With so much good music coming through thick and fast, it’s easy for albums to drop online and go overlooked. Each week we select new records from across the musical soundscape that requires your attention. So happy listening – and don’t forget to hit the links and support the artists.
Albums
Footshooter – Southside Hymns
Today sees the release of ‘Southside Hymns’, the debut album from producer/DJ Footshooter. Nine tracks packed with jazzy textures, warm vocals, and broken beat grooves make this a memorable affair. The LP includes guest instrumentalists and collaborators such as Wilf Petherbridge, Isobel Risk, Ebyan Rezguli and James Mollison, and vocalists’ MA.MOYO, Natty Wylah and Albertina. Opel (below) and Lucidity are two tracks that demonstrate the diversity of music here.
Dan Nicholls – Mattering and Meaning
London-based keyboardist/producer Dan Nicholls has become the latest member of We Jazz Records’ extensive roster of talent. Utterly transfixing, his new album, Mattering and Meaning, combines piano and field recordings as the key elements of his ambient jazz compositions captured only using a mobile phone voice recorder. If you’re looking for an album to relax and soothe you whilst still keeping you on edge, then look no further.
Timo Lassy – Trio
If you’re looking for some funky, swinging jazz to kick start the weekend, look no further than Timo Lassy’s Trio album. The new album introduces Lassy’s new combo with bassist Ville Herrala and drummer Jaska Lukkarinen. It is a pure adventure from beginning to end, thanks to the blend of strings, piano, and subtle electronic sounds. Highly recommended.
Dan Berkson – Dialogues
Chicago born jazz pianist Dan Berkson, who now resides in California, recently released a remarkable jazz album on Freestyle Records. Inspired deep house dons by Theo Parrish and Moodymann and jazz greats like Keith Jarrett, Ornette Coleman, and Herbie Hancock, this is a record that you could get your groove on at in a swingin’ jazz club or a nightclub backroom.
Web Web x Max Herre – WEB MAX
‘WEB MAX‘ is the fourth album by Web Web and is an excellent spiritual jazz work, sometimes floating, sometimes soulful, but always intense, and a fine homage to early 70s jazz. Web Web mastermind Roberto Di Gioia is accompanied by Max Herre as a composer, musician, and producer for the first time. The pair perform alongside some high-grade talent such as Mulatu Astatke, Brandee Younger, and Charles Tolliver. It also features a poem by the late great saxophonist and flautist Yusef Lateef. Highly recommended.
BADBADNOTGOOD – Talk Memory
BADBADNOTGOOD’s new album,Talk Memory, explores musical harmony and balance through psychedelic jazz improvisation. The trio enlists some top-tier collaborators, including Terrace Martin, Karriem Riggins, Brandee Younger, Laraaji, and Arthur Verocai. This feels exactly like the BBNG album we were longing for but never knew we needed.
Compilations
Various Artists – SHOUTS 2021
Rhythm Section returns for the second instalment of their SHOUTS compilation series. Label head Bradley Zero and label manager Emily Hill run the gauntlet over 20 tracks from artists worldwide with sounds moving between DIY funk, house, techno, trap, indie, RnB, and the many other sub-genres in between. This is what it sounds like when you leave South London and step out into the big wide world.
EP’s
Bright & Findlay – Slow Dance
Athens Of The North drops a killer collaboration between Tom Findlay (Groove Armada) and James Alexander Bright. The ‘Slow Dance’ EP finds the pair pushing the boundaries of 80’s boogie music into new soundscapes.
Miryam Soloman – Romance
The third EP from Miryam Solomon has arrived, and it’s a beautiful listen. Continuing to dabble in the realms of jazz electronica, soulful vibes, wonderful vocals, and vivid lyrics are the order of the day. The four-track project features the previously heard singles ‘Pushing The Tide’ and the title track. Her best work to date, and I feel there is even better to come.
Kasia Konstance – Cosmic Dust
Rising singer and flautist Kasia Konstance impresses mightily with her debut EP, which draws on neo-soul, jazz and RnB. ‘Cosmic Dust’ is a nostalgic five-track journey touching on heartbreak, healing and personal problems that Kasia admits “made her a stronger person”. Tracks like ‘North41’ and ‘Don’t Wanna Know’ demonstrate the diversity of music on offer here. A high quality and varied EP, from an artist to watch.
