CUBAN JAZZ

Just messing around and did this Night time mix of Unlimited Love, coming soon Jazzmasters  July 2014

Unlimited Love Night Time Mix TEASER

Mr Bongo proudly presents the debut album from Tasmania-born, Melbourne-based, Finn Rees. Gliding across a swirling palette of saturated hues, Dawn Is A Melody feels vintage yet vibrant, new but familiar at the same time. A spiritual, deep and textured jazz record, tipping its hat to greats from the past, capturing memories and reformulating them into new ideas with the help of some of Melbourne’s finest talent.

Expert keys player for the likes of 30/70 and Elle Shimada, alongside one-half of Close Counters, this debut LP was Finn’s conscious departure from the realm of groove-based jazz. Instead, Dawn Is A Melody places the piano and arrangements centre stage, giving Finn and his fellow Melbourne crew freedom to explore the spaces in between, new emotions and alternate soundscapes.

In Finn’s own words: “My intention with Dawn Is A Melody was to create a world; a microcosm of colour. Something rich and beautiful that allowed the melodies and compositions to reach their full potential. It was driven by hope, curiosity and the search for beauty and reassurance in this ever-changing world. The emotion behind the music is really about the journey of life, growing up and changing, as well as my relationship with Tasmania’s natural landscapes where I grew up, a part of the world that is incredibly unique and beautiful.”

The album arcs between opening, middle and end. Beginning with the optimism of ‘Looking Up’ and ‘Lagoon’, the former a celestial, string and harp marbled slice of positivity, the latter a spiritual journey of exuberance and hope, Finn’s fingers dancing across the ‘70s Yamaha grand piano. From there the songs blossom outwards with the cinematic soulful journey of ‘It’s Behind Me Now’ and Brazilian-inspired ‘Expansion’, as the divine ‘Crossing’ signals a transition to a new realm. The energy is transformed from the rich cosmic textures to a more intimate and personal feeling with ‘Ablaze’, ‘Between Spaces’ and ‘As It Passes’ which blissfully fades down to simply piano and strings to close out the record.

Recorded at Rolling Stock in Collingwood, Melbourne, Henry Jenkins was drafted in as recording and mix engineer, his minimal vintage mic setups giving a live aesthetic and warmth to the arrangements. Lucky Pereira and Blakely McLean Davies form the rock-solid rhythm section, with a hand-picked line-up of other Melbourne talent on display, including Cheryl Durongpitikul on tenor sax, Siwei Wong on harp, Audrey Powne on trumpet and Allysha Joy on vocals to name only a few.

Plotting a course from Alice Coltrane, through Herbie Hancock, to Arthur Verocai, this is a debut nourished by the past but firmly made in the present. A record unable to be age-stamped, casting ambiguity as to when, what era and by whom it has been crafted. Like a vintage lens capturing a current scene, Dawn Is A Melody is warm and familiar yet focused on the here now.

Finn Rees - Crossing

DJ Makō, Marcelo Cabral, M. Takara - Blu

“This Is How It Goes (And I Love It)” is a triumphant soul anthem about rising through struggle, reclaiming inner light, and choosing alignment over adversity. With a high-frequency message rooted in self-work, divine guidance, and purpose-driven living, the song captures the essence of spiritual resilience. It's a celebration of healing, transformation, and the return to self — not just to survive, but to shine. Radiating love, truth, and grace, this track is for anyone who’s ever come back stronger, clearer, and ready to uplift others through their own journey.

August 22, 2025

This Is How It Goes And I Love It (instrumental w/Random Vocals Version)

0126 - Shadow Mosaic

.sample line on sp's 606...kicks on mpc1000.

Bulimic Orgy and Mile - Things Are Bad

taken from Akua Naru's new album "Live and aflame sessions", out now!

Akua Naru - Take a Ride

I would like to share the news, we have a new member and he goes under the name of @djdash818 and he's located in Bucharest, Romania.

I decided to put together a welcoming mix, where i told Dash to select the tracks he thinks his skill can shine through and give the listeners a good first impression of his style & sound. His debut tape will be available on all services on May 10th - all digital services. The release is called 'Slight Ease' and it contains four exclusive tracks never heard before. I'm really happy for this, to have more people with great energy & vibe to join the movement.

I really hope you will enjoy your stay, blessings from the whole crew. 
/Luciano.

Article

Welcoming - Dash

Brian Jackson

01_Under The Bridge

Buy / stream: https://orcd.co/royayersreaching

Discovered among the storied Roy Ayers ‘Virgin Ubiquity’ studio session tapes, BBE Music presents ‘Reaching The Highest Pleasure’, a previously unreleased gem capturing Ayers and his band at their smooth and soulful best.

Lovingly remastered by Optimum mastering in Bristol, this lost masterpiece recorded in June 1977 features a sumptuous bass-line and ultra-tight groove, over which Roy’s extended vibraphone solo simply soars.

For reasons lost to the mists of time, ‘Reaching The Highest Pleasure’ was never included on either volume of BBE’s ‘Virgin Ubiquity’ albums, however eagle-eared music fans may remember a slightly different version being championed by Gilles Peterson around a decade ago.

As we all know, pleasure is most rewarding when it’s shared, no matter how long it takes, so enjoy this previously unpublished page of musical history from the Godfather of neo soul himself, Mr Roy Ayers.

CUBAN JAZZ

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