Top Notch Grooves - Part 1

Patchworks Ginger X Press - Brothers On The Slide (Philly Soul Mix)

In an ever-expanding musical universe, Azymuth have long existed as a celestial giant, drawing countless artists, musicians and followers into their orbit. Marking fifty years since their 1975 debut album Azimuth, their new album Marca Passo proves that the band’s alchemic brew of Brazilian jazz-funk and cosmic samba soul remains as vital as ever, as the group honours the profound legacy of their departed founders.

Recorded in Rio de Janeiro, Marca Passo is the first full-length release since the passing of founding drummer Ivan "Mamão" Conti in 2023, following the earlier loss of keyboardist José Roberto Bertrami in 2012. Alex Malheiros, the sole remaining original member, sees his stewardship of the band’s musical legacy as his spiritual duty. He is joined by the equally devoted Kiko Continentino (Milton Nascimento, Djavan) on keyboards, who has been with the group since 2016, and new recruit Renato Massa (Marcos Valle, Ed Motta) on drums.

Yet since their earliest recorded music, Azymuth have always been far greater than the sum of their parts. The "three-man orchestra’s" unmistakable sound is rooted in Brazil's MPB studio scene of the 1970s and early 1980s—a time when artists blended traditional Brazilian rhythms with global jazz, rock, and emerging psychedelic and progressive elements. Marca Passo continues this legacy, seamlessly fusing Brazilian musical traditions with global influences while showcasing the exceptional musicianship that powers Azymuth's distinctive, multi-dimensional sound.

The album is produced by studio mastermind Daniel Maunick, responsible for Azymuth’s two previous studio albums, Fênix in 2016 and Aurora in 2011. Daniel’s credits also include albums by Marcos Valle, Sabrina Malheiros and Terry Callier. Azymuth also invited Daniel’s father, British jazz-funk royalty Jean Paul “Bluey” Maunick, of Incognito, to play guitar on a new version of Azymuth’s eighties classic “Last Summer In Rio”, in tribute to the song’s composer, José Roberto Bertrami. Equally, “Samba Pro Mamao” is a new composition dedicated to Azymuth’s beloved original drummer, Ivan “Mamão” Conti.

Marca Passo releases on limited edition blue, red & black vinyl LP editions, CD and digitally on the 6th June 2025, via Far Out Recordings, supported by European and North American tours.

Azymuth - Last Summer In Rio (Featuring Jean Paul "Bluey" Maunick of Incognito)

freak no

Full stream of Balako's sensual "Nervous Inn," the single on Greco-Roman.

More info: https://www.xlr8r.com/news/2017/08/premiere-stream-a-sensual-new-cut-from-balako/

@horadebalako
@greco-roman

More info

Premiere: Balako - Nervous Inn

Personnel:
Mausiki Scales, electric piano, vibes, vocals, lyrics, arrangement
Shawna Floyd, vocals
Raina Turner, vocals
Quinn Masonry, alto saxophone
Kebbi Williams, tenor saxophone
Alex Jones, guitar
Khari Simmons, bass
Che Marshall, drums

Photo: Brandi Pettijohn

One 2Gether

The rising mega talent, multi-instrumentalist, striking bandleader and *actually* ambidextrous musician and producer returns to deliver Ley Lines – a true showcase of her talents. From the horns, to the choir, to the drums, to the rest, everything was written, produced, laid down and mixed by Emma-Jean.

“I wanted to step away from my work as a band leader and do something self-contained. I love improvising in the moment with a band, but wanted to take the chance to create at my own pace and be true to my own vision,” she says.

As a producer and musician, Emma-Jean’s work defies genre boundaries yet still holds deep roots in jazz. As well as being tipped “one of the UK’s most exciting new jazz artists” by Red Bull Music Academy, the one-woman-band production style of Ley Lines has been compared to Stones-Throw heavyweight Madlib.

Just as at home working with the London Symphony Orchestra as she is tearing it down at Total Refreshment Centre, Ley Lines follows Emma-Jean’s acclaimed Walrus EP and maintains her trajectory as one of the most talented young musicians in the business.

Ley Lines EP

Red Bush

Emma-Jean Thackray - Red Bush

Won't Get Better

02. Scrimshire - Won't Get Better feat. Emma-Jean Thackray

from the 34-track instrumental hip-hop album Alone Together. 
Download the MP3 here:
http://stonesthrow.com/news/2012/10/karriem-riggins-together-lp

Karriem & Questlove DJ the Alone Together record release party at Brooklyn Bowl, Thrs October 25 | 61 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn NY 
http://brooklynbowl.com/event/154079

Download MP3

Karriem Riggins - Summer Maddness S.A.

Off the back of their Meredith Music Festival 2019 lineup announcement, Melbourne wonky soul four-piece Karate Boogaloo have shared the second piece from their upcoming ‘KB’s Mixtape No. 2’.

This time KB gives us their flip on Mtume’s disco/R&B slow-jam “Juicy Fruit”. It’s a mid-tempo bounce, mellow and light to the touch with sprinkles of oozy synth and slide-guitar throughout.

Composed around a Linn LM-1 drum machine and recorded in under two hours, Mtume’s “Juicy Fruit” has had a lasting impact on the R&B and hip-hop scene with over 100 listed sample uses of the track. Most famously used in Notorious B.I.G’s 1994 hit “Juicy”, Keyshia Cole’s “Let It Go”,  Warren G’s “This D.J” & in Grand Theft Auto’s radio shows.

Following on from the cult success of ‘KB’s Mixtape No. 1’ - songs that were sampled into your favourite hits -, ‘Mixtape No. 2’ expands this theme with songs from the 80s that were sampled into your favourite hits! Out September 27 via Hopestreet Recordings.

Making up the rhythm section of long-time Melbourne soul favourites The Cactus Channel, KB consistently sit in their own lane – the combination of raw musicianship and sheer time on the clock in the studio and on stage gives them a glowing connection rarely seen. Making records, they follow their own rules; recording and mixing on tape with no plugins and no edits, releasing exclusively in mono. It’s not about anachronism, it’s about the KB manifesto: a chosen set of limitations forcing a specific outcome, an outcome best appreciated through their “KB’s Mixtape” series of LPs.

KB's Mixtape No. 2

Pre-Order LP

Karate Boogaloo - Juicy Fruit

My remix for Tomos is out now on Majestic Casual. 
Hope y'all dig the vibe. 

https://tomos.lnk.to/moodsremix

Tomos - An Intermission (Moods Remix)

‘New Ferrari’ is the first single to be taken from Surprise Chef’s forthcoming album, ‘Daylight Savings’. The album is released on October 16th and is up for pre-order / pre-save now. Choose from black vinyl, Indie Edition creamy white coloured vinyl, CD, digital, and special vinyl presses courtesy of our friends at HHV Records and DINKED.

Patchworks Ginger X Press - Brothers On The Slide (Philly Soul Mix)

V20610

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