Review: Aki Takase Trio - Song For Hope (BBE Music)

I've just checked that we don't say this everytime that there's a new release on BBE from the J-Jazz Masterclass series, "this is the best todate" but let's say it now; 'Song For Hope' by Aki Takase Trio is the best yet!

Back in 1982 when this album was originally released, The Special's 'Ghost Town' had already been No. 1 in the UK and after all the clubs had been closed down, perhaps there was a need for a 'Song For Hope'; well things couldn't have got much worse which is where we are today worldwide?

So what we needed was a night out to see a live jazz trio with Takase leading on piano, Nobuyoshi Ino (bass) and out favourite drummer of all time, Takeo Moriyama.

You'll recall the Moriyama's 'Live At Lovely (see review HERE) with his quartet, well he almost steels the show on the massive 13 minutes of 'Mountain Forest' (even getting a "whoop" out of the crowd!  An ENJA recording of thier debut at the Berlin Jazz Festival)

Clearly, Aki a child prodege at a very early age who went onto study free spirits like Mingus and Coleman before moving to New York and play with names like Lester Bowie, John Zorn and Dave Liebman (who appeared on Aki's 1981 album, 'Minerva's Owl). This 'freedom' on 'Song For Hope' is obvious on 'Mountain Forest' but the restraint, love and yes, hope that shines through on the three other tracks; 'Minerva's Owl', 'Monologue' and the title track.

As you might have guessed, the German recording is close to perfection such that you almost feel you are there. And you'd so want to be as she shows off perhaps a little on 'Monologue' but apparently she's been living in Berlin since 1988 and has played with the Berlin Contemporary Jazz Orchestra.

Even though she's in her 70s, I wonder if the J-Jazz masterminds, Tony Higgins and Mike Peden could get her to come to the London Jazz Festival this year?

For completists, I understand that this recording is the full 5th November 1981 performance, there are no bonus tracks or 'extras' so this is it, ad it's magnificent.

Recorded live at the Berlin Jazz Festival on November 5th, 1981

Artist:Aki Takase Trio 

Title:  Song For Hope

Release date: 22nd March, 2024

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE677

Format: LP / Digital / Bandcamp 

 

Review: Kiko Navarro & Hugo Navarro - Una Mattina (Afroterraneo)

When you think of family duo's you don't usually come across the younger partner being a 13 year old son! Well, Kiko and Hugo, have definitely pulled it off on the deep house 'Una Matttina' (A Morning).

Kiko, of course, has long been at the forefront (and indeed, foundations) of deep house, Balearics, dancefloor sounds - and here's his son, straight from his classical piano lessions - and has totally nailed it (as the yuts says these days).

If you've got a longing for the Robert Miles vibe of 'Children' with an echo of 'Fade To Grey' (are these two musically playing with us?) this is potentially, just as big as both these 'classic' tracks (as an aside, I don't remember walking through Brighton's 'The Lanes' one weekend and it was if all you could hear was 'Children' back in 1995/6).  

Hugo's piano element is a cover of Ludovico Einaudi, the famous Italian pianists and they'd have you believe 'I'm Not In Love' by 10cc was the inspiration for the electroic element; well you can certainly feel the 'oooooooohhhs' more on the instrumental.

There's a 'poem' version that's been generated by an AI app which is better than it sounds but I think I'll stick to the orignal non-poem version.

PS. Hugo, might be an idea to get your application in for the Verdi Conservatory in Milan and follow in the footsteps of Rahmin Bahram.

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

Artist: Kiko Navarro & Hugo Navarro
Title: Una Matttina (A Morning)
Release Date : 22nd March, 2024
Catalog Number : AFTNE062
Label : Afroterraneo Music
Format: Digital

Review: Leo Pesci & John Swana ft. Dario Scotti - Dario’s Pummarola EP ft. No’West Remixes (Ramrock Red Record) .

We were more than impressed with Leo Pesci's album last year but what could those inveterate remix meddlers, No'West do with one of the top tracks, 'Dario’s Pummarola'?

The meterphorical tin is full of plump and ripe Dwele/Hargrove/RH Factor/Thundercat/ Flying Lotus influences to the album 'Impolite' (see review HERE) and the single features Leo Pesci (vocals, keys), John Swana (E.V.I.), Dario Scotti (drums) and Vincenzo De Fraia (bass, synth, keys).

Jazz FM's latest DJ recruit Dom Servini (Wah Wah 45s) is a big fan of the original and it's Yussef Kamaal inspiration (particularly 'Strings Of Life') and the Piero Piccioni Neapolitan vocals are a link to Pesci and Scotti's roots.

Thankfully, for those that rant that these great tracks need to be longer has been taken care of by the No'west team with the orignal being extended with more jazziness and there's a brilliant dubbed out 70s jazz-funked extension like Mark King tubling down Blackgang Chine and ending up in an endless cave.

Special mention to Mr Swana as you may know him as an "American jazz trumpeter and flugelhorn player" so an E.V.I? That's Electronic Valve Instrument to you and the battle with the drums and bass really stands out on the instrumental.

So it's not only Servini that will be playing this one out, all your Gilles Peterson Worldwide family Djs and fans will want to get their hands on this and indeed, they will!

Artist: Leo Pesci & John Swana ft. Dario Scotti

Title: Dario’s Pummarola EP ft. No’West Remixes

Release date: 22nd March, 2024

Label: Ramrock Red Records

Cat. No: RRR058

Review: Enskyver Feat. Salah Fafah - Amnay EP (Ostowana)

Ostowana are celebrating thier 50th release with Enskyver and featuring more Morrocan tradition from Salah Fafah with an EP, 'Amnay'.

The two tracks highlight traditional instruments in the house with the Ouitar on 'River' and 'Amnay' features Ribab (one-stringed fiddle) and Amazigh (Berber of Morocco) music.

Is the 'River' balearic? The Ouitar is like the North Africa electric benju; or have we a mix of Oud and Guitar? Either was, it's a mesmerising track 

And whilst 'Amnay' just misses St. Patrick's Day, the fiddle like sound is perfect for Gallic reached house music.

Salah has all the rock-star attributes and this is going to get even more global appreciation.

Artist: Enskyver Feat. Salah Fafah

Title: Amnay EP (River / Amany)

Release date: 22nd March, 2024

Label: Ostowana

Catalog Number: OST050

Format: Digital

Review: Florian Gasperini - Hijos Del Sol (Be Adult Music)

When they say, every picture tells a story, the cover artwork to 'Hijos Del Sol' is obviously the new dawning for the children of the sun that follow Florian Gasperini.

The dawn chorus awakening of  'Hijos Del Sol' will get you ready for any festival dancefloor that certainly has a similar piano vibe to Kiko Navarro & Hugo Navarro's 'Una Mattina' that's just out on Afroterraneo (see review HERE).

But that's not all as there's two more tracks, 'That's Who I Am' and 'Mystical Morning' - I think you get the idea 

.After 20 plus years as a DJ/Producer, this is Florian's debut on Be Adult Music and it's definitely been worth the wait and not the last.

Artist: Florian Gasperini 

Title: Hijos Del Sol

Release date: 21st March, 2024

Label; Be Adult Music

Catalog Number: BAR354

Review: Fred Everything - Breathe feat. James Alexander Bright (Lazy Days Recordings)

Sometimes, there just seems something in the air as if a plan forms and comes together like a synergy of elements made with love.

And that can't be too far from 'Breathe' as if you can imagine a merger of Fred (aka All Is Well) and his latest release on Compost Records (see review HERE) with elements of Bright & Findlay's 'Everything Is Slow' (see review HERE) you can almost feel, 'Breathe' as a synth heavy club bouncer.

Findlay's other half in Groove Armada, Andy C, recently got the big ups from BBC 5 Live's Adrian Childes (that really touched you as this WBA fan was clearly moved by his commitment to improving ethical farming - it's quite a story!) but clearly there's a similar meeting of the dancefloor mind with Fred and James. 

I must have told you that I was part of James' warm-up DJ team when he made his debut on the Re:Warm showcase last year (Ed. of course you did - see review HERE) and I can't see that happening ever again as he's a bit of a multi-instrumentalist coup.

James is in illustrious company as Fred's last release was 'Never' featuring vocal legend Robert Owens and last years' C J Cooper hit, 'Live Love Give' (see review HERE).

Apparently, there's a 'Breathe' remix due by DJ Rocco to follow but as my martial arts teacher often says, "it's not about the positions, it's all about the breathing - slow down": sounds like the oposite of Hectic for a lazy day.

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

Artist: Fred Everything

Title: Breathe feat. James Alexander Bright

Release date: 21st March, 2024

Label : Lazy Days Recordings

Catalog Number : LZD103 Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Prosis - Inner Thoughts (Be Adult Roots / Be Adult Music)

Spring has sprung at Be Adult HQ as their sub-label hits us with the percussive flower that is 'Inner Thoughts' by Prosis.

This time last year we were celebrating Be Adult Music's '7 Anniversary' compilation release (see review HERE) and now, out of Athens, Greece, deep house meets Afro-house with two tracks, 'Inner Thoughts' and the saxy 'U Know I Really Love You'.

This release quickly follows-on from the equally impressive Pango remix of Hosse's 'Never Stop Playing' featuring Katie Knight (and instrumental): At this rate they'll soon be an anniversary 'Best Of' Be Adult Roots compilation next year.

I do love the William Morris-esque artwork.

Artist: Prosis 

Title: Inner Thoughts / U Know I Really Love You

Release date: 20th March, 2024

Label; Be Adult Roots / Be Adult Music

Catalog Number: BAR005

Review: Thundercat - Apocalypse (Ten Year Anniversary Edition) (Brainfeeder)

It's

It's hard to imagine how exciting it was 10 years ago with the release of Thundercat's debut album 'Apocalypse' so could the ten year anniversary edition match up to the original?

To briefly recap, Brainfeeder was Flying Lotus' label that was effectively the Ninja Tune sub-label for outside of the US and it was a match made-in as FlyLo was still flying high on the back of the sucess of his 'Los Angeles' and they'd already has success with the underground emergence of The Gaslamp Killer, Lapalux, Ras G, Teebs, Daedelus and many more.

The FL produced 12 tracks showcased the jazz-funk hip hop soul of Thundercat's reinvention of Level 42 (guess why Gilles Peterson was  so impressed).  The obvious hits of 'Oh Sheit It's X' [not that one], 'Lotus And The Jond' and the tribute track followig the death of keyboardist, FlyLo bandmate and friend, Austin Peralta, 'A Message For Austin / Praise The Lord / Enter The Void'.  It all still sounds full of funk and as wobbly as ever and just as exciting as I remember it.

The last time we had a 10 year Anniversary look back with for Every Day by The Cinematic Orchestra (Ninja Tune - see review HERE) and as they went onto bigger and better, so did Thundercat with the monster album, 'Dunk'.

If you haven't got your ticket for the Spring Tour you might have missed your chance as all venues are selling out fast.

SPRING 2024 EUROPEAN TOUR 23 March - Salle Pleyel - Paris - FR - SOLD OUT 25 March - O2 Academy - Glasgow - UK 26 March - Vicar Street - Dublin - IE - SOLD OUT 28 March - Victoria Warehouse - Manchester - UK 29 March - City Hall - Newcastle - UK 30 March - Bristol Beacon - Bristol - UK - SOLD OUT 31 March - Civic Hall - Wolverhampton - UK 03 April - KOKO - London - UK - SOLD OUT 04 April - KOKO - London - UK - SOLD OUT 05 April - KOKO - London - UK - SOLD OUT 06 April - KOKO - London - UK - SOLD OUT 09 April - Ancienne Belgique - Brussels - BE - SOLD OUT 10 April - TivoliVredenburg - Utrecht - NL - SOLD OUT 11 April - Paradiso - Amsterdam - NL - SOLD OUT 12 April - Melkweg - Amsterdam - NL - SOLD OUT 14 April - OM Concerts - Seraing - BE 16 April - Vicar Street - Dublin - IE

 

Artist: Thundercat 

Title: Apocalypse (Ten Year Anniversary Edition) 

Release date : 15th March, 2024

Label : Brainfeeder

Catalog Number : BFDNL040,

Format: LP / CD / Digital

P.S. every wondered what the PR was at the time: "Forever a wildcat and wild card, Los Angeles’ bassist/songwriter/vocalist Stephen Bruner, aka Thundercat, is impossible to tame artistically. A true master of his craft, he can be found playing bass with Flying Lotus, Erykah Badu and Suicidal Tendencies, in the same breath as performing live with the likes of Stanley Clarke, Snoop Dogg or the Red Hot Chili Peppers. His 2011 solo debut (‘The Golden Age of Apocalypse,’ co-produced by Flying Lotus) created an equally genre-blurring enigma of indie rock and jazz, with a touch of electronica.

On his second album, ‘Apocalypse,’ Thundercat pairs up with executive producer Flying Lotus to pull the veil back and reveal the simple truths of the cycle of life, for all its beauty and destruction. An album about loss and rebuilding, trying to gain something back, and capturing that moment of clarity where one finally finds feet back on the ground again. Bringing a fusion of pop, soul, electronica, prog rock and funk into an unexplored dimension, the album slowly descends and tunnels to the core of what it takes to grasp peace, at a time that it seems most far.

From the deep, rumbling entrance of ‘Tenfold,’ each of the 12 tracks coalesce with Thundercat’s signature bass, his riffs and basslines gliding skyhigh to meet Fly Lo’s astral touch. Bruner's vocals and harmonies also soar with open honesty, rising above heartbreak with uplifting odes to love and companionship (‘Tron Song’) and wise mantras to live by (‘Special Stage’). The album plays as a comedy and tragedy at the same time, delicately addressing tracks like ‘We’ll Die’ while bringing the all-out cosmic funk of the anthemic ‘Oh Sheit, it’s X.‘

As heavy as the lyrical weight may be, the divine musicality of Flying Lotus, and Thundercat’s instrumental collaborations, brings light. Navigating dense rhythms and intense harmonic progressions, the LP pushes through the hypnotic strands of ‘The Life Aquatic,’ the analogue explorations of ‘Lotus & The Jondy’ (recorded in Adrian Younge’s studio with drummer Thomas Pridgen), and Thundercat and Lotus’ prog rock jam ‘Seven,’ a spontaneous improv recording that organically materialized in less than an hour. It’s no wonder the kindred pair often refer to their freeform sessions as “going to space.” Continually pushing tracks to their furthest point, they take the listener to another place completely - somewhere beyond time, a place that transcends this realm. As the aformentioned track ‘Seven’ (named for its challenging time signature) asks, “Can you hear the sounds of infinity?”

Thundercat explains ‘Apocalypse’:

“I feel like the album’s a story, more than anything. The music’s almost like a photobook for me. It takes me back to certain things I’ll never forget. I love working with Lotus because he was able to give it a different perspective and mold, to where people can actually see it for what it is.”"

Review: Cee ElAssaad ft. Jaidene Veda - CLEVER (Ensouled)

A familiar name to house music fans, Jaidene Veda, joins Cee ElAssaad and that's a really clever move as their single, 'CLEVER' clearly demonstates.

Like a mix of Jazzanova/Sonar Kollektiv and Reel People on rolling desert dunes this is addictive house music with the added bonus that it sounds like sexy-trains a-coming on those warm synth tracks.

You'll recall Cee's 'Cosmic Fusion' (see review HERE) that came with a more than impressive Ambient Mix, so 'CLEVER' comes with a Dub version that to my mind is equally as good as the full vocal.

Cee is from Morocco which is quite the place to seek inspiration (although this is not as overtly North Africa as Omary at Ostowana, see reveiw HERE) whilst Ms. Veda is as busy as ever coming so soon after Jaidene Veda & George Livanos release 'How Cliché and Lucky Sun's 'Falling Fool' (see review HERE) and we loved the Naked Mix and the remixed version (see review HERE).

You'll want to get deep down with this one and I full expect to hear it in the Colour & Pitch sessions mix this month [see below].

Very impressive first release for this new label.

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

Artist: Cee ElAssaad ft. Jaidene Veda
Title: CLEVER
Release date: 15th March, 2024
Label : Ensouled

Catalog Number : ENSLD001 

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Janek van Laak – Circle Of Madness (Sonar Kollektiv)

One of the many sayings usually attributed to Einstein, is that the definiton of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result; Janek van Laak's 'Circle Of Madness' is a musical merry-go-round that is so packed with ideas, it'll seem like a diffent result on every listen.

Sonar Kollektiv have always had more than a eye on the future and Janek van Laak's background of "punk loving father and cabaret/comedy performing mother" is a perfect grounding for this Berlin based drummer. composer and producer.

Having been a member of Liquid Brain Orchestra and 50% of Tutu Amuse (with Rosa Landers), 'Circle Of Madness' is the debut album that the single, 'The Killa Gorilla' (see review HERE) promised: like an unleashed cage fighter in a circus; and more!

There's diffinitely a lot of theatre here, even in the spacey funk of 'Left 4 Dead' there's a jazz big/marching band to be found.  Perhaps it's the German element where the legacy of Berlin Cabaret has dropped in on the fusion of Gong/Magma/Peter Brotzmann.  And then goes surfing? I think he recognises this throughout the 11 tracks with 'The Last Stylebender' (Ed. I wonder what that is in German), a sideways look at Can on 'Daiamondo' featuring Shiomi Kawaguchi on vocals (RIP Damo Suzuki) and an odd Avante-Afro-dub 'Sloppy Dreams' that's almost ideal for late-night radio (as played by Dom Servini on his new Jazz FM show).

I suspect 'Above Your Head' will get picked up for some TV crime soundtrack/bed for the vocal "Strange" in itself.  There's also a guest  vocals appearance by Australian Madeleine Rose on the jazz-creepy twang of 'Here To Slay' but the rest is instrumental and for there's the proper beach-jazzy 10 minute opus of 'OCTAPUSSY', the 70s Miles-esque 'Saints Blow' and the leftfield-fusion of 'Garlic Brown Junior' (Ed. don't tell me he's UFC too!).

I'm some folks would have prefered a whole album in one style of 'madness' but the mix of styles makes the squaring of the circle makig this is a great album with a great line-up of Janek (drums), Richard Maegraith (alto sax, flutes, bass clarinet), Gabriel Garcia (trumpet and flügelhorn), Isabel Rößler (bass) and Tim Foley on percussion.

So whilst this isn't totally mad, to mis-quote a well known space traveller, "It's Kraut Jim; but not as we know it" - one for the now and the future.

Artist: Janek van Laak
Title: Circle Of Madness
Release date: 15th March, 2024
Label : Sonar Kolletiv

Catalog Number : SK480 LP (Limited Edition Kistal-Violett splatter vinyl) / Digital / Bandcamp 

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