Pop & Rock News

Nightports is based on a simple but unbreakable rule of restriction: only sounds produced by the featured musician can be used. Nothing else. These sounds can be transformed, distorted, translated, processed and reprocessed, stretched, cut, ordered and reordered without limitation.

Nightports is about amplifying the characteristics of the musician – celebrating what’s particular about them, finding sounds that nobody else can make, constructing a complex sonic weave that, however radical the transformations, still bears the watermarks of its origin.



“Within the depths of the drum takes, we found hidden melodies, chords, structures and bass lines which we distilled and exaggerated to realise this album,” Slater explains. “On the one hand, this album is fully improvised in that all drum performances were spontaneous, intuitive and responsive; however, they were then subjected to editing and manipulation to arrive at a sound that is neither purely improvised nor constructed.”



Nightports w/ Betamax will be released on CD, digital and limited edition vinyl LP. As with the prev-

ious album, the vinyl is packaged in an intricate die-cut sleeve, designed by Split.



Recorded in one day in February 2018 with The Comet Is Coming’s Betamax at Malcolm Catto’s Qu-

atermass Sound Lab studio.



The Comet Is Coming continue their stratospheric trajectory, this record follows 2019’s Trust In The Lifeforce of the Deep Mystery.

On The Corner Records is delighted to announce the release of Dialectic Soul, the debut album from one of Cape Town's most cuttingedge, visionary artists and musicians, the drummer Asher Gamedze. This is Jazz at its most spiritual, most progressive and most appealing form. As Asher himself says: Dialectic Soul is about motion and a refusal to remain static or stay still. It's the commitment to be continually moving'. Recorded live over two days at the Sound and Motion Studios in Cape Town with renowned musicians (Thembinkosi Mavimbela (bass), Buddy Wells (tenor sax), Robin Fassie-Kock (trumpet) Nono Nkoane (voc)), Dialectic Soul is breathtaking in its musical vitality and expression of soul seeking truth. By incorporating the concept of the Total Art for this project, it fits perfectly within On The Corner's aesthetic of music, art and vision for creative innovation. Label art director Victoria Topping created the sleeve design working with Asher's drawings and concept.

There's a new musical wind blowing through Germany - and especially in Berlin. After years of having been the techno capital of the world, the city now is embracing a much wider musical palette. Attracting a new generation of sonic adventurists, international jazz musicians as well as German talents.
These highly skilled performers are searching for something new, merging different styles and influences. It's a fact: jazz no longer 'smells funny'. And after London and L.A., Berlin is on its way to becoming a new hotspot for the next generation of jazz-influenced musicians.
Thanks to its free hedonistic spirit as well as a blossoming scene of new live clubs, festivals and happenings. This compilation showcases some of the most interesting artists on the new German scene to date.
Yet while other new jazz movements are more influenced by hip hop and R&B, these young German 'jazz' musicians have audibly steeped themselves in their own heritage: Krautrock and electronic music.
The majority of the tracks on this compilation were composed exclusively for this release or have only seen a limited release via the artists' own channels. A few have already been released in 2018/19 on small labels.

Waxtime Boxset Series Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong - The Essential Albums ‘Ella & Louis’ and ‘Ella & Louis Again’ Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald were capable of producing magic that few jazz singers could match.

Their infrequent studio collaborations yielded true masterpieces. After cutting several sides backed by big bands for Decca in the late forties and early fifties, Ella and Louis were summoned by producer Norman Granz in 1956-57 to make three albums that would become legendary jazz classics. This 3-LP set compiles their two complete small group albums, Ella & Louis (Verve MGV4003) and the 2LP set Ella & Louis Again (Verve MGV4006-2).

Ella & Louis *****Down Beat “Ella & Louis is one of the very, very few albums to have been issued in this era of the LP flood that is sure to endure for decades.” (Nat Hentoff) Voted number 636 in Colin Larkin’s All Time Top 1000 Albums

Ella & Louis Again (2lp Set) ***** Down Beat “This set is more relaxed and more successful than their previous cooperative venture. It can hardly fail to break sales records for them both.” (Leonard Feather)

The release of Blessed Repair is a grand experiment for the Baldi/Gerycz Duo. The duo consists of Dylan Baldi and Jayson Gerycz, both of whom are members of the acclaimed rock band Cloud Nothings. With Baldi on saxophone and Gerycz on drums, they deliver an album that steers away from the process of slowly crafting lyrics and instrumental components. This time, their project is grounded in the gravitational pull of both of their instruments; two people creating and releasing tension in real time. Blessed Repair is an album that romps with the spontaneous energy of free-form jazz.

Baldi and Gerycz are quite familiar with each other as musicians, proving to be an advantage as they navigate the strange yet exciting new waters of Blessed Repair. Primarily, they work as bandmates in Cloud Nothings, but nothing resembles their improvisational work as a duo. In Cloud Nothings, songs are written beforehand and rehearsed, but as the Baldi/Gerycz Duo, they just play. Which is how the project first came to fruition — they are two friends who organically wanted to see how far they can take their music together.

The project uses two iconically jazz instruments, nudging Blessed Repair into the free-jazz realm. The saxophone soars and tumbles and the drums build and scatter, but both instruments are more linked by their playful experimentation and synchronicity than anything else. While they are fans of improvisational jazz music, neither Baldi nor Gerycz had formal jazz training past high school, making this album authentically experimental for them both. That being said, Baldi does recount that his first official gig as a musician was playing jazz music in the background of a wealthy Clevelander’s dinner party in 2008.

The Baldi/Gerycz Duo have taken the opportunity to harness the liberating energy of improvisation in Blessed Repair. And ultimately, they’re two friends exploring and pushing the boundaries of their music.

Greg Foat's 9th album 'The Mage' joins the dots between the past and future of British jazz. Enlisting the talenst of jazz/library/soundtrack legends Duncan Lamont, Art Themen, Ray Russell and Clark Tracey to collaborate with their modern contemporaries Greg Foat, Moses Boyd and Heliocentric's drummer Malcolm Catto to create something undeniably British but outward looking and global.

A long time personal ambition for Greg was to work with Trinidadian songstress Kathy Garcia, on 'The Mage', this wish is granted as she joins him to re-imagine the deep Xian masterpiece 'Of my Hands', 45 years after recording it as a young girl.

Greg's compositions and arrangements showcase the old and new, downtempo folkscapes, free jazz with notes of hip-hop and soul from the young team flavouring the mix. Featuring Simon Ljungman and Friends as a male choir, Greg's EMS Synthi AKS experiments (made famous by Dr Who) the album is a testament to the versatility and pure musicality of all those involved and Greg Foat's ability to bring artists together to record beautiful, timeless music.

#Greg Foat's 9th album joins the dots between the past and future of British jazz. Bringing Jazz/Library/soundtrack legends Duncan Lamont, Art Themen, Ray Russell and Clark Tracey to the table with modern contemporaries Moses Boyd and Heliocentric's drummer Malcolm Catto. A long time personal mission for greg was to work with Trinidadian singer Kathy Garcia, she joins him on The Mage to re-record the deep Xian masterpiece 'Of my Hands' 45 years after recording it as a young girl.

Greg's compositions and arrangements showcase the young and old, downtempo folkscapes, free jazz with Notes of Hip-Hop and Soul from the young team flavouring the mix. Featuring the Simon Ljungman male choir, Gregs EMS Synthi AKS experiments (made famous by Dr Who) the album is a testament to the versatility and pure musicality of all those involved and Greg Foat's ability to bring artists together and make beautiful timeless music that moves deeply

Strut kick off a brand new deal with the seminal independent black jazz and soul label Black Fire in May with 'African Rhythms 1970-1982', a comprehensive 2CD / 3LP compilation of Oneness Of Juju, led by Plunky J. Branch. Tracing their career from the band's earliest work in 1970 with South African exiled jazzman Ndikho Xaba in San Francisco, the compilation covers the band's journey to New York's loft jazz scene, forming Juju and releasing two landmark albums of hard-hitting percussive jazz on Strata-East. "I saw myself as a cultural warrior," explains Plunky. "We studied about Africa and tried to infuse our music with an African spirit." Moving back to his hometown of Richmond, Virginia during the mid-'70s, Plunky drew in a superb new group of musicians and vocalists and created the band's new incarnation, Oneness Of Juju, retaining the African influence but fusing his sound with funk and R'n'B on the classic 'African Rhythms' album. "We realised that, if we put a backbeat to the Afro-Cuban rhythms, people in Richmond and Washington D.C. could be drawn into it; it didn't change anything about our message." The change would lead to a series of enduring soul-jazz classics on Jimmy Gray's Black Fire label, including 'River Luv Rite', 'Plastic' and 'Don't Give Up' and their biggest crossover international hit, 'Every Way But Loose' in 1982, later famously remixed by Larry Levan. The band received renewed interest in their music during the mid-'80s as Washington D.C.'s go-go innovators cited the band as a major influence and rare groove DJs revived their albums for London dancefloors.

Omo Lewa is a delicious slice of Afrobeat blended with funk, jazz and Highlife in a style that has become synonymous with its creator Peter King, one of Nigeriaʼs most talented multi-instrumentalist.

Originally released on Sonny Robertsʼ Orbitone label in 1976, the album was one of Kingʼs two ʻAfrojazz' releases for the label.
It still sounds captivating more than 30 years later.

Omo Lewa is part of a series of Peter King reissues on Mr. Bongoʼs Classic African Recordings series.

The LP features fully reproduced original artwork. Produced on heavyweight, oldstyle packaging, the same as the original LP.

Original label art. Licensed from Clinton Roberts.

Australian Soul Jazz holy grail from 1968! Limited to 300 copies w/wide. Debut release on Pacific Theatre Encore, the reissue label started by Melbourne's contemporary funk / soul lynchpin Australian Lance Ferguson (The Bamboos, Menagerie, Lanu, ex Cookin' On 3 Burners). Two high energy Mod burners, both originals taken from the forthcoming album 'Whatever It's Worth'.

Lead by Australia's own rival to Jimmy Smith and Jimmy Witherspoon, the '68 line up of Col Nolan & The Soul Syndicate would prove to be an Australian jazz super-group, consisting of John Sangster on drums / percussion (whose own late '60s Festival albums are highly collectable), John Allan on bass, Col Loughnan on sax and Jimmy Doyle on guitar (the latter two were also in mid Oz '70s jazz-rock giants, Ayers Rock).

"Pacific Theatre Encore will be reissuing music from across the globe, but it was important to me for the first release to shine a light on the important legacy of our own scene" says Ferguson, who meticulously restored the audio himself, which was then remastered.

More Swiss jazz bliss! We Release Jazz (Ryo Fukui’s Scenery and Mellow Dream, Marc Moulin’s Placebo Live 1971…) is madly happy to unleash another reissue from Geneva’s very own Boillat Thérace Quintet. The My Greatest Love album features none other than bebop and hard-bop legend Benny Bailey and is available for the first time since 1975 on vinyl LP as well as digipack CD. Galvanized by the creation of the Montreux Jazz Festival in the late 60s and lively local scenes, jazz music was healthy and booming in Switzerland in the 1970s. One band that beautifully captured this energy was Jean-François Boillat and Raymond Thérace’s Boillat Thérace Quintet whose self-titled debut and impressive Montreux appearance set the tone for quality Helvetic jazz in 1974. Following this first excellent impression, the Boillat-Thérace ensemble connected with American trumpeter Benny Bailey and recorded the magnificent My Greatest Love in May and June of 1975. The modal, hard bop and soul-jazz gem includes first-class takes on Freddie Hubbard’s “Gibraltar”, Kenny Dorham’s “Blue Bossa”, and Jimmy Heath’s “Gemini”, plus deliciously funky originals from the Geneva crew, including the upbeat “Le Colin” and the swaying fan-favorite “Prompt” and its thrilling solos. Bailey is on trumpet and flugelhorn, Boillat on Fender Rhodes and piano, Thérace on saxophone and flute, Roger Vaucher on Fender bass, Eric Wespi on drums, and Rogelio Garcia on percussion and tenor saxophone…heavy sessions and deep vibes! This is reissued in conjunction with Boillat Thérace Quintet’s self-titled debut album (1974), also available via We Release Jazz.

When a musical ensemble chooses to self-title an album midcareer, it usually signifies their conviction that they’ve struck upon the motherlode, hit the jackpot, stepped up and generally arrived at a point they’ve always striven for but never quite attained before. Coming from GoGo Penguin at this stage in the game, it’s quite a bold statement: the instrumental trio from Manchester, England have fielded plaudits and rave reviews for inspiration and originality at every turn since 2013, when they settled on their dream line-up of Chris Illingworth (piano), Rob Turner (drums) and Nick Blacka (bass). Fusing jazz, classical and electronic influences (amongst others) with a thirst for innovation, they’ve been garlanded as makers of one of the
Mercury Prize album of the year (in ’14) and have enjoyed success on record and in the live arena matched by precious few vocal-free groups post-millennium.

- Standard CD im Gatefold mit 12-seitigen Booklet. Artwork von Lisolomzi Pikoli.
- Schwarzes Doppelvinyl (140g) im recycelten Gatefold mit bedruckten Innenhüllen & Downloadcode. Artwork von Lisolomzi Pikoli.

An end and a new beginning. Kommuniqué Zéro is the debut outing of new Black To Comm related entity Mouchoir Ètanche. And it is the final release in Dekorder's 10-Year Anniversary Hybrid-Vinyl Series (a mere 7 years too late). Combining real and fake acoustic instrumentation, sampling, field recordings and excessive yet inaudible post production this is a powerful statement of intent. Influences are ranging from (French) Classical & Opera to the anecdotical compositions of Luc Ferrari, Chinese Opera, Sacred Music, Collage and Free Improvisation.

Marc Richter records as Black To Comm for Thrill Jockey, Type and Dekorder and as Jemh Circs for his own Cellule 75 imprint. He also produced soundtracks and acousmatic multichannel installations for institutions such as INA GRM Paris, ZKM Karlsruhe and Kunstverein Hamburg.

The Dekorder 10-Year Anniversary Hybrid-Vinyl Series so far included LP's by Pye Corner Audio, Excepter, Experimental Audio Research, Vindicatrix, Kemiallysät Ystävät, Ensemble Economique, Alien Radio, Black To Comm and Le Révélateur.

Music & Artwork by Marc Richter
Richard Youngs: counting
Mastering by Rashad Becker
A Loop-O Prime Cut

Limited edition 180gram premium vinyl pressing and 3 bonus tracks. Released in June 1958, this album (originally issued under the title Little Girl Blue on Bethlehem BCP-6028) was Nina Simone’s first studio recording ever.

Made when she was 25-years old, the album was a huge success and led to a tremendous career that would yield over 80 studio sessions. It was originally issued on the Bethlehem label and features the singer/pianist backed by bassist Jimmy Bond (who had been a member of the Chet Baker Quartet among other groups) and drummer Albert “Tootie” Heath (one of the celebrated Heath brothers, along with saxophonist Jimmy Heath, and bassist Percy Heath). Many of the tracks from this LP would become true classics, among them her perennial versions of “My Baby Just Cares for Me” and “I Loves You, Porgy”. Simone’s piano is well featured throughout the LP, but “Central Park Blues” and “Good Bait” are the only purely instrumental tracks.

Like the Grass documents and reimagines a warm summer's evening in Basel, Switzerland, in June 2018. Four musicians convened: Johannesburg composer and bow expert Cara Stacey, South African violinist and composer Galina Juritz, German harp player Antonia Ravens and Swiss guitarist and sonic explorer Beat Keller.

Together they improvised using a graphic score titled "Luhlata njengetjani" ("Green like the grass" in the southern African Siswati language), inspired by the rivers of eSwatini, blackbirds in the parks of Basel and the evocative, red-flowered umcinci or erythrina tree. The South African umrhubhe mouthbow's dense harmonics folded around skittering, fractal violin loops; temperate swells of guitar were punctuated by agitated harp pings and the hearty thuds of Ugandan and Mozambican lamellophones.

This joyous, unfettered outpouring criss-crossed between southern Africa and Europe, forwards and backwards, for the following two years. The fruits were unpicked and rewoven into new mosaics by Cara, Galina, and two of our favourite recording artists, Object Agency and Hello Skinny.

Recorded as part of Cara Stacey's studio residency in Basel, Switzerland, supported by ProHelvetia Johannesburg.

We Jazz Records presents the debut album of AINON, a Helsinki-based ensemble founded by cellist-composer Aino Juutilainen, released 4 September. On "Drought", the four-piece plays music influenced by jazz, contemporary music and classical music, all morphed together into a highly inspired musical vision. The music of AINON might be best described as "spiritual avantgarde jazz", with original compositions and the individual voices of the four players both playing an integral part in the music. In addition to Juutilainen, the quartet includes Satu-Maija Aalto (violin / viola), Suvi Linnovaara (saxophone / clarinet / flute) and Joonas Leppänen (of Alder Ego, drums).

The quartet has a knack for creating strong moods and performing their original material with remarkable intensity. Mood-wise, the album ranges from serene, almost ambient-like passages to moments of strong improvisation and explosive energy. RIYL: spiritual jazz, modern classical, avantgarde

AINON's "Drought" is released by We Jazz Records on vinyl, CD and digitally. The vinyl version comes with a heavy-duty "tip-on" sleeve and the CD is presented with a laminated digisleeve. The album design features artwork by Finnish visual artist Maija Lassila.

Turkish free jazzers KONSTRUKT continue their series of exciting collaborations with OTOMO YOSHIHIDE, highly reputated multi-instrumentalist and composer in the experimental world.

# 4 in the continuing series of KONSTRUKT collaborations on KARL is a live document of the concert by the Turkish freeform group with the Japanese experimental musician OTOMO YOSHIHIDE from the TUSK FESTIVAL 2018. KONSTRUKT, the Istanbul based free jazz / freeeform group founded and led by UMUT ÇAĞLAR and KORHAN FUTACI, are known for their openness to and interest in collaborations – and regularly meet up and perform with new partners that range from OE McPHEE, WILLIAM PARKER, AKIRA SAKATA, MARSHALL ALLEN, EVAN PARKER, THURSTON MOORE, ALEXANDER HAWKINS or KEN VANDERMARK. This latest release sees the quintet join forces with OTOMO YOSHIHIDE who entered the scene in the 1990s with his group GROUND ZERO and his since worked in all fields of adventurous music, from EAI to improv to turntablism, modern composition, jazz and soundtrack, documented on labels like TZADIK or ERSTWHILE and featuring collaborateurs such as JIM O'ROURKE, JOHN ZORN, MERZBOW; BILL LASWELL and endless more ...

"Eastern Saga: Live at Tusk" shows the multi-instrumentalist on his 2 key instruments guitar and turntables, while KONSTRUKT feature 2 drummers besides KORHAN FUTACI's saxophone / flute , UMUT ÇAĞLAr on guitar, synth, double reeds, flutes and double bass player APOSTOLOS SIDERIS.

Time Lapse is the debut EP from Monzanto Sound, scheduled for release on September 4th 2020 on None More Records. Across the 5 tracks, the four piece journey through krautrock inflected funk, psychedelic trip hop and cosmic neo-soul.

This release follows on from their Moses Boyd produced track 'Open Flower' being included on Rhythm Section's 'Shouts' compilation celebrating 5 years of Rhythm Section, which dropped in April.

Penya came through the door of 2018 with a bang. Their debut LP Super Liminal had been carefully guided by On the Corner having started the journey with a pair of conceptual cassette releases and remixes of a first single by Jose Marquez and DJ Khalab in 2016.

Super Liminal was tipped as one of the LPs of early 2018 not to miss. The album sold out and the band were soon taking their club ready percussive electronica to festivals around Europe. A prime slot at Worldwide Festival, Leysin led the band around Europe and the UK with highlight's including a support slot for Sons of Comet at the innovative Brainchild Festival. They are finishing the year with a slot at WorldwideFM's second birthday party before heading back into the studio.

Whilst the band hit the festival circuit, On the Corner friends and family got busy reworking the in demand 'Super Liminal'.

The remixes on this 12' pushes the Penya sound over the border of the club ready aesthetic and expands with a variety of energies from club culture across continents.

The A-side opens up with a stylish, uniquely individual and layered rework of Cham Bomb by Photay. Drama weaves elegantly with international flavours and a reference for future Afro-Cuban percussive electronica. This track ushers the listener into a private haven of adventure from the get go.

The pulsing, driven energy of Sarathy Korwar's fearsome drum rework is the closest of these reworks to the source material. The deviation is immediate however with a live feeling ripping, tripping and kicking through the foundation of 'Why So Angry'. This is a definite taste of what's to come with Sarathy a delicious addition to Penya's live work when they push later into the night.

Dengue Dengue Dengue cross more continents and bring their signature dreamy Amazonian-Berlin magic to cast spells over main stages and evoke dreamy emotive dynamics for adventurous floors with 'Search it Out'.

On the flip Indian producer, and Penya's label mate, Daisho straightens up 'Iyesa' and kick's it forward with a solid 4x4 for the tool box. Daisho is quickly becoming a safe pair of hands and is under the wing of On the Corner's A&R future vision.

The release is closed out by Al Zanders adding a UK House groove to the proceeding. The rework of Tribes swings into an electro bounce as the young producer stretches and loiters with a new adventure for the dancefloor.

Victoria Topping spices up On the Corner's disco sleeve's with a nod to the dark side and the joy of shaking up the early A.M.s

The 4th LP from Banoffee Pies Records comes in the form of a debut album from Tom Ellis' new live ensemble, Soulstatejazz. The release titled "Annwn", is the result of a 3 day improvisation at Malt Barn studio, in the beautiful Nanerth Valley in mid Wales, forming a 6 track album of hybrid live/electronic jazz-house.

The group, who first performed at Freerotation Festival as a morning journey, soon evolved into a flowing ensemble of musicians brought together by one of the core residents at the festival. With Tom Ellis (Bass, Drums, Percussion & Production), Mark Hand (Fender Rhodes & Moog), Michiel Renger (Tenor Sax) & Dave Elson (homemade Reaktor & Ableton instruments & FX) as the main backline of the band, the LP also features artists and residents connected to Freerotation and Malt Barn studio.

In Welsh folk law it was said "Annwn" an:un - "The Otherwold",
was a world of delights and beauty located on an island or beneath the earth. A place of eternal youth and good, where food and fair health remained ever abundant as the wage of death and disease fell to it's way side. Commonly identifying in Welsh mythology as an afterlife of paradise.

You're probably still listening to the "24/7 Love Affair" album by Soulphiction so we'll keep this short and sweet.
What we have here is something special, a brand new track, Niederbeat Gospel Dub, plus a special version of Feelin' Good.

Two tracks that we felt needed a release of their own, something that can only be described as house music of the highest caliber done with the Soulphiction trademark twist.

Tape / Cassette

Unearth Noise's mission is to expand the barriers of what is considered music, creating a transcendent sonic experience. The project combines elements of experimentalism, psychedelia, world sounds, and ritual musics into a potent and entrancing psycho-spiritual brew. Unorthodox electronics are blended with invented instruments, electric guitars, tribal drums, and shamanic voices, creating otherworldly soundscapes sometimes jarring and dissonant, other times meditative and devotional.

Back in August of 2015, the legendary London grand seigneurs of improvisation pioneers, AMM (John Tilbury and Eddie Prevost) joined forces with Lebanese electro-acoustic-free-jazz outfit "A" Trio (Mazen Kerbaj, Sharif Sehnaoui, and Raed Yassin). Two generations of improvisers with a very differing approach to work, captured dancing slowly along a very thin line of fine-tuned, both, clear and crackling improvised sounds. Harsh at times with magic mellow moments of intense, fragile, broken noises. No overdubs, no use of electronics. Unjazz at times. Recorded by Andreas Pysiewicz at St. Elisabeth Kirche, Berlin on August 27th, 2015 in the context of Daad's Mikromusik Festival. Artwork and design by Mazen Kerbaj. Mixed by Fadi Tabbal at Tunefork Studios, Beirut. Produced in Lebanon by Al Maslakh and Unrock; Mastered by Peter Körfer at Ivory Tower. One-time pressing.

After an epic licensing odyssey that's taken us almost 20 years, we're finally able to announce the 5LP boxset release of the first ever official re-issue of all five of the iconic Lansdowne recording sessions by the legendary UK jazz combo, the Don Rendell/Ian Carr Quintet.
The five albums; Shades Of Blues (1965), Dusk Fire (1966), Phase III (1968), Change Is (1969) and Live (1969), have reached almost mythical status in the collector's world. Regarded as holy grail artefacts for even the seasoned aficionado, the collective second hand market value comes to an astonishing £6000.
Many have tried - and failed - to reissue these albums by legitimate means. However, two decades since our initial approach, Universal Music has gone to great lengths to research their vast archives, and we have finally managed to succeed.
The complete Don Rendell & Ian Carr Lansdowne recording sessions have now undergone a full and unprecedented boxset reissue. We located and acquired the original analogue master tapes from the Universal vaults and created masters at Abbey Road Studios to produce audiophile quality 180g pressings replete with replica artwork - shape, design, and even paper stock. No stone has been left unturned to deliver this absolute labour of love to the highest possible standard! The enclosed booklet contains never before seen photographs, interviews with the remaining living band members and liner notes from BBC Radio 3 presenter and award-winning jazz writer Alyn Shipton.
The band played together for seven years and during this fruitful time they made a plethora of deeply melodic, post-bop British jazz compositions that later on took influences from Indo and more spiritually guided jazz. Produced by the influential Denis Preston and recorded at his Lansdowne Studios in London, the band was primarily made up of saxophonist Don Rendell, trumpeter/composer Ian Carr, and pianist/composer Michael Garrick. This is UK jazz at its absolute finest, and the quality of our box set pays testament to that.

The Berlin based label Sonar Kollektiv has been waiting for it anxiously: Key Elements' debut album leads Jazz music into the new decade down-the-line. The music Key Elements create is fresh, merciless and ruthless and has always the finger on the pulse of the time. The album's eight tracks are all far away from Broken Beat nostalgia or Beatmaking nedism, they breathe inspiration from the young, thriving British jazz scene. Key Element's initiator, DJ and producer Marian Tone, built up a reputation in the Berlin hiphop, soul and jazz scene over the years (also as a co-founder of Beatkollektiv). With all of his compositions you always feel this heritage and his love and passion for hiphop. But the other two allys within ëKey Elementsû, drummer Waldi and the keyboard or bass player Jim Dunloop made their contribution with compositions and ideas as well. An album which was initially designed to be a mere solo project became an effort of a trio over the years being inherently consistent.

US sax player Stanley J. Zappa and Finnish drummer Simo Laihonen come together on the new album "Muster Point" on We Jazz Records, August 7. The two students of Milford Graves add bassist Ville Rauhala on a couple of tracks to make a bold and adventurous album captured both live and in the studio while Zappa was touring in Finland with the Black Motor musicians. This is a set full of fire and thunder, but also features some more meditative spiritual jazz. RIYL: Milford Graves, ESP-Disk', spiritual jazz

"Muster Point" consists of short trio bursts ("Muster Point I-IV"), deep duo cuts such as "Pleasant Avenue" and the inspired material linking the stylistic bookends. The music herein comes from the long standing tradition of independent improvised jazz music, and moves forward in the now, relying in the natural communication and the chemistry between the musicians. At its core, the album is a testament to the importance personal connections between like-minded creative musicians in creating something new.

Stanley J. Zappa, originally from New Jersey, now based in Oliver, BC (Canada) is a highly expressive musician whose career has so far progressed largely under the radar. Part of the lineage of a musical family (his uncle Frank should need no introduction), Zappa's story is that of a true craftsman, now coming into fruition with a like-minded collaborator, Simo Laihonen. Laihonen is best known from his long-standing trio formation Black Motor, also featuring bassist Ville Rauhala featured on the trio tracks on this recording.

2020 Repress

2017 Reissue of "Succubus" - the second work of The Mount Fuji Doomjazz Corporation (the improvisation alter ego of The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble) from 2009. Not existing anymore since 2012 The Mount Fuji Doomjazz Corporation now finally makes all long-time sold out releases available again on all formats (cd vinyl digital).Seductive but perilous, The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble's session under the Mount Fuji Doomjazz Corporation name is a new combination of drones and jazz. Creating sensual, murky and dark atmospheres, Succubus' the evolution of this band, with stronger horns and a focus on hypnotic, soundtrack-like material. A deep, dark and yet seductive trip again for the corporation. After the corpses, the succubus. Faithful to the original The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble concept of drawing inspiration from movies, they recording what later became Succubus' while watching Jess Franco's film of the same name. This iconic 1969 movie, with its strong erotic mood, fragmented story line and oneiric photography encompasses perfectly the goal and means of TKDE / TMFJDC, in the way the band builds mesmerizing, deep and otherworldly atmospheres. More jazz-oriented than their heavier first album "Doomjazz Future Corpses", Succubus' leaves more room to Charlotte Cegarra's vocals and Hilary Jeffery's trombone, while the narrative is still led by Gideon Kiers's drums and Jason Kohnen's bass. Additional improvised charm by Eelco Bosman on guitar and Sarah Anderson on violin. Succubus' displays the corporation' in its most macabre yet entrancing side. Audio cinema has seldom sounded so lustful like on this album. Currently founding member Jason Kohnen is paving the way with his new dark jazz project "The Thing With Five Eyes", continuing the mystical and occult universes people got to love from the "Here Be Dragons" period. In a parallel corner - founding member Gideon Kiers and trombonist Hilary Jeffery are conjuring up a twenty first vision of spiritism with Inconsolable Ghost, working together with artists such as the cellist Anthea Caddy, the viola player Zsolt Sorés Ahad and the filmmaker Makino Takashi. Vocalist Charlotte Cegarra went on to explore her ambient and lyrical vocals as part of Psychedelic-Pop duo Charlotte&Magon.
Together with "Bohren und der Club of Gore" and "The Dale Cooper Quartet", The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble and The Mount Fuji Doomjazz Corporation through the years have succeeded in creating a brand new genre of music. Time to get absorbed again by this unique and fresh sound.

Drummer-producer Teppo Mäkynen's celebrated alias The Stance Brothers returns with a properly groovy 7"/digi single "Resolution Blue / Where Is Resolution Blue?" on We Jazz Records, 19 June. The source of inspiration here is an original track by Timo Lassy & Teppo Mäkynen found on their self-titled 2019 We Jazz LP. The Stance Brothers mangles the track up into two different versions with crisp drums, catchy vibraphone riffs, distorted guitars and 100% signature Stance Bros groove, like only Teddy Rok can deliver it. The digi version adds a "bonus beats" type of treatment in "Teddy Rok Mass Appeal Edit".

True to We Jazz style, the 7" comes with an old school heat-pressed labels and a generic brown paper sleeve.

Hot-on-the-heels of their performance on BBC 6 Music, for Gilles Peterson's 'UK Jazz Special', at the hallowed Maida Vale studios (alongside Nubya Garcia, Joe Armon-Jones and Fatima), Ishmael Ensemble bring their Bristol-inspired 'Severn Songs' project to a triumphant finale.

'Severn Songs 3' pays homage the mighty river itself, in both title and mood. Field recordings from the banks of another iconic river - the Ganges - made by keyboardist and co-writer Jake Spurgeon meander in and out of focus, whilst celestial percussion ushers in the full-bodied tone of celebrated jazz trumpeter Yazz Ahmed's horn. The track climaxes in true Ishmaelian fashion with a whirlwind of pulsating synthesizers, crashing drums and hypnotic brass flurries, before easing back into the dulcet rhythm of oars lapping through water.

On the flip, a reprise takes the listener on a much gentler ride. However, the tension and dynamics of this twin version are still very much apparent. Throughout the release, an array of new instruments open up in Cunningham's armoury; most notably bass clarinet, alto-flute and the sarod - leaving the listener just a few strings shy of a full orchestral experience.

As a whole, the 'Severn Songs' project has seen Cunningham develop an already diverse palette into something more focused. Tiptoeing between the current British jazz boom and Bristol's rich musical ancestry, the group have found a truly unique and refreshing voice.

'Severn Songs 3' follows media praise, radio airplay and DJ support for the first two 7's in the series, from the likes of Dan Snaith (Caribou), Gilles Peterson, Tom Ravenscroft, DJ Mag, Complex, Self-Titled, The Vinyl Factory and XLR8R. Prior to that, 2017 saw Ishmael Ensemble's first EP 'Songs for Knotty' released on Banoffee Pies, followed by an official remix of Carl Craig's 'The Melody' for Infiné.

With rumours of an album 'round the corner, a busy touring schedule and continued support from international tastemakers, 2019 is shaping up to be an ascendant year for this talented producer and his Bristolian troupe.

Musicians:
Pete Cunningham: saxophone, synths, keys
Jake Spurgeon: modular synth, keys, sarod
Yazz Ahmed: flugelhorn
Ross Hughes: bass clarinet, alto flute
Rory O'Gorman: drums
Stephen Mullins: guitar
Jackson Lapes: percussion

A chance sequence of events lead to Tenderlonious, getting his hands on Tubby Hayes' Piccolo, resulting in this outstanding re-interpretation of four classic Tubby Hayes tracks. Featuring some
of London's finest jazz musicians, with the hope to introduce a whole new generation of jazz fans to a true great of British jazz.

1973, in the south of the Netherlands, the city of Heerlen and its surroundings nurtured a strong musical heritage and culture. A number of young musicians were developing their skills in one of the many music schools established in a 30 km radius. This new blood would join fanfares, symphonic orchestras, choirs, and later have a strong influence on dutch pop and jazz music. Founded by Jelmo “Pio” Piovesana, teacher and key musical figure in the region of south
Limburg, Heerlens Percussie Ensemble had some of the most inventive musicians of their generation in its ranks. Having gained valuable experience and new musical perspectives in conservatories and workshops with all time greats like Steve Reich, Bob Becker, Nippy Noya or Han Bennink, Jelmo’s alumni would eventually emancipate themselves from their mentor’s traditional approach to percussive music. Recorded in a school over two days, 1986’s Biologic Music sees masters of their craft exploring uncharted territories using vibraphones, bells, marimbas, electronic drums,
balafons and tibetan prayer wheels, among others. Mixing Jazz, Latin, African, Brazilian, Modern, and Minimal music, the ensemble's penchant for fusion, improvisation and program music, lead them to create a deeply mesmerizing and timeless album. We are proud to present this official reissue, including extensive liner notes and exclusive photos handpicked from the band’s archives.

Perhaps not as well known to the general public, Bethlehem Records earned its place in Jazz history with the release of debut albums from artists like Carmen McRae, Chris Connor, Herbie Mann and Johnny Hartman. Besides that, check those early covers - pure art!

Bethlehem's most famous release is the 1958 debut album by Nina Simone, Little Girl Blue. So when DJ Maestro got the chance to remix this album, he was thrilled. Soon he got the idea to ask some of his favorite producers to collaborate, like Mop Mop, Renegades of Jazz, Gramophonedzie, Fab Samperi, The Reflex and Mees Dierdorp.

One thing they all had in common: excitement to work with the original recordings from this iconic album. The result is 14 remixes, each with a unique approach to the original song, and all with a contemporary feel.

Perhaps not as well known to the general public, Bethlehem Records earned its place in Jazz history with the release of debut albums from artists like Carmen McRae, Chris Connor, Herbie Mann and Johnny Hartman. Besides that, check those early covers - pure art!

Bethlehem's most famous release is the 1958 debut album by Nina Simone, Little Girl Blue. So when DJ Maestro got the chance to remix this album, he was thrilled. Soon he got the idea to ask some of his favorite producers to collaborate, like Mop Mop, Renegades of Jazz, Gramophonedzie, Fab Samperi, The Reflex and Mees Dierdorp.

One thing they all had in common: excitement to work with the original recordings from this iconic album. The result is 14 remixes, each with a unique approach to the original song, and all with a contemporary feel.

Wir sind stolz die Vinyl- und CD Wiederveröffentlichung eines der besten und komplexesten japanischen Fusion Jazz Alben anzukündigen. - Breeze ist das 3.Album der Band Atlas bestehend aus Hiroyuki Namba, Eiji Kawamura und Toshiro und erschien 1987.

Recorded live at Le Triton, Les Lilas, 20 septembre 2007 // François Tusques, piano // Sunny Murray, drums

"Only mountains never meet, goes the saying. I doubt it.
Between 1969 and 1971, Tusques and Murray were often accomplices in rebellious music. After other recordings, their collaboration culminated in an album that became mythical, Intercommunal Music, the site of a joust within the orchestra. The ephemeral and demanding label Shandar had invited François Tusques to lead a recording session on his own suggestion. Sunny Murray, one of his guests, arrived at the studio at the eleventh hour with a group of musicians ready to stage a ʹcoup d’étatʹ. The confrontation, which remained strictly instrumental, is extensively documented on the record.
Forty years later, the two blues activists renewed their instrumental dialogue. And still ten years later, it is thanks to the commitment of a filmmaker that we are able to hear the outcome of this reunion.
How do two musicians who do not talk to each other start a dialogue? How do these two musicians exchange news? Their conversation is recorded and more or less entirely reproduced on these records: you can listen to it. François Tusques’s percussive piano shapes the contours of a continent he is exploring, blues tunes in B-flat, occasionally departing from the scale to avoid confining himself in tonal music. There are evocations of Duke Ellington (Jungle des villes), Alan Shorter (L’Acrobate), Coltrane, Dolphy (Éternité), Dollar Brand (Circonspection).
Murray, a magician and witch armed with drumstick and broomstick, launches wave after wave over the mementos passing before the pianist’s mind’s eye and makes them swing. As the evening proceeds, they conjure the old masters (Monk: Crepuscule with Nelly) and common struggles (Portrait of Ericka Huggins). Huggins, then a member of the Black Panther Party, has only recently found out that a piece was dedicated to her and that her portrait adorned the first album on which it was recorded (Intercommunal Music).
Letters always end up reaching their addressees.
Why, then, would mountains never meet? How are musicians talking to each other? Without words: by creating, in dialogue, unique musical moments. And while we may not be the addressees, we are the beneficiaries of their creations."

David Faroult

JK Group are a powerhouse nu-jazz band fronted by Melbourne saxophonist Josh Kelly, best known for his work with future soul-jazz collective, 30/70, and being the 2019 PBS Young Elder of Jazz.

They sit in the crossover of raw, live jazz and electronic/dance production. At times synth-heavy, effected and soundscapey, while at other times hard hitting groove laden with spiritual jazz overtones and no-holds-barred improvising. Their sound nods respectfully to classic
jazz traditions, whilst carving a path that unashamedly looks towards the future, embracing modern influences and production techniques.

The album received a 5* review from Melbourne's own Mike Gurrieri, and has garnered radio play on PBS, RRR, Worldwide FM, NTS and more. The debut LP 'The Young Ones' is due out on La Sape March 27th. (SAPE010).

In 1972, Steve Lacy recorded Solo, one of the gems in his discography, in the Théâtre du Chêne Noir in Avignon. The previous year (which was also the year in which Aurora appeared), the eponymous group of actors led by Gérard Gelas, took up residence in what was a 12th century chapel. The Théâtre du Chêne Noir is therefore not just the name of a space open to all kinds of artistic audacity, but also the name of the great Theatre Group which resides there.

Gérard Terronès showed some flair when he published, in 1971 on Futura, the first album by Théâtre du Chêne Noir. It has to be said that the group run by Gérard Gelas was right up his street: non-conformist, eccentric, protesting, just so alive... Singing too, as we can still hear today on Aurora, recorded at Avignon the 22 and 23 June 1971.

Aurora, which had been created a few weeks earlier at Ariane Mnouchkine’s Théâtre du Soleil, is according to, Gelas’ own words, a fantastic tale with actor musicians who play out the fabulous story of the Earth, and children who fight against terrifying bird men who fly from planet to planet to enslave the inhabitants and become the masters of the universe. It is an ambitious subject and thankfully (even more so for the album than for the play), the actors are also excellent musicians!

If we can find «Chêne Noir» between Checkpoint Charlie and Chillum in the Nurse With Wound List created by Steven Stapleton and John Fothergill, Aurora is closer to Stances à Sophie by the Art Ensemble Of Chicago and the Divine Comédie by Bernard Parmegiani and François Bayle.

So, we need to move forward cautiously in this landscape of recitals and songs, of mysteries and cries, where saxophones and flutes, electric guitars and percussions spring up... Could the tragic climax have been possible without music? The Théâtre du Chêne Noir replies no to the question and creates a fascinating mix of text and music without one dominating the other. Enjoy the show!

Two years after having recorded Aurora, which Gérard Terronès released on his Futura Records label in 1971, the Théâtre du Chêne Noir put on another show, Miss Madona, first at Avignon, and then at Ariane Mnouchkine’s Théâtre du Soleil. From this play, Gérard Gelas’ group took three sound extracts which they made, with no further ado, into a single.

Miss Madona is thus the second recording by Théâtre du Chêne Noir. The two sides (and three tracks) offer up an unbelievable instrumental theatre with something of a white magic ritual about it. The actors, so much better for the record, were also musicians; alongside Miss Madona, ex-star of the circus and now idol, were the piano and electric organ of Daniel Dublet, the saxophones of Pierre Surtel and Jean-Louis Canaud, and the trumpet of Gilbert Say.

But there are also the vocals of Beatrice Le Thierry, Bénédicte Maulet, Jean Paul Chazalon, Monik Lamy, Nicole Aubiat... which added to the mystery of what happened on stage. The sound of this particular theatre may remind us as much of John Coltrane as of Ravi Shankar, Pierre Henry or the Art Ensemble of Chicago. There are voices from beyond the grave, inspirational for future musicians: Steven Stapleton, for example who included Théâtre du Chêne Noir in his Nurse With Wound List.

IG Culture’s LCSM “Likwid Continual Space Motion” releases 18 track LP and theatre soundtrack Earthbound on Super-Sonic Jazz Records. With last year’s ‘EP1’ release on the Super-Sonic Jazz label, broken beat icon IG Culture introduced the world to the afro-futuristic and forward-thinking jazz of LCSM “Likwid Continual Space Motion”. Now, the UK pioneer kicks off the new decade by expanding on the project with a full-fledged album entitled Earthbound. The interstellar instrumentals blur borders between funk, soul and space-age jazz, while maintaining the signature ‘London Bruk Boogie’ sound IG Culture is recognised for. The album also serves as a score for the accompanying science fiction theatre production that goes by the same name.

Earthbound delicately propels listeners out of orbit and into the vastness of space. The conveying message behind the album is based on the work of author Zecharia Sitchin, who translated ancient Sumerian tablets that explain the origins of humans. The story revolves around the ancient people of Nibiru who return to earth, only to discover that the humans they had once passed down their knowledge are now living in a world of chaos. LCSM translates this esoteric journey by using intergalactic live jazz fusion. The resulting collage is a melange of live sax, alternating percussions sessions, Sun-Ra like piano lines, and otherworldly synth sessions.

Produced in cooperation with Saido Lehlouh, Johanna Faye and Summer Dance Forever Amsterdam, Earthbound sees IG Culture team up members from the London artist collective Steam Down, Alex Phountzi of Selectors Assemble (Bugz In The Attic), and Rhythm Section’s Neue Grafik. Collectively, the hive mind creates a holistic listening experience, to be enjoyed both on and off the dancefloor.

IG Culture is one of the most important protagonists of the UK’s broken beat jazz scene. Having set up the legendary CoOp night at Plastic People, he’s also the man behind CoOp Presents and Selectors Assemble. IG Culture is no stranger to Super-Sonic Jazz, having released an homage to Sun Ra on KC The Funkaholic first imprint, Kindred Spirits back in 2003. With three decades worth of prolific production nuance, Earthbound is the next challenge in the IG Culture’s legacy, an idea that was spurned on and encouraged by Super-Sonic Jazz central figures KC The Funkaholic and brothers Vincent and Siemen Tenzer. With the theatre production making its debut late 2020, the full soundtrack and LP sees its release in april.