Review: King Bee ft. Dave Wilde - On The Hill (Ramrock Red Records)

It's so good to be back as King Bee are now 'On The Hill' and it could literally be that!

It doesn't seem that long ago that we were heralding the new era in jazz dance Brit-funk with King Bee's previous single, 'Good To Be Back' (see review HERE).  But can this new track be even better as they and Ramrock Red Records (and Mrs Ramrock, Jo Wallace in particular) are one rack away from winning the match (a term Mosconi Cup fans will know well).

Once more, the Newcastle based seven piece band that features the classic three horn front line with Chris Jelly on vibraphone, has Dave Wilde taking on featured vocalist duties for the first time giving a post-Weller-esque sound to their own condensed acid-jazz'd Incognito/ Chevalier Brothers/ Morrissey Mullen/ Beggar & Co. cool selves.

Expect even more support from DJ fans, Craig Charles (BBC 6 Music), DJ Robbie Vincent (Jazz FM), The Relex, and more as they all line-up to pot the proverbial 9 ball!

Artist: King Bee
Title: On The Hill ft. Dave Wilde
Release date: May 10th, 2024
Label: Ramrock Red Records
Cat No: RRR061

Review: Florence Adooni - Uh-Ah Song / Otoma Da Naba (Philophon)

Fans of YATM and Philiphon will know Florence Adooni is a Frafra-Gospel singer from Northern Ghana who has collaborated with artists like Jimi Tenor, the Frafra-Gospel group Alogte Oho & His Sounds of Joy and North-Ghanaian Kologo master Guy One.

So it's always good news that theto follow-up 7" Jimi Tenor's 'My Mind' (see review HERE) is a super Highlife take on the classic 'southern freeeze' with some super sexy synth work.

Backed up with 'Otoma Da Naba' which translates as 'The Creator Has Done Well' that's got some 303 acid lines to it which could equally stand next to, say, Rekab's latest EP on Yore records, 'My Future & My Past' in what could be looked at as a Berlin vs. Köln battle.

Florence will be Europe this summer so if your looking for something exceptional for your festival or spot her on a gig listing, don't miss the opportunity to go and see her.

Artist: Florence Adooni

Title:  Uh-Ah Song / Otoma Da Naba

Release date: 10th May, 2024

Label : Philophon Records

Catalog Number : PH45034

Format: 7" / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Transmission Towers - Transmission One (É Soul Cultura)

For those that enjoy Imaginary Radio Stations, here's the first out of Transmission Towers, 'Transmission One' being the debut album on Luke Una's É Soul Cultura label.

Fans of the charactmastic DJ, producer, promoter and 50% of The Unabombers, Mr Una (aka Luke Cowdrey) will know from his DJ sets and compilations (last seen HERE with Luke Una Presents É Soul Cultura Vol.2) that he is very much his own man when it comes to what rocks his musical dancefloor.

That said, you don't have to be the next Mancunian Tony Wilson off the rank to know if you got a mix of duos like MR Robots and Glass Slipper in a 70s ESG come Roy Ayers Ubiquity funk soul groove, like the first single, 'Sparse' (see review HERE) that it's going to bounce folks off the wall.

Coming from Liverpool, we're told that Mark Kyriacou and Eleanor Mante are divided by the River Mersey and then brought together Mark's music and Eleanor's lyrics.  And like any historical port, there's lots of split atom divisions that are then re-forged together with influxes to safe harbours; in this case, Detroit-flavoured deep house" with a bit of 80s Compu Rhythm programing with a big touch of Sun Ra school. 

The leftfield post-punk Afro-futurism there throughout (notably on 'Everything' and 'Mega') and in all, the 12 track album has got elements of a dreamy pirate radio past (late night Sunday soul of Invicta FM on 'Go Slow Heart' and 'Affirmation Of Love') but we love the spacey longer tracks like 'Planetary Alignment', 'My Shadow', 'The Universal Drift' and 'Cosmic Trigger' whilst your radio plays will be full of 'Up', 'Roller Skater 23' and 'Sparse'.

This is deep, soul and pop all at the same time and you can see why Luke (and DJ BiggaBush) is so tuned into this - you should be too!

Artist: Transmission Towers

Title: Transmission One

Release date: 10th May, 2024

Label: É Soul Cultura

Cat. No: ESOUL0193BT108

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Trinidadian Deep - Moments Of Sounds EP (Ensouled)

Ensouled are clever to have Trinidadian Deep as their second single release to capture 'Moments Of Sounds'.

To follow-up the hit of Cee ElAssaad's 'Clever' (see review HERE) which featured the vocals of Jaidene Veda with this Afro-jazzy percussion heavy dreamscape is a smart move.

And then to emphasise the heavyweight nature, to pair it with a DJ dub-stylee 'Drum Tool' version is genius.

Trinidadian Deep is mentored by Chicago's very own house legend Ron Trent and 'Moments Of Sounds' would have been ideal for a Trent remix but in all honesty, all you need is the mesmorisizing 'Drum Tool' mix and you're gone!

Artist: Trinidadian Deep
Title: Moments Of Sounds EP
Release date: 10th May, 2024 on Traxsource / Elsewhere 24th May, 2024

Label : Ensouled

Catalog Number : ENSLD002

Format: Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Rubel - As Palavras, Vol. 1 & 2 (Mr Bongo)

This new album by has already been heralded as sophisticated Latin soul-folk-jazz beach-pop - this years' Seu Jorge! But can it be that good?

The record label think that this debut album by Rubel is up there with the game changer albums like the debut album's by The Ramones or The Damned.  That said, Antônio Carlos Jobim might call this album nu-waveand as Rubel has gathered together the best of Brazil's musicians like Gabriel do Borel, Liniker, Luedji Luna, Tim Bernardes Ana Caetano and Mr. Bongo's own Bala Desejo (see review HERE) plus legend, Milton Nascimento.

And this talent is spread over a full 19 tracks, none longer than 4:07 ('Torto Arado' featuring Liniker & Luedji Luna) and mostly compact nuggets like the early punk singles, old wave Brazilian 'prog' of MPB has been replaced with Rubel's fusionistic take of MPB, samba, tradition folk and capoeira, baile funk, hip-hop and pop.

But don't worry about the short track length as the whole set is worth the instrumental opener (and later vocal version) of 'Forró Violento' and then it's not a two track album. Everything is a-wash with Brasilian sun. 'Na Mão do Palhaço' (produced by the Ana Frango Elétrico- see review HERE) has the Sgt. Pepper samba-psych of it and whilst Nascimento contribution is perhaps not his very best work ever, his seal of approval is proof that Rubel is one very big talent due for all the things said of this album already. 

Totally different to the Mr Bongo's last album release, Project Gemini's 'Colours & Light' (see review HERE) and their Record Store Day Brazil 45s Mix set from DJ KOCO (check out Gilles Peterson's show with a DJ KOCO mix and Mr Bongo himself, Dave Buttle, at 1hr 45mins in HERE) but as we know, they are the one of the most important purveyors of Latin American music, jazz, world and hip-hop and Rubel is too important not to get.

Artist: Rubel

Title: As Palavras, Vol. 1 & 2

Release date: 3rd May, 2024 

Label : Mr Bongo 

Catalog Number : MRBCDLP306

Format : 2XLP (at 45rpm) / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Anna Schreit - Duck EP (Compost Records)

What's the phrase, "You can take a duck to water, but you can't make 'em dance"? 

The last release on Compost we took to our dancing hearts was Arnau Obiols & KAYYAK's fantastic 'Faith / San Diago EP' (see review HERE) and that was immediate 'YES from me'.

And you can get that from the deep synths and busy percussion on 'Enzio On Rainbow Road' but there's classic Kraut-leftfield about this EP.

Perhaps that's to be anticipated on a track called, 'Tobi For Morning Spliffs' (kids, if you're reading this, "morning spliffs" ain't clever so don't do it) and there's a strange conflict of twinkly electric piano with deep bass thump on 'Julian Is A Hero' that swims in a pond of duck weed that's Chicago, Detroit, Berlin - who knows what the duck names are here.

This is Anna's debut on Compost having been a DJ for over ten years and turning heads with 'What Did You Say' released on Berlin House Music a couple of years ago and it's clear this aint 'standard' fair: indeed, I'd say it was first class - now where's me swimming googles?

Artist: Anna Schreit 

Title: Duck EP 

Release date: 3rd May, 2024

Label: Compost Records

Cat. No: CPT 632-3

Format:Vinyl 12" / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Shijuka Quintet - Octave Up (A.MA Records)

'Octave Up' and over with the Shijuka Quintet on A.MA Records.

If proof be needed, Two Things Of Gold's album (see review HERE) on A.MA Records  showed that the label was open minded when it comes to core-jazz basics.   And in eight traks by Aleksandar Jovanović, the pianist, composer, arranger of his Serbian quintet, Shijuka (as he's known to his mates) has gone up that Octave of a higher ground.

The big track is 'What If...' which puts a trumpet and sax on a Belgrade bound BadBadNotGood boat for a traditional wedding.

Whilst the opener, 'Five Or None' is strong on the classical jazz sound, Jovanović's piano style has been compared to Ahmad Jamal (on 'Impure Blue') and we know Radivojevic and Obradovic's front line partnership on Irina Pavlović's 'The Soulful Heritage' album (see review HERE) and on the mellow track, 'Blue Danube' on this album.

Appropriately, a track called 'Missing Part' (the longest track on the album) is composed with a wandering noodle element which we all need in our lives but they seem to have really got it together on 'Impure Blue' and the swing of 'Uneven Swing'.

For fans of Balkan Jazz (if you need some catching up, check fellow pianist / composer Janko Nilović, Dusko Goykovich or indeed anything on Željko Kerleta magical Cosmic Sounds label) this is the update of their jazz in a quintet form

Artist: Shijuka Quintet 

Title: Octave Up

Release date: 3rd May, 2024 

Label : A.MA Edizioni / A.MA Records

Format : LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Aleksandar Jovanovic Shljuka - Piano
Ivan Radivojevic - Trumpet
Rastko Obradovic - Alto & Soprano Saxophone
Milan Pavkovic - Double Bass
Aleksandar Cvetkovic - Drums

Review: David Versace - Eye To Eye (La Sape Records)

Let's see 'Eye To Eye' with David Verace on an ear to ear basis

It's been over a year since 'Marseille Movement' (see review HERE) but the timing for the full album of dreamscape jazz ambience couldn't have been better as it's Bandcamp Friday 40! and May Day Holiday weekend when traditionally the BBQ season starts.

Can't say that's what those BBQ experts down under were thinking about but you can hear what the Australian multi-genre keyboardist (and his incredible band) were aiming at in a post-Miles 'Pangea' / Balearic Sun Ra.

Easy to see why fans include Jamie Cullum, Gilles Peterson, Kev Beadle and many more are supporting this one - don't pass the jazz chill out tent without it.

Artist: David Versace 

Title: Eye To Eye

Release date: 3rd May, 2024

Label La Sape Records

Format/Cat. No. : LP / Digital / Bandcamp

David Versace - Piano, Synths, Bass & Aux Percussion
Jasper Gundersen – Drums
Curtis Scibilia - Trumpet
Luis Manuel Basulto - Congas

Review: Goran Kajfeš Tropiques - Tell Us (We Jazz Records)

Neo-classical ambient jazz in the vein of Matthew Halsall, Eno, Steve Reich and Charles Stepney as these Tropiques produce three tracks for an album, 'Tell Us'; and ironically, you don't need us to tell you how good this is.

The Tropiques being Alexander Zethson (piano, organ, synthesizer), Johan Berthling (acoustic bass) and Johan Holmegard (drums) with leader Goran Kajfeš on trumpet and synthesizer.

This is what Jazz Chronicles is all about, jazz but not jazz as a powerful source of community like 'Unity In Diversity' - you just couldn't think of a better title as it encompasses all the love of Cinematic Orchestra and Rotary Connection combined.

'Magmatique' starts very Alice Coltrane before slipping into some BadBadNotGood jazzyhip-hop as the trio of Zethson, Berthling and Holmegard is outrageously good at the 'rolling groove' the before Goran gets to blow that does indeed sound like Miles at times.

Did they save the best 'til last, 'Prije I Posle'?  If you're going for a pussyfootin' walk with Fripp & Eno into Ryuichi Sakamoto's heavenly garden, before they go all rock fusion in a chamber string section; it's a "WoW!" moment so I suppose they did, but I love it all.

It's so good that each track is over 10 minutes long as they really do explore what's possible as the synth orchestra feels like the unexpected genre busting of a nonclassical trance.

We thought the last album We Jazz released by 'legend' Olli Ahvenlahti, 'Mirror Mirror' (see review HERE) was pretty monumental, but let me tell you, 'Tell Us' is no reflection in that glory.

Artist: Goran Kajfeš Tropiques
Title: Tell Us
Release date: 3rd May, 2024
Label : We Jazz Records
Catalog Number : WJLP76
Format: LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Joel Haag - Bistro (Varva Records and Music)

The guitarist is oft overlooked as main man in a jazz band setting but here's some modern electric that's you'll want to find in any 'Bistro', Ladies and Gentlemen, Joel Haag.

Following on from the recent album 'Mod' by Anna-Maria Nordström (on the same label - see review HERE), Joel's 'Bistro' is his second album, his first album, 'Six Feet Apart' that was more a jazz trio plus strings.

So 'Bistro' is like neither of these and then, like the orignial interpretation of the word. "a small restaurant serving moderately priced, simple meals in a modest setting", this is not the "look at me" jazz guitar of Pat Metheny (sometimes), George Benson (when he was popular), James 'Blood' Ulmar' or going right back the "original", Charlie Christian.  

This is simple and at times elegant modern jazz, like the slow blues of 'Old Watch Still Ticking' and 'The Wailing', that's reminiscent of all of above in a band form.

The highlight is the atmospheric OST "free jazz" of 'Song For Peace' - a tad over 10 minutes long - and like the rest of the ablum, in additon to Haag on guitar, highlights Adrian Åsling Sellius (alto saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet, flute), Pelle Westlin (tenor sax, clarinet), Björn Petersson (bass) and Anton Jonsnson (drums).

More for fans of Art Ensemble of Chicago, Mike Reed (see review HERE) or a harder edged J.J. Whitefield - possily a combination of all three!

Artist: Joel Haag

Title: Bistro

Release date: 2nd May, 2024

Label: Varva Records and Music

Cat No. VRAMCD07

Format: CD / Digital