Review: Rick Panzer – Music For The Complete Jazz Dance Class With Lea Darwin (BBE Music)

BBE Music have tracked down a 1979 lost classic of music composed by Rick Panzer and produced by choreograher Lea Darwin as fans of dance instructor Gus Giordano who was known for his modern jazz dance innovations and instruction books.

Originally released as a 11 track double album, BBE have replicated the original with the two killer dancefloor tracks, 'Pre-stretch Warm Up' (16 mins) and 'Floor-stretch Warm Up' (15 mins).  Don't be put off by these functional titles, or the rest of tracks, as this is as much innovated jazz-funk as inspired jazz dance.  

Clearly from the amount of 'new' instruments available to Mr. Panzer in the late 70s including Mini-Moog, Arp Odyssey, Yamaha CS60 Polyphonic Synthesizer, Freeman String Symphonizer, Arp String Ensemble, Fender Rhodes (as well as being the producer, composer, arranger, orchestrater and playing the grand piano and percussion) this guy knew his fusion and jazz-funk and rock and whatever 'Plies' is - so groovy man, for 9 minutes!

So who knew about this one?  Michel Veenstra is the digger responsible (he of Klinkhamer Records - see review HERE) and we are so lucky that this album is re-released in all it's glory.

You'd buy this album on the strength of the cover alone?  

Artist: Rick Panzer  

Title: Music For The Complete Jazz Dance Class With Lea Darwin 

Release date: 27th September, 2024

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number :BBE777

Format: 2 x LP, Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Gee Lane feat. Blurum - Dancing With The Evil (Ensouled)

Here's a meeting of the minds on the dancefloor with some big names we know and love, get ready for 'Dancing With The Evil'.

You may know Gee Lane from her contributions to Toy Tonics, 'Metamorphosis' and 'Synesthesia E.P.' (the one with the musclecars remix - they were mad at WeOutHere Festival) and she's joined by Blurum (aka BluRum13, Killa Platypus, James Sobers), the US rapper (who was big with DJ Vadim bad in the day on Ninja Tune and has worked with loads of folks) adds his 'preacher' rap to this Afro-house inspired frieght train of a track.

Following up on the Cee ElAssaad single 'Ore Yeye O' release (see review HERE), Cee has provided a remix which is just as strong and has a "Hey" worksong rhythm.

We also get the instrumental version of the original plus an a'capella.

These guys know what they do and this is the evil to dance to and will be in all the trendy places so you'll soon be in love with this. 

Artist: Gee Lane feat. Blurum
Title: Dancing With The Evil 
Release date: 27th September, 2024
Label : Ensouled

Catalog Number : ENSLD007

Format: Digital  

Review: Myele Manzanza - Homesick (Marble Sun Remix) (DeepMatter)

Here's some serious remix action by Marble Sun who transforms the classic 'Homesick' into something even more powerful.

The original version of 'Homesick' is on Myele Manzanza's album 'Crisis & Opportunity, Vol. 4 - Meditations and for a drummer, in a trio with Matthew Sheens (Piano) and Matt Penman (Double Bass) it's reminisent of some of Robert Mitchell's jazz trio work of some years ago.

Indeed, you may recall the New Zealander has been based in the UK for years and had releases on First Word Records and his cutting edge broken beat influenced debut album 'One' (some of the regulars may recall, 'City Of Atlantis' featuring Charlie K & Ladi6 (Gerry Hectic's 50/50 Flip 12" Edit) - albeit it was never released!)

Like wise, 'Homesick' is re-worked as Marble Sun's vocalist Olivia Williams, adds atmospheric lyrics to a two-steppa beat that moves the track onto the dancefloor for soul-jazzers.

Seems like a good idea to check out what Myele has been doing but we know is next move is in Tamil Rogeon's band (together with Audrey Powne!) with the launch party for the 'Wave Theory' album (see review HERE) on 3rd October at BBE HQ (see HERE) so get your tickets now 'cos this really is the hottest ticket in town.

Artist: Myele Manzanza

Title: Homesick (Marble Sun Remix) 

Release date: 27th September, 2024

Label : DeepMatter

Catalog Number :tbc

Format: Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Kolida Babo - Spirits Of Mauronoros (Veego Records)

You will remember back in July when Kolida Babo released 'Kolida Balkanesque' / 'Free For All' that we were eagerly awaiting the release of the album, 'Spirits Of Mauronoros' and here it is!

Kolida Babo are two Greek woodwind musicians, Socratis Votskos (from Pella) and Harris P. (from Athens) and together with some electronics they make a jazz-folk sound that spans the known world of the classics and beyond.

If James Galway and The Chieftans did spirtual jazz it may well sound like 'Pangea's Journey' (current favourite track on the album) but this album refers to the old Mediterean in more than just the titles, 'Entering Cassiopea', 'Exiles In Aegean' and the title track. 

Apparently, Mauronoros means Black Mountain and is the name of a old village on the Greek/Albanian boarder and the track itself is like Wayne Shorter investigating a deep and leaky cave.

The eight track album ends with 'Kolida Balkanseque' which is very Balkanseque on the boarders of the work of Gilad Atzmon whilst the album opens with a track called 'Anthony Joseph Sciacca' which is the real name of Tony Scott, acknowledged as an original bebop clarinetist and latterly, one of the founders of world music.

Any fans of WeJazz, experimental and spiritual jazz and electronica and the recent 'Athos: Echoes from the Holy Mountain' (see review HERE) will love this as it's mesmerising, hypnotic and essential all at the same time. 

Artist: Kolida Babo 

Title:  Spirits Of Mauronoros

Release date: 27th September, 2024 

Label : Veego Records

Catalog Number : VR037

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Peter Gall - Love Avatar (Compost Records)

Compost Records have had their eyes on Peter Gall for the past six years since hisebut album as they can now release the jazz drummers second album, 'Love Avatar'.

Jazz drumming group/band leaders were de-rigeur in the be-bop days and the likes of Yussef Dayes, Seb Roachford, Nick Woodmansey (Emanative) and Teppo "Teddy Rock" Mäkynen (The Stance Brothers) to name a few, are some of the current 'new wave'.  

To that list we can add Peter Gall as the German who has written and produced the ten tracks on 'Love Avatar' and is supported by Wanja Slavin (saxes, flute, keys, synth), Reiner Baas (guitar), Rainer Böhm (paino, keys, synth), Matthias Pichler (bass) with Peter on drums, percussion and synth.

Last months' 12" of the 'Love Avatar' / 'Echoes Of A Dystopian World' (see review HERE), that happen to be the opening and closing tracks on the album, with some heavy 'meat' in the middle of the jazz sandwich.

'Luz Solar' and 'Heartbeat' best show the fusion influence and the BRUK/stutter/nu-jazz that's under-pinned by Gall's (the groups') love of giants such as Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter (particularly 'Oasis'), Hermeto Pascoal to Flying Lotus (all crammed into 'Heroes'?)

'Heartbeat' is ideal jazzdance manic is in huge contrast to the dark and light of 'Unreal' plus 'Love Lines' highlighed with some Metheny-esque wanderings that's very Jazz on 3 along with the synth-proggy 'Closing The Chapter' and 'Indie Flowers'.

I suspect this album is likely to become a reference point for many a future "Tomorrow's Warriors" as much as some of us remember the birth of the Nu-troop. 

Artist: Peter Gall

Title: Love Avatar  

Release date: 27th September, 2024

Label: Compost Records

Cat. No: CPT 635

Format:Vinyl LP / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Luke Beats - Cream (Little Beat More)

If you've been listening to the Handsome Family recently regarding their inspiration for their compilation album, the root of their selections were for unappreciated music that's jazz led, sounds like Luke Beat's 'Cream' might fit that criteria.

There's lots of Dilla/Madlib inspired beats out there but some are better than others (like Buscates' 'Control Centre' - see review HERE) and Luke Beats (aka Luca Romeo) has the advantage over many in that he's a bass player with Italian rapper Willie Peyote as well as being a whiz on the MPC.

The eighteen tracks on 'Cream' are soothing in nature - like italian OST on the beats - with loads ready for that mix tape intro like 'The D' and 'Fuzzy Not'.  Synth dunkin' with 'Starting, Restarting' adds a nice bounce with some jazzy keys.   The stand-out tracks are 'Jamdilla' (featuring Danny Bronzini on funky wah guitar), 'Jazzchorus' and 'Prime'.

Talking of mixtapes, there's a limited edition cassette version if you're quick and/or running low on blank TDK 120s (kids, ask your grand parents) and don't expect any Wu-Tang C.R.E.A.M...

Before I forget, check out 'If Music presents: You Need This! An Introduction to the Handson Family (see review HERE) as there's quite a lot of hip-hop/instrumental beats meets jazz tracks - some more obvious than others.

Artist: Luke Beats

Title: Cream 

Release date: 20th September, 2024

Label : Little Beat More Records

Catalog Number  LBM031

Format: Cassette (Limited Edition), Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Transmission Towers - My Shadow (Crooked Shade) / Mega (Crooked) (É Soul Cultura)

É Soul Cultura have gone a crazy rave mix of Prodigy meets Balearics form the Clingoe Hill radio station broadcast.

For those of you following the Transmission Towers (and for those in need of a catch up, see review HERE) you'd probably not be surprised that Luke Una's post-album remix venture would take the electro-funkers even further into the ionosphere opting for some Crooked Shade heat.

Two highlights of the album, 'My Shadow' and 'Mega' might have obvious choices but it's ahead of the whole of Crooked Man's remix of the whole album and last months' 12", 'Everything' with 'Go Slow Heart'.

Crooked Man (aka Richard Barratt) is a true champion of the underground dance scene with credits as wide as DFA to Róisín Murphy so well worth further investigation.

Artist: Transmission Towers

Title: My Shadow (Crooked Shade) / Mega (Crooked) 

Release date: 26th September, 2024

Label: É Soul Cultura

Cat. No: ESOULDIGI02

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

VA - If Music presents: You Need This! An Introduction to the Handson Family (BBE Music)

This compilation is very hectic heavy as If Music... has an introduction to a couple of Brixton's finest Cyndi & Christian, aka the Handson Family.

After 'If... Music presents You Need This' (see review HERE) and the extension to 'An Introduction To Klinkhamer Records' (see review HERE), the series goes local to the eclectic taste of these two stalwarts of Brixton Market and supports of many of YATM's friends and family and if there is a focus to the 14 tracks, it's a Golden Era of artists emerging into Worldwide (Gilles Peterson)  acknowledgement with a Futuristica Music - South London axis.

Starting with Emanative's 'We Travel The Spacebeats' (Futuristica Music, 2009), Brixton's favourite and much missed TY (RIP) 'Dreams' setting the scene for two summer big 'uns; P'taah's 'Staring At The Sun' (2002/3) and Xantoné Blacq's 'Search For The Sun (Platinum Remix)' (2003); also included is MckNasty's 'Sundown'

And around this time, the voice of Koop's hit, 'Waltz For Koop', Cecilia Stalin was very busy on the broken beat scene and 'CPW' is a prefect example of the mix of West London and jazz skat.  And talking of West London(?), New Zealand's jazz-NSM-esque 'Hangers On' by The Nabatean needs a higher profile thanks to its inclusion here.

And talking of which, Ian O'Brien's 'Love Beams' certain owes some debt to Lonnie Liston Smith's chill out and then Outside's 'Moodswing' was originally released in the mid-1990s; perhaps overlooked at the time by Galliano but as they've reformed, perhaps Outside should consider? 

Shur-I-Kan has released many a great track either on his own or in collaborations but 'Bedtime Stories' is another 'lost' track that you need in your box.

Cyndi and Christian are clearly deep diggers that are happy to share their music love and knowledge. I remember when the Handson's guested at the Jazz Chronicles session back in the day and Cyndi was championing a compilation that had just come out at the time; it's now our time to spread the word about this expertly selected double LP - as they say, "You Need This!"

Artist: Various Artists 

Title:  If Music presents: You Need This! An Introduction to the Handson Family

Release date: 27th September, 2024

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE

Format: 2xLP / Digital / Bandcamp 

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Review: Various Artists - Athos: Echoes from the Holy Mountain (FLEE)

I can't pretend I know anyting about the monks of the Athos monastery in the north eastern peninsula of Greece, but time to hear some 'Echoes from the Holy Mountain' from people that do.

First off, you gotta say, that's a very big bell on the cover!  

Apparently there's 2,000 monks in the area and they're been their for centuraries and in immersed in Byzantine chant and prayers; it's the Greek equilavent to Tai Chi Mountain in China.  

Following on from the album 'Ulyap Songs: Beyond circassian Tradition' earlier this year, this album that includes tracks by Holy Tongue, Jay Glass Dubs, Prins Emanuel 7 Inre Kresten Grupp, Jimi Tenor (who is still looking for love in outter space? - see review HERE), Gilb'r, Daniel Paleodimons, Esma & Murat Ertel and Organsa Ray.  There's also a 300 page book and a European tour.

All the tracks have a hynotic dubby vibe (Ed. hardly surprising) in a experimental/spiritual/world trippy environment that includes original field recordings from the 1960s.

Gibr's 'L'île Météore' and Jay Glass Dubs' 'Synapitc Riddles' probably best showcases this album but it's a shame Jah Wobble has spent so much time on South London buses recently as this would been ideal for a contribution from him.

Even so, if you've just had your holidays in the Aegean Sea island or Greek mainland, here's a bit of local culture you didn't come across - like I say, it's hypnotic to say the least.

PS. In the same region, Kolida Babo's 'Spirits Of Mauronoros' is coming out very soon on Veego Records (see review HERE) 

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Athos: Echoes from the Holy Mountain 

Release date: 27th September, 2024

Label: FLEE

Cat. No. :  FLEE006

Format: 2xLP + Book / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: GODTET - GODTET (La Sape Records)

GODTET are back with us in their original form and they are live too!

It's been a year since the release of GODTET's '+Strings' featuring Novak Manojlovic (see review HERE) but here's a chance to go back, way back.

In fact to the beginning as the debut album, 'GODTET' that came out on La Sape Records in October of 2017 as SAPE001.  Yes, the label's very first release is getting a re-press.

Since then, from their Melbourne base, they've introduced us to David Versace, JK Group, Ziggy Zeigeist (this weeks' favourite on Worldwide FM - listen back HERE).

Talking 'Worldwide', Gilles Peterson was on this when it first came out and whilst it's not as jazzy as some of the experimental We Jazz Records that have been released recently (proberly Lampen's 'Halogen' that was released last week is the closest in parts - see review HERE), the rest of the world has caught up with the prog-rock-ish, spiritual jazz dub electronic of these 12 live tracks, notably the title track.

And to coinside with the new release, GODTET are going on a Autumn tour in Europe so keep your eyes open for dates.

Andrew Bruce - Piano
Jan Bangma - Bass
Tully Ryan - Drums
Dominic Kirk - Percussion
Godriguez - Guitar

Artist: GODTET 

Title: GODTET

Release date: 27th September, 2024

Label La Sape Records

Cat. No. :  SAPE001

Format: Digital / Bandcamp