Review: Tatsuya Nakamura - Locus (J-Jazz Masterclass Series) (BBE Music)

Back in 1984, there was probably little interest inside or outside of Japan for what was seen as a jazz-rock album even though the band leader was drummer, Tatsuya Nakamura.

Now, nearly 40 years on, Nakamura's album 'Locus' is latest in the Tony Higgins/Mike Peden curated J-Jazz Masterclass Series to be re-issued on BBE Music.

Originally only four tracks, 'Ballad' and the previously unreleased shorter version of 'Ballad' as a bonus is more reflective of the album artwork than the actual title track that over the 12 minutes wanders from synth/electronic intro to full on Miles fusion rock-off including obligatory drum solo.

At times, you might think this is any of the Miles fusion supergroups especially where Airto Moreira and Chick Corea are present which says much for the group joining Nakamura (drums, percussion); there's Shinobu Fujimoto (trumpet), Jun Fukamachi (keys), Hedeto Kanai (electric bass), Kazumasa Akiyama (electric guitar) with more percussion by Tatsuji Yokoyama and Yuji Sakai.

'Wow' is more of a showcase for Fukamachi who, in addition to being a jazz-fusion composer, pianist/keyboards was a synthesizer pioneer and played with many of the US leaders in the 70s.

And talking of the 70s, in '79, Nakamura's debut album 'Where Is The Quarter?' contained a 5 minute track called, '¼ Samba' (with a different line-up) so by the time of the recording of 'Locus' the operandi (you could say) had progressed to '¼ Samba II' which made an re-appearance as the near 12 minute version on the compilation 'J Jazz: Deep Modern Jazz From Japan (Volume 3)' a couple of years ago.

And if you do recall, it's monsterously mad sh*t jazz bonkers and needs to be any collection of anyone that loves jazz or J-jazz or even hates jazz; 'Ballard' is a well timed cool down after that!

Many thanks to Messrs Higgins and Peden for their combined dedication to this series and bringing to the BBE fan club music that would normally be totally unobtainable to us mere mortals.

My informants tell me that the J-Jazz team have a special announcement coming soon so consider me to be on the case and we'll bring it to you as soon as we can. In the meantime, 'Locus' awaits to thrill and entertain you.

Artist: Tatsuya Nakamura 

Title: Locus

Release date: 15th September, 2023

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE6 1XLP vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp .

Review: Charlie Hill - Yore EP (Middle Name Records)

You can see why Sampology is into this as jazz-loop-trip that Sun Ra would be proud of as Charlie Hill releases his 'Yore EP'.. 

There's so much great music coming out of Brisbane (and New Zealand) as 'Philly' is another great mix of BRUK/World/Jazz-Funk and our favourite, 'Space For Space' as spiritual jazz meets hip-hop vibes that so popular these days.

And Charlie likes his house too as 'Orleigh Sun' is his 4x4 drives to the classic Carlos Niño/Daedelus/Life Force Trio period and 'Her Four Thorns' is a little bit more experimental.

'Yemlaad' (Ed. is that a Black Country saying?) is more bass wobble-ish meets Mia Toi Dodd so that's one more for clubs/NTS than say, TWR but there's loads here to keep Charlie HIll in your charts for a while yet.

Artist: Charlie Hill

Title: Yore EP 

Release date: 15th September, 2023

Label : Middle Name Records

Catalog Number :  Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Automat - Heat (Compost Records)

Just in time for some late summer festival excitment as here's the 'Heat' album from Automat. 

This new album is definitely hot as it reflects some Morcheeba, Massive Attack and even a sense of EasyStreet All-stars above and beyond the Stereolab-ish single, 'Climb' featuring Barbie Williams.

This is more than a one track album as Automat are as diverse together as they are apart with their previous associations, being Achim Färber (Phillip Boa & The Voodooclub, Skip McDonald), Georg Zeitblom (wittmann/zeitblom), Max Loderbauer (Ricardo Villalobos / Sun Electric / Moritz Von Oswald Trio), Scott Montieth (Deadbeat): not only that they play as a live band too!

They may have swapped Jochen Arbeit (guitar) for Mr. Loderbauer but it's a bit of a re-union as they'd worked together on 'Selekt 01' back in 2015 so we've still got a bit of surf guitar mixed in with dub-synth on 'Emperor'.

In fact it's surprising how dubby this is until you hear guests includ Prince Alla and R Zee Jackson ('Standing', 'Youth Man') together with Gemma Ray ('Cold').  In fact, the more you hear this album, the more impressive and commericial it is like, a bit like early synth pop;  as in 'Drift', 'Statues' or even 'I Was Never Here' (is it just me but I'm still thinking synth-pop Pink Floyd dub!)

After the return of Paul St. Hilaire (with his new album, 'Tikiman Vol​.​1'), the Compost assault on electronic dub is well overdue and this is brilliant companion release with the recent Fred un Luna 'Future Sounds Of Kraut (see reveiw HERE) compilation that's very different but very connected.

Artist: Automat

Title: Heat

Release date: 15th September, 2023

Label : Compost Records

Catalog Number :  CPT 619 LP / Digital / Bandcamp   .

Review: Gard Nilssen's Supersonic Orchestra - Family (We Jazz Records)

How many times to you hear on TV folks say, "It's all about [the] family"? Well, when it comes to Gard Nilssen's Supersonic Orchestra and We Jazz Records, it literally is all about the new double LP. 'Family'.

And "supersonic" the orchestra is - all 17 of 'em!

This set was recorded live at the Mondriaan Jazz Festival in Den Haag, Netherlands: it's not in the Congress Centre so I'm a little surprised they were able to get all these guys on the stage.  That said, it does seem to have made the music/atmosphere quite cosy, like being in a family of loved ones, even if there's a break out of some musical skirmishes at times.

Fans of We Jazz will know what to expect as it's modern jazz of Scandanavian discent (that Cherry, Ayler, Coleman influence) done today.

When the single 'The Healing Force Of The Trojan Horse' was released, I said "[I'm not going to be able to say this often] It's on the set list for We Out Here Festival on Friday!" and it was; surprisingly not a longer version on the album (at a mere 4:29s) it's the shortest track whilst the longest 'Dolphin Disco' (11:33s) and  'Spending Time With Ludde' (10:14s) are my personal favourites.

There's so much brass on 'Supersonic' it could be by a brass band from Houston and they explode on 'SP68' climax.  But the whole album is so good that you don't have to like Big Band Jazz/US High School/Uniiversity bands/Marching Bands etc to get this; ask Karem Gokmen (Dubmission) this is just a great album as each of the 8 tracks is crammed full of jazz.

Whilst it's not going to winning next years' Mercury Prize, (well done Ezra Collective for winning this year as the first 'Jazz' album), it might win a Scandanavian equivalent; still a few gigs to catch them live this year if you are lucky enough to be anywhere near them with a ticket. 

20.10. Stockholm Jazzfestival (SE)

22.10. Skopje Jazzfestival (MK)

2.12. We Jazz Festival, Helsinki (FI)

How does it go, "We(Jazz) are Family".

Artist: Gard Nilssen's Supersonic Orchestra
Title: Family
Release date: 15th September, 2023
Label : We Jazz Records
Catalog Number : 2XLP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Abel - Jazz In The Room (Atjazz Record Company)

Talk about on a roll, here's the follow-up release to Abel's 'Can’t Let You Go' featuring Rona Ray (see review HERE) and it comes with two remixes.

It was only a couple of weeks ago we got very excited about Mr OFFBeat's 'ZEZEN' release on Atjazz (see review HERE) and here's Abel's new one that captures 'Jazz In The Room' like Paul Murphy, Gilles Peterson, Kev Beadle and Colin Curtis were on a 24 hour bender; all vinyl of course.

The beautiful guitar (Lloyd Wright) is dominated by te trumpet (Ferg Kisby) on the remix versions.  With beautiful 'Sun Ra'-ish artwork you get seven minutes of Jimpster's remix (one for the "flute gang") and another seven of Peacey's groovin' dub style remix which really works that trumpet/synth.

We're told that the album, 'Cosmic Law' is out at the end of October and it's definiitely in the "must have" folder along with South Beach Recycling (see HERE) and Si Tew (see HERE) which came out at the start of the year. 

Artist: Abel

Title: Jazz In The Room

Release date: 8th September, 2023

Label : Atjazz Record Company

Catalog Number : ARC250ADS2 Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Monzanto Sound - Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow Remixed EP (None More Records)

Can't believe it's nearly been a year since 'Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow' was released and the year before, we were excited about the release of Monzanto Sound's debut on None More Records, 'Time Lapse' EP, asking, "Where has all the post-punk-funk gone?" And even then, the tracks themselves were also neo-soul-jazzy and much more.  

'Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow' (see review HERE),has a fair amount of influences from  ESG to Kraut-rock to Erykah Budu along with reggae/dub; so what will you get on the remix?

Well, there's some might fine new age steppas on 'Tricksters' (Monzanto Sounds meets Natty Wylah) in original and dub versons whilst 'Eja' goes about bit more dubby jazz dream on the David Okumu remix ("You know Dave Okumu?" Yes I do, another who's been in many groups that's got the 'Gilles Peterson approved' badge).

I can't say I know Waz but he's morphed 'The Letter' from the kraut-rock to the kraut-techno-ambient-dub which is quite something and I think it's possibly my favourite of the four tracks save for 'Tricksters'. 

Monzanto Sound are the Alt.Ezra Collective and I'm ready for the Hectic Extensions as you can't have too much of these tracks. 

Artist: Monzanto Sound 

Title: Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow Remixed

Release date: 15th September, 2023

Label: None More Records

Cat. No: -

Format: Digital

Review: Ana Frango Elétrico - Electric Fish / Insista em Mim (Mr Bongo)

One of many reasons why I've never wanted to learn Brasilian/Portuguese is that I'm more than willing to accept that Ana Frango Elétrico real name is Ana Frango Elétrico... that is, until you're told that it translates as 'Ana Electric Chicken'!

But all is forgiven for that small 'pop' foopah when you discover that she is one of the leaders of Bala Desejo (yes, they of the best new Latin/Brazilian album in years, 'Sim, Sim, Sim' - see reveiw HERE) and that her new album is coming out soon.

'Electric Fish' (or should that be 'Peixes Elétrico'?) is the lead track and it's full of pop-boogie disco that'd be on the dancefloor of Blackpool Mecca as it's got touches on modern Northern Soul - think of it as Colin Curtis / Patrick Forge love child (if you can).

'Insista em Mim' (no translation available) is like the slowed down version but it's clear that this lady likes her funky soul a la Deodato as does her talented band which includes Alberto Continentino (who plays bass with Caetano Veloso), Sergio Machado (drummer of Negro Leo’s band) and Guilherme Lirio (who plays electric guitar in Gilberto Gil’s band).

The radio edit of 'Electric Fish' is sung in English which is just as good as the original.

Get onboard with this release now as by the time the album comes out in October ('Me Chama de Garo Que Eu Sou Sua') she'll be a big star..erm, should that be a big fish?

Artist: Ana Frango Elétrico

Title: Electric Fish / Insista em Mim

Release date: 13th September, 2023

Label : Mr Bongo

Catalog Number : MRB273R

Format :  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Joseph Malik - Proxima Ebony (Ramrock Red Records)

The eagerly anticipated album 'Proxima Ebony' by Joseph Malik (out now on Ramrock Red) is finally here and it's everybit as good as what Craig Charles, Gilles Peterson and Blues & Soul's 10/10 review rating have been telling us it is.

It's as soulful as Mr Malik is with hip-hop notes (from Capitol A and Kameelah Waheed - taking a break from Colour & Pitch - see review HERE), acid (Digital Liquid), spiritual (Alina Bzhezhinska - see review HERE) ,Latin/folk (Chris Franck) and it's super funky too!

Eleven tracks in total and some of which we're already totally obsessed with like 'Adjust Like Dat' (which Mr. Charles loves), 'Trouble With A Capital T (as previously reviewed as a single HERE and the remix HERE) and the one about the sex worker industry 'Only Fans' - brilliant acid trip that conjures images of the Acid Queen herself, Tina Turner.

And see if you can work out which one is "Joseph's vision of 'Psycho Killer' meets CBGB's with Otti Albietz on guitar (from Suddenly WOW!) and Daniel Walls on drums....and me [Jo Wallace] on BVs".

Mr Malik has been very clever in balancing the entire album with these great musicians and it really does feel very balanced from start to finish.

I can't stress enought that it's all so good, you don't want it to stop listening to it. In fact, it's so good, we've just got to repeat Blues & Soul's 10/10 rating - it really is that good [Ed. we get the idea].

Not only that 8th September, 7:30p,m in the The Ballroom, The Voodoo Rooms is where Mr Malik's new album, 'Proxima Ebony'  is going to have a launch party (check the details HERE) along with the magnificent Jo Wallace (Ramrock in all its forms), Shuya 'Shuya San' Okino (Kyoto Jazz Massive and WeOutHere) plus Natasha Kitty Kat and no doubt members Ramrock's Scottish contingent of The Jennifer Ewan Band (see review HERE and HERE) will show up to have a great time. 

I can't imagine the buzz when he walks out on stage to 'Introduction' - it's going to be fantastic!

Artist: Joseph Malik 

Title: Proxima Ebony

Release date: 8th September, 2023

Label: Ramrock Red

Cat. No: RRRLP010

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Review: Various - Reference Point compiled by Mark GV Taylor and George Arthur (BBE Music)

The concept of 'Reference Point' is Mark GV Taylor's vision of soul, jazz, disco, Latin, MPB, soundtrack, library, AOR and lots of other genres that are just great music. 

Mark joined forces with like minded friend, George Arthur they've put together a 15 track compilatiom that spans the 'Paul Hillery presents We Are The Children of the Setting Sun' (see review HERE) to Mr Bongo's Record Club to more upbeat tracks that move the dancefloor.

When was the last time you heard Joe Thomas?  Probably the disco monster 'Plato's Retreat' but that's 'cheese' compared to the his track represented here, 'A Place In Space'.

But Joe isn't the only star of the 70s here but at the other extreme is BBE's very own MF Robots' 'Make The Call' (and these guy's are not there only fans, see review HERE).

Back in the land of peace and love, who are the Astronauts, etc?  What a brilliant demo version 'I Know' is and put's their cover of Smiles' 1971 psych/folk track 'Just A Star' in the shade (and that 2019 Record Store Day release is selling at silly prices already so what price 'I Know'?)

And then there's the late night blues jazz of the JR Quintet (I don't know either) and talking of old hippies (well, perhaps not that old) Shawn Lee has done a mix of Kirk Reed's 'California' (with a reference to "Neil's 'Heart of Gold'" - that's Young of course). 

Yet another fantastic compilation from BBE and another with the problematic 'Hillery' issue that each track is so good it becames you favourite on the album but sticking my neck out, wait 'til you hear Bugs Beddow! And then there's The Ambassador College Band with The New World Singers and the folk-jazz-funk-AOR of April Fulladosa; yikes, I'm at it again, I repeat, wait 'til you hear Bugs Beddow! 

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Reference Point compiled by Mark GV Taylor and George Arthur 

Release date: 8th Septemaber, 2023

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE651 2xLP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Nik West - Moody (Queen Of Strings)

If you ever wondered where Prince left the spirit of funk, wonder no more as Nik West has found it and channelled that and more into this new album, 'Moody'.

This is Funk & Soul for the likes of Craig Charles and i suspect he'll be on the instant party classic, 'We Got The Funk 4 You'.

But the mood (no pun etc) can change, as there's a fair amount of 'pop' in here like a Bruno Mars or a bass playin' female Lenny Kravitz (now there's a thought).

And if that's not enough to blow your trunk of funk up, 'Thumpahlean' features none other than the Godfather of Graham Central Station; Sir Larry Graham (he's 'up there' with George Clinton).

At the other extreme is the ballad 'Tears' and the big hair 80s rock of 'Nothin' To It (But To Do It)' and 'We Can Do It' that features Cindy Blackman-Santana (drums) and Lari Basilio (guitar solo); Ms. West certainly has some big muso mates.

As she says in the lyrics of the title track, "Don't try to figure me out" so we won't as we already know enigmatic is spelt with n·i·k·w·e·s·t in it.

She's on tour in Europe in September/October so that'll will well worth checking out as it'll be more funky fun than moody.

Nik West · Moody

Artist : Nik West

Title : Moody

Release Date : 7th September, 2023

Catalog Number : Queen Of Strings

Label : Digial / Bandcamp