Review: RAH & The Ruffcats - Orile To Berlin (Sonar Kollektiv)

As if to celebrate the Euro 2024, RAH & The Ruffcats party from 'Orile To Berlin' this summer.

Wah Wah 45s' championed 'From London To Lagos' (see review HERE) and Fela Kuti's own right hand man, Dele Sosimi (see HERE) and now Sonar Kollekitv have gone all Afrobeat as RAH (original from Orile, Lagos) and joined up with supergroup backing band The Ruffcats (Berlin).

The vocals are in a combination of English and Nigerian and cross between soul, funk and Afrobeat with the added 'seal' of approval as the nine tracks have been produced by Jochen Ströh (he of Ebo Taylor's classic 'Love & Death').

There's certainly some Ebo in RAH's vocals ('Agidi') and the band are just as tight as Afrobeat versions of Timmion's Cold Diamond & Mink or Daptones Menahan Street Band. 

There's a couple more with guests, the slightly dubbed 'Wake Up (They Are The People Of The Myths) featuring the Afro-space futurism poety King Khan (in an Anthony Joseph way) and the sultry jazz sax of 'Inside Out' featuring Melane on vocals.

Fans of Fela, Taylor, Pat Thomas, Sosimi, BBE Africa and similar will love this and it is setting a high crossbar this summer.  Prepare to have; 'MoonSun', 'Ide Osun (Mantra)', 'Sorry' and 'Kaya' on repeat

So different to the label's last release, Feiertag's EP. 'ON/OFF' (see review HERE) but you can tell from the cover artwork the Sun Ra connection with the planets - Rapturous Apollo Helios is about to move your world.

Title: RAH & The Ruffcats 

Title: Orile To Berlin

Release date: 12th July, 2024

Label : Sonar Kollektiv

Catalog Number : SK487D 

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Attilio Zanchi - Mingus Portrait (DJ Farrapo Remixes) (Right Tempo PRO)

Attilio Zanchi's interpretations have been given the once over by DJ Farrapo and its the current must have in your jazz dance box.

We've just had Zanchi's album 'Mingus Portrait' (see review HERE) and we were wondering how the Right Tempo off-shoot (Right Tempo PRO) were going to follow the instant classic first release, RT 0001 PRO, 'Seasons In My Mind (Remixes)' by Yellowtail featuring Mark Murphy (see review HERE). 

Well, I can't say that they gone even better, but it's pretty close as DJ Farrapo has provided a jazz shoe friendly version of 'Boogie Stop Shuffle' that was already Jazz Room friendly to start with, plus a dub version and two versions of 'For Harry Carne'.

DJ Farrapo is best known in these parts as being 50% of DJ Farrapo & Yanez with their 7", 'Baiano Vem Baiano Vai' / 'Dubaiano' that came out when Paul 'Jazz Room' Murphy was running Afro Art.

Expect to hear this on my Radio WOMAD mix and all the other DJ suspects, Gilles Peterson, Patrick Forge, Kevin Beedle, Ashley Beadle, Colin Curtis, Colin Parnell, Paul Murphy (himself) and many more!

Artist: Attilio Zanchi 
Title: Mingus Portrait (DJ Farrapo Remixes) 
Release date: 10th July, 2024 

Label : Right Tempo Pro

Catalog Number : RT 002 PRO 

Format :Vinyl/ Digital / Bandcamp

Review: The Stance Brothers - Sao Paolo / Timmy (We Jazz Records)

Get this now before they run out!

Such was the response to the album 'Durkus' (see review HERE), We Jazz Records have gone the extra mile, well 7", with two glorious tracks.

You'll see I said 'Sao Paolo' puts Teppo "Teddy Rock" Mäkynen (aka The Stance Brothers' as "super cool nu-jazz hip-hop Malib vs. Mizell Brothers of the north".

The a-side being drenched in Roy Ayers and the new track on the flip, proper Bobby Hutcherson.

What may come as a surprise is that The Stance Brothers also come in the guise of a four piece band and they'll be appearing at the Odysseus Festival and the Flow Festival in Finland this summer.

Artist: The Stance Brothers

Title: Sao Paolo / Timmy

Release date: 12th July, 2024

Label : We Jazz Records

Catalog Number : WJ0719

Format: LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Various - Balearic Headspace Volume 7 - Limited Sampler (Midnight Riot)

Here's some Balearic Headspace that's going to put you in seventh heaven.

When you're as well connected as Midnight Riot (aka Yam Who?), who was best buds with Ashley Beedle on the remix at one time, you're going to getting some upfront action in your inbox.

And he's some Balearic Headspace for you that half slips back to where he started over ten years ago with 'Slo-Mo Cuts and Late Night Tales', a Toni Rossano Re-Edit of David Dingess' 'Hyper Love' (super funky bass and slighty 'Space Princess' meets Ned Doheny), the bouncey 'Greatest Treasure' by Fuga Ronto, and some reggae-disco cover version of 'Inspector Norse' by Cruisic as remixed by Slowly; the original being by Todd Terje (was that really 2012?)

This is going to sell for the Inspector Norse track on it's own but for the real headspace, what'd'ya reckon to a Tom Moulton Mix of 'The Is Carribbean Disco'?  And it is what it says on the tin!

The full compilation features Jaegerossa, Danny Kane feat Jack Tyson Charles, Dominic Dawson, Sweetooth, Thorgan Woolf, Ziggy Phunk, Vapor Caves & many more is exclusively available over at Traxsource.

Artist: Various

Title: Balearic Headspace Volume 7 - Limited Sampler

Release date: 12th July, 2024

Label : Midnight Riot

Catalog Number : 

Format: Digital / Traxsource
(https://www.traxsource.com/title/2297560/balearic-headspace-vol-7)

Reveiw: Mamman Sani & Tropikal Camel - Nomadic (Batov Records)

So, you've got your Desert Boots ready to go to WOMAD festival but make sure you pack the latest digital single from Batov Records.

Batov Records could have filled my WOMAD (25-28th July, Charlton Park, Malmesbury, Whiltshire) mixtape on their own (especially after Sababa 5 & Yurika's 'Kokoro' - see review HERE) but this latest offering is a bit sideways for the being the sneak previous of a forthcoming album from Mamman Sani (synths) and Tropical Camel (assorted electronics).

'Nomadic' is a Middle Eastern reggaefied groover, a bit like their version of William Onyeabor, and you can't get more WOMAD than that.  Well, perhaps you can as Mamman Sani and Tropikal Camel actually met at the Nyege Nyege Festival in Uganda!

Let's hope this single representative of the rest of the album, 'Nijerusalem' - eight tracks including a 'Nomadic (Dub)' [Ed. can't wait for that] so get your orders in now for the vinyl coming in September. 

Artist: Mamman Sani & Tropikal Camel 

Title:  Nomadic

Release date: 10th July, 2024

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: BTR100-1

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Kolida Babo - Kolida Balkanesque / Free For All (Veego Records)

It is what it says on the cover, Kolida are Balkanesque!

With some We Jazz exprimentation (lets say 'Sonnet To Silence' - see review HERE) and some influences from the Middle East (lets say Batov Records compilation to give us a wide range (see review HERE) and there you wll find almost musically and geographically, Kolida's new album.

That's pretty good going for a woodwind duo from Greece (with synths) but we've seen before what Veego Records can do with their other duo, Lefteris Volanis, Dimitris Pagidas on 'Outside The Long Walls' (see review HERE) so i expect the forthcoming album, 'Spirits Of Mauronoros' to be just as intriguing.

Artist: Kolida Babo 

Title:  Kolida Balkanesque / Free For All 

Release date: 10th July, 2024 

Label : Veego Records

Catalog Number :  -

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Attilio Zanchi - Mingus Portrait (Right Tempo / Mono Jazz)

You could say tha Attilio Zanchi is the A to Z of jazz bass and just to proove it, the new album on Mono Jazz is his musical portait of the master of them all, Charles Mingus.

You'll recall that the last release on Mono Jazz was the jazz rarity, 'Chet On Poetry' by legend Chet Baker (see review HERE) which is an amazing piece of jazz history and this new album, is a different take on highlighting another icon, Charles Mingus who is mostly known as a bass player but was also a composer, bandleader and civil rights activist who so happened to play in banks with Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Billy Taylor, Lionel Hampton and many, many more in his own bands.

Because Mingus was so good for such a longer period in many styles it'd be difficult to know where to start if you were new to his name or even a long term student; either way, Zanchi and producer Rocco Pandiani have put together not only a top rate band of musicians but also the tracks to paint this picture.

The big track that'll get all the attention of your jazzdance types is the be-bop swing of 'Boogie Stop Shuffle' with big horn section, drum break with Batman theme (original 60s version) style.

The beautiful title track epitomizes what this album is all about and then there's the angular swing of 'Remember Rockefeller At Attica' (political instrumental jazz!), the intriguing 'Fables Of Faubus' (which builds up to solos by Andrea Andreoli and Daniele Nocella) and the lounge love song of 'Sound Of Love' that's warm and cuddly with Attilio caressing his instrument (Ed. can you say that?).

Even the 'Jelly Roll' (Morton) take on trad. New Orlean's is cool. But you can't get cooler than the spiritual 'For Harry Carney' that showcases Gianni Azzali (sax and flute) and Tino Tracann (saprano sax) on the front line.

There's not a bad track on here (as you'd expect) even thought there's nothing from Mingus' 1957 album, 'The Clown' which has one of the creepiest covers in jazz but you can't have it all. 

Zanchi has said, "If I have to make one last record, now that I'm 70, I want it dedicate to Mingus.  In such a poor musical age, his music - in which traditional jazz, classical and contemporary, but also dixieland and 'free' coexist - contains all the 20th century"; Sir, job done to perfecton - Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus you might say. 

PS. great cover artwork/photo which evokes some of Mingus' own LP covers.

PPS. watch out for a DJ Farrapo remix release coming soon (you remember his Afro Art single that came out when Paul 'Jazz Room' Murphy was running the label - amazing).

Artist: Attilio Zanchi 
Title: Mingus Portrait 

Release date: 24th June, 2024 

Label : Mono Jazz

Catalog Number : -

Format : LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Attilio Zanchi: leader & bass
Gianni Azzali: tenor sax & flute
Tino Tracanna: soprano sax (1/2/5 and 7)
Andrea Andreoli: trombone (1/2/4/5/6/7/8 and 10)
Daniele Nocella: trumpet (1/3/5/6/8 and 9)
Massimo Colombo: piano
Tommy Bradascio: drums

Review: Sai Galaxy - Visions Of The Chronicle EP (Independent)

I do love a Chronicle whether its Jazz, Evening or in this case, 'Visions Of The Chronicle' by cherries fan (see artwork), Sai Galaxy.

Since 'Nomalizo' came out (featuring bambam - see review HERE) we've had more space travel planned by the big heads as they put toes on/into the dark side of the moon and manned travel to Mars but the real one to watch on the dancefloor is Sai Galaxy as he takes up on his spaced out disco trips.

Not only that, there's been a meeting of the minds with 'the' Craig Charles as 'Rendezvous' has been included on the 'Trunk Of Funk' compilation on BBE that came out last week (see review HERE) (and in all honesty, is Sai's track 'Hold Me Tonight', featuring Steve Monite, even Afro-funkier?) we've got a whole new EP that's spacey, funky and just disco juicey.

Little surprise that he seems to have little to no difficulty finding vocalists to work with - but wait a minute, 'SaxInSpace' features MsElenous and it's all deep hard sultry sax, plenty of space synths and Horatio Luna on funky bass.  But wait a minute, 'DrumsInSpace (DJ Tool)' is mainly the raw percussive elements and it's a mad as a jazzdance in Birmingham, a basement in Soho and the Rings of Saturn combined (in a drumming circle of course).

And of then there's the just as big matter of 'KeepItMovin' in two versions, featuring the vocals of Nynno and the instrumental.  This is solid space disco funk that's got some Acid Jazz/Brand New Heavies flavas but brought into the Disco3000 timezone - with classic keys and synths.

Don't wait 'til Vol. 4 of Mr. Charles' next 'Trunk Of Funk' comes out and chance your arm on what track he includes, get all four now as the 'Visions Of The Chronicle' - perhaps we need one super long version Sai?  Either way, this release will keep you movin' in all the right directions.

P.S. This artwork is worthy of a 12" release?

Artist:  Sai Galaxy 

Title:  Visions Of The Chronicle ft.Nynno and MsElenous

Release date: 27th June, 2024 

Label : -

Catalog Number :  -

Format: Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Joseph Malik - Only Fans ft. Digital Liquid (X-Press 2 Remixes) (F*CLR Music)

The Joseph Malik / Digital Liquid track 'Only Fans' gets a big remix treatment by the only fans that could, X-Press 2!

Well, Ashley Beedle might be on the cards but it's be a while since he, Darren House and Darren Rock were rockin' up at Top Of The Pops with David Byrne doing the chart hit 'Lazy'.

But since Ashley went off to do his own thing (and sometimes teaming up with Yam Who?), the two Darrens (aka Rocky and Diesel) really are X-Press 2 as the pair of them are they're anything but lazy these days having released a  brand new album last year, 'Thee' on Acid Jazz and remixing David Kitt's 'Till The End' (from the album on Warm, (see review HERE) and even more recently, having Jim's 'Phoenix - X-Press 2 On Fire remixes' release to heat up the dancefloor (did you see what they did there?).

And you always worry that a remix of a loved track might not be quite right.  Not with these guys as they clearly love 'Only Fans' as 5 versions get a near endless train of synth funk (in a good way).

A 'Front Room' original, radio edit, instrumental at over 20 minutes all together put you in a dancefloor daze but some of us DJ's don't get close to that front room and get intimate in the back room venues; and the 'Back Room' vocal and instrumental versions are perfect knob twiddle tracks - so much bass 'n' synth for those dark moments.

And did somebody say don't forget the backing vocals, original versions and the video? See review HERE.

Artist: Joseph Malik  

Title:  Only Fans ft. Digital Likquid (X-Press 2 Remixes) 

Release date: 5th July, 2024

Label : F*CLR Music .

Catalog Number : FCLR033

Format :  Digital / Bandcamp

Joseph Malik: Lead vocals, BVs

Darren Morris: Keyboards, percussion
Daniel Walls: Bass, synth
Jo Wallace: BVs

Review - Higgins / Peden - J Jazz - Free and Modern Jazz Albums From Japan 1954 - 1988 (BOOK)

As an accompaniment to the amazing J-Jazz 'Free and Modern Jazz Albums From Japan 1954 - 1988' book by Tony Higgins and Mike Peden, BBE have gone the extra mile and produced a compilation CD of even more J-Jazz goodness.

So what started out a specialist project in 2018 as a compilation, has grown into its own 'genre' of rare and exclusive Japanes jazz that only 'heads' like Higgins and Peden have the knowledge, enthusiasm and commitment to get this documented for a far wider audience that the music (some very limited vinyl/some CD only) re-mastered and onto brand new vinyl; with the obligatory OBI strips.

After 28 albums, where could/what more could our intrepid j-jazzers do? Well this tomb of a book is the answer and it's definitely pièce de résistance (it's the same in Japanese apparently) at 400 large format pages and cover the golden era of Japanese jazz post war when the Japan were on a huge economic and cultural up-swing.  Initially the jazz musicians were thought of mere copyists but as more US musicians toured Japan, notably with the release in 1962 of The Horace Silver Quintet's 'The Tokyo Blues' (the one with the Japanese ladies on the cover), they could see that there was something special going on.   And if you still think Horace Silver is 'Hard Bop' - check out the CD/digital download that starts with Tohru Aizawa Quartet's monster 'Philosopher's Stone'.

Understandably, there's a small limited print run of 2000 copies so don't delay to get your mits on this unique book.

Note: The book now comes with a digital download of the accompanying CD. If you have previously pre-ordered the book and would like the digital download of the album, please contact us for a download once the book is released.

Artist: Higgins / Peden 

Title:  J Jazz - Free and Modern Jazz Albums From Japan 1954 - 1988 (BOOK)

Release date: 5th July, 2024

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE634  Order from Bandcamp