Organic Grooves 161 Items

Set up by Eddie Singleton with Berry Gordy’s ex-wife and co-founder of Motown, Raynoma (Miss Ray) in 1964, the Shrine label, based in Washington DC, has been a buzzword for collectors for over fifty years. Shrine had no hits; in fact very few sales at all. What it did have was musical talent and a business plan that ended in glorious failure - inadvertently making the twenty singles that were pressed highly sought after by collectors.

This is a 1999 album by Weldon Irvine, who gained new recognition with the rise of the hip-hop scene and the rare groove movement in the 90's and beyond, including appearances on Q-tip and Mos Def albums!　Now, for the first time ever, P-vine is releasing this historically significant work on LP, as the original CD is hard to find. Featuring guests such as Q-tip, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and other artists representing the street scene of the time, the jazzy and tight groove is a must-listen, with a crossover of 70s feeling and 90s sound!

MuchaMuchaM, an Asian exotic band based in Fukuoka, has been unveiled in March 2024 with the release of their first 7inch album and a digital album. This album, "Qantikala," has been attracting attention not only in Japan but also overseas. Although all the songs are instrumental, the "soulful" guitar tone evokes a sense of nostalgia and takes the listener on a journey to the seaside of Okinawa, the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, or the jungles of Malay Island.

Linda, you already know her, without really knowing her. Because in 2002, she piloted The beat goes on, DJ Bob Sinclar's house hit. because she directed Gospel pour 100 voix, an XXL choir that filled Bercy several times. It's a big difference, in keeping with the way she embraces music: a matter of emotions and feeling, not labels. A deep love that goes back to the childhood of this American native of North Carolina. When her father's amateur gospel group rehearsed at home, when the microphone was a hairbrush in front of a mirror reflecting a little girl imitating Aretha, Otis and Michael. As a young adult, winning a singing contest in a Pennsylvania club gave her confidence. Linda is gifted at embodying songs and drawing audiences along with her. Word of mouth opened doors for her. Under her spell, several bands recruited her in the seventies, until she set up her own band in 1980. And then she was hired by a musical that ran for several years in Atlantic City. A few years on the Caribbean island of Saint-Martin followed, before a guardian angel extricated her from a nightlife that was beginning to burn her wings. Off to Paris. In June 1991, Linda settled in for good. A godsend for France, its studios and touring artists. Nino Ferrer, Bernard Lavilliers, Gloria Gaynor, Percy Sledge, Ray Charles and many others called on Linda's expertise. As did Ben l'Oncle Soul in 2013 for Hallelujah!!! (J'ai tant besoin de toi), the lead single from his second album "À Coup de Rêves". Ben knew that this treasure of a voice deserved a new light. He introduced her to his great guitarist & accomplice Christophe Lardeau. The collaboration is immediately crystal-clear, naturally fruitful, and the compositions are deep and meaningful. For the first time, Linda has her own album. Drawing on the rich roots of Afro-American music and her own personal experience, "Spirit & Soul" encapsulates all the vitality of a hidden gem that we are at last truly discovering. With a repertoire like this, upcoming concerts promise to be particularly intense moments.

1977: In the middle of the era of punk groups, up-tempo music, high-energy rock and a mini rock-'n-roll revival, a record with the cheeky title Tranquility by the group Dutch Treat has come onto the market. A record - as the title suggests - that exudes tranquility. The record is a serious product by five of Holland's best-known and most-talented studio musicians: Jan Huydts, Wim Essed, Hans Hollestelle, Louis de Lussanet and Steve Boston. Jan Huydts: ‘We want to make music that brings people peace and tranquility. We are a recording group. We like each other. We are just close friends. The idea was to make non-aggressive music with aggressive instruments like synthesizers and electric guitars. You may even call it background music, maybe with a double meaning.’

Wim Essed in 2024: 'After decades it is still amazing that in all their diversity the pieces on this album fit together so well, taking the listener on an instrumental road trip through rainy as well as sunny landscapes.'

'When we had finished the original recording, the first and only issue was marketed by Polydor records, in quite a modest edition, instigating an equally modest success. Nowadays many more can get access through the web and Tranquility has since found a certain following and cult status, as the original record got harder to come by and more expensive on the second-hand market. So people started to ask for a reissue, which we can at last and proudly offer, bonus material included!'

‘tranquility’ by dutch treat was recorded, mixed and mastered between October 1976 and January 1977 at Procom Studio in Kirchhellen, West Germany

Remastered in August and September 2023 by Fritz Fey (original assistent engineer) at Double-D Mastering, Oberhausen, Germany For the remastering a direct transfer from the original master tape in 192 kHz and 24 bit was used. The master was cut in a lacquer and the actual reissue is a 180 gram hi quality pressing

Meshell Ndegeocello’s new album after her internationally successful Blue Note debut “The Omnichord Real Book” (Grammy “Best Alternative Jazz Album”, Deutscher Jazzpreis “Album Of The Year International”) is an intellectually and musically gripping homage to legendary author James Baldwin and his topics such as racism and sexuality. "No More Water: The Gospel Of James Baldwin" is a genre-bending work full of deep passion and equally deep grooves and will be released on Baldwin’s Centennial: August 2, 2024. Features frequent collaborators Justin Hicks, Kenita Miller, Abe Rounds, Jake Sherman, Jebin Bruni, and Julius Rodriguez, as well as powerful spoken word performances by Jamaican poet and activist Staceyann Chin.

Meshell Ndegeocello’s new album after her internationally successful Blue Note debut “The Omnichord Real Book” (Grammy “Best Alternative Jazz Album”, Deutscher Jazzpreis “Album Of The Year International”) is an intellectually and musically gripping homage to legendary author James Baldwin and his topics such as racism and sexuality. "No More Water: The Gospel Of James Baldwin" is a genre-bending work full of deep passion and equally deep grooves and will be released on Baldwin’s Centennial: August 2, 2024. Features frequent collaborators Justin Hicks, Kenita Miller, Abe Rounds, Jake Sherman, Jebin Bruni, and Julius Rodriguez, as well as powerful spoken word performances by Jamaican poet and activist Staceyann Chin.

This classic 1960 album by Mulligan, the Cool Jazz innovator, and Webster, the legendary Ellingtonian, is one for the ages. The tunes they recorded, from “Chelsea Bridge” to “Go Home”, are smooth, lush and emotional, driven along by a rhythm section of Jimmy Rowles, Leroy Vinnegar and Mel Lewis that swings with just the right amount of bop.

Verve Acoustic Sounds Series: Stereo, mastered fully analogue from the original tapes by Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound, QPR pressing (180 g), firm tip-on gatefold (Stoughton Printing), padded inner sleeve.

Classic South African house / Kwaito album on vinyl for the first time ! Originally released on CD in 1995, this album which is associated with the birth of South African street music genre – ‘Kwaito’ and dance/dress style ‘Pantsula’ is now remastered for vinyl from the original tapes – resulting in the best sounding version of the recording to date.

Regarded as one of the earliest full length Kwaito albums, ‘Sigiya Ngengoma’ was released just one year into South Africa’s new democracy in 1995. Characterised by ‘mid-tempo’ beats, heavy bass hooks, adapted breakdancing and vocals in informal Zulu and other South African languages; ‘Sigiya Ngengoma’ would form a critical part of the South African street music movement that now has its own fashion, crews and dance style.

It helped post-democratic South Africa define its own musical identity and would pave the way for other Kwaito releases that ultimately led to the emergence of Amapiano years later.

Japanese Obi-Strip Pressed on Black Vinyl Originally released in 1976 Note: artwork to be updated This is the only album released by Charles Edwards, also known as Good Rockin' Charles who was an American blues singer and harmonica player. Because he missed chances by own, he left behind very few recordings that have survived. In 1956, he was appointed to recording session of "Walkin' By Myself" with Jimmy Rogers. However, for reasons unknown, he got cold feet or left to have a drink and canceled the session. After all, as many blues fans know, Big Walter Horton filled in for him and delivered a memorable performance on that song. In 1957, Cobra Records arranged another recording opportunity, but he was not particularly fond of studio recording and didn't show up to the session.



However, his unique and powerful blues harmonica flavor cannot be found anywhere else. While influenced by Sonny Boy Williamson I, his singing has a distinct and forthright vocal style that sets him apart, delivering a unique and compelling performance.

Roy Porter released two albums in the 70's, "Inner Feelings" and "Jessica", which are now highly sought after as important rare groove albums. After a brief absence from the scene, he entered the 90s and challenged the times with a new Sound Machine! The killer funk tracks "Panama" and "Party time," which have been featured as sampling sources on numerous occasions, have been reconstructed by Roy Porter himself, and brushed up to sound with the texture of the 90s. It is no exaggeration to say that this album embodies the fusion of jazz and hip-hop that Robert Glasper and others have shown since the 2010s, 20 years ago.

The Montclairs are a five-piece soul vocal group featuring Phil Perry, who is still active as a solo artist. The Montclairs were located in St. Louis, Missouri, which is not Philadelphia, New Jersey, Detroit, or Chicago, and their chorus was sweet and beautiful, with Perry's distinctive falsetto at the center. The group was discovered by Oliver Sane, a big name in the area, and released this album on the prestigious Paula (Jewell) Records label in 1972, produced by Sane.

Die Verbindung Mensch und Maschine, Körper und Geist, Analoges und Digitales in unsere Musik
zu bringen, hat auf uns immer schon eine Faszination ausgeübt und uns auf eine gemeinsame
Reise geschickt, bei der wir nie genau wussten, wohin sie uns führt.
(Cats & Breakkies)
Cats & Breakkies wirbeln die Stile durcheinander. Club trifft Techno, flirtet mit Jazz, erinnert sich an Art Rock
und Fusion. Es ist Musik für Publikum, für Menschen, die sich in Clubs bewegen. Und die Spaß haben an
der Nacht, an Beats, die ihre Magie über lange Distanzen entwickeln. Wer hören will, darf tanzen. Wer
zuhören will, kann sich in die Details vertiefen, in den eleganten Studiosound der Band und die vielen
Assoziationen für die Spezialisten, die Vintage-Synthie-Klänge und fein flirrenden Gitarrenfiguren, in den
präsenten Flow des Schlagzeugs und den funky souveränen Bass. Es ist eine Musik mit vielen Wurzeln,
ganz entspannt im Hier und Jetzt, offen für die Ideen von morgen.
„New World“ ist Album Nummer drei des Berliner Quartetts. Alles fing an in den frühen Zehnerjahren, als der
Gitarrist Benedikt Schnitzler, der Keyboarder Johannes Gottschick und die Rhythmus-Brüder Bastian und
Raphael Kaletta beschlossen, ihre Musik an dem zu orientieren, was sie selbst gerne hörten. Und das war
eine urbane Mixtur aus jazzgetönten Beats, die man nachts in Clubs oder auf den Plattentellern von Bars
hören konnte. Die Herausforderung war, diesen Sound nicht mit Festplatten und DJ-Controllern, sondern mit
Instrumenten und eigenen Kompositionen umzusetzen. Von 2013 an wurde die Idee konkret, zwei Jahre
später entstand das erstes Album in Zusammenarbeit mit Produzent David August und dem
programmatischen Titel „Organic Electro“.
Das Konzept funktionierte. Es gab ein Publikum, das Laptop-Sets satt hatte, Acoustic Techno aber mochte.
Die Presse zog nach, Cats & Breakkies wurden 2016 für den Bremer Jazzpreis 2016 in der Kategorie „Jazz
& Electronics“ nominiert. Vor allem aber wurden Veranstalter auf das Quartett und dessen fulminante Shows
aufmerksam. Man lud sie ein, in heimische Gefilde zum Festival Berlinistanbul, in die Club Kantine des
Berghains, auch europaweit bis nach Tallinn. Cats & Breakkies veröffentlichten 2018 ihr zweites Album
„Spectral“, kooperierten mit Sänger Stephan Noë und spielten über die Jahre hinweg mehr als 300 Gigs. Sie
verfeinerten die eigene Klangsprache durch die Arbeit auf der Bühne und es wurde Zeit für „New World“, der
Quintessenz aus ihrer gemeinsamen "musikalischen Reise“, die nun seit über einer Dekade andauert und
Ihren Blick auf das Vergangene, das Gegenwärtige und Zukünftige freigibt.
Inzwischen sind sie auch nicht mehr allein. Techno-Crossover floriert in vielen Variationen und Cats &
Breakkies haben sich rechtzeitig ihre Pole Position im Rennen um die Aufmerksamkeit gesichert. „New
World“ ist ihre Definition der musikalischen Gegenwart mit dem Anker in der Zukunft. Sieben Songs, in den
Arrangements noch kunstvoller gebaut als früher, ausgeweitet im kontrastreichen Miteinander von
Electronics, Geräuschen, analogen Instrumentalsounds und künstlerischer Dramaturgie. Manches hat Nähe
zum Trap, anderes zu Fusion-Soundgebäuden und zur avancierten Clubmusik mit Konzertsaalqualitäten.
Pressetext_2024_Cats&Breakkies_New World_Ralf Dombrowski.pdf
Man hört den Jazz im Stammbaum, in der Entwicklung der Songs und der ausgefeilten Dramaturgie der
Lieder. Improvisationen und klare Songstrukturen ergänzen sich, die Musiker fliegen weit, aber verlieren sich
nicht. Denn Cats & Breakkies lassen sich von den Möglichkeiten zwischen den Stilen inspirieren und
verknüpfen verschiedene Hörwelten zu ihrer „New World“. Man kann hören und tanzen, schwelgen und
entrücken. Es ist hypnotische Musik mit dem Link über die eigenen Sphären hinaus.

The latest Paris DJs release is a kinda Library Funk album, produced by Grant Phabao with the help of friends Frank Biyong (Massak), RacecaR and Sake Smith (Seun Kuti, Les Frères Smith). The album is released as a 300 copies only limited edition LP, with a download code to access three exclusive, unreleased Paris DJs Soundsystem mixes, which were part of the creative process…

Way back in 2012 we were asked to do the George Clinton website, the kind of job you're proud to be offered. We were told we should work with a specific graphic guy from France, named Ben Hito. We thought "well another designer who never produced web images" but we contacted him anyway. He sent a handful of Amazing banners, totally on-point with pure P-Funk colors. So we asked him to do a few visuals for our Paris DJs' label releases. Very soon, we handed him the keys to all Paris DJs imagery. Carte Blanche. For 12 years now he's created more than 200 visuals for Paris DJs. With him we put out 45s, LPs, CD boxsets, CDs, T-shirts, stickers, magazines, flyers and even some beach towels.

Most of the time, Ben Hito has been illustrating our music. With the artists names, the titles and the tracks themselves for inspiration.

When we did our Afro, Funk & Hip Hop boxset compilations, he only had the titles and the music genres, for him to create something. Then we would publish the artwork and ask people to send music that would fit the specific theme and its visual interpretation. The results looked so cool, many artists wanted to be on those compilations and sent music our way.

Last year's "Le Son de la Ville Lumière" releases were quite something too. We only told Ben Hito we had a trilogy of Paris DJs compilation to put out, volumes 1, 2 and 3. The sleeves he designed are nothing short of extraordinary. Some of his most beautiful work ever. The music, a blend of reggae, funk, afrobeat and hip hop, is pure gold. We felt we had reached new heights.

Always on the path of re-invention, for this new Grant Phabao LP we tried something completely new. It was Ben Hito who contacted us with a poster he had drawn. He asked us to create a "luxurious, arabic-themed" music mix to illustrate his image. We tried to gather some contemporary productions with a musical arabic twist but failed. So we tried to go into the old school stuff, but what we had amassed we found out 'everybody' knew already. So we went in a totally different direction, and opted to construct a mix of instrumental, psychedelic grooves, from current artists, released on a vinyl 45 (7 inch), which we physically had in our collection. Many constraints but we had so many tunes on that precious little vinyl format, that we ended up cooking 3 one hour-long mixes, called "Magic Kingdom - Volumes 1, 2 & 3".

Strangely, we never had so much feedback on any of the 500 mixes we published on the Paris DJs podcast those last 15 years, than we had with this new trilogy, even though nearly nobody heard it, besides a happy few at the store, or at a special summer outdoor unannounced gig. Djouls prepared the selection of 45s and Grant Phabao did the mixing and mastering. At some point the latter said "I can do an album of instrumental tunes like those". To which the former replied "It's a good idea, and we already have a Ben Hito artwork for it that we never really used". And this is how Grant Phabao went into his studio and produced a brand new LP inspired by those 3 hours of magic psychedelic contemporary grooves, which themselves were inspired by a visual from poster artist Ben Hito! Of course this is purely dialoguing between our own selves, but doing things totally from the end was an incredible experience for us.

For fans of Brownout, The Cactus Channel, Calibro 35, El Michels Affair, Kelly Finnigan, Greg Foat, Serge Gainsbourg, Karate Boogaloo, Shawn Lee, Ocote Soul Sounds, Misha Panfilov, The Poets of Rhythm, Adrian Quesada, Skinshape, The Sorcerers, The Soul Surfers, Surprise Chef, The Traffic…

Reissue of seminal HDH release from Detroit born vocalist Freda Payne Released in 1970 on the Motown break off label Holland Dozier Holland a partnership between former Motown songwriters Eddie and Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier Band of Gold was a huge commercial success for the label

Features the classic singles Unhooked Generation and Band of Gold a single that sold over 2 million copies and became a gold record

Textbook female vocal soul with a post Motown sound signature, the most commercially successful and widely recognised album that Freda Payne ever released

Repressed on 140 g Gold vinyl as part of the Demon Music Group HDH reissue series with an obi strip and a printed inner, featuring a new liner note from Soul Trilogy author Stewart Cosgrove

Newly remastered audio from Phil Kinrade at AIR studios

Reissued for the first time on limited gold vinyl

Whatitdo Archive Group's 'Palace Of A Thousand Sounds' – Pop Matters' best library record of 2023 – gets a super limited edition reissue on clear yellow marble vinyl. 300 copies only, instant collector's item.

"Dafür bestimmt, als Jazz-Klassiker in die Geschichte einzugehen" – so das Urteil des Guardian bei der Veröffentlichung des Albums im Jahr 1997. Weiter meinte die Zeitung: "Wheelers Kompositionen und vier der weltbesten Improvisatoren schaffen ein nachdenkliches Set, das es sich lohnt wieder und wieder zu hören. Dies ist wunderschöne, leuchtende Musik." Angel Song gehört zu den Höhepunkten im Katalog des Labels und vereint vier Improvisationsgrößen – jeder mit einer einzigartigen künstlerischen Identität – in einer intimen, Schlagzeug-losen Quartett-Session. Kenny Wheeler ist der Komponist der neun eindringlich lyrischen Kammer-Jazzstücke und verleiht ihnen an Flügelhorn und Trompete im expressiv-melodischen Austausch mit Altsaxophonist Lee Konitz eine besonders eindringliche Atmosphäre. Das Bassfundament von Dave Holland ist so überzeugend wie eh und je und lässt Bill Frisell alle Freiheiten für harmonieumfassende Improvisation. Wie der Guardian jubelte 1997 auch die Times und sprach von einem: "rührend schöne[n] Album: Hollands wendige Zuverlässigkeit ist der Anker für die elegante Klangfülle von Konitz, die flimmernde Raffinesse von Frisell und die klangliche Zärtlichkeit von Wheeler selbst."
Das Album erscheint zum allerersten Mal auf Vinyl als Teil der Luminessence-Reihe und wird in einem Tip-on-Gatefold mit Session-Fotos präsentiert.

To change your mood or mental state - change your Vibration A fragment from the Kyballion has deeply resonated with the band in recent years. Everything is mental, as Above so Below. Balthvs deeply believes in these tenets, and their manifestation is through music. Melodies that try to resonate deep within and generate a different type of Vibration. From the psychedelic experience arises a more balanced lifestyle, and from arduous and uncertain times arises the desire to have inner peace of mind. Music is medicine for the soul and the trio plays this music to wind down, relax, and be more present. It's music from the 21st century, a time when the world has deeply connected to one another via the digital realm, cultures are now free from geographic boundaries, they influence, mesh, and collide with one another. Turkish melodies meet Latin rhythms, from instrumental tunes to Spanish and English lyrics. The band freely takes from all corners of the world, and it reflects on the global audience they have slowly amassed in the past 4 years. Third Vibration is a celebration of life; a deep respect for the power of music.

) "Night Reign", the title of Arooj Aftab's new album, would also have been a good fit for an episode of "Game of Thrones". At first glance, it seems a little gloomy, almost ominous. But as soon as you immerse yourself in the album's atmospheric music, such associations fade away, even if a slight melancholy often seems to resonate. Arooj knows how to write songs that nestle gently in the ear canals and are true balm for car-tune-ridden ears. Her songs are unique because they are rooted in the tradition of her Pakistani musical heritage, but at the same time are modern and groove in a subtle way. This makes her, according to FLOOD Magazine recently, "the least categorizable and most uncompromising singer in pop music today".

With "Night Reign", the follow-up to her solo album "Vulture Prince" (which features the GRAMMY® Best Global Music Performance-winning track “Mohabbat”), Arooj has now created her most beguiling and stylistically diverse work. She was actively supported on the recording by creative partners as diverse as Vijay Iyer, Maeve Gilchrist, Moor Mother, Joel Ross, Cautious Clay, Kaki King, James Francies and Chocolate Genius, Inc.

The first and best out of just two collaborative albums by organist Jimmy Smith and guitarist Wes Montgomery, Jimmy & Wes: The Dynamic Duo was recorded in 1966 and features arrangements by Oliver Nelson. It is frequently listed among Jimmy Smith's best albums. The duo's follow-up record, Further Adventures of Jimmy and Wes, was taped during the same sessions and released in 1968. Al/Music critic Richard S. Ginell gave The Dynamic Duo the maximum * * * * * rating, stating that "Creed Taylor matched two of his most famous artists, Wes Montgomery and Jimmy Smith, on this session (Montgomery's last for Verve), and the results are incendiary- a near-ideal meeting of yin a.nd yang. Smith comes at your throat with his big attacks and blues runs while Montgomery responds with rounder, smoother octaves and single notes that still convey much heat. They are an amazing pair."

Released in 1967, California Dreaming was Wes Montgomery's last album for Verve (other than an exciting collaboration with Jimmy Smith). It’s an extraordinary orchestral date featuring arrangements by Don Sebesky that showcases soloists such as pianist Herbie Hancock and percussionist Ray Barretto. The songs (which include "Sunny" and the title tune "California Dreaming") are in this case mostly pop material of the era, from which the great performer extracts magic sounds. The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard jazz album chart and No. 4 on the R&B chart, and was one of the last great works by Montgomery, whose later guitar style influenced jazz fusion and smooth jazz. At the peak of his popularity, the guitarist unexpectedly died of a heart attack on June 15, 1968, at the age of 45.

Music producer, keyboardist and professional dancer based in France.
Coming from a Senegalese bloodline and growing up in Martinique (West indies), Fényan is deeply rooted in Black music. Epitome of a childhood in the West indies. A Caribbean Tale about Kreyol langage, about legacy and resilience, about turning victimhood into proactivity.
Douvan Douvan can be translated by "avant garde" in Kreyol. It is a story about People growing up and facing themselves, and their elders in order to move forward in their enlightenment.
It is your story

City Soul is a concept word to bring together Soul, AOR & Blue Eyed Soul with similar tastes to City Pop. Samuel Purdey, William Sikstrom, Bluey, and Julia Wu, an R&B singer from Taiwan...many singers beyond a border of countries, just the best music is compiled from the series of City Soul compilation CDs.

Sangre de Chango Red Colored Vinyl.A disciple of mambo innovator Perez Prado, theCuban-born Modesto Duran was a pivotal figurein Latin dance music's transitionary mid-centuryperiod. His gentle slaps can be heard across dozensof 1950s mega-sellers, from Esquivel to Belafonte,Eartha Ktit to Lena Horne. On his 1960 solodebut, Duran gathers a who's who of conga-men,including Mongo Santamaria, Willie Bobo, andJuan Cheda, delivering a cinematic and percussivemelange of afro-cuban, cha cha, and exotic jazzstyles for the discerning listener.

Yes, *that* Al Hirt record. Featuring the godlike "Harlem Hendoo", looped unforgettably by De La Soul for the legendary Buhloone Mind State cut, "Ego Trippin' (Part Two)"!

Al Hirt's infamous Soul In The Horn is inextricably tangled up in crate-digger lore. Originally released in 1967, the album has been in heavy, heavy demand for over 30 years, entirely down to the majestic soul-jazz fire of "Harlem Hendoo". And it's a song so good, so vital, so timeless, that it will always tower above everything else in its proximity. This one track alone is worth the price of admission - even if the cost of entry were $100 or even $1000.

However, it would be an error to dismiss this record as merely a one tracker, loaded as it is with dope samples for adventurous beat makers. Certainly the funkiest Al Hirt record, it definitely lives up to the "soul" in the title. Thanks to composer Paul Griffin and arranger Teacho Wiltshire, Hirt got uncharacteristically free and groovy throughout. It comes on more like an obscure KPM library funk record than the easy listening Al was notorious for.

A Louisiana trumpeter and band leader who made Allen Toussaint’s “Java” famous, Al Hirt was also known for TV themes, Dixieland, Swing and being a minority owner of the New Orleans Saints. Unlike every other Al Hirt record - and despite most "diggers" claiming otherwise - this here gem is genuinely hard to come across "in the wild". Normally, you can't give Al Hirt records away, except this particular one, which raises pulses in the crate digging community to life-threatening levels. For every owner claiming to have found their copy for a dollar, there's scores more claiming to have *never* unearthed one in the field. So, paradoxically, you can consider this the most tricky-to-pull "thrift store record", ever. This is why we're finally making it available for everyone, not just those with endless hours to spend scouring the global goodwills!

Soul In The Horn represented an expressive detour into authentic soul-jazz for Al Hirt. Throughout, we're struck by a fierce, fiery energy that's otherwise absent from his typically easy listening work. Without question, the slinky, magical "Harlem Hendoo" is the standout, here. It's also the reason why the record is so scarce and commands awe among crate diggers, sounding like something from an obscure and deeply revered spiritual jazz record. As is often the case, the true genius of the song is tricky to do justice to; it's like a minor miracle of songwriting and performance that simply swooned down from the heavens on the back of horns, bells and harpsichord. It's one of the sweetest musical compositions ever recorded inside a studio - it's only failing is that it's just too short. Sampled brilliantly by De La Soul, it has also been used by The Roots for "Stay Cool" and Nightmares On Wax for "Damn".

The rest of the record makes for a mighty fine listen. From the opening cover of Booker T. & The MG's "Honey Pot", to the propulsive, ultra-funky "Mess Around", it's nothing but a good time. Given its title, the elegant stepper "Calypsoul" sounds exactly as you'd hope whilst the melancholic, wistful "Long Gone" hurts so good. Truly, this is just dying to be looped up, Al's muted playing capturing a soulful longing only horns can often achieve. The bluesy, slo-mo swing of "Sweetlips" oscillates between cool disaffection and swelling pride whilst the graceful, low-key funky "Girl" closes out the A-Side in the fine style. Ushering in the B-Side, the brief but brilliant strut of "Love Ya' Baby" shines brightly before the skipping funky-jazz of true highlight "Sunday-Goin' To Meetin' Time" demands both your attention and your dancing shoes. The mellifluous piano-funk of bass and horn-drenched "Snap Back" serves as the sumptuous prelude to "Harlem Hendoo"'s main character energy before the irrepressible, upbeat R&B of "Ludwig" closes out this quite remarkable album. An album deserving of a place in every serious record collection.

The audio for Soul In The Horn has been carefully remastered by Be With regular Simon Francis, ensuring it sounds better than ever. Cicely Balston's expert skills have made sure nothing is lost in the cut whilst the records have been pressed to the highest possible standard at Record Industry in Holland. The original sleeve has been restored here at Be With HQ as the finishing touch to this long overdue re-issue. This is after-hours music. Let it speak for itself. Listen. Listen to the soul in Al Hirt's horn.

Five trombonists and a three-member rhythm section: that sort of unique musical synergy is what Nabou Claerhout brings to life with her own Trombone Ensemble. For years, such a project had been one of the dream projects on her bucket list, and thanks to Antwerp based cultural actor Rataplan, she already saw the creation become a reality in spring 2022. In the summer of that year, the eight-piece ensemble opened both Gent Jazz and Jazz Middelheim.

In January 2023, Nabou was artist in residence at the Brussels Jazz Festival in Flagey, where she presented the Trombone Ensemble as one of three carte blanche projects. In a sold-out Studio 4, American trombone legend Robin Eubanks joined the line-up as a special guest, having previously also contributed during the studio recordings of the young collective during. The band's self-titled debut album will be released on November 3rd 2023 via W.E.R.F. Records.

Nabou composed the entire repertoire for this Ensemble herself, and did so with a fully open vision. While writing the music, she explored the trombone's wide possibilities: "The aim is to both indulge you with warm, soft, carrying parts and then afterwards discover the trombone's spicy and cordial character." That rhythmic playfulness, which we hear more often in Nabou's compositions with her acclaimed quartet N?BOU, also seeps subtly into this band's sound. Despite the 'unusual' line-up of five diverse jazz trombonists, each with a different background, you still get to hear a very homogeneous sound, which is full of playfulness and small details. "I tried to make room and focus for each individual. And of course there is also a starring role for the rhythm section with guitar, double bass and drums."

When Nabou started looking for the dream fellow jazz musicians for this project, she ended up with artists from her own country, Belgium, but also from far beyond the country's borders: The Netherlands, the UK and Germany. "In selecting the trombonists, I looked for specific timbres, but also for personality. It is important that there is a good balance in playing together, but also that each musician is strong enough on his or her own for the solo parts." Wanting to push boundaries in her approach to both compositions and the trombone as an instrument, the real crème de la crème of the newest generation proved indispensable. "I selected a handful of European trombonists with whom I may or may not have already played, but who, above all, inspire me very deeply. They are all young people who have a lot to offer and already have significant projects to their name in their own region or country."

MonoNeon is constantly releasing his original music, song after song.. album after album.. whatever he wants. As MonoNeon says, “I just be doing shiet”. He has been sitting down at his keyboard more writing songs, coming up with those Memphis soul “outsider” harmonies in his bedroom. On the "Wonderland’s Disaster Queen EP”, MonoNeon sings about his faith, sadness, existential crisis, etc… his whimsical gospel! Checkout the bass work on “Flaming Ballet Shoes (The Blues In Her Dance)”, MonoNeon plays his dad’s (Dywane Thomas) old purple Tune Bass Maniac 4-string on that song.

The Miles Davis historical second quintet with Wayne Shorter - tenor sax, Herbie Hancock - piano Ron Carter, bass and Tony Williams - drums. A perfect coalition of young, creative individuals under Miles' direction. A turning point in the whole history of American Jazz. Recorded live in Germany in October 1964 this double album features hiper- adventurous renditions of classic tunes including Davis originals like "All Blues". "Milestones" and "Walking" and standards like Rollins' "Oleo" and Cole Porter's "All of You. A highly recommended document from one of the key groups in modern Jazz.