A record that's incredibly hard to pin down – and we mean that in the best way possible – a really explosive blend of jazz elements, contemporary rhythms, and all these other wonderful sounds and styles – a globe's worth of music that somehow was created in just a tiny bedroom studio! There's a richness here that's really uncommon for such a production – a quality that instead makes you feel as if some larger ensemble were working out new musical ideas in collaboration – not just a single artist with an uncanny ear for just the right saxophone elements, keyboard moments, and surprising sonic touches. These aren't "jazz loops" or some sort of silly, facile approach to music – and instead, Vasconcelos Sentimento has all the sophistication and depth to make the record well worthy of inclusion in the mighty catalog of the Far Out label. Titles include "Movimento", "Burkina", "Lucca", "Batebate", "Geraldo", "Quebra Coco", "Atraso Granular", and "Tender Strings". (Brazil, New Grooves) CD

A very groovy idea! This sparkling set takes older vocal jazz tunes from the Verve catalog, and uses the songs as the basis for new tracks by some of the better producers in the global groove underground. The mix of styles and eras is quite compelling – as torchy vocals drift over the top of cutting edge beats – creating a sound that's bound to get you digging through the crates for some of these singers, and reevaluating work from the past like never before! Titles include "Who Needs Forever" by Astrud Gilberto remixed by Thievery Corporation, "Strange Fruit" by Billie Holiday remixed by Tricky, "Hare Krishna" by Tony Scott remixed by King Britt, "See Line Woman" by Nina Simone remixed by Masters At Work, "Return To Paradise" by Shirley Horn remixed by Mark De Clive-Lowe, "Feelin Good" by Nina Simone remixed by Joe Claussell, "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby?" by Dinah Washington remixed by Rae & Christian, and "How Long Has This Been Going On" by Carmen McCrae remixed by MJ Cole. And don't miss the super-low priced Verve Unmixed CD! (Funky Compilations, New Grooves) CD