Review: Opus Trio - In Studio (A.MA Records)

Those that have sharp eyes and ears will have heard the news that Roy Ayers is on his last ever tour (he must have done one for every year, excluding Covid, for 40 years at least!) so one way you could hear "him" is by such "reimaginings" of tracks of his like the one here by the Opus Trio as they cover Roy's 'Fire Weaver' with some serious swagger funk.

But this is not a one track album as the trio of Ralph Moore (ts), Giuseppe Bassi (db) and Anthony Pinciotti (d) 'developed' after being put together for a tour of Italy by manager Nico Scotti and then realised that they have got something special on their hands.

There's eight tracks in total on the album and check the swing on 'Rafaele', the J-jazzy 'Anthony's Dilema' (one for the deep dancers) or 'Shoki Blues' and the only other cover version on the album, Lee Morgan's meandering 'Ceora'.

These guys have worked with nearly as many people as Roy Ayers has played gigs; can you imagine the learning curve playing with Horace Silver, Roy Haynes, Freddie Hubbard, Gene Harris, Pat Metheny, Jeremy Steig, Randy Brecker, Gary Bartz? And they're just the ones that have appeared on Blue Note (mostly)!

The label seems to have got into a swing (no pun etc) with the artwork too after their last album, 'Electric Nuts' by Enrico Le Noci (see review HERE) so all they need now is a big summer festival?

Artist: Opus Trio

Title: In Studio

Release date: 9th June, 2023

Label : A.MA Reforged / A.MA Records

Catalog Number : CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

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Review: Sababa 5 feat. Hoodna Orchestra - Eilat 22 / Elifelet 23 (Batov Records)

Hey! Sababa 5 get deeper into the psych-funk surf and need extra room on the longboard for the Hoodna Orchestra's horns.

Following on from the previous single, 'Funk #1 ' Funk #2' (see review HERE), these are finding their feet in their new studio on the outskirts of Tel Aviv that's the equivalent of 60s Holloway Road as they become more and more in their own version of a Joe Meek/Daptone/El Michels Affair world.

'Eilat 22' and 'Elifelet 23' double A side just goes to show how tight they are and can swing any dancefloor.

The single is on Batov Records.

Artist: Sababa 5 

Title: Eilat 22 / Elifelet 23

Release date: 2nd June, 2023

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: BTR076

Format: 7" / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Nik West feat. Larry Graham - Thumpahlenah

I know what you're thinkun', who in their right mind would have bassist Nik West on the same release as bass guitar legend Larry Graham?

All they could have had in mind was a funked up bass string thumpin' that's hot enough to bring Sly and Prince to the Graham Central Station for a big party.

Very 80/90s funktastic, 'Thumpahlenah'

brings a tribute to the bass guitar funk and they work so well together, there must be more than one single from this session? Please tell me there is or else I'm goin to have to find my bass, imitation Larry Blackmon codpiece and start to dance to this like it's 1999.

Nik West · Thumpahlenah Ft Larry Graham

 

Review: Thakzin & Ray T – Don’t Let Me See (Jimpster Remixes) (Foliage)

It was only a matter of time before we got the Jimpster remix EP of Thakzin & Ray T – Don’t Let Me See (see review the original verions HERE).

I wasn't surprised when I saw that top UK producer Jimpster was first to the gig as it could have been any of Thakzin's big fan base like from old and new a like; &ME, Rampa, Adam Port, Dixon, Atjazz, Osunlade, Louie Vega, Pablo Fierro, Eric Kupper, David Morales, Laurent Garnier. 

But Jimpster is more than capable as he's kept the beautiful vocals and upped the bass throb so that the "totally mesmersing" is synthed up to the max with "love" (repeat).

The South African thumb piano shines on the instrumental version.

I don't know if I can let myself consider that this is better than the original version - I think the answer is get all versions; but don't let me see it.

Artist: Thakzin & Ray T 

Title: Don’t Let Me See (Jimpster Remixes) Vocal/Instrumental/Radio Edit

Release date: 2nd June, 2023 

Label: Foliage Records

Cat. No: FN091

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Review: Lightning Head (aka BiggaBush) - Me & Me Princess (Jay Darkside Remix) (Tru-Thoughts Recordings)

Fans of Lightning Head (aka Glyn 'Bigga' Bush) will recall his 'Me & Me Princess' as a Studio Don template of dancehall/dub/funk-up espousing his love to his 'Princess'.

It's been a favourite in his DJ sets ever since so it is a great time to have a 2023 remastered version (vocal and instrumental) that's got a bit more updated studio gear, a bit more bounce and new dubness in it - he's such a joker!

And fans of his monthly 1BTN show, Bigga's Big Dig, will have heard him play on last months' show a slimmed down 'Version 2' that's on here as a vocal and instrumental (that piano, Latin shuffle is a bit of a grower).

The other three tracks of this set, being by Tru-Thoughts' Jay Darkside as a drum and bass remix, remix instrumental and a dub. Bigga likes a d'n'b [see links to 'The River' below] and there's a collab in the making if Jay could get hold of the Ragga Twins.  The dub is another mating success but being greedy, could there have been room for an illegal dub version?

And was it any coincidence that 'Me & Me Princess' gets released today, on 'Dorset Day' (Glyn's adopted county - thanks for letting us know Dorset Phil) and that also today marks the start of BBC Radio 4's series called 'Princess'?  It must mean something?

Love you the best Bigga!

Other BiggaBush info can be had HERE with last years' interview and the review of 'A Different Style EP' (see HERE) that includes the Hectic Extended version of 'This River'.

Artist: Lightning Head (aka BiggaBush)

Title: Me & Me Princess (Jay Darkside Remix)

Release date: 1st June, 2023

Label : Tru-Thoughts

Catalog Number : TRUDD 537

Format: Digital / Bandcamp / JunoDownload

Review: Hannah Macklin - Mu (Hopestreet Recordings)

Hopestreet Recordings are big on new talent so if you're not up to date with what's going on down under, in addition to The Meltdown, and Immy Owusu, here's another new name with her debut album, Hannah Macklin.

'Mu', the Zen Buddist state of 'nothingness' and 'awareness'. Jazz fans will be aware of Don Cherry''s 'Mu' album period (originally released in the late sixties on Actuel) as an early 'free' jazz experiment.

Ms. Macklin's inspiration for this ten track album doesn't go back that far.  Her musical inspiration is in a neo-soul, trip hop that merges Potishead and folky/spiritual beats of Mia Doi Todd/Build An Ark. 

The huge strings and jazz leanings give this album a cinematic/OST tension like the opener, 'Mono No Aware' (equally, its got a touch on Robert Wyatt's 'Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard' about it) whilst the previous singles 'Otherworld' (featuring Cazeaux O.S.L.O; remember the incredible 'Saints' by PreQuel?) and  'Stars' are just waiting to break out of the underground (or should that be 'Otherworld'?)

That said, this is not singles orientated 'Nitrogen' is angular in comparision to the sublime, 'The Essence' that's pretty close in feel to Minny Ripperton's 'Les Fleurs'; yes, that good!  Whilst 'Sunday Best' seems to fall somewhere between the two; is that a distant Radiohead echo in there?

The tenuous link between the aforementioned jazz great Don Cherry and trip hop/Bristol scene is, of course, Neneh Cherry and Hopestreet Recordings seems to in a similar musical hot spot at the moment that's not to be overlooked. 

And great artwork too!

Artist: Hannah Macklin

Title: MU 

Release date: 2nd June, 2023 

Label: Hopestreet Recordings

Cat. No: -

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Review: Bala Desejo - SIM, SIM, SIM (Mr Bongo)

If you want your MPB like a French OST at a 70s disco, you need this new release on Mr Bongo.

The single, 'Baile De Máscaras (Recarnaval)' / 'Lua Comanche' sounds and looks like some long lost classic of the level of excitement of around 10 years ago when Johnny Trunk took on Gilles Peterson at the York Hall, Bethnal Green over the reissue rights to José Prates' album, 'Tam... Tam... Tam...!' from 1958?

But no!  It's not at all "lost".  In fact, it was released last year in Brasil as the band was the result of a meeting of the musical minds in Rio's covid lockdown as a burgeoning supergroup of Julia Mestre, Dora Morelenbaum, Zé Ibarra, and Lucas Nunes.

Much like the compilation that includes 'Lua Comanche', the recenty released 'Hidden Waters: Strange and Sublime Sounds of Rio de Janeiro' (see review HERE), these 14 tracks are lush with bossa nova, MPB, Tropicália, psychedelia, samba, funk, sun and sand: no wonder it won a Latin grammy.

You'll be hearing Baile De Máscaras (Recarnaval), Lua Comanche, 'Passarinnha', the reggaefied 'Clama Floresta and the sugary "Radio 2", 'Dourado Dourado' (sounds like a Mendez meets the Carpenters to me) whilst the counterpoint to that are 'Chupeta', 'Lambe Lambe' and the beach cocktails of Muito Só.  

 

And lets all that in a melting pot for the jazz-funky 'Faixa Técnica' which sounds like a Radio's DJ feature/some festival announcement/60s advert's/phone-in competition for anything from who's your favourite Flamingo team players, lost kids on the beach or where to get your suntan lotion on Copacabana.

If you're going to channel your inner Seu Jorge, Gal Costa, Nara Leão, Sergio Mendez or add to your collection of Brazil45: Mr Bongo x Mike D [Boxset] (see review HERE), this is just perfect as in years to come, there's more than a couple of tracks on the ablum that'll be viewed as "classics" in their own right. 

You could't wish for a better debut album that this.

Artist: Bala Desejo 

Title: 

Release date : 29th May, 2023

Label : Mr Bongo

Catalog Number : MRB269R

Format: LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Valia Calda - Homeland (Deep Mountain Records)

Valia Calda have had a couple of singles out to promote the new album 'Homeland' but even then. it doesn't prepare you for the jazz-mix power house that they are.

You may recall Valia Calda's last single ‘The Stalker’ was (and still is) "heavy" on the psych-jazz out-there charts; the track is inspired by Andrei Tarkovshy's classic film).

And then there was a bit of a surprise of an instrumental trumpet led ballad, 'But In The End We'll Be Together'; this time inspired by the poetry of Odysseas Elytis (Ed. Who?) 

And from there, to the horn vs. psych guitar ENO/Fripp-ery jazz-dub of 'Crossing The Warm Valley' [my current favourite].

We're told the that the Greek influences are reflections on "timeless struggles of physical and ideological displacement" with "inspiration from the themes of migration and exile. Perhaps none more so than on 'Nostaglgia And Isolaton' and the title track, 'Homeland' (that's got a touch of Mulatu about it - which kinda sums up the displacement/migration concept musically - especially when it rocks out).

Valia Calda are led by London based guitarist Nikos Ziarkas (Theon Cross, Chelsea Carmichael, Moses Boyd) and double bassist Thodoris Ziarkas (Yazz Ahmed, Savina Yannatou, Electric Litany) and it's been picked up by the usual DJs from Jazz FM to BBC 6 Music (including Gilles Peterson) and many more.

It's a bit of a Jazz Chronicle's party this weekend and we'd have definitely played this out when we were DJing Acoustic Ladyland, The Comet Is Coming, Vula Viel, Suns Of Kemet and the like (and Sun Ra of course); yep, it's that good!

Artist: Valia Calda

Title: Homeland

Release date: 26th May, 2023

Label : Deep Mountain Records

Catalog Number : LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Kiko Navarro, DJ Pippi, Willie Graff - Tempistica Mistica (Afroterraneo)

It's all about the drum and master of the Balearic house, Kiko Navarro, gets his mates DJ Pippi and Willie Graff to work their magic on this EP for guaranteed dancefloor madness.

Both 'N' Fumbei' and the even deeper Jungle synthed disco of 'Esanah' are Afro-Latin tracks that you can spin from beach to jazz house.

But the 'bonus' track is even cooler as it's the beat "dub" 'N'Funbeats' that should only be played in a darkened backroom disco with all the other illict grooves: so raw it'll make chafing a pleasure - for serious dancers only; and for you nerds, there's a slightest of references to Yello's 'The Race'.

If you're used to DJ Pippi and Willie Graff's more downtempo grooves you'll need to up the tempo to more like fans of Kiko Navarro's 'You Take Over' with the Osunlade remixes (see review HERE) and the incredible Beatkozina.Abirah Shah 'Nusrat Passion' (see review HERE) you'll going to love this too!

Artist: Kiko Navarro, DJ Pippi, Willie Graff 

Title: Tempistica Mistica 

Release Date : 26th May, 2023

Catalog Number : AFTNE055

Label : Afroterraneo

Format: 12" / Digital

Review: Bev Lee Harling - Beautiful Life (Aroop Roy Remixes) (Wah Wah 45s)

Last year, Bev Lee Harling returned with her first solo recording in almost a decade. She won the hearts and musical minds of DJs across the board with her 2012 debut LP, 'Barefoot In Your Kitchen', which BBC 6Music’s Gilles Peterson made his Album of the Week.

The original of this single, 'Beautiful Life' was on that 2022 album 'Little Anchor' and I said at the time it "is a perfect combination of pop, folk, soul with cinematic strings and beautiful lyrics and vocals".  

So it's no surprise to me, when it comes to a remix, globe trotting disco freak Aroop Roy got this as his first pick.

And it's not like his recent releases of 'Brazilian Reworks & Edits', his latest remix on Permanant Vacation (Benjamin Fröhlich x Private Agenda - Soft Power) or his party sets with  Rocksteady Disco's Peter Croce in Detroit or Manchester's Mr. Scruff. In fact, the strings give it a Mathew Herbert/Nonclassical out-there house vibe.

Somewhat different to the label's last single, Dele Sosimi & The Estuary 21's 'You Don’t Have To' (see review HERE) but that's how ecelectic it's always been at Wah Wah 45s - get this now for remix, instrumental, dub and radio versions and there's a label Remix Vol. 3 compilation due out later this year that's include remixes by some of our other favourite remixers like Ben Gomori, Dazzle Drums and Dam Swingle.

Artist: Bev Lee Harling

Release: Beautiful Life (Aroop Roy Remixes)

Release Date: 26th May, 2023

Label: Wah Wah 45s

Catalog Number: Digital / BANDCAMP