Pop & Rock News

The 13-piece Re:Freshed Orchestra from Rotterdam presents 'Re:encore' a tribute to Jay-Z. Tip!

Before the re-release of his album with the Cairo Jazz Band recently, the name Salah Ragab was best known to jazz fans and record collectors by way of another LP that was recorded with Sun Ra in the early '70s.

Sublime Christian folk jazz from 1970s Norway. In the '60s and '70s churches throughout Europe had serious competition for the attention of its younger members. The ecclesiastical establishment was shocked to hear teenagers expressing 'Sympathy for the Devil' rather than sympathy for Christ and his teachings. In Norway at this time the same situation was prevalent as was happening across Europe; teenagers were turning their back on the church and embracing the temptations and pleasures of the flourishing new pop culture. Priest Olaf Hillestad was all to aware of what was going on, and instead of relying on the floundering traditional methods of rounding up his flock, he embraced the musical aspirations of his younger followers. In so doing he founded the Forum Experimentale in Oslo, an organisation that promised in its statutes to "boldly work for a renewal in service life, church music and church art". It was here in the late '60s where That's Why founder members Jan Simonsen and Per Arne Løvold became responsible for the jazz masses at Forum Experimentale's chapel. Together with some top-notch musicians from other Christian music centres around the Oslo district, they recorded two albums in 1970 and 1971 under the moniker That's Why. That's Why blended deep acoustic and electric jazz with elements of Norwegian folklore and Christianity. They also included interpretations of young and old transcendental Norwegian poets such as Sidsel Mørck Krogdahl, Alfred Hauge and Aslaug Vaa, as well as introducing English and Swedish songwriters such as Åke Rosenstrøm and Charles Wesley and even William Blake's "Children of the Future Age" into the mix. This highly original fusion of secular rhythmic music, jazz improvisation and a distinguished selection of transcendental lyrics is one of the standout qualities of That's Why, separating them from more programme-orientated Christian music. The unique mix leads the listener to think they are hearing among the record grooves the tightness of grey, sober Protestantism along with the ecstasy of a lay preacher. This listener, for one, has never heard anything quite like it.

Twinned here are two complimenting renditions of a deliciously moody number entitled 'Sweetheart'. You can opt for either of two bluesy croon cats - on the top side we've picked Frank Heppinstall's version simply because of the sudden and unexpected blaring organ, screaming vox middle sections which give this darkly tinged little ditty an extra injection of energy. But flip it over and you can hear Lonnie Sattin's more restrained approach - slinky, conga-laden and quietly building up from a slow smoulder to a blazing finale.

Two middle-eastern themed pieces of wild 50s dance floor exotica here, with Ray Ellis' 'The Sheik' a perennial favourite among instro-freaks with it's big production and uptempo insistent rhythm. What's more, pitch it down and you also have a classic Belgian popcorn spin!

A rare 1965 trio recording by piano legend Dom Salvador. Features Edson Lobo (bass) and Victor Manga (drums).
This album fuses the hard bossa trio sound, that was just starting to become a major force in Rio, with pure melodic jazz. Lobo's double bass playing adds depth and colour that other bossa trios could not match. This is the greatest jazz album to come out of Brazil full stop

The 19979 foundation for the Black Arts presents:

The formidable Jazz nomads release a long player of deepness on Morphine's new live series...
first long player from upperground orchestra initiates the new 'live series' of morphine records. 'the eupen takes' is a live document clearly showing what the collective is normally improvising on stage, a chaotic but still tight blend of jazz, kraut and electronics, where nothing is previously planned, and analog synths and spaced out sounds melt with instruments in a natural and free approach. the eupen takes lp contains the second half of the june 2011 show at the meakusma stage, eupen muzik marathon , a full session recording will be soon out on cd.

The third album of The Rongetz Foundation, also recorded in New York, will be released end of 2012 and features musicians such as Gregory Porter, Ronnie Cuber, Renee Neufville or John Robinson. On that session, Rongetz goal was to dig more than ever into compositions that are bridging Jazz with Hip-Hop and Soul music. It resulted in eight original pieces and a cover of legend Reggae pioneer Count Ossie, which compose this brilliant The Brooklyn Butterfly Session album. The project is already supported by tastemaker DJs like Gilles Peterson, Michael Ruetten and LeFto.
'Rongetz' (Stephane Ronget) is originally from France but is now living and working in New York City (USA).

At the end of the '50s, Miles Davis' Kind of Blue heralded the revelatory arrival of modal jazz. As the vibrations of these giant steps resonated across the world, European jazz musicians reassessed their bearings and began to steer a new course. Across the continent they sent roots down into the rich soil of the European folk and Christian liturgical traditions, extended their music along ancient routes of communication and trade to the Middle East, and reached across the crumbling ramparts of the European empires to the music of Asia Africa and Latin America.

The Hit Collection!Er war eines der beliebtesten Mitglieder des - Rat Packs', einer trinkfesten Sänger- und Schauspielertruppe um Frank Sinatra. Berühmtheit erlangte er nicht zuletzt als - Sportin' Life' in Gershwins - Porgy and Bess'. Seine größten Hits sind hier versammelt. Sie beweisen, dass er nicht umsonst - the world's greatest living entertainer' genannt wurde!

The earlier works of the Hungarian dj/producer duo called Savages y Suefo came out on UrbanWorld Records. Now, they continue their mission at Agogo Records with a nice 6 tracker vinyl 12". Side A contains three own tracks with guest vocalists like Judie Jay and MC Guacho. On the flip side you can find a self remix and two remixes from Rube and Renegades Of Jazz. The 12" is a melting pot of swing-hop, electro-swing, downtempo, dub and latin music.

One of the finest piano players and vocalists of post-war Chicago blues, Mississippi native, Sunnyland Slim first came to prominence playing on the Chicago scene with the likes of Sonny Boy Williamson, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter and Muddy Waters. By 1947 he had landed a recording contract with Aristocrat (soon-to-be Chess Records), recording his first single, 'Johnson Machine Gun', in September of that year with none-other-than Muddy Waters on guitar. This, of course, led to Muddy's historic signing to the label soon afterward. 1961's Slim's Shout, however, finds this giant of the Windy City in far-off New Jersey, at a classic recording session for the Bluesville label. Here, Slim—backed by the legendary King Curtis (best known for his sax playing on recordings by the Coasters and Aretha Franklin)—lays down favorites like 'The Devil Is A Busy Man', 'It's You Baby', and the driving 'Shake It' (check out Robert Banks' organ solo on this track). Also featuring two bonus tracks not found on the original vinyl: 'Everytime I Get to Drinking' and 'Tired Of You Clowning'!
SIDE A: 1. I'm Prison Bound 2. Slim's Shout 3. The Devil Is A Busy Man 4. Brownskin Woman 5. Shake It 6. Everytime I Get To Drinking (bonus)

SIDE B: 1. Decoration Day 2. Baby How Long 3. Sunnyland Special 4. Harlem Can't Be Heaven 5. It's You Baby 6. Tired Of You Clowning (bonus)

Bringing us right up to date we have the alliance between Funkshone and Kenny Dope Gonzalez. Although aware of the work of Funkshone to date, Kenny recently revisited Purification and felt the need to remix this like many other Funk classics within his enviable catalogue and presents to you a continuation of an obscure Funk masterpiece and a worthy answer to Purification Parts 1 & 2; Purification Parts 3 & 4. While not many works of any genre come in 4 parts, this one does and is sure to set dance floors ablaze across the globe."

*During the gap of nearly 10 years since their last release, Fontanelle has been trying to transport themselves back in time to 1973 into Patrick Gleeson's Different Fur Trading Company studio.With the help of Randall Dunn's expertise (sunn O))), Black Mountain, Wolves in the Throne Room), it sounds like they made it!
*Rex Ritter's tour of duty with sunn O))) during Fontanelle's hiatus seems to have irreparably changed his DNA, as well as the band's. Adding an amazing array of horn players (many heard on sunn O)))s; Monoliths & Dimensions), Fontanelle has conjured a burly fusion jazz sound that has been dubbed, 'White Magus.'
*Gentry Densley (Eagle Twin), Steve Moore (Earth, sunn O)))), Hans Teuber, Eric Walton (Skerik), Jef Brown (Jackie-O MF) and Dave Carter are all featured on Vitamin F. The band, based in Portland OR, is comprised of Andy Brown (Jessamine), Rex Ritter (Jessamine, sunn O)))), Paul Dickow (Strategy), Brian Foote, Nudge, Leech), Mat Morgan and Borg Norum.
*The BLACK vinyl version of this greasy-groovy masterpiece of fuzzed out funk is imited to a one time pressing of 1,000.

At the end of the '50s, Miles Davis' Kind of Blue heralded the revelatory arrival of modal jazz. As the vibrations of these giant steps resonated across the world, European jazz musicians reassessed their bearings and began to steer a new course. Across the continent they sent roots down into the rich soil of the European folk and Christian liturgical traditions, extended their music along ancient routes of communication and trade to the Middle East, and reached across the crumbling ramparts of the European empires to the music of Asia Africa and Latin America.

TERANGA BEAT proudly presents the ROYAL BAND de THIÈS in their first ever and entirely unreleased 1979 recording. Singers and composers JAMES GADIAGA & SECKA will guide you through the sweet melodies, wicked rhythms and vocal traditions of Senegalese music, in a fabulous performance that combines MBALAX with AFRO-JAZZ.
While many bands in the world claimed the title of "Pacesetters" none can stand next to ROYAL BAND de THIÈS. The 9-member band with its dynamite percussion and horn sections will twist you like tornado! Tracks like "HOMMAGE À MBAYE FALL" will take you on a musical journey to the cultural crossroads of Senegal, West Africa's meeting point of European, Latin American and African musical traditions. This real-time, two-microphone recording gives the impression that the group is playing live in front of you, making it hard to believe it dates back 33 years ago! The liner notes of the double gatefold LP and CD booklet include more interesting details, outlining JAMES's & SECKA's musical careers along with the past and present of the band. We hope you will enjoy!

Kings of raw funk, The Apples have been creating genre melting, infectious groove for nearly a decade. Blending a composition of decks, horns, double bass, drums and electronic effects, The Apples create a big band vibe mixed with their Middle Eastern influences, to create a signature sound that pushes the boundaries of modern funk.
At their best, live, The Apples allow their origin of spontaneous composition to shine, working audiences into a booty-shaking, body heaving frenzy. Recent live appearances include WOMAD, Camp Bestival and Secret Garden Party festivals.

Breath in....ace Jimi Tenor album on Kindred Spirits!
Anyone familiar with Jimi Tenor will already know that his esoteric style has already earnt him a unique place somewhere between the worlds of jazz, techno, afrobeat, latin and many other cosmic ensembles. But with this latest LP Aether, Jimi delves even deeper to bring us one of his most expansive visionary records yet.
Aether has come together over the course of a couple of years, and illustrates some of the different projects that Jimi's been working on. One of the main seeds was planted after Jimi collaborated with OG afro-beat originator Tony Allen, after the sessions for their LP for Strut's 'Inspiration Information' series. Others songs were developed from Jimi's long-running tete-a-tete with Berlin-based afro ensemble Kabu Kabu. Throw in a touch of Martin Denny-esque exotica, some Arkestra-inspired space waltzes, and a few of Jimi's homemade instruments, and the result is a collection of tracks bristling with percussive energy, big band arrangements, inter-galactic spirituality.
Tracks like 'Dance Of The Planets', 'Eternal Mystery', and the opener 'Selvanakija', clearly owe a debt to Sun Ra, condensing the Arkestra's galactic space-walks into taut afro-cuban work-outs underpinning Jimi's trademark melodies and brass harmonics. But it's not just musically that the Arkestra has inspired the sounds on Aether. 'I read about Pat Patrick making his own bass marimbas, so I went and got a book from the library about making your own instruments,' said Jimi. 'Making your own instruments is good, you can find your own unusual tunings and overtones. It's a bit like when Sonic Youth make their own tunings on their guitars. It's all about making something a bit different from the usual temperate scale. That just doesn't sound interesting anymore. '
The track 'Universal Love' is one example of Jimi's home-made sound coming through, with an epic build-up climaxing with an instrument that sounds like an elephant had wandered into the recording session at Berlin's Lovelite studio. 'I just went into the forest and chopped down a big branch. I carved it myself, like one of those alpine horns or something.' This DIY approach is Jimi's way of bringing people together. 'I hope that when people see it live, they feel like they're a part of a sort of unprofessional group, like a hippy family or something. Sometimes when I see the latin percussion set-ups on stage, it all just looks so polished and clean. I'm often making my own claves for the whole band, just to get a bit of a different sound.'
A sense of togetherness is at the heart of Aether, and not just in the concert hall. It permeates Jimi's whole world-view, even embracing other worlds. Lyrically, the song 'Resonate And Be' captures what the LP is about, exploring the drama of the cosmos for our own spiritual and material well-being. Jimi explains, 'in our view there is only aether. Everything material is the resonance of the aether. We are, because our particles resonate the song of cosmos. We are all one.'

The Unity Sextet is a special kind of band. Buddy Franco, Fats Young Jr., Cassius Farqhuar, Junior Oliver, Chuck Waldron and 'Fat Thumbs' Ronnie met in spring of 2011 whilst playing at different jazz festivals in different bands with different genres ranging from traditional to experimental jazz.

The non vocal parts of the band Mountaineer have decamped for this
spectacular Deutsche-Bomb with two tracks that lay bare Fürsattl's love
for a vintage German sound. 'Rheinlust' kicks of with a gentle, metronomic
melody, a hefty kick and pulsing bass, and so it goes in that subtle hypnotic
groove, gently introducing synths and washes of sound until you feel like
you're on a German ringroad in a Delorean.
On the fip the infuences show again, with a nod towards Can, 'Links Der
Pegnitz' has a genius of kilter jazzy vibe with a hefty bass, genius guitar
fecks and killer percussion. There is the edge of Mountaineer here with the
delicacy of sounds, but the throbbing undercurrent sets these two tracks
apart.

Lonnie Lester was born in Dorena, Missouri in 1937, the oldest of thirteen children. In 1946 his family moved to Gary, IN. Encouraged by his grandmother, he started singing in church at the age of six. As a teenager he performed with doo-wop groups in and around Gary. In the mid 1970s he cut some R&B singles for the Nu-Tone label, incl. You can't go and Ain't that a shame which are featured on this 45rpm single re-issue. Both tunes are just perfect for any DJ who plays soul, funk and R&B. Regardless of what side you play, it will pack the dance floor for sure.

From R&S to Polydor. James Blake's cover of Feist & Chilly Gonzales's 'Limit To Your Love', released on heavyweight 10" vinyl

The third album of The Rongetz Foundation, also recorded in New York, will be released end of 2012 and features musicians such as Gregory Porter, Ronnie Cuber, Renee Neufville or John Robinson. On that session, Rongetz goal was to dig more than ever into compositions that are bridging Jazz with Hip-Hop and Soul music. It resulted in eight original pieces and a cover of legend Reggae pioneer Count Ossie, which compose this brilliant The Brooklyn Butterfly Session album. The project is already supported by tastemaker DJs like Gilles Peterson, Michael Ruetten and LeFto.
'Rongetz' (Stephane Ronget) is originally from France but is now living and working in New York City (USA).

01. Gogo Soul (feat. Gregory Porter)
02. Hard bop Merry go round (feat. Gregory Porter)
03. Eunice K (feat. Renée Neufville)
04. Sam's intro
05. A composer of Modern day (feat. John Robinson)
06. The Bolshoi drunk ghost
07. The braggart (feat. Marvin Parks)
08. Freaking sunshine
09. The Bolshoi drunk ghost (radio edit)

The first time ever on vinyl for these 1964 Rudy Van Gelder recordings for Blue Note; and astral strides beyond the flat highlife cuts originally issued. With Donald Byrd, Hubert Laws and Elvin Jones stretching out breathtakingly amongst resplendent Nigerian drumming, and anticipating the vibes of classic Pharoah and Alice Coltrane. Around thirteen minutes each side.

French electro swing master Minimatic joins Resense with two fun bringing joints.

The third album of The Rongetz Foundation, recorded in New York, will be released fall 2012 and features musicians such as Gregory Porter, Ronnie Cuber, Renee Neufville or John Robinson. On that session, Rongetz goal was to dig more than ever into compositions that are bridging Jazz with Hip-Hop and Soul music.
« Gogo soul » is the first single from the new album. A soul jazz compositon with the great voices of GREGORY PORTER, the jazz revelation of 2012.
Surely one of the jazz track of the year.
The project is already supported by tastemaker DJs like Gilles Peterson, Michael Ruetten and LeFto.

I Am An Instrument, When I Am Close To God I Am Finely Tuned, The Further I Am Away From God The More Out Of Tune I Am' (E.W.Wainwright)

The drummer E.W. Wainwright was the founder of A.R.O.J. a no profit association based in San Francisco.

The 'African Roots of Jazz project has the purpose of Educate, Entertain, re-cycle veterans of the arts back through the academic, spiritual and penal community. An Afro Cultural Spiritual Jazz album with more than 18 musicians and singers involved released on private press only! Extremely Rare!