There's a really fresh vibe to this record from trumpeter Theo Croker – a sensibility that recalls older jazz and funk traditions, but which also reaches for something new as well – at a level that really lives up to the experimental promise of the title! The rhythms are deep, but the instrumental lines are often quite free – never outside, but soaring and searching as they're driven on by a mix of acoustic percussion and electric bass – plus sweet Hammond and Fender Rhodes as well! Croker's conception is not unlike the best Blue Note work of late – particularly material from the Robert Glasper side of the universe – and the set features guest work that includes Dee Dee Bridgewater on vocals, Stefon Harris on vibes, and Roy Hargrove on trumpet. Titles include "Save Your Love For Me", "Alapa", "Realize", "It's Not You It's Me", "Bo Masekela", "I Can't Help It", "Roy Allan", and "The Fundamentals". CD

There's a really fresh vibe to this record from trumpeter Theo Croker – a sensibility that recalls older jazz and funk traditions, but which also reaches for something new as well – at a level that really lives up to the experimental promise of the title! The rhythms are deep, but the instrumental lines are often quite free – never outside, but soaring and searching as they're driven on by a mix of acoustic percussion and electric bass – plus sweet Hammond and Fender Rhodes as well! Croker's conception is not unlike the best Blue Note work of late – particularly material from the Robert Glasper side of the universe – and the set features guest work that includes Dee Dee Bridgewater on vocals, Stefon Harris on vibes, and Roy Hargrove on trumpet. Titles include "Save Your Love For Me", "Alapa", "Realize", "It's Not You It's Me", "Bo Masekela", "I Can't Help It", "Roy Allan", and "The Fundamentals". LP, Vinyl record album

Wonderfully righteous work from trumpeter Theo Croker – and a set that's really got the sort of majesty you might expect from the cover! Theo's never been a straight jazz artist on other records – but here, he really ups his game on the cosmic soul front – mixing in guest vocals and instrumental elements with some soul-drenched arrangements that often have a nicely crisp crackle on the rhythms! Croker's trumpet is only part of the album's strength here – as the set also features work from Gary Bartz on alto, plus vocals from Kassa Overall, Iman Omari, Wyclef Jean, and others – on titles that include "Every Part Of Me", "Soul Call Vibrate", "No More Maybe", "Happy Feet", "Where Will You Go", "Anthem", and "Imperishable Star". CD

Maybe the moodiest record we've ever heard from trumpeter Theo Croker – a set that blends together his earthy Afrofuturist experiments with other electric horn-based modes – maybe currents of 70s Miles or Jon Hassell, but served up in much more soul-based territory overall! Many cuts have vocals – from singers who include Jamila Woods, Jill Scott, and Teedra Moses – which are often muted, and folded into the electric mix – so that the lyrics are just one more shimmering texture of sound, amidst the blend of keyboards, organ, alto, and other instrumentation on the set. There's also plenty of guests along the way – including Gary Bartz and Kassa Overall – on titles that include "Jazz Is Dead", "Royal Conversation", "To Be We", "She's Bad", "Humanity", "Divinity", and "Cosmic Intercourse (part 2)". CD

Maybe the moodiest record we've ever heard from trumpeter Theo Croker – a set that blends together his earthy Afrofuturist experiments with other electric horn-based modes – maybe currents of 70s Miles or Jon Hassell, but served up in much more soul-based territory overall! Many cuts have vocals – from singers who include Jamila Woods, Jill Scott, and Teedra Moses – which are often muted, and folded into the electric mix – so that the lyrics are just one more shimmering texture of sound, amidst the blend of keyboards, organ, alto, and other instrumentation on the set. There's also plenty of guests along the way – including Gary Bartz and Kassa Overall – on titles that include "Jazz Is Dead", "Royal Conversation", "To Be We", "She's Bad", "Humanity", "Divinity", and "Cosmic Intercourse (part 2)". LP, Vinyl record album

High Pulp have always been one of those groups that are nicely hard to define – but this time around, they seem to be coming across with a jazzier vibe than ever before – and a new sort of musical sophistication that really has their music falling into place! The Seattle combo's always had a wide ear for influences, and that's really helped them put together the pieces in their music – yet here, they also really seem to be speaking strongly in their own voice too – with a mixture of complex yet compelling rhythms, rich tonal colors, and soaring solos that fill the album with promise and life! The group themselves are already great – and they open the door to guest work from Jaleel Shaw on tenor, Jacob Mann on keyboards, and Theo Croker on trumpet – adding their own shades to the group's rich palette. Titles include "All Roads Lead To Los Angeles", "Ceremony", "A Ring On Each Finger", "Kamishinjo", "Wax Hands", "Blaming Mercury", "You've Got To Pull It Up From The Ground", and "Chemical X". LP, Vinyl record album

A set that's even better than the first album from Str4ta – a great side project from Jean Paul Bluey Maunick of Incognito, and one that takes him back to the British 80s funk world from which he came! Gilles Peterson is Bluey's partner on the project – and he's opened the door to a lot of talents from the underground, both classic and contemporary – in a lineup that features vocals from Valerie Etienne, Omar, and Emma Jean Thackray – and work from trumpeter Theo Croker! Keyboardist Peter Hinds is also great, and has a legacy that goes back on the British scene to work in Light Of The World and Atmosfear, both seminal groups – and titles on the album include "Bad Weather", "To Be As One", "Turn Me Around", "City Sounds", "Lazy Days", "Find Your Heaven", "Night Flight", "Why Must You Fly", "Virgil", and "When You Call Me". CD

A set that's even better than the first album from Str4ta – a great side project from Jean Paul Bluey Maunick of Incognito, and one that takes him back to the British 80s funk world from which he came! Gilles Peterson is Bluey's partner on the project – and he's opened the door to a lot of talents from the underground, both classic and contemporary – in a lineup that features vocals from Valerie Etienne, Omar, and Emma Jean Thackray – and work from trumpeter Theo Croker! Keyboardist Peter Hinds is also great, and has a legacy that goes back on the British scene to work in Light Of The World and Atmosfear, both seminal groups – and titles on the album include "Bad Weather", "To Be As One", "Turn Me Around", "City Sounds", "Lazy Days", "Find Your Heaven", "Night Flight", "Why Must You Fly", "Virgil", and "When You Call Me". LP, Vinyl record album

A set that's even better than the first album from Str4ta – a great side project from Jean Paul Bluey Maunick of Incognito, and one that takes him back to the British 80s funk world from which he came! Gilles Peterson is Bluey's partner on the project – and he's opened the door to a lot of talents from the underground, both classic and contemporary – in a lineup that features vocals from Valerie Etienne, Omar, and Emma Jean Thackray – and work from trumpeter Theo Croker! Keyboardist Peter Hinds is also great, and has a legacy that goes back on the British scene to work in Light Of The World and Atmosfear, both seminal groups – and titles on the album include "Bad Weather", "To Be As One", "Turn Me Around", "City Sounds", "Lazy Days", "Find Your Heaven", "Night Flight", "Why Must You Fly", "Virgil", and "When You Call Me". LP, Vinyl record album

High Pulp have always been one of those groups that are nicely hard to define – but this time around, they seem to be coming across with a jazzier vibe than ever before – and a new sort of musical sophistication that really has their music falling into place! The Seattle combo's always had a wide ear for influences, and that's really helped them put together the pieces in their music – yet here, they also really seem to be speaking strongly in their own voice too – with a mixture of complex yet compelling rhythms, rich tonal colors, and soaring solos that fill the album with promise and life! The group themselves are already great – and they open the door to guest work from Jaleel Shaw on tenor, Jacob Mann on keyboards, and Theo Croker on trumpet – adding their own shades to the group's rich palette. Titles include "All Roads Lead To Los Angeles", "Ceremony", "A Ring On Each Finger", "Kamishinjo", "Wax Hands", "Blaming Mercury", "You've Got To Pull It Up From The Ground", and "Chemical X". CD