Back catalogue: Jazz

Review: Renowned DJ and selector MURO is a Jedi-level compiler and this new collection of his delves into Victor's extensive archives to spotlight a world of Japanese jazz, fusion and AOR. It take sin plenty of internationally known names like Yasuko Agawa on the sunset sounds of 'L.A. Night', Sadistics who offers the more psyched out guitar leans of 'On the Seashore', Yuji Ohno's neo-Balaeric bliss-out 'The Dawn of Seychells' and Hiroshi Fukumura's soul soothing Ry Ayres-style melodies on 'White Clouds.' These are luxurious sounds and timeless tracks with MURO's signature funky perspective making this a brillaint choice for brighter, warmer days.

Review: Dutch keyboard player Fred van Zegveld's 1969 release is a high-voltage display of Hammond organ wizardry, stretching across jazz, soul and r&b with unshakable confidence. His originals, like 'Family Blues' and 'Blue Organ,' are thick with groove, their choppy rhythms and swelling chords bouncing off Ruud Jacobs' steady basslines and Louis de Bey's crisp, unfussy drumming. The title track channels that same energy into a slow-burning, percussive churn, each phrase pulling tighter before van Zegveld lets loose with another spiralling run. His approach to covers is just as striking. 'Misty' drifts into smoky, late-night territory, drenched in shimmering vibrato, while 'I Wanna Be Your Man' ditches the Beatles' pop polish for something grittier, the organ growling over a rolling rhythm section. There's a looseness to the playing, a sense that the band is locked in but always on the edge of cutting loose. The whole record moves with a natural, in-the-room warmthivan Zegveld doesn't just play the Hammond, he makes it breathe, pulling back for hushed, introspective moments before launching into ecstatic swells.

Review: IRMA Records is now in its 37th year and paying resects to the impact of Black music remains central to its vision and output. In the 80s, the acid jazz movement revived soul jazz funk from the 70s, and this vibrant scene continues to thrive today and introduce new artists who take on the mantle. Since the 90s, IRMA has been home to acts on that tip like Jestofunk, Bossa Nostra, Gazzara and Man Sueto and this Mondo Groove collection showcases the diverse Italian scene as it is today. It blends Afrobeat, fusion and world music influences into a party-starting array.

Review: Adrian Younge's latest in the Something About April series is a stunning analogue opus that blends a 30-piece orchestra with breakbeats, synth work and Brazilian psychedelia. It has reportedly been years in the making and is the culmination of Younge's sonic vision as well as being his most expansive and experimental work to date. Brazilian vocalists, fuzzed-out drums and lush orchestration evoke MPB greats like Verocai and Os Mutantes and hip-hop kings Wu-Tang in equal measure. Tracks like 'Nunca Estranhos' and 'Nossas Sombras' are richly cinematic and deeply soulful standouts. More than a closing chapter, this record cements Younge's legacy as a visionary composer.