Miami has finally gone to an end with its bunch of surprises and revelations to keep us quite busy in the weeks to come, having us lookin’ further to the calendar with the forthcoming edition of the Southport Weekender due to happen at the beginning of May then the Detroit gathering formerly known as the DEMF at the end of the same month. As for what awaits us this week, we’ve got a chat with Japanese producer Jazztronik talking about his new offering on Pantone Recordings. The Single Of The Week being the work of Raheem Devaughn on a slow vein with a production courtesy of Kenny ‘Dope’ Gonzalez. Meanwhile, as the period of the month suggests, we have our attention focussed on the latest LP’s around, incl. Our Album Of The Month, courtesy of UK soul diva Verna Francis on Chillifunk. Groove is in the hearts (at least ours)…

ISSUE#89

33RPM

Hey folks, Wishing all of those of you who’ve attended the Miami festivities last week have had a safe travel back home. Although we, as usual in such circumstances feel a bit of so so while recovering, time never ceased reminding us to our respective obligations. Our current one being to provide you with this new selection of albums around.

The Brit Soul looks like never ending, as shown by Verna Francis Down To Earth 1st offering (our Album Of The Month) having us back to those glorious days with people such as Incognito, Omar, Mica Paris, the Young Disciples and Carleen Anderson to name but a few. If into soul, funk and jazzy grooves, you’re then gonna definitely dig this (Chillifunk).

Tons of comps this month by the like of some of the heaviest monsters around. Beginning with the much sought after Dance Ritual by the ever active Louie Vega. An awesome package featuring some of the hottest tunes around (and Miami faves), from Stephanie Mills ‘Free’ to Bah Samba ‘Portuguese Love’, Sara Devine, Stephanie Cooke ‘Love Will’, Franck Roger ‘Olinga’ and MAW Records 100th release by the likes of MAW featuring Vikter Duplaix. Meanwhile the already awaited DR vol.2 is to be the work of Joe Claussell (R2). Former partner of the latest @ Body & Soul, Danny Krivit is the leader of the game on the 13th installment of the In The House series for Defected. A way to have a better view of what to be expected if in the will to attend Danny’s monthly party (the 718 Sessions) when in NYC. What we have here is no surprisingly a smart selection of timeless grooves from the Brand New Heavies classic ‘Stay This Way’ reedited by our man and a bunch of tunes we’ve heavily told you about during those last weeks from the ultra dulce Stephanie Cooke (‘Love Will’) to 280 West featuring Diamond Temple ’Fly’ on its original form, Studio Apartment featuring Monique Bingham, Koloke, Yukihiro Fukutomi featuring Lady Alma, Soul Creation and Ambrosia on the CD1. Meanwhile the CD 2 goes more open with contributions  from Da Lata, Adamski featuring Seal’s classic ‘Killer’, Instant House, Blaze’s ’How Deep Is Your Love’, Janet Rushmore, Bah Samba’s ’Portuguese Love’, Jon Cutler and the evergreen ‘Tell Me All About It’ by Natalie Cole which you may remember of after last year’s Alan Smithee bootleg version and Treena Rose’s official cover on Jellybean.

France’s vet ambassador of the genre DJ Deep replies to those fine deliveries with City To City conceived as a US East Coast intercity travel going… back 2 da raw with New York, Chicago and Detroit classic gems appearing more like a cut & paste than a mix, covering some 23 tracks, by the likes of Burrell Cajmere, Charles McDougald, Byron Burke, Ron Hardy, Ruffneck, Kerri Chandler, Ron Trent & Braxton Holmes, Rhythm Is Rhythm, Lil Louis, Mr Fingers and Underground Resistance amongst others. Thus showing us how true soul never dies (BBE).

King Britt gives birth to a new series on UK label Slip’N’Slide by the likes of Jazzmental. Expect here nothing but that particular sense of aesthetics which has heavily contributed to our Philly experimentalist’s reputation. Dis is deep versatility at its peak, starting with an awesome revamp of Italian OST Don Ennio Morricone’s ‘Come Maddalena’ by Cosmos. And amongst those on display are Vikter Duplaix ‘Morena’, contributions from Bugz In The Attic, Mark De Clive-Lowe, Fertile Ground, Intuit and Champion Soul featuring rapper Jneiro Jarel. Not to mention that glorious new work from Britt himself alongside Scuba and Lizz Fields called ‘Our Time’ to be released as a single on the same label. An offering which no doubt should reach the hearts of the jazz headz.

On the same stable, Phil Asher comes with the (already)… 14th installment of his Jazz In The House series full of international goodies, featuring the funky Graceland’s ’Call Me’ as an opener, Jon Cutler’s’Runnin’’, Vivian Greene, Sterling Ensemble, Markus Enochson, Studio Apartment featuring Monique Bingham, Diviniti, Marlon D’s ’Affection’ of Blaze’s Fanatix remix of ‘Found Love’ amongst others. Unmissable, I swear !

You missed Miami this year ? Defected gives you a chance to be partly connected with the biggest house gathering on earth with their aptly named Most Rated Miami comp. Quite a compact selection of current gems indeed from Bah Samba to Franck Roger’s rework of Blaze’s ‘Most Precious Love’ at its finest, Faze Action, Orejan providing us with a killer Afro Brazilian groove, Rasmus Faber doing classy funk with ‘Get Over Here’, Reel People fusionning jazz and funk alla Earth, Wind & Fire on ‘The Rain’, the laidback ‘Sweat’ by Anthony Acid taking us back to the 80’s phonk, Sarah Devine’s ’Special’ and Copyright’s ’Time’ retouched by Jon Cutler. And if that wasn’t enuff, a CD2 completes the whole with 15 additional tracks on a slightly more directive vibe incl. Copyright’s reliftings of Blaze’s ‘Most Precious Love’ and Annette Taylor‘s ‘Faith’, DJ Technic’s ‘Gabryelle, Marlon D’s ’Affection’, Claude Monnet & Monica Nogueira’s ’Bahia Groove’ and DJD featuring Anthony Joseph amongst others.

Japanese nu jazz maestro Jazztronik made quite a stir last year in Miami with the killing ‘Samurai’ giving its name to his new album on UK label Pantone Music. Expect us welcoming him very soon for a chat here on IDMW.Com and, audiowise, a selection of subtle aural delights to chill (‘Muddy Muddy’, ‘The Piano’), ease your minds, and get your feet firmly on da floor on Afro-Latin jazz rhythms which should find their niche at places such as London’s Notting Hill Arts Club’, NYC’s Bembe or Sullivan Room when welcoming the Alma nighter.

Currently making waves with ‘Antigua’ alongside Tony Allen, the formerly known as Tom & Joyce who’ve now gone for Tom*Joy offer us another collection of sweet bossa influenced goodies with their album of the name, making this the ideal soundtrack to celebrate the arrival of Spring (Yellow Productions).

If in search of abstract weird atmospheres, you may then have a listen to Kelvin Raah’s new LP called Oxymoron on Temp-Records. A collection geared towards slow electronic ambient jazz with a bit of everything around. My preference going to his downtempo explorations such as ‘Gin Fizz’, the vibrant ‘Flussabwärts’ quite reminding of Ryuchi Sakamoto’s main theme of Furyo, the lazy ‘Serpentine’ and the ending ‘Haleine’.

Leaving you in the company of François K.’s protegees Beat Pharmacy on some cool  contemplative tip as well with their Earthly Delights LP. A sublime collection to fully satisfy those into lazy atmospheres inbetween ambient, dub, afro and cool jazzy vibes (Deep Space). Welcome into a new season. MFSB

33RPM TENNERZ

STEPHANIE MILLS Free – from Dance Ritual (R2)

BEAT PHARMACY Don’t Bodda Me (Deep Space)

KING BRITT featuring SCUBA & LIZZ FIELDS Our Time – from Jazzmental (Slip’N’Slide)

BLAZE Most Precious Love (Franck Roger Remix) - from Most Rated Miami (Defected)

STEPAHANIE COOKE Love Will – from Danny Krivit In The House (Defected)

BURRELL Fallin’ In Love – from DJ Deep presents City To City (BBE)

JAZZTRONIK Phoenix (Pantone Recordings)

GRACELAND featuring LAUREN DAVID Call Me – from Jazz In The House 14 (Slip’N’Slide) 

TOM*JOY Antigua (Yellow Productions)

KELVIN RAAH Flussabwärts (Temp Records)