From its humble beginnings in 2001, the Brooklyn label Bastard Jazz Recordings has trailblazed a unique path in the world of independent record labels. Appealing to both DJs and music fans from all walks of life, BJR has become known for its eclectic sound & community of global artists from Mumbai to Napoli, New York to Kinshasha, who touch on everything from funk to hip-hop, house music to forward thinking beats, soul to jazz and international sounds, along with its unrelenting commitment to the vinyl medium. This November, the label will be celebrating 20 years of operation in various incarnations and are releasing a special compilation and a DJ friendly 4xLP titled ’20 Years of Bastard Jazz’ filled with brand new cuts from its current roster, plus a selection of catalog material, some of it classic, some of it overlooked, and some of it unpressed. 

Highlights from the compilation include Australian outfit The Goods, who team up with Steve Spacek (famously of the eponymous British band) on the spacey future soul banger, “FEELS 4 U,” while label stalwarts Potatohead People (who recently teamed up with both De La Soul, Jazzy Jeff, and Kaidi Tatham as well as a host of others on their new album) deliver “Bonzai View,” with its live instrumentation & technical prowess fused with a head-nodding boom-bap beat the group has become known for. Pittsburgh producer Buscrates delivers “Spotlight,” a slinky modern funk / boogie production, while brand new signing POSY gives us “Amai,” a delicate beat construction with gorgeous strings, horns and live bass weaving in and out. 

Notable past catalog on the compilation include LA producer Captain Planet’s classic “Un Poquito Mas” featuring Chico Mann (Antibalas, Here Lies Man) which is still being sung along to in clubs worldwide from Mexico City to Berlin 7 years later, and the airy, indie dance vibes of Manatee Commune’s “Majestic Diver.” Los Angeles producer and talkbox wizard B. Bravo’s “Can’t Keep My Hands Off You” featuring Reva Devito goes into more sultry territory, while Rumtum’s “Tropic Air” gives us a fresh splash of wobbly tape synth and relaxed lo-fi drums. Of course, the club is not left out and the catalog includes dancefloor ready remixes from friends of the label like Jimpster, DJ Spinna, Jacques Renault, and the red hot up & coming Brooklyn duo musclecars. 

Bastard Jazz started early as so many nascent DJ-oriented imprints come into existence, as founder & president Aaron Schultz just barely out of his teenage years was beginning to find his footing as a DJ in Brooklyn, New York. Culling together a small group of artists early on, the label ran as a side project for many years, releasing a handful of records per year. Following a reorganization & renewed commitment in 2014, the label has experienced exponential growth while moving from a DJ oriented standpoint to an artist focused organization that thrives on signing and nurturing new talent and new sounds, while maintaining a concurrent sonic thread in its music. POC owned with a majority POC artist stable, Bastard Jazz’s story is the slow build of a real indie label with a diverse sound & roster from the ground up, through trial and error, listening, learning, and adapting to the times without becoming jaded or losing its original vision. 20 years on, it’s still here & stronger than ever.

Captain Planet - Hammock Dreams

Bust Free 8

But I Do

Stream 'Grubz' now: https://listen.niceguysrecords.com/grubz

Discover 'Grubz,' the first single from the upcoming EP by Channo & Luchii. After releasing 'Omo' on Volume 4 of Nice Guys' compilation, Channo & Luchii is back. The Italian multi-instrumentalist and producer delivers an alternative track with chilled vibes, adding another dimension with his vocoded voice, reminiscent of Kavinsky. Channo & Luchii presents a melancholic ballad with guitar and synth melodies. 'Grubz' will fit perfectly in your mellow alternative playlist.

Edge of Tassie

Grubz

Channo & Luchii - Grubz

The best of lounge music, for evenings in relaxing environments.

Alba Sax

A slow-motion drift through surreal, dreamy atmospheres. Soft pulses, weightless textures and long, airy tails create a calm, unobtrusive bed of sound. Built to live beautifully in the background: deep work, studying, writing, reading; terrace evenings and small gatherings; cafés, lounges, boutique stores and quiet bars. The mood stays meditative and steady—no sharp edges, no sudden peaks—so conversations and focus can flow.
Headphones recommended for private listening; for venues, set a low volume and loop.
Watch the full visual album on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0QAlfkXd_lg?si=RXkTl-Y3QZqtr_Pn
If this helps you focus or sets a gentle mood in your space, please repost, leave a comment with your favorite moment, and add it to your work/study/relax playlists.

Bassride (Extended)

Urban Pulse

Marking the return of The Young Punx after a two year hiatus, Hal Ritson has teamed up with fellow producer, Thomas Gandey AKA Cagedbaby for Loving You Baby.

Featuring the immaculate vintage soul vocals of DTale, Loving You Baby delivers a declaration of summer haze and heady nights with a fresh and timeless groove that echoes both the pace of underground house, and the atmosphere of Motown and northern soul. 

Having previously provided lead vocals for hits by Sub Focus, Sigma, Philip George and The Chemical Brothers, DTale’s talents are the perfect complement to the track’s restrained uber-cool vibe. 

Since the release of 2014 album All These Things Are Gone, The Young Punx’ Hal Ritson has busied himself co-writing and co-producing behind the scenes for the likes of Duke Dumont, Sigma, Cassius, Flux Pavillion and Katy Perry. 

Gandey’s Cagedbaby project has released numerous singles and an album on Norman Cook’s Southern Fried label. As Thomas Gandey he has released many respected club tracks on labels such as Get Physical, Crosstown Rebels, Suara and OFF. The track is mixed by Grammy award winning mix engineer Wez Clarke.

The Young Punx and Thomas Gandey first met in a Karoake bar in Osaka in 2009 where Gandey managed to kill their laptop by filling it with glitter. They have remained good friends ever since and sometimes release punk records together under a secret alias.
