Emcee, vocalist, and producer Ben Iota released his new EP entitled 'Hazy' on 1st of July 2022. It is the most technically-advanced release from Ben; written while juggling the competing priorities of nurturing a family, career and individual identity,and recognising the magic of it all. The title track 'Hazy' (featuring singer Taiaha of TIL The Break) speaks on a colourful youth lived, and how this formative experience and identity carries on into the 9 to 5 world. The B-side 'You Shape My Life' is a homage to Ben's family, and the unparalleled bonds that have been created through sharing a life together. The backdrop of producer Caper's Lofi soul/jazz production ties it all together. Ben Iota has made a journey since his days as a founding member of Adelaide underground Hip Hop groups Adroit Effusive and Common Cause. The solo emcee, vocalist and producer is now a four album veteran (Born 'Free' 2013, Jazz 2017, Letting Go EP 2019, Hazy EP 2022), orbiting around Lofi Soul/Jazz synth-sprinkled Hip Hop. The music; borne out of Ben's love for warm beats, human imperfection and creating meaning; is shaped by an arduous childhood, a colourful youth, a period of inner and outer exploration, and ultimately a time of planting roots and creating a family. Beats for the lounge, words from the gut.
London's Kokoroko are a group with roots in many traditions and global modes – but they've also got a cohesive jazz-based sensibility that really makes the whole thing come together – and makes their music feel fresh and new, instead of a contemporary take on older modes! There's definitely strands of West African styles that run through the record, with vocals on a number of cuts – but those are offset by these prominent instrumental passages too – always given lots of different inflections, depending on the tracks – as the group have a lot to draw from in an octet lineup that mixes together trumpet, keyboards, alto, trombone, guitar, and plenty of percussion. Titles include "Age Of Ascent", "Something's Going On", "Blue Robe", "Home", "War Dance", "Those Good Times", "Soul Searching", and "Ewa Inu". ~ Dusty Groove
The music of Carlos Nino has just gotten more and more spiritual as the years go on – and that's really saying a lot, given how spiritual he was right at the start! But with recent records, Nino has transformed from a jazz-inspired musician to maybe more of a sonic astronaut – able to take organic moments of expression and weave them into a rich tapestry of tone, color, and life – almost as if he's reworking the plane of existence, and trying to find the door to greater enlightenment in the process! That approach definitely comes through here, as Nino opens up in the company of contributors who include Jamael Dean on piano and keyboards, Devin Daniels on alto, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson on strings, Jesse Peterson on guitar, Sam Gendel on alto, and Jamire Wiliams on drums – as well all players whose work appears in different ways on a variety of tracks – all helmed by the sonic exploration of Carlos, with a bit of help from veteran travelers Iasos and Laraaji. Titles include "Explorations 7", "Actually", "For The Shapalaceer", "Luis' Special Shells", "Jamirelandflight", "Waterwavesarrival", "In The Moment", "Youwillgetthroughthis I Promise", "Dreamsishappening", and "Recurrent Reiki Dreams". ~ Dusty Groove
The Yusef here is Yusef Lateef – and reedman Bennie Maupin teams with Adam Rudolph in a set of richly organic numbers that we're guessing Lateef would have really appreciated! There's less "symphonic" and more "tone poem" on the record than the title might imply – as the setting is very intimate, with just a variety of reeds from Maupin, used in sonic territory created by Rudolph – a mix of percussion, electronics, and plenty of effects – but all used gently, and without any sort of bombast – so that the music progresses with a careful unfolding that lets all the best elements find a way to resonate together! The album features one long track, divided into five movements – and Maupin is at his most experimental here, while Rudolph really seems to respectfully address the legendary legacy of his collaborator. ~ Dusty Groove
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