Jazzanova
When it comes to Jazzanova, there is always a lot to account for. This club collective of six belongs among a small, worldwide group of innovators, when it comes to Dancefloor, NuJazz, Broken Beat, to modern Folk und Soul. Around the globe, DJs and vinyl freaks adore Jazzanova. Their remixes for Masters At Work, Fat Freddys Drop, 4Hero or Ursula Rucker are gems. But the six guys from Berlin have also enjoyed the feat of treating the most different of source material with respect and to simultaneously give it an unmistakable Jazzanova sound signature for such diverse artists as Lenny Kravitz, Common, Azymuth or Calexico. Their music is truly authentic and works just as well at the Montreux Jazz festival as in the illegal basement club of your girlfriend’s cousin.
Jazzanova’s long awaited second and brandnew studioalbum “Of All The Things” was released in 24th of October and surpasses everything that was to be expected, even the high standards they previously set themselves. Their effort and input is enormous, but in all of it you hear the fun, with which this distinctive music must have been made. It is a true pleasure to go along with it, when those full harmonies meet silky strings and voices on luscious beats and basses. They have succeeded in composing songs that are as intoxicating as their well versed arrangements and many-layered levels are exciting
Dorian Concept
It´s megalomania meets modesty, creating down toned megalomania. It’s the irritation which causes clarity that evokes further irritation. Here comes the deepness of confuse funk chords, accompanied by a thundering bass cloud. Is it really modesty we are witnessing?
But do the modesty, the megalomania and the heavy synthesizer-bass sounds not irritate?
They have a spatial clarity, there to irritate, but not. Should the estranged background voices be a message? No, not primarily. It’s modesty that takes centre stage supported by a straight bass drum and backed by insane jazz lines. This has got to be megalomania. But no, its roots lie in modesty. Although the deep keyboard chords are yet again tell tale signs of megalomania, an obvious sign of modest megalomania. Do megalomania and modesty not irritate one another? The answer is no, they keep each other in balance. The heavy bass drum in-between the hectic keyboard solos and the dreamy clouds of sound accompanying them represent both modesty and megalomania. So here we go again. Dorian Concept creates music. Dorian Concept is a modest megalomaniac.
Dorian Concept latest album is the ‘Twice Upon Two Times’ released on the 15th of December contains deep and heavy bass sounds paired with an itching synthline and confused funk chords backed by insane jazz lines.
Robert Mitchell 3io
Pianist Robert Mitchell accompanied by drummer Richard Spaven and bassist Tom Mason combine to make the Robert Mitchell 3io who play freeform jazz mixed with electronic and rock music. Robert Mitchell is an award winning pianist, composer, arranger, and teacher with major projects including Panacea (4-6piece song band), his duo with violinist Omar Puente, and over the last few years the Robert Mitchell 3io honed from the rhythm section of Panacea.
In October the 3io released their debut album THE GREATER GOOD (Jazz Services/33 Records) to rave reviews. The album features music from all the members of the band, as well as arrangements of tunes by Galt Medermot, Massive Attack and Wayne Shorter. The trio have just completed a cover version of the 4Hero song ‘3rd Stream’ scheduled for release on a 4Hero cover album later in the new year.
‘The piano trio maybe one of the more over-subscribed formats in jazz right now, but Mitchell proves he’s one of its most original voices.’ (Jazzwise)
Stacy Epps
A true rare groove vocalist and emcee delivers heavy messages that flow like a summer breeze over hard- hitting beats. Stacy Epps breathes solar winds through Atlanta’s progressive soul scene. In ten years she’s established a globally reaching reputation for sonic excellence in the underground hip hop community. Epps is on a mission to see how far the music can spread through truly independent efforts. The people are the catalyst. You may have heard her as half of the jazzy rap duo Sol Uprising. She also works with some of the underground’s illest scientists: Madlib, MF DOOM, OH NO, Wildchild, J Rawls and Scienz of Life. Her sensually sophisticated singing is only topped when she grabs the mic to rhyme with the precision of Bahamadia, of whom she and femcee Invincible toured Europe with on the Sistas in Rhyme Tour in December, 2006. Following Stacy’s experimental debut solo album “The Awakening” last summer, look out for up coming releases including; Madlib WLIB King of the Wigflip “Way of Life” BBE Diamond D Huge Hefner Chronicles “When Ur Hot”featuring Sadat X Duck Down Jazz Liberators Clin D’Oeuil “U Do”
Quiet Village
After three sought-after singles for the Whatever We Want label-plus remixes for the likes of Gorillaz, François K, Cosmo Vitelli and, um, The Osmonds – Quiet Village step out of the shadows to present their first full-length album, ‘Silent Movie’. Comprised of master crate-digger Joel Martin and rising dance-music star Matt Edwards (aka Radio Slave), and borrowing their name from Martin Denny’s exotica masterpiece, Quiet Village make the old sound new (and vice versa). Influenced by Italian film soundtracks, BBC library music, disco edits, acid rock, vintage soul and easy listening, they smear the unlikeliest elements-bluesy guitar, chamber strings, air-raid sirens, shuffling breakbeats, even flutes and seagull cries-into an hour-long reverie with Vaseline on its lens.
Alice Russell
Music that tugs at the emotions and raises hairs on the back of the neck. You really can’t fake what Miss. Russell’s got! Alice’s lavishly soulful voice is both timeless and up to the minute modern. Live or on record, she always performs with her trademark self assurance and sass. Her style is a predominantly bluesy, soul lament but encompasses everything from funk to gospel to jazz and beyond. Her performances captivate the audience and command its attention.
On November 24th, Alice released her best work to date, the new studio album ‘Pot Of Gold’, a rare, bold and adventurous undertaking. This is also the first release on her own Little Poppet label, and is packed with intrigue, wit and style. Enjoy.
