favourite things | 11.21

‘Caminhos’ is a tribute to the late samba singer and composer Sebastião Victorino Teixeira Dos Santos, better known as Catoni. The heavy swinging hip hop track bridges gaps between classic Brazilian samba sounds with hard hitting Dilla-esque grooves, raw funk and boom bap, taking us on a trip to the shores of Rio de Janeiro.
lyrics
Em que linha do horizonte meu olhar se embaraçou
Em que caminho de fonte a minha sede secou
Que estrada que prendeu na poeira os meus passos
Que noite acendeu no meu corpo o cansaço
credits
from Laroyê, track released September 1, 2021
Produced by Szabolcs Bognar aka Àbáse

Guitar & vocals by Catoni

Mixed by Benjamin Thierney
Mastered by Marco Pellegrino

Cover design by Jason Vaz
Cover collage by Exocé Kasongo aka Bantufuturist
Cover painting by Raphael Cruz

Oshu Records 2021

Caminhos (for Catoni)

6 Visits

L.O.V.E (feat. Rejoicer, Nitai Hershkovits, Amir Bresler & Yonatan Albalak)

Nothing Feels Like Everything

Heron feat. Miryam Solomon

The Brkn Record is a new project led and produced by Jake Ferguson, the co-founder and bass player for the UK’s foundational deep jazz outfit the Heliocentrics. With fellow Heliocentrics co-founder and legendary drummer Malcolm Catto, Ferguson has been a regular collaborator with globally recognised artists including Archie Shepp, Mulatu Astatke, Melvin Van Peebles, Orlando Julius and many others.

The Architecture of Oppression Part 1 represents Ferguson’s debut as a bandleader and orchestrator, and manifests as a committed and soulful response to ongoing and systemic anti-black racism, social oppression and state violence both at home in London and across the globe. Combining poetry, testimony and song with rich and cinematic backdrops, Ferguson has produced a sui generis sound that conjures flavours of Arthur Verocai, Ennio Morricone, classic library productions, Madlib-style deep-jazz beat science, and psychedelic soul. With bandmate Malcolm Catto on drums, Ferguson draws on their long years of collaborative experience in the Heliocentrics to build an album of striking texture and depth. 

But the album does not only reflect Ferguson’s full-spectrum musical prowess, experience and vision. It is equally a manifestation of his longstanding and high-profile work as a frontline activist for racial justice and social equity in London and beyond.

Alongside Malcom Catto, contributors to the album are drawn from the intersecting worlds of community activism, cultural education, politics and music, and include singer and political activist Jermain Jackman, Zara MacFarlane; Chicagoan activist, poet and singer Ugochi Nwaogwugwu; Lee Jasper, longstanding worker for racial justice and former advisor on equalities to the Mayor of London; acclaimed performance poet Dylema; Hackney community leader Janette Collins MBE and Leroy Logan MBE, founder and former chair of the Black Police Association, and the subject of Steve McQueen’s Small Axe episode ‘Red, White and Blue’.

The Architecture of Oppression Part 1 is a singular and urgent chronicle of the black British experience, an upful expression of Pan-African creative unity and community solidarity, and a militant and unbending missive from the frontline in the great tradition of The Impressions’ This Is My Country, Irreversible Entanglements Who Sent You?, Max Roach’s We Insist - Freedom Now Suite, or Linton Kwesi Johnson’s Bass Culture.

A broken record repeats itself, and never plays through – the music is interrupted or trapped in a cycle by damage to the grooves. But The Brkn Record is a work of healing and protection, and a chance to let the full story be heard – all the way to the end, no skips.

The Brkn Record - Break The Chains

Two For Mistake

First Light

The multi-talented Shay Hazan fuses rubbery North African Gnawa grooves, with haunting jazz horns and hip hop on “Bob Dealer”, his forthcoming single via international groove artisans, Batov Records.  A special taste from his first LP for Batov, ‘Reclusive Rituals’.

Tel-Aviv based musician Shay Hazan is a composer, producer, bassist & bandleader. His versatile bass is frequently heard on national radio, providing the hits of tomorrow with a foundation in groove, and MIMS readers may have heard his bass lines propelling the grooves of Sandman Project’s breakthrough EP, ‘Royal Family’.  Recently, Hazan’s straight jazz project, the Shay Hazan Quintet has been making waves, particularly with the release of a 7” single on Jazzman Records.

Having commenced producing his new album during the first Covid lockdown, his creative process this time was a marked departure from previous projects. Whereas he would normally call and gather his band together to record his new compositions live, Hazan would come up with a groove first before sending the recording parts to a drummer in Berlin or a saxophonist in Tel Aviv to add a complementary rhythm or melody, and then finally editing the results himself. As Hazan puts it, “So technically I had the role of the composer and the producer as well as the guimbri player.”

“I made this album in order to satisfy the inner urge for simple grooves and the search for a different and new sound that draws inspiration from ancient places with great tradition but still corresponds with the world and the period in which I live and the way I express myself.”

Having already mastered the double and electric bass, Hazan learned how to play the three-stringed gimbri: a camel-skin-covered bass plucked lute used by the Gnawa people of North Africa, as heard on their hypnotic music.  Hazan repurposes the unique qualities of the instrument with a jazz approach, no doubt inspired somewhat by his introduction to the instrument: “The truth is that my first acquaintance with the Gimbri was by bassist William Parker, who is not a traditional Gnawan player, but an American musician, identified with jazz and improvised music. that I have been following for years.  Once I saw him play with this thing in a show and my mind exploded, I started researching where it came from and listening to music from Morocco and North Africa”. 

The album title, ‘Reclusive Rituals’, is inspired by a Jean-Michel Basquiat interview from 1985 where he discusses his reclusiveness and the public demand for gossip on well-known figures. In particular how advantageous it can be to stay out of the limelight, as the crowd’s very nature is to eventually turn on their idols. Hazan interpreted this to imply that personal behavioural patterns are significantly affected by the fear of negative responses, often leading them to non-action: “Basquiat's words have been resonating in my head for a long time. I see around me a lot of people who for fear of receiving negative criticism, do not initiate or create anything.

And in a certain place, I'm a little scared to be in this place myself and feel the need to keep searching and creating all the time without being influenced by criticism, for better or worse.”

 "Bob Dealer" sees full digital release on December 3rd, with the album dropping on December 10th, on both vinyl and digital. Pre-order available now.

Bob Dealer (Single)

Exclusive Premiere: Shay Hazan "Bob Dealer" (Forthcoming on Batov Records)

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

@al-dobson-jr applies some of his familiar groove and percussive elements to some spiritual jazz from London. 

Collocutor (meaning ‘a person or people taking part in a conversation’) is the brainchild of Tamar Osborn, an ensemble responsible for one of the standout breakthrough jazz albums of 2014. Supported by Gilles Peterson, Wah Wah 45s, Matthew Halsall, Lefto and Sounds of the Universe. 

For more info head to: http://www.stampthewax.com/2014/09/16/premiere-collocutor-agama-al-dobson-jr-indica-mix/

Collocutor's debut album 'Instead' is out 6th October via @onthecornerrecords in digital and hand stamped 180gm vinyl. Available to pre-order at: http://onthecornerrecords.bandcamp.com/

Collocutor's debut live appearance and album launch is on 29th September at The Forge, London. Tickets and info at: https://www.facebook.com/events/680807545343963/?fref=ts 

Collocutor - Agama (Al Dobson Jr Indica Mix)

Telemachus 'Locust' (Henry Wu Remix)
Taken from the digital single available now from:
https://ynrproductions.bandcamp.com/album/locust
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/locust-single/id933807697
and more!

Original version appears on the album Telemachus 'In Morocco'

Follow Telemachus!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/chemouk 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoveTelemachus
Instagram: http://instagram.com/chiefdrchemo

Telemachus 'Locust' (Henry Wu Remix)

Gilles Peterson's Havana Cultura Band - La Rumba Experimental (Motor City Drum Ensemble)

msg me for wa~~~~~~ve

<a href='https://theartistunion.com/tracks/c22922'>Download for free on The Artist Union</a>

unreleased swine

Free Download

Storm - Rare Silk (Jerry Swinefeld Edit)

Order vinyl / CD / digital: https://bbemusic.lnk.to/SaturdayNightSpecial
In association with DJ Amir’s 180 Proof Records, BBE is honoured to present another gem from the small yet significant Strata catalogue. A precursor to New York’s Strata East, Detroit’s Strata Records was founded in the late 1960s by former Blue Note artist Kenny Cox. Starting life as a music-led community organisation, coffee shop studio and venue, Strata released only a few titles as a record label, gaining the imprint a cult following among record collectors and jazz lovers across the globe.
Possibly the best known of Strata’s releases, The Lyman Woodard Organization’s ‘Saturday Night Special’ is rightly heralded as a jazz fusion classic. Recorded in 1975, ‘Saturday Night Special’ features organ, electric piano and Mellotron by bandleader Lyman Woodard alongside guitar and bass by Ron English, with drums and percussion by Leonard King, Bud Spangler & Lorenzo “Mr. Rhythm” Brown respectively. Despite the fairly sparse instrumentation, ‘Saturday Night Special’ lays down an impressive wall of sound, powerfully atmospheric in its almost low-fi aesthetic. Hinting at more traditional jazz, rhythm & blues, afro-cuban styles and more, the uniqueness of this album is surely in its feel: summoning up images of a vast industrial landscape, assembly lines and urban decay. In other words, this record sounds like Detroit.
No great album artwork is complete without a good story to match, and ‘Saturday Night Special’ does not disappoint. Snapped by photographer and political activist Leni Sinclair (responsible for seminal pictures of Miles Davis, Fela Kuti and John Coltrane and many others), the cover image shows the contents of Lyman Woodard’s pockets placed on the hotel bed after a show: cigarette papers, cash and a pistol.
Following Woodard’s death in 2009, this incredible album was reissued in highly limited numbers by Wax Poetics; now just as hard to come by as the original pressings. It’s our pleasure to make this important and influential chapter in the story of contemporary jazz available on vinyl once again.

The Lyman Woodard Organization - Belle Isle Daze

fullmoon JTC refix

Third track taken from the mini-album "Earth Tones" by Yadava.

Vinyl  & digital release out now

Order on bandcamp
omena.bandcamp.com/album/earth-tones

More Yadava on soundcloud 
@yadavasoflute

Yadava - Ixelles'42 (OM026)

mini jass

DIGITAL RELEASE OUT NOW, vinyl late december 2009/early jan 2010. A lovely little slo-mo house number featuring the legend Kaidi Tatham on keys & flute, due for release on the Prime Numbers label (PN011) in early December 09, on a split artist ep, along with tracks from Andres & Motor City Drum Ensemble.

Mr Scruff & Kaidi Tatham 'Fresh Noodles'

Future Classics & Forgotten Treasures — Selections for the Adventurous Music Listener (Founded in 2007 by Lexis)

Exclusive Premiere: Shay Hazan "Bob Dealer" (Forthcoming on Batov Records)

Music Is My Sanctuary

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