With so much good music coming through thick and fast, it’s easy for brand-new music to drop online and go overlooked. To help prevent this, we’ve picked five releases you need to hear. Stream music from Sarah Tandy, KOKOROKO, Ebi Soda, Hejira, and mindswimmer. If you like what you hear, support the artists.
Sarah Tandy – Infection In The Sentence
London-based pianist, Sarah Tandy finally releases her eagerly awaited first album ‘Infection in the Sentence’. A strong debut with ‘Bradbury Street’, ‘Under The Skin’, and ‘Timelord’ the standouts for me. The album features the cream of the crop of players from London’s jazz scene that includes Mutale Chashi (bass), Femi Koleoso (drums), Sheila Maurice Grey (Trumpet) and Binker Golding (sax). It might only be March but this album is hands down one of the best you’ll hear all year, Seriously if you’re a jazz head, you need this!
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KOKOROKO – KOKOROKO
The highly anticipated debut album EP from KOKOROKO pulls together elements of jazz, afrobeat, and more to make one electrifying whole. The Oscar Jerome penned ‘Abusey Junction’ is the standout track among a strong four set release. If you have a chance to see the band live, you should nab tickets to catch them do their thing on stage.
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Ebi Soda – Ebi Soda
Brighton based jazz-funk septet Ebi Soda come through with a 4-song EP that draws inspiration from jazz originators and combines their own coastal flavour. Over the four tracks, you’ll find funky rhythms, smooth guitar riffs, swelling trombone, tight drum sections and killer grooves. The artwork created by Azee Gumi is pretty dope as well so bonus points. Not to be missed – don’t sleep!
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Hejira – Thread Of Gold
London-based band Hejira recently dropped their second LP Thread of Gold. Over nine tracks the trio demonstrate their intelligent, soulful, leftfield-aligned take on pop music underpinned by their love of the otherworldly, the mesmerising, and the unpredictable. Since their acclaimed 2013 debut LP Prayer Before Birth, the band has received praised from the likes of Gilles Peterson, Dave Okumu, and more. Colectivo Futuro / Olindo Records co-founder Oli Brunetti recently commented that the album “could be one the most crucial serious pop albums since “A Seat At The Table” and listening to this magnificent LP it’s hard not to agree with him!.
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mindswimmer – Land of Upright Peoples
Chicago future jazz quintet mindswimmer have released Land of Upright Peoples, the second (catch the first here) of a massive 12 projects scheduled to land this year. The five-song release says the band “is a play on the meaning of Burkina Faso, the powerful and beautiful name chosen by former president Thomas Sankara to unify the country’s diverse population under a shared character trait – honesty.” Known for melding different styles this new offering finds them blending jazz, house, Afrobeat, hip-hop and Krautrock. The album features legendary Chicago MC, Thaione Davis and Shev Rock. Can’t wait to hear what’s next but for now, dive into Land of Upright Peoples below.
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