Too many releases and things to talk about, but here are some of the highlights.

Philip Cohran the multi-instrumentalist is 86. He’s fathered many children, eight of whom are now known as the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble. He’s played in Sun Ra’s Arkestra in the 60′s and has been a leading figure in the Chicago Jazz scene for many moons now. Father and sons collaborate for their first album together, Kelan Philip Cohran & the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, out May 21st via Honest Jon’s Records. Honest Jon’s  have put together a short video to get you acquainted with this remarkable musical and we’re proud to pass it on. Check it out here!

Pre-order Kelan Philip Cohran & the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble via Honest Jon’s.

Also be sure to check out our latest 12″ in the coming weeks. Remixes courtesy of (Bass Alert) Mr Scruff and our man Colm K. This will feature in all good record stores and some rubbish ones aswell!

Just because it’s incredible…Bobby Jackson – Desiree Song.

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All-City Records are on the move again. This time around with the second part of the Sun Ra Views of Saturn series. Composed by Austin Peralta and is a take on Sun Ra’s “Space Loneliness” – backed with the original Sun Ra composition which, far as I can tell, has never been repressed on vinyl before..so one for t’collectors and curious alike..

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New Jazzman HOLY GRAIL!!

Check the press: Every once in a while, a record presents itself so defiant in its refusal of categorisation that it becomes the bane of those poor vinyl archaeologists whose business it is to file and classify. The aptly named ‘The Naked Truth’ is one such artifact; a wayfaring stray of an album that weaves its insouciant magic through the edgelands of sound. The musical provenance is palpable – an electric blend of spiritual jazz, rhythmic black psychedelia and far-out exotica – but where it’s headed remains a mystery, echoing shapes so strange that they fit no musical crevice. This is an album whose grooves are slow and deep, with a languid, balmy, and irresistibly pensive aura. It’s moody: cosmic abstractions ooze from every sweet inflection, lulling arpeggios lose themselves in a haze of forgetfulness.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Stream the full album from here!

For a chance to win a mystery prize check out the following link, and let us know which hip hop track sampled the Eddie Russ song “All But Blind”….First one with the correct answer gets the goods…

Rizm digs into the vaults for a few classics for his April mix…

ChoiceCuts’ Rizm comes correct with another monthly selection thrown together in one take. A few bits and pieces you’ll recognise and a few you mightn’t…

Rizm April 2012 selections by ChoiceCuts

EDAN is known for his unlikely take on hip-hop culture, where traditional rap songs are often skewed by 60’s rock samples, tape echoes, and foreign language choruses (not to mention the off-beat humor and surrealist imagery incorporated via his lyrics).

His most recent release, an audio-visual mega-mix, entitled ‘Echo Party Movie’, was an astounding pastiche of dance, rapp, and punk that utilized everything from turntables to tape echo, glockenspiel to guitar, and moog to kazoo. The heady audio collage was then given to celluloid-splicer-extraordinaire, Tom Fitzgerald, who meticulously set the music to a wild array of found footage (sources ranging from Bollywood & martial arts films to subversive 60′s animation, obscure new wave 8mm & vintage breakdance/graff footage).

Edan’s previous effort, “Beauty And The Beat”, drew worldwide acclaim, most notably for its graceful marriage of hip-hop and rock-based psychedelia. Despite being off the beaten track musically, Edan blends these influences perfectly into something new, with an emphasis on skills and originality. Keeping In line with said emphasis, the man is a top turntabilist and emcee, taking it back to basics yet pushing forward at the same time… On stage, his repertoire includes cutting/looping up records such as Thin Lizzy’s ‘Johnny the Fox’ with one hand while holding the mic with the other and spitting his verse over it in good time, not to mention simultaneously stepping on a delay pedal for the sake of added texture…

As for upcoming projects, Edan is currently working on a few things at once. A rapp EP with emphasis on sonic grit and group/crew culture, a rock EP with Edan singing and playing various instruments, and a psych/soul/break-oriented dee-jay mix are all set to see the light of day within a year’s time…

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Mr. Lif
9 time Boston music Award winner Mr. Lif has toured worldwide and worked with some of the best artists in independent music. From touring with Company Flow and becoming a cornerstone member of the Definitive Jux movement to recording and touring with Thievery Corporation, Lif’s unique voice and style have reached many.

Born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts Lif made a statement with his highly ambitious debut album “I Phantom“. The album received critical acclaim and is widely regarded a conceptual masterpiece. By delivering a product that touches upon the search for a level of fulfillment beyond standard definitions of success, and seamlessly exploring the various pitfalls of our overly complex modernized world, Lif set a high standard for storytelling and voicing the sentiments of the people.

That high standard has been maintained through all his works and is culminating now in a grand venture that will yield a new Mr.Lif album produced by Thievery Corporation.  With a bevy of talented live musicians by his side, Lif seeks to create an epic soundscape upon which he will express his takes on the roller coaster ride that is present day life.

One of the most valuable things about music is it’s ability to make us all feel connected and understood. It is these qualities that Lif infuses into his music with a graceful eloquence that makes him one of the most crucial artists of our time.

“Live From the Plantation” (produced by Edan)

http://youtu.be/7iBlZ-f3jlE

“Unified Tribes” (produced by Thievery Corporation)

http://youtu.be/U1rsPwd8GE8

Lif has also worked with:

The Roots, Josh Carter of Phantogram, STS9, Galactic, Z-Trip, Pretty Lights, Cut Chemist, Aesop Rock, Gift of Gab, DJ Krush, DJ Vadim, Del the Funkee Homosapien, Q Bert, Murs, Shock G of Digital Underground, Guru of Gang Starr, & Jedi Mind Tricks

PATEN LOCKE (AKA DJ Therapy of The Alias Brothers, and The Smile Rays) is no slouch when it comes to djing, rhyming, beat production, and most of all, live performances.  His presence demands your attention on stage. His charisma keeps you captivated and elevated.  After traveling the world as a DJ for The Perceptionist, and again as a lead vocalist/mc with The Smile Rays, Paten Locke released a solo album entitled Super Ramen Rocketship, which received international attention and critical acclaim.  Since his solo debut Paten has also released his first instrumental production CD entitled Knock Em’ Out The Box which received critical acclaim and a spot in XXL’s Chairmans Choice.  Paten has also toured Europe, Ireland, The Netherlands, and parts of America along side Edan The Humble Magnificent.  They have banded together to create a live show with intentions of progressing the art. (Much credit must be given to Edan’s colleague, Dagha.) The current live show is a result of their agreement that stage performance is paramount in the modern age. The duo aim to show what can be achieved through a little bit of extra preparation between like-minded individuals.  In the midst of touring with Edan, Paten has also began working on numerous production projects with Scienz of Life, Dillon, and Ndangered Species, as well as a follow up solo LP.  Paten has also teamed up with Wille Evans Jr to form DUMBTRON, a duo focused on multimedia innovation within hip hop, involving manipulation of videos, turntables, microphones, and other such things combined with a 2012 energy of Run DMC.

Willie Evans Jr.
• As a member of ASAMOV, Willie contributed the bulk of production in addition to rhymes on their debut album “And Now” which received critical acclaim and landed them in URB Magazine’s 2006 “Next 100 artists to watch for”.

• Willie followed this up by working with legendary Boston MCs Mr Lif & Akrobatik (The Perceptionists) producing the title track and several others on the album Black Dialogue (Def Jux). As a result, that year the album went on to be listed as #37 on Rolling Stone Magazine’s “Top 50 Albums of the Year” list.

• Willie then released the album Communication on the Rawkus 50 project and soon after contributed production to Mr. Lif’s most recent release including the title track “I Heard it Today”.

PRESENTLY:
• In 2011 High Water Music (who have previously released projects from Fresh Daily, DJ Spinna, Homeboy Sandman, and more) released “Introducin’”, Willie’s latest project, to critical acclaim.

• The album found its way on to several “Top album/singles of the year” lists including “The Word is Bond” blog, The Florida Times Union, Bloggerhouse, and more.

• XXL Magazine described Willie’s creative energy as “bouyant and tough to resist.” The album also landed Willie in Spin Magazine’s hiphop issue titled “The Changing Face of HipHop”

• The first video from his release was the title track “Introducin’” which feature guest appearances from Sucio Smash (Squeeze Radio), Pharoahe Monche, Jean Grae, Sinnamon Love, and Bossy Delilah.

• Willie is set to release his next single and video in the coming days (Nerd English).

• His live show is a musical performance over the backdrop of video manipulation. Its also extremely fun as Willie tends to enjoy what he does.

• Seeing what he does with video has earned him the title of “one man video chop shop and new art form inventor” from popular website OkayPlayer.com.

• Willie has toured the US and Canada with artists like Mr. Lif, Akrobatik, Edan, Paten Locke, Chali 2na, The Gift of Gab, Roqy Tyraid, Lyrics Born, Grieves & Budo, and Megaran.

Lee was born and raised in the small town of Wilson, North Carolina,one of 4 children. He spent his adolescence years singing in church and listening to R&B Artists such as James Brown, The Temptations,  Eddie Floyd, Otis Redding and the classic sound of 60′s Memphis. He joined a few racial balance groups in the South and began playing college circuits that included East Carolina University, Duke University and Georgia Tech. By the late sixties,  Lee began his singing career, working with bands which would lay the foundation for funk music including Kool and the Gang, Sammy Gordon and the Hip-Huggers, and Little Royal.

Download the new lead single from Faithful Man below (and tell your friends to!!)

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Renowned throughout the global Funk community,  Lee Fields has poured his grunts and screams over a legacy of funk and soul hits from the early seventies, including such 45 rpm classics as She’s a Lovemaker, The Bullis Coming, and The Funky Screw, not to mention his well sought after Let’s Talk It Over LP. This LP draws four digit bids from collectors worldwide. His recordings with the hard funk purists at TRUTH & SOUL, Desco, and Daptone Records in recent years has solidified his place as the King of contemporary funk music as well.

When Truth & Soul started as a record label in 2004, the first mission of label owners Jeff Silverman and Leon Michels, was to record a sweet soul record that would be modeled after the near perfect formula that bands like The Moments, The Delfonics, and The Stylistics had created.  Music that was both tough as nails and sweet as honey.  Music with laced with lush strings and smooth vocal harmonies layered over hard-hitting rhythms.  Michels and Silverman called in a few trusty associates, which included singer Lee Fields, and recorded the single “Do You Love Me” b/w “Honey Dove”.  What happened in the studio was pure magic and thus, The Expressions were born.Fast forward almost two years and The Expressions featuring Lee Fields have successfully created a unique and personal sound that can hold court with the bands they set out to emulate.  However, what was created in the process goes beyond just a carbon copy of a sweet soul music.  The music has developed into a deeply soulful mix of old and new.

The formula stayed the same but the style has been adapted for the ears of people who didn’t grow up on Al Green or Sam Cooke.  Elements of modern music have crept their way into the mix to create something entirely fresh and unique.  The Expressions have surely lived up to the name, each song they make is choked full of raw emotion that permeates deep through your ear hole straight to the soul.

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Absolutely stunning rendition of the title track of his new LP ‘Faithful Man’ taken by Yours Truly at SXSW2012 last month

As you now, we have Lee Fields & The Expressions coming your way this Saturday 7th April…we cannot recommend this guy higher, essential viewing

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“There have been … musically emotional highs in my life; one was when Miles Davis wanted to form a rock band, and he said to me he wanted to have some guys like me in the band, who could play.”

Mandré was a group that Andre Lewis started in 1977 as a continuation of the gospel/soul group “Maxayn” which was named after the lead singer Maxayn Lewis, Andre’s wife. While the Maxayn group had been playing gospel and soul with Maxayn Lewis on lead vocals, the Mandre group was Andre’s project to add electronic elements and also shift the sound toward more spacey funk and disco.

Andre also played keyboards for Frank Zappa, Miles Davis, Buddy Miles, LaBelle, Earth Wind and Fire,  Charles Wilson and the Gap Band, Sly Stone, Bobby Womack, Johnny Guitar Watson and a handful of others.

He was one of the first musicians using multiple signal processors on keyboards; later he was a pioneer in the use of synthesizers on records and worked with the now famous Roger Lynn on developing the first digital drum machines.  He was also one of the first recording artists to work with the Roland TR808 – a true pioneer.

This influential musician sadly passed away in February of this year (2012). Platinum Ray has put this great tribute mix together in honour of Andre Lewis so we tip our hats to him for remembering this far-out and inspired musician.

a tribute to Mandré (Andre Lewis RIP) by Platinum Ray

Sonny Rollins was a humble cat and without question one of the most gifted ones to bless the saxophone. BBC4 broadcasted the below documentary entitled Beyond the Notes a few weeks back, so here’s another chance to watch it if you happened to miss it that night…mind blowing stuff.

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♫♫ R O Y – A Y E R S ♫♫

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This release by Larry Willis, entitled Inner Crisis came out of the woodworks this week and what an absolute gem…Some classic and raw hip hop samples on the below track, if you can guess it which track it is, leave a message below, first one to get it right will receive a mystery prize….

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Here are 2 mixes from Karl Hector (one recent and one old) that include some of most finest modal jazz from each corner of the globe. These mixes are pretty special so check them out at your leisure and enjoy…

Download the Mix : Karl Hector at Paris DJs
Tracklist and More: Karl Hector at Paris DJs.

Download: Karl Hector “Soul Sauvage D’Afrique” on Paris DJs.
More Information/tracklist: Karl Hector on Paris DJs

New Jazzman LP coming soon, this time by Owen Marshall entitled “The Naked Truth” which is another record recommened by one of my favorite re-issue labels. Check the press…”‘Every once in a while, a record presents itself so defiant in its refusal of categorisation that it becomes the bane of those poor vinyl archaeologists whose business it is to file and classify. The aptly named ‘The Naked Truth’ is one such artifact, a wayfaring stray of an album that weaves its insouciant magic through the edgelands of sound. The musical provenance is palpable – an electric blend of spiritual jazz, rhythmic black psychedelia and far-out exotica – but where it’s headed remains a mystery, echoing shapes so strange that they fit no musical crevice. This is an album whose grooves are slow and deep, with a languid, balmy, and irresistibly pensive aura. It’s moody: cosmic abstractions ooze from every sweet inflection, lulling arpeggios lose themselves in a haze of forgetfulness.

‘A great deal of creative energy has gone into the making of this LP. Which somehow illustrates what a very wise one once said, “If you want anything done right, do it yourself” and that is “THE NAKED TRUTH”.’ – Owen Marshall, 1975

The late Owen Marshall and his band run wild over this record, and their experiments with sound are compelling, occasionally bizarre, and chock full of strange paradoxes. So much of what can be heard here is playful, free, imbued with a sense of wonder and pure joy usually ascribed to that most natural genius of the imagination – the child. And yet there is a knowingness at work here – a certain subdued polish tempering these otherwise passionate excursions. The full force of this can be seen in Marshall’s use of instruments, among the saxophone, the synth, the percussion, and the electric piano, you will hear the ‘Hose-a-phone’, the ‘Tube-phone’, ‘Ply-tar’, and ‘Boonet’. These are instruments that Owen built himself – in order, he said, to enable him to ‘tap the very depths of his creative resources…to make music fun to play, and entertaining to listen to’.

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This is a private press album that begs to be public. ‘The Naked Truth’ is an album that wants to be listened to, it wants to be heard and take your hand and lead you far, far away – it wants to wander with you deep into the woods of imagination, just as Owen himself must have done all those years ago.

· All tracks fully licensed and digitally restored from the original master tapes
· Original liner notes written with the assistance of the Marshall family
· BONUS 7” Jazzman single included with the LP
· Extremely rare private press spaced-out spiritual jazz funk LP that changes hands for well over $1000!
· Vinyl LP with bonus JM.089 7” record inside 1000 numbered copies

Yes! Devonwho the L.A based producer returns with a 4 track instrumental 12″ on All-City Records. Sun drenched synths and G funk vibes are the order of the day here. “Strangebrew” and “Sleet” zip along with their low-slung bass and melodic purple keys while on the flip “Cactus” takes the pace down a bit. Slow jamz with a fast feel, these three rolling 4-4 workouts are rounded off with a fresh rework of the title track from fellow West Coast funakateer – Bay Areas B Bravo.

Devonwho – Strangebrew (ACDW12x1) Out Apr 2! by allcitydublin

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