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Light Touches Records is devoted to shed new lights on hot rarities, unknown grooves as well as forgotten classics.

As the attention to the older volume is rising, Light Touches camp pushes things further with four uncompromising tunes.
On A side, “Do It This Way” is an intense lost disco roller with oniric string machine and thundering bass, while “It’s True” goes deeper with a relentless Philly groove with psychedelic tones. On the flipside, “Jus’ta Funky Jam” opens things up with some killer groovy arrangement, and “Dance With You” closes the release with a dreamy, mellow jazzfunk tune.

All tracks have been carefully edited without overdubs, in order to bring the spirit of classic disco manipulators to today’s dancefloors!

12” limited to 300 copies (no digital).

Yussef Dayes veröffentlicht sein mit Spannung erwartetes Debüt-Solo-Studioalbum 'Black Classical Music' auf Brownswood. Zusammen mit Kamaal Williams brillierte der Multiinstrumentalist und Visionär auf dem Yussef Kamaal-Album 'Black Focus', das den Jazz FM Newcomer-Award 2016 gewann und zum Meilenstein der aktuellen Londoner Jazzbewegung avancierte. 'Black Classical Music' ist ein 19-Track-Werk, das die Zuhörer durch einen Spiegel auf die Vergangenheit und Gegenwart des einflussreichen Künstlers blicken lässt, während es Themen wie Zuhause und Familie erforscht. Inspiriert wird Yussef von seinen musikalischen Helden Miles Davis und Rahsaan Roland Kirk und seinen ausgedehnten Reisen rund um den Globus, die sein Studium des Rhythmus vertieft haben. Ehrenvolle Features auf 'Black Classical Music' bringen Chronixx, Jamilah Barry, Tom Misch, Shabaka Hutchings, Miles James, Sheila Maurice Grey, Nathaniel Cross, Theon Cross and the Chineke! Orchester, sowie Venna, Rocco Palladino, Charlie Stacey und Elijah Fox.

Featuring a collection of 10-new tracks produced by Boney, the album marks a high point in the chart- topping, smooth jazz icon's remarkable three- decade career, one that includes a long list of accolades; four GRAMMY nominations, three NAACP Image Award nominations, a Soul Train Award for Best Jazz Album and four RIAA Gold Record certifications, to name just a few. A Simple Man also features guest contributions from guitarist Larry Carlton, trumpeter Marquis Hill and vocalist Ledisi.

Tokyo producer Calm supplies a steady shore's lapping of sound with his next album, Ambient Jazz, not far after his previous records Before and Quiet Music Under The Moon. After a period of sharp emotional whiplash, Calm sets in again to moll the nerves here, serving a full plate of smooth new age and sonic draperies, recalling the night time jazz chasms of John Hassell especially. Between prefectures Tokyo and Yamagata, trusted collaborators are once again folded in, Calm asking them to prioritise tone over improvisation; saxophonist Kato takes central improv stage again on the plainly titled 'Jazz Acid 2' and 'After Dark', while deeper sus-chord shades stark jazz on the likes of 'Space Ritual'.

Out There was Eric Dolphy's second LP as a leader, taped in 1960 the same year he recorded his debut LP, Outward Bound - both for Prestige Records. Although these were his first recordings as a leader, Dolphy was already a veteran performer with considerable recording experience. He had formed part of drummer Roy Porter's orchestra during 1948-1950 (with whom he waxed his first sides), and in 1949 he made his first recording with Charles Mingus, who would serve as his employer and mentor for many years. The instrumentation used on Out There is quite unusual, with Eric Dolphy playing in a quartet format with Ron Carter on cello, George Duvivier on bass, and Roy Haynes on drums.

2026 Repress


Multi - instrumentalist with rare elegance, FKJ unveils its first album French Kiwi Juice, and invites us in his world.

Tribute to his idols, affirmation of musical maturity, FKJ goes from Jazz to Soul, with his electronic touch that makes his paw incomparable.

A warm, reassuring and sensual universe.

His children’s questions (Why are there boundaries), his joys (Blessed & Joy), his journeys (Go Back Home & Canggu), the Franco-New Zealander delivers himself in an intimate and profound album, with music as an universal language.

An opus to advise to enthusiasts, travelers, dreamers...

The year 1956 when Tenor Conclave was recorded represented a transitional period in the musical career of John Coltrane . He had first joined the Miles Davis Quintet in 1955 and would form his own celebrated quartet with McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones in 1960. What we have here with Tenor Conclave is Coltrane in equal collaboration with four other giants of the tenor saxophone, Hank Mobly, Al Cohn, and Zoot Sims. Presenting the four players together under the group name of Tenor Conclave was an imaginative A&R idea by Prestige, but because of Coltrane's growing fame and the obvious marketing opportunities it presented, later pressing had Coltrane as the headline name on the cover, and Tenor Conclave as the album title. Includes the bonus track 'Polka Dots & Moonbeams'.

In celebration of John Coltrane's centennial, this 3-LP boxset includes all 3 albums recorded with Wilbur Harden in 1958 for Savoy Records: Mainstream 1958, Tanganyika Strut and Jazz Way Out. Featuring players including Tommy Flanagan, Curtis Fuller, Doug Watkins, Louis Hayes, Art Taylor and more and cut from the original tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio the album is pressed on 180-gram black vinyl at RTI and housed in Stoughton tip-on jackets and new liner notes from Syd Schwartz.

‘A Great Day in Newcastle’ is musical documentation of the North East working class experience.

Through a storytelling approach with the aid of new member, genius poet, Cooper Robson, the record details dark topics like substance abuse, crime and toxic masculinity through this Geordie Jazz Noir soundscape, whilst still feeling light hearted and playful, fully embodying the classic Northern optimism.

With the introduction of Cooper’s poetry combined with Stan’s developing composition skills, King’s genius orchestration and groove composition and Ferg’s classic melodic sound, the record shows the growth of the bands sound wholeheartedly, returning to their roots of rock, supported by producer and friend Geordie Greep.

Alongside longstanding members Sandro Shar (keys) and George Johnson (tenor sax), the band reaches new highs of intensity throughout the 45 minute epic.'

Miles Davis' quintet formed in 1955 is widely regarded as one of the greatest combos in jazz history. Each of its members was an individual creative force and each could easily have been the leader. Cookin' was the first in a series of four albums featuring this classic all-star combo: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers, and Philly Joe Jones. Like its followers ' Steamin ', ' Workin' and Relaxin' , ' Cookin' is the product of two massively productive recording sessions during May and October of 1956, sessions required to fulfil Davis's contractually obligations to Presage Records before moving to Colombia Records. . A quartet version of the song 'When Lights Are Low' from a previous session has been added to this special edition as a bonus.



[c] When Lights Are Low [Quartet Version]

The Modern Jazz Quartet had become a jazz institution by the time Pyramid was recorded. Formed out of the rhythm section of the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band (1946 -48), founding of the members The MJQ , pianist Lohn Lewis and vibraphonist Milt Jackson , brought a sophisticated blend of jazz and classical music to audiences around the world. Active from 1952 through to 1997 (with a seven- year break in between), the MJQ's 38- year reign counts as being among the most enduring ensembles in jazz history. Presented here is their classic album Pyramid , featuring three compositions by the quartet's pianist John Lewis (including his hit 'Django), alongside jazz standards by Ellington, Ray Brown ('Pyramid'), and Jim Hall; plus, a unique take on the Nancy Hamiton & Morgan Lewis' popular standard, 'How High The Moon'.




[d] Vendome [Original 1952 Version]



[h] Django (John Lewis) [original 1954 Version]

Presented here is the complete 1962 album Evidence, Steve Lacy's fourth album as a leader. It presents him in a piano-less quartet with Don Cherry on trumpet, Carl Brown on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums. The repertoire consists exclusively of compositions by Lacy's heroes, Thelonious Monk and Duke Ellington. Includes the bonus tracks 'Day Dream' and 'Ask me Now'. "This album has a great deal to recommend it. Lacy's dry tone provides a nice contrast to Cherry's richer trumpet sound. The improvising is first rate." - ***** Harvey Pekar, DownBeat

Spiritual Jazz 19" besteht aus zwei Doppel-LP-Sets, die den Einfluss und die Ausdrucksformen jenes Underground-Jazz beleuchten, der sich in der zweiten Hälfte des 20. Jahrhunderts in Kalifornien und den angrenzenden Bundesstaaten entwickelte. Die insgesamt 24 Titel erscheinen in Gatefolds und enthalten Liner Notes, Fotos und Download-Codes.

Die US-Westküste wird oft mit dem Boom des Cool Jazz in den 1950er Jahren in Verbindung gebracht; doch überall dort, wo Jazz gespielt wurde, florierten auch modale, afrozentrische und spirituell geprägte Strömungen – und die Westküste bildete da keine Ausnahme. In der Nachkriegszeit rangierte die Central Avenue in L.A. als bedeutendstes Jazz-Viertel Amerikas direkt hinter Manhattan. Auch wenn Manhattan in jenen Jahren das faktische Zentrum des Jazz-Universums war, übte Kalifornien eine stärkere Anziehungskraft auf die Kultur im Allgemeinen aus und zog Menschen aus dem ganzen Land in den Bann seiner aufkeimenden Gegenkultur der 1960er Jahre.

Hier untersuchen wir die Auswirkungen dieser Gegenkultur auf den Jazz. Wir beleuchten den Einfluss der Black Panthers – der prägendsten Kraft innerhalb der schwarzen politischen Bewegung nach der Ära der Bürgerrechte – und widmen uns den neuartigen spirituellen Praktiken und Religionen des aufkommenden New Age. In Kalifornien waren zahlreiche eigenwillige Independent-Labels wie Arhoolie, Theresa und Nimbus sowie viele weitere private Unternehmungen ansässig; wir präsentieren die Ergebnisse ihres Strebens nach musikalischer Freiheit. All diese Faktoren beeinflussten die Entwicklung und Blütezeit des Jazz und der Jazzmusiker an der Westküste – und die Evolution des Spiritual Jazz in dieser Region wird hier eingehend betrachtet.

"Spiritual Jazz 19" besteht aus zwei Doppel-LP-Sets, die den Einfluss und die Ausdrucksformen jenes Underground-Jazz beleuchten, der sich in der zweiten Hälfte des 20. Jahrhunderts in Kalifornien und den angrenzenden Bundesstaaten entwickelte. Die insgesamt 24 Titel erscheinen in Gatefolds und enthalten Liner Notes, Fotos und Download-Codes.

Die US-Westküste wird oft mit dem Boom des Cool Jazz in den 1950er Jahren in Verbindung gebracht; doch überall dort, wo Jazz gespielt wurde, florierten auch modale, afrozentrische und spirituell geprägte Strömungen – und die Westküste bildete da keine Ausnahme. In der Nachkriegszeit rangierte die Central Avenue in L.A. als bedeutendstes Jazz-Viertel Amerikas direkt hinter Manhattan. Auch wenn Manhattan in jenen Jahren das faktische Zentrum des Jazz-Universums war, übte Kalifornien eine stärkere Anziehungskraft auf die Kultur im Allgemeinen aus und zog Menschen aus dem ganzen Land in den Bann seiner aufkeimenden Gegenkultur der 1960er Jahre.

Hier untersuchen wir die Auswirkungen dieser Gegenkultur auf den Jazz. Wir beleuchten den Einfluss der Black Panthers – der prägendsten Kraft innerhalb der schwarzen politischen Bewegung nach der Ära der Bürgerrechte – und widmen uns den neuartigen spirituellen Praktiken und Religionen des aufkommenden New Age. In Kalifornien waren zahlreiche eigenwillige Independent-Labels wie Arhoolie, Theresa und Nimbus sowie viele weitere private Unternehmungen ansässig; wir präsentieren die Ergebnisse ihres Strebens nach musikalischer Freiheit. All diese Faktoren beeinflussten die Entwicklung und Blütezeit des Jazz und der Jazzmusiker an der Westküste – und die Evolution des Spiritual Jazz in dieser Region wird hier eingehend betrachtet.

repress !

Four years after Nuova Napoli, Nu Genea are back with Bar Mediterraneo, a new album and journey, which projects the sounds of the Neapolitan duo formed by Massimo Di Lena and Lucio Aquilina even further.

Nu Genea's Bar Mediterraneo is an idea of a shared place where people meet and fuse together; a space that leaves its doors open to travellers and their lives, always exposed to the whims of fate. Some of this can be experienced through the multitude of sounds that come together in the tracks, layers of different acoustic instruments, voices and synthesizers merging in a unique musical blend.

Opening up to the voices of many different people, separated by languages but united by the sea and the music, Nu Genea's hometown, Napoli, becomes a true place of encounter.

You can hear this all along. In "Gelbi", a gorgeously deep and propulsive Ney flute plunges into murky waters of the melancholic Tunisian dialect sung by Marzouk Mejri. In "Marechia'", unbridled happiness and sun ooze from the delicate vocals of Célia Kameni and create an acrobatic bridge between French and Neapolitan language. In "Straniero", your soul is arrested from the moment the slow spell-binding mandolin ignites the hypnotic patterns recorded by the legendary Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen. In "Bar Mediterraneo", the title track, bittersweet guitar’s riffs, analog waves and choirs are overwhelming the song giving you what you would like to hear on a boat trip along the Amalfi Coast.

Nu Genea couldn't afford to overlook their firmly anchored roots into the Neapolitan culture and its dialect with "Tienaté", where the power of neapolitan language (interpreted by Fabiana Martone) supports those quarter-tone strings and the uncessant folk-disco groove that spreads to the entire song. In "Praja Magia", repetitive mandolin riffs lead the song, giving space to a choral yet tight vocal line that speaks of Varcaturo, a village close to Napoli. In "Rire", a volley of poetic, deceptively laidback, lyrical fury interpreted by Sicilian Marco Castello intimately combines with a highly musical, multi-textured instrumental backbone and the swoon of a chanson in its heart. In "La Crisi'', the lyrics of a Raffaele Viviani’s poem from 1930 have been adapted to a laidback jazz-funk groove in full NG style. In "Vesuvio", revaluing the evocative verses and powerful mantra of Vesuvio, Nu Genea re-adapted to the dancefloor a folk song by the working-class band E’ Zezi from Pomigliano D'Arco, combining the voices of a school choir with Jupiter-6 arpeggios and bold percussions.

Bar Mediterraneo is the place where people constantly return to transform curiosity into participation, tradition into sharing, unfamiliar into familiar. When travellers come through its “doors”, carrying their treasures of words and emotions, they aren’t strangers any more. They take part in a shared experience, enriching themselves and others by leading to unexpected musical journeys.

Some recordings herald the future in ways that are impossible to see in real time. Teodros Makonnen With His Organ (ቴዎድሮስ መኮንን ከኦርጋኑ ጋር), by the artist Teodros Makonnen, also known as Teddy Mak, is one of those. Today, electronic sounds, synthesizers, and digital production are taken for granted in Ethiopian music, but in the early 1980s, they were novelties that polarized opinion. Even to this day, the story of Teodros Makonnen’s legacy has never been properly told. He played a decisive role in defining the sound of the digital era of Ethiopian music that emerged in the 1980s and beyond, both as a keyboard player and as a producer, songwriter, performer, and sound designer.

Ethiopian music was at a crossroads in the early 1980s. Much like music in the rest of the world, technology and automation heralded either a quantum leap in musical development or the annihilation of musicianship, depending on who you’d ask. The changes were incremental nonetheless, but with the benefit of hindsight one can clearly see that the changes meant different things in different contexts. Drum machines and electric organs came to replace many hotel bands because, all of a sudden, one musician could control drums, melody, and accompaniment. Teodros was one of the first musicians in Ethiopia to explore the possibilities this opened up.

Teodros’ father, Captain Makonnen Beri, was a chief pilot at Ethiopian Airlines and a music enthusiast at that. This would prove important to his development, as Makonnen brought back a piano from Germany, which would lead to the first steps in Teodros’ long musical career. Captain Makonnen’s work as Head of Flight Operations and as a pilot exposed him to the wider world that was far from commonplace for most Ethiopians. In a house where music captivated the whole family, the piano gave Teodros’ talent an outlet. Not only was a piano at home rare in Ethiopian households, his father also brought an Indian teacher to their home to teach Teodros and his brother, Captain Samuel Makonnen, music theory (solfeggio or ear training) and piano. Teodros and his youngest brother, the late great Dereje, a member of both the legendary Ibex Band and the Ethiopian reggae group Dallol, took up music from that point onward, with Teodros beginning to develop his proficiency at the age of eight. His father encouraged him to practice tirelessly at home, and Teodros later received musical schooling at the German School in Addis Ababa.

His obvious talent led to studies and formal education at the Yared School of Music, followed by continued studies in American jazz at Northern Virginia Community College in Virginia. Teodros cut his teeth professionally in his mid-teens, not only as a keyboardist, but also as an arranger for the Wabi Shebelle and Dahlak bands in the 1970s. He mastered electronic sequencing early, rising to prominence through the midnight recording sessions held during the military curfew. The pressures imposed by the curfew required precise and disciplined recordings, and Teodros delivered just that. This, in turn, led to collaborations with iconic artists such as Mulatu Astatke, Aster Aweke, Menelik Wossenachew, Tilahun Gessesse, Mahmoud Ahmed, and Alemayehu Eshete.

In those days, he sat in as a keyboardist with the Dahlak Band when Dawit Yifru took a hiatus to study in Russia, and also with the Ethiostar Band. He secured a residency at the Wabi Shebelle Hotel with the Shebele Band, together with Zelalem Tadese (drums), later succeeded by Elias Bekele, Mulugeta Hailu (bass), Teferi ‘Bibisha’ Mengesha (guitar), Kumelachew G/Selassie (trumpet), and Teshome Deneke (saxophone). A friendly competition developed between the bands associated with the Ras Hotel (the Ibex Band), Ghion Hotel (the Dahlak Band), and Wabi Shebelle Hotel (the Shebele Band). The music scene at Wabi Shebelle saw teenagers commanding the spotlight in an industry otherwise dominated by musicians of an older generation.

At the Wabi Shebelle Hotel, Teodros met a diplomat from Saudi Arabia and later visited him at his home in Addis Ababa, a meeting that had unexpected musical consequences. The man owned a Yamaha double-deck keyboard. That evening, they recorded Teodros Makonnen With His Organ (ቴዎድሮስ መኮንን ከኦርጋኑ ጋር) in one take. This recording, a cornerstone in the early digital sound of Ethiopian music, came about almost by chance, simply because Teodros got the opportunity. Traditional Ethiopian songs were cast in a wholly electronic style.

Once freed from backing duties, Teodros’ keyboards could explore dreamlike soundscapes that took Ethiopian music in new directions. Even though the cassette contained well-known Ethiopian songs, they were given highly original arrangements, performed on an electric organ with drum machine backing and rhythm patterns that left the listener with suggestive, lingering sounds. “Libesh Kabashen” (also known as “Anchi Bale Game”) and “Odu Gol Golesa” wrap you in the very stuff that dreams are made of.

Originally released on cassette only, this recording exudes a mystique that surpasses even some of the most obscure Ethiopian recordings of the day. It remained more or less unknown outside of Ethiopia until now. Some of the tracks, like “Addis Fikir,” are permeated with an almost naive buoyancy, free-floating sounds that lost contact with the ground the moment they were conceived. Others, like “Meche New Hageren Yemayew” and “Lelitu Alnega Alegn,” carry a moodier, quirkier timbre, with pulsating rhythms in the background. Yet even the darker pieces contain an unmistakable wave, something essentially Ethiopian. If most recordings of Teodros’s contemporaries at the time were teeming with atmosphere, his songs seem instead at home in the stratosphere, almost ethereal. Some of the music here could be filed under “lullabies,” were it not for the recurring, almost brooding feeling that engulfs the listener on the aforementioned tracks. You could easily be forgiven for drifting into a blissful haze as the music washes over you.

Up to the advent of electronic music production, Ethiopia was totally dominated by big bands on the one hand, and small groups on the other. The former were tied to large institutions such as the military, the latter emerged from the entertainment industry, in hotel bars and nightclubs. These groups were commercially driven, and bands ultimately had to foster a mercenary approach to employment, albeit not to the passion for music. In the light of this, Teodros’ musical legacy can be seen in two ways. On the one hand, he is a key player in Ethiopian music from the 1970s onwards, leaving an indelible mark through hundreds of compositions and arrangements, including soundtracks for numerous documentary films and advertisements for different companies. On the other hand, the way he and others employed electronics brought Ethiopian music onto a fork in the road.

The replacement of traditional instruments with electronic equipment was seen as impending doom by some. Others, like Teodros, saw new avenues for performance, production, and creativity. Just as later producers like Abegasu Shiota of Admas, Teodros was a trailblazer who opened paths that it took Ethiopian music as a whole more than a decade to rush into. The hotel scene had already been pushed toward electronic music by financial necessity and cost-cutting. Today’s revived global interest in Ethiopian music from the seventies and eighties, alongside a broader resurgence, has changed the reasons for using digital means of music production. They have become tools for musical dreaming. This is where the dreaming began.

Hell is empty and the salsa is all there is.

Chúpame el Dedo are BACK! After years of terrorizing the avant-tropical underground with their manic, mock-satanic metal-cumbia madness, the legendary Bogotano duo of Eblis Álvarez and Pedro Ojeda have officially scrubbed the pentagrams off the drum kit. They aren’t worshipping the dark lord anymore; they’ ve found a much more chaotic deity. Please lower your expectations and raise your instruments: Chúpame el Dedo are now officially Geobah Witnesses.

Forget everything you thought you knew. This new record is a high-octane salsa-altín exorcism. It’s not your abuela’s dance music; it’s a fever dream—like Waka Waka played at double speed through a frying mixing desk that’s caught fire mid-verse.

The Chúpame delirium remains terminal. We’re talking classic, hard-swinging Caribbean breaks that trip over jagged psych-synth riffs, all tied to those signature “broken” vocals—jumping from gutter-low growls to manic, helium-choked chirps. It’s twitchy, heavy, and lyrically, the most blasphemous shit they’ve ever committed to tape. It’s a holy, nonsensical collision that’ll leave you wondering if you’ve been saved or just brainwashed.

Put down the pitchforks, pick up a maraca, and surrender to the frequency. Geobah is watching.

Herbie Hancock is one of the most prolific jazz pianists of the 20th century. A child prodigy, he played with the greats such as Donald Byrd and Miles Davis. He was one of the first to embrace and master the electric piano, but he always stayed true to the acoustic sound. In fact, he always bounced back and forth between his electronic and acoustic sound, touching upon almost every development in R&B, funk and jazz while retaining an original and distinctive voice.

Sextant from 1973 was recorded just before Headhunters, and can be seen in the same vein, but it’s more than just an introduction to a masterpiece. It features a kind of post-modal, free impressionism while gracing the edges of funk. Three long instrumental tracks explore how far minimalism in jazz can go.

Sextant is available as a limited edition of 2000 individually numbered copies on blue marble vinyl.

More than sixty years after its original recording, a masterpiece that has captivated audiences around the world is reborn on an analog mono pressing with truly powerful sound.

Few drummers shine as brightly in the history of Japanese jazz as Hideo Shiraki, a musician renowned for his exceptional artistry and commanding presence. One of his defining achievements is In FIESTA, originally recorded in 1961. Leading the album is the extraordinary centerpiece "In FIESTA", a miraculous composition and performance that transforms traditional Japanese melodies into supremely cool modal jazz through distinctive arrangements featuring the koto. The excitement continues with the relentlessly thrilling "Just One Or Eight" and the breathtaking "Cherokee," highlighted by an explosive drum solo from Shiraki himself.

The album is further elevated by the outstanding performances of master musicians such as Hidehiko Matsumoto and Yuzuru Sera, whose inspired playing contributes greatly to its enduring appeal. More than six decades later, the music still sounds remarkably innovative, radiating the same sense of passion and excitement that made it so groundbreaking upon its release.

Now celebrated worldwide as a landmark recording, this timeless masterpiece returns on analog mono vinyl. Experience one of the true monuments of Japanese jazz history, presented with all the impact, depth, and immediacy of its powerful original sound.

Altsaxofonist Jackie McLean war 1959 bereits seit fast einem Jahrzehnt eine feste Größe der New Yorker
Jazzszene, als er für Blue Note als Bandleader aufzunehmen begann. Die gesamten 1950er-Jahre hindurch
hatte er sich an der Seite von Bebop-Legenden wie Miles Davis und Charles Mingus seine Sporen verdient.
Sein zweites Blue-Note-Album ”Swing, Swang, Swingin’” hält das schwungvolle Versprechen des Titels
voll und ganz ein. Mit Energie und Spielfreude führt McLean durch ein mitreißendes Programm. Als
einziger Bläser des Quartetts steht sein unverwechselbarer Sound ganz im Mittelpunkt: Sein markanter,
leicht herber Ton und sein ausgeprägtes Gespür für moderne Harmonik verleihen seinen leidenschaftlichen
Improvisationen eine besondere Strahlkraft. Neben Standards von Irving Berlin, Johnny Mercer oder Cole
Porter präsentiert McLean eine beschwingte Interpretation von Benny Golsons ”Stable Mates”, bevor das
Album mit seiner eigenen Blues-Komposition ”116th and Lenox” seinen Abschluss findet.

Jan Garbareks kraftvolles Doppelalbum Rites, auf dem der Meistersaxofonist von seinen langjährigen
Weggefährten Rainer Brüninghaus und Eberhard Weber sowie der Perkussionistin Marilyn Mazur und
dem Elektronikkünstler Bugge Wesseltoft begleitet wird, galt bei seiner ursprünglichen Veröffentlichung
1998 gleichermaßen als Magnum Opus und als eindrucksvolle Retrospektive der künstlerischen Bandbreite Garbareks. Auch heute noch überzeugt es als gelungenes Kompendium und als völlig eigenständiges,
modernes musikalisches Statement. Über die weit gespannte stilistische Landschaft des Albums verteilen
sich Bezüge zu den unterschiedlichsten Musikkulturen der Welt – von Norwegen bis Indien. Hinzu kommen
eine Vertonung eines Gedichts der indigenen Bevölkerung Nordamerikas für Stimmen und Saxofon sowie die
überraschende Fassung von Jansug Kakhidzes „The Moon Over Mtatsminda“, gesungen vom Komponisten
selbst gemeinsam mit dem Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra.
Als Teil der ECM-Reihe Luminessence veröffentlicht, e rscheint R ites n un e rstmals a uf V inyl – i n einem
hochwertigen Tip-on Gatefold plus umfangreichem Booklet mit Texten, Fotografien s owie sämtlichem
Originalmaterial der ersten CD-Veröffentlichung.

Altsaxofonist Lou Donaldson wurde schnell zu einer festen Größe des Blue-Note-Labels, nachdem er 1952
als Sideman an der Seite von Thelonious Monk und Milt Jackson zu hören gewesen war. Noch im selben
Jahr begann er, eigene Sessions als Bandleader einzuspielen und blickte, als er 1960 ins Van Gelder Studio zurückkehrte um sein hervorragendes Album ”Sunny Side Up” aufzunehmen, bereits auf ein Dutzend
Aufnahmesessions unter eigenem Namen zurück. In vielerlei Hinsicht ist das Album ein Paradebeispiel für
den typischen Blue-Note-Hard-Bop-Sound: eine Mischung aus swingenden Standards und bluesgetränkten
Eigenkompositionen, die von einem Quintett mit viel Gefühl und Ausdruck interpretiert werden.

Mike Reed"s Separatist Party sophomore effort and Thrill Jockey debut "Sing The Color Blue" is a recording assembled over numerous sessions, and a testament to persistence and transformation. The album reunites Mike Reed with Rob Frye, Cooper Crain, Dan Quinlivan (all of the trio Bitchin Bajas), Marvin Tate, and Ben LaMar Gay in a set that moves between composition, reconstruction, improvisation, and song form.

Mike Reed's Separatist Party sophomore effort and Thrill Jockey debut "Sing The Color Blue" is a recording assembled over numerous sessions, and a testament to persistence and transformation. The album reunites Mike Reed with Rob Frye, Cooper Crain, Dan Quinlivan (all of the trio Bitchin Bajas), Marvin Tate, and Ben LaMar Gay in a set that moves between composition, reconstruction, improvisation, and song form.

Auf den Alben der “Verve Remixed”-Reihe war Nina Simone stets die unbestrittene Favoritin. Jetzt wird
die “High Priestess of Soul” auf “Verve Remixed // Nina Simone” mit acht brandneuen Mixen gefeiert. Die
Gelegenheit zu dem Projekt ergab sich, als Verve Records Anfang 2026 die Feierlichkeiten zu seinem 70-
jährigen Jubiläum einläutete. Unter dem Titel “Year of Nina” begann man damit, jeden Monat einen brandneuen Remix eines Nina-Simone-Klassikers als digitale Single zu veröffentlichen. Das Echo der Musikfans
war überwältigend. Der universelle Appeal von Ninas Musik wird dadurch verdeutlicht, dass mit Solomun,
DESIREE, Supershy, Mochakk, HAAi, Austin Millz, Dublon und Antdot acht der derzeit angesagtesten
DJs, Remixer und Produzenten aus unter anderem den USA, Brasilien, Südafrika und Großbritannien für
das Projekt gewonnen werden konnten.
Purple color LP, 140g, Single Sleeve

„Once Upon A Time“ ist ein Schlüsseldokument des britischen Modern Jazz um 1970. Alan Skidmore
stellte das Quintett für das Montreux Jazz Festival 1969 zusammen, wo es gleich drei Preise gewann –
darunter als beste Gruppe und Skidmore als bester Solist. Der Erfolg führte zur Zusammenarbeit mit
Deram-Produzent Peter Eden. Mit Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor, Harry Miller und Tony Oxley vereinte
Skidmore einige der später wichtigsten Stimmen des europäischen Jazz. Das 1969 aufgenommene und
1970 auf Deram Nova (SDN 11) erschienene Album verbindet Skidmores Coltrane-geprägtes Tenorspiel
mit Modal Jazz und freien Formen.

“High Spirits” zeigt eine ungewöhnliche, nicht minder faszinierende Seite des jamaikanisch-britischen Altsaxophonisten Joe Harriott, eines der großen Originale des britischen Jazz. Nach seinen bahnbrechenden
Free-Form-Experimenten widmete sich Harriott hier acht Songs aus dem gleichnamigen Musical von Hugh
Martin und Timothy Gray. Mit Shake Keane an Trompete und Flügelhorn, Coleridge Goode am Bass
und Bobby Orr am Schlagzeug ist Harriotts klassisches Quintett in Bestform zu hören. Aufgenommen
im September 1964 und 1965 als Teil der von Denis Preston betreuten Lansdowne Series veröffentlicht,
verbindet das Album melodische Zugänglichkeit mit souveränem Post-Bop und brillanten Improvisationen.

**BenArt Ensemble ft. Baptiste Herbin** unveil a distinctive debut album at the crossroads of jazz, world music and groove. Led by bassist and producer Ben Artuphel, this eight-piece ensemble brings together musicians from diverse backgrounds and with a wide range of influences: Baptiste Herbin (saxophones), Amina Mezaache (flute), Céline Bonacina (baritone saxophone), Ben Artuphel (bass), Antoine Banville (drums), Alexis Bajot-Nercessian (keyboards), Laurent Avenard-Kohler (guitar) and Nils Wekstein (percussion).

Born from a musical encounter in 2023, the band has developed a unique sound in which intricate bop-inspired writing meets 1970s funk, Afro and Creole rhythms, and the vibrant energy of samba. The album features 13 original compositions, the result of a deeply collaborative process and an exceptional musical chemistry between the eight musicians.

At the heart of the project, saxophonist **Baptiste Herbin** brings his virtuosic playing and extensive international experience. Nominated for the Victoires du Jazz in 2013 for his debut album *Brother Stoon*, he went on to receive the Django Reinhardt Prize and was named Musician of the Year by the Académie du Jazz in 2019. He has released four albums under his own name and has appeared on around fifty recordings alongside some of the leading figures in jazz.

With its finely crafted arrangements, rich melodies and irresistibly groove-driven rhythm section, **BenArt Ensemble ft. Baptiste Herbin** delivers a vibrant and generous take on jazz, where each musician's individual voice shines through while serving the collective. Balancing heritage and modernity, this album is an invitation to dance, dream and travel.

Ibiza-based Jazz N Palms is back with more musical dispatches from the calmer side of the island that follow on from his Ses Rodes album in 2022. That record was focused on a double album assembled, as if over a Cartesian grid of space-time. While one record was about space/the environment, the other was following the times of the day. This 7" expands that with more music inspired by magical island spaces.

These tracks were recorded in Magrana Studio in Ibiza with three new musicians and, after the post-production, the mixing was made with the help of Ben Westbeech and his beautiful Unfairchild II, an amazing Californian reproduction of the holy grail of tube compressor that has been present in Abbey Road studios since the 60s.

Opener 'El Valle' ('the valley') captures the different shades of light that pass over Ibiza, from early spring light to the arrival of looming clouds and the first thunders of a summer storm. It is the organ which serves as the main character to convey those sensations and the passing from light to dark as a live, loose and dusty groove bounces below. On the flip side, 'La Costa' simulates cruising on the open sea, riding choppy swells as waves lap at the boat and you gaze at the passing landscapes. Only drums and bass have been used to convey the feeling, and the result is a wonderfully uneven, ever-evolving and funky groove full of life.

JTQ Return to Acid Jazz… At the very birth of Acid Jazz there was the James Taylor Quartet. Hammond player extraordinaire James Taylor was fresh from the split of The Prisoners when he recorded Herbie Hancock’s ‘Theme From Blow Up’ and signed with Eddie Piller’s Re-Elect The President label, the precursor of Acid Jazz. Then, in 1993, after albums for Polydor and Big Life, Acid Jazz and James hooked up again and released ‘In The Hand Of The Inevitable’, for many the finest JTQ album. In March this year James found himself backstage at the Royal Albert Hall - The Brand New Heavies were about to take the stage - with Acid Jazz’s Eddie Piller and Dean Rudland and a plot was hatched... James returns to the label with this brand new 7-inch single: ‘Wildflower’ b/w ‘Guiding Light’.

The A-side is Bossa-nova tinged slice of sunshine pop featuring James’ vocals. It sounds like an old private-press 45, unearthed in a dank warehouse basement in Oregon, and is another JTQ classic. The flip takes us into jazz funk territory. Presented in a one-o^ version of the latest Acid Jazz house-bag, with classic labels.

Norman Gervais and Charles Bals return after last year’s Transcoastal compilation with their first project for the Italian label Periodica Records and its newly founded imprint, Periodica International.
The concept behind SiRENE 89 is quite particular and took six years to develop. It is presented as the live recording of one long evening, with different bands taking the stage one after another on the terrace of a Mediterranean holiday resort in 1989, inspired by the places Charles and Norm remember from their summer holidays around that time.
The songs were recorded between 1982 and 1993 and gathered from small-time artists, beach-club vagabonds, local micro-labels, library records and privately released tapes. The music moves lightly between mystical ballads, digital samba and loose, sunburnt dance songs, carried by drum machines, not-quite-tuned guitars and college-band voices.
The audience on the terrace remains quietly present throughout, joining the tracks into one continuous, partly improvised set. By the end, it feels less like a compilation and more like a place where you have spent the night, proving that charm can carry further than perfection.

Nu bossa icon Sabrina Malheiros has released four now classic original studio albums for Far Out Recordings. Her first, Equilibria, was originally released in 2005, ascending the daughter of Azymuth bassist Alex Malheiros to international acclaim. Celebrating 20 years since it was first released—for Record Store Day 2025—Equilibria will be available on vinyl for the first time ever.

A masterful collection of sambas and bossas, Equilibria strikes the perfect balance between classic Brazilian songwriting and modern production courtesy of Far Out mainstay Daniel Maunick. The album features some of Brazil’s very best musicians including members of Azymuth, as well as Incognito frontman and guitarist Jean-Paul ‘Bluey’ Maunick.

As one review put it, Equilibria is “guaranteed to turn your limbs to liquid…. Prepare to be swept away”

DJ Support: Antal, I Cube, Noel Watson, Colleen Cosmo Murphy, Sean Johnston, San Soda, Takaya Nagase, Tina Edwards, Pete Herbert, Kenneth Bager, Severino, Aaron Paar, Felix Joy, Harri Harrigan, Laroye, Telford, Darker Than Wax, Rocky (X Press 2), Shane Johnson, Dan Tyler, Felix Dickinson and many more

Having previously released selected retrospectives focused on the musical output of Ryo Kawasaki and Joan Bibiloni, NuNorthern Soul has now turned its attention to the vast back catalogue of Jasper Van’t Hof’s pioneering electro-acoustic, Afro-fusion collective, Pili Pili.

The band was established in 1984 by Van’t Hof, a Dutch pianist who began his career in Europe’s jazz scene of the late 1960s, as a way of combining his love of jazz-fusion and the music of North-West Africa. Van’t Hof already had a reputation for combining roles in traditional jazz combos with more experimental and abstract projects. These included a spell in violinist Jean-Luc Ponty’s first band, years spent masterminding jazz-rock outfit Jasper Van’t Hof’s Porkpie, the recording of an all- electronic album (1982’s Visitors), and a celebrated collaborative live album with the great Archie Shepp, Mama Rose.

Pili Pili, though, was another step forward for Van’t Hof. Working with percussionists and vocalists from Benin and Mali (including the now legendary Angelique Kidou) and a string of adventurous jazz soloists (saxophonist Tony Lakoto and trumpeter Annie Whitehead included), Van’t Hof’s collective frequently combined live and programmed percussion, electronic and acoustic instrumentation, and the talented improvisor’s own memorable melodies and impactful solos.

NuNorthern Soul’s retrospective focuses on the most productive and celebrated period of Pili Pili’s near three-decade history, showcasing tracks originally recorded and released on studio albums released between 1984 and 2002. The six tracks on show offer an essential glimpse into the musical gold to be found across the Pili Pili catalogue.

In keeping with NuNorthern Soul’s previous retrospectives, the vinyl version of Selected Works 1984-95 comes with extended liner notes telling the remarkable story of this most unusual of cross-cultural collaborations. These feature extensive quotes, reflections and memories from Jasper Van’t Hof and were written by music historian Matt Anniss.

This is a stunning new Japanese Modal / Spiritual Jazz album by the incredible Saxophonist Sinsuke Fujieda featuring Fumiko Takeshita on violin, recorded in Tokyo in 2023, five splendid own compositions - a beautiful listen!

Production Dessinee treatment on high-quality Japanese vinyl. Limited to 1000 copies

As always at U JAZZ ME Records we have limited edition (100 numbered copies) of 180g black vinyl with insert.

Astrocyrk (Astrocircus) is the next chapter in a story that began in 2123, when Captain Harrison Focus, after an emergency landing, finds himself on the mysterious planet Carmin. Following the events described in the previous album, the main character – Triceradiplodocus – leaves the planet's surface, following Ropuch’s instructions. However, the light on the horizon turns out to be the beginning of a new nightmare, and the dinosaur is trapped in the Astrocyrk. Under Klown’s guidance, he begins exploring this dark place. Only the finale reveals the true history of the Astrocyrk and
surprisingly intertwines Triceradiplodocus's fate with events from years past and the character of Captain Harrison Focus.

Musically, the album develops Twoosty Mayonez's distinctive style – one that focuses on improvisation and cinematic storytelling. Each composition represents a new chapter in the story, creating a cohesive musical journey through the world of Astrocyrk. Subsequent tracks lead the listener through the ship's dark attractions.

The new album is a natural continuation of the story from planet Carmin, while also opening a completely new chapter in the Twoosty Mayonnaise universe – one that is bigger, darker, and even more unpredictable.
The album features guest appearances by Szymon Białorucki (oud), Marek Konarski (sax), and Bartłomiej “Eskaubei” Skubisz (rap). The recordings were made at the Twoosty Room studio in Warsaw by the band's drummer.

2026 Repress

From spearheading France’s jazz-house and electronica scenes, to amassing millions of streams for lauded tracks such as Ode To Love, Manhattan To Brooklyn and Artifice, Tour-Maubourg is a flag bearer…

Nachdem der Pianist Ahmad Jamal zwischen 1968 und 1971 mit seinen langjährigen Trio-Partnern Jamil
Nasser (Bass) und Frank Gant (Schlagzeug) vier exzellente Alben für Impulse! Records eingespielt hatte,
wagte er 1973 bei dem Label 20th Century Records einen Abstecher in für ihn ungewohnte musikalische
Gefilde. Begleitet von einem Orchester mit Streichern und Stimmen ist Ahmad Jamal hier mit Versionen
damals aktueller Hits von Stevie Wonder und der Band War sowie mit Spiritual-Jazz- und Funk-Stücken
zu hören. Das ausgefallene Album ”Ahmad Jamal ’73” produzierte der Pianist, der hier auch erstmals am
E-Piano zu hören ist, zusammen mit Arrangeur und Komponist Richard Evans, der durch seine Arbeiten
mit u. a. Ramsey Lewis, Dorothy Ashby, Terry Callier und Marlena Shaw bekannt wurde.

Tina Edwards "absolutely loving Ensoul and Locked! Big fan of what this band are doing. One of the most original outfits in London Jazz atm."

Jamie Cullum "beautiful music from Ambient Jazz Ensemble"

Presenting the genre defining and much hip hop sampled Ambient Jazz Ensemble. AJE’s Colin Baldry has a highly accomplished career in music writing and producing for iconic labels Motown, RCA, Geffen, Virgin and Capitol Records

London Fields describes London energy, vibe, anticipation; ‘fields' of electricity. The phrase conjours something of my own relationship with London. Having moved away after living & working there for 20 years I’ve recently fallen in love with the city again. I've been walking the streets, rediscovering it’s parks, canals, the architecture, the river; … & experiencing new music in London is always a joy. The 'London Fields’ have recaptured my imagination

Ensoul delivers sparse felt piano before Lynsey Ward releases her inner Kate Bush. Locked inspired initially by Tony Robert-Fleury’s 1891 painting ‘Alix Appearing in Mask’. And then the collaboration with singer songwriter Lynsey Ward an inspiration and a joy which comes across in the music

Sechs Jahre nach seinem legendären Live-Auftritt vom 25. Juni 1961, aus dem zwei der populärsten
und besten Alben von Bill Evans für das Label Riverside hervorgingen - ”Sunday At The Village Vanguard”
und ”Waltz for Debby” -, kehrte der einflussreiche Jazzpianist im August 1967 für zwei Abende in denselben
Jazzclub in Manhattan zurück. Diesmal trat er in der einmaligen Trio-Besetzung mit Eddie Gómez am
Bass und Philly Joe Jones am Schlagzeug auf. Die Aufnahmen erschienen 1982, zwei Jahre nach Evans’
Tod, auf dem Doppelalbum ”California Here I Come”, das seinen vielleicht etwas verwirrenden Titel dem
Opener des Albums verdankt. An beiden Abenden waren Evans und seine Spielpartner in Bestform und
zeigten bei Interpretationen von Standards wie ”‘Round Midnight”, ”In a Sentimental Mood” und ”Stella
by Starlight” sowie dem damals neuen Bacharach/David-Hit ”Alfie” ungezügelten Elan, rhythmisches Feuer
und ein energiegeladenes Zusammenspiel.

It pairs Virelles - who is known for his all-encompassing approach to creativity that is deeply-rooted in the Cuban influences of his upbringing - with two towering figures of creative music, whose individual work have helped shape the evolution of modern jazz for more than six decades. Together, they create music that is spacious, lyrical, and uncompromisingly inventive, grounded in profound listening and collective imagination. The group evolved out of Trio 3 , which featured saxophonist Oliver Lake alongside Cyrille and Workman. Following Lake's retirement, the remaining members invited David Virelles to help continue the group's legacy. Recorded at the legendary Van Gelder Studio , the album captures three master improvisers in an intimate, deeply expressive dialogue that unfolds through shared intuition, revealing an ensemble whose interplay is marked by subtlety, trust, and fearless exploration.

“Kjorstad is an intriguing musician. He’s fascinated by the world, its history and future, nature and sound.”
Songlines

“Routinely blurs lines between folk, jazz, free improvisation, experimental, and contemporary music. Impressive, elusive, superb. I’m never less than spellbound.”
the Quietus

“Just as likely to appeal to followers of classical, folk and improvised music as to the jazz fraternity…A deep listening experience. Enchanting.”
Jazz Journal

Norwegian multi-instrumentalist Hans P. Kjorstad debuts on Phantom Limb (following works with Sam Gendel and Ernst Reijseger) with new album Inn, a nuanced, lower case, orchestra-in-miniature full of curiosity, charm, and sensitive mastery of its form."

Jakob Bro, Brian Blade, Craig Taborn, Chris Cheek, Jesper Zeuthen, Anders Christensen, Larry Grenadier & Marcus Gilmore, playing compositions by Paul Motian and Jakob Bro.
The album was recorded in a single session at New York’s Power Station with engineer James Farber, following a week-long residency at the Village Vanguard.

‘Danish guitarist and composer Jakob Bro is celebrated for his pure reflective expression and penchant for celestial textures, effortlessly distilling and refining quiet sonics. At the Village Vanguard, he leads an impressive group – featuring two bassists and two drummers – for a nearly week-long residency.
‘The perfectly poised, ambient-leaning soundworld that characterizes Bro’s compositions was discomposed and distended by this octet, probing thrilling sounds and providing ample opportunity to create spontaneously. It was an exhilarating jazz night with some of the most esteemed players out there.’ ()

John Coltrane with the Red Garland Trio ist das dritte Studioalbum von John Coltrane und entstand 1957
im legendären Van Gelder Studio. Gemeinsam mit Red Garland, Paul Chambers und Art Taylor zeigt es
Coltrane in einer entscheidenden Phase seiner musikalischen Entwicklung. Das Album erschien 1958 bei
Prestige Records und wurde 1961 unter dem Titel Traneing In neu veröffentlicht.
Anlässlich Coltranes 100. Geburtstags erscheint der Klassiker nun als Teil der Original Jazz Classics-Reihe
neu – auf 180-Gramm-Vinyl, vollständig analog von den Originalbändern gemastert und im hochwertigen
Tip-On-Cover.

Mit Gamgumsupon legt Kuhn Fu sein bislang direktestes und energiegeladenstes Album vor. Das international besetzte Ensemble um Gitarrist und Komponist Christian Kühn verbindet Jazz, Punk, Metal, Psychedelia und Big-Band-Sound zu einer explosiven Klangsprache, die sich jeder Genre-Schublade entzieht. Kraftvolle Riffs treffen auf ausgefeilte Arrangements, improvisatorische Freiheit auf ungebremste Spielfreude und feinen Humor. Trotz ihrer kompositorischen Komplexität wirkt die Musik unmittelbar, eingängig und voller überraschender Wendungen. Zwischen brachialer Energie und verspielter Leichtigkeit entfaltet Gamgumsupon eine eigene musikalische Welt, in der Virtuosität stets im Dienst des Songs steht. Ein mutiges, kompromissloses Album, das Rock und Jazz auf ebenso originelle wie mitreißende Weise neu zusammenführt.

Featuring Nicholas Semrad (Empire of the Sun), Stu Brooks (Nine Inch Nails, Danny Elfman), Tim Lefebvre (David Bowie) and vocalist Gretchen Parlato, this new hardhitting, synth-fueled album distills Guiliana's vision into eight cinematic compositions that fuse retro production with futuristic playing. Transmitted through an original 8-bit visual universe created by artist and long-term collaborator Steve Wall, BEAT MUSIC 2.0 draws inspiration from early gaming culture and electronic music, looking both to the past and the future for answers. Guiliana's compositional voice is on full display alongside the energetic and precise grooves that define his singular approach. In an age increasingly shaped by automation, BEAT MUSIC 2.0 keeps its focus on human connection and collaboration.

Hypnos , a new collection of his own mesmerising compositions, enchants us with sublime, atmospheric guitar intricacies beautifully constructed over soul- drenched hammond sound-beds. "With Hypnos , I wanted to create something paired back and super simple. These pieces were initially written as etudes for solo guitar, and they reflect the wide range of influences found in the music I love to listen to. A life spent listening to Django Reinhardt and Philip Glass! The inclusion of the Hammond organ came from a desire to pair the nylon- string guitar with an instrument you don't usually hear alongside it. For me, the Hammond evokes gospel and the classic organ trios of Wes Montgomery - it's a soulful, funk sonic and very spiritual. It was a real blessing to have Nathaniel Ledwidge play Hammond on the record and to showcase the softer side of this iconic instrument. Hypnos is the Greek god of sleep, the father of Morpheus, the god of dreams. Is the music dreamy and hypnotic, a brief slumberous escape from the madness out there? I hope so." - Robin Katz It's available as a limited- pressing 180g vinyl 'Gearbox Cut' LP and gatefold CD digi sleeve with obi strip & photo insert.

Following the international praise for their 2024 debut album Where Did You Go?, Sandman Project return with Hearts Forever, the first album entirely composed, arranged and produced by guitarist, composer and bandleader Tal Sandman. Rooted in psychedelic groove, Middle Eastern musicality, funk, jazz and desert rock, it is a record driven above all by a wider spiritual belief in music as a force for connection.

If Where Did You Go? introduced Sandman Project as a borderless, brass-heavy outfit with a cinematic sound, Hearts Forever takes that vision somewhere more intimate and self-assured. Written following Tal's move from Jaffa to Leipzig, the album reflects a period of personal and creative transformation. Arriving in Germany without knowing whether she would find the right collaborators, she gradually assembled a new band through recommendations from fellow musicians, discovering a group capable of bringing her musical vision to life. For Tal, the music is not about drawing neat lines between styles or traditions. It is about taking inspiration from wherever it appears and reshaping it into something honest and alive. "If music touches my heart, it inspires me", she says. "So much music already exists, but what we are doing is creating something new out of inspiration. You take the ingredients and make a new thing".

This is the quiet force behind Hearts Forever. Almost entirely instrumental, the album deliberately leaves space for listeners to find their own stories within it. Without lyrics, the music is never confined to one language, nationality or identity.

Following support for Where Did You Go? from All About Jazz, DJ Magazine, Bayern Radio, Greedy For Best, Pipelines Magazine, Ban Ban Ton Ton and Laurent Garnier, Hearts Forever finds Sandman Project entering a new chapter: more confident, broader in vision and more deeply rooted in Tal Sandman's own creative voice. Rich, restless and full of feeling, Hearts Forever is music for uncertain times; a record about holding on to innocence, choosing compassion and believing, however quietly, that connection is still possible.

Relaxin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet fängt den mühelosen Swing und das außergewöhnliche Zusammenspiel der legendären Formation um Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers und Philly
Joe Jones ein. Aufgenommen 1956 im Van Gelder Studio, erschien das Album erstmals 1958 bei Prestige
Records.
Anlässlich des 100. Geburtstags von Miles Davis erscheint der Klassiker nun neu als Teil der Original
Jazz Classics-Reihe – auf 180-Gramm-Vinyl, vollständig analog von den Originalbändern gemastert und im
hochwertigen Tip-On-Cover

2026 Repress

London based composer, multi-instrumentalist and producer Akusmi announces 'Lines', an exhilarating new collection of works born from the desire to take where the acclaimed debut album 'Fleeting Future' left off - in search of new forms.

" 'Secant', I must have listened to this tune 3 times in a row, this one soundtracked my night drive through the winding roads" - Benji B, BBC Radio 1

'Lines' is presented as a Limited edition clear vinyl (500 copies only worldwide), printed in heavy-weight reverse board sleeve with a hand-numbered edition sticker. The vinyl edition also features 'Oblique' (A2), an exclusive version for the vinyl format, plus the now revered 'Longing for Tomorrow' - (Brandt Brauer Frick Remix), previously unreleased physically and now pressed on vinyl format, ending side B. The cover artwork features another collaboration with Dutch visual artist Sigrid Calon and design by label founder Adam Heron.

Formed with a sense of urgency and a reductive approach 'Lines' is almost entirely comprised of alto saxophone, clarinet and piano with embellishments of ambience and minimal percussive elements. Recorded in full at his home studio in London, Pascal Bideau speaks about the process:

"I wanted to go a bit more a bit more horizontal and ambient, work with layers of lines, might they be dotted or straight, and leave them to unfold and see where they would take me."

Akusmi uniquely finds the spaces in between experimental jazz, crossover classical and ambient music.

The Weather Channel is the new instrumental album from Bad Brains bassist Darryl Jenifer. It follows his 2010 solo debut, In Search of Black Judas. The record features a venerable lineup of heavy-hitters from the jazz world, including the likes of John Medeski, Ben Perowsky, Jack DeJohnette, and Lenny White, among others. The tracklist includes nine new compositions, as well as new interpretations of two Bad Brains classics.

esperanza spalding’s first label release esperanza has become a modern classic with “I Know You Know” and “Precious”. Upon release, The New York Times said: “It’s an attempt at bringing this crisscrossing of Stevie Wonder and Wayne Shorter to a new level of definition and power.” Available on vinyl for the first time ever - 2LP gatefold edition features updated artwork, pressed on eco jade green coloured vinyl. Includes two bonus tracks from the original sessions: “O Bem Do Mar” and “Sunlight”.

Swiss saxophonist Gilles Torrent may have been initially smitten by the sounds of US jazz giants like Coltrane, Shepp and Sanders, but as he’s developed and matured he’s cast his creative net much wider. After teaching himself the sax at 21 he spent the next 11 years studying the concepts and innovations of Coltrane before moving on to take the next logical step - exploring and soaking up the many styles music from around the world, and incorporating them into his Coltranesque vision of jazz.

Atestament to that workis the opening theme,‘La Longue Traversée Du Désert’whereTorrent directs an impressive ensemble of musicians – known collectively as World Jazz Sound - on a global trip from the plains of Africa to the pastures of England and even the mountains of his homeland Switzerland. Tracks like ‘Osso Varourn Ta Sidhera’, which pairs Beuna Vista-style Cuban rhythms with Grappelli-esque violin, or the transcendental calm of ‘Fridhia Mou’, complete with dainty harp and sultry Indian female vocal part, see the ensemble immersing themselves in the traditions and atmospheres of a panorama of different cultures, joining the dots between them all and gathering them up into one cohesive whole.

From the ancient and traditional – their effortlessly swung take on ‘Scarborough Fair’ for example – to the inspired but unconventional use of yodelling on ‘Chant des Alpes’, eventually giving way to a sensational modalworkout, this is an album full of widescreen freshness, surprises and, above all, the joy of discovery and experimentation. Originally released onCD in 2010, the sheer overwhelming beauty of the music withinhas compelled us at Jazzman to deliver these sanctified sounds onaudiophile standard 180g vinyl, for all to enjoy.


2x180g LPs featuring 8 tracks in total, housed in a single sleeve + download code.

In the early 90s, led by Nicola Conte, the Fez collective in Bari, Italy, reshaped contemporary jazz through groove, experimentation and a distinctly Mediterranean sensibility. Within this environment the earliest recordings associated with what would become Schema Records first appeared, released at the time through Right Tempo. With a series of three 45rpm releases Schema Records revisits some of its earliest productions, all newly remastered from the original masters. In this third 7”, The infectious pulse of “Sweat” contrasts beautifully with the refined elegance of “Fez Bossa”, together painting a vivid portrait of a scene driven by creativity, musicianship and an unwavering passion for groove. Newly remastered from the original recordings, this 45rpm edition brings these landmark performances back to life for a new generation of listeners while offering longtime collectors a beautifully renewed listening experience.

Finnish-American guitarist Raoul Björkenheim and Norwegian drummer Paal Nilssen-Love join forces on their new album PING, released by We Jazz Records on 30th October on LP, CD and digital formats. Recorded in Helsinki, the album finds the seasoned duo firing on all cylinders and delivering a remarkable set of contemporary free music.

PING brings together nine excursions beyond “guitar + drums” and way beyond “free jazz”. That being said, those are still good touching points for the music that is wild, imaginative, raw, yet also at times delicate and introspective. Friends and collaborators for decades in groups such as the lauded Scorch Trio, Raoul and Paal have the history and the trust to create memorable and original improvised music that stuns and moves the curious listener.

Raoul Björkenheim (b. 1956) is a Finnish-American guitarist and composer who has been creating original music for the past four decades living in New York City and Helsinki, where he is presently based. Describing his on-going work as investigative guitarism, he is best known for an expressionistic and lyrical guitar style. Björkenheim’s eclectic discography numbers 50+ albums, ranging from ambient soundscapes to visceral free jazz, from duo to big band. His large-scale works for symphony orchestra have yet to be recorded, and he has also composed scores for over ten films and dance productions. Björkenheim has collaborated musically with Bill Laswell, Toshinori Kondo, William Parker, Mats Gustafsson, Hamid Drake, Ingebrigt Håker Flaten, Gerald Cleaver, Henry Kaiser, Lukas Ligeti, Morgan Ågren, Paul Schütze, Edward Vesala and Juhani Aaltonen, for the labels ECM, Rune Grammofon, Cuneiform, Tum Records and Long Song records. Björkenheim has been awarded various prizes including the Emma prize for best jazz recording of the year, and been nominated three times for the Nordic Music Award.

Paal Nilssen-Love (b. 1974) is a Norwegian drummer, composer, bandleader, and producer known for his central role in Scandinavian free jazz and improvised music. Since the mid- 1990s, he has appeared on more than 280 albums, including 70 released through his label, PNL Records. He has performed with influential groups including Atomic, The Thing, Peter Brötzmann’s Chicago Tentet, Scorch Trio, and Frode Gjerstad Trio, and collaborates regularly with artists such as, Ken Vandermark, Akira Sakata, Otomo Yoshihide, David Murray, Arto Lindsay and more. Paal Nilssen-Love’s fascination with traditional and experimental music has taken him around the world. Since his first visit to Ethiopia in 2009, he has built strong connections with musicians and artists in Addis Ababa, leading to collaborations, performances, teaching, and artist exchanges with Norway. Since his first trip to Brazil in 2013, he has returned regularly, developing collaborations with artists and musicians across the country. His musical explorations have also brought him to Tsugaru and Aomori in northern Japan, where he has developed an interest in the region’s traditional music. Nilssen-Love is also an active organizer and educator. He started both Oslo’s all-Ears festival, the Blow Out festival and FRAM Kunstfest, and has led workshops internationally and in Norway.

Im September 1964 war es Miles Davis endlich gelungen, den Saxofonisten Wayne Shorter von Art Blakeys
Jazz Messengers abzuwerben und mit ihm sein Second Great Quintet zu vervollständigen. Shorters Solokarriere schien darunter nicht nur nicht zu leiden, sondern sogar noch beflügelt zu werden. Und zwar so sehr,
dass Blue Note mit dem Veröffentlichen seiner Soloalben kaum nachkam. Eines der Alben, die zunächst
archiviert wurden, war “The Soothsayer”. Es wurde im März 1965 mit einem Allstar-Sextett aufgenommen,
erschien aus unerklärlichen Gründen aber erst 1979. Denn laut AllMusic gehört es zu Shorters “besten
Werken aus dieser unglaublich fruchtbaren Zeit”.

Following his Victor debut "Maki", Masaru Imada kept up the momentum with his second album and the very first TBM release. The melancholic slow number "Nostalgia" and the light yet lyrical modal piece "Gehi Dorian" are essential listening. (Series supervised by Koki Hanawa)

The Brussels-based collective re#encounter will release its debut album, Angels and Demons at Play, on September 18, 2026, via W.E.R.F. records. With gnawa grooves, cumbia, griot storytelling, Afro-Caribbean rhythms, and ecstatic jazz improvisations, the nine-piece ensemble crafts a distinctive, spiritual, and above all, danceable jazz idiom.

At the heart of the album lies trance. Hicham Bilali's gnawa, Kaito Winse's relentless energy, Paula León's cumbia roots, and the spellbinding jazz improvisations of Lúcia Pires and Joos Vandueren intertwine with Falk Schrauwen's Afro-Caribbean rhythms. Together with Robbe Latré, Ismaïl Akharraz, Ayoub Boufous, and Anaïs Moffarts, they create a musical encounter where differences are not erased but harnessed as a creative force.

On Angels and Demons at Play, Hicham Bilali's gnawa grooves enter into dialogue with the voices of Kaito Winse and Paula León. They weave stories from the griot and cumbia traditions-tales of ancestors, cosmic journeys, and djinns. Flute, saxophone, and trumpet craft soundscapes and melodies rooted in existing traditions, while drums, percussion, and bass drive the whole forward with tight, hypnotic rhythms.

With this, re#encounter aligns itself with the spiritual jazz idiom of artists like Sun Ra, Pharoah Sanders, Kahil El'Zabar's Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, and Shabaka Hutchings, but always from a distinctly Brussels-based perspective. The result is a homegrown form of Afrofuturism: music that draws on deep cultural roots while simultaneously looking ahead.

TBM’s 9th title, newly recorded by Tsuyoshi Yamamoto with renewed energy after his time training in the U.S. Featuring a lyrical touch on "Autumn Leaves", a bold and swingin’ Tsuyoshi-style take on "Wave", and the superbly tasteful "Blue Manhattan" in both performance and composition—an exquisite piano trio album.

2024 Repress

Loftsoul Re-works, a new running series for the renewed Loftsoul Recordings, is focused into genre-straddling playing style from Soul and Jazz to Dance Classics. It's a deliciously deep groove with trademark for some soulful dance floor action.

Three track 45. Fast on the A. Slow on the B.

Tenorsaxofonist Booker Ervin (1930-1970) wurde in den späten 1950er Jahren durch seine seine Zusammenarbeit mit Charles Mingus bekannt. Er war ein unverwechselbarer Solist mit einem kraftvollen Klang
und einer von Blues und Gospel geprägten Phrasierung. Eines seiner besten Werke als Bandleader war
das Album “Structurally Sound”, das er im Dezember 1966 mit einem Quintett engagierter Modernisten -
darunter der junge Trompeter Charles Tolliver- für das Label Pacific Jazz aufnahm. Es entstand bei einer
seiner letzten Aufnahmesessions und ist ein eindrucksvoller Beweis dafür, wie er seinen Stil in den Jahren
vor seinem viel zu frühen Tod weiterentwickelt hatte.

A track built around bass, drums and horns that carry the groove from the very first bar.

The beat breaks into an explosive breakdown featuring a bongo solo performed by Borja Vizcaíno, adding tension and organic energy to the composition.

On the B-side, Rosvil keeps it straight to the point with a Battle version designed for the floor: pure, direct and functional rhythm. The 7” also includes a bonus Beats version — a DJ tool with drums and percussion ready to be remixed or used in session.

The EP will be available on 7-inch vinyl and across all digital platforms.

Artwork by graffiti writer Hize.
Mixed and mastered by Jorge Alamar.