I love supporting independent soul & funk music with that extra UK edge. Paul Elliot & Jamie Lawrence @ Jet Tricks have been carefully and methodically fusing their diverse individual musical tastes and styles on this, their debut CD. Together with lyricist Adefunke, supplying the brilliant spoken word, Faye Houston and Marcus Malone on additional vocals, they've encompassed all corners of heavy musical styles; from the massive block party anthemic 'Free'; to the bluesy acoustic Portishead soul treatment of 'Breathe Now Blues'; to a twisted afro-beat, electric guitar rocky sound on 'Pieces' - I predict a B-I-G hit everywhere soon! We continue with the feel good string accompaniment of 'Unrequited' sounding like a long lost Beatles melody. 'Lose You' is a definite favourite and a melancholic winner too, difficult to describe concisely, but as they've said themselves '...a truly beautiful song..'. When I playlisted 'Free' on previous radio shows, people were going crazy asking for more Jet Tricks... well, now you have it! FINALLY out, Remote Control is now on Legere Records & iTunes, the best of British soul. Be sure to email Jet Tricks, they'll love that! As someone posted on their myspace page recently '...record of the summer!' and it could well be...
myspace.com/jettricks...

It's an absolute pleasure listening to music from the forthcoming m-a-s-s-i-v-e LP by Woodland Conclave. On show #48, back in February '08, I was honored to play a couple of preview tracks from this huge band (or is it an orchestra?!!) which features in excess of 20 of the UK's finest musicians and vocalists including Perry Hemus, Sammy Kubecki Pearce, Lizzy Parks, Bryan Corbett, Neil Bullock, Andrew Colman, Sarah Colman, Chris Bowden, Ben Markland, Levi French, Ed Johnston, Ray Butcher, Louise Warren... plus many, many more! A couple of years ago they all got together for a week long recording session in the stunning mountain location of Buckland Mill with one objective: the focus on making an uplifting concept album. 'Hideaway Forever', 'Song of Joy', 'Song for Si' and 'Celebration of Life' are immense intricate compositions and absolutely essential to nourishing your eager ears. If you're a fan of The Heritage Orchestra, Five Corners Qnt, Middlewood Sessions and Nicola Conte, you're gonna love this!
myspace.com/woodlandconclave...

Way back in July 07, I was privileged enough to get a sneak preview of a debut LP by the Neil Cowley Trio, from the first listen to 'Degree In Intuition' way back in June 06 to the hundredth listen today, I knew something special was happening to my ears, it REALLY is that good. It was clear that a new breath of life was emerging in British Jazz music. Maybe it was even a new style of British Jazz music being created? Cowley, Jenkins and Sadler have crafted an dazzling album of original, impeccable, emotive compositions. Oh, and by the way, 'Displaced' recently won the 2007 BBC JAZZ award for BEST ALBUM (YEAH!!), a major achievement for a debut LP on an independent label. The art of making a truly brilliant recording is an LP that stands head above the rest with sustained listenability, the kind of LP that never fails to extrude every ounce of energy from three instruments and leave you with no doubt that you are listening to history in the making. I managed to experience the NCT live shows on their monumental UK schedule, numerous Festivals including Cheltenham, North Sea, Glasgow, Brighton and they've now engulfed Norway, France Germany, Finland, and the moon! You need to see them live: the insatiable energy, enchanting and delicate, explosively funky and heartwarming. A new album is being recorded this summer and I believe that they will surpass everyone's expectations... witness the creation of beautiful, joyful music.
neilcowleytrio.com...

Not quite holy grail status in collector circles, but thanks to Jazzpuu this Finnish 1970 recording finally gets a re-issue along with its predecessor 'Odysseus', Eero's first jazz LP, both of which would set you back a small mortgage payment if you sought the original vinyl. Eero and his Music Society were very receptive to the jazz music that was being created in the USA and the rest of Europe. The influence this had on these recordings is instantly realized, from start to finish the music is extremely delightful and ingenious. For any of you that need or want an introduction into the delights of European high calibre jazz music, look no further than Eero's LP's. What he was creating in Finland in the late 60s was the perfect complement to what Mike Westbrook, Dudley Moore, Neil Ardley, Harold McNair and friends were doing over here. Within 3 years, it was all about the electrified jazz funk expression when we get to the 1972 release WAHOO! These days you'll find Eero featuring with the nuskool Scandi bands like Five Corners Quintet.
eerokoivistoinen.com...

Every so often there seems to emerge, like clockwork, another HVW8 jazz outfit outta Japan, we had Sleepwalker, Izanami & Soil & Pimp Sessions. Now the Indigo Jam Unit fire up the burners with their debut LP 2x2. The CD shows off to great heights, the individual expert ability of each musician in the quartet. 'Sakura' delivers a modern Jap-jazz-bop anthem with Tarue's piano often tender and intimate but always directing you to the dancefloor. Carl Craig fans will appreciate the original jazz-meets-'ard-core mindbender 'Alert', watch for the mid flow switch. The pinnacle for me is the outstanding 'Spin A Top', man, this is what other jazz bands need to talk like, where the music really breaths and flourishes with BJ on the double bass and Shimizu's almost Art Blakey-esque skills. However, I do find myself wanting something more than just the instrumentation. The tightness of the music is perfect, they've proved that they can play well, but it really needs some vocal integration. Just a few 'songs' is what I'm looking for....

The boys are back in town! 'Nuther excursion into the ever brilliant Sleepwalker tally of quality jazz music. Tricky LP to find but so damn worth it! Featuring 'that' title track with the brilliant, intense master, Pharoah Sanders sounding still as incredible as the first time I heard it. The beautifully arranged opening piano chords from Yoshizawa on 'Afloat' prepare you for something really big, then the fascinating, sweet, smile-generating vocals of Yukimi Nagano sweep you away on a rolling jazz dance trip in complete articulation with the rest of this highly talented quartet. Yukimi, remember, sang on the Koop 'Summer Sun' huge hit in her teens. Bembe Segue guests on the unprecedented '60s swing of 'Into The Sun'. Simply happy jazz all the way. 'Kaze' and 'Ai-No-Tabi' are equally spiritually uplifiting highpoints. Watch for the gentle build and then the perpetual roller coaster... These young men have such a unique sound but yet remind me of bygone decades of untouchable jazz. Trust these ears!
myspace.com/hajimeyoshizawa...

It takes something very spectacular to reduce me, a grown man, to tears. The sheer joy of listening for many weeks to 'Beyond The Wall' has triggered that emotion. In addition to an AMAZING line up including: Pharoah Sanders, Mulgrew Miller, Bobby Hutcherson, Brian Blade, the haunting, hipnotic vocals of Nedelka Echols on 'Qing Wèn' really does transport you to a different space. A truly lovely space. It just gets better and better! There are a few compositions on here with a Tibetan / Far East feel, but the incredible 'Tsunami Song'... I'm not gonna say much more, just want you to savour for yourself, I'd love to hear what it did to YOU... The whole LP is dedicated to the Master, McCoy Tyner, for his years of inspirational music. Very humbling and correct, embracing that brotherly love. 'Calling' is an uplifting heavy weight piece, a masterclass of musicianship and camaraderie. There is hope in this recording, there is delightful joy, and there is spiritually healing music. Trust these ears!
myspace.com/kennygarrettmusic...

All the D's baby! Strictly setting a very, very high standard in original abstract cut 'n' paste dance music, Alfred Weisberg Roberts (aka Daedelus) is re-inventing himself once again with this new LP. The LA based Daedelus stretches his musicianship, production and vocal skills to cover moody Latino electronica, burly bossa breaks, turbulent techno thumpers and fun folky freshness. There's a strong element of Daedelus live and in the flesh as apposed to his kinda trademark sample style. On at least the 48th listen, 'Bahia', with all its Latin bass clarinet carnival spirit, is gonna be massive with the convertible crew now that summer is in sight. You want it harder? Stick 'Like Clockwork Springs' in yer headphones, and email me with your feedback. Hip Hop devotees look no further than 'Lights Out' with its touch of vibes and suspense thriller movie twists. Freaky techno heads get redeeming fixes too with experimental blips and bleeps galore on 'Our Last Stand' and at least 4 other tracks. It's all here, this doesn't need me to sell it, it sells itself!
myspace.com/daedelusdarling...

As any 40-something serious jazz collector would tell you, the first influential type of jazz to bend our ears was jazz fusion. The Prime Element 'Alborada' LP was the 1976 creation of Argentinean Carlos Franzetti and his New York group. The multiple award winning arranger, composer and musician Franzetti has a self styled, versatile sound and has also recorded and performed with such luminaries as Chaka Khan, Ruben Blades, Paquito D'Rivera, Harry Belafonte and Arturo Sandoval. He's received a Grammy and Grammy nominations for his vast array of work spanning Latin jazz, film score, big band, symphonic and chamber works in orchestras from New York to Norway, Spain to Sweden. Franzetti's 'The Prime Element' features some heavyweight jazz fusion on 'Southamelodic' and 'Shave And Haircut', spiritual orchestrated modal soul vibes on 'In The Dawn Of Time' and deep innovative jazz music on 'Aldebaran'. 'Alborada' only had a 70s release on Trova records but has now been catapulted out of rare obscurity via Kindred Spirits as the first instalment of their 'Free Spirit Series' reissues.
kindred-spirits.nl...

Flora Purim's amazing career spans nearly four decades and her music is synonymous with the formidable native rhythms of Brazilian jazz. The new LP, Flora's Song, brings a palette of all the best colours and rhythms of world music, spiritual jazz, carefully penned lyrics and a very personal soulful expressiveness. We are taken on an emotional journey on the title track through the nine minutes of 'Flora's Song' - effortless exotic rhythms and instrumentation from her seductive calming voice and the compelling choice of musicians which include friends old and new - George Duke, José Neto, steel drummer/arranger Andy Narell and of course the legend Airto. The mighty 'This Is Me' gets under my skin every time I hear it, "Here I am, Where are we? This is me, Who am I supposed to be?" just wonderful beautifully crafted organic music. Irresistible!
florapurim.com...

Avant-garde is one term for the Liverpool collective Super Numeri, but they are definitely schooled in experimental jazz, prog rock and abstract emotional rhythms. The monsterous 24 minute opening track 'The First League Of Angels' is exactly the right scene setter needed for 'The Welcome Table' new LP. 'The Buzzard And The Lamb' has an almost House repetition with a strong emphasis on Latin percussion, fuzz guitars and spooky Super Numeri background trickery. 'The Spies Of St Ives' is yet another monumental meeting of protracted minds. The musicianship is tight and the live sessions must be inspiring to say the least. If this is what the music industry is missing, if this is the new found genre of alternative UK music, then Super Numeri should be respected for championing the unbounded new wave of jazz rock.
myspace.com/supernumeri...

You need this! Jump on this 7 track debut EP real quick, buy it, support it, love it, in fact buy two copies and give one to your best friend, they'll love ya for it! The wonderfully lyrical, universally influenced and naturally talented Georgia Anne Muldrow, wrote, composed, produced and mixed the whole ting, she even designed the cover art! We love that! Bold new dexterous soul music, delivering a generous helping of rock, boundless funk, hip hop, tight harmonies, yep, Georgia's really having fun with this courageous musical project. Originally from Los Angeles and now residing in NY, Georgia has a voice and a young musical talent to be reckoned with. This CD is going to live permanently in your player, like all addictive body, mind and spirit music. Worthnothings? Uh uh, this is worth EVERYTHING!
myspace.com/georgiaannemuldrow...

It's been some time since we had the critically acclaimed 'Asleep At The Switch' LP from Tom Tyler. He returns with 10 tracks on 'Forward Going Backward' and in top form securing his prominent position as a multi-influenced great music maker. Right from the off, check 'Drinking Tea From An Empty Cup' with that funk rhythm, the Eastern tabla influence and that baaad jazz base line, opening the door to another great LP. What-a-tune! Switching styles, 'Daylight Robbed Her' gets all folky with gentle keys, hypnotic acoustic guitar and that ever present underlying drum break beat. The secret is in the Miles-electric-style 'Moemarer' with its ruff trumpet and Blaxpo soundtrack skins circa 1972. 'Snowball Go Green' journeys into an abstract looped spacey trip whereas 'Backspace Altercation' grips you in a six minute Radiohead frame of mind with profound electric bass fused with a raw, rock-funk tripped out electric guitar. The 'Bristol sound' fans will love the rich strings and minimalistic beats of 'No Dice'. Definitely worth the wait, definitely going forward, Tom's been real busy here!
myspace.com/tomtyler...