Some of Blue Note's hippest tracks of recent years get the remix treatment – in a strong set of modern hip-hop meets jazz grooves that are put together by DJ Smash! There's a total of 14 tracks in all – some exclusive to the set, a few others pulled from hard to find 12" singles – and titles include "Hey Jude" by the Bob Belden Project with Jhelisa remixed by Amalgamation of Soundz, "Raise" by Greg Osby with CL Smooth remixed by Ali Shaheed Muhammad, "A Brighter Day" by Ronny Jordan with Mos Def remixed by DJ Spinna, "Whatever Happened to Gus" by Medeski Martin & Wood with Guru remixed by Guru, "Rose Rougue" by St Germain remixed by Blaze, "London Lowdown" by Ronny Jordan remixed by Joe Clausell, "Voodoo Reprise" by Cassandra Wilson with Angelique Kidjo remixed by Joe Claussel, "So Special" by Richard Elliott remixed by Todd Terry, and "Tolon Willie" by Salif Keita remixed by Joe Claussell. CD

A fantastic project, and one whose sound is even better than we can sum up in words – as the core group features players from Berlin, inspired by older African sounds – turning to work from the 70s Mali scene, and teaming up with some of its musical giants – but all in a way that's much more jazz-based than you might expect! The Earkestra clearly borrow a bit of their name from Sun Ra's Arkestra – and they keep a strong jazz legacy intact as they use their horns not just for full charts alongside the rhythms, but also for breakout solos that are more jazz than the usual Afro Funk-styled charts – really adding a lot to the album's guest work from legends who include Abdoulaye Diabate, Salif Keita, Sory Bamba, and Cheick Tidiane Seck. A really great record where the whole is even greater than the sum of its elements – something new and unique, with titles that include "Chie", "Wale", "Kulukutu", "Apolo", "Gambari", and "Badiala Male". CD

A fantastic project, and one whose sound is even better than we can sum up in words – as the core group features players from Berlin, inspired by older African sounds – turning to work from the 70s Mali scene, and teaming up with some of its musical giants – but all in a way that's much more jazz-based than you might expect! The Earkestra clearly borrow a bit of their name from Sun Ra's Arkestra – and they keep a strong jazz legacy intact as they use their horns not just for full charts alongside the rhythms, but also for breakout solos that are more jazz than the usual Afro Funk-styled charts – really adding a lot to the album's guest work from legends who include Abdoulaye Diabate, Salif Keita, Sory Bamba, and Cheick Tidiane Seck. A really great record where the whole is even greater than the sum of its elements – something new and unique, with titles that include "Chie", "Wale", "Super Coulou", "Apolo", "Gambari", and "Badiala Male". LP, Vinyl record album

Music from Djelimady Tounkara, Super Rail Band, Yayi Kanoute, Djelimady & Adama Tounkara, Kandia Kouyate, Lobi Traore, Sibiri Samake, Oumou Sangare, Salif Keita & more. CD