Jazz de Ville

Mark Rapson - Dark VS Light

Pianist, Hip Hop/Soul producer and remix artist for the likes of Atjazz, Deborah Jordan, Georgie Sweet, Scrimshire and more, Marc Rapson is a man of many dimensions.From rocking BBC’s Maida Vale and Later with Jools Holland as part of Ben Westbeech’s touring band, to releasing stellar re- edits of Marvin Gaye and Sarah Vaughan to the acclaim of Gilles Peterson, Marc has spent the last decade quietly building a following amongst those in the know. Dark vs Light seamlessly blends crunchy, low swung Hip Hop beats with Marc’s jazz inflected Fender Rhodes and synth sounds. Not one to be confined to a singular style, Marc also fires up the sampler for tracks such as ‘Click Loud’, combining surgical chop skills with live instrumentation. Dark vs Light is the product of a mind that grew up on Ahmad Jamal as much as A Tribe Called Quest: the jazz pianist with a passion for raw beats. It’s a duality that should resonate with Hip Hop classicists and beat fans alike. This first time on double vinyl complete edition includes all tracks from the now out of print EP along side additional bonus cuts from the original sessions featuring MC Replife as well as a dope cover of a classic Roy Ayers track. A great way to help celebrate Futuristica’s 15th year!

Wildflower - Better Times

Wildflower continue their journey with the new EP Better Times, setting ahead with a deep, relentless, unique sound, constantly evolving and growing, as a flower does effortlessly hitting the aim. 

The real beauty of Blue, Yellow, Green and Red lies in the openness to form and structure to these tunes, whilst a sense of groove and melodic development is maintained throughout. The confidence and versatility of the musicians is key, as well as the interaction between them, characterising a natural flow of unfolding musical ideas and embracing a New York musically care-free ethic, without having to wear their combined influences on their sleeves. 

Each song has a colour reference suggestive of mood tone and internal balance, enabling the audience to concur that Wildflower is not just a band, it is as ever an experience and one that allows its listeners to emerge and engage in a time where a perfect fusion of global sounds and jazz exists as a remedy, as much as a part of one of our 5 a day which as such, we should sip, feel and enjoy the benefits from, everyday. 

Braxton Cook - Somewhere In Between

Saxophonist Braxton Cook left a supporting position in Christian Scott’s band to pursue his own musical voice, and less than a year later produced his own debut album, Somewhere In Between. The full-length project weaves instrumental and vocal soul-jazz together into a cohesive and concise 44-minute statement that would suggest the mid-20s Juilliard graduate is just beginning a career that we’ll be watching for years to come. 

Cook is regarded for his alto saxophone playing, but Somewhere In Between finds him exercising his ability as a singer and songwriter as well. “I Can’t” and “You’re The One” scan as vocal ballads, while “Run Away” and the title track are a bit more in line with neo-soul. His singing is good, but the raw vocal talent isn’t enough for Cook to set down the saxophone for good. On the instrumental selections, he continues to speak with the instrument he’s best known for.

“Hymn (For Trayvon)” is an understandably intense moment for the album, and Cook chooses to express his feelings on the topic using composition and saxophone instead of trying to put it into words. This song in particular allows the rest of the band to shine, with Mathis Picard’s piano and Andrew Renfroe’s guitar cutting especially hard. It’s the record’s most urgent song until “Pariah,” featuring Samora Pinderhughes, another artist who injects a powerful political message into his music. 

Through tones of love and political intensity, Braxton Cook has crafted a wonderful debut record that showcases a variety of talents. If he can cultivate those talents as a bandleader, he’ll be a prominent voice for this generation of musicians

Bluewerks Vol. 2

As we speak, the legendary labels Astralwerks and Blue Notice Information return with the second installment of Bluewerks, their genre-blending lo-fi collection.

Like the primary version, Bluewerks, Vol. 2: In Full Bloom combines laidback, downtempo beats and meditative jazz riffs right into a set of instrumentals from visionary Lo-Fi producers like Moods, Hallucination Orbit, Shrimpnose, and extra.

The set opens with a quick introduction from Blue Notice president Don Was earlier than giving technique to the gathering of tracks. Moods’ orchestral groove “The Good Issues” is an ideal antidote to these gloomy April days. All through, these tracks provide an analogous vitality, radiating with heat and the bliss of rising from a chilly winter. Songs like Hallucination Orbit’s “Waves” and Shrimpnose’s “Balloon” take the tenets of Lo-Fi music and draw them out in distinctive methods.

This new quantity follows on the heels of Bluewerks Vol. 1: Up Down Left Proper. Within the time since that EP’s February launch, it’s change into a runaway success within the style, spending two weeks within the No.1 spot on the NACC Digital Radio chart, garnering over three million streams throughout platforms, 855,000 month-to-month listeners on Spotify, and outstanding placements on tastemaking Spotify playlists like Lo-Fi Beats and Jazz Vibes.

fifth Aspect Magazine known as the discharge “a collaboration created in Lo-Fi goals.” Astralwerks and Blue Notice additionally simply wrapped up a celebration of the unique Bluewerks with a pop-up store in Hong Kong, which ran April 1 – 11. The partnership with FabCafe supplied an immersive expertise to followers of the music and occasional lovers alike, presenting a Bluewerks-inspired menu and themed decor.

Ruud Bos - De Fabriek OST

Limited edition of only 200 / handnumbered / 32 page booklet (in dutch)

 Never releases before instrumental soundtrack of illusterious Dutch 1981 TV series “De Fabriek” (The Factory)

Mastered and remixed from  the original multitracks / includes a 32 page booklet with unique pictures and interviews (in Dutch)

Dego - The Negative Positive

Many adverse perceptions are envisioned when faced with a negative 
meaning popular opinion often thinks the worse. 
The Negative Positive see's the benefit of defeat,obstacles and a straight NO. 
The Negative Positive grows stronger under detrimental circumstances. 
The Negative Positive knows to truely live you must have felt pain. 
Dego demonstrates all the above through techno,boogie,soul & jazz.

The Meters | The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band – Sing A Simple Song | Giggin’ Down 103rd

Matasuna brings together two important pioneers of funk on its latest release: The Meters from New Orleans and The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band from Los Angeles. The song Giggin’ Down 103rd by The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band was first released as a single in 1968 (as misspress) and is now available again for the first time. The song Sing A Simple Song by The Meters even premieres as a 45! Both tracks have been remastered to offer the best possible sound.

The A-side opens with Sing A Simple Song by The Meters, a cover version of a song by Sly & Family Stone written by Sly Stone. In direct comparison, The Meters cover sounds much more energetic and powerful. The ingredients are simple but effective: heavy drum breaks, funky guitar riffs, deep bassline and a lively organ. A killer instrumental joint that exudes roughness & funkyness from the first second to the last!

On the flipside The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band follows up in similar fashion with the song Giggin’ Down 103rd. Instead of an organ like The Meters, the band offers a super thight horn section backed by killer drums, guitars & bass. A special spicy recipe that thematically fits perfectly for this Funk45!

Alfa Mist - Bring Backs

Alfa Mist is one of the driving forces behind a young and vibrant scene of UK musicians, who've taken on jazz as their musical narrative. On his new album Bring Backs the producer, self-taught pianist and rapper takes us on a sonic trip back to his beat-making past on the streets of East London, through the depth and musicality he discovered composing and playing jazz.

2017 saw the release of Alfa's breakthrough record, Antiphon and the 2019's album Structuralism were both self-released on his Sekito label. His latest endeavour, 2021's Bring Backs, sees Alfa taking on new challenges. The record marks his first release for the label Anti and is also the most detailed exploration of his upbringing in musical form. 

Timo Lassy & Teppo Mäkynen - Live Recordings 2019​-​2020

The dynamic duo of tenor saxophonist Timo Lassy and drummer Teppo Mäkynen return with a double LP of live recordings captured in 2019 and 2020. The We Jazz Records release "Live Recordings 2019-2020" follows the duo's 2019 LP which was shortlisted for "Jazz Album Of the Year" at Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Awards. While the studio album versions were studies in improvisational brevity, the live album lets the long-time collaborators really let loose and build memorable sonic narratives around the compositions. The album is produced and edited by Teppo Mäkynen, also known as a sought-after producer with the knack for looking at the big picture. 

From the subtle minimalism of "Fallow" via the ambient of "Aero" to the riff-heavy groove of "Calling James", Timo Lassy & Teppo Mäkynen breathe their music as one unit, building it based on a mutual trust as fellow musicians. Their duo shows have quickly become celebrated examples of what a long history of playing together can enable on stage when paired with the right mindset and a shared musical goal. This live album follows the ethos of both documenting what's happening and expanding on what was captured in the studio earlier.

Sun Palace - Rude Movements Remixes

Following a limited 7” vinyl release of SunPalace edits in 2020, BBE Music finally delivers the full-length versions of Moodymann and Kenny Dope’s ‘Rude Movements’ remixes, alongside brand new interpretations by François K, Frankie Feliciano and OPOLOPO, plus a special edit by Phil Asher. François Kevorkian needs no introduction to fans of House and electronic music. Featuring keys by Eric Kupper, his ‘SATS Dub’ and ‘TradMix’ versions of ‘Rude Movements’ are simply classic works, summoning House music’s golden era forward in time, to the here and now. Bonus spaced-out ‘Flerken Space Bubbles’ and beat-less ‘Atmosphere’ revisions are also included in the digital version: both invaluable tools for DJs. Ricanstruction label founder and long-time champion of the good groove, Frankie Feliciano delivers a slick and faithful update of ‘Rude Movements’, with a slight Latin soul twist. Swedish mix-king OPOLOPO turns in a typically live-sounding, funky and dancefloor-ready jam (ready whenever the dancefloor is, anyway) The full, extended version of Moodymann’s remix retains the original ‘jammed’ feel of Rude Movements, adding stellar flute, sax and piano solos to that hypnotic vibe. Kenny Dope’s Afro-Latin inspired ‘Dancefloor Powder’ version is joined this time by a rough’n’ready, street tough ‘O'Gutta’ mix; calling all b-boys and b-girls! For the expanded digital package, we are also including a special edit by our sorely missed brother Phil Asher, created for his own DJ sets and now available to all. Made famous by David Mancuso at his New York Loft Parties, ‘Rude Movements’ was an obscure Brit-funk b-side recorded in the home studio of Mike Collins. The track’s unique sound, coupled with pristine sonics and production values caught the audiophile ears of Mancuso, and the rest is history. Soon the track found its way into the hands of Loft Party denizens Larry Levan, Nicky Siano, Frankie Knuckles and Danny Krivit and continues to influence House and electronic producers through to this day.