Review: The Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band has become the latest jewel in the Big Crown. Lead by Bjorn Wagner, they have stopped several essential recordings not he label, all defined by their famous steel pan sound. Often they turn to covers of the classics such as they did back in March and this time around they take aim at the much loved and low slung hip-hop classic 'Nuthin' But A G Thang' by Dr Dre. In their hands it becomes something else entirely but still delightfully low slung and sleazy. This one is backed with 'How We Do' which is another loveably fresh sound.
Review: They're best known for covering hip-hop classics in their unique, funk band plus steel pans vibe, but Germany's Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band show there are spookier arrows in their quiver when the time of year demands it. Two special halloween themed cover versions grace this 7", the first a rendition of the theme from TV show of the moment 'Stranger Things', the second their version of the title theme from the film 'Halloween', originally penned by the master soundtrack maker himself John Carpenter. Both have a slightly cheeky, quirky and rather joyful atmosphere, tending more towards the cute rather than the spooky side of all hallows, but don't let their lack of scariness put you off, they're both delightful.010920
Review: Reissues aside, this EP marks synthesizer legend Wally Badarou's first appearance on vinyl since 1989. Given the high regard in which the former Grace Jones, Herbie Hancock and Talking Heads collaborator is rightly held, this is undoubtedly big news. All four tracks were previously self-released by Badarou digitally, though all but his most dedicated fans would have missed them. "Fisherman (I'Theme)" is an undeniably jaunty, Caribbean jazz-funk treat in Badarou's trademark style, while "The Daiquri Diaries (Vintage Extended)" sees the great man soloing over a dreamy, Balearic style groove. On the flip you'll find the tropical synth-calypso of "Awa" and "Higher Still", a sublime jaunt into eyes-closed ambient territory that sounds like it come have come from Andreas Vollenweider's studio sometime in the mid 1980s.
Review: Despite not releasing all that much in 2018, Canadian nu-jazz combo BADBADNOTGOOD's reputation continued to rise. That was in no small part due to their eye-catching collaboration with Little Dragon, which resulted in the digital release of "Tried" back in September. Now the track has been given a deserved seven-inch single release by Ninja Tune. With LD lead vocalist Yukimi Nagano doing her best to channel the spirit of Minnie Riperton, "Tried" has a similarly languid, jazz/folk/soul fusion feel as some of the best works by Rotary Connection. BADBADNOTGOOD's admiration of the Charles Stepney-produced band comes through loud and clear through the choice of instruments and arrangements. For further proof, check the accompanying flipside instrumental mix.
The Kevin Fingier Collective - "Addis Ababa" (3:14)
Review: Fingier is Acid Jazz's new sub label for the multifarious works of Argentinian producer Kevin Fingier. Fingier touches on soul, R&B, boogaloo and raw funk in his music, and that's true once again on this collaboration with Abdoulaye Badiane. Badiane is originally from Senegal but now based in Argentina, and he's been travelling the world for 20 years teaching African music. Now he brings his musical heritage to bear on Fingier's funk, and the fusion is incredibly sweet and soulful. 'Kairo Bancou Moulu' has a 60s touch, while 'Addis Ababa' naturally takes its cues from the incredible legacy of Ethiopian jazz.
Review: The third volume of this series delivers an irresistible blend of funk and 60s-inspired grooves. Side-1 kicks off with a surf-rock-infused funk jam packed with energy and retro vibes. Following that, a swinging 60s sound that combining catchy rhythms and pop sensibilities keeps the momentum going. Side-2 shifts gears a groove-heavy track led by a soulful organ that oozes vintage charm. Closing the collection, there is a gem that features smooth, funk-driven melodies, topped off by a standout sax solo and a subtle British flair. This compilation offers a vibrant mix of styles, perfect for fans of classic funk with a modern twist.
Review: A timely revisit to two of the stand out covers on Italian jazz/lounge posterboy Andrea Balducci's 2012 album Bloom. "Spooky" is a soft, sweet and succinctly measured take on Shapiro and Middlebrooks' mid 60s standard while "Hurts So Bad" is a respectful twist on Weinstein, Harshman and Randazzo's similar era classic that was made famous by Linda Ronstadt years later.
Review: Bamma Gamma returns with a sizzling slab of funk in the form of 'Omelette' via Detroit's renowned Funk Night Records. This one is a digger's dream, raw, gritty instrumental funk with break-heavy drums, tight guitar licks and basslines so greasy they practically drip off the record. True to Funk Night's underground sound, Omelette is unapologetically retro and authentic and serves up irresistible dancefloor heat that feels like a lost '70s cut that has been newly rediscovered. For DJs looking to inject some analogue soul into their sets, it's a no-brainer.
Review: Banda Maje, an ever-changing collective helmed by composer/keyboardist Peppe Maiellano and producer/rapper/DJ Tonico Setlanta, have delivered a hugely impressive debut single here. The collective's soon to be trademark sound is rooted in vintage funk, library music and old Italian film soundtracks, but has a contemporary freshness that makes both showcased tracks avoid the pitfalls of empty nostalgia. A-side 'Formelesse' is warming and groovy, with shuffling funk beats and undulating bass guitar underpinning 1970s synth sounds, jazz-funk vocalisations and refined horn riffs. On the flip, they deliver a deliciously breezy take on one of their favourite Italian movie themes, re-casting it as a summery slab of jazz-funk/samba fusion.
Review: Banderas are that most rare of beasts: an eleven-piece salsa band from Japan. While they've been active for a while, their recorded output has been limited, to say the least. The two tracks featured on this tasty 7" were first featured on the band's 2016 debut release, which was never released outside of Japan. It's undoubtedly great that they're finally available to a wider audience, because both are potent dancefloor workouts. With its atmospheric, "barrio atmosphere" opening, jaunty piano build-up, punchy horns, sing-along Cuban style vocals and scorching salsa rhythms, A-side "Tema De Banderas" is particularly effective. That said, bustling B-side "Banderas Mambo", with its heavier rhythms and rousing mambo horn lines, is also pretty darn hot.
Review: These two tracks from Mike Bandoni and Chip Wickham have been a long time coming. The two stablemates from the 'Craig Charles Fantasy Funk Band' have been discussing a collaboration for years and now; and it's finally in the bag! Mike brings his trademark killer funky drums (recorded by the legendary Malcolm Catto), percussion, Rhodes, bass and vintage guitar vibes to the party, whilst Chip delivers some sublime and highly complimentary work on sax and flute. 'Infinity Pool' sounds like a long-lost Bobbi Humphrey-meets-Bob James composition, with the flute taking centre stage - underpinned by what can only be described as mammoth funk grooves on every other instrument - while 'Get It!' is a cool number, channelling a phenomenally infectious groove and hook, both of which remain in the brain for days.
Review: Chris Bangs has already offered up some floor filling joy with his 'Back To Business' soul-jazz collaboration with Mick Talbot. Now he's back in business once more with a couple of new tunes taken from his upcoming album Firebird which arrives on Acid Jazz in January 2023. The A-side here is a take on Tal Cjader's 'Samba do Sueno' and draws on Chris's earlier days as a DJ for those big dance floor dynamics. 'Soccer Samba' on the back-side is a big percussive number steeped in Brazil influences and packed with more dance floor potency.
Review: Chris Bangs is actually credited as being the man who coined the term 'acid jazz' and here he shares this new Acid Jazz 7" with Mick Talbot who was of course a founding member of the Style Council. Together they serve up a brace fo brilliantly cheeky but functional jazz cuts to get dance floors in a spin. 'Sumthin' Else' has an almost samba shuffle and plenty of florid trumpets lighting up the busy groove. 'Wiggle Wiggle' then goes direct for your ass with its raw boom bap and noodling chords all finished with some big horn work
Review: The latest release on ever-crucial French jazz outpost Heavenly Sweetness welcomes the work of Bardainne Jaumet, a collaboration between accomplished French saxophonist Laurent Bardainne and Versatile regular Etienne Jaumet for four musically rich excursions into cosmic disco, Library music and the golden age of European synthesiser exploration. This is perhaps not what you might expect from the pairing of these two artists, or indeed the label, but the sheer compositional power and production of these two is simply undeniable. Grandiose statement pieces from two incredibly talented minds meeting on the same astral plane with a well-appointed studio as a vessel.
Review: "The dampness of the rainforest, the hostility of the mangrove ultimately did not suit him. So he left his natural environment for the tranquillity of a freshwater body". So goes the (translated) back story of this new EP from Laurent Bardainne. The 'he' in question is a Tiger who ventured across Europe, Asia and America and apparently picked up various musical styles along the way. Whatever you make of that, the tracks here are gold: "Marvin" is smooth jazz fusion with percolating drums, "Porsche 944" has a joyous lead sax and more crisp boom bap drums, while "Aout" is a soaring bit of heartfelt soul Daptone might put out. The Drop Vibes rework of "Porsche 944" features a vocal roller and closes things in fine fashion.
Review: Destination 1981 for these Latin cover versions from renowned composer and Tito Puente compadre Ray Barretto. First heard on his 1981 album La Cuna, both these versions (taken from the original masters) sparkle and shine with this trademark jazz signature; the 7" version "Pastime Paradise" offers a little more bounce in the rhythm than Stevie's original while the vocals are eerily similar to Wonder himself. Carlos Franzetti's "Mambotango" enjoys pride of place on the B; light and almost loungey in its make up, the horns do all the seducing over a smouldering samba beat.
Review: Stevie Wonder's 'Pastime Paradise' has thus far been less recognised as an original soul wonderwork, and more so as a sample by American rapper Coolio on the derivative 'Gangster's Paradise'. Though still having been covered by many artists over the years, Major Keys records highlights this enduring 1981 cover of Wonder's 'Paradise' by Latin percussionist Ray Barretto as among their favourites, if not their absolute favourite. Now the label reissue the gem, flaunting its up-to-date, nigh timeless feel; it's the opposite of a miracle that this has never before been released on a 12" single record, despite the fact that it is a favourite on the floors of jazz and soul rooms the world over. It also flips it with Barretto's own 'La Cuna' and 'Mambotango', taken from the same 1981 LP.
Review: Major Keys revisits the jazz-funk classics with Gary Bartz's Music is My Sanctuary, now making its debut on a 12-inch. This 1977 gem, featuring the double Grammy-winning saxophonist, is an evergreen floorfiller, remastered for DJs and vinyl enthusiasts alike. With Syreeta Wright on vocals, Bill Summers and James Mtume on percussion, and arrangements by Larry Mizell, this track assembles top-tier talent. The lyrics are joyful and heartfelt, all anchored by Bartz's glorious saxophone. It's a timeless piece for both the mind and the dance floor. On Side-2, Carnaval De L'Esprit, is a lesser-known but equally brilliant jazz-funk masterpiece. Its sunny vibe lifts even the weariest spirits, cementing Major Keys as a must-have label. This record is a treasure that will be revisited time and again.
Review: An intriguing song is 'Aftershower Funk', the Latin American musician Joe Bataan's curt salsa single from 1974. Fresh, cologned, groomed, and with towel firmly wrapped round hair, Bataan's largely instrumental track is about as lightfooted as the sprightly young man he was, then at 34 years old. With heavy tin drum and cowbell clangings peppered throughout, a toe-tapping mood is sure to beset the listener. B-sider 'Fin' continues the mood, uniting percussion with piano, brass, whistle and rhythm guitar; a much fuller exercise in triumphant finality.
Review: The riffing 'Latin Strut' by Joe Bataan, colloquially known as the "King of Latin Soul", was first released in 1974. This was an early joint outing between specialist Latin music pushers Mericana Records and RCA Victor; having already earned his name as a releaser of many a gold-rimmed, inner-labelled 7" record, Bataan was well into his acetates and LPs game by the point of his comeup in Spanish Harlem, New York. Backed as it was in '74 by 'Peace, Friendship & Solidarity', a waltzing song dedicated to the plight of Berliners during the Cold War, the star funk-samba shuffle 'Latin Strut' contrasts as a sizzling solicitation of descending contrapuntal piano and Quena fluting pizzazz.
Review: ,Joe Bataan has been busy in East L.A. with Orquesta Rene for this new Latin jazz double 7" courtesy of Steady Beat. It features four all new pieces drenched in soul and percussion, starting with 'So Fine' (feat Big Sandy), a mid tempo groove with vocal longing and languid horns. 'Mestizo' is a more steamy and intimate piece with sung-spoken lyrics and glowing, golden chords. 'Mom & Dad' (feat Claudia Lennear) has s steamy shuffle to its rhythms and classic Latin percussive sounds next to a call and response vocal and 'Time After Time' closes with a sentimental feel.
Review: BDQ Records is the outlet for jam quintet BunnDebrettQuintet, who emerged out of 90s acid jazz titans Mother Earth. Their sound has refocused on a raw and rasping strain with a live, in-the-room electricity which comes through brilliantly on this new single with Lydia Sharpe. Taking a few cues from a Led Zeppelin classic, Sharpe strikes a fierce, sultry figure on top of the sizzling hot Hammond organ vamps and low slung rhythm section. It sounds dangerous like a niche 50s cut, but there's plenty of meat on the bones of the production, while the familiar vocal hooks will go down a storm with a busy dancefloor.
Review: Dedicated to the Hammond-heavy 1960s soul-jazz sounds of Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, Grant Green and Reuben Wilson, the Beat Bronco Organ Trio are a fresh outfit with classic inspirations. The Madrid threesome's debut single is something of a retro-futurist treat. We're really enjoying A-side "Easy Baby", a loose and languid fusion of ear-pleasing Hammond licks, laidback, breakbeat-driven drums and flanged jazz guitars that impressively increases in intensity throughout, culminating in a frenzy of sweaty drums and eyes-closed guitar solos. "Geriatric Dance", meanwhile, is even more up-tempo, with high octane Hammond and jazz guitar solos stretching out over a feverish funk drumbeat.
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