Reveiw: Kris Tidjan - Small Axes (BBE Music)

If you've been keeping up with the Kris Tidjan singles, you'll be anxious to hear the whole album and I can confirm that it's all as good as the 'Lords Of War', 'Little Giants' and 'Eddie'.

In fact, the jazz-funk-beats-soul that Kris has enveloped into this 13 track album  as he 'Incarnated' an "everyone loves the sunshine" vibe and the nearly nine minutes of 'Lords Of War (Extended)' which is so laid back groovy.

So it's as much Al Green (if not more) as it is jazz/afrobeat but all containing that 'rebel' feel that's so evident in his 'tributes' to Bob Marley.

As you can tell, this is a quality album so it's not easy to say that any one track "Stands-out", so it's a bit unfair to say his collaboration with his cousin, Jeremie Omem, on 'KATIOPA' stands out: but it does; and in a very good modern jazz-funk dancer way (and lets hope there's an even longer version).

As Bob and his "small axe" so Kris has surrounded himself with these "small axes" [also as in 'Lords Of War'] to cut down any resistance to this album and his talent; expect to hear much more from this guy. 

Artist: Kris Tidjan  

Title: Small Axes

Release date: 26th May, 2023

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE726 LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Kris Tidjan - Lords Of War (BBE Music)

If you know Kris Tidjan from his 2015 EP, 'Floating Therapy' you must have been thinking, come on Kris, where's the new material! If you've never heard of Kris Tidjan at all, and you hear the near 9 minutes of this new single on BBE Music 'Lords Of War', you'll be thinking why haven't I heard of the guy - it's brilliant! 

When I say "new", the origins of this track go back to 2005 as his response to a speech by U.S. President Geoge Bush’s speech from 1990. There's a soul-jazz-funk-beat to Kris' lyrics/vocals that's reminiscent of Gil Scott-Heron (don't forget, Gil's co-hort Brian Jackson is also on BBE right now) together with a nod to Bob Marley as lots of references to "small axe ready to cut them down".

And the musical break brings some dreamy dreamy jazz flute and sax before it picks up again: There's a shorter radio edit a mid-length version too but I'm hoping that at some stage we'll get a dubby/house version. 

But for now, this is taken from his debut album, 'Small Axes', coming out later this year when this guy is ready to slay the lords of war that's out there today. 

Artist: Kris Tidjan

Album: Lords Of War

Release Date: 3rd March, 2023

Label: BBE Music

Catalog Number BBE726SDG / Digital / Bandcamp