Swingin & twistin_part4

Big Crown Records presents Crown Jewels Vol. 3

Things Done Changed

Mother Oryana

Superb

Dreamer's Disease

Slippery Dip

Dreams In Aspamia

So Long Stay Safe

I Bet You

I Bet You (2025 Remastered)

Unconditional Love

Unconditional Love (feat. Esperanza Spalding)

This one was an unexpected treat. Two of our favourite contemporary musicians, Finn Rees & Sholto coming together and collaborating on a double dose of celestial, cinematic alchemy.

At Mr Bongo we are massive admirers of drummer, musician, and producer Sholto (Oscar Robertson). His two albums on Funk Night Records and DeepMatter Records, had both been highlights of their respective years. We’d gotten to know Oscar and sent him a few records. Included in the package was Australian pianist-composer Finn Rees’ debut album, Dawn Is A Melody, which was one of our favourite releases on Mr Bongo in 2024.

In Oscar's words 'For me it was a standout modern jazz record - encapsulating a spiritual / hazy dreamy soundscape which hugely resonated with me. Glissando keys and harp with lush melodies, I was instantly intrigued.”  

The pair started following each other online and as luck would have it, Finn was staying in London for the summer season, so they arranged to meet. The pair instantly clicked and said it felt like they'd known each other for years. After 40 minutes of chatting, they started to jam. 

'Love In Memory' and 'Bluebell' were recorded over two days - a track a day in Oscar's SFJ studios. Laid down on mostly analogue equipment, the pair utilised Wurlitzer’s, mellotrons, and ribbon mics through Oscar’s ‘70s Studer desk. Composed and crafted without any real intentions, other than a shared appreciation for the same style of music and approach, the tracks started to take shape. The results were as lush, nostalgic and textured as you’d expect from these two brilliant musicians, with a classical feel inspired by artists such as Piero Piccioni, Piero Umiliani, and Henry Mancini. 

For the beautiful string arrangements, the pair recruited the talents of Sholto's long-time friend and collaborator Clementine Brown (Penguin Cafe Orchestra) and Matthew Hayes of 30/70, Allysha Joy, Xpress Point, Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange fame, was brought in to play bass on 'Bluebell'.

So here we have it, a chance collaborative project built on two musicians' mutual respect for each other's outputs. The result is truly breathtaking.


Finn Rees & Sholto - Bluebell

As Summer winds down, I decided to release a beat I made in honor of Brian Wilson when he passed, a musician and producer who greatly influenced our journey as People Under The Stairs and beyond. Thank you Brian. Here's to longer nights and colder days as the last gasp of summer fades.

Thank you Brian

Benny Goodman On The Air 1937 - 38

Moonlight On The Highway

Everybody Loves My Baby (Instrumental)

Benny Sent Me (Album Version)

Josephine

Killer Diller (Instrumental)

Coltrane '58: The Prestige Recordings

Stardust

Stardust

John Coltrane

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