Review: Swiss label Delta Production originally released J&F Quintet's Contrast album back in 1976. It has since become a highly collectible and rare Swiss jazz gem with mint copies going for upwards of L350. For the recording sessions, founding band members Stefan Schneller, Donat Beer and Toni Scha?dler were joined by drummers Gieri Bievi and Peter 'Huck' Hug and bassist Andri A Piorta. Their take on jazz fuses Swiss-Romansh traditions to cook up something in a sound world of its own. Sadly this was the only album the group ever recorded before going off to work on solo projects.
Review: Most people will recognize Brian Jackson as the most important collaborator with Gil Scott-Heron - between them the pair laid down a mesmerising new kind of soul which resonates in its influence and brilliance to this day. Jackson went on to work with scores of legends of Black American music, but this new album is something altogether his own. Working with Daniel Colias from Phenomenal Handclap Band, Jackson revived a long-dormant solo project from the 70s and brought it to fruition in a set of ascendant soul cuts which speak to Jackson's mighty legacy while offering something wholly contemporary. 'All Talk' bursts with jazz funk and boogie flourishes, while 'Path to Macondo / Those Kind of Blues' takes a more introspective trip into Jackson's illustrious musicality. Forget reissue culture for a minute - here's a bonafide legend still doing it in the here and now.
Dollar Brand & Abdullah Ibrahim - "Zimbabwe" (5:28)
Prince Lasha - "Kwadwo Safari" (feat Herbie Hancock) (7:37)
Mal Waldron - "What It Is" (feat Clifford Jordan & Dannie Richmond) (17:58)
Cecil McBee - "First Song In The Day" (feat Chico Freeman) (17:16)
Rabih Abou-Khalil - "Lamentation" (9:02)
John Stubblefield - "Mwe Malad O" (4:17)
Nana Simopoulos - "Pulcie's Dance" (12:58)
Bobby Hutcherson - "The Creators" (18:22)
Marc Levin - "Brothers In War" (11:09)
Jon Hendricks - "No More" (3:32)
Marvin Hannibal Peterson - "Mother's Land" (feat George Adam) (5:10)
Review: Enja Records was founded in Munich in the early 70s by jazz devotees Matthias Winckelmann and Horst Weber. Given a co-sign by the always on-point BBE and IF Music founder Jean-Claude, the label is now enjoying a retrospective compilation which seeks to celebrate the best of their golden years. Featuring performances by John Stubblefield, Bobby Hutcherson, Harold Land, Don Cherry, Cecil McBee and Pharoah Sanders collaborator Marvin Hannibal Peterson to name but a few, this collection provides a great jumping-off point for Enja's rich and diverse back catalogue. It may only be an introduction to a vast pool of music, but it's curated with authority by a dedicated head, so you know you're getting a shortcut to the best the label has to offer.
Review: East London record label and shop BBE assign their curators' arm over at If Music another reccy in Latin and Afro-infused "deep jazz", yielding this brilliant fourth edition in a series. Made up solely of material formerly licensed to, but not necessarily released by, If Music, this one represents a global diversity of Afrobeat and jazz artists: from the creeping, hair-raising panter 'N'Kon Kini N'Kon N'Kon' by none other than stowaway Cream drummer Ginger Baker (cut from the album Eleven Sides Of Baker, on which there is an impressively mammoth cast of contributors) in collaboration with Ransome Kuti, through to the Japanese drummer George Hirota ('Process Of Cloud') and Kan Digor ('Croonardise').
Emanative & Liz Elensky - "Fall In To Me" (alternate version) (4:39)
Atilla Engin Group - "Turkish Showbiz" (5:08)
Tenderlonious - "Dennison Point" (4:17)
Sylvain Kassap - "Adelie (For Lady D)" (3:55)
Ola Szmidt - "We Are Not Invisible" (4:03)
Greetje Bijma Kwintet - "Big Kalimba" (6:48)
Sarathy Korwar - "At The Speed Of Light" (3:50)
Review: IF Music's name is legendary amongst those in the know and now Jean Claude celebrates that with another superb compilation on BBE. Across this beautiful gatefold vinyl release, there are nine next level jazz tunes from the likes of Emanative & Liz Elensky, Sylvain Kassap, Greetje Bijma Kwintet and Atilla Engin Group. This is the ninth release in the 'You Need This' series and the music on it ranges from 1980 to the present day. It all adds up to a wonderfully coherent release that takes you through four decades of stylish jazz.
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