Jazz de Ville

Spiritual Jazz 13 - Now!

The first 12 volumes of the hugely popular Spiritual Jazz series have unearthed a wealth of historic recordings in the genre, collating a variety of works from the ‘50s to the ‘80s by artists from all around the world.

And so, with Volume 13, the Jazzman label turns attention to what’s happening NOW.

Over the course of 24 tracks and spanning 2 x 2LPs, Jazzman presents an overview of the contemporary exponents of Spiritual Jazz; musicians who are intent on bringing something personal to the table, as much as they recognize the importance of those who have paved the way for them. We feature music recorded within the past 20 years and from 15 different countries, including modern classics from veterans Steve Reid and Idris Ackamoor, providing a vital link between the past masters and the enlightened new generation.

It’s pioneers such as John Coltrane, Sun Ra, Pharoah Sanders et al, with their innovations in reaching another plane of consciousness that was and remains uppermost in the minds of exponents of Spiritual Jazz. Fittingly, several of the artists featured on this compilation, such as Cat Toren and David Boykin, are practitioners of the art of music therapy and sound healing, and have absolute conviction in the role of song as solace. The pioneers may no longer be with us, but their saintly selves loom large, shining a light in the darkness, inspiring many a brave new disciple today, as this album will testify: the new wave of jazz is gathering pace and still sounds fresh, vibrant and as relevant as ever.

Alessandro Alessandrini - La Professoressa di Scienze Naturali

Sonor Music Editions proudly presents the whole, previously unreleased soundtrack of the Italian erotic comedy cult "La Professoressa Di Scienze Naturali " movie from 1976, directed by Michele Massimo Tarantini. Starring the Italian sexy symbol Lilli Carati and filmed in the beautiful Ischia island, this incredible score by maestro Alessandro Alessandroni is part of the prolific sexy-comedy movement of Italian cinema between 1970s and 80s. Funky, groovy, erotic and flirtatious inspired sounds with the matchless '70s Italian taste sorrounded by unbelievable breaks and downtempo beats: this majestic soundtrack collects all the best Alessandroni's special flair in a unique release, showcasing his use of four/four grooves and wah-wah guitars juxtaposed against strings and orchestral arrangements, killer drums and so on. Limited edition for collectors with artwork designed by John Henriksson (Piano Piano Records) and remastered sound.

Lucia Cadotsch - What's New?

Berlin-based Swiss vocalist Lucia Cadotsch returns with her celebrated Speak Low trio for their second album, released by We Jazz Records on 27 Nov.

'Speak Low II' features Cadotsch on voice, Otis Sandsjö on tenor saxophone and Petter Eldh on double bass, and introduces guest artists Kit Downes on hammond organ and Lucy Railton on cello.

'Speak Low II' picks up where their genre-bending and forward-looking debut album left off, introducing new shades into the band's sound and also diving even deeper into the songs they tackle. What makes Speak Low special is their approach to really get to the heart of each composition with seemingly minimal means, yet generating a sound which is both instantly recognisable and remarkably impactful.

The Rebel & Dedy Dread feat. Keile Abeid - uero Ver Você Dançar

DJ's Choice is happy to announce the first in a new series of 12” releases under DJ’S CHOICE, Four Flies Records’ division devoted to fresh and cool new music in genres ranging from tropical funk and nu-soul to hip hop.
Created during the global lockdown, this new release is a joyful invitation to move our bodies and dance – something that, alas, has become almost impossible in this pandemic-ridden year. Quero Ver Você Dançar is a collaboration between Rome-based DJ/producer The Rebel, Portuguese DJ/producer Dedy Dread, and Brazilian jazz singer Keila Abeid. Other musicians playing on the track – including Neney Santos (percussions), Marco Ravallese (keys), and Fab Samperi (flute) – masterly contribute to its soulful favela vibes.
Housed in a single jacket with beautiful artwork by Roman illustrator Federica Fruhwirth, the 12- inch single also features a super groovy remix by Mo’Horizons which, with its powerful combination of bossa and drum’n’bass rhythms, makes this release a must for tropical-music aficionados.
Also available on all major digital outlets, with two additional remixes by young Brazilian producers Afterclapp and Brasila Strut.

Kirk Lightsey/Rudolph Johnson with the All Stars - Habiba

Never released outside South Africa, and out of print even there since its original release in 1974, Outernational Sounds presents one of the most sought-after international jazz exclusives ever to appear on South Africa’s famous Gallo imprint – the funky, spiritual and outward bound Habiba.

As the archives of South Africa’s premier record labels steadily give up the treasures that were hidden in the darkness of the apartheid era, the incredible heritage of South African jazz is gradually finding the international audience it always deserved. And while most of the laurels are naturally for South Africa’s own overlooked musicians, the South African discography contains a few sparkling, nearly unknown jazz sessions by visiting players. Habiba is the greatest of them – a raw, impassioned set led by bop pianist Kirk Lightsey, who had been a regular sideman for Chet Baker and Sonny Stitt, and saxophonist Rudolph Johnson, a key player at the storied West Coast indie Black Jazz. Visits to the apartheid state by respected Black musicians were hardly a common occurance during apartheid’s darkest years – so how did a crew of crack American jazz players end up in the Gallo studios?

The story starts with the now almost forgotten crooner, Lovelace Watkins. Sometimes billed as ‘the Black Sinatra’, the Detroit-born Watkins sang standards, show tunes and ballroom classics on the Las Vegas circuit. Though he never made it big in the US, in his 1970s heyday he was a huge star in the UK and in southern Africa, where he toured regularly. In 1974 he hired a jazz big band to accompany him on a tour of South Africa – and among their number were Lightsey and Johnson, as well as Mastersounds bassist Monk Montgomery, West Coast trombonist and Doug Carn sideman Al Hall Jnr., and Marshall Royal, musical director of the Count Basie band. The tour was a huge success, and during downtime from performing, members of Watkin’s group managed to independently record no fewer than three albums. Two of these LPs appeared on the IRC label, billed as the Mallory-Hall Band – the third, which appeared on the more prestigious Gallo, was Lightsey and Johnson’s stunning Habiba.

Three tracks deep, the album is a heavy duty excursion into post-Coltrane spiritual modernism, ranging from the modal, cerebral intensity of the side-long title track ‘Habiba’, to the downhome breakbeat groove of ‘There It Is’, and the dark glitter of minor key waltz ‘Fresh Air’. Long one of the most desired global jazz LPs, and never before available outside South Africa, Habiba is a forgotten masterpiece of its era. With this fully licensed reissue, Outernational Sounds is proud to restore it to its rightful place in the canon of spiritualised modernist jazz.

Mark de Clive- Lowe - Dreamweavers

Musical maverick Mark de Clive-Lowe returns to his roots with a new electro-acoustic record ‘Dreamweavers’, displaying his talent as a pianist and composer in partnership with creative collaborators bass player Andrea Lombardini and drummer Tommaso Cappellato. The two Italians have been a consistent presence on Mark de Clive-Lowe’s European tours for several years now, and it was during a road trip from Italy to Switzerland that Lombardini and Cappellato envisioned producing an MdCL album themselves.

‘Dreamweavers’ reflects on and celebrates the sounds that de Clive-Lowe grew up loving and finding inspiration in – from Sakamoto’s meditative melancholy and Ahmad Jamal’s soulful playfulness, to the rhythms of broken beat, boom bap and global rhythms. With the Italian rhythm section in empathetic support from start to finish both in their playing and producing, de Clive-Lowe embraces new found freedoms on ‘Dreamweavers’.

Aquiles Navarro & Tcheser Holmes - Remix by Madam Data

Jesse Koolhaas & Myrthe van de Weetering - Archipelago

Archipelago is a tale depicting a poetic journey into a sombre universe. Eerie and intriguing, the music captures our attention for its duration and leaves us wanting more. Mixing classical with modern electronic production, the musicians take us on a cinematographic adventure where your imagination will flow freely. Close your eyes and let the music do its thing.

Jesse Koolhaas was joined by the brilliant violinist and composer Myrthe van de Weetering to create this beautiful album. They are accompanied by Héctor Hervás Veredas playing the Cello on all tracks and Bjørn Waling on drums for Mental Travelogue.

The Take Vibe EP

2020. Full On Lockdown: Musician Laurence Mason puts together this off the wall idea meshing together two of his biggest musical heroes, Dave Greenfield of the tough 1970's proto-punk band The Stranglers with the oh so cool 1960's jazz of Dave Brubeck.  He puts up his demo on Youtube not really expecting much in the way of feedback. And gets ONE MILLION hits. And hundreds of requests for a release. Jazz Room Records Head Honcho Paul Murphy says “Do you wanna record that and release it?”."Affirmative!" The result is this grooving Soulful and Funky Jazz version of “Golden Brown”. We're rush releasing this as when announced we were swamped with requests asking when it will be available.
On the “B” side is a languid and super cool version of “Walking On The Moon”, originally by 80's Supergroup The Police.
This is just a taster for what we're confident will be a must have album to be readied for 2021 release.

The Brig Band - Alive & Plugged

Aptly named after a Venice CA bar, the Brig Band was formed in 2002 by a group of local pro musicians when bar owner Dave Reiss decided to turn Tuesday nights into an all-star jazz/funk/hip-hop/rock jam. What was originally a quiet night turned into a legendary underground L.A. hang with people lining up down the block to get in, attracting some of the best players in the world. The band improvised most of the night, sometimes playing off of DJ Peyote Cody’s wide range of musical styles. All eight original tunes on Alive & Plugged began as spontaneous jams & were later expanded into full songs. Regular members have played professionally with everyone from Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock and Kamasi Washington to Beck, Mike Posner and Al Di Meola. Special guests have included members of the Doors (Robby Krieger), Fishbone, Tool and Steely Dan. Current members include Kenneth Burgomaster (keys), Paul Murphy (guitar), Joel Taylor (drums), Mark Harris (bass), Jacob Allan (sax), Matt Von Roderick (trumpet), with David Ralicke (sax), Sal Marquez (trumpet) and DJ Peyote Cody

Maestro at the Concertgebouw Lounge