LAST ELECTRO ACOUSTIC SPACE JAZZ & PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE – MILES AWAY CD £11.95 DBL LP £17.95
This Spiritual Jazz set comprises of 11 great tracks full of deep running basslines, expansive percussion and intoxicating melodies. The tracks are tributes or covers to the great Jazz players who were part of the 60s/ 70s consciousness movement within Jazz plus a wonderful cut 'Two Stories For Dwight' (Trible). Picking individual tracks is almost superfluous but try 'The Trane And The Pharoah' and Harry Whitaker's 'Black Renaissance'. For those that enjoyed the recent Build An Ark this is essential.

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VARIOUS ARTISTS – SISTA BOSSA VOL 9 CD £16.95
This excellent series from Irma continues to deliver fine Brazilian and Brazilian influenced tunes that reflect the broad range of styles this Italian label promotes. The opening two tracks are cool crooner type cuts la Mario Biondi; Papik's 'Staying For Good' and 'J J Vianello and The Soul Bullets' 'Cincinnati Kid'. The Shifters' breezy 'Farniente' and Modulos' 'Exploration Bossa Nova' are fine Bossa tinged Jazz. On a more contemporary vibe check Masetro Garafalo's 'Samba E Amor' and the infectious 'Tempo Vai' from Xuxu adds a dance flavour.

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SOUL JAZZ ORCHESTRA – RISING SUN CD £13.95 DBL LP £17.95
Canadian Afrobeat influenced group combine a Fela style feel with soulful grooves underpinned by a glorious horn section. 'Agbara' and 'Negus Negast' are full-on jazzy grooves, whilst the heavier sax led 'Mamaya' has that Fela vibe. The shimmering 'Lotus flower' and aptly titled 'Serenity' show a mellower side the orchestra. 'Consecration' has a Spiritual Jazz feel led by delicate piano/vibes, as does the two parts of 'Rejoice' with its Pharoah Sanders influence. This is SJO's finest work to date showing a maturity and depth in both ensemble playing and improvised solos.

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NILS LANDGREN FUNK UNIT – FUNK FOR LIFE CD £15.95
Trombonist Landgren mixes Fusion with Funk as cuts like 'Funk For Life', the heavier 'Finish What You Started' and the Crusaders tinged 'Kenya Kane' show'. On the mellow tip the subtle undulating groove of 'Suguta Road' flows beautifully. Head nodding grooves like 'Kibera' and 'Matutu' are pleasing Jazz Funk tunes with a slight African tinge. 'Dry slows things down to mid-tempo. This is a consistent selection.

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SOUL 4 INTRODUCING MATTIA CIGALINI - ARRIVING SOON CD £14.95 LP £22.95 (FROM MID MARCH)
Excellent Italian Jazz set that takes its inspiration from 60's Blue Note and cites Cannonball Adderley as a source. The album of three originals and seven re-works is a fine example of contemporary Jazz album. The quintet includes Fabrizio Bosso on trumpet and Andrea Pozza on piano. From the stomping 'Arriving Soon' to 'Destination' with its flowing acoustic bass line. Brilliant covers of 'Bohemia After Dark', Cannonball's catchy 'Sambop' and Victor Feldman's 'New Delhi' keep the Jazz groove running. 'Ciga R Smoke' and the slower 'If You Believe' add a more subtle tone to what is an exceptional album

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FABRIZIO BOSSO NEW PROJECT – BLACK SPIRITS JAPANESE CD £32.95
Fabrizio Bosso is the outstanding trumpeter who plays with Nicola Conte and Mario Biondi. His playing owes much to Freddie Hubbard with touches of 60's Donald Byrd and Lee Morgan for good measure. This album includes several covers like Horace Silver's 'Nutville' and a fine understated take on Dizzy's 'Night In Tunisia'. The smooth Bossa of 'Bossando' is another standout as is Freddie's own classic waltz 'Up Jumped Spring'. This set is the work of a master and is a more straight-ahead 60's Jazz workout than his work at Schema, but is a fine tribute to Freddie Hubbard.

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SUNAGA T EXPERIENCE – JAZZ ET JAZZ JAPANESE CD £31.95
This varied Japanese Jazz CD has some truly outstanding tracks. Spacy tracks like 'Autumn Frost' have a subliminal quality. The sparse 'Lilian Mode' is stunning in its simplicity. 'St Vitus Dance' is re-worked in a frenetic form with female lead vocal, whilst 'Brighter Bossa' is a breezer Brazilian groove. 'On The Corner Where You' has strong Jazz dance feel, and 'A Kite' has a 60's Blue Note vibe with Hubbard like lead trumpet.

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PRINCE SAMPSON – LIVING IN THE MOMENT CD £12.95
UK guitarist Prince Sampson releases this interesting 12 track CD. Mixing many styles such as Smooth Jazz, Soul and Reggae, this is a unique combination. 'Let The Sunshine Through' is a mellow groover with nice female vocal. Noel McKoy adds his vocal talent to the jaunty 'Real Love'. 'Chill In' adds a nice groove and the jazzy groove 'Culture Shock' flirts with Smooth Jazz , 'Sao Paulo' adds a Brazilian tinge to the smooth groove.

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