Review: Sensory Blending hears Finnish artist Jimi Tenor and Italian group Aura Safari team up for an impromptu studio shebang in Perugia, Italy, after Tenor's storied but clandestine performance at a Hell Yeah party. Despite no prior connection, the musicians quickly found common ground, forging a vivant fusion of jazz-funk, tropicalia and soul. Tenor's psychedelic style gelled Aura Safari's faster, intuited approach, resulting in such tracks as 'Bodily Synesthesia,' 'Bewitched By The Sea' and 'Lunar Wind', each of which connect seductive grooves and ghost noted keys. Possibly performed live at select events later in the year, the record is a perfect storm of recorded "live feel" Balearica.
Review: A standout 1958-1959 recording by Johnny Hodges, Side by Side marked his continued solo work after taking the bold decision to leave the legendary Duke Ellington Orchestra. This album harks back to the small-group sessions of the 1930s but with a twist as Ellington's absence on several tracks meant Billy Strayhorn stepped in on piano. Joining Hodges are jazz legends like Jo Jones, Roy Eldridge and Harry 'Sweets' Edison, who all add colour to the varied collection, which has been newly remastered for Verve's Acoustic Sounds Series. As a follow-up to 1959's Back to Back: Duke Ellington and Johnny Hodges Play the Blues, it is another gem from the noted alto saxophonist.
You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want) (4:54)
Go For It (4:18)
Loisaida (5:27)
Happy Ending (3:39)
Be My Number Two (4:28)
Heart Of Ice (6:50)
Review: A reissue on nice double vinyl for the sixth album from 'sophisti-pop' pioneer Jackson, fusing jazz, funk and soul elements with a post-punk spikiness and a very British outlook, pointing the way forward for the likes of the Style Council and a host of other 80s acts. It first surfaced in 1984 and although it's the first digitally recorded album he made, it's typified sonically by Jackson and producer David Kershenbaum's move to reject the sterile, dead acoustics of modern studios in favour of the Manhattan Masonic Hall, previously mainly used for classicx recording. The jazzy solos, sparkly sax and snazzy chorus of 'You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want)' - with just a hint of Afrobeat groove to it too - are probably best known here, but all nine songs number among the Staffordshire-born musician's smartest output.
Review: Celebrate 20 years of In Between with In Between Revisited: Jazzanova Live, a vibrant reimagining of Jazzanova's smashing debut. Recorded at Little Big Beat Studios, this intimate session fuses the original album's sample-driven roots with the real-deal energy of live musicianship. Tracks like 'That Night', 'No Use', and 'Days To Come' take on new life, blending jazz, soul, and electronic elements in a seamless, unforgettable performance. Though it was originally a studio creation, In Between helped define the genre of nu-jazz upon its 2002 release, where nu-jazz itself always invites live-lounge rejigging. With the Jazzanova Live Band, formed in 2008 and honed over 15 years of touring, the group finally brings a long-plotted album to the stage. The performance is here captured on analogue tape with stellar musicians and vocalists, reinventing, yet at the same time devoting itself to, a classic.
Review: An essential snapshot of late 60s British jazz, Off Centre snaps pianist and arranger John Cameron during a rare small group session, capturing a uniquely vivid, rhythmically complex album. Renowned for his soundtrack and library music work, Cameron brings that same cinematic flair to these tracks: 'Off Centre', 'Troublemaker' and 'Omah Cheyenne' are rowdily rich in texture, yet never overworked. His collaborators include the extraordinary Harold McNair, whose flute and tenor sax playing bring a kinetic energy that nods to his Roland Kirk influences, but with a cooler, more spacious edge. There's a strong modal undercurrent throughout, bringing the session a searching, propulsive edge, reflecting the sonic gemstone gleams that music magpie Gilles Peterson helped champion on his storied Impressed compilations.
We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services.