Roforofo Fight - Fela Kuti (Montrell McSwain Edit)

Super obscure New York Latin Jazz produced by Eddie Drennon who had a massive Disco hit in the early 1970's with "Let's do the Latin Hustle". Drennon was also a well known arranger and producer on the underground Latin Circuit and produced this way out, leftfield and very different to the typical "Salsa" style release current at that time.
Some very jazz oriented playing on top of the "El Barrio" Vox Pop sounds of the streets and underlaid with some funky and fiery latin percussion. "Suite Guaracha" was picked up on by the Ursula 1000 & Gamm Nu-Jazz crew in the 2000's and was played all over the alternative club circuit but has still managed to stay under the radar since then and is now a staple of the Worldwide Sound appearing on DJ Playlists in the hippest spots from Tokyo to Hamburg, New York to Barcelona. Very different from the usual run of the mill late 70's Fania outings which might be a clue as to it's somewhat unique sound stylings. Funky, gritty, jazzy and spooky backing vocals. It's Strictly Jazz Room!

TATA VASQUEZ  - SUITE GUARACHO - PART 2

We follow up last week's Oliver Night premiere with this groovy cut from Tommy Rawson - track titled "Soldier Dub", taken from Tommy's new "Sacrifice" EP which will be out on Boogie Cafe Records real soon!

Following on from his amazing 'Illusions' EP on Bergerac, Tommy Rawson delivers another wonderful EP of Broken Beat and Soulful House.  Many of the tracks give a solid nod to the early 2000's Broken beat movement, but with a contemporary twist.

[PREMIERE] Tommy Rawson - Soldier Dub

3. Habibi

Cologne-based Afro-fusion collective Muito Kaballa, known for their mesmerizing live shows, are following up their BBC Radio 6 endorsed single 'Like A River' with another Afro-soul fusion track titled 'Let Go.' This new single features the rising Belgo-Congolese artist Reinel Bakole. 'Let Go' challenges societal notions of success and explores how dreams can be stifled by economic and societal pressures. The band incorporates futuristic, synth-led soundscapes alongside their established Afro-fusion stylings, with dub-influenced horn lines engaging in a conversation with Bakole. The synth leads evoke shades of the Australian groove group Mildlife, while the subtle Afrobeat groove remains true to Muito Kaballa's established sound.

Thematically aligned with the concept of separation, 'Let Go' is an empowering piece that urges listeners to question certain ideas and encourages them to release their burdens. The lyrics delve into how dreams can be overshadowed by economic pressure and society's narrow definition of success. The line "Your life may shine like gold, but your dreams remain untold" directly addresses this notion.

'Like A River' is an album that focuses on transitional moments in life and the detachment from ingrained social ideals. The centerpiece of the album is the three-part movement titled 'Like A River Parts I-III,' which serves as the beginning, middle, and end. Accompanied by a film, these movements serve as the score, showcasing the band's remarkable songwriting and collective arrangement skills. The album incorporates diverse influences ranging from Afrofunk, gnawa, contemporary jazz, and rumba. While Muito Kaballa's previous albums predominantly explored afrobeat and tackled subjects like social equality, racial politics, and climate change, 'Like A River' takes a more intimate and personal approach as a concept album.

Niklas Mündemann, the tenor saxophonist and composer, leads Muito Kaballa. The Cologne-based collective initially started as a one-man loop station street show but has since gained recognition for their eclectic performances. The band has released three albums to date: 'Everything Is Broke' in 2019, 'Mamari' in 2021, and 'Little Child' in 2022. With each release, they have garnered a devoted fanbase and received critical acclaim from domestic press outlets.

'Like A River' is scheduled for release on September 1st via Batov Records.

Like A River

Exclusive Premiere: Muito Kaballa "Let Go" feat. Reinel Bakole (Batov Records)

Available for pre-order from 4th May
Release date 26th May  
2000black.bandcamp.com
From LP 'The More Things Stay the Same' by dego on 2000BLACK

Feminist Meetings

woodcut - the projects (hulk hodn aka hodini remix)

Chanan Hanspal feat. Imaani from Incognito. Remix by Kay Suzuki. Percussion original sample by Kakatsitsi Drummers. Fender Rhodes by Jessica Lauren. Released Jan 2009.

Chanan Hanspal - It's only just a garden (Kay Suzuki Remix)

Neue Grafik - I Miss Something (NameBrandSound Remix)

Much of the way in which the world operates today, at a human level, concerns exploitation, using  another’s vulnerability for one’s own benefit, an idea so commonplace we only recognise its ill in the  extremes. From reflection, to acceptance, to hope, ​Forgotten Ones​ delves into the contradictions of  accepting the status quo while identifying it’s shortcomings.

Esencia​ is proud to present ​Forgotten Ones​, the new album from London based quintet Culross Close  (an alias of K15).

​‘Acceptance’  finds the quintet in familiar hip-hop territory, carving out a top tier groove with a recurring piano motif  of the highest order. Their vocals, this time more chant than choral makes for a brilliant 5 minute  mantra.
 
Culross Close​ are:
 
Bass - Eli Emmanuel 
Keys - Anthony Kieron 
Drums - May Goode
Synthesizers - Nathaniel Jiddu
Percussion & Incense - Hasani

Forgotten Ones (Digital)

Exclusive Premiere: Culross Close "Acceptance"

Out Now! Grab compilation digi / 12" : https://darkerthanwax.bandcamp.com/album/various-channels-vol-1-nyc-compiled-by-marco-weibel

Various Channels is a new series within the Darker Than Wax catalogue - a selector-led compilation series that pushes diversity in sound while also encapsulating a common connection of what brings people together. For the first volume, it’s all about location. Deeply inspired by the new wave of creative energy in New York City, the label is proud to present ‘Various Channels Vol. 1 : NYC’ - a compilation highlighting key artists at the forefront of NYC’s blooming music ecosystem, curated by selector Marco Weibel. While Darker Than Wax was born in Singapore, our satellite (or second) home is NYC.

A key figure behind Darker Than Wax since its early days, Marco moved to NYC in 2014, and has continued to establish a humble presence for the label through his tireless work as a DJ, Curator, Promoter & Radio Host. Within 6 years, Marco has seen New York’s underground grow through artists’ continual efforts to push the envelope and blur the lines between sounds. Thanks in part to uncompromising venues and community spaces such as The Lot Radio in Brooklyn (where Marco is running our weekly radio show alongside label peer Mawkus), a fresh crop of producers and DJs are elevating the music of NYC.

This compilation serves as a snapshot of this moment in time, spotlighting select artists making waves - including Jitwam, James Tillman, Toribio, Ensemble Entendu, David Marston and Tristan Arp. This project is also personal to Marco’s experience of digging deep into the city and connecting with kindred spirits, the selections reflecting the creative energy of his close musical family, who traverse eclectic sound spectrums from R&B/Soul, Balearic Grooves, House, Broken Beat and beyond.

Various Channels Vol. 1: NYC - Compiled by Marco Weibel

Buy / Purchase 12"

Toribio - Swett

A STUNNING RHYTHMIC FUSION OF LATIN AND JAZZ WITH A UNIQUE SPIRITUAL PULSE.

HUGO HEREDIA – “MANANITA PAMPERA”

JAZZ ROOM RECORDS – JAZZR 002
Available at: https://jazzroomrecords.bandcamp.com/album/mananita-pampera
TBR: September 6th 2019

"Killer Argentinian saxophonist Hugo Heredia (on) a bonafide Electric Ballroom classic that’s been really hard to find for years... and it’s got Horace Parlan on piano!"
GILLES PETERSON 
"Thanks Jazz Room Records for the rerelease of a stunning and truly epic spiritual album by Hugo Heredia. Each song is an intense and rhythmic exportation from an amazing multi instrumentalist. 
For me, this is just the right blend of latin rhythms and jazz power all wrapped up in an adventurous spiritual vibe! Essential summer release." 
CHIP WICKHAM 
"Essential and collectible and important"....SNOWBOY 
"Furious, edgy and raw!".............................RHYTHM DOCTOR 
"What a great album...Reissue is top notch" DJ MELODY NELSON 
"Filled with beautiful melody and complex rhythmic patterns. The sort of sounds that bring even long dormant Jazz dancers back to that shiny floor for one last, fast, dance" PABLO BLANQUITO 
"Reissue of the year, hands down!" MIKE CHADWICK JAZZFM 
thevinylfactory.com/news/hugo-heredia-mananita-pampera-jazz-room-reissue/ 
soundsandcolours.com/articles/brazil/latin-jazz-round-up-os-seis-em-ponto-hugo-heredia-47008/ 



If ever a record called be called a lost masterpiece then this record more than deserves that epithet. First released on an obscure French label in the 1970's it might have sunk further into obscurity and left no trace of it's passing but somehow a handful of copies turned up in various Jazz shops in London where it was snapped up by DJ Paul Murphy who was then playing to the embryonic jazz dance scene, based at the very first Jazz Room club: The Horseshoe in London's Tottenham Court Road, a decaying, seedy, sticky carpeted old West End ballroom that had seen better days. This and a select few records in a similar vein were being played to an appreciative audience who demanded tough raw percussive rhythms overlaid with some furious jazzy soloing and whenever this record hit the turntable it left even the most demanding groover sated.

It's a really fantastic collection from this barely known reedman and his excellent band which also features a guest appearance by American Legend Horace Parlan who is best known for his Afro-Cuban session "Headin' South" on Blue Note Records.

Superbly produced by drummer Peter Schmidlin, who has conjured up a spiritual modal mixdown of Afro-Cuban & Jazz extended percussive workouts that are uncompromising in their groove and which manage to sound both timeless and modern. The record is being re-released with the original striking artwork, guaranteed to be a talking point.

Hugo Heredia Quintet – Mananita Pampera

Side A
1. Mananita Pampera
2. El Beto
3. Have You Met Miss ...?
4. El Beto II
Side B
5. Tunita
6. Carmen Pequena
7. Al Bebbe Guia

TATA VASQUEZ - SUITE GUARACHO - PART 2

Jazz Room Records

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