MWL Productions

Catalog Number: MWL LPDD124

Format: Vinyl / digital / Bandcamp