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Pink Butter’s debut EP is a bold fusion of jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and indie, blending structured composition with raw improvisation. Rooted in deep grooves and spontaneous creativity, the project channels influences like J Dilla, D’Angelo, and Robert Glasper while carving out a sound uniquely their own.

With live instrumentation at its core, the band brings an organic, dynamic energy that bridges classic and contemporary influences. Collaborations with legendary artists like T3 of Slum Village and Jermaine Holmes (D’Angelo) add an undeniable depth, reinforcing their vision of modern soul-jazz innovation. This release isn’t just a collection of songs—it’s an experience where musical chemistry and fearless creativity take centre stage.
Pink Butter is a Scandinavian collective of four musicians—Oskar Bettinsoli (guitar), Björn Lehnert (keys), Malte Bergman (bass), and John Bjurström (drums)—dedicated to the art of live performance and improvisation. Merging jazz’s freeform energy with the rhythmic pulse of hip-hop and the soulful depth of R&B, the band’s sound is both timeless and forward-thinking. Their approach embraces the rawness of live musicianship, creating a fresh sonic landscape that resonates with the essence of legends like J Dilla and D’Angelo. With a deep respect for both classic and modern influences, Pink Butter is not just making music—they’re redefining the space where jazz, soul, and hip-hop converge.

Pink Butter’s debut EP is a bold fusion of jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and indie, blending structured composition with raw improvisation. Rooted in deep grooves and spontaneous creativity, the project channels influences like J Dilla, D’Angelo, and Robert Glasper while carving out a sound uniquely their own.

With live instrumentation at its core, the band brings an organic, dynamic energy that bridges classic and contemporary influences. Collaborations with legendary artists like T3 of Slum Village and Jermaine Holmes (D’Angelo) add an undeniable depth, reinforcing their vision of modern soul-jazz innovation. This release isn’t just a collection of songs—it’s an experience where musical chemistry and fearless creativity take centre stage.
Pink Butter is a Scandinavian collective of four musicians—Oskar Bettinsoli (guitar), Björn Lehnert (keys), Malte Bergman (bass), and John Bjurström (drums)—dedicated to the art of live performance and improvisation. Merging jazz’s freeform energy with the rhythmic pulse of hip-hop and the soulful depth of R&B, the band’s sound is both timeless and forward-thinking. Their approach embraces the rawness of live musicianship, creating a fresh sonic landscape that resonates with the essence of legends like J Dilla and D’Angelo. With a deep respect for both classic and modern influences, Pink Butter is not just making music—they’re redefining the space where jazz, soul, and hip-hop converge.

As part of Ace 50 BGP has hooked up with our old friends at Concord Music to reissue one of the most important albums in our story. In 1987 as the dance jazz scene morphed into acid jazz Billy Hawks ‘Oh Baby (I Believe I’m Losing You)’ was filling the dance floors where either Gilles Peterson or Baz Fe Jazz were playing.

The Prestige Records album, “Heavy Soul!”, that featured the track, was impossible to find, and frustrated DJs were desperately trying to find a copy. BGP - the Ace label that the two DJs helmed - reissued the album and put the in-demand track onto a 12 inch single. With supply sufficient it became a club smash, crossing over to become a mod classic and one of the most important cuts from our scene.

In the ensuing years the track's status has remained undimmed and the album has never turned up in significant numbers, and yet it has never been reissued since. With an attention to detail that has always been the Ace way, we have carefully mastered the record to be as close as possible to the sound of the original Van Gelder mastering of 1967, and created and accurate representation of the album and label cover art.

Hawks never lived to be rediscovered, but through our musical detective work we tracked down his brother and found out as much of his story as feasible and we also unearthed a couple of pictures. The Virginian born organist with the amazing voice was a fixture on the North-Eastern lounge bar circuit, which was the entertainment backbone off Black American music at the time, and his full story is told on the illustrated inner sleeve that comes with this release

Auf Amazonas steckt der legendäre Vibraphonist Cal Tjader tief in seiner brasilianischen Jazz-FusionTasche aus den 70er Jahren und operiert an der klanglichen Schnittstelle zwischen Rio und Kalifornien.
Unterstützt wird er dabei von Airto Moreira (Produktion) und George Duke (Arrangements) sowie von
Gastauftritten von Hermeto Pascoal, David Amaro und Raul De Souza. Diese Jazz Dispensary Top ShelfWiederveröffentlichung von Amazonas wurde von den analogen Originalbändern (AAA) von Kevin Gray
geschnitten, bei RTI auf 180-Gramm-Vinyl gepresst und in einem Tip-On-Jacket verpackt.

Italy’s Tuccillo is back on Kaoz Theory this July with his ‘First Summer’ EP, once again showcasing his widely lovely interpretation of stripped-down, groove-led house. Making his start in the 90’s and still as relevant as ever, Tuccillo, has become highly sought after both for his records and as a DJ, his name is synonymous with gritty, groovy and dance floor focused jams which have found a home on many reputed imprints such as Visionquest, 20/20 Vision, Free-range, his own House Of Tucci and of course Kerri Chandler’s Kaoz Theory where he returns here. Tuccillo also operates as one half of the Doublet duo alongside Holic Trax boss Tomoki Tamura amongst many other sonic side ventures. Opening is title-track ‘First Summer’, perfectly setting the tone with Tuccillo’s distinctive style which utilises, fluttering stab sequences, bouncy bass tones, choppy vocal cuts and a bulbous bass groove atop a raw, reduced rhythm. ‘One More’ follows next and leans heavily into dub house realms with gritty, echoing dub chords, ethereal pad textures and murky bass swells delicately ebbing and flowing around a saturated swinging drum groove. ‘People For The People’ follows next and lays down organic percussion with filtered funklicks, a snaking bass line and jazzy keys before ‘Gotta Be Free’ concludes the release, heading back to a more stripped-back aesthetic courtesy of twitchy acid-tinged bass hits, fluttering synth melodies, crisp drums and an amalgamation of processed vocal chants throughout.

Wojtek Mazolewski Quintet (WMQ) - one of the most charismatic groups on the European jazz scene - returns with Live Spirit I, a new album recorded at the iconic Witold Lutoslawski Polish Radio Concert Studio in Warsaw. The release features four brand-new compositions alongside electrifying new takes on WMQ classics, including a stunning 20-minute version of "Polka", the title track from their best-selling record.

Teddy Abrams, the Grammy Award winning conductor, composer, and multi-instrumentalist deemed by the New York Times as a “Maestro of the People,” and named Musical America’s 2022 Conductor of the Year, announces Preludes, an album of solo piano works composed and performed by Abrams and produced by Gabriel Kahane and Casey Foubert, via New Amsterdam Records.

Preludes is a contemplative, personal, and playful set of simple solo piano pieces whose recorded sonic identities were developed in collaboration with Gabriel Kahane and Casey Foubert. Kahane and Foubert “identified the personality of each Prelude and found a sound world for every track to match the intrinsic characteristics of the individual works.” The 16 pieces that make up Preludes take inspiration from the canon of classical piano works such as Bach’s Inventions and Bartok’s Mikrokosmos, yet they are imbued with Abrams’ immaculate compositional language and a depth in production uncommon to “classical” works.

Coming on the tail end of Abram’s Grammy Award Winning Piano Concerto (2023), Abrams explains: “After the crazy, frenetic, joyful energy of my Piano Concerto, I wanted to create a piano work that explored a completely different energy and soundscape. While the Piano Concerto is overtly populist, referencing American genres like jazz, funk, and Gospel music, the Preludes are meant to be introspective, intimate, and simple enough for pianists of many skill levels to play in both performance and home settings.

With ,We Do It Out of Love," acclaimed harmonica player Alex Rossi delivers a heartfelt and masterfully crafted tribute to jazz legend Toots Thielemans - one of the most influential voices ever to grace the chromatic harmonica. This album features a carefully curated selection of pieces that reflect the full emotional and musical range of Thielemans' legacy - lyrical, virtuosic, and deeply moving. Highlights include the evocative ,Waltz for Sonny," the tender ,I Do It for Your Love," and Pat Metheny's rhythmically vibrant ,Better Days Ahead" - all reimagined with fresh arrangements that honor the original spirit. Alex Rossi captures the essence of Toots' sound while adding his own voice, bridging past and present with stylistic sensitivity and precision. He is joined by a stellar lineup of internationally acclaimed harmonica players: Antonio Serrano, Gabriel Grossi, Grégoire Maret, Franco Luciani and Olivier Ker Ourio - each bringing their unique sound and deep respect for Toots' musical heritage. ,We Do It Out of Love" is more than just a tribute - it's a global celebration of the instrument Toots Thielemans elevated to poetic heights. A soulful, resonant homage filled with admiration, artistry, and, above all, love.

Red/Black marbled vinyl. With ,We Do It Out of Love," acclaimed harmonica player Alex Rossi delivers a heartfelt and masterfully crafted tribute to jazz legend Toots Thielemans - one of the most influential voices ever to grace the chromatic harmonica. This album features a carefully curated selection of pieces that reflect the full emotional and musical range of Thielemans' legacy - lyrical, virtuosic, and deeply moving. Highlights include the evocative ,Waltz for Sonny," the tender ,I Do It for Your Love," and Pat Metheny's rhythmically vibrant ,Better Days Ahead" - all reimagined with fresh arrangements that honor the original spirit. Alex Rossi captures the essence of Toots' sound while adding his own voice, bridging past and present with stylistic sensitivity and precision. He is joined by a stellar lineup of internationally acclaimed harmonica players: Antonio Serrano, Gabriel Grossi, Grégoire Maret, Franco Luciani and Olivier Ker Ourio - each bringing their unique sound and deep respect for Toots' musical heritage. ,We Do It Out of Love" is more than just a tribute - it's a global celebration of the instrument Toots Thielemans elevated to poetic heights. A soulful, resonant homage filled with admiration, artistry, and, above all, love.

Der Pianist konnte lediglich zwei Studioalben aufnehmen, bevor er durch seine Drogensucht obdachlos
wurde und in der Themse ertrank. Auf seinem Debütalbum präsentierte er sich mit einem fantastischen
Quartett und einem Programm aus modern und ungewöhnlich arrangierten Jazzstandards und Eigenkompositionen

Als der Pianist 1967 mit zwei britischen Jazz-Rock-Größen das Album “Trio” aufnahm, arbeitete er parallel
als Songwriter mit Ginger Baker für die Rockband Cream zusammen. Das abenteuerliche Album, bietet
laut dem Guardian-Jazzkritiker John Fordham “hochmoderne britische Klaviertrio-Musik aus den 1960er
Jahren”.

Das Debütalbum des Jazzmusikers Ken McIntyre, Looking Ahead, wurde ursprünglich 1961
veröffentlicht und enthält neben McIntyre auch den Saxophonisten Eric Dolphy. Auf dem Album sind 5
McIntyre-Originale sowie der von George und Ira Gershwin geschriebene Standard „They All Laughed“
enthalten. Diese Neuauflage des Albums erscheint als Teil der OJC-Serie auf 180-Gramm-Vinyl, das bei
RTI gepresst und von den Originalbändern bei Cohearent Audio komplett analog gemastert wurde, und mit
einem Stoughton Tip-On Jacket.

Gone With Golson wurde ursprünglich 1959 veröffentlicht und ist das fünfte Album des Saxophonisten
Benny Golson. Das Album ist ein großartiges Beispiel für das Hard-Bop-Genre und enthält 4 GolsonKompositionen sowie „Staccato Swing“ von Ray Bryant, der auf dem Album spielt, und den Jazz-Standard
„Autumn Leaves“. Diese Neuauflage des Albums erscheint als Teil der OJC-Serie auf 180-Gramm-Vinyl,
das bei RTI gepresst wurde, mit analogem Mastering von den Originalbändern bei Cohearent Audio und
einem Stoughton Tip-On Jacket.

Gone With Golson was originally released in 1959 and is saxophonist Benny Golson’s fifth album. A great example of the Hard Bop genre, the album includes 4 Golson compositions, plus “Staccato Swing” by Ray Bryant, who plays on the album, and the jazz standard “Autumn Leaves”. This new edition of the album is released as part of the OJC Series on 180-gram vinyl pressed at RTI with all-analog mastering from the original tapes at Cohearent Audio and a Stoughton Tip-On Jacket.

"The debut album from jazz musician Ken McIntyre, Looking Ahead was originally released in 1961 and features fellow Saxophonist Eric Dolphy alongside McIntyre. Included on the album are 5 McIntyre originals plus the George and Ira Gershwin penned standard “They All Laughed”. This new edition of the album is released as part of the OJC Series on 180-gram vinyl pressed at RTI with all-analog mastering from the original tapes at Cohearent Audio and a Stoughton Tip-On Jacket.
"

Hedvig Mollestad Thomassen ist die Gitarrenheldin unserer Zeit. Ihr geschmolzener Gitarrensound stammt aus den gleichen Hochöfen wie der von HENDRIX, TONY IOMMI und JIMMY PAGE und wird zum Abkühlen in ein dampfendes Fass aus Free Jazz im Sinne von SONNY SHARROCK und FRED FRITH geworfen. Aus Tracks wie ,The Rex" und ,Lake Acid" spricht die riesengroße Riff-Wissenschaft von LED ZEPPELINs ,Kashmir" und ,Rock'N'Roll", doch angereichert mit einer Flexibilität und Intensität, die so typisch für die düsteren nördlichen Regionen ist, aus der sie und ihre Bandkollegen stammen. ,All Of Them Witches" folgt auf den 2011 Rune Grammofon Release ,Shoot!" und präsentiert das HEDVIG MOLLESTAD TRIO als Mitstreiter der neuen Welle von norwegischem Avant Rock bzw. Free Metal. Dieser letzte Batzen elektrifizierender Instrumentalstücke wurde live in der Inselumgebung des Ocean Sound Studios aufgenommen, einer hölzernen Scheune mit Grasdach am Rand des norwegischen Meers. Dort konnte das HEDVIG MOLLESTAD TRIO vor dem Frühstück im eiskalten Wasser schwimmen und mitten in der Aufnahme den Blick schweifen lassen. Es ist keine Überraschung, das solch weiten Ausblicke zu epischen Konzepten führen, so dass der erste Track ,Sing, Goddess" seinen Namen aus der ersten Zeile von Homers ,Ilias" erhält. Inspiriert vom weiten Himmel sind ,Shawshank" und ,Ghrá Rúnda" mehr nach innen gerichtet und baden im kontrollierten Feedback. Line-Up: Hedvig Mollestad Thomassen -Gitarre, Ellen Brekken - Bass, Ivar Loe Bjornstad - Schlagzeug

There’s a reason they call it deep House. On 'The New Jersey' EP, DJ Romain doesn’t just nod to his roots, he digs into them, scooping out a warm, rhythmic core that pulses with sweat, memory, and reverence. This is not a revival or a pastiche; it’s a love letter etched in drum machines and delay, from a producer who’s lived the lineage.

A fixture of late-’90s NYC dance floors, Romain cut his teeth in the city’s thumping underbelly, learning from the likes of Todd Terry and later carving his own signature into the genre’s sidewalk. Across these four freshly cut tracks, Romain channels the same urgency that once drove dance crews, celebrities, and nightlifers alike into motion, and still does.

Lead track “Hello New York” is a no-nonsense DJ tool, a serrated slice of big room energy built around snapping snares, a jackhammer kick, and a spoken word vocal that bristles with pride and uplift. “Put more cut in your strut… pride in your stride” - it’s part mantra, part mission statement. “But It’s Alright” flips the vibe, conjuring up basement jazz sessions through dusky chords and a muted, plucked bassline that slinks like a late-night subway ride.

On “Check Your Pockets,” the energy turns inward and abstract, a woozy, psychedelic House jam that feels like dancing through a heatwave haze. He wraps the record with “Deep Inferno,” a peak-time burner full of sticky Afro-funk polyrhythms, clashing vocal chops, and steam-pressure percussion. It’s unhinged, hypnotic, and gloriously raw.

Having revisited his archive with ‘The Lost D.A.T.S.' series, Romain returns to Hard Times not as a nostalgia act but as a flamekeeper - still innovating, still sweating, still firmly on the floor. The New Jersey EP is a love letter, yes, but it’s also a reminder: House never left. It just got deeper.

KYOTO JAZZ SEXTET's new work is a folk song cover!
KYOTO JAZZ SEXTET, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2025, has released an emergency 12-inch. It is a cover of "DOSOJIN NO UTA",
a folk song handed down in Nozawa Onsen Village, Nagano Prefecture, with a spiritual and danceable jazz arrangement.
In 2022, the demo version was used for the video distribution of the Dosojin Festival and secretly attracted attention, and was completed in 2025
with new recordings of drums and bass.
It was also selected as the commercial song for "THE GIN SODA", which uses gin from Nozawa Onsen Village Distillery and will be released at Lawson stores
nationwide in March 2025, and has attracted a lot of attention.
The coupling is Extra Freedom, which has been played more than 1 million times on Spotify and became KYOTO JAZZ SEXTET's biggest hit. In addition, the album includes a new jazz version of Still In Love, a cover of Shuya Okino's global anthem, featuring Navasha Daya and Tomoki Sanders.

This is a supreme album that breaks new ground for KYOTO JAZZ SEXTET and features their strongest songs.
This is also the first release from KJCC (Kyoto Jazzy Creative Council), a voluntary organization that Shuya Okino founded with Yukari BB (Jazz Sport Kyoto) and Masaki Tamura (DoitJAZZ!). Shuya Okino himself wrote the Japanese title on the front cover.

Nubiyan Twist present NT Soundsystem - Dubplate Inferno, a new 9 track album reimagining tracks from their critically acclaimed album ‘Find Your Flame’, transforming them into bass-heavy, dub-infused dancefloor killers. Produced by band leader Tom Excell alongside singer Aziza Jaye, the remixes channel the raw energy of the band’s live performances, blending their signature fusion of jazz, afrobeat, soul, and reggae with the gritty, immersive sound of traditional UK soundsystem culture.

The album features some extra guests on vocals, legendary MC Horseman appears on a drum & bass version of ‘Battle Isn’t Over’ whilst newcomer SkillFul Kxng from Kingston, Jamaica, breathes some Dancehall fire on ‘Woman’, adding to contributions from the original record including Seun Kuti, Mamani Keita & NEONE the Wonderer.

This project is a celebration of collective musical innovation, paying homage to the UK’s rich soundsystem heritage while pushing boundaries with their genre-defying style.

Nubiyan Twist have built up a name as one of the forerunners of the UK Jazz scene, fusing together global grooves, soul and jazz; intertwined with electronic elements, horn-led melodies and spontaneous improvisation.

The influence of soundsystem culture has been ever present in their music, from dub sessions the band used to attend in Leeds to jungle raves of East Anglia in the 2000’s. Band Leader Tom Excell has a history of DJing and producing dance music, including with reggae side-project Chief Rockas, working with reggae giants such as Super Cat, Luciano & Turbulence.

Nubiyan Twist’s lead singer Aziza Jaye was born of Jamaican heritage and has grown up around soundsystem culture, boasting an incredibly versatile vocal style and large catalog of work alongside a plethora of producers, including recent work with Mungo’s Hi-Fi.

Side A sees Italian brothers Marco and Riccardo Augeri back on Ten Lovers Music as The Robinson with two superb Deep House tracks Vibrasoul and Slow Thinking, both have their usual jazzy edge to them. Onto side AA and we have South African El Payo with Italy’s Stefano De Santis guesting on Rhodes and Solina. Living A Dream is a superb jazzy number for the dancefloor. Takahiro Fuchigami is up next with Southern Breeze, another broken beat masterpiece from Japan’s rising star who has recently had a release on Jazzy Sport. Rounding off side AA is George John from Germany with Anton Mangold on flute, a beautiful track to end our 51st release.