Thursday, December 17, 2015

NEW RELEASES: SEAN KHAN – MURIEL; FAR OUT MONSTER DISCO ORCHESTRA – STEP INTO MY LIFE (JOHN MORALES M&M MIXES); INDIA.ARIE & JOE SAMPLE - CHRISTMAS WITH FRIENDS

SEAN KHAN – MURIEL

An insanely wonderful set from Sean Khan – maybe the greatest music he's done since his early classics with the SK Radicals! This album really takes us back to a time when music from London was completely fresh and exciting, and cosmically soulful, too – and Sean's got help from some great singers on the record who also date from that era – including the mighty Omar, plus Sabrina Malheiros, and vocalist Heidi Vogel of Cinematic Orchestra! All three of these artists really flesh out the sound of the record – and make it every bit as much of a soul record as a set that's awash in all the great reed touches and jazzy bits we'd expect from Sean. Andy Noble's also on the record, playing some wonderfully warm piano lines – and the overall instrumentation has more acoustic elements than before, which makes for a very righteous vibe throughout! Titles include "Dance For Little Emily", "Muriel", "Samba Para Florence", "Sister Soul", "What Has Jazz Become", "Trane's Shadow", "Don't Let The Sun Go Down", and "Fire Within" – plus bonus remix tracks "Don't Let The Sun Go Down (4Hero rmx)", "Samba Para Florence (Henry Wu rmx)", and "Things To Say (Ben Hauke rmx)". ~ Dusty Groove

FAR OUT MONSTER DISCO ORCHESTRA – STEP INTO MY LIFE (JOHN MORALES M&M MIXES)


Having already seen DJ support from Gilles Peterson, Osunalde, Michael Ruetten, Toshio Matsuura, Jazzcat and many more, the next 12" from the world's only all-star Brazilian disco super-group, has been tweaked to the max by NYC legend and pioneer of the remix John Morales. The Far Out Monster Disco Orchestra's blissful modern disco cut 'Step Into My Life' - arranged by Brazilian maestros Arthur Verocai and Jose Roberto Bertrami - has been given the M&M treatment and pressed to a juicy fat 12" vinyl, poised to rip the roof off your local discotheque. 


INDIA.ARIE & JOE SAMPLE - CHRISTMAS WITH FRIENDS

A really special Holiday album from India Arie – one that not only has the singer's vocals set up amidst some warm jazzy backings from keyboardist Joe Sample – but which also opens up to include guest performances by a host of contemporaries – including Brandy, Tori Kelly, Kem, Dave Koz, Trombone Shorty, Kirk Whalum, and others! The album's got a relatively intimate vibe – nicely laidback arrangements from Sample, who's getting nicely less smooth in his later years, and turns out to be a great accompanist for a singer – as on his work with Lalah Hathaway or Randy Crawford. The added talents step in nicely, in a relatively uncluttered way – almost like guests stopping by for a Christmas celebration – and titles include "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", "Favorite Time Of Year", "Let It Snow", "Mary Did You Know", "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm", and "Merry Christmas Baby".  ~ Dusty Groove


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