TONY ALLEN – A TRIBUTE TO ART BLAKELY
On Tony Allen's new EP, A Tribute to Art Blakey, the
legendary Nigerian drummer and Afrobeat pioneer best known for his work with
Fela Kuti pays tribute to his longstanding idol, the American jazz drummer and
Blue Note legend Art Blakey. The 4-track EP features a fiery 7-piece band
interpreting Jazz Messengers classics through an Afrobeat prism. The lead track
"Moanin'" is available now to stream or download ahead of the EP's
May 19 release.
BAHAMA SOUL CLUB – THE HAVANA REMIXES
Hot on the heels of their critically praised album
"Havana '58" and with fans worldwide clamoring for more, Bahama Soul
Club has now called upon a brilliant range of producers, DJs and artists to put
their own personal spin on Bahama's latest release. "The Havana Remixes"
is a bright collection of Latin, House, Jazz, Funk, Soul & Disco with a
thoroughly modern take on Dancefloor Jazz. Opener "Muévelo Papi" is
a stirring 60s Boogaloo-hip-twist by Club Des Belugas, while Smoove turns “No
Words” into a fusion of Jazz-house and Breakbeat. Opolopo pulls "Dizzy's
Bounce" deeeep into jazzy House while Maestro&Vezzola and
Zouzoulectric vs. Gardener Of Delight both having a diverse view on
"Tropicana Flight". Suonho jams a more modern Soul-Disco-Funk on
"No Words" and amps up the funk quotient on "Muévelo Papi"
with a touch of Jazz and a Latin Twist. Rounding off the release is a Nu-skool
Brazilika-brukbeat from Positive Flow and some solid Latin funky breaks from
GEMMA & THE TRAVELLERS - TOO MANY RULES & GAMES
Debut album by Gemma and the
Travellers gives a nod to early deep soul, r&b, northern soul and 60s funk
but with a refreshing twist thanks to the band’s unique talent for songwriting.
Contrary to the Motown model where the singer is rarely the songwriter, Gemma
M. writes all of her songs with the help of guitarist/producer Robert P. The titletrack to Gemma & The Travellers’ debut album
“Too Many Rules & Games” is a song about a woman who has had enough of a
world run by men looking only for their own personal glory and fame. Love is
the answer to the problems of this world! “Where I Lived Before” is another
highlight: “I am looking back at the years of my upbringing living in the south
of Italy, a juxtaposition of poverty, injustice and hardship with all the
beauty of the land and warmth of the people; it was hard to be a teenager there
as my mum would not let me go out, which amplified the rebel in me”, Gemma
explains. Recorded live at Lemoncake Studios in northern Brittany,
producer Robert P. strived for an authentic and original soul sound with a
certain crunchiness and analogue distortion, like that of an old vinyl from the
60s, but without falling under the overused ‘retro’ banner.
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