❤️‍🔥🎹🎷... kinda groove spike lee would drop in his early movies.. great balance.. 🎛

This fabled 11 minute+ version of Brazilian icon Joyce's groundbreaking "Feminina" was recorded at Columbia Studios, New York in 1977, for the as yet unreleased Natureza album. Produced, arranged and conducted by the great Claus Ogerman (Frank Sinatra, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Billie Holiday... the list goes on), Natureza would have ostensibly been Joyce's big break to international stardom, but mysteriously, it was never released. With Joyce came fellow Brazilian icon Mauricio Maestro, while Nana Vasconcelos and Tutty Moreno were already living in New York, and Ogerman employed North American jazz legends Joe Farrell, Michael Brecker, Buster Williams, Mike Manieri and a full orchestra for the sessions.

In anticipation of the monumental forthcoming Natureza album release via Far Out Recordings, this astonishing version of a true classic gets its first proper 12" vinyl release for Record Store Day 2022. In the spirit of making the release special for Record Store Day, rather than leave it as a single sided 12", Far Out boss called up Joyce to talk about the recording, recorded the conversation, and got it pressed onto the B-side.

Joyce - Feminina (produced, arranged and conducted by Claus Ogerman)

Nicola Conte - Arise (feat. Zara McFarlane)

It is hard to believe we are now up to Volume 6 of our renowned Record Club series. Curating these compilations, where we share our latest musical discoveries and old favourites from the global stage, is always a labour of love. 

When one of our most revered artists offered us the chance to include a digital exclusive track we of course jumped at the chance. As expected, what we received blew us away and we knew it had to be the lead single from the compilation. 

Hearing the Swedish outfit Sven Wunder for the first time is as refreshing as an ice-cold Limoncello after an Italian meal. One of those artists that feel instantly familiar like an old friend, yet simultaneously fresh and new. Having released three stunning albums adored by a rapidly growing fanbase, and a host of critical acclaim from the likes of the New York Times, Pitchfork and the Quietus to name just a few, the expectation of what is to come next from this wonderfully unique artist is palpable. 

‘Easy Going’ is a digital exclusive for our Mr Bongo Record Club Vol.6 compilation. The track was previously pressed to a limited edition 7” on Piano Piano Records that sold out within 24hrs, so the demand for a digital version is high. ’Easy Going' sounds like it would be at home on a lost Brazilian Trilha Sonora Original Da Novela (original TV Soundtrack From The Novel). Sven has assembled beautifully orchestrated strings that swirl over bubbling keys, snappy drums, and calls on a harmonica to take the role as the lead instrument.

Sven Wunder - Easy Going

Japan has produced some exceptionally talented jazz drummers and among them is Tatsuya Nakamura, who joins the BBE Music J Jazz Masterclass Series with his album ‘Locus’ from 1984, a session covering several bases, from heavy percussive samba to meditative avant-ambient. This is the album’s first ever reissue, although a track from ‘Locus’, ‘1⁄4 Samba’, was included on J Jazz vol. 3.

Nakamura began his drumming career as a teenager, inspired after seeing the documentary film “Jazz on A Summer’s Day” and listening to his idols Art Blakey and Miles Davis. By his early twenties, Nakamura was working with such luminaries as free jazz guitarist Masayuki Takayanagi, pianist Masaru Imada and band leader & composer Mitsuaki Kanno. In the mid-70s, like several other Japanese jazz players, Nakamura decided to make the move to New York where he studied drumming with Roy Haynes, and performed with members of the AACM and players from the loft and free jazz scenes including Richard Davis, George Adams, John Hicks, and Pharaoh Sanders. Returning to Japan, Nakamura continued playing as leader of his Japanese band The Jazz Fellows and in 1979, he went into the studio as leader for the classic “Where Is The Quarter” session featuring Masaru Imada, Hideto Kanai and Kenji Mori. This session includes the original percussion heavy version of ‘1⁄4 Samba’ and was followed by a period back in NYC during which he recorded the funky/free session ‘Rip Off’ in 1980. 1984 saw Nakamura working as leader of a heavy-duty fusion septet and in February of that year he led them in a performance at Audio Technica Hall. The album ‘Locus’ on Sea Horse Records is the label’s one and only release.

On ‘Locus’, Nakamura is joined by a stellar line-up. On trumpet is Shinobu Fujimoto and he’s joined by seasoned bass player Hideto Kanai (1931 -2011) who began playing in the mid- 1950s, appearing on King Recs All-Star Jazz Series before going on to be a regular fixture on the legendary Three Blind Mice (TBM) label, backing many of its leading artists. He even released his own album on TBM, ‘Ode to Birds’ in 1975. On guitar is Kazumasa Akiyama. Born in Tokyo in 1955, he taught himself guitar at 10 years old and was influenced initially by The Beatles and Ray Charles, and later Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Chicago Blues, and jazz. When he was a student, he got a chance to appear on Sadao Watanabe's radio program ‘My Dear Life’, which led him to join the Isao Suzuki Group and Mikio Masuda Group. Akiyama released his first leader album ‘Dig My Style’ in 1978 and is still an active musician. On keys is the incredible Jun Fukamachi (1946-2010). Born in Harajuku, Tokyo, Fukamachi started playing the piano at the age of three, showing an extraordinary talent, recognised as a child prodigy. He became a professional musician while still in school and released his first album ‘Portrait of a Young Man’ on Polydor in 1971. A pioneer of synthesizer, and among the first to popularise fusion in Japan, Fukamachi has composed and produced numerous recordings embracing jazz, fusion, funk, rock, and classical. An internationally recognised figure, Fukamachi worked with Anthony Jackson, David Sanborn, Randy and Michael Brecker, Mike Mainieri, Steve Gadd, and Richard Tee. Percussionist Tatsuji Yokoyama has worked across Japanese jazz and fusion since the 1970s appearing on albums from the likes of Masahiko Togashi, Takao Uematsu, Mikio Masuda, Toshiyuki Honda, Yuji Ohno and Shigeharu Mukai.

Tatsuya Nakamura continues to record and play live with many musicians including The New York Unit, and has toured extensively across Africa, Senegal, Morocco, Turkey, Australia and Indonesia. He remains active to this day, recording and touring with his band Japan Jazz Unit.

The J Jazz Masterclass Series is curated by Tony Higgins and Mike Peden for BBE Music.

Tatsuya Nakamura - Ballad (Edit)

Simple (mostly) instrumental edit of a classic Brit-funk cover version.

Kokomo - I Can Understand It (Mark Wayward Edit)

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of Night Time Stories, Bill Brewster has compiled a special mix that features music taken from some of our - and your - favourite releases to date.

Running since 2013, Night Time Stories, the sister label to LateNightTales, is a platform for original artist material, hosting artists connected by a common thread of authenticity.

Tracks:

Rae & Christian - Still Here
Khruangbin - White Gloves
Sasha - Scene Delete
Khruangbin - August 10
Garden City Movement - Apollonia
Chaouche - We Will Love
Leifur James - Alpine
Khruangbin - With All The World
Ash Walker - Finishing Touch
Song Sung - Telling Tales
Kennebec - Kalahari
Session Victim - Made Me Fly
Leifur James - I Ran With You
Ron Trent presents WARM - Cycle Of Many
Kennebec - Leaving The Canyons
Ash Walker - Babylonian Triangle Of Captivity 
Session Victim - porchless

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nighttimestorieslabel/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nighttimestorieslabel/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTV7OmfcUX8ivpRgvsNXBYA
Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/NTSlabel

10 Years of Night Time Stories (2013 - 2023)

After a nearly 7 year hiatus, it's the return of the Ottawa-based collective Atlantis Jazz Ensemble with a new album "Celestial Suite". Music is My Sanctuary is excited to present a special preview of one of the tracks from the upcoming album, titled "Enlightenment".

The album "Celestial Suite" is out on October 27th on Marlow Records.

Celestial Suite

Exclusive Premiere: Atlantis Jazz Ensemble "Enlightenment" (Forthcoming on Marlow Records)

Celebrating the release on BBE Music of 'Airto & Flora - A Celebration: 60 Years - Sounds, Dreams & Other Stories'. A full 2 hours celebrating the music of Airto Moreira and Flora Purim, the legendary king and queen of Brazilian jazz.

**For the first time in our 8 year history, we’re asking you, our listeners to help support and build a better Balamii. By subscribing monthly you can contribute to the future of Balamii and help us to continue to nurture our creative community. From as little as £3 a month you'll help cover the cost of generating thousands of hours of great radio and support up and coming artists. As thanks, you’ll receive a code for 20% off our merchandise (code sent 24-48hrs after you subscribe) as well as being the first to hear about our events. Our goal is to develop new features that improve our service and therefore build a better Balamii for our family of artists and listeners.**

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Sweet Nothings w/ Jeff Higgins: Airto & Flora Special - November 2023

Buy / Save it here: https://orcd.co/animabreathe

Anima, the opening number from harpist Alina Bzhezhinska and saxophonist Tony Kofi's collaborative musical journey, Altera Vita, is a captivating ode to life’s very essence, breath. Intrinsically entwined with our existence, ‘Anima’ – Latin for soul – finds its symbiotic relationship with breath, deeply rooted in mythic lore. Ancient civilizations believed it to be the gods who 'breathe', or bestow the Ka - a life force or soul - onto an individual, marking the beginning of their existence.

Anima serves as a perfect entry point into the expansive universe of ‘Altera Vita’. The composition begins with a harp intro that guides the listener into a serene ‘other world’ where Kofi’s saxophone and Bzhezhinska’s harp engage in an intimate dance echoing stories of existence, questioning and responding to each other’s musical cues. The interspersing cadences achieve a resounding echo of life's rhythm, adding layers of atmospheric depth and a hint of percussive texture, creating a rich tapestry of sound.

The spotlight, quite deservedly, falls on the razor-sharp precision and controlled mastery of Kofi’s saxophone performance. It inhabits a central space in this ethereal ensemble as it intricately weaves through the narrative of the track. The saxophone's voice, both poignant and assertive, offers a compelling focus that harmoniously fuses with the exotic and beguiling strands of Bzhezhinska’s harp.

Together, they envelop the listener in an aural spectacle spanning five minutes, designed to cleanse senses and uplift spirits. It captures the transient quality of breath – the raw, unadulterated phenomena that fuels the existence of every living entity. Anima, in essence, transcends the ordinary and celebrates the profound connection between breath and Anima (soul).

Alina Bzhezhinska & Tony Kofi - Anima - Breathe

Sunday Sessions Nº429

Finn Rees, one of the key members of Melbourne’s bubbling music scene, announces his debut solo album, Dawn Is A Melody on Mr Bongo with the first single, ‘Looking Up’. As part of 30/70 and Close Counters his previous work has found form in its groove, Dawn Is A Melody instead places the piano and arrangements centre stage, embracing a timeless warmth infused with bittersweet melodies and saturated textures.
 
The lead single ‘Looking Up’ is a divine dose of uplifting, soul-rousing optimism that kicks off the album. A blank canvas for Finn and a whole host of Melbourne’s finest talent to fill with colour. Sitting between spiritual and cinematic, the track instantly envelops you in a swell of vintage hues, Lucky Pereira feathering the drums as Blakely McLean Davies riffs on the double bass. Finn’s fingers flow across the ‘70s Yamaha grand piano, delicately dancing around Siwei Wong’s stunning harp playing as the track builds and breaks. A sublime string section made up of Chloe Danger, Eunise Cheng, Nils Hobiger and McLean Davies, alongside shimmering vocal harmonies by 30/70 bandmate Allysha Joy, lift the track to limitless heights.
 
Finn’s layered synthwork on the Moog and Prophet provides a contemporary touch to proceedings, but one of the beauties of ‘Looking Up’ and the rest of the Dawn Is A Melody is its inability to be placed by age or era. A blend of inspirations from Arthur Verocai to Alice Coltrane, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson to Kamasi Washington, tied together with recording and mix engineer Henry Jenkin’s vintage recording setup warmth.
 
Just as the swell washed in at the start, the tide draws ‘Looking Up’ to a close, fading back out across the horizon as the sun sets another story.

Finn Rees - Looking Up

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Founded in 1996 by Peter Adarkwah, Barely Breaking Even (BBE Music) started life as a London club night, taking its name from the eponymous Disco record by the Universal Robot Band.

The label grew from the vibrant early 90's club scene with its first release, Stop & Listen compiled by Dr Bob Jones in 1996, opening the door to iconic series' such as All Back To Mine & Late Nite Tales.

A tonne of releases followed, ranging from Disco to Funk, Jazz to House. In the year 2000, the label celebrated Masters at Work's 10th Anniversary with a mighty box set that featured near 80 tracks.

A year later BBE Music spawned the Beat Generation Series of artist albums, notably introducing J Dilla (Welcome 2 Detroit) & a young Will.I.Am's first solo outing, alongside DJ Jazzy Jeff, Madlib & DJ Spinna, all of whom contributed to this seminal set of long players.

A quarter of a century and well over 500 titles later, having worked with Mark Ronson, Roy Ayers, Questlove, Hugh Masekela, DJ Premier, Dimitri from Paris, Joey Negro, Kon, RZA, Laurent Garnier, Black Coffee, DJ Shadow, David Rodigan and John Morales among many others, BBE Music looks to the future, celebrating its rich heritage while continuing to release a bounty of fresh titles.

The label’s most recent projects include an expansive reissue series from pioneering Nigerian label Tabansi, new imprint ‘Batakari’ in association with Boddhi Satva and the critically acclaimed ‘J Jazz’ Japanese Jazz multi-album project, not to mention the recent landmark 500th label release: a brand new version of 'Barely Breaking Even', featuring Leroy Burgess, Patrick Adams and Louie Vega.

In 2021 BBE Music is celebrating its 25th anniversary. To mark this milestone, the label is offering up some special projects, from the 20th Anniversary edition of J Dilla’s ‘Welcome 2 Detroit’, through David Bowie tribute album ‘Modern Love’, to a special new ‘Worldwide’ compilation from old friend Gilles Peterson. BBE Music will also be looking to the future with more exciting original artist projects, plus merch collaborations events and more...

Alina Bzhezhinska & Tony Kofi - Anima - Breathe

BBE Music

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