Review: VA- Freedom, Innovation, Resonance, Vol 3 (Ensouled)

Latin-jazz house on the beach makes a bit of a monster of a 12", get on it fast!

We often see Cee ElAssaad's name on quality dance tracks like his remix of Vince Watson's 'Eminesence' (see review HERE) or even on 'Freedoam, Innovation, Resonance', Vol 1 (see review HERE) from late last year, and he's on Vol. 3 too!

You'll also recall that he teamed up with Beatkozina on 'Beauty Is Magic' (see review HERE) but this time it's 'Tribe' with Masaki Morii that's typically percussive and "underscored by dub effects and spoken word".   'Tribe' gets a Hugo LX remix for a "deeper club reinterpretation that keeps you locked".  I'm reminded of the 'Candido' with this one so it's bound to be big along with the swirling synths - "We are TRIBE".

And if you want more deep house, the A-side showcases Italian producer Kikko Esse sets the tone with 'Nightfall Chroma', a spiritual cut guided by warm chords and the sort of slow burn groove that is like sinking into a lush bath.  But wait 'till it's reworked by Alton Miller who turns both taps on full blast to give you a Detroit-style hose down. 

It's great to see Alton Miller is still on the remix as he's been an ever present on the scene for decades so act quick and pre-order this one.

BUY LINK: https://www.juno.co.uk/products/kikko-esse-cee-freedom-innovation-resonance-vol-3-vinyl/1143004-01/

Artist: KIKKO ESSE / Cee ElAssaad & Masaki Morii

Title: Beauty is Magic

Release date: 13th July, 2026

Label : Ensouled

Catalog Number : ENSLDV003

Format: 12" Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp  https://ensouled.bandcamp.com/

Review: Zachary Berns (Zbeez) / Vesa Beats - prism/resonance (zalenci)

New York based composer / producer / drummer Zachary Berns declares the new 2-track EP is "jazz house from the NYC cats, pushing it foward" and who are we to disagree?  'prism' and 'resonance' is where jazz n' house meet!

You'll recall that we were more than impressed with the last release by Zachary Berns,  'canvas' / 'rendezvous' (see review HERE) after the release, on Apparel Music, 'Oh Yes' (see review HERE).  And I'm happy to report that he's done it again with these two new tracks with Vesa Beats and the jazzy excellence once again joined of Jesse Klirsfeld (trumpet) and Luke McCrosson (bass) plus 'the extra mile' of Will Hotaling on flute.

At the time on receiving this, the weather is hot and feels like a 'Jazz On A Summers Day' kind of day; check the 1959 film, set at the Newport Jazz Festival the year before.  As before, we're on a Roy Hargrove / Miles '100' groove that resonates through 'resonance' the in the uptempo front room at Dingwalls event (coming to you soon) with the added bonus of Hotaling on flute. 

If that's the house end of jazz-house, the flute gives 'prism' another angle to shine and it's bounces off 'Joe Morello' cymballs into a beautiful groove to fill a Backroom of Dingwalls. 

If you've got a detailed ear, there's elements of dub in the mix that gets a bit lost in the heavy  beat of 'resonance' but that must be due to living/working next to a train line (Ed. if you check his insta, he does line a train scene background to his videos).

I used to live next to a train line that had nuclear waste transport late at night (like millions of others living in London in the 80s) and this is a heavy as then bogie's that used to thud passed and shake the house - Zachery Berns is doing the same with big jazz-house tunes: don't miss out!

Why ain't these guys on Blue Note?

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: prism/resonance | zachary berns, vesa beats | zachary berns

STREAM OPTIONS: Prism / Resonance by Zachary Berns, Vesa Beats

Artist: Zachary Berns (Zbeeez) / Vesa Beats -

Title: prism/resonance

Release date: 21st May, 2026

Label : zalenci

Catalog Number :TBC

Format: 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