Review: Nick Marks - Dedication (For Gabi) (Independent)

I don't know who Gabi is but wouldn't it be great if Nick Marks dedicated a piece of music as beatiful as this to you?

It's fair to say that we've been more than impressed with Nick's previous releases, 

'Cinematic Chromatics Vol.1' (see review HERE) and 'Asymptomatrix' featuring Sam Dillon (see review HERE) so 'Dedication (For Gabi) is a trio of winners with some serious strings and soundtrack leanings.

We're told that the track is dedicated to his cousin who was lost a seven year battle with cancer at the young age of 31.

This is a fitting tribute and features, not only the Budapest Art Orchestra's string section but also the vocals of NYC-based Lativan jazz singer, Arta Jēkabsone.  Marks' also lives in New York (having grown up and been active in the Melbourne soul-jazz, hip-hop,R&B scene) and 'Dedication' is the jazz opposite of anothr New York based exile, Kenneth Jimenez (see review HERE of his 'Sonnet To Silence' album on We Jazz) but should they ever meet up for a chat and a drink, they'll raise a glass for Gabi (RIP).

Artist: Nick Marks

Title: Dedication (For Gabi)

Release date: 15th March, 2023

Label: Independent

Cat. No: -

Format: Digital

Review: Deep Excavation ft. Morris Revy - Feel The Flow EP (Ramock Records)

Deep Excavation is drilling down to 'Feel The Flow' with Morris Revy that fits in with the Ramrock red, green and gold mining for quality reggae and dubs.

In fact, it was a combination of Ashley Beedle (the other half to Ramock Records' prime instigator and all-seeing eye of musical goodness, Jo Wallace) that got hold of Deep Excavations (aka Alan Keane) in Ireland (Ed. any relation?) with a vocal by Nigerian Morris Revy.

Mr Revy has a really expressive vocal delivery that approaches dub poetry as this guy really does feel the riddim with a Ha Ya! eternal life (no, not this one - see review HERE).

The instrumental continues the groove as it's like a mesmeric train ride where you make a move like an express; with no stops, or buffet car!

And there's a dub which just perfect for the nyabinghi house trippers that's equally suitable for some balearic beach action.

No only that, there's a Balmr remix (aka Greg O'Connell) that sounds like the southbound tube line on dub race to Brixton with no time to read the poem of the day as you feel the flow.

Somewhat difffent to the last release from the Ramrock family,  Marcus Malone & The Motor City Hustlers 'When Hurt Walks Out The Door' (see review HERE) but it's equally as great: as you'd expect from all Ramrock productions.

Artist: Deep Excavation ft. Morris Revy

Title: Feel The Flow EP

Release date: 8th March 2024

Label: Ramrock Red

Cat. No: RR012

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Review: Jimi Tenor - My Mind (Philophon)

To my mind, absolutely no introduction required for Jimi Tenor as he releases another single on Philophon label called, 'My Mind'.

Recorded at Philophon's Joy Sound Studios in Kumasi, Ghana (happy Ghana Independence day this week) Jimi (not known for his vocal strength) is joined by the 10 man strong Rubato Chorus.

You may recall 'My Mind' on Jimi's break-through album on Warp 'Organism' (1999) but smouldering nu-jazz futurism is replace by manic Highlife jazzdance with Tenor on blistering sax form (extended version recommended with the beautiful harp ending).

Backed with the an Afro-centric cosmic 60s library Ra-ist vibe of 'Love The The Language'; Jimi being fluent in this language.

It's a busy time for Tenor fans as Compost recently released 'Where The Wild Roam as a collab with Tomasz Guiddo (see review HERE and the Ale Castro Remix featuring on this months' Colour & Pitch Sessions mix - see below).

You'll have to be quick to catch the 7" as it's going to sell out fast as fans old and new will want to have this little piece of vinyl history.

Artist: Jimi Tenor 

Title:  My Mind

Release date: 8th March, 2024

Label : Philophon Records

Catalog Number : PH45033

Format: 7" / Digital / Bandcamp 

Colour and Pitch · Colour and Pitch Sessions with Sumsuch - February 2024

Review: F.I.D.E.L. – Out Of Sight (Bastard Jazz Recordings)

F.I.D.E.L.'s new ablum 'Out Of Sight' is so typical of a Bastard Jazz Recordings' release - Jazz Not Jazz, Bastard Not Bastard or, in other words, just what you need.

It's been a little while since Buscrates' 'Control Centre' (see reveiw HERE) and Simon Mavin's 'Good Hair Day / Only You & Me' (see review HERE) but this is the disco to your Casa Bonita (see review HERE) the funk to your boogie as 'Odd Things (Parts 1 & 2)' is current post-Azymuth track of the year so far; especially as it's over eight minutes long. 

Is it any wonder when we find out the F.I.D.E.L is a collaboration of 'leader' Dilouya, UK legend, John Turrell (50% of Smoove & Turrell; who's album last year 'Red Ellen' featured a track with Ronnie Foster on it!- see review HERE) and Hip-Hop/Soul major force, Sly Johnson (BBE, Heavenly Sweetness, Blue Note and also a member of the French hip-hop group, Saïan Supa Crew).

But this is no 'one-track' album as the spirit of Prince runs through this album, particulary on 'Star 51', brackets "we love America".and a slimmed down version of The Pointer Sisters.  Then, at times, such as the title track, there seems like an odd hybrid a of Sa-Ra Creative Partners with Sly & The Family Stone/Bootsy/Isley Brothers in a 80s night club in Newcastle Market Street (aka Tuxedo Junction).

This all sounds good to me and it'd be easy to keep 'Star 51' and 'Odd Things (Parts 1 & 2)' on repeat but you gotta smile at 'All Of This Is Fake' and '(I Don't Give At Sh*t about) Summertime'.

There are other guests like Noraa ('Out Of Sight, 'Heartbeat') and DKO Records' front man Larry Houl on 'Odd Things' (and as good as the combined Parts 1 & 2 are, where's the dub Part3?) whilst I do hope that there's a live performance/summer festival band to support this release. 

P.S. It's flute gang friendly too!

Artist: F.I.D.E.L. 

Title: Out Of Sight

Release date: 8th March, 2024

Label : Bastard Jazz Recordings

Catalog Number :  TBC

Format: Vinyl (pre-order) / Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Sepalot & Temple Haze - colder (Eskapaden Musik)

It's about time we had a theme from the Black Forest sound and Eskapaden Musik may well have found it.

The trip-hop vibe seems to be very popular at the moment and this 'Colder' is well hot with the soul-jazz elements; sounds like Mr Scruff meets MPS via Screamin' Jay Hawkins' 'I Put A Spell On You' with the vocals being closer to some big time indie/rock band

Sepalot is the producer from Munich and Temple Haze is the Berlin-based vocalist/sound designer and between them, 'colder'.

If you ever hear someone say that there's no good underground hip-hop/chill hop/downtempo/souful beats anymore, this is the answer to freeze such comments out; it's 'colder' baby!

Artists: Sepalot featuring Temple Haze

Title: colder

Release date: 8th March, 2024

Label : Eskapaden Musick

Catalog Number : ESK170

Format: Digital  

Review: Holysseus Fly - Out Of This World (Severn Songs)

Holysseus Fly (aka Holly) and part of the trip hop-conscious jazzers Ishmael Emsemble, releases a new solo single that's 'Out Of This World'.

This follows 'Teach Me' which was a favourite of the BBC 6 Music playlisters and is bound to be another as the singer/songwriter/pianist and model (well, she does like a bit of dressing up/make-up - note: cover artwork by Giulia Spadafora).

The release coincides with International Womens Day and the track is full of drama with fantastic big strings.

Looks like another big year for this emerging talent as she joins Nick Mulvey for a short 5 date UK tour this month.

Tour dates:
16-Mar-24 - Leeds - O2 Academy Leeds
17-Mar-24 - Glasgow - SWG3 TV Studio
18-Mar-24 - Manchester - Albert Hall
20-Mar-24 - Bristol - Beacon
21-Mar-24 - London - Hammersmith Apollo

Artist: Holysseus Fly 
Title: Out Of This World 
Release date: 8th March 2024
Label: Severn Songs
Cat. No: SeVS27
Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: La Yegros - Veo feat. K.O.G (X-Ray Production)

As a small cog in the international music appreciation world, it's always encouraging that favourites like K.O.G gets to excel with other new musicians.

You'll recall Kweku Sackey (aka K.O.G) as rising star with his own releases and through his collaborations with Nubiyan Twist, Scrimshire and ONIPA and his connections with Heavenly Sweetness.

So it's no real surprise tha La Yegros wanted to add his Anglo-Ghanian rap-stylee to her South American Afrobeat for a track that's full of multiculturalism.

Another breath of fresh air taken from her forthcoming album 'Haz' (out on the 29th March)

Artist: La Yegros feat. K.O.G

Title: Veo

Release Date : 8th March, 2024

Catalog Number : -

Label : X-Ray Production

Format:  Digital

Review: Jonah Parzen-Johnson - You're Never Really Alone (We Jazz Records)

It's not often that there's a soloist that releases an eight track album for saxophone (baritone no less) and flute, Jonah Parzen-Johnson has the breath to pull it off.

Jonah really sets his stall out on the opener 'When I Feel Like Myself' where the sounds of baritone vibrate like an inner wind (in a good way) for the mediative yoga/tai chi crew. 

Couldn't have been timed better to coincide with the reissue of Yusef Lateef's 'Eastern Sounds (always loved 'Purple Flower' and is equally at home for fans of James Newton and the 'inner flame' that is Carlos Niño - last seen on YATM on 

'Everyone's Children' (see review HERE); definitely recommend the lingering zen of 'There's So Much I Regret'.

Jonah's use of circular breathing techniques (as popularised by flute / sax virtuosos like James Galway and John Coltrane to name just two) are more than evident of both of his chosen instruments (particularly on 'Not Writing About This' and 'There's So Much To Be Afraid Of') is just mind blowing (no pun etc..) and at times the baritone sounds like a didgeridoo.

'What They Love' is closer to Albert Ayler's heritage (in a dark flight of the bumble bee on baritone sax?) but it all sounds superb andf so deep at  times it could be 3D.  Purists don't worry, the electronics are kept a minimum so the track 'Everyone Is Somewhere' is like a very raw love song whilst equally fitting in with the sounds from across the bass spectrum.

The last We Jazz Records release, Otis Sandsjö 'Y-Otis Tre' is nothing like this (see review HERE) which is one of the reasons we love this label as the standards are so high.  Well worth checking out Parzen-Johnson's 'Imagine Giving Up' (2020) and Colin Stone's re-imagined 'compilation' of We Jazz releases WJLP11-20: 'We Jazz Reworks Vol. 2

I'd love to (Not Be Writing About This) at his live dates in the US this month to coincide with the album's release - see below - how avant-garde trendy would that make we jazz be?

 

Live Dates 7 March - Nublu - New York NY 10 March 8 East (Workshop) - Vancouver BC 11 March - Tyrant Studios (The Infidels Jazz Presents) - Vancouver BC 12 March - The Chapel  (Wayward Music Series) - Seattle WA 15 March (Afternoon) - Oregon State University - Corvallis OR 15 March (Night) - Megalith - Portland OR 19 March - The Bop Stop - Cleveland OH 20 March - a Trinosophes - Detroit MI 21 March - Communication - Madison WI 22 March - Constellation - Chicago IL 23 March - The Jazz Gallery - Milwaukee WI 24 March - Paradigm Coffee & Music - Sheboygan WI

Artist: Jonah Parzen-Johnson 
Title: You're Never Really Alone
Release date: 8th March, 2024
Label : We Jazz Records
Catalog Number : WJLP64
Format: LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: African Brothers International Band - Locomotive Train (Keteke) - Meko Tarkwa! Meko Tarkwa!! Meko Tarkwa!!! (BBE Music)

Check out the cover of this new album from the  African Brothers International Band, 'Locomotive Train (Keteke) - Meko Tarkwa! Meko Tarkwa!! Meko Tarkwa!!!'  It's a trainspotter's Afrobeat dream.

Unlike the guy on the cover, this is not the time to leap off the beating engine of this train.  In fact, it's quite the opposite as 'Keteke' is a monster 2-10-4 Ghanan steam powerhouse.

The near 10 minutes of the self-explanatory 'Locomotive Train' is worth the ticket prices in itself.  But you won't be disappointed by the other tracks 'Yengye Yeani', 'Yen Ba Pa Kwadwo' and 'Hold Your Lover Tight' as this this prolific band who started in the 60s will keep you on the right track with their heady mix of Highlife, Afrobeat, calypso, rumba infused dance - and it's totally fun.

If you're got any doubts though, it's time to go First Class straight to the ultra-funky 'Nguyegye No So' featuring Ancient Awuah's mighty organ that's prominent throughout.

You may recall that the African Brother's were featured on Soundway's first release, Ghana Sounds: Afro-Beat, Funk & fusion in 70s Ghana.  That was back in 2002 so it's about time that this classic has been fully remastered and timetabled to be released to coincide with Ghana's Independence Day.

Artist: African Brothers International Band 

Title:  Locomotive Train (Keteke) - Meko Tarkwa! Meko Tarkwa!! Meko Tarkwa!!!

Release date: 6th March, 2024

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE758

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

 

Review: Various - Future Sounds Of Kraut Vol. 2 Compiled by Fred und Luna (Compost Records)

As long time fans of Kraut Music, we've been shocked by the passing of former Can front man Damo Suzuki on the 9th February only to subsequently hear that Fred Und Luna (aka Rainer Buchmüller) passed away the day before.

This is such sad news as Fred/Luna/Rainer had found his groove with the release of Future Sounds Of Kraut Vol. 1 (see review HERE) last year.  It was clear early on that his knowledge and expertise were fundamental to the success of that first compilation and more were due to follow including this one.

And if Vol. 1 was great, this is even better as the Kraftwerk, Can, Neu!, Harmonia, Klaus Schulze fatherhood that inspired these tracks (17 in total and 9 of them exclusive to this release) including Fred und Luna's intro, outro (that sound like they were made for an electronic cathedral) and 'Monotonikum' from 2016 that's a heady mix of 'We Are The Robots', 'Autobhan' and '(The Theme From) Shaft'.

The selections are all in the "Krautified" (thank you Compost for that one) synth-rock/pop/wave folder including another one from I-Cube (represented here with the heady 'Basso'), Sanki Otten ('Angekommen In Der Letzten Reihe') and the fantastic 'Rules' by Roman Flügel.

This double LP release is a limited (so act fast if you want the vinyl) and the album is full of new names to me like the Can fans that 'Minami Deutsch' clearly are and the Tangerine Dreamers, Gilgamesh Mata Hari Duo; but it's all great - particularly Lucas Coon's 'Krautwickel' (and you don't get to say that everyday!)

As ever, the label have excelled themselves with the artwork which is a collage made by Norika Nienstedt (Düsseldorf) and hopefully they will dig deep into the vaults of Fred und Luna back catalog (like 'Im Fünfmibutentak' - see review HERE)  I think we ould repeat Compost Record's press statement:

"We are deeply saddened that we lost a very close friend, a true creative musician, artist , poet, soulmate and beloved human being with a great sense of humour. Rainer Buchmüller aka Fred und Luna died after a long carcinosis. Our thoughts and prayers in these days of mourning are with his wife and family. Rainer Buchmüller aka Fred und Luna has made several albums, first one on Frank Wiedemann’s Bigamo label, then three albums plus several Maxi - Singles and 7 inches on Compost Records and Elaste Records. Rainer had several alter egos, too. Under his Fred und Luna moniker he recently compiled the highly acclaimed “Future Sounds Of Kraut” compilation series for Compost. Rainer also wrote circa 120 poems in the vein of Ernst Jandl, Dada, Kurt Schwitters. Rainer, we love you! R.I.P."

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Future Sounds Of Kraut Vol. 2 compiled by Fred und Luna

Release date: 1st March, 2024

Label: Compost Records

Cat. No: CPT 625

Format: 2xLP / Digital / Bandcamp