Review: Rejoicer and Nitai Hershkovits - Cinema Royal (Rhythm Section International)

What would an ECM album be like if it was done by Mulatu Astake under the supervision of Rudy Van Gelder and Lalo Schifrin? 

I don't know either but you'll recall Shay Hazan's album 'Wusul وصول' on Batov Records where we said that the killer track 'Sunflowers' (featuring the keys of Nitai Hershkovits) fades ,,, into a Mulatu afro-jazz groove (see review HERE) so this is an album we've bee with Nitai's long time collaborator Rejoicer is one we've looking forward to.

And to prove us right, 'Affair In Redondo' have been described as "a calm Mulatu in the jazz lounge watching a ITC screening" with 'Food Bowl' and 'Her, I' as the Afrobeat Fela versions.  

This years' Kruder & Dorfmeister of 'out there' where East Asian zithers and synths get funky on the big screen OST fronted by Nitai's piano backed with Rejoicer (aka Yuval Havkin); a veteran with releases on Stones Throw and Raw Tapes who adds the beats heritage to the project.

The more cinematic downtempo moments are captured on 'Apry's Velvet Dress' and some sort of waltz in the med, 'The Orchard Dreamer' (great to hear an accordion as always think of Daedelus on the MF Doom/Madlib track - also see Pro-Teens MF TEENS - see review HERE).

Hard to believe it's been over 10 years since Rhythm Section International started with Al Dobson Jr's Rye Lane project, FYI Chris and Prequal; particularly liked 'Midnight In Peckham' by Chaos in the CBD and with my tenuous South London connections, this label was a big influence of Futuristica Music/Jazz Chronicles playlists.

And they still are when in the Cinema Royal, sounds like a posh hotel where the piano lounge is the best you've ever heard. 

Artist:  Rejoicer and Nitai Hershkovits

Title: Cinema Royal 

Release date: 14th March, 2025

Label: Rhythm Section International 

Cat. No: RS068

Format: LP Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp