quête:h de sax f

Julia Hülsmann erweitert ihr Quartett mit einer frischen norwegischen Stimme am Horn und präsentiert
ein Programm gruppeneigener Stücke, die im Quartett- und Quintettgefüge nachdenklich und kreativ ausgelotet werden. Wie auf den vorherigen Alben steuert jedes Quartettmitglied Musik zur Session bei, wobei
die Bandleaderin selbst für die Hälfte des Programms verantwortlich ist. Saxophonist Uli Kempendorffs
Einführung in Julias Trio auf Not Far From Here (2019) brachte bereits eine neue Dimension in das
Zusammenspiel der Gruppe – dieses Gefühl wird durch die Ergänzung um die norwegische Trompeterin
Hildegunn Øiseth, die sich der Band auf der Trompete und dem Ziegenhorn für fünf Stücke anschließt, um
ein Mehrfaches verstärkt und ausgebaut. Fesselnder Lyrismus und spielerische rhythmische und melodische
Kniffe durchdringen Under The Surface – ein weiteres Juwel in Julia Hülsmanns zunehmend beeindruckendem ECM-Werk.

Nels Cline, Gitarrist der US-Independent-Rockband Wilco, den der Rolling Stone in seiner Liste der “100
Greatest Guitarists of All Time” führt, ist in seinem „zweiten Leben“ Jazz-Gitarrist, und das seit 2016 auf
dem weltweit renommiertesten Label des Genres: Blue Note Records. Sein viertes in einer Reihe stilistisch unterschiedlicher Blue-Note-Alben hat er jetzt nach seinem neuesten Ensemble „Consentrik Quartet“
benannt - mit Ingrid Laubrock (Saxofone), Chris Lightcap (Bass) & Tom Rainey (Drums) - dessen Debü-
taufnahme dies ist.
„Consentrik Quartet“ ist Nels Clines bis dato stilistisch vielseitigstes Blue-Note-Werk, auf dem es ihm
gelingt, swingenden Modern Jazz und Avantgarde, Virtuosität und Coolness zu verbinden.

The complete album - pressed on limited edition 180g vinyl

Tenor saxophonist Ben Webster (1909 - 1973) had already enjoyed a long and fruitful
career by the time this 1957 session was recorded. However, as Bob Blumenthal
explains in the original liner notes, he still wasn't known for the sensual ballad feeling
that became his trademark during the last two decades of his life. At that time, he was
still recognized for the hard blowing fast tenor sax style he played with both the Duke
Ellington Orchestra and his own multiple small groups.
Even though his repertoire was generally linked to that of Duke Ellington, this classic
Norman Granz produced session presents Webster playing four popular ballads and
two of his own bluesy compositions, Soulville and Late Date. On hand in support are
the incredible Oscar Peterson Trio (Herb Ellis, Ray Brown), and drummer Stan Levey.
"The by turns grizzled and vaporous-toned Webster really hit his stride on the Verve
label. This 1957 date with the Oscar Peterson Trio is one of the highlights of that
golden '50s run. After starting off with two bluesy originals, Webster gets to the heart
of things on five wistful ballads. Providing sympathetic counterpoint, Peterson
forgoes his usual pyrotechnics for some leisurely compact solos; his cohorts -
guitarist Herb Ellis, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer Stan Levey - are equally assured
and splendid. Newcomers shouldn't hesitate to start here." - ***** Stephen Cook,
AllMusic

Ltd Classic Black Vinyl with bonus 7inch, DL card. Monde UFO, LA-based duo of Ray Monde and Kris Chau, are a monochromatic sunset for the senses. A sonic journey through psychedelia, space rock and jazz. A cosmic space where Spacemen 3 meets Vanishing Twin, by way of Sun Ra. 7171 perfectly embodies the framework of lo and hi-fi sounds which have helped define the band. Included in this expanded package is Four Songs, Monde UFO's radical interpretation of Fugazi's music, housed for the first time on LTD 7" with new artwork. In a downtown Los Angeles warehouse, on 7th Street, Ray Monde began writing songs on an old Yamaha church organ for a project that eventually became Monde UFO. Utilizing the organ as a bass, alongside keyboards and a drum machine, he began making demos on a four-track cassette recorder. Heavily influenced by the musician Sandy Bull, sonically landing in a similar no-man's land of Worldly Jazz and Psych Folk. Monde experimented with the themes mostly of meditation and UFO lore. In time Ray moved in with the artist Kris Chau. With little crossover in musical tastes, they exclusively started listening to jazz, ambient and new age music in the house. Increased interest in sound baths and experimental music led to seeing music in a different light. Envisioning something that would sound like Don Cherry making a record with Yo La Tengo. '7171' is an amalgam of influences, interpretations and otherworldly sounds channeled through genre bending experimentation. This expanded edition of '7171' includes the sought after 'Four Songs' EP, a reimagining Fugazi's early classics, songs that take on a life of their own, lost amongst the haze and sugar sweet psych. Ray Monde explains, "Long Division was one of my favorite tracks off 'Steady Diet of Nothing' the first Fugazi record I ever owned; more than ever, it also feels truly poignant in the times we live in.Version 2 is our interpretation of Version from 'Red Medicine', my favorite Fugazi Record." "A slice of low-key bedroom pop-psychedelia in the vein of Syd Barrett." Aquarium Drunkard "Monde UFO wander through a humid mist of exotic samba shuffles, shamanic whispers, and reverberating laser beam synthesizers." New Commute

If the sanguine cedar scent of Cosmic Americana and the bright jingle jangle of Neo-Psych Rock has led you through the last couple of years, then chances are good you’ve had a brush with Silver Synthetic. The members of the New Orleans band ditched the dirtier riffs of their past projects (Jeff The Brotherhood, Bottomfeeders) for a West Coast curl that balanced country twang and honeyed harmonies with a rhythmic stomp that fishtailed through the speakers with glee.

An eponymous full length on Third Man fully distilled the scope of their sound, turning stage-battered ballads and barroom burners into one of 2021’s most promising debuts. They return for a second salvo, honed with a tour-tight symbiosis and some ace drop-ins from southern slingers Luke Schneider (pedal steel) and Rex Gregory (sax, flute). Rosalie finds Silver Synthetic refining their sound, softening their approach, and letting a breeze of ‘70s AOR weave among the country swagger. Between the tanned riffs, the band also balances societal burnout with sunshine, transforming scoffs and sneers into smoke-curled sighs draped in a windows-down aura.

They make their way to Curation Records for the new outing, a welcome home for the band’s sun-streaked Americana, turning ‘Preflyte’ Byrds, JJ grooves, beach-bound Neil, and ‘Water of Love’-era Dire Straits into an album that smooths the seams and steers the listener towards new horizons.

If the sanguine cedar scent of Cosmic Americana and the bright jingle jangle of Neo-Psych Rock has led you through the last couple of years, then chances are good you’ve had a brush with Silver Synthetic. The members of the New Orleans band ditched the dirtier riffs of their past projects (Jeff The Brotherhood, Bottomfeeders) for a West Coast curl that balanced country twang and honeyed harmonies with a rhythmic stomp that fishtailed through the speakers with glee.

An eponymous full length on Third Man fully distilled the scope of their sound, turning stage-battered ballads and barroom burners into one of 2021’s most promising debuts. They return for a second salvo, honed with a tour-tight symbiosis and some ace drop-ins from southern slingers Luke Schneider (pedal steel) and Rex Gregory (sax, flute). Rosalie finds Silver Synthetic refining their sound, softening their approach, and letting a breeze of ‘70s AOR weave among the country swagger. Between the tanned riffs, the band also balances societal burnout with sunshine, transforming scoffs and sneers into smoke-curled sighs draped in a windows-down aura.

They make their way to Curation Records for the new outing, a welcome home for the band’s sun-streaked Americana, turning ‘Preflyte’ Byrds, JJ grooves, beach-bound Neil, and ‘Water of Love’-era Dire Straits into an album that smooths the seams and steers the listener towards new horizons.

"A Blade Because A Blade Is Whole" is the latest album from London-based composer-poet-activist-improviser Alabaster DePlume, his first major work following 2022"s "Gold" and 2020"s "To Cy & Lee: Instrumentals Vol 1". The 11-song album covers all of DePlume"s musical touchstones: lush and gentle instrumentals informed by ghostly ancient folk melodies; groove-focused rhythm explorations as a bed for self-searching spoken declamations; sweeping and beautiful string arrangements (in this case by Macie Stewart) set against his trademark vibrato-infused tenor sax whispermoan.

"A Blade Because A Blade Is Whole" is the latest album from London-based composer-poet-activist-improviser Alabaster DePlume, his first major work following 2022"s "Gold" and 2020"s "To Cy & Lee: Instrumentals Vol 1". The 11-song album covers all of DePlume"s musical touchstones: lush and gentle instrumentals informed by ghostly ancient folk melodies; groove-focused rhythm explorations as a bed for self-searching spoken declamations; sweeping and beautiful string arrangements (in this case by Macie Stewart) set against his trademark vibrato-infused tenor sax whispermoan.

This album, recorded in 1957, brings together a dream team of jazz musicians. The singer, with her rich tone and soulful inflections, is supported by top-tier players. Sonny Rollins on tenor saxophone delivers exquisitely refined solos, while Max Roach on drums provides subtle yet impactful rhythms. Paul Chambers on bass and Wynton Kel1ly on piano offer impeccable harmonic support. Between poignant ballads and more upbeat tracks, each piece is a gem.

Recorded in 1957, this remarkable collaboration pairs Thelonious Monk’s angular piano style with Gerry Mulligan’s warm baritone saxophone. Backed by Wilbur Ware on bass and Shadow Wilson on drums, the quartet strikes a unique balance between Monk’s unpredictable harmonies and Mulligan’s melodic fluidity. Tracks like “Round Midnight” and “Straight, No Chaser” showcase their contrasting yet complementary approaches, blending complexity with swing. The interplay between Monk’s percussive chords and Mulligan’s smooth phrasing creates a dynamic, compelling listening experience. A jazz dialogue to savor.

"Multiple finds saxophone virtuoso Joe Henderson operating in the sonic space between Fusion and Free Jazz, joined by a world-class ensemble featuring Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette, Larry Willis, and Larry “Blood” Ulmer, who all heavily contribute to the momentum that makes the album a meeting of giants. This Jazz Dispensary Top Shelf reissue of Multiple was cut from the original analogue tapes (AAA) by Kevin Gray, pressed on 180-gram vinyl at RTI, and comes packaged in a gatefold tip-on jacket. "" "

DeepMatter Records is thrilled to reintroduce ‘Daughter of the Sun’, the groundbreaking album from Canadian bassist and producer vbnd. Originally released in July 2018, this neo-soul masterpiece has captivated listeners worldwide, racking up over 68 million streams and selling out two previous limited vinyl pressings in the process.

Blending jazz influences with soulful grooves, this album is a true gem for any lover of neo-soul. Featuring collaborations with fellow Saskatoon artists — including the ethereal vocals of Katie Tupper, the masterful guitar work of Justice Der, the sultry sax of Connor Newton, and the artistry of Simon Jasieniuk — the project is a lush and unforgettable listening experience. Standout tracks like “Smoke” and the titular “Daughter of the Sun” highlight Tupper’s smoky, enchanting voice, perfectly paired with vbnd’s lush, soul-infused production.

Since its release, ‘Daughter of the Sun’ has become a cornerstone of Saskatoon’s blossoming jazz and soul scene, with vbnd drawing inspiration from icons like D’Angelo, Jaco Pastorius, and Snarky Puppy.

2025 Repress
Anenon's tenor saxophone breathes an emotive contemplation on loss, meshed with sustained piano and field recordings. 'Moons Melt Milk Light' is a hyper-personal statement contained in a visceral beauty.

LA native Anenon returns with a highly anticipated new album 'Moons Melt Milk Light' on Tonal Union, bearing his most personal, expressive, and arresting works to date. Anenon is the ongoing solo studio and live project of Brian Allen Simon, whom since 2010 has released multiple albums and EPs to critical acclaim, including the highly revered 'Tongue' (2018) and 'Petrol' (2016).

'Moons Melt Milk Light' is direct, efficient, and unwavering in its immediacy. Anenon departs from the electronics of previous works, and embarks on a reductive, almost entirely acoustic approach consisting of piano, tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, and field recordings. All of the music was improvised with everything recorded as either a first or second take with no edits. Any layering happened fast and in the moment, and yet the sonic architecture of the whole feels both planned and refined.

"I feel a kinetic and messy honesty that doesn't exist in any of the other music I've ever made. There is also a sense of being settled, of calm. There is no faking it here."

Repress

Samosa Records swings back into action for the summer months with Afrikano Vol. 1 - a scintillating four tracker EP from Various Artists which you will fall in love with on the first listen.

On the A-side, the always impressive Vagabundo Club Social kick things off with the enigmatically titled ‘Mr. Mista’ - a hypnotic, (almost calypso inspired) rhythmic explosion of Mibra guitar, whirling organ, horns and a wicked high end laser sweep. This is a pure chugger, folks. At a deceptive 120bpm it will have you dancing til dusk.

A2 brings us ‘Sweet Dance’ where C. Da Afro met De Gama: after a brief shuffle beat start (liberally peppered with rhythm guitar and organ stabs), the unusual duo make sure it’s all about the beat and horn breakdowns. Pre-drinks in Lagos, people watching and waiting for the night to start is the order of the day here. Cut this in half and it has ‘summer’ stamped right through it. Gloriously sweet.


On the B-Side, Atchoum & Grincheux take centre stage with ‘Demokoussé’. Les Inferno applies the special retouch here, and straight away we’re treated to a gloriously produced trip through breakbeat inspired beats, deep, throaty horns and an outrageously soaring sax. Oh you want more? Well try the addition of the gorgeous spiritual vocals that put the bow nicely on this African sizzler.

Finishing the EP on B.2 is Lego Edit and the aptly titled ‘Afromaniaco’. A pulsating, horn inspired shaker, this track grabs you right by the beat bone from the off and won’t let go. Lego Edit’s trademark deft touches and attention to detail is all on display here - sweet sounding African vocals weave in and out of the almost melancholy horn stabs and washboard beats. A soundtrack for one of those incredible sunsets, ‘Afromaniaco’ is the missing piece of this diverse jigsaw.

With Afrikano Vol. 1, Samosa Records has found the perfect accompaniment to what is hopefully a long, hot summer. So Samosa, so brilliant.

"Has there ever been music that so much represents the fact that electronic sound exists between the dead and the living?" - by Chihei Hatakeyama. The ultimate improbient that pursues the original human way of dealing with sound, imagining the very sounds that emerged from people's activities long ago. This is the first vinyl release of a 2007 masterpiece by KEN IKEDA, known for his collaborations with computer music pioneer CARL STONE, DAVID TOOP a leading figure in the British experimental music scene, and Japanese jazz saxophonist AKIRA SAKATA. KEN IKEDA is a musician and artist who emits primitive and original electronic sounds, known for "DAM," a collaboration with CARL STONE, recorded inside a huge dam approximately 40 meters high and deep, and works on the label "ROOM40" run by Australian composer LAWRENCE ENGLISH. Remastered by Chihei Hatakeyama, a leading figure in the ambient to drone scene.

Nach ihrem zweiten Sieg in Folge als ”Jazz Group of the Year” bei der DownBeat-Leserumfrage kehren
ARTEMIS mit ihrem dritten Blue-Note-Album zurück, als Quintett-Besetzung unter Leitung der Pianistin
und musikalischen Leiterin Renee Rosnes. NPR Music bezeichnete die Band als ”Femme Fatale Supergroup”, was nicht verwundert bei der herausragenden Besetzung mit Trompeterin Ingrid Jensen, Saxophonistin Nicole Glover, Bassistin Noriko Ueda und Schlagzeugerin Allison Miller.
Als Inspiration für Klang und Repertoire von ”ARBORESQUE” nennt die Band diesmal die Natur und
ihre Wirkung auf uns Menschen. Die acht Tracks des Albums, bestehend aus je einer Originalkomposition der Bandmitglieder sowie neuen Arrangements von Stücken von Wayne Shorter, Burt Bacharach und
Donald Brown, klingend dementsprechend harmonisch und organisch, geben den fünf Musikerinnen viel
Spielraum für ebenso elegante wie herausfordernde Improvisationen

South African Modern Soul/Jazz-Funk - Originally released in 1979, Cape Town – Re-mastered by Simbad

First time re-issued on vinyl, “Expressions” is the 3rd album from one of the greatest South African bands ever, I named Pacific Express. Now think Stevie Wonder and Weather Report, then take a serious established local band, and you have here a “Cape Town version” with their own talents. Between Modern soul and Jazz-Funk, no doubts, this record is a gem!!! Fred Spider*

“This name evokes awe and admiration in equal measure among musicians across the country. They became a crucible where budding local musicians built their reputations before going on to become recording artists, band leaders, and musical legends (like Jonathan Butler did on Expressions*).
The greatest Pacific Express legacy, apart from the memorable music they made and recorded, was their role in helping establish the distinctive sounds of South African music generally and Cape Town jazz in particular. When Producer Tully McCully wanted straight, solid drumming for the Expressions album, Momple delivered the groove, swing, and drive for a funky album.” Michael Britton

Artwork by Fred Spider – Graphist designer by Graeme Arendse
Vocals, Guitar: Jonathan Butler, Bass: Paul Abrahams
Drums, Percussion: Jack Momple, Vocals, Percussion: Zayn Adams, Keyboards, Trumpet, Arranged By String: Tony Cedras, Guest, Saxophone: Barney Rachabaney, Guest, Trumpet: Stompie Manana,
Executive-Producer: Paddy Lee Thorp, Producer: Tully McCully

After four EPs of skeletal kraut-punk and slimmed down post-motorik alienage Milan’s Tv Dust are back with an entirely different beast, their proper debut ‘Transition’, an incredible collection of no-jazz, breakneck rhythms, mutant-wave, trance-funk, shredded sax jags and furious, yet mysterious assaults.

Tv Dust run a tight ship, they jam econo, with the album strongly based around the incredible interplay of drums (Sergio Tringali), bass (Filippo Aloisi) and sax/synth (newest member Gaetano Pappalardo). Shedding the use of vocals has completely freed the band up into a mutating beast, wild horses racing beside a volcano eruption, improv bursts that perfectly soundtrack the ruins of a city facing the inhuman consequences of wild expansion and dumb economics.

Transition is a no-jazz, no-panic, no-border album, born between a small bar and a basement, reworking some ideas from the first Tv Dust sessions with a new mindset, with improvisation becoming an important tool in the trio's new path that already sees releases on Occult Punk Gang, My Own Private Records, Sentiero Futuro and Maple Death.

Transition like the transformation of the group, you still get the original package of furious hypnotic grooves, shortwave radio alien funk, devo-id convulsions, jittery no-wave and Italo post-punk tradition alongside dada-jazz and freeform freakouts.

Johnny and Edgar Winter - Together: Live (1976) is the first ever album featuring both brothers, Johnny Winter (guitar, vocals) and Edgar Winter (saxophone, vocals). Released just three months after Johnny Winter’s Captured Live!, it is composed entirely of rock and roll and soul standards. This album is a chance to hear The Edgar Winter Group (Edgar on saxophone, Rick Derringer on guitar, Dan Hartman on piano and Chuck Ruff on drums) playing with Johnny Winter’s band (Johnny and Floyd Radford on guitar, Randy Jo Hobbs on bass and Richard Hughes on drums) together on a same stage. The album was live recorded at San Diego Sports Arena and Swing Auditorium.

This MOV release comes as a limited edition of 1000 individually numbered copies on white marbled coloured vinyl.

Italian composer and saxophonist Laura Agnusdei returns with “Flowers Are Blooming In Antarctica” a career defining record that sees the artist diving into uncharted waters, a profound timeless meditation on our relationship with planet Earth, the eco-conflicts arising and the fascination with non human forms of life, backdropped to a vivid soundtrack of coral exotica, spiritual Jazz, fourth-world minimalism, tropical electronics, tribal futurism and contemporary elegance.

Every step of Laura Agnusdei’s path, from electroacoustic experimentation to her constant research based upon the acoustic dimension of wind instruments and their interaction with polymorphic electronic sounds, seems to have pivoted into a new sense of awareness, as if the mind and intellectual practice has finally caught up with the body, the heart and the soul, resulting in her most organic and transcendent work yet. “Flowers Are Blooming In Antarctica” is loosely inspired around a trifecta of pioneering ideas that explore unconventional reality: James Bridle’s ‘Ways Of Being’ with his radical story that mixes ecology, tech and intelligence; Luigi Serafini’s late-70s fantastical ‘Codex Seraphinianus’, an unparalleled collection of flora, fauna, anatomies metamorphosed into new fragile beings; J.G. Ballard’s climate-fiction foreshadowing sci-fi ruminations. These influences shift Agnusdei’s musical trajectory injecting doses of terrestrial malaise, the earthy sub-saharan ‘Ittiolalia’ with its wah-wah filtered sax and trance inducing groove; the rubbery playfulness of ‘Oasi Bar’; the gentle eco-system of ‘P.P.R.N’ reminiscent of Herbie Hancock’s innovative synthesis of funk, space and synthesizers; the kaleidoscopic northern lights of ‘Emperor Penguin Lullaby’, where south-east Asian echoes reach icy shores; the Jon Hassell hyper-ambience of ‘Cuttlefish REM Phase’; the post-apocalyptic march of ‘The Drowned World, a jazz standard for an artificial civilization on the brink of self-destruction. Nothing feels out of place and it’s no coincidence that one of the most powerful messages on the record is delivered on centerpiece ‘Are We Dinos?’ via an interview conducted with two preschoolers. Radical optimism or sonic liberation?

Laura Agnusdei’s tenor sax cuts deep all across “Flowers Are Blooming In Antarctica”, a laser baton raised up to the clouds, a conductor orchestrating devotional soundscapes for a three-eyed dolphin, guiding us through prismatic pastures and acidic oceans. Her tropicalized realm is pin-pointed with Miles-like sheer clarity, a bristling nakedness on the verge of exploding at any time, creating an album where ascension becomes the unifying code.

VETO aus Süddeutschland starteten Anfang der Achtziger als Hardrockband mit deutschen Texten. Nach einigen Besetzungswechseln und einer Neuausrichtung in Richtung englischsprachigem Heavy Metal, bekam man einen Plattenvertrag bei der Firma GAMA (Label: Scratch). Mangels Schlagzeuger übernahm diesen Posten einer der beiden Labelbosse persönlich: Peter Garattoni.

Das Debüt “Veto“ erschien 1986 und wurde von den Fans und der Presse wohlwollend aufgenommen. In Folge spielte man unter anderem mit Bands wie Saxon, Vengeance, Lee Aaron, Warlock, Sinner und Grave Digger. Das zweite Album „Carthago“ wurde im Stuttgarter Zuckerfabrik-Studio aufgenommen und gehört heute zu den absoluten Geheimtipps der German Metal Szene. Nicht nur, dass die Band an sich mit überdurchschnittlichen Fähigkeiten ausgestattet war, sie konnten auch mit packenden Songs zwischen Hardrock und Speed Metal überzeugen. Dazu eine knackige und druckvolle Produktion, die so manch Majorlabel damals nicht geboten hat.

Mit dem Titelstück “Carthago“ gelang VETO zudem ein episches Meisterwerk. Die Ankündigung einer wertigen Wiederveröffentlichung von “Carthago“ auf Golden Core hat in der Metalszene bereits Staub aufgewirbelt und in den sozialen Medien für positive Reaktionen gesorgt. Die remasterte CD enthält als Bonus das gesamte Debütalbum “Veto“, sowie das rare und spannende Drumsolo “Thunderstorm“ von Peter Garattoni, welches als Veto-Song auf einer heute raren Metal-Compilation aus den Neunzigern zu finden ist. Die LP, separat für Vinyl gemastert, enthält als Bonus zwei Songs vom Debüt und ebenso “Thunderstorm“. Beide Formate beinhalten Liner Notes und viele rare Abbildungen.

Bandler Ching makes a bold return from within the vibrant, Brussels music scene with their sophomore album, Mercurial. In this latest offering, the band edges even closer to the ever-evolving world of electronics and dance music while retaining the improvisational spirit that has always defined their sound at its core.
On Mercurial, the band navigates the fringes of industrial trap, while expertly bending and pushing the possibilities of their instruments. Ambroos De Schepper's saxophone transcends its traditional role even more, becoming a dynamic, shapeshifting entity capable of evoking haunting melodies one moment and otherworldly harmonies the next. Federico Pecoraro's bass transforms into ethereal ambient pads that drift through the mix like vapor, adding depth. Meanwhile, Olivier Penu's drums form the rhythmic backbone, laying down eclectic grooves that defy the constraints of any single genre, merging seamlessly from trap to electronica, hip-hop, and beyond.
Known for their ability to blend disparate genres and experiment with textures, Bandler Ching forges a new instrumental language, one that feels untethered to convention and free from classification. It's not a genre-crossing experiment-but a daring move towards a new instrumental genre in the digital age.
Fans of experimental electronic icons like Aphex Twin, Squarepusher, and Ceephax Acid Crew will find much to admire in the upcoming Mercurial album- it's a next step in pushing to a new musical territory and boldly casting off the jazz genre in the process.
It's been two years since Bandler Ching first released their debut album Coaxial on Sdban Ultra. Kicking off the album campaign with an album release show in Volta, the Brussels hotbed for a new generation of Belgian artists. What followed was a series of concerts in key venues and festivals across Belgium and the Netherlands to honorable reviews in national and specialized press.

The Young Mothers return with their third album, Better If You Let It, blending a genre-defying mix of jazz, hip-hop, punk, experimental rock, and electronic music. Formed by Norwegian bassist Ingebrigt Håker Flaten in Austin, Texas, the band’s sound is shaped by the diverse musical backgrounds of its members, hailing from both the U.S. and Norway. With influences spanning from Texas’ vibrant hip-hop and punk scenes to Norway’s experimental jazz traditions, the band creates a powerful fusion that feels cinematic and unpredictable.

The lineup includes Jawwaad Taylor (trumpet, rhymes, electronics) and Jason Jackson (tenor and baritone sax) from Houston, Stefan Gonzalez (vibraphone, drums, percussion, voice) from Dallas, Frank Rosaly (drums, electronics) from Chicago and Amsterdam, and Håker Flaten (bass) from Norway.

This global roster brings together a dynamic, cross-cultural sound, with Better If You Let It showcasing their most cohesive and wide-ranging material yet. Recorded in Oslo and set for release on Sonic Transmission Records, the album is a bold statement, proving The Young Mothers’ ability to push musical boundaries across genres and geographies.

Maud the moth, the solo project of Spanish-born and Scotland-based pianist, singer and songwriter Amaya Lopez-Carromero announces her new album, The Distaff, to be released via The Larvarium (digital +CD) and La Rubia Producciones (vinyl) Amaya has long used the mantle of Maud the moth as an alter-ego, a séance-like conduit to explore themes of rootlessness, identity and trauma. The Distaff in particular refers to the stick or spindle onto which wool or flax is wound for spinning, and an object which has historically been used across multiple cultures as a symbol wielded by the “virtuous woman”, an authoritarian ideal around which much of the trauma surrounding the feminine coalesces. The album takes the form of a sort of self reflective and surreal autobiography. It was in part inspired by the poem of the same name written by the Greek poet Erinna, as she mourns her friend's loss of individuality and agency in exchange for marriage - and therefore safety and acceptance in the eyes of society. The album exists in an ethereal but violent world of aesthetic overlaps where time stands still and fictional and reimagined folk sits at the table with Maud the moth’s usual sonic menagerie. It is the result of a lifetime of obsession with sound and music, where glimpses of musical genre offer insight into Amaya’s artistic interests and her participation in the underground European scene for many years, in bands such as healthyliving. Heavier, darker, and more exposed than any of her previous works it features some highly accomplished artists, such as Seb Rochford (Patti Smith, Polar Bear, Sons of Kemet, Pulled by magnets, etc.) on drums, Alison Chesley (Helen Money) on cello, Fay Guiffo on violin and Scott McLean (Ashenspire, healthyliving, Falloch) on guitar, saxophone and synthesiser. Maud the moth shares the video for "Siphonophores". About the track, Maud the moth says; I wrote "Siphonophores" on guitar, during the first lockdown, a period where I was kind of trapped between an almost empty flat in Edinburgh and Dresden. It was an incredibly harrowing time, but also one of hope and where important new things were being birthed. I felt incredibly sensitive to everything, almost like life was happening in slow motion. I´m not a confident guitarist since I am completely self-taught, but, probably because of this, I feel that this instrument allows me to focus on aspects of the songwriting that I normally overlook when writing on piano, and I think it was a necessary step for this song to exist. Something else which I've been really exploiting lately and features strongly in the album is the percussive capabilities of the piano, and in particular, of the sustain pedal when mic'd up. This can be heard very clearly at the beginning of "Siphonophores". Written and arranged by Amaya, with some contributions in the later role from the aforementioned collaborators, the album presents nine tracks originally written entirely on acoustic piano as accompanied voice pieces, in pure singer-songwriter fashion. The album was co-produced and recorded by Scott and Amaya in different studios across the UK between January and July of 2024, in a process that started shortly after the 2020 pandemic and finished alongside the album recordings in a detailed, organic and at times obsessive process aimed primarily at capturing the natural dynamics and expression of free performance. The Distaff was mixed in its entirety by Scott and mastered at Abbey Road by Alex Wharton (Radiohead, My Bloody Valentine, Aurora, Kathryn Joseph etc.) Despite being born of a very personal point of view, the album lacks a specific narrator and was conceived almost as a sonic trousseau, where the needle point, silks and other family heirlooms have been swapped for out-of-the-corner-of-the-eye memories of rural Spain by the vineyards, family disputes, old tales of wartime pains, generational breaches and finally the conflict of migration and estrangement. The songs paint dystopian pastoral scenes which evolve throughout the span of one fictional day outside of time and coherent locations and where imagination (often the only account surviving from traumatic events and gaslighting) has become indistinguishable from fact. The Distaff attempts to acknowledge past trauma, comprehend and process some of the more difficult aspects which have contributed to our darker self and offer closure and solace through creative catharsis.

Maud the moth, the solo project of Spanish-born and Scotland-based pianist, singer and songwriter Amaya Lopez-Carromero announces her new album, The Distaff, to be released via The Larvarium (digital +CD) and La Rubia Producciones (vinyl) Amaya has long used the mantle of Maud the moth as an alter-ego, a séance-like conduit to explore themes of rootlessness, identity and trauma. The Distaff in particular refers to the stick or spindle onto which wool or flax is wound for spinning, and an object which has historically been used across multiple cultures as a symbol wielded by the “virtuous woman”, an authoritarian ideal around which much of the trauma surrounding the feminine coalesces. The album takes the form of a sort of self reflective and surreal autobiography. It was in part inspired by the poem of the same name written by the Greek poet Erinna, as she mourns her friend's loss of individuality and agency in exchange for marriage - and therefore safety and acceptance in the eyes of society. The album exists in an ethereal but violent world of aesthetic overlaps where time stands still and fictional and reimagined folk sits at the table with Maud the moth’s usual sonic menagerie. It is the result of a lifetime of obsession with sound and music, where glimpses of musical genre offer insight into Amaya’s artistic interests and her participation in the underground European scene for many years, in bands such as healthyliving. Heavier, darker, and more exposed than any of her previous works it features some highly accomplished artists, such as Seb Rochford (Patti Smith, Polar Bear, Sons of Kemet, Pulled by magnets, etc.) on drums, Alison Chesley (Helen Money) on cello, Fay Guiffo on violin and Scott McLean (Ashenspire, healthyliving, Falloch) on guitar, saxophone and synthesiser. Maud the moth shares the video for "Siphonophores". About the track, Maud the moth says; I wrote "Siphonophores" on guitar, during the first lockdown, a period where I was kind of trapped between an almost empty flat in Edinburgh and Dresden. It was an incredibly harrowing time, but also one of hope and where important new things were being birthed. I felt incredibly sensitive to everything, almost like life was happening in slow motion. I´m not a confident guitarist since I am completely self-taught, but, probably because of this, I feel that this instrument allows me to focus on aspects of the songwriting that I normally overlook when writing on piano, and I think it was a necessary step for this song to exist. Something else which I've been really exploiting lately and features strongly in the album is the percussive capabilities of the piano, and in particular, of the sustain pedal when mic'd up. This can be heard very clearly at the beginning of "Siphonophores". Written and arranged by Amaya, with some contributions in the later role from the aforementioned collaborators, the album presents nine tracks originally written entirely on acoustic piano as accompanied voice pieces, in pure singer-songwriter fashion. The album was co-produced and recorded by Scott and Amaya in different studios across the UK between January and July of 2024, in a process that started shortly after the 2020 pandemic and finished alongside the album recordings in a detailed, organic and at times obsessive process aimed primarily at capturing the natural dynamics and expression of free performance. The Distaff was mixed in its entirety by Scott and mastered at Abbey Road by Alex Wharton (Radiohead, My Bloody Valentine, Aurora, Kathryn Joseph etc.) Despite being born of a very personal point of view, the album lacks a specific narrator and was conceived almost as a sonic trousseau, where the needle point, silks and other family heirlooms have been swapped for out-of-the-corner-of-the-eye memories of rural Spain by the vineyards, family disputes, old tales of wartime pains, generational breaches and finally the conflict of migration and estrangement. The songs paint dystopian pastoral scenes which evolve throughout the span of one fictional day outside of time and coherent locations and where imagination (often the only account surviving from traumatic events and gaslighting) has become indistinguishable from fact. The Distaff attempts to acknowledge past trauma, comprehend and process some of the more difficult aspects which have contributed to our darker self and offer closure and solace through creative catharsis.

2LP - 180 Gram Vinyl Jazz Standards Live is a remarkable collaboration between two iconic jazz musicians: Kenny Wheeler, a legendary trumpeter and composer known for his versatility, and Rain Sultanov, a saxophonist celebrated for his rich tone and innovative style. This album captures an unforgettable performance that has never before been released physically. Blending the expressive power of Wheeler's trumpet and Sultanov's saxophone, the quintet delivers a warm and resonant sound that harks back to the golden era of jazz in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Fans of Herbie Hancock's V.S.O.P. quintet will recognize the vibrant interplay reminiscent of Freddie Hubbard and Wayne Shorter. This double vinyl LP is a treasure trove for jazz enthusiasts, featuring a mix of beloved standards and original compositions by Wheeler. Adding depth and character to the performance is Shahin Novrasli's masterful piano work, which infuses the album with a distinctive mood. Meanwhile, Paul Clarvis on drums and Ruslan Guseynov on bass provide a dynamic and cohesive rhythm section that elevates each track. Jazz Standards Live is not just an album; it is a testament to the boundless creativity and artistry of two jazz maestros, uniting their talents to create an experience that is both timeless and fresh. Whether you're a longtime jazz aficionado or a newcomer to the genre, this album promises to captivate and inspire.

2LP - 180 Gram Vinyl Jazz Standards Live is a remarkable collaboration between two iconic jazz musicians: Kenny Wheeler, a legendary trumpeter and composer known for his versatility, and Rain Sultanov, a saxophonist celebrated for his rich tone and innovative style. This album captures an unforgettable performance that has never before been released physically. Blending the expressive power of Wheeler's trumpet and Sultanov's saxophone, the quintet delivers a warm and resonant sound that harks back to the golden era of jazz in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Fans of Herbie Hancock's V.S.O.P. quintet will recognize the vibrant interplay reminiscent of Freddie Hubbard and Wayne Shorter. This double vinyl LP is a treasure trove for jazz enthusiasts, featuring a mix of beloved standards and original compositions by Wheeler. Adding depth and character to the performance is Shahin Novrasli's masterful piano work, which infuses the album with a distinctive mood. Meanwhile, Paul Clarvis on drums and Ruslan Guseynov on bass provide a dynamic and cohesive rhythm section that elevates each track. Jazz Standards Live is not just an album; it is a testament to the boundless creativity and artistry of two jazz maestros, uniting their talents to create an experience that is both timeless and fresh. Whether you're a longtime jazz aficionado or a newcomer to the genre, this album promises to captivate and inspire.

180 Gram Vinyl Melina Paxinos is a composer and saxophonist (soprano and alto) and dedicates her album "Time", to the now state of time, because time is the most precious thing we have. Here, modern Jazz meets Mediterranean flair, creating a small journey through time with the help of her expressive melodies. The band Melina Paxinos Quartet plays together since 2018 and consists of Melina Paxinos (bandleader, sax, comp.), Yiannis Papadopoulos (piano), Ntinos Manos (bass) and Dimitris Klonis (drums). As a guest musician this time she invited Andreas Polyzogopoulos, who with his lyrical playing, accompanies the band with his trumpet and flugelhorn. The last song on her album "Ta Matoklada sou Lampoun" is a composition by one of the most famous Greek rebetiko musicians Markos Vamvakaris (1905-1972), which Melina rearranged for her album, thus bringing the past, that is the cultural heritage, into the present.

180g, blue marbled vinyl. Melina Paxinos is a composer and saxophonist (soprano and alto) and dedicates her album "Time", to the now state of time, because time is the most precious thing we have. Here, modern Jazz meets Mediterranean flair, creating a small journey through time with the help of her expressive melodies. The band Melina Paxinos Quartet plays together since 2018 and consists of Melina Paxinos (bandleader, sax, comp.), Yiannis Papadopoulos (piano), Ntinos Manos (bass) and Dimitris Klonis (drums). As a guest musician this time she invited Andreas Polyzogopoulos, who with his lyrical playing, accompanies the band with his trumpet and flugelhorn. The last song on her album "Ta Matoklada sou Lampoun" is a composition by one of the most famous Greek rebetiko musicians Markos Vamvakaris (1905-1972), which Melina rearranged for her album, thus bringing the past, that is the cultural heritage, into the present.

All the shades of green. Plants. Water. The absolute necessities of life. Music, too, is an absolute necessity. To capture both color and sound in a bottle to put atop a piano like a houseplant. A clock. A fern. Synesthesia. This music is meant for that. To close your eyes and see green. To drown in the color of piano. A melancholic covey that pulls hard on the heart strings musically and lyrically, brushed over with a plethora of improvisation in smooth watercolors.

With Tim Hill’s new trajectory, we are offered a fresh neuron sprawl, branching beyond lyrics in interrupted pieces of sound. He takes our reptilian brains and welds them to our unborn futures, placing us inside of his droplet. Here, we're forced to reflect out, something singular multiplies, nature brings her face in, something shifts, our speed changes, the Self refracts and what's left jumps on sustained lines that eventually arch into meditation milk. It becomes a karmic cleanse of the amygdala, a launch from normal feeling life. Tim takes the risk, committing to diving deeper into his own bottomless pool of art, gifting us with sensory treats that dilate our old perimeters. It's sky as theatre, handing out everything but answers to questions. And where do we go? Where starlight mingles. Where minds never land.

A seasoned musician in all forms, Tim Hill has toured the world as a keyboardist, guitarist, saxophonist, and drummer, with a long time stint with LA group the Allah Las, and well known acts such as Nick Waterhouse, Curtis Harding, PAINT, and others.

‘4th DIMENSION’ is the last and probably greatest album ever recorded by Italian piano Maestro Mario Rusca. This monumental music produc"on features tracks in Nonet, Quintet and Trio. Along with the faithful rhythm sec"on composed by Riccardo Fioravan" on bass and Maxx Furian on drums, on this slamming cinema"c jazz album Mario Rusca teamed up with two extraordinary wind players: legendary Flavio Boltro (of Michel Petrucciani Quintet fame) on trumpet and Gabriele Comeglio on sax alto.

As far as the choruses are concerned, Nicole4a Tiberini, Mar"na Rossi and Alice Macchi, from Maestro Rusca’s ensemble music courses at the Civica di Jazz School, provide inspired and swinging backing vocals. The cherry on the cake, the element that gives to ‘4th DIMENSION’ a pulsa"ng and swinging’ drive, is the par"cipa"on on the album of Marco Fadda, one of Italy’s leading percussion players.

This heterogeneous ensemble has shaped, during 5 days of intense studio recordings, an absolute masterpiece full of swinging rhythms along with a few magical in"mate moments. In his 65 years career, Italian piano legend Mario Rusca has shared the stage and recording studios with luminaries such as Chet Baker, Cur"s Fuller, Gerry Mulligan, Lou Donaldson, Art Farmer, Lee Konitz, Dusko Gojkovic, Enrico Rava, Tullio De Piscopo, Kenny Clarke, Stan Getz, Toots Thielemans, Gianni Basso, Pepper Adams, Steve Lacy and Tony Sco4 (with whom he formed an indissoluble partnership).

Being accompanied in this album by extraordinary musicians, Rusca chooses to flow in a repertoire that, like in his most recent records for Mono Jazz, bridges between original pieces and revisited standards from the American Jazz Songbook, approached with unprecedented sensi"vity and depth.

The journey of ‘4th DIMENSION’ is an extraordinary cinema"c musical voyage across various styles ranging from Bop, Hard Bop, Cool, Funk and La"n Jazz. ‘4th DIMENSION’ is a perfect follow up to the interna"onally acclaimed Easy Tempo legacy! In these 13 tracks, “il Maestro” embraces and enhances a ‘cinema"c’ component in his music - an a4ribute he has long cul"vated through original soundtracks and library albums recorded for diverse cult Italian labels.

This, as we were saying, is achieved through the addi"on of percussionist Marco Fadda, who introduces a series of rhythmic nuances across several tracks, and of the extraordinary female vocal trio reminiscent of I Cantori Moderni of Alessandro Alessandroni & Edda Dell'Orso, used in the tradi"on of Italian composers of ‘60s and ‘70s film music.

This natural progression reflects Italy's history, where jazz musicians have long been involved in soundtracks and film scoring since the late ‘50s. Italian jazz has integrated this approach into its composi"on and arranging styles, as demonstrated in the first 10 volumes of the Easy Tempo series. A spirit and tradi"on that Rusca's ‘4th DIMENSION’ record con"nues. Listening to some of the tracks on the record evokes the legendary works created for cinema by Piero Umiliani, Piero Piccioni, Lelio Lu4azzi, Armando Trovajoli, Gianni Ferrio and others.

After appearing with Archie Shepp at the landmark Pan-African Cultural festival in Algiers in 1969, African-American trumpeter-cornetist Clifford Thornton recorded a set of his own compositions in Paris later that year. The result was Ketchaoua, an important political and spiritual as well as musical statement that reflected the inspiration that he took from Islam. Indeed, the title of the album refers to the awe-inspiring mosque in Algiers.
Clifford Thornton’s superb band comprised his compatriots, saxophonists Archie Shepp and Arthur Jones, drummer Sunny Murray, trombonist Grachan Moncur III, pianist Dave Burrell, and bassist Earl Freeman, as well as French bassist Beb Guérin. Together they brought energy and ingenuity to the leader’s compositions, which were characterized by vivid atmospheres, exploratory, mysterious sounds and haunting themes. And the song titles conveyed an important social and cultural message. Pieces such as ‘Brotherhood’ pointed to the sense of unity and kinship that African-American artists felt with the citizens they encountered on their journey to North Africa and Europe.
This newly remastered deluxe edition of Ketchaoua provides an opportunity to hear one of the major entries in Clifford Thornton’s relatively small yet nonetheless highly impressive discography. It is an album that marks him out as a figure in the avant- garde movement of the late 60s and early 70s who deserves far wider recognition.

Apple Cores is the latest full-length album from New York tenor saxophonist James Brandon Lewis, "one of the fiercest sounds in jazz today" (The Guardian) with a "penchant for unbound exploration" (Pitchfork). Informed by the rhythms and textures of hip-hop and funk while remaining rooted in jazz, Apple Cores was recorded with Chad Taylor (drums/mbira) and Josh Werner (bass/guitar) over the course of two intense, entirely improvised sessions. The album takes its name and intention from the column that poet and jazz theorist Amiri Baraka wrote for DownBeat in the 1960s. In addition to Baraka, the influence of another jazz giant looms mightily over Apple Cores: trumpeter and multi-instrumentalist, Don Cherry. In a testament to Cherry"s influence over the music that the trio is playing, Lewis designed each song title as a cryptogram of sorts, making subtle references to Cherry"s life and music. Apple Cores further cements Lewis as one of the provocative and prolific musical voices of his generation. It follows his breakthrough with JazzTimes" Album of the Year Jesup Wagon (2021), a dreamlike mosaic of gospel, folk-blues, and catcalling brass bands inspired by inventor George Washington Carver, and Eye Of I (2023), his joyous and exploratory debut for ANTI-.

Tradition shapes your work. For saxophonist and bandleader Shabaka Hutchings, that's something he's long understood. After years spent in the orbit of London's jazz circuit, he examines and reimagines his influences with a dexterity that's unique. Drawing out the vision underlying his new album, he says, I see energy as being a form of wisdom to be passed down through the ages.'

Unpicking the album's title, he continues, "When we study the music, the lives, the words of our master musicians we obtain a glimpse of that artist's essential energy source. This is the core vitality of the individual which leads them to utilise the musical specifics of their chosen genre in a way that mirrors their inner source of power. This is an intuited wisdom that's handed to us from the legacies of our elders.

The album is a document of sessions combining Hutchings with a group of South African jazz musicians he's long admired. His connection to the group was Mandla Mlangeni (bandleader of the Amandla Freedom Ensemble), whom he'd flown there to play with over the past few years. Recorded across just one day, the group drew on their South African lineage - heroes like Zim Ngquwana and Bheki Mseleku - to bring their own slant to the American jazz lineage which is reconfigured in Hutchings' compositions themselves.

Going beyond the jazz greats Hutchings cites, influences are drawn from plenty of other sources: Caribbean calypso, central African song structures and Southern African Nguni music all play a part. Bringing together those ideas with the contributions of his bandmates is, he explains, crucial to what he sees in the role of an album artist. Even though I wrote all the music, for me, the leader of the project isn't the person who writes all the music but the one who has a vision for how certain musical elements will be combined."

A regular sight on stages around London and beyond, playing - and often leading - groups like The Comet Is Coming, Sons of Kemet and Melt Yourself Down, he's part of a generation whose idea of jazz is pointedly unrefined. That's to say, Wisdom of the Elders comes from an artist interested in the indefinable gaps more than fitting into boxes.

Vinyl is 180g and contains downloadcode

Wrocław-Toruń noise rock band founded by Szymon Szwarc (swrcfx, Jesień) and Damian Kowalski (SKI). They are currently collaborating with Cezary Rosiński (Młyn) and Krzysztof Rogalski (Pchełki). The band has performed in clubs and at festivals in Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. So far, two full-length albums by RZWD have been released: POMPY (Fonoradar Records 2020) and GOLD (Fonoradar Records 2022).


Album GAPS Recorded in November 2023, is the result of two years of work that merges classic POST-PUNK GUIDE with a rich electronic influence. On GAPS, RZWD aims to craft DANCE NOISE CLUB MUSIC on their own terms, pushing the limits of what a LIVE BAND can be in achieving this.
Most of the tracks evolved during RZWD's concerts in countries like Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Estonia. These experiences and ideas were shaped into the album between November 2023 and May 2024. Live recordings in Szczecin were done by Adam Sołtysiak, while additional recordings and production were handled in Toruń under the supervision of swrcfx.
The core idea behind GAPS was to use developed themes as a starting point for further variations and exploration within DANCE NOISE CLUB MUSIC. This time, the instrumentation includes bass and an ever-expanding, mutating layer of modulation. Therefore, the album features four brand new compositions alongside four remixes of tracks from previous albums.
The album also features guest appearances by: DANIELIUS PANCEROVAS from the Lithuanian band KANALIZACJIA, adding a saxophone touch to the track DIESEL, and KRZYSZTOF FREEZE OSTROWSKI - a renowned Polish electronic musician and producer, bringing a new sonic perspective to EURO TRACK from the DMO EP.
Among the multidimensional concepts blending environments, genres, styles, and techniques found on GAPS, the pursuit of synthesizing acoustic and electronic sounds stands out. RZWD creates a space where the boundaries between these domains blur and lose their significance.
The result is a groove-driven and noisy mix of dance music styles such as RAVE, TECHNO, HOUSE, and FOOTWORK, played beyond rigid tempo measurements and DAW limitations, relying on natural skills and intuition. It's a soundtrack that works best as a backdrop to movement, whether coordinated or not.
RZWD:
SKI - DRUMS, ELECTRONICS
KRZYSZTOF ROGALSKI - BASS GUITAR
CEZARY ROSIŃSKI - DUBS, SYNTH, MOD. ELECTRONICS
swrcfx - DUBS, SYNTH, GUITAR
ALBUM GUESTS:
DANIELIUS PANCEROVAS - SAXOPHONE in DIESEL V3
KRZYSZTOF FREEZE OSTROWSKI - ELECTRONICS in EURO TRACK V2

Black vinyl / 505mcn paper / Insert with extensive liner notes by Tony Higgins printed on 200 gram "Shiro Eco"paper and a special Manifesto with exclusive pictures printed on 90 gram Favini recycled paper.

Personnel:
Clarence Peter - Drum
Patrick Gauthier - Piano
Jean-Jacques Avenel - Bass
Steve Potts - Sax

Notes:
We're delighted to announce the reissue one the most sought-after European private press spiritual jazz albums: The Magnetic Atmospher by Clarence Peters Quartet. Never reissued in its entirety before, The Magnetic Atmosphere is a solid album of deep, post modal spiritual jazz that will appeal to fans of the Strata East, Tribe, and Black Jazz labels.
Resident in France since the 1970s, drummer Peter recorded the album with a French rhythm section: Patrick Gauthier on piano, and Jean-Jacques Avenel on bass. On sax is American-born Steve Potts, resident in France since 1970 and, like bassist Jean-Jacques Avenel, alumni of Steve Lacy.
The Magnetic Atmospher features four killer tracks, all composed by Peter. This is an opportunity to hear a truly remarkable record and sells for hundreds of dollars on the collector circuit. Long thought to be missing in action, we tracked Clarence Peter down and secured the license, direct from the man himself. (Tony Higgins)

Vinyl Only / Original artwork / Black Vinyl / 400 mcn paper / 30x30 cm insert with notes by Tony Higgins and graphic elaboration printed on 250 gram G.F. Smith Colorplan / PVC outers


Personnel:
Jorge Ruiz Lopez – Double Bass
Roberto Fernandez Trumpet
Leandro "Gato" Barbieri - Tenor Sax
Ruben Lopez Furst – Piano
Pichi Mazzei - Drums

Notes:
Jorge López Ruiz is one of most versatile of musical talents to emerge from Argentina. As a bass player, composer, performer and arranger he has worked across many genres including jazz, pop as well as stage productions and feature films.

BA Jazz was originally released in 1961 on Vik Records as the debut album from Lopez Ruiz featuring a mix of covers and original material. Alongside Ruiz Lopez are Roberto Fernandez on trumpet, Ruben Lopez Furst on piano, Pichi Mazzei on drums and a young musician called Leandro Barbieri on tenor sax. Leandro became better known at Gato Barbieri, who went on to build an international reputation working with Charlie Hayden, Don Cherry, Dollar Brand and Carla Bley and recording for Impulse! Records, Flying Dutchman and A&M Records.
The BA Jazz album has been a rarity for years and original pressings attract huge amounts from collectors. It's rarity is matched by the fantastic music contained with its grooves. It's a genuinely important record in the development of jazz in South America. (Tony Higgins)

Back in the day, when he was the drummer for Poni Hoax, Vincent Taeger would sing in French whatever came to his mind backstage after concerts, just for fun, to amuse his friend the late Nicolas Ker. Since then, time has flown by, undoubtedly bringing its share of ups and downs. Nonetheless, today, this artist with a long career is finally releasing his debut album as a singer, OK Crooner. It's indeed an album for a singer, but also one for a musician. For this part, Taeger doesn't come alone; he brings along the Jazz Kamasutra, a sexy sextet that knows how to play everything and will later accompany him on stage. To get to this point, Vincent Taeger had to stop playing around with big names like Air, Damon Albarn, Justice, Lenny Kravitz, Skepta, Tony Allen, Oumou Sangaré, Jeff Mills, Archie Shepp, Sampa the Great, Andrea Laszlo de Simone... More than half of the major artists with whom he once collaborated, contributing to their albums or simply laying down a drum, bass, or any other heavy instrument line. Before OK Crooner, he also transformed into Tiger Tigre. This roaring alias was used for a first solo album, instrumental and so deep that one might have thought the ghost of François de Roubaix had taken shape. But that was before, before this exceptional musician decided to dive into the vast ocean of French variety to give a sequel, a culmination to this project. During COVID, Vincent Taeger started frantically listening to Souchon, Chamfort, Gotainer, and Christophe. Inspired by his elders, while not renouncing his attachment to the meticulous arrangements reminiscent of Alain Goraguer's soundtracks, he picked up a pen to jot down snippets of songs to accompany his increasingly sophisticated compositions. And the worst part is that he enjoyed it! Coming from rap, he has a knack for punchlines. Throughout the album, he delivers just as many harsh or soft words as good ones, alternating between risqué humor, Gaulish wit, and poetry. Partially recorded at Studio Ferber, but mainly at home with his partner, known by the alias La Plongée, who co-produced the album for the occasion, OK Crooner is a key album in Vincent Taeger's discography. Besides being the one where he finally unveils his voice to the public, without pretense as it is prominently featured and minimally, if at all, retouched, Taeger also offers music that suits him perfectly. Sharp yet accessible, jazz, pop, baroque, classical, modern, and resolutely marked by Tony Allen's legacy, which he daringly mixes with Beethoven in the Fifth Symphony. His alter ego, Vincent Taurelle, with whom he has produced many albums, took care of mixing this one.

Poet, novelist, musician and academic, Anthony Joseph teams up with legendary UK producer Dave Okumu for forthcoming album, ‘Rowing Up River To Get Our Names Back’

Dave Okumu, known perhaps best as frontman for The Invisible, though digging deeper into his production credits, huge names emerge such as; Grace Jones, Amy Winehouse, Jesse Ware, Rosie Lowe and Eska. On this album, the magic and alchemy of Dave’s production style showcase subtle sonics and deep layering resulting in a contemporary sound to carry Anthony’s afrofuturistic metrical meanings.

Anthony and Dave first came across each other when working with Shabaka Hutchings during Covid broadcasts, and then after Anthony performed some poems on Dave’s 2023 album ‘I Came From Love’, the seeds of collaboration were sown.

With a little more psychedelia, a little more experimentation, Dave’s eclectic vision focuses on the actual sounds on these pieces. Anthony stated that “The best producers guide you, not push you” now add to that the fact that both these humans were born on the same day, a concoction of laid back attitudes in people with strong purpose, some real magic can happen, naturally.

Early writing sessions for this record took place in 2022, around Mount Blanc in France. Anthony was away touring with long-time collaborator, Jason Yarde. Ideas were a little thin and they found themselves somewhat repeating previous work resulting in Anthony rethinking things a little, and so entered Dave Okumu.

LP opener ‘Satellite’ is a fine example of how this new partnership pans out. New musicians have been enlisted; Dan See (Drums), Aviram Barath (Synths), Nick Ramm on Fender Rhodes and Byron Wallen (Trumpet). Add to that the mighty vocal power house of Eska and we have a whole new dimension of soul and depth, to carry Anthony’s statements. “You build a wall, we go under, you build it higher, we go higher, like a satellite” .

On the album's second single, ‘Tony’ - there’s a nod to all drummers and creators of African rhythms, from the point of view of Afrobeat legend Tony Allen. Highlighting this is drummer’s drummer Richard Spaven as Dave’s choice of skin beater. He successfully reminds us that Tony was someone who understood the real power of rhythm and how it is used to unite people.

As well as the new musicians on this LP, Dave Okumu played all the guitars and used the studio as his tool. On ‘A Juba for Janet’ - a poem to Joseph’s mother, and a track so bass heavy that it feels as though it could sit in a deep dubstep set in Plastic People days, - Anthony’s voice reaches straight down your ear canals next to dark drums, huge synths and delayed saxophone stabs from Colin Webster. Slightly more introspective verses on ‘An Afrofuturist Poem’ see Dave’s beats show off the real future sound of this record, kalimba, moog bass and guitars all played by the man himself.

Mellower and deeper moments are also present, Anthony’s cryptic yet informative storytelling is at its absolute best on ‘Churches Of Sound (The Benetiz-Rojo)’ - Caribbean and Windrush history reeled off alongside a linear musical timeline of Black music in the diaspora.

A reminder that this body of work is first of 2 volumes, ‘Rowing Up River To Get Our Names Back’ is not a follow up to Anthony’s previous album, but more a development of his 2006 novel, ‘The African Origins of UFOs’ a book where experimental elements of afro-futurism, metafiction, science fiction, surrealism, mythology are rewritten in Anthony’s innovative language. Look out for Volume 2 also coming in 2025.

Anthony Joseph releases, ‘Rowing Up River To Get Our Names Back’ (Vol. 1) via Heavenly Sweetness 7th February 2025 and he will play live at Ronnie Scotts in London on 14th March 2025, with Dave Okumu as a special guest.

CREDITS:

Vocals - Anthony Joseph

Additional vocals, vocal arrangements - Eska Mtungwazi

Producer - Guitars, Bass, Moog, Synthesisers, Programming, Percussion - Dave Okumu

Drums - Dan See

Drums on ‘Tony’ - Richard Spaven

Synthesiser - Aviram Barath

Fender Rhodes, Synthesisers, Nick Ramm

Trumpet - Byron Wallen

Saxophones - Colin Webster

Trombones - James Wade Sired

Whereas Lewis used his transformative talents to newly illuminate renaissance man George Washington Carver onJesup Wagon, the saxophonist does the same here for gospel- music force of nature Mahalia Jackson. And this time it's personal, because Lewis lived her music growing up, nurtured by a grandmother who had received Mahalia's singing like a bolt from above. Much more than a tribute, this work is"really a three- way conversation between Mahalia, my grandmother and me."

The challenge was to turn these songs into jazz, the 21st century variety. What James and the band (William Parker- bass, Chad Taylor- drums, Kirk Knuffkecornet, Chris Hoffman-cello) conjure with this music is miraculous.

The CD & LP editions also exclusively include the contemporaneous suite, "These Are Soulful Days", JBL's first composition for strings; performed with the Lutoslawski Quartet. It is included as a 2nd disc on CD version & via an exclusive download card with the LP