Jazz de Ville

Tete Mbambisa - Did You Tell Your Mother

Here is one record by one of the most unknown heroes of the South African jazz scene. Tete Mbambisa has been considered as a major reference by musicians like Johnny Dyani or Dudu Pukwana. But Mbambisa have recorded only a few records, less than ten for a man who is more than 80 years old. Here we have some very beautiful cape jazz, relaxed music with positive vibrations. Some of the musicians on this session can also be found on some records by Dollar Brand recorded and published by the same label like "Cape Town Fringe" or "Mannenberg Is Where It’s Happening".

Professor Wouassa - Yobale Ma!

After their brilliant label debut with "Grow Yes Yes" in 2017, ProfessorWouassa now returns with their brand new third album on Matasuna Records.

The Swiss band's career spans more than 15 years, where they have played at many major festivals in Switzerland and abroad. The 11 members of the band have perfected their musical qualities over the years and captivate as a well-rehearsed live band with their energetic and rousing shows. So it isn't surprising that they supported concerts of Afrobeat legends like Ebo Taylor or Sean Kuti.

Their still exuberant creativity can also be heard on their new work entitled Yobale Ma!, which in Wolof's language can be translated as "take me" or "get me". With their new album they take the listener to their musical island to explore the borders of Afrobeat and beyond.

The album will be available on October 27th.

The KutiMangoes - Afrotropism

According to the KutiMangoes:

The past 5 years we have taken our music all over the world: Europe, Asia, Africa besides our homeland Denmark, and even though we cannot speak with many of the people we meet, our music is a universal language that transcends borders. The meetings we have had (and continue to have) all over inspire us to create new music. But of course we are the composers of the music, so this is our representation of those meetings.

Our 3rd album is called AFROTROPISM. Tropism is a biological phenomenon that indicates growth of a plant in response to the environment; so when you see a plant turning for the sunlight, this is tropism. In other words, this is not so much about the plant's roots but more about how it reacts when it touches the air, feels sunlight or rain - in other words the outside world. So AFROTROPISM refers to the fact that we are drawn towards the African traditions, but we are "growing" our own music.

On our first two albums we have recorded extensively with African musicians, and AFROTROPISM is centered around The KutiMangoes (TKM) as a band. We are developing our artistic direction by going more in depth with how we can mix our inspirations with our own musical heritage. Our musical mission is (and has always been) to mix cultures and create our own sound.

With our background in jazz music, TKM counts virtuoso instrumentalists with a heartfelt intent and sound innovators with our horns, effect pedals, synthesizers, drums and percussion from all over the world. AFROTROPISM is a further and deeper development of our trademark bold sound that experiments with synthesizers, soundscapes and a bit of electronic effects without losing it's focus on groove, melody, atmosphere and musicianship."

Ibrahim Maalouf - S3NS

11th album by Ibrahim Maalouf has been released September 27th.

Just buy it. It's beautiful!

Sokratis Votskos Quartet - Sketching the Unknown

Linking the ancient and the modern across time and space, the Sokratis Votskos Quartet presents Sketching the Unknown – a modern jazz journey into the folk and modal music of ancient Greece. Playing rich original compositions, the Quartet draw freely on Greek and Balkan folk sources, jazz idioms, and the classical makams of the near East. Returning to ancient Greek modes such as Dorian, Phrygian and Lydian, a fresh perspective is brought to the modal style that was popularised by Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Herbie Hancock.

Album will be released on November 1.

Jukka Eskola Soul Trio - Steamy

With "Steamy!" Jukka Eskola Soul Trio reaches its second album on Timmion and delivers another sure-shot for the soul jazz thirsty masses. As with his first self titled debut, this troupe of premium Finnish jazzers turns all the relevant corner stones of soulful and progressive jazz, never running too far up the deep end, but always harnessed with expressive sensitivity and professional cool. It's like the 1960's and 1970's global jazz movement got condensed into a radiant ball of hipness, heady and completely unpretentious. 

In addition to the two single releases "Tiny B" and "Stick Of A Branch" Soul Trio dip their groove jazz chops into numbers such as "Five On Three", the shuffling "Jongo Street" and the fatback funky "Steamy". There's also a strong strain of Brazil on several tracks from bossa nova to richly percussive rhythms. On the over 7 minute long "Smash" they mellow out into a beautiful mood that sounds like John Patton swinging with a bunch of European cats. There's even a few studio tricks that we'll leave for the listener to discover.   

Calling the Soul Trio a group of virtuosic players is an understatement as all of them have been working at it on a professional level since the 1990's. Trumpetist Eskola and drummer Teppo Mäkynen were both a part of the Helsinki nu jazz movement of the time, which later evolved into the now iconic Five Corners Quintet, while organist Mikko Helevä has hammered his Hammond in underground Finnish jazz funk groups for as long as his two band mates. Together they cook up a stew, which is like a bowl of perfect bouillabaisse, rich with flavour and with nice bits to chew on. 

Out on October 11

Kamaal Williams - The Return

The groundbreaking album by Kamaal Williams is now available in a limited edition of 500 copies on transparant vinyl.

The Return is a rich tapestry of visionary jazz woven together with the sounds and signals of South London Streets. Known for his critically acclaimed project as Yussef Kamaal on Brownswood and his more dancefloor focused tracks as Henry Wu, Kamaal Williams debut album opened the door wide for everyone to follow in his footsteps and step through to experience one of the most exciting musical movements 2018 had witnessed.

Already regarded as a true figurehead within the new wave of jazz and the refreshed hip-hop beat scene that he has helped build from the start, Kamaal Williams has been an in-demand artist who has tirelessly and consistently perfected his craft as both Henry Wu and half of the Brownswood group Yussef Kamaal. Adding to the list of long sold out 12"s as Wu, it was with longtime supporter Gilles Peterson on the label side that Kamaal alongside Yussef Dayes created the now a modern-classic album Black Focus. A record that arguably captured the very best moments of improvised rhythmic jazz and cut it to wax, and in doing so gifted us with one of the decade's most widely adored albums. Now, some two years later Kamaal Williams has returned in solo mode with an album that not only builds on the very best elements of Black Focus but also surpasses it with some astonishing arrangements. The Return is an album that is both daringly progressive and funky yet ticks all the right boxes for those looking to dip into some cosmic, exploratory and effortlessly enjoyable visionary sounds.

Much like late-era 4 Hero and the current US connections of Kamasi Washington and Thundercat, Kamaal Williams is using the tones and textures of jazz as a jumping off point to explore a new era of street-level soul that is as equally influenced by the coolest corners of hip-hop. Looking out of the studio window toward the hustle and bustle of the London streets of which Kamaal and crew live and breathe, and backed with a wealth of knowledge and a record collection jam-packed with jazz, hip-hop, funk and fusion as well as some of the best house and techno. Kamaal Williams The Return is both a true step forward for the sound that Yussef Kamaal were progenitors of, yet also opens the door wide for us and everyone else following in his footsteps to step through and experience one of the most exciting musical movements London has had in years.

Su Ra Arkestra - Live in Kalisz 1986

Lanquidity Records is super excited and proud to announce that after a few years of intense search and meticulous preparation, the label is now ready to present to you their Sun Ra Arkestra project - a rare recording of the ensemble's little-known, first ever performance in Poland in 1986!!!

Recently rediscovered, the complete tape of the concert was forgotten for almost three decades in a Kalisz basement collecting dust.

The recordings have been remastered by the infinitely talented Marcin Cichy (Ninja Tune), giving the chance to re-live each musical moment of this historical gig.

Sean Kuti - Night Dreamer - Direct to Disc Session

Brand new London based record label Night Dreamer have recaptured the organic essence of direct to disc through a series of recordings at Artone Studio in Haarlem, Netherlands.  The label will launch officially on 4th November with the release of a vinyl EP by Afrobeat legend Seun Kuti who dropped into the studio with Fela's original backing band, Egypt 80 back in May, taking a break from a world tour. Further sessions by the likes of Seu Jorge, Sarathy Korwar and BaBa ZuLa have been recorded and are scheduled for release in 2020.

Yelfris Valdés - For The Ones

After the success of his first EP ‘The World of Eshu Dina’ last year, trumpeter Yelfris Valdés finally debuts his highly anticipated new project ‘For the Ones...' Released on Vinyl and Digital on October 4th via newly formed Música Macondo Records.

For this record Yelfris employs an adventurous and experimental shift in his composition, drawing on his classical training and love of jazz whilst at the same time delving further into the world of electronica, gaining inspiration from artists like Jon Hassell, Bonobo and Aphex Twin resulting something truly unique.

Yelfris has deliberately connected with his Yoruba religion and its shamanic chants, subtly infusing those deeply personal elements with electronica and live instrumentation creating a beautiful pulsating soundscape. In purposefully mutating the acoustic sound of his trumpet he adds depth without losing his power and tenderness.

Festival Jazz International Nijmegen

Jazz International Rotterdam

Saskia Laroo 40 years in business

Trompettiste Saskia Laroo viert deze avond vier mijlpalen in Het Concertgebouw: ze staat 40 jaar op het podium, viert 25 jaar Saskia Laroo Band en Laroo Records, én ze presenteert haar nieuwe album Trumpets around the World.

Ibrahim Maalouf at Paradiso

Master trumpet player Ibrahim Maalouf comes to Amsterdam on November 10 to play at Paradiso!

Blue Note at Sea 2020

Blue Note at Sea will return in 2020 with a fantastic program including Robert Glasper, Gregory Porter, Kamasi Washington, Melody Bardot, David Sanborn and much more.

Moonchild - Little Ghost European Tour

Following the release of their highly anticipated album ‘Little Ghost’, Moonchild head out to Europe in 2020, having previously played sold out shows across the continent. With a unique style of alternative R&B, soul and new-school jazz that has cemented their spot in today’s music scene, the extraordinary tour will feature new music from the band.

Tour dates:

30 JAN   Nalen Klubb, Stockholm, Sweden

01 FEB   Clamores, Madrid, Spain

02 FEB   La Nau, Barcelona, Spain

03 FEB   Le Rocher De Palmer, Bordeaux, France

05 FEB   Kaufleuten Festsaal, Zurich, Switzerland

07 FEB   Boogaloo, Zagreb, Croatia

08 FEB   Porgy & Bess, Vienna, Austria

10 FEB   Private Club, Berlin, Germany

12 FEB   Doornroosje (Small Hall), Nijmegen, Holland

13 FEB   Paradiso Noord, Amsterdam, Holland

14 FEB   Bird, Rotterdam, Holland

15 FEB   La Maroquinerie, Paris, France

17 FEB   Patterns, Brighton, UK

18 FEB   Band On The Wall, Manchester, UK

19 FEB   Scala, London, UK

21 FEB   Biko Club, Milan, Italy

22 FEB   Alcazar, Rome, Italy

Capetown International Jazz Festival

Cape Town International Jazz festival celebrates it's 20th! edition on March 29 and 30

Montreux Jazz

No text needed ;-)

North Sea Jazz festival 2020

The annual biggest jazz festival in Holland. Do we need to say more?