'Inner Peace' by Matt Wilde featuring Natty Reeves

We're approaching a year since Matt Wilde released his debut four-track EP, 'Believe in Things', through the DeepMatter subsidiary label, Root Records.  Through a brilliant collection of tracks, the Manchester-based pianist and composer ushered in an inspired perspective of intricately woven, multi-textured compositions that celebrated hip-hop's influence on contemporary UK jazz.

Far from resting on his laurels however, 'Believe in Things' was very much just the start of an incredible year that has, to date, resulted in a further five single releases which is a staggering achievement.  Wilde's homage to the legendary J Dilla swiftly followed courtesy of the single 'Dilla Impresses Me' which tips the hat to Dilla's own tribute to Ahmad Jamal's 'The Awakening', reimagined as 'Ahmad Impresses Me'.  It was a track that took Wilde, a burgeoning Dilla fan, into the realms of jazz as the wonders of Ahmad Jamal were subsequently treasures now at his disposal.

It's these deeply personal touches that Wilde introduces to his music that make the end-results so endearing.  His continued enthusiasm and commitment to his craft have resulted in some wonderful pieces as exemplified by the subsequent singles 'Beaches Waving', 'Remote Planet' and 'Better Worlds' which have each benefitted from some incredible musical collaborations.

Trombonist Rosie Turton features on 'Dilla Impresses Me' and 'Remote Planet'; drummer with The Mouse Outfit and 8 Gold Rings, Joe Luckin, plays drums on several of Wilde's releases and French duo Kissamilé provide a lush, understated vocal on the single 'Better Worlds'.

Current release, 'Inner Peace', features 'Believe in Things' drummer, Oscar Ogden, and the multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Natty Reeves guesting on guitar for this three-minute wonder which continues Wilde's explorations into the realms of hip-hop inspired jazz compositions.  Reeves' guitar provides a nice new dimension to the single offset beautifully against Wilde's typical elegance on the keys.

With more projects in the works for Matt Wilde this year, his music continues to shine and deliver upon the standard as established through 'Believe in Things'.  As we wish that EP a happy anniversary, we continue to look forward with excitement as Wilde's career continues to thrive.

'Strata Records - The Sound of Detroit' by Jazzanova

'Strata Records - The Sound of Detroit' is the exciting new project which sees Jazzanova afforded free reign over the hallowed recordings of Strata Records.

In Collaboration with London's BBE Records and New York's 180 Proof Records, this project must serve as the glorious pay-off for not just legions of die-hard Strata fans the world over but also for 180 Proof Records founder, Amir Abdullah.  With 180 Proof having secured the rights to reissue Strata releases for more than ten years now, to be involved with the recreation of the eleven tracks presented here must not only serve as an incredible thrill but also an immeasurable challenge when dealing with the weight of expectations from Strata's loyal enthusiasts.

The release of last year's DJ Amir Presents 'Strata Records - The Sound of Detroit' Volume 1 delivered the first taste of the BBE x 180 Proof collaborative projects with DJ Amir invited to hand-pick 23 of his personal classic Strata releases that would serve as a fantastic introduction to the label's revered lineage.

Founded by pianist and composer Kenny Cox - who was keen to present his vision of unhindered jazz music that wouldn't have to compromise its sound - Strata launched in the late-1960s releasing just six albums until its eventual closure in 1975.  Boasting projects by Kenny Cox himself along with Bert Myrick, Lyman Woodard Organization and Maulawi, the label was born from the fledgling pulse of Detroit.  With the city reeling from the assassination of Martin Luther King, civil rights atrocities, the US involvement in the Vietnam War, the city and its inhabitants felt abandoned by their own country.  In many ways, Strata stood for the desire for freedom - both creatively and socially.  These are principles that been attached to the beloved label and its releases for the past 50+ years garnering it something of a cult-like status and the reason that a project like this can be embraced and highly anticipated.

And the decision to have Jazzanova helm the music on this project is no less than inspired.

Jazzanova have long worn the tag as pioneers of the nu- and future-soul genre thanks in large part to their seminal debut album release 'In Between' - released 20 years ago this year.  But the Berlin-based DJ and production collective have seemingly relished the opportunity to redefine expectations with each subsequent full-length release.  The group's sophomore effort, 'Of All The Things' (Verve Records, 2008), saw Jazzanova transition their sound effortlessly to embrace a quintessential soul aesthetic for a project that was no less a classic than its predecessor; In turn, that album led the team to the live studio recording project with vocalist Paul Randolph, 'Funkhaus Studio Sessions' (Sonar Kollektiv, 2012) before unveiling the left-of-centre pop-inspired 'The Pool' in 2018.

Through this series of Strata reimaginings, Jazzanova once again reinvent themselves via this too-good-to-be-true project which sees them achieve another incredible milestone as part of their own continual evolution.  

The term "reimagined" is key here as well.  With the same freedom afforded to the artists in this instance as Strata's original line-up would have been encouraged to embrace with each of their recordings, Jazzanova do stay true to the song's core but still allow the compositions to take on new life as innovative and new concepts are lovingly introduced throughout.  Some of these "new concepts" are excitingly granted even more freedom with the album's companion remix suites including the 'Creative Musicians EP' which sees remixes by German deep house DJ and producer Henrik Schwarz along with Detroit's very own hip-hop and R&B producer Waajeed, and 'Saturday Night Special' featuring remixes by Kai Alcé and DJ Amir & Re.decay.

'Strata Records - The Sound of Detroit' is a towering achievement and a project that will thrill Jazzanova fans while introducing entirely new audiences to the Strata treasure chest.

'JAS 5IVE' by Jas Kayser

'JAS 5IVE' marks the new project release from the immeasurably talented Jas Kayser available through Jazz Re:freshed.

Based between London and Panama City, the comparatively young drummer and composer has quickly developed an incredible career for herself as a session musician, performer and artist in her own right.  A graduate of the Berklee College of Music, under the mentorship of Terri Lyne Carrington no less, Kayser's passions from such a young age have seen her carve an inspired path to the forefront of the UK's foremost talents.

Serving as another in an ever-growing line of stellar Jazz Re:freshed releases, Jas Kayser's entry as part of the label's revered 5ive catalogue marks a fantastic inclusion into a series that continues to demonstrate the label's intimate foreboding of the next wave of jazz superstar.  With past 5ive releases from current luminaries Kaidi Tatham, Nubya Garcia and Richard Spaven, Kayser's selections more than hold their own and masterfully build upon the groundwork as laid out by this project's predecessor.

Unveiled in 2020, 'Unforced Rhythm of Grace' - an EP as imaginatively executed as it was titled - comprised of three versatile tracks that introduce Kayser's own concepts of spirited jazz fusion as much as her affections to the pioneering work of Fela Kuti.  That same playful and experimental approach to her music transitions into the tracks, not just from the current 5ive release, but into all aspects of her ever-growing catalogue of music...

With collaborative and performance credentials steadily growing which thus far has seen Kayser grace stages and studios alongside Alfa Mist, Jorja Smith and a scene-stealing showcase in Lenny Kravitz's 'Low' video, Kayser finds ways to bring her indelible charm and charisma into each of these collaborations.  

Another notable highlight is Kayser's inclusion amongst the line-up for Alex Hitchcock's 'Dream Band' album on the Spanish Fresh Sound New Talent label.  With artists including Cherise Adams-Burnett, Joe Downard, Will Barry, Luisito Quintero and Chris Cheek amongst a host of others, and recorded in London over the course of three days with the band arrangements mixed up for each session, Hitchcock hand-picks a range of fifteen world class artists whose talents each hold personal significance and navigates a project that is built around discussion, trust and open collaboration - a project that undoubtedly elevates Kayser into the broader conversation of everything she brings to the table as an artist in her own right and everything this 5ive project certifies as well.

Kayser's own assembled line-up for 5ive features Joao Caetano (percussion), Daisy George (bass), Jamie Leeming (guitar), Mark Hurrell and Giacomo Smith (sax) and Christos Stylianides (trumpet) who comprise an awesome ensemble for recording sessions that took place at the famed Durham Sound Studios.  Vocalist Ava Joseph guests on one of the project's highlights, and lead single, 'Darkness in the Light', which is swiftly followed by the sublime 'Dream' which navigates a variety of pensive twists and turns over the course of the track's near-six minutes.  Bliss.

There isn't a wasted moment on 'Jas's 5ive'.  The very nature of these five-track only releases means that every track has to count and this project, despite the multitude of successes that have already come before it, is the declaration of Jas Kayser's ascent to centre stage - a phenomenal artist marching to the beat of her own drum.

'The Guide' by Jake Leckie

'The Guide' is the new album release from upright bassist Jake Leckie as he unveils his exciting new trio project through Ropeadope Records.

When considering Leckie's phenomenal catalogue of releases and collaborations, it's incredible to think that this is only the second time the LA resident has assumed centre stage on a project following his debut with 'The Abode' in 2019.  

The highly educated and highly decorated artist is driven by a passion for playing that quite literally knows no bounds - having played amongst ensembles and collectives that run the gamut of contemporary jazz and beyond including having studied chamber and baroque music in Montreal, having played with tango, Latin and salsa bands (Susan Alcorn, The Pacific Mambo Orchestra), gospel ensembles as part of church bands in Baltimore and the Bronx, hip-hop collectives (Baltimore Boom Bap Society), The String Orchestra of Brooklyn... this entire article could simply comprise a lengthy list of names that Jake Leckie has either recorded and performed with, produced for or having served as an invaluable studio resource from engineering and mixing albums for.

It's an incredible resume that makes the prospect of a Jake Leckie project an incredibly exciting concept as there's a multitude of various styles, experiences and approaches available at his disposal.  And 'The Abode' was very much that - a project that presented Leckie helming his own quartet which included Kenny Warren, Nathan Ellman-Bell and Sebastien Ammann as well as further benefitting from a range of guest musicians from string players, saxophonists, vocalists, etc.  It was very much an album that celebrated Leckie's journey up to that point - a musically rich album that incorporated elements of soul, blues and twinges of Latin and neo classical styles throughout.

'The Guide' however was very much a project indicative of the time it was created in.  Released in 2022, the world has become a very different place than it was in 2019 and while this album's predecessor was able to bask in the range of collaborations befitting to those circumstances, 'The Guide' was developed during recording sessions in 2020 when performances were still only restricted to outdoors, with face masks and designated distances between the musicians.  But, just to be clear, 'The Guide' is in no way hindered by these conditions - this is a fantastic album, perhaps one that is even strengthened by the kinship developed between the artists having to record under such unusual and uncertain circumstances.

'The Guide' sees Leckie reimagine his sound from 'The Abode' this time embracing the trio structure and recruiting drummer Elizabeth Goodfellow and guitarist Nadav Peled.  A recording artist in her own right, Goodfellow released her debut album 'Silly Sun' in 2018 and can boast a fascinating career which has seen her in-demand skills recruited for projects alongside artists as varied as Roxette's Per Gessle, Iron & Wine, Madison Cunningham and The Hot Sardines and grace countless stages across the world.  

The inclusion of Nadav Peled amidst the line-up here marks a welcome reunion with Leckie following their Roll$ Roy¢e project (2020) which saw the two, along with drummer Shawn Baltazor, venture into the dusty realms of analog soul.  As the founder, guitarist and band leader for the phenomenal Anbessa Orchestra, Peled's passion project celebrated 60s and 70s Ethiopian styles and compositions with a series of singles and EP releases to their name and a strong reputation as fervent live performers.

The music throughout 'The Guide' is a real testament to Leckie, Goodfellow and Peled - three musicians with vastly different backgrounds, styles and experiences that have come together to create an exquisite record bolstered by songs like the rousing 'The Gatekeeper' and 'Adobe' or the sublime, scene-stealing and somewhat magical 'The Place Between'.

It's a compelling thought, to consider whether this record would exist in this context at all had it not been due to imposed pandemic restrictions.  While quarantine life has certainly led to some life-changing and desolate moments for many, there is still joy to be found in these moments of timeless creativity and art which continue to carry us all through these ongoing uncertain times. 

'Fantàsia' by Jacopo Ferrazza

'Fantàsia' marks the new album release from Italian bassist and composer Jacopo Ferrazza released through the newly-formed Teal Dreamers Factory record label.

Ferrazza has amassed an incredible reputation over the years as a formidable musician and preeminent talent in Italy's thriving jazz scene.  A highly-decorated artist, Ferrazza's skill as an acoustic and electric bass player as well as a skilled pianist has seen him grace stages the world over performing alongside revered names such as Mario Biondi, Logan Richardson and Danilo Blaiotta amongst countless others.  

As a solo artist in his own right, the Jacopo Ferrazza Trio can boast two full-length releases to their name with 'Rebirth' (2017) and 'Theater' (2019) with both releases having found their home on Italy's esteemed C.A.M. Jazz record label - themselves a label geared towards spotlighting some of the leading names in Italian and overseas contemporary jazz talent. 

Recent years, however, have seen Ferrazza embrace opportunities to carve out his own musical path and subsequently embrace the freedom that comes along with doing so.  And Teal Dreamers Factory is as much a part of the story here as the music on 'Fantàsia' itself.  A label established by Ferrazza and artist Sophia Zaccaron during the Covid lockdown, Teal Dreamers Factory was initially designed to serve as an all-encompassing artistic hub - one that would go beyond just music and ultimately embrace and celebrate creativity in a variety of varying contexts.  It's an ambitious approach but one that has potentially already exceeded their own expectations within the label's own comparatively short life span, certainly in light of the music that Ferrazza has already unveiled under its umbrella.  Last year's 'Wood Tales', for example, presented a collection of twelve recordings featuring Ferrazza's double bass compositions for an incredibly bold solo outing; a release in stark contrast to the sheer imagination and scope of 'Fantàsia'...

This time heading up a quintet of fantastic artists and musicians which include some long-term friends and collaborators including drummer Valerio Vantaggio (Jacopo Ferrazza Trio, Andrea Biondi), pianist Enrico Zanisi (Norma Ensemble, David Liebman) and cellist Livia De Romanis (Ennio Morricone, Teho Teardo).  While each of these outstanding contributors is key to the project's overarching sound, vocalist Alessandra Diodati really provides a captivating layer to the compositions - an outstanding vocalist with some wonderful songs to catch via her Soundcloud page as well.

With a narrative concept beautifully captured by Zaccaron for the album's artwork, 'Fantàsia' is very much the type of unhindered and creative musical expression any artist could strive to achieve.  The album's opening title track marks a masterful introduction to the boundless ideas and concepts captured throughout 'Fantàsia' - a haunting and captivating first half of the song, accentuated by Diodati's sublime vocal and the understated interplay between the piano and strings, gently eases you into this inspired new setting before the rules change in an instant making way for this explosion of electronica-inspired free jazz that sets this unpredictable tone for the whole project.  

With compositions and arrangements that are represented as a sequence of nine separate dream-like experiences, the themes throughout 'Fantàsia' focus on life, death, love and time... but its true beauty is the experience it bestows upon each listener affording them their own personal journey and interpretation of what 'Fantàsia' really is.  The album is a remarkable piece of work and may very well serve as Jacopo Ferrazza's masterpiece for some time to come.

Blue-in-Green:PODCAST #107: Chris Bestwick & Kishon Khan of Archie the Goldfish

Welcome to Episode #107 of the Blue-in-Green:PODCAST which this week sees Imran connect with Chris Bestwick and Kishon Khan from Archie the Goldfish.

Headed up by guitarist Bestwick and trumpeter Graeme Flowers, the duo set about this new musical venture during the pandemic lockdown in 2020 resulting in their debut 'Hidden Depths' released through Ropeadope Records that same year.  UK-born but now residing in Helsinki, Chris Bestwick boasts an incredible resume that has seen him perform alongside revered names including James Taylor and Ali Slimani as well as creating music as part of the Finnish collective Timeforsoul, not to mention his releases as a solo artist in his own right.  Bestwick's credentials are matched by his Archie the Goldfish collaborator, Graeme Flowers, who can not only boast serving as a member of the funk & soul band Down to the Bone but also chalking up performances with the Brand New Heavies and Kyle Eastwood among countless more names.

The sublime five-track, instrumental EP presented some inspired compositions that has since paved the way for even more music under "Archie" umbrella.  

Last year's 'Water & Light' EP saw the inclusion of vocalist Nadia Basurto amongst the band's line-up along with the incredibly versatile Kishon Khan on Rhodes and a new label home with the hotbed of global grooves, Funkiwala Records.  As co-founder of Funkiwala along with trombonist Justin Thurgur, Khan is a boundlessly talented musician and composer in his own right having performed with an array of artists and bands as well as having released a slew of projects as founder of Lokkhi Terra.

We hope you enjoy this episode where we discuss the formation of Archie the Goldfish, its brilliant releases to date and the challenges of releasing music in today's streaming-driven market.

Blue-in-Green Sessions · Blue-in-Green:PODCAST_#107_Chris Bestwick & Kishon Khan of Archie the Goldfish

'Wind Rose' by Majamisty TriO

'Wind Rose' is the new album release from the Majamisty TriO who now boast the incredible distinction of unveiling their fourth studio album.

From the captivating imagination of Maja Alvanović, the Serbian collective sees the band leader resume duties as pianist and composer alongside trio members Ervin Malina on double bass and Lav Kovač on drums to typically remarkable effect.  

We've previously marvelled at Majamisty's innate ability to create these beautiful compositions that present the rich elegance of neo-classical pieces while still serving as inspired celebrations of ambient and free jazz.  The masterpiece that was 'Organic' (2020) beautifully captured this presentation resulting in some stunning music like the album's near nine minute centrepiece 'Jungle' and the achingly beautiful highlight in 'Longing'.

'Wind Rose' continues in the tradition of the Majamisty TriO striving to tell a different story with each of their album releases.  'Organic' (2020) presented the trio's back to basics approach to music-making, opting to keep the project guest-free and showcasing the boundless talents and abilities at their own disposal.  'Wind Rose', however, reintroduces the concept of collaboration with some noteworthy contributions from vocalist Aneta George and clarinettist Ulrich Drechsler.  George, whose voice blends beautifully with the trio's arrangements like with the track 'Echoes', likened each track on the album as if undertaking its own journey which subsequently delivers you back to your own "dimension" by the song's conclusion.  There's a poetry in that perception of the album's overall experience and one that is wholly fitting as it serves as a real testament to the album's performers and their phenomenal skill to create pieces of such transcendence.

The album opens with the majestic 'The City of Jewels' which clocks in at nine minutes and is presented in two captivating halves - the first delicately leads listeners into 'Wind Rose' courtesy of Alvanović's exquisite playing while the second half ushers in this inspired energy built upon the interplay between Malina and Kovač.  Aneta George, as mentioned earlier, skilfully embeds her vocal into the comfort of the musicians around her, never trying to outdo them, and creating such harmonious soundscapes as with the album's 'Wind Rose' title track.  And Drechsler on clarinet provides even further enticing layers to the compositions through his at times understated performances. 

Further to Aneta George's comments above regarding the journey nature of the album, she also went on to describe the Majamisty TriO's musical synergy as sounding like the same person playing through three different bodies.  Another astute observation that encapsulates the continual magic of Majamisty TriO releases.