Review: Goran Kajfeš Tropiques - Tell Us (We Jazz Records)

Neo-classical ambient jazz in the vein of Matthew Halsall, Eno, Steve Reich and Charles Stepney as these Tropiques produce three tracks for an album, 'Tell Us'; and ironically, you don't need us to tell you how good this is.

The Tropiques being Alexander Zethson (piano, organ, synthesizer), Johan Berthling (acoustic bass) and Johan Holmegard (drums) with leader Goran Kajfeš on trumpet and synthesizer.

This is what Jazz Chronicles is all about, jazz but not jazz as a powerful source of community like 'Unity In Diversity' - you just couldn't think of a better title as it encompasses all the love of Cinematic Orchestra and Rotary Connection combined.

'Magmatique' starts very Alice Coltrane before slipping into some BadBadNotGood jazzyhip-hop as the trio of Zethson, Berthling and Holmegard is outrageously good at the 'rolling groove' the before Goran gets to blow that does indeed sound like Miles at times.

Did they save the best 'til last, 'Prije I Posle'?  If you're going for a pussyfootin' walk with Fripp & Eno into Ryuichi Sakamoto's heavenly garden, before they go all rock fusion in a chamber string section; it's a "WoW!" moment so I suppose they did, but I love it all.

It's so good that each track is over 10 minutes long as they really do explore what's possible as the synth orchestra feels like the unexpected genre busting of a nonclassical trance.

We thought the last album We Jazz released by 'legend' Olli Ahvenlahti, 'Mirror Mirror' (see review HERE) was pretty monumental, but let me tell you, 'Tell Us' is no reflection in that glory.

Artist: Goran Kajfeš Tropiques
Title: Tell Us
Release date: 3rd May, 2024
Label : We Jazz Records
Catalog Number : WJLP76
Format: LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Joel Haag - Bistro (Varva Records and Music)

The guitarist is oft overlooked as main man in a jazz band setting but here's some modern electric that's you'll want to find in any 'Bistro', Ladies and Gentlemen, Joel Haag.

Following on from the recent album 'Mod' by Anna-Maria Nordström (on the same label - see review HERE), Joel's 'Bistro' is his second album, his first album, 'Six Feet Apart' that was more a jazz trio plus strings.

So 'Bistro' is like neither of these and then, like the orignial interpretation of the word. "a small restaurant serving moderately priced, simple meals in a modest setting", this is not the "look at me" jazz guitar of Pat Metheny (sometimes), George Benson (when he was popular), James 'Blood' Ulmar' or going right back the "original", Charlie Christian.  

This is simple and at times elegant modern jazz, like the slow blues of 'Old Watch Still Ticking' and 'The Wailing', that's reminiscent of all of above in a band form.

The highlight is the atmospheric OST "free jazz" of 'Song For Peace' - a tad over 10 minutes long - and like the rest of the ablum, in additon to Haag on guitar, highlights Adrian Åsling Sellius (alto saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet, flute), Pelle Westlin (tenor sax, clarinet), Björn Petersson (bass) and Anton Jonsnson (drums).

More for fans of Art Ensemble of Chicago, Mike Reed (see review HERE) or a harder edged J.J. Whitefield - possily a combination of all three!

Artist: Joel Haag

Title: Bistro

Release date: 2nd May, 2024

Label: Varva Records and Music

Cat No. VRAMCD07

Format: CD / Digital

Review: MiraculuM - Discoverse (Be Adult Music)

Welcome to the Discoverse! We may be still looking for the perfect beat, but Be Adult Music have found some deep house perfection with MiraculuM in a 3 track EP.

We got some dreamy Arabian sun from the 'Nebulounge, some main room sun from 'The Bless & The Curse' and some sexy sun from the 'Midnight Muse'.

All tracks have beautiful vocals, a percussion for the feet and some sensible synths that scream Balearic.

You don't need me to tell you that this is big; but this is BIG! I repeat, welcome to the Discoverse!

Artist: MiraculuM

Title: Discoverse

Release date: 2nd May 2024

Label: Be Adult Music

Catalog Number: BAM360

Review: Natasha Kitty Katt ft. His Bitter Truth - Galactic Love (F*CLR Music)

Bowie may well have been loving the alien but Natasha Kitty Katt and His Bitter Truth get tongue and groove action on the dancefloor with this 'Galactic Love' affair.

This is somewhat different to the last time we saw NKK with the 'Batt Danse' featuring Billly 'Lost Boy' Wirth (see review HERE) as Billy has been given the elbow and His Bitter Truth (aka Raff) has stepped up to the launch pad.

A atmospheric Hi-Energy track that's draws on  as much of Duran Duran's disco era as it does Tommy Soul's favourite Italian Funk and Disco dancefloor floorfillers on Lumberjacks In Hell.

If you love spacey Kraut-synth whirling, it's original and instrumental versions for you.  And again, so different to the fantastic previous release on the label, DJ Paul Funk and Quinten De Rozario Remix release of 'Hold Me Back' by Chip E ft Kid Enigma (see review HERE).

Expect to here Ms. Kitty Katt playing this out as she DJs internationally at all the best electric galaxy hot spots.

Artist: Natasha Kitty Katt ft. His Bitter Truth

Title:  Galactic Love 

Release date: 29th April, 2024

Label : F*CLR Music .

Catalog Number : FCLR031

Format :  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Grupo Ébano - Grupo Ébano (BBE Music)

This sounds like and looks like a Mr Bongo find but it is BBE's diggers that have unearthed this one from the deepest corners of Rio's classic Brazilian bossa and MPB vaults.

It's always hard to believe that there's so little appreciation by the Brasilian youth for the elders like Seu Jorge, Gilberto Gil, Milton Nascimento (as Gilles Peterson would tell you) when backing vocalist Gill Miranda has supported such Dingwall/Jazzdance trendies in the past.

So much so that back in 1997, Gil's 13 songs sung by an all-female vocal group, Grupo Ébano, (BTW, pronounced, "Grupo EH-ba-no"), was released under the eponymous title on CD on a small independent label in limited quantities and faded out view to all but the most dedicated of fan.

But those with good memories and sharp ears will recall Grupo Ébano's 'Pé No Chao' was included on Compost record's  'Glücklich VI' (see review HERE), that was compiled by Peterson's and DJ Miche's mate with the sharpest of Bossanova, Fusion, Latin Jazz, Modal, MPB, Soul-Jazz super fan ears, Rainer Trüby.  

And now you've got another dozen tracks that all could have equally been picked by Rainer.

So with this renewed interest, BBE have picked it up with a full vinyl release as it's got the sound and swing of 60s and 70s as if Swingle Sisters singing in Portuguese in a gospel church of Edu Lobo / Nara Leão / Joyce (Moreno) et al. 

Now this is re-issued (no CD version ironically), be sure youngsters that've picked up the nu-waver's from Rio, Bala Desejo (see review HERE) will be on this: as will old fans on the MPB 

Artist: Grupo Ébano

Title: Grupo Ébano

Release date: 26th April, 2024

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE765

Format: Vinyl 2 x LP / Digital Bandcamp  

"Dreamy trip hoppers stay connected" as Fred Everything teams up with the much loved Stereo MC's on a 'Soul Love' train.

"Dreamy trip hoppers stay connected" as Fred Everything teams up with the much loved Stereo MC's on a 'Soul Love' train.

We were ahead of the timetable with Fred's collab with James Alexander Bright on the last single 'Breathe' (see review HERE) and the album, 'Love, Care, Kindness & Hope' is coming out next month.

So with 2 great singles, expectations are high; especially if Fred's collection of vintage keyboards are involved.

New versions of the track, including remixes by Clive From Accounts (he of 'Strictly Business EP' on Razor N Tape and some classy remixes), will be available later in 2024

Artist:  Fred Everything feat. Stereo MC’s

Title: Soul Love

Release date: 26th April, 2024

Label : Lazy Days Recordings

Catalog Number : 

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Audrey Powne - From The Fire (BBE Music)

We've had the single of 'From The Fire' by Audrey Powne and now the long awaited album is out and it's red hot!

The title track sounds even more impressive than before (if that's possible, see review HERE) with deeper strings that gives it a be cinematic vibe and 'Feed The Fire' remixes (see HERE).

And this talent who sings (prepare yourselves for the track 'Sleep') and wrote the lyrics also plays the piano, Rhodes and organ on the album.

So why do fans like Gilles Peterson reference 'golden era' Dwele/Roy Hargrove/Alicia Keys - and lets add Alice Coltrane.  Well, not only can she sing with soul ('Souled Out' is amazing), she can play the trumpet too!  'Feed The Fire', 'From The Fire' and 'Interlude 1'; 'Interlude 2' is her piano 'scratch pad'.

Her talents have been previously used on sessions/backing band but this album is going to put her front of stage; and literally as there's a launch concert at London's Jazz Cafe (07.04.24) and if you've got the chance to see her live, do it - I don't think she'll be at such small venues in Camden Town for very long.

I'd heard people say, "wait 'till you hear the album", and now I have, I urge you all to hear it too - it's in excess of stunning!

Artist:  Audrey Powne 

Title: From The Fire 

Release date: 26th April, 2024

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE753

Format: LP / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: King Brasstards x Greg Blackman - Wait Till The Morning (Ramrock Red Record)

Which ever way you look and listen at this one, it's a King Sized monster (in a good way). 

You've got yourself a heavyweight bass band that's playing some funky go-go drum'n'bass the size of Yorkshire that's bred outta Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Hot 8 Brass Band, Youngblood Brass Band, Hackney Colliery Band et al... and bright spark label boss, Jo Wallace, says unto the King of Brasstards, "What you need is an enormous vocal talent delivering colossal vocals on this’.  And what's more, "There’s only one voice for the job….the mighty Mr Greg Blackman’.
And low and behold, it happened!

To be honest, if you listen to the instrumental first, you're likely to think a vocal isn't necessary as it's so heavy but just wait a minute, Ms Wallace's golden ears got it spot on! Mr Blackman (last seen on this channel with his Mr. Bird collab, 'Over Again' - also on Ramrock, see review HERE) is 'the' voice for this and his performance at least matches the raw energy of the band.

Just imagine how good this would be live at a festival (come on 'WeOutHere') and as we said about 'Over Again', "great production / vocals ... Sounds like an absolute monster to me".  So, don't wait 'till the morning, as the Ramrock team have done it again!

Artist: King Brasstards ft. Greg Blackman
Title: Wait Till The Morning
Release date: 26^th April, 2024

Label: Ramrock Red Records
Cat. No: RRR060

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Mackwood and Charlie Stacey - Yella! (5dB Records)

If you love "cultural cross-pollination" in a musical way, 'Yella!' is not misappropiation of a Coldplay track you may have heard.

Mackwood, real name Harry Ling, has been at the post CDr, dubstep, jazzstep, West London BRUK as drumming/producer with the likes of Col3trane, Nilufer Yanya, Jordan Rakei, Eliza, Blue Lab Beats, Kokoroko, Levitation Orchestra and more has teamed up with another jazzer on keys, Charlie Stacey.

Apparently 'Yella' is a component of gunpowder and this explosive as these two fuse  intergaltic Sun Ra sounds with some of the creatives that Stacey have worked with at the cutting edge of LDN jazz hipsters Yussef Dayes, Moses Boyd, Ezra Collective et al.

Dancefloor of jazz club - this is a BIG Bang!

Artist: Mackwood and Charlie Stacey

Title: Yella!

Release date: 26^th April, 2024

Label: 5dB Records
Cat. No: 5DB24001

Format: Digital 

Review: Jenia Vice - Skyfall (Inc. Kanedo Remix) (Be Adult Music)

Be Adult Music welcomes Jenia Vice's first single, the atmospheric 'Skyfall'.

On the back of the recent Total Eclipse, we can still look to the heavens and be impressed with the typically Baleraic groove of 'Skyfall' - nothing to do with 007. 

And not only that, we're lucky enough to have Kanedo remix.  You'll recall that the last time we saw him was on the 'combined' Kanedo, Sumsuch, Lucky Sun 'Deep Patterns' releasd (see review HERE) and Lucky Sun featuring Jaidene Veda with 'Falling Fool' (see review HERE) on Be Adult Music and Lucky Sun Recordings respectively.

Timed perfectly to be including in the Colour & Pitch Sessions for the April edition and the only question is, which one of the two versions will be included?

Artist: Jenia Vice 

Title: Skyfall (Inc. Kanedo Remix) 

Release date: 25th April, 2024

Label: Be Adult Music

Catalog Number: BAM359