If you like urban, electronic soul or world music, here are 10 releases from the last year that are recommended by The True Jazzchild, a Barcelona-based DJ/producer from England.
1. STYLE: World
TITLE: “Bitteschön, Philophon! Vol. 1”
ARTIST: Various
This 10-track album is presented by Philophon, a Berlin-based record label. While living in Ghana, the record label owner, Max Weissenfeldt, met Jimmy Taylor, the son of Ebo Taylor, and the Kologo virtuoso, Guy One, as well as the Frafra Gospel King, Alogte Oho, who adorn this album with their exceptional talent. This is what inspired Weissenfeldt to set up his label and this album is the fruit of said adventures.
2. STYLE: Spiritual Jazz
TITLE: “There Is A Place”
ARTIST: Maisha
The six-piece group, Maisha, led by Jake Long, brings a fresh slant to “Spiritual Jazz” in their debut LP on Brownswood Recordings, a London-based label run by the music ambassador, Gilles Peterson.
3. STYLE: Neo Soul
TITLE: “Travel Light”
ARTIST: Children of Zeus
Another debut LP, this time from Manchester soul/hip-hop dons, Children of Zeus, a.k.a. Tyler Daley and Konny Kon. This 13-track album features artists mainly from their local scene, including Mr. Thing slicing up the tables on two tracks.
4. STYLE: Broken Beat
TITLE: “Chakattic EP”
ARTIST: Bugz In The Attic
London-based Jungle and Broken Beat pioneers, Bugz In The Attic, are back after a 12-year wait with this ultra-limited EP. Released by Coopr8, Chaka Khan’s “I Know You, I Live You” (1981) is given the Bugz In The Attic “broken beat” touch with bruk-up beats, jazzy bass and lush jazz-funk synths.
5. STYLE: House/Eclectic
TITLE: “Knock Knock”
ARTIST: DJ Koze
Knock Knock is the third album by German producer DJ Koze. This is a must-listen with its unique mood and blend of unconventional house, hip hop and folk featuring Roisin Murphy on two tracks.
6. STYLE: Latin Jazz/Salsa
TITLE: “Full Circle”
ARTIST: Eddie Palmieri
This one is for the latin jazz and salsa music lovers. Eddie Palmieri, known as “El Maestro,”is back and this time he re-edits some of his own older, well-known works giving them a fresh new sound.
7. STYLE: Soul/Beats
TITLE: “Wild World”
ARTIST: Space Invadas
Invada Records and Remote Control Records bring us the second LP by Space Invadas. The album has its roots in modern soul but also embraces styles such as hip hop, and other contemporary music.
8. STYLE: Reggae/Dancehall
TITLE: “Dubcatcher 3”
ARTIST: DJ Vadim
For all the reggae fans out there, DJ Vadim (otherwise known as “Daddy Vad”) unleashes his third installment of the “Dubcatcher series.” This time though, Vadim goes to Jamaica bringing us dancehall legends and pairing them with rap, roots reggae and soul.
9. STYLE: Chillout
TITLE: “Life Is Beautiful”
ARTIST: Quart
Quart is the new alias of Glaswegian producer, Vince Watson. After the birth of his daughter in 2016, he was inspired to create “Life Is Beautiful,” a melancholic and cinematic masterpiece influenced by classical, jazz and broken beat.
10. STYLE: U.K. Jazz
TITLE: “We Out Here”
ARTIST: Various
It has been an incredible year for the young U.K. jazz scene, with lots of breathtaking and fresh music by artists such as Ezra Collective, Nubya Garcia, Moses Boyd and Shabaka Hutchings to name a few. This album showcases some of the region’s finest jazz artists in one album — and it’s been assembled by the jazz connoisseurs at Brownswood Recordings, London.
See The True Jazzchild’s full list of more than 100 recommended releases here.
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BEST OF 2018 DJ MIXES:
PART 1 – JAZZ:
https://www.mixcloud.com/TJKid/best-of-2018-part-1-jazz/
Tracklist:
Ezra Collective - Reason In Disguise
Chip Wickham - Rebel No. 23
Kamaal Williams - Broken Theme
Tenderlonious feat. The 22archestra - Red Sky At Night
Joe Armon-Jones - Starting Today
Emma Jean Thackray - Ley Lines
Maisha - Kaa
Makaya McCraven - Suitehaus
Ashley Henry - Easter
Nubya Garcia - Source
Kamasi Washington - Fists Of Fury
Sean Khan - Palmares Fantasy (feat. Hermeto Pascoal)
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PART 2 – FUTURE BEATS, NEO SOUL AND LOUNGE:
https://www.mixcloud.com/TJKid/best-of-2018-part-2-future-beats-neo-soul-and-lounge/
TRACKLIST:
1. Cazal Organizm - Blasian Jawn
2. Children of Zeus - Sling Shot Riddim (feat. Terri Walker)
3. iZem/K.O.G. - Change
4. DJ Vadim - Jah - Only Jah Knows (feat. Ramon)
5. Jazz Spastiks - Drop the Beat Juggle
6. Chaka Khan - Like Sugar
7. Space Invadas - Woman in Charge (feat. Natalie Slade)
8. Space Invadas - Now That I Know
9. Chip Wickham - (Soul) Rebel 23
10. Sola Rosa - Truth ft.Kevin Mark Trail
11. Jonny Drop - The Only Sound
12. Nonames - Passing Time
13. Linkwood - Fresh Gildans
14. Nachtbraker - Just Doing My Thing
15. Zoya Prousline/Sweatson Klank - 4pm
16. Jonny Drop - Moon Food feat. Tamar Osborn
17. The Seshen - All I Know (Rhi mix)
18. Yazz Ahmed - The Lost Pearl (Hector Plimmer remix)
19. PowerDress, Dax On Sax - Can’t Stop the Ride (Netflix & Chill Mix)
20. Wu-lu - Sailor feat Binisa Bonner
21. Infinite Love Experience - Thank You Lord (McBoingBoing B-Boy Breaks Edit)
22. Jazzanova feat. Rachel Sermanni - Rain Makes the River
23. Makaya McCraven - Too Shy (feat. Emma-Jean Thackray)
24. Miraa May - I Don’t Wan´t Ya Did (NameBrandSound remix)
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BANDCAMP: https://thetruejazzchild.bandcamp.com