A brilliant new cut from Raffy Bushman, the London-based pianist and composer, whose debut EP last year, 'Look Up', certainly caught our attention and found a home on many respectable playlists too.

Raffy's spirited and melodic piano playing is a joy to hear on "Abraham". Supported by Nubiyan Twist's Finn Booth on drums and Mikele Montolli, hailing from Verona via Graz, on bass. 

Raffy gained praise and recognition far afield for his direction of Unit 31,  a music and visual arts collective of serious impact in London. He also founded the NuShape Orchestra, collaborating with Nubiya Brandon on 'All Kinds of Limbo' a transportative musical VR experience at The National Theatre.

After an impressive debut last year, Raffy looks set to go from strength to strength, from all indications.

Exclusive Premiere: Raffy Bushman "Abraham" (Forthcoming on Bridge The Gap)

Patchworks Ginger X Press - Brothers On The Slide (Philly Soul Mix)

In Between Revisited: Jazzanova Live

Days to Come (Little Big Beat Studio Live Session)

n an ever-expanding musical universe, Azymuth have long existed as a celestial giant, drawing countless artists, musicians and followers into their orbit. Marking fifty years since their 1975 debut album Azimuth, their new album Marca Passo proves that the band’s alchemic brew of Brazilian jazz-funk and cosmic samba soul remains as vital as ever, as the group honours the profound legacy of their departed founders.

Recorded in Rio de Janeiro, Marca Passo is the first full-length release since the passing of founding drummer Ivan "Mamão" Conti in 2023, following the earlier loss of keyboardist José Roberto Bertrami in 2012. Alex Malheiros, the sole remaining original member, sees his stewardship of the band’s musical legacy as his spiritual duty. He is joined by the equally devoted Kiko Continentino (Milton Nascimento, Djavan) on keyboards, who has been with the group since 2016, and new recruit Renato Massa (Marcos Valle, Ed Motta) on drums.

Yet since their earliest recorded music, Azymuth have always been far greater than the sum of their parts. The "three-man orchestra’s" unmistakable sound is rooted in Brazil's MPB studio scene of the 1970s and early 1980s—a time when artists blended traditional Brazilian rhythms with global jazz, rock, and emerging psychedelic and progressive elements. Marca Passo continues this legacy, seamlessly fusing Brazilian musical traditions with global influences while showcasing the exceptional musicianship that powers Azymuth's distinctive, multi-dimensional sound.

The album is produced by studio mastermind Daniel Maunick, responsible for Azymuth’s two previous studio albums, Fênix in 2016 and Aurora in 2011. Daniel’s credits also include albums by Marcos Valle, Sabrina Malheiros and Terry Callier. Azymuth also invited Daniel’s father, British jazz-funk royalty Jean Paul “Bluey” Maunick, of Incognito, to play guitar on a new version of Azymuth’s eighties classic “Last Summer In Rio”, in tribute to the song’s composer, José Roberto Bertrami. Equally, “Samba Pro Mamao” is a new composition dedicated to Azymuth’s beloved original drummer, Ivan “Mamão” Conti.

Marca Passo releases on limited edition blue, red & black vinyl LP editions, CD and digitally on the 6th June 2025, via Far Out Recordings, supported by European and North American tours.

Azymuth - Arabutã

Listen everywhere: https://idol-io.ffm.to/sholto-abase-david-bardon
Buy the 45 on Bandcamp: https://sholto2.bandcamp.com/album/sholto-a-ba-se-david-bardon-metropolis-the-right-orchid
Listen to the DeepMatter Catalogue: https://tinyurl.com/dm-catalogue


The Right Orchid

Buy / Stream the album 'Boxer's Fracture' in full: https://BBEmusic.lnk.to/boxerfra
Following up last year’s genre-bending EP ‘Red Light Syndrome’ which garnered support from Ashley Beedle and Craig Smith among others, Ziggy Funk returns to BBE with his debut solo album, ‘Boxer’s Fracture’. An accomplished DJ in his own right, Ziggy makes up one half of Rhemi, the London production outfit currently riding high on the Soulful House scene thanks to stellar collaborations with Joey Negro, Louie Vega and Opolopo. But, as evidenced in this eclectic collection of original tracks, Ziggy Funk’s musical roots reach far beyond house music.
Light on samples, heavy on musicianship, ‘Boxer’s Fracture’ is clearly the work of an accomplished multi-instrumentalist. Starting out on the guitar from an early age, Ziggy played in various bands over the years, taking in funk, reggae, blues, jazz and even rock influences, all of which were added to his vibrant musical palette. The raw, improvised feel of live music finds it’s way into ‘Boxer’s Fracture at times; several tracks sound almost like a talented band jamming together for the sheer joy of it. At other points the album appears highly polished, with timely soul/jazz cut ‘Stop Scrolling and Connect’ and bass-heavy broken beat title track ‘Boxer’s Fracture’ letting Ziggy’s production skills take centre stage.
Currently DJing regularly both in London and further afield, producing more Rhemi material and running an eponymous label alongside partner Neil Pierce, you can expect to hear a lot more from Ziggy Funk in the future.

Boxer's Fracture

Ziggy Funk - Boxer's Fracture

B1 - Laroye - Connected MGBK001

The Isoul8 Edit of Broken Vibes. He put some nice finishing touches on the OG to create this edit. I consider this to be the Final Version of Broken Vibes. Thanks Homie.

Taylor on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TaylorMcFerrin
Taylor on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Taylor-McFerrin/9087746963
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Taylor on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/artist/taylor-mcferrin/id26149051

Broken Vibes [Isoul8 Edit]

@abasemusic delivers groove and sateen sweetness on this eight-minute stunner via @cosmiccompositions.

Read more: http://www.stampthewax.com/2018/11/30/premiere-abase-align-feat-wayne-snow/
Listen on Youtube: http://bit.ly/abase-snow

Listen on Youtube

Àbáse - Align feat Wayne Snow (STW Premiere)

By Leron Thomas
Featured on Gilles Peterson's Brownswood Bubblers Eight.
From the album Dirty Draws Vol. 3

Leron Thomas- Vocals, Michael Valeanu- Guitar, Justin Tyson- Drums, Shimrit Shoshan- Piano, Carlo De Rosa- Bass

Mr New York

* Read more: https://boltingbits.com/trev-for-you-around-me-dance-regular
* Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/H0DNBdFJUkA
* Pre-order: http://bit.ly/2IY9vP6

It’s always special to be part of a record label’s birth, so we’re stoked to welcome London label Dance Regular to our catalogue of premieres with the B1 – For You Around Me by Trev – from their first record. 
James Rudie and EVM128 have started the label, which they say will orbit around styles like House, Bruk, Soul, Jazz, Boogie, Half Time, Jungle, Ragga, and more. Multiple records are already set for release in 2019, but the first, which includes our premiere track, will be up for grabs from 7th June. 

Body Music Vol 1 is its name – a six-track, various artist EP. From the dark wobbly bass of the opening track by Xtra Brux, to the light and playful melodies on the B2 by Szajna, the musical diversity here is striking. 

For You Around Me is an intelligent, jazz-house fusion whose intensity undulates in parallel with ethereal strings. It features a 50/50 mix of 4x4 and more breakbeat, syncopated drums. Layered keys, including a quintessential jazz sound in a Rhodes keyboard, lull us into the onset of strings and drums, each escalating until the bass kicks in shortly after the minute-mark and the track takes off. 

Overall, it’s six-minutes of intriguing rhythms soaked, in a measured way, with melodies that move back and forth between flowing moodiness in House form and lighter, more glitchy jazz.

PREMIERE: Trev - For You Around Me

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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...