Review - Kantata - It's High Time Now (Asona / BBE Music)

So who's going to know what was the first 'Burger' hit was - and we're not talking McD, BK or German roots!

No! This debate relates to George Darko's 'Akoo Te Broto' vs. Lee Dodou who was the vocal and guitar on the 'Akoo Te Broto' back in 1983.  A mere 40 years on, I think we'll leave the Ghanaian Hi-life experts to it. But what is upper most is the Kantata's 'It's High Time Now' (great title and no metion of burgers) is that from 1986 feature Mr. Duodu on lead (vocals and acoustic guitar) is Steve 'Chief' Kwame (Highlife Time, Asiko) on bass and vocals,Ekow 'Savage' Browne on drums (Pat Thomas & Marijata); Oghene Kologbo on guitar (Fela Kuti, Afrika 70) and well known Fouad Amooo feauring on vocals, drums and percussion.

From the look of the album cover the band are having a great time in this 1986 version of Hi-Life.  And you get it straight from the start of 'Odo Beba (Ateaa)' with bouncey bass and synth, it's 80s but not overtly cheese; although there's a touch of pop-soul on 'Heartbreaker', boot-zippin' on 'Monsom' and reggae-euro-pop, 'Feeling So Nice'.

There's been quite a few of these Asona re-issues now on BBE as the 'Peckham' diaspora gives back the sound of the homeland.  And 'It's High Time Now' is a great place to start you're investigation into the party - especially the disco-funk-rap 'It's High Time' and the saxy, 'Saturday Night'.

Artist: Kantata 

Title:  It's High Time Now 

Release date: 10th November, 2023

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE743 LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Jullian Gomes - Bruno & The Birds (World Without End)

At last, the full album of Jullian Gomes, 'Bruno & The Birds' is now out along with even more beautiful artwork.

It's seems such a long time since earlier singles, the collaboration with Jordan Arts on 'Home (see review HERE), 'uHambo' the track with Kuniyuki Takahashi (piano) and Sio, 'Let Me Go' (see review HERE).

So we know Gomes' deep Afro-house stylings with Hôtel Costes quality artwork (if not subject matter) is something just gets deeper and deeper into the dancefloor, like the opener 'Fear Flying' that's has a host of influences to levitate above the bass boost synths (also on 'Intruder' together with a bit of Balearic boogie).

Talking of Balearic, add some sublime jazz horn dub (provided by Robin Fassie and KJM Cornetist) and it's not going too far to say that 'Purple Trees' is Miles House!  Did I just say that?  

And then you're not quite on the beach yet as the closing track 'Amaro's Heart' chill-hops to the end but with a "love letter" from Julian's Dad but you can't ignore 'How?' (that features the vocals Sabrina Chyld) who's title is, as ever, appropriate in these troubled times - think this might take off and it's possibly the one that'll make Sumsuch's Colour & Pitch Sessions mix this month [Ed. yep, it's that good].

Artist: Jullian Gomes

Title: Bruno & The Birds

Release date: 10th November, 2023

Label: World Without End

Catalog Number: WWE012

Review: Nick Marks - Asymptomatrix feat. Sam Dillon (Independent)

Still not got over how good Nick Marks' debut EP is, (Cinematic Chromatics Vol. 1 - see review HERE), here's a new single, 'Asymptomatirx' that features the sax of Sam Dillion. 

We know that Mr. Marks is a master of the cross-pollinated electronia of OST/hip-hop/soul/jazz and more but this new track is more drum'n'bass/electronica with a jazz version of Frank Zappa track; Dillion being Frank on sax being Sam Rivers.

Sam has played with Mingus Big Band, Birdland Big Band and the Village Vanguard Orchestra so he knows his be-bop and more.

I hope this is a early look into 'Cinematic Chromatics Vol. 2' as it's another winner. 

Artist: Nick Marks

Title: Cinematic  Asymptomatrix feat. Sam Dillon  

Release date: 1st November, 2023

Label: 

Cat. No: -

Format: Digital

Review: Koma Saxo - Post Koma (We Jazz Records)

It's the 50 up for We Jazz Records as they continue to find all what's exciting in contemporary jazz; which includes avante-garde, space-age, modal, punk-jazz when it comes to Koma Saxo.

Founded by Berlin-based Swedish bassist and producer Petter Eldh, the group is becoming more of a big band [small 'b'] with Sofia Jernberg, Jonas Kullhammar, Otis Sandsjö, Mikko Innanen, Maciej Obara and Christian Lillinger.

Totally different to Eldh's trio work (such as with Tilo Weber, see review HERE) it's definitely "post" Koma, if not "post" everything!  'Koma' is like a dnb rework of some Barry Adamson track whilst 'Watten Koma' gets all dubbed up flute Bob James without keyboards.   

'Komma Hem' has a cool jazz horn line that's romantically soothing with Petter thinking about some Jaco lines before 'Stundens Hetta' goes Big Band Swing-100mph bop: it's that sort of an adventurous album.

'Poly Amok' sounds tinged with 'Ayler' and then, as the title aludes, 'Portal Koma' somehow seems to wrap up all of the above with the comforting squarks of a James White/Black of no-wave jazz and it's heavy as Hot 8 Brass Band, as Nordic as Teppo Mäkynen, as free as Ornette Coleman. 

'Eka Amok' and 'Sista Dansen' are the chill-out/Stereolab versions (one with the mixtapegeeks) along with the Daedelus/'Jobim'/Madlib influenced 'Koma Grav' and the stunning 'Mittenmelodin I Erzeben Koma'.

Fans of last years' album, 'Koma West' will know what's coming but on this new album there's going to be something for everyone and I'm going to call it now, this is going to win awards, perhaps not the Mercury (or the Express & Star), but if you want to get ahead of the 'Musically eclectic and open minded' Jez Nelson's and Gilles Peterson's of this world, this is the album for you/us.

Artist: Koma Saxo

Title: Post Koma

Release date: 10^th November, 2023

Label : We Jazz Records

Catalog Number : WJLP50  LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Boozoo Bajou - Finistère (Pilotton)

This ain't nothing to to with the Shipping Forecast as Boozoo Bajou put their 5th album toe in the waters off 'Finistère'.

Like contemporaries, Theivery Corporation,  the downtempo / trip hop / dubby scene hasn't gone as one of their(Boozoo Bajou) tracks appeared on the latest Café del Mar compilation this year and Theivey's Eric Hilton's latest album that came out a few weeks ago (see review HERE); indeed, those with good memories will recall Thievery Corporation did a remix of Boozoo Bajou's cover of 'Under My Sensi' plus their track 'Camioux' was remixed by "our mate" Biggabush (see interview HERE) as they were both on the same label at the time.

In fact, Boozoo Bajou (Peter Heider, Florian Seyberth) were mates with all the big players back in the day (and probably still are) and this album contains some of their more recent collaborations with vocals by Steve Spacek ('Sparks') and Jules ('Tiefer' and 'Tough Times') plus there's co-productions with Fürsattl ('Höhensonne') and MODALiST ('Belle Flamme').

That said the instrumentals are more than lush, 'Orfeu', 'Calcutta Glow' and 'Viajantes' showing off thier expertise in soul-jazzy-dub-OST-Latin-trippy-beats, but all 12 tracks are worthy of a double vinyl release (or download if you prefer).

In fact, there does seem to be a connection with the sea, ('Belle Flamme' and the title track of course) and whether you'd like to pigeon hole it as 'Sub-Balearic' or 'Modern Lounge' (Ed. can't decide), this is a beautiful re-emergence (not return) and mean I can put away the 'Take It Slow' 12" I've been carrying around for nearly 20 years; last played at the Bournemouth Dub Club if I remember right! 

Did I hear someone say, "Fisher, Dogger, German Bight"?

Artist: Boozoo Bajou

Title: Finistère

Release date: 3rd November, 2023

Label : Pilotton

Catalog Number : Pilotton020 Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Various - J Jazz Vol. 4: Deep Modern Jazz from Japan - Nippon Columbia 1968 -1981 (BBE Music)

Opening with nearly 12 minutes of Takeo Moriyama's 'Exchange', this 16 track compilation goes in a typical Tony Higgins / Mike Peden, let's dig even deeper into the J-Jazz and just focus on the period 1968-1981 at the offices of Nippon Columbia.  

That opening track, taken from the vinyl only release, Live At Lovely' - see review HERE) is a great example of what was clearly an exceptional time for jazz in the far east.  And not just because Herbie Hancock took time out from his own Columbia sessions to join Takashi Mizuhashi and Friends for 'Samba de Negrito' (at a time of one of many Herbie musical peaks ('77) on a track composed by Hideo Ichikawa - remember him from Isao Suzuki, Masahiko Togashi, Hideo Ichikawa, Akira Shiomoto – Approach (see review HERE).

That apart from really keen students of the J-Jazz class, most of these musicians will be new to you and that's what this (and the previous 3 volumes of this series) is about as this huge volume of Jazz history went largely unnoticed apart from some jazz dance nerds as labels who wanted to push the commercial side of jazz-funk in the 70s/80s. 

Thankfully, Nippon Columbia had some execs who realised that hey had on their hands some of the best jazz, jazz-funk, jazz-fusion, modal jazz as you are likely to find with all instruments covered; but particularly drums, bass, horns, electric piano (some synth) and more; the only thing missed in this two and half hours is a full on batucada!  That said, apart from post-bop Blakey, the biggest inspirations here seem to be Hancock and Corea at their fusion best but even then you can here touches of axe gods Zappa (who had George Duke and Jean Luc-Ponty in his band at some points) and Carlos Santana (to bring in that Latin influence).

"Definitive" is a much over-used word to describe such a compilation and you can bet that even though the J-Jazz 'definitive' book will be available to order soon [see HERE] and somebody is thinking about a Vol. 5; this is the triple album vinyl that you need as it is the definitive collection of 'Deep Modern Jazz from Japan - Nippon Columbia 1968 -1981'!

Artist: Varous Artists

Title: J-Jazz Vol. 4: Deep Modern Jazz from Japan - Nippon Columbia 1968 -1981

Release date: 3rd November, 2023

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE 3xLP vinyl / 2xCD / Exclusive Digital (bbemusic.com) & Bandcamp .

Review: AC Soul Symphony - Metamorphosis (Album) (Z Records)

Dave Lee (producer of a thousand aliases) seems to be in a pretty good position right now, he can do whatever he wants. Right now that thing is revisiting loads of great music and making it DJ-friendly.

Well, he’s been doing that for a while actually, but this project is slightly different—he’s not remixing, they’re recreations that incorporate live string and wind sections. Essentially, it’s him getting to MFSB some great tunes—including quite a few that they never played on. For example TV show themes (“Six Billion Dollar Man”), songs about Chicago (“Windy City Theme” —MFSB were legendary Philadelphia musicians who played on hits like “For The Love of Money”, “You Can’t Hide From Yourself” and of course “T.S.O.P. - The Sound of Philadelphia.”)

In with some wonderful covers are originals that totally fit in with the slightly retro-vibe. “Philly Avengers” & “AC Express” in particular tricked me—looking at the songwriters info, I was surprised by how many tunes Mr Lee wrote or had a hand in. Not because I had doubts about his skill, but because they so seamlessly fit in amongst classic material which, in his own words, was “orchestrated by some of the best who ever lived.”

I can unreservedly recommend this to anyone who enjoys soulful disco sounds—Barry White’s Love Unlimited Orchestra, Salsoul/MFSB and of course on of the other main inspirations, David Shire (whose “Manhattan Skyline” gets covered.)



Artist: AC Soul Symphony

Title: Metamorphosis

Release date: October 27, 2023

Label : Z Records

Catalog Number :  Zedd12369 LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp   .

Review: Twelve Caesars - Ride The American Wave (No’West Remix EP) (Ramrock Red Records)

World Surf League followers will be just recovering from the recent Malibu Longboard Championships but the big winner on our finals chart is the No'West remixes of 'Ride the American Wave'.

This year we've really enjoyed Twelve Caesars' album 'Scenes From Wild Eyed Dreams' (see review HERE) and particularly the single, 'California Sleaze' (see review HERE) but label big wigs apparently always had there eye on the closing track on the album, 'Ride the American Wave' for a full Twelve 'bore' Caesars Beedle/Morris/Wallace coming down the barrel remix.

The EP comes in 3 versions, 'No'West Vocal', 'No'West Dub', 'No'West Insturmenta' together with the original.  And if you thought the original was on the Californian West Coast Highway road trip with CS&N, Beach Boys, Grateful Dead the No'West version(s) get even more psychedelic with the addition of Darren Morris's fuzz pedal and the violin wave that gives it some British 70s rock to it, did someone say, "Beatles, The Who, Supertramp, Man and many more" who's somehow slithered into the the mixing desk and makes the trio of remixes even more complete; rumours of a 'The Whole Side Of 'Side-A' Edit' may be exagerated but it's not a bad idea as this is a fantastic 20 minutes that can satisify your all your soft rock balaerics needs.

And what is this 'Ride The American Wave' about? Apparently it's an adaptation from Hilaire Belloc's book, 'The Modern Traveller' (free to download on Project Gutenberg) and there's a deeper sense of foreboding going on the keeps your attention throughout; especially if your waxing your boards.

PS. Point Break is the best surf-inspired action films of all time. 

Artist: Twelve Caesars

Title: Ride The American Wave 

Release date: 3rd November, 2023

Label: Ramrock Red Records

Cat. No: RRR054

<a href="https://willbarnesmusic.bandcamp.com/album/source-of-the-severn">Source of the Severn by Will Barnes Quartet</a>

As regular readers know, we love our jazz (in many forms) so when we get a quartet album led by a jazz guitarist that's celebrates the source of a river in Wales, let's dive in.

Will Barnes, he of said electric guitar and the rest of Will Barnes Quartet; James Batten (drums), Jack Gonsalez (piano) and Clovis Phillips (bass), have found their own swing on this nine track album that has it's own jazz bubbling spring vibe that's reflected in the titles, 'The Mad March Hare', 'Lie Mae Trefaldwyn' (that echoes a little of 'Greensleeves' in an upbeat Coltrane Quartet way) and the title track of course.

When you say "jazz guitar", if you don't get a blank look, there's usually just a handfull of "known" names such as Wes Montgomery, Pat Metheny, George Benson, Gábor Szabó and if you're really old, Charlie Christian, Jim Hall and Kenny Burrell.  But there's loads more from the more rock orientated John McLaughlin to Philip Catherine to Larry Coryell and the classical Paco de Lucía.

What's so cool about this album is that the band can cut a jazz-blues like 'The Dragon's Tail' (Ed. how Welsh) and the listener can almost touch the fun that band are having playing this (they must be great live - see gig dates below).  The same can be said of 'Passing Time' (at some speed) and, best of all, is their near stripped down Mulau Astatke-esque 'Marchia Wallia'.

Tom Misch (popular with the kids these days) is a fan (he of 'What Kinda Music', the album released on Blue Note with the equally fantastic Yussef Dayes a couple of years ago) and if you liked the album's by other axe exponents, Enrico Bracco (see review HERE) and Enrico Le Noci (see review HERE) you'll love this even more!

PS. the great cover artwork is by landscape artist Erin Hughes. 

Artist: Will Barnes Quartet

Title: Source Of The Severn

Release date: 3^rd November, 2023

Label : AAB Records

Catalog Number : AAB-232-LP / Digital / Bandcamp

LIVE DATES 2023/24

SOURCE OF THE SEVERN

ALBUM TOUR

06 & 07.10 Oriel Davies, Newtown

03.11 SpArC Theatre, Bishops Castle

04.11 Hermon Arts, Oswestry

18.11 Clarence Hall, Crickhowell

24.11 Aberystwyth Arts Centre

25.11 Hanging Gardens, Llanidloes

12.01 STOP Café Bar, Shrewsbury

13.01 Mid Border Arts, Presteigne

26.01 Elysium Gallery, Swansea

Review: Nana Budjei - Afrikaman (Asona / BBE Music)

With a cover that's 'Afikaman' dressed as a "James Bond" just off to the Monte Carlo Casino, will this new re-issue produce any big bank breaking winnings?

We'll the title track sure is as it's a full band of big horns backing Nana's vocals and featuring Abdul Tee-Jay on Lead and Rhythm guitar.

It's a shame that these tracks are not longer [Ed. just play 'em again] and particularly, 'Asamando' and 'Adasama' with the groovy organ.

There's two versions of 'Ohia', original and jungle mix, but don't expect any 'junglist movement' here as it the album was originally released in 1988.

Producd by Anthony R. Frempong (for more of which, check out Sam Yeboah's 'Meba Fie - I'll Be Back Home, see review HERE), there's a real sound of 'Nostalgie Ya Mboka' joy to these six tracks.   And like on Sam's album, there's a super cool Afro-reggae track, 'Asobrachie' - perhaps BBE could sort out Asona 'Reggae' compilation album with Wrongtom doing a dub version?

An original of this album was marked up for collectors as "CLEAN LABELS!!!... SUPER RARE SO DON'T SLEEP!!!" and even now I'd recommend you not to don't hang about as these re-issues will no doubt it'll be collectors items too!

Artist: Nana Budjei
Title: Afrikaman 
Release date: 27th October, 2023
Label : BBE Music
Catalog Number : BBE749 LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp