The Stance Brothers - Duktus

Finnish drummer/Producer Teppo "Teddy Rok" Mäkynen returns with his alias The Stance Brothers. Lauded by the likes of Kenny Dope and Gilles Peterson, Mäkynen's studio creation has been visible on the 7" format during the recent years. Now, Mäkynen is back with a full LP, the project's first in more than 10 years. Duktus is a treasure-trove for everyone into crunchy jazz funk à la Bob James & CTI, but this is no retro exercise. Teddy Rok moves forward in all directions, constantly bringing new elements into his sound, which is more layered and deep than ever before. At the same time, the crunch & the breaks are there when you need them.

The basic core of The Stance Brothers is to be solo studio vehicle for Teppo Mäkynen to experiment across a varied instrumentation and musical ideas. After the project's celebrated first album (Ricky-Tick Records, 2007), The Stance Brothers took to the stage as well, creating one of the most beloved live outfits of recent history in the Helsinki scene. Now, after more than 10+ years of time spent in releasing one hard-hitting 7" after the other, The Stance Brothers are back, both on the record and live on stage.

Whereas the Stance 7" sides are often dominated by crunchy drums and crystal clear vibraphone melodies, the new album sounds broadens up into a more synth-heavy, "postmodern" realm, taking its space in a form resembling a mixtape. The funk is there, but Mäkynen is sensitive to the fact that an LP is not a 7", and the ideas take their shape accordingly. Guest voices float in and out of the mix, blending in anonymously, true to the low-key spirit of the studio operation.

Inspiration: Roy Ayers, Mizell Brothers, Bobby Hutcherson, Cesar Mariano, Patrice Rushen, George Duke, Madlib's Mind Fusion Mixtapes. 

Tracklist:
1. Duktus
2. Again
3. King Cesar
4. Sao Paolo
5. Deeper Tones
6. Raw Diamond
7. Further East
8. Futuristic Earth
9. Denny's Beauty
10. Dam Reyes
11. Attraction

Josef Akin - Chimera

The second Josef Akin EP this year, Chimera explores a full-band sound closer to the sound of his debut album, Flightcase. As compared to recent EP Enymore, Chimera explores sound and imagery pertaining to the natural world rather than the digital. The EP tells a story of someone slowly discovering their role in the universe and understanding themselves.

Tracklist:
1. Moondance
2. Visions of the Night
3. Revisions
4. It's Taken Me This Long

muva of Earth - align with Nature's Intelligence

A spiritual soul inspired by nature, life and her experience living as an Afrikan woman, listening to muva of Earth is like planting your feet in rich warm soil; blending spiritual mantras and conscious lyricism, her music fusing afro-futurism, jazz, classical and more is truly transformative. Today, muva of Earth returns to announce her forthcoming debut project align with Nature’s Intelligence out 15th September via Brownswood Recordings and shares the gorgeous first single “heaven hear me above”. A soft and celestial spell lush with playful keys, delicate sparkling chimes and the harp expertly played by muva, this single explores her deep appreciation of being a unique and divine being. A meditative project centred around vulnerability, healing and an evolved way of thinking, on the forthcoming project across 8-tracks (also known as affirmations and chants) muva of Earth encourages empowerment and self expression.

Born as Davina Adeosun-Bright (Davina, which originates from the word ‘divinity’, Adeosun pronounced A-de-o-shu is yoruba tongue and means ‘Crown of Ọṣun’ which is a dedication to the orisha and goddess of the river, Ọṣun), muva of Earth was raised by Nigerian parents to be strong and independent. Making an impact early in her career, her live experience has already led her to open for Erykah Badu and Pink Siifu , as well as previous headline shows and plays at We Out Here, SuperSonicJazz , Cross The Tracks, XJazz! Festival and more. Previous singles including last year's “High” have garnered support from The Guardian, COLORS, Clash, Loud and Quiet, Hunger, RinseNotion, BBC 6Music, BBC Radio 1, NTS, and more.

Speaking on the single, muva of Earth says:

‘I wrote this song about what it means to be proud of what makes you unique,
A statement to the heavenly realms asking for understanding.
I may have hurt you in the past but I didn’t mean to,
I tried my best with the experience that i have,

Know my intentions are pure and that I am learning.
Love’ 

Tracklist:
1. heaven hear me above
2. no one else has your magik!
3. your intuition is your friend
4. Nserewa
5. Meditation: align with Nature's Intelligence (feat Sirius B)
6. free Soul
7. mermaid under the sun
8. the sun will guide you

Hidden Orchestra - To Dream is to Forget

Since its inception, producer and composer Joe Acheson has carefully developed Hidden Orchestra from a simple initial project concept of ‘an imagined orchestra’ into something that has flourished into a widespan musical universe of its own, that is truly unlike anything else.

After multiple albums with respected independent label Tru Thoughts, continued support from the likes of The Guardian, BBC6Music, FIP, JazzFM, several awards for innovative soundtrack work intertwined with AI and consistent global touring of an energetic and intriguing live show featuring two duelling drummers, their reach and influence has swollen to make them one of the highest regarded names in independent music today and has even led to collaborations beyond the world of music, with The British Library, Kew Gardens and National Trust all enlisting Acheson for unique installation projects. Yet regardless of the current brief in front of him, the initial mission statement to ‘create electronic music with acoustic means’ remains.

Acheson achieves this task with aplomb, conjuring intricate yet expansive worlds of sound, built in collaboration with a select core of talented musicians, combined with Acheson’s bespoke samples, field recordings, and carefully honed composition and arrangement sensibilities. Detail and craftsmanship are at the core of everything he does, even musically directing a diverse array of instrumentalists to capture unique samples of both improvised and scored nature. This ingenious approach really sets his work apart from the crowd and allows Acheson’s artistic vision to come to life exactly as intended.

While new album ‘To Dream is to Forget’ certainly maintains this mission statement, it does also bring about a sea change for the project on a few fronts. Released via Acheson’s own newly formed Lone Figures imprint, the musical direction for the record involved a concerted effort to condense musical themes and ideas into more immediate arrangements, with less utilisation of field recordings than previously released material.

Predominantly sticking to this ethos has indeed meant an average track length reduction throughout, however there is still the same high level of musicality and no shortage of ideas within this rich collection of 10 original tracks.

A familiar cast of contributors return - with long term members Jamie Graham (drums), Tim Lane (drums), and Poppy Ackroyd (violin) all present, alongside newer personnel - Jack McNeill (clarinet) and Rebecca Knight (cello) all helping to realise Acheson’s musical vision.

The album title is taken from a line by Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa - “No one tires of dreaming, because to dream is to forget, and forgetting does not weigh on us, it is a dreamless sleep throughout which we remain awake.”

And this seems an apt calling card for a collection that draws influence from a fantastic and diverse array of places. Musically at any given point you are as likely to hear sounds akin to Max Cooper or Four Tet as you are Stravinsky, Debussy, and Ravel.

With the idea of ‘reimagining’ playing a key role in the creation of the project, this track leans into the overarching concept and nature of dreams reworking everyday experience into new subconscious stories… 

Tracklist:
1. Hammered
2. Little Buddy Move
3. Skylarks
4. Nightfall
5. Scatter
6. Ripple
7. Broken
8. Cage Then Brick
9. Reverse Learning
10. To Dream Is To Forget

Bonobo - Dial 'M' for Monkey (20th Anniversary)

Ninja Tune blows the dust off an early classic with an enhanced reissue of Bonobo’s second LP Dial ‘M’ For Monkey, featuring all new 20th anniversary artwork and sleeve with rotating view mechanism to boot. Dial ‘M’ For Monkey from 2003 folds in jazz, electronica, soul, and folk for a beguiling sonic fusion that begs for deeper listening while setting the stage for a fruitful partnership between label and artist that continues two whole decades later. While Bonobo would go on to make records that leaned further into either outright dance music or vibes first downtempo from here, Dial ‘M’ is the moment that truly broke the project into the indiesphere. There’s still no denying the power of folktronica mini-epics like ‘Change Down’ and ‘Pick Up’.

Tracklist:
1. Noctuary
2. Flutter
3. D Song
4. Change Down
5. Wayward Bob
6. Pick Up
7. Something For Windy
8. Nothing Owed
9. Light Pattern

VA - Tokyo Crossover Night 2023 (Shuya Okino’s Unreleased Tracks)

All songs are previously unreleased! Compilation release in conjunction with the popular radio program "TOKYO CROSSOVER RADIO". The latest collection of original, re-edited, cover, and remix works for Shuya Okino's diverse projects. Jazz, house, disco, R&B, boogie, and broken beats are all covered to color the Tokyo nights!

Tracklist:
1. Kyoto Jazz Massive – The Mask (Aartek Jets remix)
2. Kyoto Jazz Massive – Get It Together (Shuya Okino & ROOT SOUL remix)
3. Kyoto Jazz Sextet – Still In Love (feat. Navasha Daya)
4. Kyoto Jazz Quartet – Transcend Me
5. Echoes Of A New Dawn Orchestra – Substream
6. Kyoto Jazz Massive – This Feeling (Mochi Men remix)
7. Root Soul – Feeling Good (feat. Leon King - Shuya Okino Re-Edit)
8. Miomatic – Step Into Our Life (Shuya Okino re-edit)
9. Shuya Okino – Shine Feat. Diviniti (feat. Diviniti - Root Soul Boogie remix with Soki Kimura)
10. Shuya Okino – The Light (feat. Ruth Koleva)

*Bonus (Kyoto Jazz Massive live in the Brownswood Basement)

Kaidi Tatham - The Only Way

First Word Records is very proud to welcome the return of the inimitable Kaidi Tatham, with his 5th album for us, entitled 'The Only Way'.

Kaidi Tatham is a legendary multi-instrumentalist born in the Midlands and based in Belfast. Established as one of the original creators of the Broken Beat sound, he is a virtuoso on the keys and a true innovator in sound production.

A deeply prolific artist, this is Kaidi's 5th solo album under his own name, following on from 'Don't Rush The Process' (2022), 'An Insight To All Minds' (2021), 'It's A World Before You' (2018), and 'In Search Of Hope' (re-pressed in 2020), all released on First Word, along with several EPs from 2017 onwards.

'The Only Way' is the latest chapter in Kaidi's entirely unique explorations into sound. 11 tracks touching on bruk, funk, jazz, mid-tempo hip hop and hyper-energetic Brazilian flavours, all thrown into a melting pot that's difficult to define, but all containing Kaidi's unmistakable sonic signature. The epic opener 'Reason We're Here' starts the album softly, before switching midway into KT's trademark synth-lead bruk boogie, to set the scene of what's to come. Lead track 'The Only Way' sees the return of Philly MC Uhmeer (Jazzy Jeff's son), his third collab with Kaidi and a timely celebratory track about this thing called Hip Hop, in its 50th year. 'Feels Like I'm On My Own' is a statement within itself, starting off as a jazz-funk jam, before switching to breakneck Brazilian choro, in the only way Kaidi can, with 'It's On' on a similar vein. 'Fricassee' is some heads down dancery business, and there are more guests with Tiran Kayhatu appearing on 'Alien @$^%' and Matt Lord on the super energetic album closer 'Not Suffering'.

Kaidi Tatham continues to grow on his already impressive catalogue, a body of work that falls within the cracks of jazz and dance music, exemplifying modern British black brilliance; uncompromising, innovative, groundbreaking, intricately sophisticated and deeply funky. His fanbase expands on every release and it's no surprise that that fanbase includes a diverse set of peers such as Madlib ("ahead of his time"), Gilles Peterson ("a key part of an entire movement") and K15 ("a limitless source of inspiration") to name just a few of the many influenced by Kaidi's sound.

About Kaidi Tatham....

Over the years, Kaidi Tatham's musical prowess has graced numerous projects, from the likes of DJ Jazzy Jeff, Andrew Ashong, The Herbaliser and longtime accomplice, Dego, in addition to session and remix work for artists such as Mulatu Astatke, Slum Village, Marcos Valle, Amy Winehouse, Soul II Soul, Nubya Garcia, Cody Currie and Leroy Burgess, along with First Word label mates Eric Lau, Children of Zeus, Allysha Joy and Darkhouse Family.

Kaidi is also a revered DJ known for rocking parties globally, whilst his solo catalogue spans tons of EPs and releases for labels such as Dego's 2000 Black, Alex Nut's Eglo Records and Theo Parrish's Sound Signature, along with an array of aliases, including Agent K, Shokazulu, Blakai, Da One Away and Likwid Biskit, the last two with another First Word label-mate, IG Culture (New Sector Movements / LCSM / CoOp Presents), to name but a few. 

Tracklist:
1. Reason We're Here
2. The Most Wanted Puffin (Lukey Dukey)
3. Interlude Criss Ting
4. The Only Way (feat. Uhmeer)
5. Windus Mc'Guntus
6. Confidence With Attitude
7. Feels Like I'm On My Own
8. Fricassee
9. Alien @$^% (feat. Trian Kayhatu)
10. It's On
11. Not Suffering (feat. Matt Lord)

Jazzbois - Higher Dimension Waiting Room

Jazzbois is a jazz-hip-hop fusion trio from Budapest, Hungary. Their debut album "Jazzbois Goes Blunt" had a strong impact on both the jazz and hip-hop scene, creating a unique psychedelic-flavored fusion that shook the bones of jazz masters and beat lovers alike.

As complete newcomers into the scene they were recognized by many key figures in the industry, received support from Joe Kay (Soulection), landed on multiple editorial playlists on Spotify & Apple Music, they got spinned on worldwide.fm and even in the office of the legendary jazz label - Brownswood Records.

Altogether the album gathered 6M+ streams worldwide. Beneath the numbers however, the full Jazzbois experience happens when they play live. Since all of the tracks are the results of pure improvisation, cosmic energies collide every single time they play together. A truly unforgettable musical experience.

This summer they release a fresh new and highly anticipated album titled "Higher Dimension Waiting Room." Pre-orders available now for the 12" Vinyl.

Tracklist:
1. Kalifornia
2. Gomba Slap
3. Mosquitoh
4. When It Hits
5. Deep Juked
6. The Trip Ender
7. Higher Dimension Waiting Room
8. Creator
9. Riders Of Doom
10. Up In The Clouds

*Bonus (Jazzbois - Mosquitoh (2023 Live Session))

Skalpel - This is Skalpel

Tracklist:
1. Escape - Hania Rani Remix
2. Long Distance Call
3. Sculpture
4. Momentum
5. Quicksilver
6. Test Drive
7. Together
8. White Label
9. If Music Was That Easy
10. Shivers
11. Not Too Bad
12. Syntetik
13. Simple
14. Night
15. Wpław - Skalpel Rework
16. Theme from Behind the Curtain
17. Salvadanio
18. Origin
19. Hyperbole
20. High
21. Arrival
22. Drive
23. Siesta
24. Quiz
25. Seaweed
26. Connection
27. Sunset
28. Blow
29. Flying Officer
30. On the Road
31. Sea
32. Distant
33. Voice of Reason
34. Surround
35. Cold Air
36. Tension
37. Countless

elmo, Nico Harris - Liquid Fusion

Elmo and Nico Harris present their first album “Liquid Fusion” which can be described as a ride through space, where we discover different planets in an electronic-jazz universe. Visiting planets of different flavors like jazz fusion, R&B, 80s disco, you name it. The ride starts with an orchestral composition: "Liquid Fusion", then further dives into the fun and high-energy jazz fusion tracks like “Mirage”, “Nylon”, “Savannah” and “Where to Go”. Including a taste of side B with “Nocturn Lights” and the dance track “Freeze”, the mood begins to change to a deeper blend of emotions. First with the interlude “Worlds Apart”, before reaching the album's climax with tracks like “Noir”, “Hypnosis” and “Sounds of Flores”. The journey ends with “Out of the Dark” that sends us off on a cinematic type outro. The album has such a well-rounded story and feels like the soundtrack of an adventure. Combining all the fusion styles in one album to make the listeners feel like they are being taken off world into an incredible universe made out of all these musical genres!

There's a very special 200 edition which counts as the first edition. We thought that for this art a black vinyl will be a perfect match and also have the classic feel that the album has.

Tracklist:
1. Liquid Fusion
2. Mirage
3. Nylon
4. Savannah
5. Nocturn Lights
6. Where to Go
7. Freeze
8. Worlds Apart (Interlude)
9. Noir
10. Hipnosis
11. Sounds of Flores
12. Out of the Dark

Mark de Clive-Lowe, Shigeto, Melanie Charles - Hotel San Claudio

Revered composer, pianist, DJ and two decade-long bridge between jazz, dance and hip-hop, Mark de Clive-Lowe (MdCL), links up with influential drummer/producer/DJ, Shigeto and Brooklyn-based, Haitian-rooted, flautist/songwriter and Verve Records artist - Melanie Charles on Hotel San Claudio, a collaborative LP of spiritual jazz, live deconstructed beats, and a three-track set of Pharoah Sanders reinterpretations.

'Strings' speaks to the group’s love of hip-hop, with Shigeto’s Dilla-esque ‘hanging off the beat’ slap and Melanie Charles’ deft rhymes and MdCL’s sample-chops, whilst 'Kanazawa' references a love of soulful house, with Charles’ 70s disco/fusion-tipping flute solo, leading into a euphoric and climactic club outro. The warrior-themed Bushido, first heard on MdCL’s album Heritage, leans even heavier on 70s jazz fusion as MdCL’s unruly synth impulsions and Donald Byrd-leaning soul-jazz production strides the line between atmospheric and experimental. MFT showcases Charles’ jazz vocals, treated here with big reverbs and delays, affording a vast, celestial quality that stands present throughout Hotel San Claudio.

One musician the group kept circling back to as a major influence was saxophone titan and cosmic sage, Pharoah Sanders. The trio’s absorbing 2-part versioning of Sanders’ 30m-long classic ‘The Creator Has A Master Plan’ as well as his iconic ‘Love Is Everywhere’ become the centrepiece of Hotel San Claudio’s spiritually-focused, reimagined jazz core. 

Tracklist:
1. The Creator Has a Master Plan
2. Strings
3. MFT
4. Bushido
5. Interlude (Contorni)
6. Kanazawa
7. Love Is Everywhere
8. Interlude (Digestivo)
9. The Creator Has a Master Plan Part II

Zo! & Tall Black Guy - Abstractions (Deluxe Edition)

Tracklist:
1. Talkin' To Myself (feat. BeMyFiasco)
2. Sightseeing (feat. Pirahnahead & Diviniti)
3. The Ride (feat. Sy Smith, Black Milk & Elzhi)
4. Blackout
5. I Love The Way (feat. Omar)
6. Hold My Hand (feat. Darien Brockington, Muhsinah & Phonte)
7. Northland (feat. DJ Dez)
8. Connected (feat. Josh Milan)
9. Epilogue

Bonus Tracks:
10. Dem Nights (feat. Phonte)
11. In The Wind (feat. Deborah Bond)
12. Blackout (The Scene Remix)
13. Blackout (Daz-I-Kue Re-Edit)
14. Connected (Terry Hunter Club Mix) (feat. Josh Milan)

Turbojazz - Whateverism

This album has felt like a long time coming, as the first single ‘The Standard’ dropped back in September. But what a way announce it.

This full length collaboration entitled 'Whateverism' is the maker of twenty years in the music business for Turbojazz and is a celebration of his journey into the sonics and genres that have shaped his tastes and formed the trademark sound that he is known for about the globe. It's a kaleidoscopic journey that glides from from one stunning track to another in a highly impression fashion through shades of house, nu-jazz, hip hop, soul and the most modern electronic drifts of deep.

Full to the brim with collaborations. You can find the much acclaimed, LA based MC Dave Giles II, who recently featured on the Honey Dijon track 'Work' and on Beyonce's 'Cosy', You will also come across Detroit's very own and Moodymann's most featured vocalist on the hallowed Mahogani Music - deep house diva Nikki O who gets together with UK house don Sean McCabe on the ridiculously good 'In Love Again', plus Japan's Brisa from the Bastard Jazz family too!

All of this is packaged with some of the most promising talents from Italy, the motherland from which Turbojazz was born and bred. There’s Neapolitan & Srilankese vocalist Sara Vanderwert , who features on ‘You Are Worth It’, and Arya who sings the stunning lyrics on ‘We Lost A Night’ in a duet with Losangelino rapper, Demetrius Rhymes. Not forgetting Tommy’s long-time close collaborator from their trio Jaxx Madicine, Veezo, who is in charge of the brilliant key work and scintillating synths on most of the album.

Enjoy this highly impressive and unpredictable journey into the illusive world of Turbojazz. If the world did not know his name before, it will be standing up and knowing his name now. Oh yes! 

Tracklist:
1. The Standard
2. You Are Worth It (feat. Sara Vanderwert)
3. Constellated Ceiling
4. We Lost A Night (feat. Arya & Demetrius Rhymes)
5. Free Jaxx (feat. Brisa)
6. Stay Balanced (feat. Dave Giles II)
7. Illudion
8. In Love Again (feat. Nikki O & Sean McCabe)
9. Novalude
10. Live At Apollo

Jazzanova - Face at My Window (Kyoto Jazz Massive Remixes) / Beyond the Dream (musclecars' Reimaginations)

Taken from the album ‘Strata Records – The Sound of Detroit – Reimagined by Jazzanova’, BBE Music, DJ Amir and 180 Proof records present the 3rd single from this monumental project.

This release features remixes by Japanese Club Jazz pioneers Kyoto Jazz Massive, and Genre Blending New Yorkers, musclecars.

Kyoto Jazz Massive were enlisted to remix the Jazzanova reimagining of Sam Sanders’s iconic song Face at my Window. Their mix adds an intimate Jazz Club feel to vocalist Sean Haefeli’s recording, which highlights the dynamics of Sean’s voice. The subtle tempo increase maintains the feel of the original and adds a punch to the brass section, making the track an entirely new experience.

musclecars add that traditional New York / Chicago House vibe to Jazzanova’s reimagining of Kenny Cox’s ‘Beyond the dream’, and the result is a skippy afro/latin dancefloor filler which can go on forever. musclecars demonstrate their genre blending superpowers on this mix which adds a garage swing to a jazz record, definitely going to be a jam for the dancefloors in 2023.

Both remixes showcase the importance of DJ Amir's unearthing of these strata gems, and Jazzanova’s reimagining, how they have breathed new life into one of Detroit’s hidden gems - Strata Records. They will definitely on board new audiences to the treasure trove that is Strata, and the iconic stories surrounding the often overlooked record label.

Tracklist:
1. Face at My Window (Kyoto Jazz Massive Remix)
2. Face at My Window (Yoshi's Edit)
3. Beyond the Dream (musclecars' Reimagination)
4. Beyond the Dream (musclecars Radio Version)
5. Beyond The Dream (musclecars' Reimagination Instrumental)
6. Beyond the Dream (musclecars’ Dub)
7. Face at My Window
8. Beyond the Dream

Malcolm Strachan - Point Of No Return

Scottish jazz trumpeter Malcolm Strachan releases his second solo album "Point Of No Return" on Haggis Records on 27th January 2023. A follow-up to his debut album "About Time" from March 2020 (also on Haggis Records), which received great critical acclaim and strong radio support across the globe. Once again, Malcolm delivers an album of original music written by himself and featuring material covering a broad spectrum of jazz styles. From modal jazz grooves to Brazilian samba beats, Latin rhythms to cinematic soundtrack vibes, and along the way, some beautiful ballads.

If the first album nodded slightly to mid-late 1960s classic Blue Note Records type jazz, this one is more reminiscent of the jazz fusion albums that Malcolms's jazz trumpet hero Freddie Hubbard recorded for the legendary CTI Records label in the early-mid 1970s. The same groove-based jazz where soul and funk beats are at the heart of the arrangement. Rock solid rhythms that allow complex horn parts and improvisation to float over the top with ease. The ensemble playing is strong and the leader's trumpet solos show why he's been one of the most in-demand session musicians in the UK for the last 20 years.

He's recorded and toured with the likes of Mark Ronson, Amy Winehouse, Corinne Bailey Rae, Jamiroquai, Martha Reeves and The Vandellas, Jess Glynne, The Craig Charles Fantasy Funk Band, Black Honey, The New Mastersounds, Abstract Orchestra and Blue Note Records jazz saxophone legend Lou Donaldson. Of course, he's also a founder and existing band member of the UK funk kings The Haggis Horns.

The core band on "Point Of No Return" are musicians that Malcolm has known and worked with for over two decades, often in The Haggis Horns, and most appeared on the debut album. Those musicians making a welcome return are Atholl Ransome (tenor sax/flute), George Cooper (piano), Danny Barley (trombone), Courtny Tomas, (double bass), and Erroll Rollins (drums). Newcomers this time are longtime Haggis Horns guest percussionist Sam Bell plus special guest vocalist UK jazz singer Jo Harrop, who adds non-verbal Flora Purim style vocals on tracks one and three. Three tracks feature strings, arranged by Phil Steel, with all the strings played by Richard Curran. One of the tracks is the beautifully poignant ballad for strings and trumpet "The Last Goodbye" which could easily have come from a film soundtrack and where Malcolm digs deep into his love for jazz ballads in his solo.

"Point Of No Return" by Malcolm Strachan will definitely appeal to lovers of contemporary acoustic jazz with a classic jazz feel. For those who love the music of Blue Note Records and CTI Records and trumpeters Freddie Hubbard, Donald Byrd, Lee Morgan, Art Farmer, and Miles Davis. Without a doubt, it will be one of the standout UK jazz releases of 2023.

Tracklist:
1. Nossa Dança
2. Soul Trip
3. The Wanderer
4. The Last Goodbye
5. Elaine
6. Cut to the Chase
7. Maybe Next Time

Shijin - Playful

This new release takes the opposite approach to the previous album "Theory Of Everything". Following this very produced record, the group had a furious desire to play... In every sense of the word. "PlayFul", recorded during a series of concerts, is designed and produced for listening on vinyl. The aesthetic is similar to the jazz recordings of the 60s both in terms of the length of the pieces and mixing techniques: the instruments have been placed directly in your living room and will give you the impression of being present at the recording sessions. It’s a record that shows our happiness to play togetheragain. It's « PlayFul »:

Tracklist:
1. Toy Train (Radio Edit)
2. Tin Soldiers (Radio Edit)
3. Mystery of a White Dwarf (Live Version)
4. You Are Here (Live Version)
5. Time Travel (Live Version)
6. Separating Circle (Live Version)