Review: Dynamite Cuts has done it again here. Celebrated American bassist Curtis Lundy called upon his sister Carmen for her vocal talents for this wondrous vocal jazz cut. 'Never Gonna Let You Go' is powered by a superb double bass groove, with lush xylophones and plenty of lively drums al backing the acrobatic vocal performance. It has never before been pressed up to 7" is a serious must have for collectors, especially as it is backed with the wonderful walking basslines and feathery light snares, meandering keys and seductive jazz melodies of 'Jabbos Revenage'.
Review: The late, great Jose Padilla was a big fan of the work of Stan Getz, whose easy-going, sun-soaked and accessible take on jazz - and especially his more Latin-tinged offerings - appeared frequently in the Balearic legend's DJ sets. Jazz Samba Encore, the saxophonist's 1963 collaboration with Brazilian jazz guitarist Luiz Bonfa, remains one of the most unashamedly joyous sets in his catalogue. Reissued here in a Japanese edition, it sees Getz and Bonfa trading solos over luscious bossa-nova and samba grooves. There are plenty of standout moments, with our picks including the dreamy 'Sambalero', the sparkling breeziness of 'Samba De Duas Notas (Two-Note Samba)', the glorious 'Suadade Vem Correndo' and smoky closing cut 'Ebondy Samba'.
Review: In the early 1960s at Berklee College of Music, Byard Lancaster connected with fellow musicians like Sonny Sharrock and Dave Burrell and they helped steer him towards the world of free jazz. After moving to New York, he recorded with Sunny Murray and released his debut album It's Not Up to Us in 1968. In the early 1970s, Lancaster frequently collaborated with Jef Gilson and released four albums on Gilson's Palm Records, including Funny Funky Rib Crib. This 1974 recording blends brilliantly creative jazz with funk and soul elements and features an ensemble that explores dynamic grooves and meditative tracks like 'Work and Pray' and 'Loving Kindness.'
Review: 'Eastern Sounds' was one of the last recordings made by his band that Yusef Lateef shared with pianist Barry Harris. With the demise of their playing relationship coming to an end, the album is a spiritual journey through tonal and polytonal improv, building on the musical expertise of the far East and appropriating it for jazz.
Review: William Emanuel Huddleston is better known as Yusef Lateef. It is fair to say he remains a towering presence over 20th-century jazz with a vast discography, much of it packed with classics. Jazz Mood from back in 1957 is a really fine example of what he can do. It found the multi-instrumentalist reconfiguring jazz just as he came to prominence at the end of the 50s. Playing alongside him for this album are some of Detroit's finest such as Alice Coltrane's brother Ernest Farrow on bass, and Curtis Fuller who would later join Jazz Messengers, on trombone. Sumptuous stuff.
Review: Laufey's GRAMMY-winning sophomore album, 2023's Bewitched, returns in freshly expanded form. Musically, the set is rooted in vintage jazz and classical music, though its perspective - not just lyrically, but in its approach to subtle musical fusion - is undeniably contemporary. It remains a brilliant set, with the Icelandic artist effortlessly flitting between 1930s style smoothness ('Dreamer'), string-laden acoustic jazz ('Second Best'), bossa-nova ('From The Start'), and tributes to the heartfelt works of Nina Simone ('Misty'). This edition also boasts a quartet of bonus cuts, including superb recent single 'Goddess'.
Review: Scruscru and Los Protos hook up on the former's ever-reliable label for some more funk-fuelled and sample-heavy madness. This eight-tracker draws on the best of Library, jazz, hip hop and soul and collides elements of all of those together with some raw, and what sounds like, MPC beats, all tapped out with a lovably loose vibe. Some like 'Local Sugar Diggers' look up towards a sunny, cloudless sky, others like 'Dreams Of Sonora' are swaggering broken beat workouts with sensuous sax lines setting a steamy tone. 'Por Do Sol Em Shelekhmet' is another highlight with its aloof, angelic vocal tones.
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