New Album 'Curiosities' Available November 12
<a href="https://bastardjazz.bandcamp.com/album/curiosities">BUY ALBUM</a> (CD, Vinyl, Digital)
<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/curiosities/id732812842">BUY ON iTUNES</a>

Bastard Jazz Recordings is proud to present the sophomore album Curiosities by New Zealand multi- instrumentalist and producer Lord Echo (aka Mike Fabs). An enticing sonic excursion that effortlessly transcends genre and geography, the release finds Echo flexing his dual-mastery of 60's production techniques and modern dancefloor aesthetics, while also highlighting the vocal prowess of his soulful compatriots through a flowing blend of boogie-laced Funk, disco-primed Dub, futuristic Soul, and timeless African rhythms.

Fabs, known worldwide for his production work with NZ’s biggest Reggae export The Black Seeds, drew a groundswell of excitement around his debut solo album Melodies in late 2010. The independent release became a cult classic strictly through word-of-mouth, championed by tastemakers like Gilles Peterson (who played it repeatedly on his BBC Radio 1 show), Oliver Wang (Soulsides) and Richard Dorfmeister. Re-issues of the album soon followed in Japan and Europe, with vinyl copies quickly becoming a hot commodity among discerning collectors around the globe. Echo was introduced to Bastard Jazz’s DJ DRM in 2011 (via Detroit producer Recloose), and a limited 7” vinyl release on the Brooklyn-based imprint soon followed in 2012, precipitating this full length release with the label.

Curiosities picks up right where Melodies left off, with the sun-drenched psychedelic dub sounds of tracks like “Bohemian Idol” (featuring vocals by Toby Laing of Fat Freddy's Drop), and the jerky funk vibes of cuts like “Digital Haircut” and “Street Knowledge”. The album provides a wealth of DJ fodder, with forward thinking 70s-inspired disco tunes such as “Molten Lava” (featuring the soaring vocals of Leila Adu), as well as analog Afro-infused burners like “What Is That Feeling” and “Put It In My Head” (complemented by the golden-voiced Mara TK of Electric Wire Hustle fame). Down-home spiritual jazz/electronic meanderings ("Ghost Hands", “Arabesque”) provide a counterpoint to Echo's driving cover-version of the Pharoah Sanders & Leon Thomas classic “The Creator Has a Master Plan”. His inspiring take on the track is uplifted by the soulful singing of Lisa Tomlins (who's notable vocals on Echo’s rendition of Sister Sledge’s “Thinking Of You” made it a standout hit from his Melodies album).

The finely-tuned collaborations throughout Curiosities underscore Lord Echo's pivotal position in the thriving New Zealand music scene. "I generally only work with people I know quite well personally", says Echo humbly. That personal and organic approach to creating his music is revealed as the album unfolds, layer by delectable layer. "I made this record primarily with DJs in mind," he continues. "They are generally people who really love music and are often obsessed with various aspects of it. I'm not making music for people for whom it's just some background noise in their lives, I'm making music for people for whom it IS their lives. And for better or worse, I guess I am one of those people."

A diverse, yet grounded LP chock full of head-turning sounds, Curiosities further pushes Lord Echo’s repertoire into the realm of the inimitable, and is sure to pique the interest of discerning music lovers from down-under to the big apple.

Buy on iTunes

Lord Echo feat. Toby Laing - Bohemian Idol

Takuya Kuroda Feat. Roy Ayers  - Everybody Loves the Sunshine

It's Valentine's Day, and the new DopeGems record is on point with that special occasion... Heartfelt, soulful performances from the vaults of early quiet storm is what it's all about.

Two beautiful tracks from the golden era of symphonic soul ballads rearranged as rich and intense small group instrumentals.

As an added 'secret' threat, those who know and recognize 'game' will be delighted to see this music reflect either side of their persona.

Available February 14th on digital

Limited Edition White 7" w/ deluxe die-cut cover available March 11th.

Vibraphone : Yragael Unfer
Keyboards : Giuliano Veludo
Guitar : Slikk Tim
Bass : Emmanuel Harang
Drums: Slikk Tim

Arranged, recorded and mixed by Slikk Tim.
Mastered by Shawn Joseph.

Graphic Design by Anton Gret

Special Thanks to Francky "D "

Ballads - EP

DOPEGEMS  "Travelling Man"

Buy the single in all formats here:
BIG CROWN WEBSTORE: https://bigcrownrecords.com/store/lady-wray-smiling-45/

Taken from the Lady Wray album "Queen Alone" available here:

BIG CROWN WEBSTORE: https://bigcrownrecords.com/store/lady-wray-queen-alone/
BUY / STREAM: 
http://geni.us/ladywrayqueenalone


Follow Lady Wray:
https://www.facebook.com/Ladynicolewray
https://www.instagram.com/ladynicolewray/
https://twitter.com/Ladynicolewray
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1plioVQ0mcgAO7uhvWkJJy

Visit us at:
www.bigcrownrecords.com

Follow Big Crown Records:
https://open.spotify.com/user/bigcrownrecords
https://www.instagram.com/bigcrownrecords
https://www.facebook.com/bigcrownrecords
https://twitter.com/bigcrownrecords?lang=en
https://soundcloud.com/bigcrownrecords
https://www.mixcloud.com/BigCrownRecords

Buy at BCR

Lady Wray - Smiling - BC002-45 - Side A

Brownswood Recordings and The Steve Reid Foundation celebrate the life and spirit of one of the world’s greatest jazz drummers – Steve Reid – via a deluxe 12” featuring a brand new interpretation of the classic ‘Lions Of Judah’ by emanative & Ahmed Abdullah backed with a Four Tet re-edit. 

Steve Reid was an amazing drummer with a long and illustrious history that stretched from working with James Brown, Miles Davis and Fela Kuti through to his own Steve Reid Trio and more recently working with Kieran Hebden (Four Tet). He died from throat cancer in the US in April 2010 without the money for treatment that could have saved his life. 

The Steve Reid Foundation was established by Gilles Peterson in memory of his friend. The aims of the foundation are to fundraise on behalf of struggling musicians in need of help and support. All profits from the sale of the ‘Lions Of Judah’ 12” will go to the foundation.

gillespetersonworldwide.com/gilles-peterson/the-steve-reid-foundation/


Greedbag: http://brownswoodrecordings.greedbag.com/buy/lions-of-judah/

Amazon: http://www.amazon.fr/Lions-Judah-Four-Tet-Re-Edit/dp/B006A9XSJK/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1370360040&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=emanative+judah

emanative & Ahmed Abdullah - Lions Of Judah

Over the past eight years, Ikebe Shakedown has cemented a reputation as one of the boldest, most creative acts in the Brooklyn instrumental scene. Combining cinematic soul, Afro–funk, deep disco, and an irrepressible groove, Ikebe has forged a style all its own. Each song is anchored in the deep-pocketed pulse of its four-man rhythm section (Barnaby Alter, drums; Dave Bourla, percussion; Vince Chiarito, bass; Robin Schmidt, guitar) and driven by one of the tightest horn trios on the East Coast (Mike Buckley, tenor/baritone sax; Jason Colby, trumpet; Nadav Nirenberg, trombone), with tunes ranging from dance-foor burners to lush, captivating scores.

The band frst came on the scene with 2009’s debut EP, Hard Steppin’, from Colemine Records.  Praised by WNYC’s Soundcheck as “the perfect soundtrack for the unwritten Tarantino movie of your imagination,” the five–song release led to tours up and down both coasts and paved the way for Ikebe Shakedown’s first full-length LP on Ubiquity Records in 2011. Recorded at Killion Sound in L.A. with Orgone’s Sergio Rios and Dunham Studios in Brooklyn with noted producer Tom Brenneck, this self-titled album featured 14 blistering tracks that Okayplayer called, “an adventurous trip through time” and “one of the best releases of the year.” Having toured the record throughout the U.S. and Canada, Ikebe returned to the studio in 2014 for their follow up album for Ubiquity, Stone by Stone.  Recorded at Daptone Studios, the 10–song set let the band become more adventurous than ever before, weaving psychedelic textures and raw soul into powerful compositions, or as Wax Poetics called it, “a greasy and sometimes trippy funk world.”

Now, after hitting major jazz festivals, opening on extended runs for stars like Lee Fields, and touring with acts like Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Charles Bradley and His Extraordinaires, and the Monophonics, the seven members of Ikebe Shakedown are poised for their next big release in 2016. The band’s style has continued to evolve, with material that transports listeners beyond their living rooms and builds on the success that has led to musical features in series such as Eastbound and Down, movies like Our Brand is Crisis, and commercials for brands including Mini Cooper, Van’s Off the Wall, and Surfline. The songs are at once richly familiar and incredibly fresh, paying homage to classic influences while pushing a brand new sound. Defying genre or classification, this album proves Ikebe Shakedown is helping define the next bold wave in instrumental music.

Stone By Stone

The Offering

Debut single from Rat Child

Rat Child (lead vox + guitar)
Kiara Fox (vox)
Bart Welch (vox)
Harmony Byrne (bass + flute)
Christy Wositzki-Jones (keys)
Maddie Stephenson (drums)
Lucky Pereira (congas)
Miles De Carteret (guitar)

Written by Rat Child and co-arranged with band

Recorded at Zuvuya Recording Studio, Selby Vic ~ October 2017

Mixed and Engineered by Joseph Fairburn
Mastered by Tom Mansfield

I mean every word. Big love x

Changes

Nubiyan Twist release their new album 'Jungle Run' on 15th February 2019 through Strut Records. Available on CD, 2LP and digital. Cover artwork from acclaimed designer Marcus Davies, album produced by Tom Excell, mixed by Matt Mysko and Oli Barton Wood, mastered by The Carvery
You can pre-order the album here: https://strut.lnk.to/JungleRun

Nubiyan Twist - Addis To London feat. Mulatu Astatke

My track featuring the sumptuous Sophie Barker of Zero 7 fame is out on Bona Fido everywhere - stream or buy here: https://fanlink.to/wishingX

Raising its super-chill credentials through the smoky roof, Wishing is a collaboration with the very queen of the etherial herself, Sophie Barker.  Writer and singer with the original legendary Zero 7 line-up, Sophie co-wrote much of their platinum-selling era-defining album Simple Things, including the worldwide smash Destiny alongside Sia.  She has also collaborated with a veritable who’s who of delicious music-makers including Groove Armada, The Egg and Grooverider, not to mention her many hugely successful solo projects and performances.

Wishing

Listen or buy

JEM STONE ft. SOPHIE BARKER - WISHING

Les Gammas - Exercises Des Styles  See The Sun

The Way Home

Assassin

Over the past eight years, Ikebe Shakedown has cemented a reputation as one of New York City’s boldest, most creative instrumental bands. Combining cinematic soul, Afro–funk, deep disco, and an irrepressible groove, Ikebe Shakedown has forged a style all its own. Each song is anchored in the deep-pocketed pulse of its four-man rhythm section (Barnaby Alter, drums; Dave Bourla, percussion; Vince Chiarito, bass; Robin Schmidt, guitar) and driven by one of the tightest horn trios on the East Coast (Mike Buckley, tenor/baritone sax; Jason Colby, trumpet; Nadav Nirenberg, trombone), with tunes ranging from dance-floor burners to lush, captivating scores.

The band first came on the scene with 2009’s debut EP, Hard Steppin’, from Colemine Records. Praised by WNYC’s Soundcheck as “the perfect soundtrack for the unwritten Tarantino movie of your imagination,” the five–song release led to tours up and down both U.S. coasts and paved the way for Ikebe Shakedown’s first full-length LP on Ubiquity Records. Recorded at Killion Sound in L.A. with Orgone’s Sergio Rios and Dunham Studios in Brooklyn with noted producer Tom Brenneck, this self-titled album, released in 2011, featured 14 blistering tracks that Okayplayer called, “an adventurous trip through time” and “one of the best releases of the year.” Having toured the record throughout the U.S. and Canada, Ikebe Shakedown returned to the studio in 2014 for their follow up album for Ubiquity, Stone by Stone. Recorded at Daptone Studios, the 10-song set let the band become more adventurous than ever before, weaving psychedelic textures and raw soul into powerful compositions, or as Wax Poetics called it, “a greasy and sometimes trippy funk world.”

Now, after hitting major jazz festivals, opening on extended runs for stars like Lee Fields, and with the band’s members simultaneously touring with acts like Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Charles Bradley and His Extraordinaires, and the Monophonics, Ikebe Shakedown is poised for their next big release in 2017. The new album, The Way Home, is due out October 20th on Colemine Records. It shows how the band’s style has continued to evolve, with material that transports listeners beyond their living rooms into dance parties and spaces for introspection. Building on the success that has led to musical features in series such as Eastbound and Down, movies like Our Brand is Crisis, and commercials for brands including Mini Cooper, Vans’ Off the Wall, and Surfline, the songs are at once richly familiar and incredibly fresh, paying homage to classic influences while pushing a brand new sound. Defying genre or classification, this album proves Ikebe Shakedown is helping define the next bold and soulful wave in instrumental music.

The Offering

Ikebe Shakedown

Recent comments

The Blossom Seed

VOID NIMBUS

Related tracks