Jazz | Fusion 168 Items

) "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 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.

Back to the roots of one of the most influential south-american songwriter and composer. A pioneer of the musical genre of bossa nova in the late 1950s, Joao was often called "father of bossa ", while in his native Brazil he was referred to as "O Mito" ("The Legend"). This compilation investigates his early career, showing the many sides of his sophisticated art.

Often taken as inspiration by the likes of Miles Davis and Gil Evans, Ahmad Jamal is definitely one of the greatest artists in jazz history. Recorded in 1955 and originally released on the short-lived Parrot label, "Chamber Music of the New Jazz" is a stunning example of the creative, elegant, and precious music played by Ahmad Jamal's early trio. The fruit of the magical interplay between Jamal’s sophisticated pianism, Ray Crawford’s highly rhythmic guitar playing, and Israel Cosby’s fine double bass. Three musicians whose individual roles are fully expressed through the collective approach to a new form of "chamber" Jazz. Highly Recommended!!!

Recorded Live in Sweden in September 1961 the Uppsala Concert is an important document from Dolphy's first Swedish tour as leader of an obscure but talented local quartet featuring Rony Johansson - piano; Kurt Lindgren - bass and Rune Carlsson - drums. Master Dolphy shines, as always, on all his instruments alto sax, bass clarinet, and flute, while the track list consists of a rare mix of standards suchs as Milt Jackson's "Bags Groove", Monk's "52nd Street Theme", Cole Porter's "What Is This Thing Called Love?" and the famous unaccompanied alto sax version of "Laura", all this plus a 20 minutes long version of Dolphy's blues "245" where every single note played by Dolphy sounds as pure gold.

All of soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy's early recordings are quite fascinating, for during 1957-1964, aspects of his style at times hinted at Dixieland, swing, Monk, and Cecil Taylor, sometimes at the same time. Here, Lacy teams up with pianist Mal Waldron, bassist Buell Neidlinger, and drummer Elvin Jones for seven Thelonious Monk compositions. The typical standbys (such as "Round Midnight," "Straight No Chaser," and "Blue Monk") are avoided in favor of more complex works such as "Four in One," "Bye-Ya," and "Skippy"; the sweet ballad "Ask Me Now" is a highpoint.

Hank Mobley with Donald Byrd and Lee Morgan, also known as Hank Mobley Sextet, is an album by American jazz saxophonist Hank Mobley recorded on November 25, 1956 and released on Blue Note the following year. The sextet features trumpeters Donald Byrd and Lee Morgan, backed by rhythm section Horace Silver, Paul Chambers, and Charli Persip.

SPOOK is Nicolas Rombouts (Dez Mona) on double bass, Simon Segers (Black Flower, Absynthe Minded) on drums and Filip Wauters (Het Zesde Metaal) on pedal steel and electric guitar.The defining sounds of the pedal steel and the very own use of effects pedals in this as well as the sound of the double bass make SPOOK a unique band that not only subsumes jazz, but also Krautrock, minimal, noise and free improv.

(180gr vinyl) Dizzy Mandjeku & Odemba OK Allstars, the esteemed Congolese musical ensemble, joyfully announces the forthcoming release of their latest masterpiece, "Odemba Nostalgie - Rumba Congolaise," on vinyl format."Dizzy Mandjeku & Odemba OK Allstars bring pure Franco OK Jazz rumba to the stage - brassy, funky, soukous heaven, with the enduring sound of the 60’s and 70’s getting everyone dancing and whooping." - Songlines (Anita Scott)

To mark its 50th anniversary, Farfalla Records is proud to announce the reissue of the highly sought after German library gem "Wonderland of Sound". Originally released in 1974, the album was produced by Brillant-Musik's founder Werner Tautz and recorded in Zurich. Wonderland of Sound is the epitome of the classic 70s library sound. A jazzy bliss orchestrated by the hottest European session players making up the Big Band "Rainbow-Orchestra". A Splendidly funky and stunning set of compositions and arrangements with ultra-stylish horn section.

Alpha RAY by The Norio Maeda Trio was originally released in the Swinging Sixties and this hot latin number was rediscovered by the Tokyo Hipsters at the height of the Acid Jazz Boom and became part of Shibuya Jazz Dance Folklore.
Hakuchu NO Shugeki - Theme by Terumasa Hino Quintet is from a Japansploitation thriler made in 1970 with plenty of guns, gals, guys, sharpsuited action and gallons of studio blood! Mostly freeform blowing by the Legend that is Terumasa Hino for the soundtrack, one of the exceptions being this Blue Note Styled Soul Jazz number that sounds as if it came off the Van Gelder production line circa '66 to '71. Easily could be mistaken for Blue Mitchell, Donald Byrd or Freddie Hubbard's outputs post soul, pre-electric happenings. Another Jazz Room thing of beauty!
Now on 45 RPM release by Jazz Room Records, a 2 cut slab of wax that will have Jazzfloorista's waiting at the gate!

David Versace is an Australian multi-genre keyboardist, composer and producer based in Meanjin, Queensland. Growing up in a very musical household it was always important to express and embrace all types of music and sonics. His sound ranges from Jazz and Samba to ambient works and the odd dance-floor heater. David also plays in Meanjin nu-jazz dance outfit First Beige.

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."

Vinícius Mendes - Macunaísmo Tardio Vol.1 and 2 In 2014, Vini¦ücius released his first instrumental work at the Savassi Jazz Festival, and one year later he recorded the album NAU - a heady mix of free jazz and traditional Brasilian music, and something of a prelude to Macunai¦üsmo Tardio, the album he recorded Volume One of in 2021 with Volume Two following in 2022 and one that is finally available in full via Sonar Kollektiv"s sub-label Notes On A Journey. Macunai¦üsmo Tardio is a perfect release for the label, masterminded by Jazzanova"s Jurgen von Knoblauch, which concerns itself with shedding light on criminally overlooked masterpieces.

Amen is the 3rd release by bassoonist / composer / producer Joy Guidry. Representing a major step up in her ability to fully realize and embody a sound and concept, Amen moves from rousing, rafter-splitting spiritual jazz and gospel compositions to ambient compositions that create a powerful statement of communal healing and peace. The album features contributions by Niecy Blues, Kalia Vandever, Tyrone Allen and Jessie Cox.

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.

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!

Only Yesterday" was performed only in the 1977 musical "Young, Gifted and Broke" written by Weldon Irvine, and had it been included on the album at the time, it could have been as well received as "I Love You". If it had been included in the album at that time, it could have been as well received as "I Love You". Prior to the already confirmed re-release of the "Young, Gifted and Broke" album, P-vine is releasing this wonderful song for the first time in 7" format!

This is a 5 track EP of brand new, previously unreleased material from The Near Jazz Experience (Terry Edwards, Mark Bedford and Simon Charterton).

Whilst recording the new album Terry asked pianist Mike Garson (best known for his work with David Bowie, Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins) – whom Terry has toured with if he’d like to play on a track. Mike said yes, recorded a stupendous solo for Character Actor at his home studio and sent it over. All in the space of 24 hours! On hearing the piano part NJE bassist Mark Bedford came up with the idea of having the piano mixed with the original track (as intended) but also using it as the basis for a completely new recording with the piano leading rather than complementing the band.

Side 1 of the EP has these two very different versions from the same seed. Unidentical twins indeed. Side 2 of the EP contains 4 outliers from the album sessions. These aren’t out-takes or unfinished pieces. They simply couldn’t find a place for themselves within the album – along the lines of the tunes Tom Waits put together for his Orphans compilation of 2006. They are standalone tunes which have found a home together on this EP because in some way they all have filmic qualities.

Side 1 contains 2 takes on Character Actor (the title being a nod to Cracked Actor, a tune on Aladdin Sane, the album that introduced Bowie fans to Mike Garson), and Side 2 has The Loping Four; Projector; MacGuffin and Lockstep, all titles which contain strong cinematic elements, MacGuffin in particular.

It was Alfred Hitchcock’s favourite word for a red herring in the plot. The musical cast on this release has a remarkable pedigree. The NJE consists of Terry Edwards (solo artist and session player with PJ Harvey, Franz Ferdinand, Siouxsie, Jimi Tenor, Piroshka, Tindersticks etc); Mark Bedford (Madness, Robert Wyatt, Robyn Hitchcock, Nightingales etc); Simon Charterton (The Higsons, Alex Harvey, Zook, Serious Drinking etc). Alongside featured guest Mike Garson there is an appearance by Oliver Cherer (Aircooled, Miki Berenyi Band) on keys and synth.

This is an RSD exclusive on black vinyl in full colour sleeve which reflects the filmic quality of the recorded material. No download. The title track will appear on the next Near Jazz Experience studio album. The 4 additional tracks, however, will remain exclusive to Record Store Day.

• 180 GRAM AUDIOPHILE VINYL
• INCLUDES INSERT
• REACHED #2 ON THE SWEDEN TOP LIST
• AVAILABLE ON VINYL FOR THE FIRST TIME
• LIMITED EDITION OF 1000 INDIVIDUALLY NUMBERED
COPIES ON TRANSLUCENT PURPLE COLOURED VINYL

"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.

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.

Hold your body and mind belts, and immerse yourself into a cornerstone of cosmic music in a double remastered vinyl - one them filled with rarities - called "Crystal Machine" by the visionary Tim Blake, English composer and synthesizer master. Recorded in 1976/7, it remains echoing as a timeless effort, pretty much still alive. This is a deadly serious art piece, accordingly trippy in all its aspects, full of strangeness and sheer beauty.

Recorded in Paris in December 1978, Broken Wing is beautiful proof that Baker’s playing remained undiminished in the face of ongoing personal challenges. There is wonderful musical chemistry between Baker and his ensemble members throughout this excellent and rare LP, namely pianist Phil Markowitz, bassist Jean-François Jenny-Clark and drummer Jeff Brillinger, yielding exceptional versions of Richie Beirach’s title track and Wayne Shorter’s ‘Black Eyes,’ as well as Baker’s ‘Blue Gilles’; he’s on top form on the trumpet and tackles the vocal of ‘Oh You Crazy Moon’ with gracefulness. Another great offering from Chet!

Chet Baker’s vocal work was as distinctive as his trumpet playing, though on debut vocal set Chet Baker Sings the radicalism comes coached in a delicate and clear-toned wrapping that is innocent and vulnerable. His first vocal recordings, made in February 1954, are featured on the second half of this enticing LP, the first six songs cut in July 1956; outstanding moments include ‘There Will Never Be Another You’ and a rendition of ‘My Funny Valentine’ that Baker makes all his own, the simple drum, bass, and piano combo leaving room for Chet’s voice and trumpet to alternate the spotlight. Another West Coast cool jazz classic.

His first for Riverside, In New York saw Chet Baker bring the West Coast cool jazz style to new Manhattan surroundings. With the rhythm section of Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones keeping things up-tempo and propulsive, pianist Al Haig alternating between fill-in chords and intriguing melodies and saxophonist Johnny Giffin trading lead flourishes with Baker himself, the LP is another winner right through. The swinging bop is full of zest and verve on ‘Hotel 49’ and a one-off rendition of Miles’ ‘Solar,’ while some contrasting introspective breaks are provided by ‘Blue Thoughts’ and ‘Polka Dots And Moonbeams.’ Great stuff!

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.

Lift off lid box with crushed emerald felt lining, Includes Embossed Gatefold edition Double Tri-Colour Splatter Vinyl.

Includes Signed Insert, Limited edition Black Classical Music branded ProMark Drum Sticks, and branded Afro Comb.

Apollon Records proudly presents Bebé K’awiil, the latest album by Gaute Storsve Band, scheduled for release on February 23rd. This album is a musical journey inspired by ancient Maya gods, masterfully blending Nordic jazz with Latin rhythms. The thematic inspiration for this album stems from Gaute Storsve's profound engagement with Mayan culture and archaeology, spanning over 25 years. His deep appreciation and understanding of this rich heritage have significantly shaped the band's innovative musical direction, culminating in this vibrant new release. Featuring Cuban percussionist Angel Terry Domech from the Buena Vista Social Club, Bebé K’awiil is enriched with authentic Latin rhythms, adding a vibrant dimension to the album. "Oración a Ixchel" showcases the stunning vocals of Patricia Morales, with lyrics penned by Guatemalan writer Christina Violeta Thrane Storsve. The cultural richness of the album is further enhanced by the exquisite ceramic artwork of Mayan artist Francisco Javier Iquic Garcia Gaute Storsve Band, which evolved from the Gaute Storsve Trio, has long been a significant presence in the Nordic jazz scene. The Trio's first album, Attention: This Is Not a Toy, For Adult Collectors Only, laid the groundwork for the band's distinctive fusion of Nordic jazz and Latin American music. Their previous album El Gran Gotzilla (Apollon Records, 2022) has enjoyed regular airplay on the domestic radio channel NRK Jazz.

Black Truffle is pleased to announce the first vinyl reissue of Trancedance, a wild slice of Swedish Afro-fusion from Christer Bothén, originally released in 1984. A major figure in Swedish jazz and improvised music since the 1970s, often heard on bass clarinet and tenor sax, Bothen studied doso n’koni (the large six-stringed ‘hunter’s harp’ of the Wasulu) in Mali in 1971-2 before turning to the guinbri (the three-stringed lute of the Gnawa/Gnauoua) in Marakesh later in the decade. In between, he performed extensively with Don Cherry during his Organic Music Society period and taught Cherry the doso n’koni. In the later 70s and 80s he worked with the most important figures in the distinctive Swedish jazz-rock-world fusion scene, joining Archimedes Badkar for their African-influenced Tre and participating in Bengt Berger’s legendary Bitter Funeral Beer Band. Many of the musicians who played on the Bitter Funeral Beer Band’s ECM LP (including Berger on drums, Anita Livstrand on voice and percussion and Tord Bengstsson on piano, violin and guitar) joined Bothén for one of the sessions that produced Trancedance, the first release under his own name, dedicated to his compositions. The other session introduced his seven-piece group Bolon Bata, heard on the second track of each side. The title track opens the album with the rubbery buzzing strings of the doso n’goni playing a hypnotic ten beat pattern, soon joined by bass and piano before the entire nine-piece group kicks in with a rollicking Afro-jazz workout, Berger’s drums driving an intricate, winding melodic line played by the horns with Mattias Helden’s cello throwing in pizzicato slides and smears. Bothén then takes centre stage on tenor sax, soloing with a wide, vibrating tone and moving seamlessly from soaring melodies to guttural stutters. After a return to the composed horn lines and a solo from Elsie Petrén on alto sax, the piece builds to an ecstatic conclusion of yelping voices and handclaps, gradually simmering down to return to the solo doso n’koni where it began.

The hypnotic sounds of the hunter’s harp carries over to ‘Mimouna’, where it is joined by Bothen’s overdubbed guinbri. The piece develops into a haunting whispered and sung invocation, gradually building momentum until the organic textures of strings, voices, and hand percussion are ruptured by Lennart Söderlund’s distorted guitar, which brings an unmistakable touch of 1984 to the otherwise timeless sound. Joined by chicken scratch guitar and increasingly dominated by the insistent clang of three of Bolon Bata’s members on karqab (a kind of cast-iron castanet), the grove develops frenetically.

The B side opens with the multi-part epic ‘9+10 Moving Pictures for the Ear’, at over 16 minutes the record’s longest piece. Though Bothen is heard only on horns on this piece, the hypnotic repeating bass line carries on the first side’s link to African musical traditions. Using an expanded 16-piece ensemble, the music balances untethered improvisation with carefully arranged passages of knotty ensemble playing that at points suggest Mingus, Moacir Santos or some of the ambitious post-free work being done in the same years by figures like David Murray or Henry Threadgill. The piece ends with a triumphant passage of looping unison melody reminiscent of the Scandinavian folk explorations of Arbete och Fritid (whose Kjell Westling is heard on bass clarinet and soprano sax here). The sound of Bjorn Lundqvist’s fretless bass introduces the odd left turn made by the record’s final track, a spaced-out expedition into bluesy horn lines and distant guitar atmospherics set to a semi-reggae beat, perfumed by the core Bolon Bata group and bearing the appropriate title of ‘The Horizon Stroller’. A must for fans of the Swedish scene around groups like Arbete och Fritid and Archimedes Badkar, as well as any listener who has been seduced by Louis Moholo’s Spirits Rejoice!, The Brotherhood of Breath, or, more recently, the guinbri grooves of Natural Information Society, Trancedance is a lost classic ripe for rediscovery.

N° 2 is the second studio album by Serge Gainsbourg, originally released in 1959. It features Gainsbourg backed by the Alain Goraguer Orchestra. Definitely a mutant jazz-pop album with a strong chansonnier feel and a touch of French literature. The album cover is a reference to French author and musician Boris Vian.