Jazz Room レコード& CD

Review: First released in 1980 via the little-known Pick Up Records, Danish jazz-rockers Ariel's self-titled debut record sees an unlikely reissue via Jazz Room here. A worthy reintroduction of the quintet to the world at large - where before it wasn't well-known at all - it comes after the album was recently hepped to by none other than Brownswood aficionado Gilles Peterson, whose encyclopaedic internal memory bank and capacity to chin-wag served the cascading recollection of the album by Jazz Room label boss Paul Murphy. Now the eight-tracker dazzles us once more, fusing jazz with subtle elements of kraut and kosmische to make for bustling, brimming urban fugs, all hemmed together by a consistent baritone sax, and the vocal pyrotechnics of Hawaiian singer Lei Aloha Moe.

Review: Blue Mode and El Chavo present two fantastic new cover versions. The A-side is of course one of the biggest tunes of the grunge era, and is here lent a jazzy, funky, groovy alteration by Blue Mode - though it is an ostensible Nirvana cut, the band were influenced by everything from the Gap Band to Louie Louie and a fair smattering of 80s indie here. This production by Chip Wickham mixes a swinging 60s Blue Note vibe and acid jazz refrains, brings it bang-up-to-date with contemporary nu-jazz. Side B is a boogaloo Latin jazz version of the Lonnie Smith track 'Hola Muneca', beloved of the acid jazz era's foremost DJs, and formerly released on a now impossible-to-find 7" single that shifts for crazy prices.

Review: This second instalment of Jazz Room's Pure Latin re-releases comes in the form of Orquesta Mayombe's masterpiece, Con Ritmo Del Tambo. First emerging in 1980 and now considered to be a classic example of Nu Yorican El Barrio sound, this is an essential record for fans of Tata Vasquez. Featuring Afro-Cubano jazz heavyweights including Chocolate Armenteros, Jose Mangual, Mauricio Smith, and Orestes Vilato, as well as an astounding seven-person percussion section, it's safe to say this release packs a punch. Travelling through ten dazzling, floor-filling cuts of Afro-Cuban via New York Jazz age tracks, this is a must-have for fans of Latin jazz.

Review: This one is such an evergreen classic that it is never long between reissues. The Take Vibe EP is musician Laurence Mason and he here mashes together the sounds of Dave Brubeck and Dave Greenfield of The Stranglers - it started on YouTube and got over one million hits, so then made it to vinyl and keeps selling out. On the flip is a romantic, late night jazz version of The Police classic 'Walking On The Moon', making this a real collector's item.

Review: This is a 7" by double bassist and producer Takumi Moriya, in collaboration with his studio band Black Nation. Two tracks of soulful jazz fusion, coming as a homage to the legendary Joe McPhee, appear on this 7": 'Shakey Jake' and 'Night Dream'. Both flaunt Moriya's interpretive talents, as he breathes fresh life into McPhee's ultra-energetic original number, all while proffering his own original cut on the B-side too.

Review: Jazz Room Records is back with another high class reissue of an album that is considered to be a grail by those who know. The story goes that back in the late 70s in the Seattle area of the Pacific North West, Danny Ward & Reality were an oft called upon funky jazz collective for anyone throwing college or hardcore funk parties. Rather than just serving up covers of the day's big hits they offered proper musical trips though more considered fair from artists like George Benson. This album catches them at their best on one such mid-week gig in the summer of 1977.