Review: Yellowtail feat. Mark Murphy - Seasons In My Mind (Remixes) (Right Tempo Pro)

As Gilles Peterson starts his campaign to save UK club cultures, independent venues and radio all at the same time, here's a quick reminder of one of three vocalists that he more or less single-handedly re-discovered.

Whilst there were many more acts/performers, I'm specifically thinking about Slim Gaillard, Eddie Jefferson and Mark Murphy!  Peterson 'discovered' Murphy's 1961 album 'Rah' in his local library and the story goes, took him to the Dingwalls and that visit resulted in Murphy's love letter to the venue, Gilles, Camden Town and the young jazzdance community that was emerging in the 90s.

Over 30 years on, this jazzdance 'Ding Walls' / Acid Jazz scene has it's fans worldwide (no pun etc) and in the case of this 12", Milan's Right Tempo have returned to the Yellowtail track featured on their compilation album, 'The Congregation - Jazz Alliance International' with Mark Murphy on vocals (as an 'unreleased' Patchworks remix - Patchworks being a Peterson protégé himself).

So you got the immaculate Murphy on a track that he sings and skats on, Yellowtail (aka Hiro Awanohara) on production duties and another Peterson protégé from the early days of Brownswood Recordings and a dreamy Sunday afternoon original, 'Seasons In My Mind'.

Worth the price of the 12" in itself but as someone that was in on the boarders of Peterson's leftfield soul-jazz-hip-hop 'In Crowd' some years ago. I remember standing next to DJ Simon S at Emanative's first gig at what was Favela Chic in Shoreditch with Jessica Lauren, Liz Elensky, Deborah Jordan, Heidi Vogel and many more when Peterson turned up with Earl Zinger and they stood next to us!  I also recall giving Peterson a white label of Richard E's 7", 'Sometime I'/'Hear Her Call' at Peterson's other club night that he ran for over a decade, 'That's How It Is!'  So what's the reason for all this blatant name dropping?

Well, remember Richard E's 'To The Moon' (see review HERE), he's done a fantastic uptempo flute gang remix featuring Jake Telford.  And then there's the 'dream team' of Jessica Lauren and Emanative (last seen on Sandman Project's 'Hamsa Remixes - see review HERE) with a  jazzy spring garden and home remix and dub; descibed as, "Nick & Jessica playing drums and piano live and then all being chopped up and brought into the present moment, production-wise".

And if that wasn't enough, there's the 'Frankson' remix which is the favourite of Kev Beadle (TWR), who I happened to help into a cab at 3am in Shaftesbury Avenue after he DJ'd at the first "Last Ever" 'That's How It Is!' some years ago.

Other fans include, Harv-inder Singh (Point Blank FM), famed jazz dance royalty DJ Perry Louis (JazzCotech), Michael Rütten (Soul Searching; that coincidently celebrated its 19th Birthday show in 2016 with guest mix from DJ Simon S as mentioned above) and there's sleeve note by yet another scene name, Straight No Chaser's Paul Bradshaw.

Nearly as impressive as another 'Sunday Afternoon At Dingwalls' and in addition to the 12", there's bonus digital content too! Get your pre-orders in now. 

Artist: Yellowtail feat. Mark Murphy 

Title: Seasons In My Mind (Remixes)

Release date: 10th April, 2024 

Label : Right Tempo Pro

Catalog Number : RT 001 PRO  

Format : LP (140g black vinyl)  / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Reel People - Love2 (Reel People Music)

If you're thinking, Reel People, what happened to them?  Well don't because this new album is like nothing has happened to them over the 20 years since their debut album except that they are even better now!

Hard to believe I know but lets reel off who has joined the trio of soul/jazz/house legends Oli Lazarus, Mike Patto and Toni Economides on this ten track album; Raheem DeVaughn, Muhsinah, Chantae Cann, Michael Champion, Paula, Jill Rock Jones, Eric Roberson and Arrested Development’s Speech.

If we go back to Gilles Peterson's Golden era V1.0 (pre-BBC 6 Music, No iPlayer, very early Internet, Etc...), you'd see Reel People regularly on his Radio 1 late night show tracklisting and their 12s would be in all the trendy London records shops with the sleeves showing who all the 'guest' singers are like Vanessa Freeman, Angela Johnson and even flautist Nathan Haines.

So there's been a big buzz about this especially as the single, 'Everything’s So Crazy' featuring Jill Rock Jones is so good low slung beach beats with Jones proving orange is the new black.  But before that, Eric 'Erro' Roberson (who, back in 2004 shared a Gilles Peterson Worldwide Exclusives 10" with much missed TY - RIP) shows he's still serious soulful on 'Save A Lil Lov' which has enough synth bump to be the next single.

And you could say that of lots of the other tracks here, 'If I Was Your Man' (feat. Michael Champion), 'Deja Vu (featuring Raheeem DeVaughn; yep! that's Grammy nominated Raheeem) and 'Dance In Her Eyes' (feat. Chantae Cann & Dayne Jordan).  Sounding very Jazz FM / Solar Radio "bringing you soul, jazz, funk, soulful house, R&B and so much more". 

And on that subject, Speech gets out his inner Incognito / Brand New Heavies on 'I Never Knew' (massive at Southport Weekender I hear: that Peterson still gets all the best tunes early - be prepared for his We Out There Festival later this year) and you can match that with 'Something New' with Muhsinah on a bossa tip that's been beautifully produced (a favourtie of DJ Andy 'Delectabeats' Garvey).

Atlanta-based singer Paula gets on two tracks, the downtempo 'Vibe' and 'Fly' that are beyond love; "Love2" you might say.

There is no denying that this is fantastically crafted with great vocal performances and musicianship which will be playing on repeat.  I predict, this'll be massive worldwide as it feels like deja vu all over again.  

Artist: Reel People
Title: Love2
Release date: 24th March, 2023
Label : Reel People Music
Catalog Number : RPMCD008 / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

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