Review: MATTERS UNKNOWN - Silhouettes: A Dream Sphere Journal (Bridge The Gap)

It was only this week that Gilles Peterson mentioned worldwide jazz amassadors Ezra Collective and Nubya Garcia in the same breath, so it won't be long before he's championing MATTERS UNKNOWN and new release, 'Silhouettes: A Dream Sphere Journal'.

You'll recall that MATTERS UNKNOWN (the project of Jonathan Enser), has already had rave reviews of the single 'I Am The Birds' (see HERE), featured on 'Transmissions From' (a compilation on Blue Note) and part of the Total Refeshment Centre community, the trumpeter, multi-instrumentalist, composer and member of Nubyian Twist continues his own exploration of inspirations of London's new jazz scene that was once known as the 'We Out Here' generation at one point ('We Out Here' being the compilation album on Gilles' Brownswod label back in 2018). 

'Silhouettes: A Dream Sphere Journal' is a 5 track EP that is clearly evolved from a love of Fela, Dilla, Cedric Brooks, King Tubby as well as Donald Byrd, Matthew Halsall, Christian Scott, Roy Hargrove and all points in-between; even Coltrane/Ashby Afro-harping on 'I Am The Birds' that features the group Onipa.

'Race Against The Sun' comes in two versions, the original that eminates from 'The Shine' via Cuba and a Wonky Logic remix which warps more towards a jazzy-broken beat 

One that's closer to the Black Country features singer/MC/producer NEONE The Wonderer from Wolverhamption.  You may recall he also featured on last years' Nubyian Twist album track 'Pray For Me Part 1' (and K.O.G featured on Part 2) and here he stars on 'What Are You About'.  'Permission To Malfunction' is the "jazz" track which is an instrumental mixture of all before but shamefully to short; could even have gone dubby at the end.

In addition to Gilles Peterson, you'll likely to here MATTERS UNKNOWN on BBC 6 Music on Huey Morgan and Deb Grant whilst Jazz FM's Tony Minvielle, Dom Servini and China Moses are already fans.

Artist: Matters Unknown

Title: Silhouettes: A Dream Sphere Journal
Release date: 24th January, 2024
Label : Bridge The Gap
Catalog Number : TBC
Format: LP / Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Matters Unknown - I Am The Birds (Bridge The Gap)

When you've got a Nubiyan Twist (Tom Excell) and Kweku Sackey (K.O.G) on your project together with a track on a Blue Note compilation, trumpeter, multi-instrumentalist and composer Jonathan Enser is in a position to declare, 'I Am The Birds'!

When you've just had a track on a Blue Note label compilation, 'Transmissions From Total Refeshment Centre' (where our good friend Emanative had a gig this week promoting his latest album, see review HERE), Jonathan thoughts went onto fusing orchestral arrangements with jazz, garage, dancehall and afrobeats.

We know K.O.G from his Heavenly Sweetness works (see review HERE) and his appearance on Nubiyan Twist's 'Find Your Flame' but Jonathan tells us, “The inspiration came from a transformative period in my life, where I was regularly confined to bed for days due to the excruciating chronic pain that ultimately led to my amputation. At this time, an Indian bean tree outside my window became a place of solace. The tree attracted bright green parakeets, which, though not indigenous, found a home in the urban environment. These birds, vibrant and free, became my companions, symbolising resilience, freedom, and the boundless possibilities of the mind and spirit. The parakeets offered me a vision of life beyond my suffering, where creativity and imagination could transcend the physical body.”

What with LEDJ's 'Circuit Breaker' that came out last month (see review HERE) what a great time it is to be a Afro-beat inspired jazz fan and it's going to be even better in the new year as there's an EP due, 'Silhouettes: A Dream Sphere Journal' (24.01.25).

Artist: Matters Unknown

Title: I Am The Birds
Release date: 29th November, 2024
Label : Bridge The Gap
Catalog Number : -
Format: LP / Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: LEDJ - Circuit Breaker (Bridge The Gap)

Hard to imagine how the Musical Director for Mulatu Astake (James Arben) and a Heliocentric mate (Danny Keane) plus a couple of member of the Hackney Colleiry Band could re-invent the New Orleans brass band format - but they have and it's all to the good.

It might take a couple of listens, but this quartet, Arben (horns), Keane (keys), Luke Christie (drums) and Ed Ashby (tuba) have crammed a lot into their debut 5 track EP.

The opener, 'Circuit Breaker' is their in ya face HCB style Ethio-Jazz but then the jazzy Fender Rhodes really shines on 'One Last One' that if had lyrics, could be a cross-over hit.

'5 Days Of Freedom' builds into a jazzy-funk groover and it's possibly the most jazz dancey of the set - more Chick Corea than Herbie say and the Ed's tuba give it some serious depth (and thoughout).  As a quick aside, good to see Oren 'Tuba Explorer' Marshall in Norma Winstones' backing band (along with Sam 'Floating Points' Shepherd!) at WeOutHere Festival this year - the tuba is back?

'Hailstorm' get punk-jazz Ezra Collective'd dub trance - these guys must be awesome live like Acoustic Ladyland back in the day.  A big change to the haunting ballady 'Monday 6th March' closer.

So you think the New Orleans' comparison was a bit far fetched?  I suppose Professor Longhair might not have recognised much here but he'd certainly love and dance to it. 

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Artist: LEDJ
Title: Circuit Breaker
Release date: 24th October, 2024
Label : Bridge The Gap
Catalog Number : -
Format: LP / Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Plantfood - Carnivores (Bridge The Gap)

Plantfood's 'Carnivores' is for meat and fish eaters and is Vegetarian/Vegan friendly, that's if you're into full on jazz-fusion meals that's for heavyweigths - the music is as vibrant as the cover artwork!

This debut album of 6 tracks has developed over the past three years with live gigs over the country and at Glastonbury.

If your into Erza Collective, corto.alto et al and at the same time can slip in some prog/OST/Latin themes at the same time with a bit of hip-hop (prepare yourself for 100mph 'Y.U.S' featuring Yung Yusuf), Plantfood is your new favourite band.

With Joe van der Meulen (saxes), Wolley (baritone sax, bass clarinet, flute), Ruben Maric (piano, keys, synths), Woody Hayden (bass and more synths), Finn Hamilton (drums) and Jaya Jack Petrie (Congo and additional percussion) they can easily switch for the growling of 'Y.U.S'/'Monstera' (with Mr. Yusuf coming back to tell us all about plant life) to the (surprisingly) gentle 'Carnivores' and the almost Latin-Sons Of Kemet-esque 'Executive Decision'.

Perhaps it's this versatality that has found fans in BBC 6 Music's Jamz Supernova, Craig Charlies and a soon to be recorded sesson for BBC Introducing.   What is clear is this debut dozen is mostly jazzdance friendly and it they must be great live!  Monsteras all.

Artist: Plantfood
Title: Carnivores 
Release date: 4th October, 2024
Label : Bridge The Gap
Catalog Number : -
Format: LP / Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Raffy Bushman - Here Today, Gone Tomorrow (Bridge The Gap)

Raffy Bushman's name might sound like someone from Ned Kelly's gang fused with a 1930s Eton toff, but this guy is serious jazz-bad in a good good way with an EP that's so now and definitely not gone tomorrow.

Expect to hear modern fusion of post-bop, trap and hip-hop in the on reflective new album but what you really need is more of the lead track, 'Fitzcarraldo' - as mad a jazzdance juungle fever as the film (Walter Herzog - kids, it's a "must see" classic).  I'm in advance negotiations as to how we can make this track longer and still keep it perfect. 

There's four other tracks on this EP and you can't help but be seduced by the piano playing of the title track.

Expect all your big head to be on this already; Peterson, Forge, Parnell, Beedle plus Deb Grant (6 Music), Jamie Cullum (BBC Radio 2) as it's a BedBadNotGood meets Roy Hargrove meets Mike Post meets Ezra Collective and more.

Artist: Raffy Bushman

Title: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow 

Release date: 20th September, 2024

Label: Bridge The Gap

Catalog Number: 

Format: Digital / Bandcamp