Reveiw: KAT-TET - Women (Symbole Records)

Fans of Jazz Room, Jazzman and all things jazzdance floor action, get yourselves ready for this 'unique' album that's straight outta Guadeloupe in 1985! 'Women' never sounded so good.

Unbelievably, the only studio album of pianist Patrick Jean-Marie its got all for the derivations of jazz-funk dancefloor from the Caribbean, Gwoka, Biguines and more that all your US big heads used to such great effect like McCoy Tyner, Horace Silver and so many more.

And what a start for Symbole Records as DJ Mambo chick fell upon this album on a trip to Guafeloupe (sounds like something Princess Margaret might have done in the 70s) but what a fantastic re-issue and a chance to re-assess how great this album is, even if the cover looks 40 years old, the music is just as good today.

Joined by Toto Jean-Marie (bass), Erick Danquin (drums), Charly Chomereau-Lamothe and Christian Mtahurin (percussion) and Luther François magnificent on sax.  It might only be 5 tracks, 'Nikita', 'Sky 2000', 'Swing Hibiscus'  'Solange' that are all heavily Latin and the more spiritual 'Hommage'.

KAT-TET "Women" - PRE ORDER - | KAT-TET | Symbole Records (bandcamp.com)

Artist: KAT-TET

Title: Woman

Release date: 27th September, 2024

Label: Symbole Records

Catalog Number: 

Format: Vinyl / Bandcamp.

Review: Raz & Afla - Shikor Shikor / Eno Be Me (Wah Wah 45s)

As you'll have noticed, the WAH WAH 45s 25th anniversary celebration is at it's peak this month and here's a couple of party tunes from the label.

We're long term fans of the label as you can tell from the many reviews on YATM and this is another excellent release.

Raz Olsher (electronics) and Afla Sackey (percussion and vocals) have settled nicely into the Wah Wah 45s Afro-beat section along with Shrine 'legend', Dele Sosimi, Soothsayers / Youthsayers, Eparapo, Léa Mondo and more.

'Ebo Be Me' (nothing to do with the former Roxy Music/producer/ambient family) has some heavy 80s pop synth in it which makes it ideal for radio plays whilst 'Shikor Shikor' is the run-a-way train percussive groover with Afro-Anglo vocals, its dancefloor ready.

Both tracks are in original and vocal formats which is ideal for the DJ community and there's a little bird that tells me a certain Dom Servini (Wah Wah 45s top man, Jazz FM, Soho Radio and many more) has been playing out the Hectic Extension of the previous single, 'What's Going On' at special times in his set.

These tracks are taken to the follow-up to their debut album from 'The Cycle' in 2022, 'Echoes Of Resistance' is due out next month so stay tuned.

Artist: Raz & Afla

Release: Shikor Shikor / Eno Be Me 
Release Date: 27th September, 2024
Label: Wah Wah 45s
Catalog Number: WAHDIG193
Format: Digital / BANDCAMP
 

Review: Aliza - Aliza EP (Siyal Music)

Get yourselves ready for Aliza for some Mediterranean psych-jazz funk Bollywood bass house; yeah, it's leftfied and further out there - but in a good way.

As neighbours Batov Records haven taken a recent side step on their last release, (Mamman Sani & Tropikal Camel's 'Nijerusalem' - see review HERE), the leading talent behind Aliza and the label, Siyal Music, has thrown all of his multi-talents into the melting pop with these 6 tracks on the 'Aliza EP'.

It's all held together with Lala Tamar's Morrocon vocals with the most accessible tracks 'Hear Us' and 'All The Way' which are very dancefloor ready; 'Hear Us' would go down a strong at We Out Here festival recently on The Grove stage as it's got heavy Sufi stompin' beat like some Northern Soul meets World.

There's a some amount of vocals in English which I find a little distracting but apart from that, any merging of "Levantine bass, futuristic Middle Eastern Dabke, Moroccan R&B" with electronica is going to be a little distracting anyway!

Quite a long way from Kutiman's contribution to Batov's 'Middle Eastern Grooves' compilation of last year (see review HERE) but this has huge potential.

Kutiman - Tabla, Drum Programing, Percussion, Keyboards
Dekel - Vocals, Keyboards
Uri Brauner Kinrot/Ouzo Bazooka - Baglama, Guitar
Lala Tamar - Vocals, Karkabes on 'Hadiya'

Artist: Aliza

Title:  Aliza EP

Release date: 27th September, 2024

Label: Siyal Music

Cat. No: -

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp

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