Juno Recommends Brokenbeat / Nu Jazz August 2020

Review: Given that keyboardist and producer Kamaal Williams' 2018 debut album "The Return" was such a rip-roaring success critically and commercially, hopes are naturally sky-high for this delayed sequel. Happily, we can confirm that Williams has arguably excelled himself on "Wu Hen", once again blurring the boundaries between jazz-funk, seductive downtempo grooves, hazy space jazz, deep house influenced dancefloor workouts (see "Mr Wu", whose title references his other artistic alias, Henry Wu) and soft-focus soul - all with the assistance of an expanded line-up of guest musicians and vocalists. Perhaps the biggest impact is made by Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, a composer whose string arrangements add an ear-catching new dimension to Williams work. Stunning stuff all told.

Review: Two killer tracks from the sultry and charismatic crossover vocals of one Gregory Porter here pressed on a handy 7 inch limited to 150 copies on white vinyl just for Juno....Jazztastic...

Review: Nina Simone's Little Girl Blue album is one of her most acclaimed. It's packed with her archetypal blues, jazz and soul sound so you can understand why Dutch producer DJ Maestro jumped at the chance to remix it. He hasn't take on the sizeable task alone, however, as he's enlisted the likes of The Reflex (who releases frequently on Kon's label), Suonho, Mop Mop, Renegades of Jazz, Gramophonedzie, Fab Samperi and Mees Dierdorp. Much of the original material is easily recognisable, but is packaged in subtle beats, happy jazz or sympathetic neo-soul that feels somehow right and fitting.

Review: Given that keyboardist and producer Kamaal Williams' 2018 debut album "The Return" was such a rip-roaring success critically and commercially, hopes are naturally sky-high for this delayed sequel. Happily, we can confirm that Williams has arguably excelled himself on "Wu Hen", once again blurring the boundaries between jazz-funk, seductive downtempo grooves, hazy space jazz, deep house influenced dancefloor workouts (see "Mr Wu", whose title references his other artistic alias, Henry Wu) and soft-focus soul - all with the assistance of an expanded line-up of guest musicians and vocalists. Perhaps the biggest impact is made by Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, a composer whose string arrangements add an ear-catching new dimension to Williams work. Stunning stuff all told.

Review: Applied Arts party promoter and Cashmere Radio co-founder Ed Longo has spent much of the last 12 months criss-crossing Europe for recording sessions with a wide array of jazz-leaning musicians. The result is "The Other Fantasy", a debut mini-album that's said to be, "conceptualized around the quest for otherness in the schizophrenia of the digital age". Regardless of the concept, the resultant music is rarely less than magical, with Longo and his collaborators effortlessly joining the dots between jazz-funk, fusion, boogie and '80s soul. Highlights are plentiful, from the Dayton style early '80s jazz-funk perfection of "Love On The Line" and drowsy new age ambient/jazz fusion of "Arcadian Dream", to the synthesizer-powered '80s smoothness of "A Palm In The Closet" and horizontal bliss of "Trouble In Paradise".

Review: Zara McFarlane is at the heart for he bustling and vital jazz scene in and around the UK and this new album very much pushes the boundaries of the sound. It is a skilled work that shows real growth, with plenty of spiritual and folk influences as well as plenty of her ancestral Jamaican heritage. There are moments of pain and darkness next to more empowering tunes and rousing grooves, with cult South London based producers Kwake Bass and Wu-lu helping McFarlane to realise her sound. This fourth record is another rich and rewarding pallet of sound from one of the UK's most essential artists.

Review: Two years ago, Early Sounds Recordings co-founder Pellegrino S. Snichelotto dished up a debut mini-album that brilliantly joined the dots between Daniele Baldelli style Afro-cosmic grooves and jazz-funk. This is his first outing since and explores similarly sunny and meandering sonic territory, beginning with the languid guitar solos, jaunty electric piano riffs and Tullio de Piscopo style percussion of "Astri & Riflessi". Smoother and deeper dancefloor jazz-funk flavours are provided by "Zodyaco", "Libra Position" is a dub-driven affair rich in spacey synth solos and heavy bass, and "Genti Del Mediterraneo" is a riotous dancefloor workout rich in crunchy Clavinets, elastic slap bass and wild electric piano solos. It is, then, every bit as essential as its fine predecessor.

Review: This is a red hot new funk 12" for the super cool Jackie Brown label. It features Marcello linking up with Antonio Rapa on drums and Blake C.S. Franchetto on the bass and they are all on fire across these high speed cuts. "Welcome" is tight and driving as you like, with cosmic keys taking flight, "Shark" is more playful and lush with eve more astral vibes and then things take a turn into late night sounds on the golden "Malo Pivo". "Brooklyn" expires the sort of broken beat you'd find in London's underground and "Chilly" closes with rich jazz stylings. Overall, this is an excellent 12".

Review: Matthew Hallsall's Gondwana Records is putting out a special series of 7"s featuring a mix of unreleased and special treats from its back catalogue. Next up on the limited series are Gogo Penguin with "Garden Dog Barbecue" and "Hopono" which first came in 2013 on v2.0, the Manchester trio's Mercury Prize nominated breakthrough album. Both cuts are the sound of the band at their best. These are high quality packages with artwork from Gondwana Records designer Daniel Halsall, cuts made at Calyx in Berlin, and manufactured at Optimal.

Review: Often caned by the likes of Bonobo, "Endless" is taken from Portico Quintet's album Art in the Age of Automation' which was released on Gondwana Records back in 2017 Now it gets its own pressing on a super 7" with "Undercurrent." The former is lush, spring day and mellifluous jazz with tumbling live drums and lead wind that takes the mind away. "Undercurrent" was reared din the same sessions and is here making its long awaited vinyl debut. This is part there of the special 7" series the label is running and features bespoke artwork from Gondwana Records designer Daniel Halsall.