VA [2022] - Blue Note Re:imagined II [Blue Note] (Full Album)

Blue Note Re:imagined returns in 2022 with a new 18-track compilation featuring fresh takes on music from the illustrious Blue Note vaults recorded by a heavyweight line-up of the UK jazz, soul and R&B scene's most hotly-tipped rising stars.

Following the success of the first volume in 2020, which topped jazz charts around the world, "Blue Note Re:imagined II" once again infuses the spirit of the new UK jazz generation into the legendary label's catalogue, balancing tradition with its future and reflecting the diversity  of talent within the current scene.

Posted a few weeks ago (12 Sep) as a 'heads-up' which included a playlist of the eight new tracks already pre-released along with their original counterparts. The digital edition has two additional tracks (17& 18) which weren't on the promo received which is the CD 16 track version. 

The first track to be released was from South London vocalist Ego Ella May's on 8 Jun reimagining Chico Hamilton's "The Morning Side Of Love", which first appeared on Hamilton's 1975 Blue Note album Peregrinations". 

It was followed on 5 Aug by 9-piece afro-jazz outfit Nubiyan Twist's fresh spin on Donald Byrd's "Through The Noise (Chant 2)".

Several other tracks have been released over recent weeks prior to the full album release today (30 Sep 2022). The differential between digital and CD is marginal (£10.29 v £11.92)  so why wouldn't you just buy the CD?

Tracks include funk-pop duo Franc Moody's version of Donald Byrd's "Cristo Redentor", fast-emerging vocalist Cherise's take on Norah Jones "Sunrise", Maya Delilah covering Neil Young's "Harvest Moon" (which was recorded by Cassandra Wilson on her 1995 Blue Note album "New Moon Daughter"), Birmingham-born pianist "Reuben James' reimagining of Wayne Shorter's ballad "Infant Eyes", London tuba player and Sons of Kemet member Theon Cross with a version of the Thelonious Monk/Kenny Clarke composition "Epistrophy".

The highlights, for me, from the tracks still to be released would include Conor Albert "You Make Me Feel So Good",  Cherise "Sunrise" and Daniel Cashmir "Lost".

It came as a bit of a surprise for me to learn that Don Was (Donald Fagenson), a member of 80s mutant disco band Was (Not Was), became president of Blue Note in 2012. This what he says about the compilation:

"For more than eight decades the artists of Blue Note Records have continually pushed the envelope of contemporary music, and Blue Note Re:imagined II once again honors that legacy by letting the UK's most creative young artists reinvent the treasures of the Blue Note catalog through their own lens."

Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.

Track Listing

NOTE: A bespoke playlist already exists on Spotify of all eight tracks already released along with the original versions.

01 - Yazz Ahmed - I 

       (From Chick Corea Is (1969))

02 - Conor Albert - You Make Me Feel So Good 

       (From Bobbi Humphrey Fancy Dancer (1975))

03 - Parthenope - Don’t Know Why 

       (From Norah Jones Come Away With Me (2002))

04 - Swindle - Miss Kane

       (From Donald Byrd Street Lady (1973))

05 - Nubiyan Twist - Through The Noise (Chant No.2)

       (From Donald Byrd A New Perspective (1963))

06 - Ego Ella May - The Morning Side Of Love

       (From Chico Hamilton Pereginations (1975))

07 - Oscar Jerome & Oscar #Worldpeace - (Why You So) Green With 

       Envy (From Grant Green Green Street (1961))

08 - Daniel Casimir ft. Ria Moran - Lost

       (From Wayne Shorter The Soothsayer (1965))

09 - Theon Cross - Epistrophy

       (From Thelonious Monk Genius Of Modern Music, Vol.1 (1948))

10 - Maya Delilah -  Harvest Moon

       (From Cassandra Wilson New Moon Daughter (1995))

11 - Kay Young - Feel Like Making Love

       (From Marlena Shaw Who is this Bitch, Anyway? (1974))

12 - Venna & Marco Bernardis - Where Are We Going

       (From Donald Byrd Black Byrd (1972))

13 - Reuben James - Infant Eyes

       (From Wayne Shorter Speak No Evil (1964))

14 - Binker Golding - Fort Worth

       (From Joe Lovano From The Soul (1991))

15 - Cherise - Sunrise

       (From Norah Jones - Feels Like Home (2004))

16 - Franc Moody - Cristo Redentor

       (From Donald Byrd A New Perspective (1963))

17 - YellowStraps - This Ain't Loving Without You

18 - BIGYUKI - The Creators

       (From Bobby Hutcherson - Now! (1970))

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Nu Jazz / Cover Versions / Reimaginings
Format:	Album / Compilation
Media:	Digital / CD / Vinyl
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	30/09/2022
Price:	£10.29 / £11.92 / £34.99

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

VA [2022] - Blue Note Re:imagined II [Blue Note]

Blue Note Re:imagined returns in 2022 with a new 16-track compilation featuring fresh takes on music from the illustrious Blue Note vaults recorded by a heavyweight line-up of the UK jazz, soul and R&B scene's most hotly-tipped rising stars. 

Following the success of the first volume in 2020, which topped jazz charts around the world, "Blue Note Re:imagined II" once again infuses the spirit of the new UK jazz generation into the legendary label's catalogue, balancing tradition with its future and reflecting the diversity  of talent within the current scene.

The first track to be released was from South London vocalist Ego Ella May's on 8 Jun reimagining Chico Hamilton's "The Morning Side Of Love", which first appeared on Hamilton's 1975 Blue Note album Peregrinations". 

It was followed on 5 Aug by 9-piece afro-jazz outfit Nubiyan Twist's fresh spin on Donald Byrd's "Through The Noise (Chant 2)".

Several other tracks (eight now in total - see playlist below) have been released over recent weeks prior to the full album release which is due on 30 Sep 2022. The differential between digital and CD is marginal (£10.29 v £11.92)  so why wouldn't you just buy the CD?

Tracks include funk-pop duo Franc Moody's version of Donald Byrd's "Cristo Redentor", fast-emerging vocalist Cherise's take on Norah Jones "Sunrise", Maya Delilah covering Neil Young's "Harvest Moon" (which was recorded by Cassandra Wilson on her 1995 Blue Note album "New Moon Daughter"), Birmingham-born pianist "Reuben James' reimagining of Wayne Shorter's ballad "Infant Eyes", London tuba player and Sons of Kemet member Theon Cross with a version of the Thelonious Monk/Kenny Clarke composition "Epistrophy".

The highlights, for me, from the tracks still to be released would include Conor Albert "You Make Me Feel So Good",  Cherise "Sunrise" and Daniel Cashmir "Lost".

It came as a bit of a surprise for me to learn that Don Was (Donald Fagenson), a member of 80s mutant disco band Was (Not Was), became president of Blue Note in 2012. This what he says about the compilation:

"For more than eight decades the artists of Blue Note Records have continually pushed the envelope of contemporary music, and Blue Note Re:imagined II once again honors that legacy by letting the UK's most creative young artists reinvent the treasures of the Blue Note catalog through their own lens."

Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.

Track Listing

NOTE: A bespoke playlist already exists on Spotify of all eight tracks already released along with the original versions.

01 - Yazz Ahmed - I 

       (From Chick Corea Is (1969))

02 - Conor Albert - You Make Me Feel So Good 

       (From Bobbi Humphrey Fancy Dancer (1975))

03 - Parthenope - Don’t Know Why 

       (From Norah Jones Come Away With Me (2002))

04 - Swindle - Miss Kane

       (From Donald Byrd Street Lady (1973))

05 - Nubiyan Twist - Through The Noise (Chant No.2)

       (From Donald Byrd A New Perspective (1963))

06 - Ego Ella May - The Morning Side Of Love

       (From Chico Hamilton Pereginations (1975))

07 - Oscar Jerome & Oscar #Worldpeace - (Why You So) Green With 

       Envy (From Grant Green Green Street (1961))

08 - Daniel Casimir ft. Ria Moran - Lost

       (From Wayne Shorter The Soothsayer (1965))

09 - Theon Cross - Epistrophy

       (From Thelonious Monk Genius Of Modern Music, Vol.1 (1948))

10 - Maya Delilah -  Harvest Moon

       (From Cassandra Wilson New Moon Daughter (1995))

11 - Kay Young - Feel Like Making Love

       (From Marlena Shaw Who is this Bitch, Anyway? (1974))

12 - Venna & Marco Bernardis - Where Are We Going

       (From Donald Byrd Black Byrd (1972))

13 - Reuben James - Infant Eyes

       (From Wayne Shorter Speak No Evil (1964))

14 - Binker Golding - Fort Worth

       (From Joe Lovano From The Soul (1991))

15 - Cherise - Sunrise

       (From Norah Jones Feels Like Home (2004))

16 - Franc Moody - Cristo Redentor

       (From Donald Byrd A New Perspective (1963))

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Nu Jazz / Cover Versions / Reimaginings
Format:	Album / Compilation
Media:	Digital / CD / Vinyl
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	30/09/2022
Price:	£10.29 / £11.92 / £34.99

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Nubiyan Twist [2022] - Through The Noise (Chant #2) [Decca]

You may recall a single by Ego Ella May a couple of months back with her version of Chico Hamilton's "Morning Side Of Love". Well that was one of the first tracks pre-released from a forthcoming compilation "Blue Note Re:Imagined II" which is due for release on 30 Sep 2022.

Last Friday another track, "Through The Noise (Chant #2)" was set loose from Nubiyan Twist which is their take on Donald Byrd's "Chant" (written by Duke Pearson) originally from "A New Perspective" in 1963 but he re-recorded it as the title track for a 1979 Blue Note album.

Nubiyan Twist is an Afro-Jazz collective from Leeds and London led by Tom Excell. They have added lyrics and given the original be bop classic some broken beats and afro rhythms.

Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist. 

Details

Rating:	7.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Nu Jazz
Format:	Single / Album Track
Media:	Digital
Label:	Decca
Cat No:	None
Date:	05/08/2022
Key/BPM:	5A/61
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Jazzanova [2022] - Face At My Window [BBE]

Ahead of the release of their new album "The Sound Of Detroit - Reimagined By Jazzanova" due on 22 Apr 2022,  Jazzanova have delivered a  cover of Sean Haefelis's "Face At My Window" yesterday (22 Feb) to give a flavour of what to expect from the full project. 

DJ Amir and 180 Proof Records have teamed up with BBE Music to present the new album by the Berlin based group who have been invited to rework, reinterpret and reimagine some of the standout moments from Kenny Cox's Detroit label Strata’s heralded catalogue. 

Jazzanova stared out in 1995 as a collective of five DJs (Alex Barck, Claas Brieler, Axel Reinemer, Jürgen von Knoblauch and Stefan Leisering) and founded the Sonar Kollectiv label in 1997.

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.

Details

Rating:	7.9
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Nu Jazz
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	180 Proof x BBE Music
Cat No:	None
Date:	22/02/2022
Key/BPM:	7A/75
Value:	£1

Kyoto Jazz Massive [2022] - Message From A New Dawn [Extra Freedom] (Full Album)

Kyoto Jazz Massive are brothers Shuya and Yoshihiro Okin from Kyoto, Japan who began in the 90s and released their debut album "Spirit Of The Sun" in 2002 on German label Compost.

Their sophomore (studio) album "Message From A New Dawn" was released on 22 Dec 2021. Props go to Gary Van den Bussche for sending  this my way yesterday but I haven't got around to posting it until this morning reminded by him playing it as the opening track on his lunchtime Starpoint radio show today. The track GVB is plugging is "The Message" which I believe may have Vanessa Freeman on vocals. Roy Ayers features on "Get Up".

They describe the album as "The ultimate crossover electric jazz fusion work that has evolved into a complete band sound by incorporating all elements such as techno, jazz, house, boogie, broken beats, soul, fusion, and afrobeat".

Assisting them on the album are Vanessa Freeman, Kenichi Ikeda (ROOT SOUL), Takumi Kaneko (cro-magnon), Takeuchi Kazutake (A Hundred Birds), Takashi Nakazato, Yasushi Fukumori, Tabu Zombie (SOIL & "PIMP" SESSIONS), Wien. Phil Symphony Orchestra Kirill Kobantschenko, legendary jazz vibraphonist Roy Ayers.

As of 13 Jan the album is also available on vinyl.

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Nu Jazz
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Extra Freedom
Cat No:	None
Date:	22/12/2021
Value:	£7.99

David Mrakpor Feat. James Coleman & Blue Lab Beats [2021] - My Life [Jazz Re:freshed]

David Mrakpor (aka producer Mr DM) is one half of London 'jazzatronic' duo Blue Lab Beats with beatmaker Namali Kwaten (aka NK-OK). He released his debut solo single "My Life" on 3 Dec 2021 which features James Coleman.

It's a bit of an epic, almost eight minute, nu jazz tune.

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Nu Jazz
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Jazz Re:freshed
Cat No:	None
Date:	03/12/2021
Key/BPM:	2B/98
Value:	£1