Wicked tunes hand-picked by the Japanese maestro of the groove – a heady batch of tracks collected by Yukihiro Fukutomi, with a brilliant melding of jazz, soul, and Latin influences! The set compiles 10 tracks from American and European sources – and features many hard-to-find remixes that surfaced briefly on expensive singles, but which have long gone by the wayside – making this collection even more essential to fans of the groove. Fukutomi presents the tracks in their entirety, unmixed – and titles include "Don't Mean A Thing (Incognito mix)" by Space Jazz Dub Men, "I Got Somebody New (original)" by Georg Levin with Clara Hill, "Everything (Yam Who rmx)" by Dwayne Morgan, "Life Rhythms (Raw Deal rmx)" by E Smoove, "Dreams Come True (Afronaught mix for Bugz In The Attic)" by Alison David, "Listen (Just Listen Louie's Master mix)" by Urban Species, "Cosmic Gypsy (Fila Brazilia rmx)" by United Future Organization, "I Just Wanna Say (Domu's Number One Mix)" by Michelle Lawson, and "Cloud 9 (Quenti Harris Shelter mix)" by Donnie. CD

A great little collection that seeks to put the Bristol scene on the map – and to show the kind of inventive jazz the city's been offering up in recent years! The compilers aim to demonstrate that Bristol has as many newly-creative acts as the sort that have been bubbling up in London on labels like Brownswood – and the range of material here really shows a similar way of blending newer ideas and older execution – especially strong in the rhythm department, and with an effortless mixing of acoustic and electric modes. If you've been digging sounds from Comet Is Coming, Nubya Garcia, and Joe Armon-Jones, this set is a great place to take that interest further – on work that includes "Bergson" and "Jabba" by Waldo's Gift, "3.3 Encke Ups" and "Sea Of Apathy & Indifference" by Run Logan Run, "Flump (Ishamel Ensemble rework)" and "Grook" by Snazzback, "Owl" by Lyrebird, and "Bourdain" by Alun Elliott Williams. CD

Music by Don Carlos, Booster, The Black Mighty Orchestra, Sven Van Hees, Marc Moulin, Mo Horizons, Royksopp, Aqua Bassino, Thievery Corporation, and more – 28 tracks total. CD

(Neo Soul, New Grooves) CD

The original version of this groundbreaking bit of funky soul – the first British recording of the Brand New Heavies album, heard here with original vocals by Jay Ella Ruth – who was replaced on the record for the more famous US recording! Ruth's got a jazzier style than N'Dea Davenport, the singer better known with the group – and her work on the set is in keeping more with the rare groove/jazz funk underground from which the group emerged – sweetly singing in a classic 70s style that works perfectly with the combo's excellent instrumentation! The album's all massive all the way through – and cuts include "Dream Come True", "Stay This Way", "Ride in the Sky", and "Gimme One of Those". (Neo Soul, New Grooves) LP, Vinyl record album

An album that came out early in the career of the Brand New Heavies, and one that brings together a whole host of tracks from the early years of the group – rare material that never made it on their albums, and which resonates strongly with the wickedly sharp vibe of their first album! There's plenty of classic jazz funk modes going on here, from the group who helped bring the mode back into favor at the start of the 80s – and the set features vocals on a few tracks from different singers – including Jay Ella Ruth, Linda Muriel, and Jan Kincaid – who expand the sound past the usual N'Dea Davenport groove. Tracks include "Never Stop" (unreleased version), "Country Funkin", "Reality", "Rest Of Me", "Day At The Seaside", "Dream Come True" (1988 version), and "Mother's Tongue". Great stuff, with loads of killer cuts! (Neo Soul, New Grooves) LP, Vinyl record album

Music from Soundscape, Count Basic, Diferenz, Gota, Reminiscence Quartet, Slowly, Reminiscence Quartet, Disjam & Exodus Quartet. CD

Music from Chris Standring, Michael McEvoy, Nigel Wallace-Price, Camelle Hinds, Duncan Millar, Brian Tarquin, Duboniks, and Ollano. CD

One of the more beat-heavy records we've ever heard from keyboardist Joe Armon-Jones – thanks to a range of live drums and programs from Maxwell Owin – a really great partner who helps Joe's music take off in all these new directions! The record's still coming from a jazz perspective, but also has a heavy influence from hip hop and more contemporary genres – especially on the vocal cuts, which feature contributions from Fatima, Rocks Foe, and Lex Amor. Yet there's also some great instrumentalists who join the proceedings too – and the set features guest bass clarinet from Shabaka Hutchings on one cut, and guest harp and flute from Marysia Osu and Yuis. Titles include "Pedal Bike", "Grief", "Ode To Reverbe", "4Seasons", "Don't Tip Me Over", "Do I Keep Going", "Rago's Garage", and "Ikigai". (Jazz, New Grooves) LP, Vinyl record album

Black Nile are certainly rooted in jazz, but maybe just in terms of inspiration – as the music brings together all sorts of sonic bits and sounds of color – live instrumentation, samples, electronics, and contributions from key guests – all with a spirit that's as beautiful and evocative as you might expect from their name! Some cuts have vocals, which are often somewhat in the background – but the main approach is instrumental, with all sorts of ways of pursuing a new direction and tone – in modes that shift nicely from track to track, but make for a whole album that's got this really unified spirit. Titles include "Drive", "Revival", "Tidal Wave", "Duo", "Unheard 2", "Ancient Futurism", "Mystery", and "Jyro". CD

A monumental piece of funk – and a record that came into the world at a time when it seemed like just about everyone had forgotten how to play real funky music! This set's the US version of the first album by London scenesters The Brand New Heavies – and although it came out in the states 2 years after the UK set, it's essentially the same record – just featuring new vocals by singer N'Dea Davenport in place of the original vocalist Jay Ella Ruth. Davenport's vocals transported the group from indie acid jazz obscurity into the US soul charts in a way that nobody ever expected – and the resulting album is a stone classic that's filled with excellent cuts like "Ride In The Sky", "Never Stop", "Dream Come True", and "Stay This Way". Great stuff all around – and one of the few classic soul albums of its generation! (Neo Soul, New Grooves) CD

A stunning record that takes us back to the glory days of cosmic sounds at the start of the century – that moment when new ideas seem to be constantly exploding from the London scene in a flurry of classic records that really enriched our lives! That spirit is recaptured here beautifully under the guidance of producer Mark De Clive-Lowe, whos' working here with an all-star lineup of talents from the glory days – Domu, Paul Randolph, Bembe Segue, Vanessa Freeman, and others – really updating an older broken beat vibe with richer currents of jazz and soul that show just how much all artists have evolved over the years! Titles on this first volume include "Anybody Out There", "Little Did I Know (inst)", "Find The Beauty", "I See You (inst)", "Little Did I Know (Domu's keep bouncin mix)", "Together (inst)", and "Working On it (inst)". LP, Vinyl record album

An amazing full length debut from Democustico – one of the best new Brazilian albums we've heard in years, and a set that easily matches the best work by classic artists on the Far Out label! The pair mix older and modern modes of expression – using lots of post-bossa jazz in their grooves, particularly the soaring modes explored heavily on the Brazilian scene at the end of the 70s – but also topping things off with some wonderful vocals from Gabriela Geluda, who has a spacious, joyous quality that reminds us a lot of Joyce at her best! Other instrumentation includes piano, keyboards, acoustic guitar, and percussion – as well as some light rhythm patterns from Roc Hunter, long a Far Out associate – and one with a great sensitivity for preserving the warm soul of Brazilian music. Titles include "Summer Of Flora", "Grito", "Rejoycing", "O Sonho", "A Sereia", "Vaga-lume", "Nunca Never", and "Pera". (Brazil, New Grooves) CD

An even more amazing record than the previous outing from Petter Eldh and his Koma Saxo ensemble – a set that adds in a bit of vocals from Sofia Jernberg, and really has the group pushing their sound to a whole new level! The music is jazz at the start, but is quickly concerned with all these other sonic possibilities – as Eldh adds in samples and piano next to his own bass, in a lineup that mixes cello, violin, and a range of saxes with some nicely jagged drums – the last of which create rhythms that are unsettling, while the music itself is still tuneful – especially at moments when Kit Downes brings in some piano solos to the work. Titles include "Ostron Accordion", "Kippan Granit", "Koma Rail", "Narhet", "Clos Eko", "Lo Ve Ko Ma", "Croydon Koma", and "Flamman". (Jazz, New Grooves) LP, Vinyl record album

Gerardo Frisina always seems to give us joyful sounds – but this time around, that might be the case more than ever – as the album's overflowing with all sorts of lively rhythms that are peppered with jazz-based instrumentation! Things are less hard-driving than some of Frisina's earlier work – which allows more space for things to seep into the grooves in a really nice way – warm Fender Rhodes, Hammond organ, and sweet solos on saxes, flute, and trumpet! As always, Frisina's the maestro at the helm – working rhythms both acoustic and electric – but there's also a fair bit of guest players who provide the live instrumentation – on tracks that include plenty of Gerardo's own songs, plus takes on tracks by Joao Donato, Waltel Branco, and Yusef Lateef. Titles include "Misterioso", "Hombre", "Naquela Base (new blend)", "On Again (album version)", "Hechizo Magico", "Dansi Na/Mahaba", "Parkview Theme", "Duende", and "Africa (Brazil)". CD

The first-ever full length album from Jazzanova – and an instant classic that's been well worth the wait! For years, the group have turned out some of the most exciting singles and remixes on the international groove scene – and during all that time, they've been secretly storing away new ideas and musical thoughts for this groundbreaking debut album. The set's completely mindblowing – head and shoulders above anything else they've ever done, with a wealth of ideas and styles that we never thought them capable of. Working with a host of guest artists that include Vikter Duplaix, Capital A, Ursula Rucker, Rob Gallagher, Valerie Etienne, Dave Friedman, Doug Hammond, and others, they move far past their simple role as remix producers, and express a bold new vision – a 21st Century blend of jazz, soul, beats, and life that's impossibly hard to describe in a few short sentences. A stunner from the get-go – and shoulder-to-shoulder filled with great tracks! Titles include "No Use", "LOVE & You & I", "Fade Out", "Hanazono", "Mwela Mwela", "Keep Falling", "Cyclic", "Another New Day", "Place In Between", "Soon", "Sub Atlantic", "Glow & Glare", "Takes You Back (dub)", and "Wasted Time". CD

Beautifully dynamic work from drummer Myele Manzanza – an artist we've never heard work in this scope before, and we hope will soon do so again! The album's got Myele at the helm of a great large ensemble – a group who have a strong spiritual sense at the core, but often move in more vibrant rhythms driven by Manzana's work on the drums – not really funky, maybe more in an upbeat modal mode – which allows for great sounds from the rising crest of alto, trumpet, tenor, trombone, and flute in the lineup! Bass is by Ross McHenry, whose sound is a key core part of the record – and Ross also produced, as well – really capturing the right sort of vibe for the entire album. Myele's part of the Adelaide scene, in New Zealand – but we'd put this record right up there with some of the best work coming out of the London jazz world in recent years – with titles that include "Big Deal", "Madrid", "Itaru's Phone Booth", "Family Dynamics", "Ritual", and "A Love Requited". Includes the Japanese-only bonus track "Freedom Of Movement". (Jazz, New Grooves) CD

Warmly funky work from a mighty nice combo – one who really set themselves apart from both more standard jazz and funk combos, in part by adding in a slight current of soul to the way they approach their music! The keyboards are totally great – handled by Joel Sarakula in this fluid way that resonates wonderfully next to the other instrumentation on the record – a shifting array of vibes, guitar, flute, and trumpet – plus drums from co-leader Phil Martin, who also plays bass and percussion as well. Hanna Williams guests on vocals on one track – "Summer Rain", a mighty nice soul number – but the rest of the proceedings are instrumental, and resonate with lots of really wonderful keyboard lines! Titles include "Brasiliance", "Desert Disco Nights", "Scandinavian Railways", "The Sunshine", "Giallo Days", "Firecracker", and "Interstellar Bachelor Pad". (Deep Funk, New Grooves) CD

Warmly funky work from a mighty nice combo – one who really set themselves apart from both more standard jazz and funk combos, in part by adding in a slight current of soul to the way they approach their music! The keyboards are totally great – handled by Joel Sarakula in this fluid way that resonates wonderfully next to the other instrumentation on the record – a shifting array of vibes, guitar, flute, and trumpet – plus drums from co-leader Phil Martin, who also plays bass and percussion as well. Hanna Williams guests on vocals on one track – "Summer Rain", a mighty nice soul number – but the rest of the proceedings are instrumental, and resonate with lots of really wonderful keyboard lines! Titles include "Brasiliance", "Desert Disco Nights", "Scandinavian Railways", "The Sunshine", "Giallo Days", "Firecracker", and "Interstellar Bachelor Pad". (Deep Funk, New Grooves) LP, Vinyl record album

A massive record – and an instant legend the day it was released! Masters At Work host the beautiful meeting of a host legendary artists – Roy Ayers, George Benson, Eddie Palmieri, Tito Puente, Jocelyn Brown, Vince Montana, and others – all united in a magical session that brings Latin firmly back to the dancefloor with the power and majesty of the best 70s recordings! The whole thing's amazing – a fantastic mix of Latin, funk, jazz, and house that's inspired a whole new generation of musicians – and which has still yet to be duplicated years later! Includes the massive remake of "I Am the Blackgold of the Sun", plus "Runaway", "Sweet Tears", and the great cover of Bob James' "Nautilus". CD

A record with a very vintage-styled cover, but a set that's contemporary overall – jazzy work from Daniel Ogren, who plays all the instruments pictured around him on the cover – mixed with some occasional vocals from Anna Ahnlund, plus live drums and keyboards that almost hit a clubby sort of vibe at times! The record's got a sound that's really hard to peg – not really right for our jazz section, or new grooves – but certainly not rock, and not really global – although global elements clearly influence some of the rhythms on the record too. Most tunes have a melody that warms things up out of the darker corners of the rhythms – and titles include "Picasso", "Levi", "Hjalmarsfjorden", "Idag", "April", "Oktober", and "Annalena (album version)". (Jazz, New Grooves) CD

The best album to date from Orange Pekoe – a lovely blend of light rhythms, acoustic instrumentation, and sweet female vocals! The instrumentation here has a more jazz-based sound than before – with lots of light percussion, guitar, and keyboard bits – creating an almost bossa-like sense of intimacy, one that really lets the breezy vocals of Tomoko Nagashima dominate the set. Most of the lyrics are in Japanese, and titles include "Story", "Heavenly Summer", "Cradle", "Songbird", and "Niwaka-ame". (Neo Soul, New Grooves) LP, Vinyl record album