:n-the-m:x | January 2025

Welcome to our monthly mix series with each episode spotlighting 10 tracks that we were particularly excited about across various shows on Blue-in-Green:RADIO. This month showcases a selection providing a near 40-minute excursion from eclectic R&B, some left-of-centre jazz along with some dance and lush electronica selections to round out the mix.

Music this month comes courtesy of...

'Rebirth' by TC.Kylie x The Hourglass (Legere)

'Road Trip' by Etienne Manchon Trio

'Perfect Strangers' by Lophae

'Mana Mana' by Macha Gharibian

'Madre' by Eki Shola

'1979' by Luna Soul (Legere)

'It's You' by Frankson featuring Sarah Scott (LxL, DxD)

'I Wanna Live Next to the Sea' by Raquel Martins

'Nightfall' by Ben Blackadder

'En Le Frith' by fthmlss (Folded Music)

:n-the-m:x is exclusive to our Mixcloud channel so be sure to check back at the end of every month for future round-ups.

'Weird Life' by Etienne Manchon Trio

'Weird Life' marks the latest release from French ensemble Etienne Manchon Trio who celebrate the distinction of their third full-length album.

With their first album unveiled back in 2019, 'Elastic Borders' established the trio's penchant for a high energy and voracious perspective on contemporary jazz that sought inspiration from Pink Floyd just as much as Wayne Shorter or Ben Wendel.  Very open about wearing their hearts on their sleeves, the Etienne Manchon Trio have become incredibly adept at creating music that showcases their affections for a broad scope of music with each of their releases to date sounding vastly different and unique from each other.

Headed up by pianist Etienne Manchon, the trio is further comprised of double bassist Clément Daldosso and drummer/percussionist Théo Moutou who enthusiastically embrace jazz, rock and classical music aesthetics as part of their inspired soundscapes.

For Manchon, expression through collectives and ensembles that offer him the chance to present various facets of his own fandom and overarching voice are opportunities to be embraced.  Whether that fall under the boundless versatility of The Irrefutable Octopus, the frenetic energy of Yves Rousseau Septet or the more atmospheric and experimental sounds of Congé Spatial, Manchon seems to embrace the continued challenges of releasing new music, which he seems to do at a staggering pace.

With an epic amount of live performances chalked up for last year, 2025 already seems off to an impressive start for Manchon with performances booked for all around France as part of a variety of ensembles including Calico Ensemble, Guillaume Lopez Trio and of course the Etienne Manchon Trio in support of 'Weird Life'.

What a treat it would surely be to see 'Weird Life' brought to scintillating life on a live stage.  As an eleven-track album, Manchon, Daldosso and Moutou navigate a fantastic course interweaving some sublime pieces of music with personality-driven and charismatic compositions generating some brilliant standout moments.  And it's potentially those slightly more unexpected moments that prove the most captivating like the dreamy 'Early Flight' or the understated 70s sonics of 'Road Trip'.

Etienne Manchon is unlikely to sit still for too long before the touring schedule resumes or it's time to hit the studio again but his body of work really does warrant your attention.  As for the Etienne Manchon Trio, 'Weird Life' delivers as a phenomenal album for both long-time listeners of the trio as it does as an introduction for new ears. 

Blue-in-Green:PODCAST #141: Greg Sanders of Lophae

Welcome to Episode #141 of the Blue-in-Green:PODCAST which this week sees Imran connect with Lophae founder, Greg Sanders.

The release of 'Perfect Strangers' marks another in a string of successes for guitarist, composer and producer, Sanders.  Establishing his phenomenal credentials via Teotima's two scintillating full-lengths ('Counting the Ways' and 'Weightless'), Sanders has amassed recent acclaim as a key collaborator for vocalist Juanita Euka, Jonny Wickham and Billy Marrows, amongst a litany of other artists.  His penchant for Latin-infused contemporary jazz has yielded some sensational projects which now include the 'Perfect Strangers' album courtesy of Sanders' new quartet, Lophae.

Pronounced "lo-fi", the collective is further comprised of top-tier collaborators in drummer Ben Brown, bassist Tom Herbert and saxophonist Sam Rapley who breathe sparkling life into 'Perfect Strangers'.  

We're so appreciative of Greg's time for this conversation which sees us delve into the Lophae project, life as an independent artist, past collaborations, the concept of ego and Vipassana Meditation retreats.

For more information about Lophae's 'Perfect Strangers', please feel free to visit the band's Bandcamp page.

Blue-in-Green Sessions · Blue-in-Green:PODCAST_#141_Greg Sanders (of Lophae)

'Prometheus' by Jacopo Ferrazza

Italian bassist and composer Jacopo Ferrazza reassembles his quintet for the release of his new mythology-laden project, 'Prometheus'. 

We have previously marvelled at the acoustic and electric bass player and pianist's exceptional resume to date - a highly-educated, highly-decorated artist and a much sought after collaborator, Ferrazza has recorded and performed with an extensive array of Italian luminaries and performed alongside a variety of colossal names on stages throughout the world.

Across the litany of projects bearing Jacopo Ferrazza's name, it was his 'Fantàsia' album from 2022 that really captured an enthralling dynamic within his music.  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.  'Prometheus' seeks to once again find Ferrazza and his ensemble tap into a similarly-themed exploration of fantastical elements ultimately affording the musicians creative freedoms to explore the music in inspired ways.

In Greek mythology, Prometheus is explained as a Titan who stole fire from the Gods and bestowed it upon man.  Such was Prometheus' affection for mankind that the gift of fire was intended to inspire civility and enlightenment and set man on his way to achieving incredible successes.  Ferrazza and company depict a captivating recounting of the Titan's story and also explore the concept within today's setting - the last few years have presented us all with an inconceivable amount of challenges that have sought to divide us politically, racially and environmentally; a worldwide pandemic ground everyday life to a screeching halt; the continual threat of war looms over us... perhaps Prometheus' love and guidance would be well-served for us all throughout such challenging periods.

Helping Ferrazza explore these very questions are the remarkable artists and musicians that helped breath scintillating life into 'Fantàsia'.  Boasting stunning musical soundscapes courtesy of pianist Enrico Zanisi, cellist Livia De Romanis and drummer Valerio Vantaggio, the canvas is once again set beautifully for Alessandra Diodati to help navigate the project's course with a sublime vocal.

The album's eight compositions help to lay out key milestones within Prometheus' own journey and the story is elegantly told through some fantastic performances and arrangements - from the more spirited pieces like 'The Cave', the frenetic and chaotic energy of the somewhat climatic 'Titan Rises', or the more introspective songs like 'Pillory'.

The final part of the album's multi-faceted presentation comes in the form of some phenomenal cover artwork courtesy of Sophia Zaccaron who also helmed the stunning visuals for 'Fantàsia'.  For the 'Prometheus' artwork, however, Zaccaron wonderfully captures the elements of new life, earth's place in respect to the Gods and even the horrific cycle of torture that befell Prometheus following his betrayal which was certainly not without consequence. 

'Prometheus' once again presents Jacopo Ferrazza and the team with another creative triumph.  A dreamy and abstract perspective on society's woes told through the ingenious lens of Greek mythology that is the type of inspired storytelling we should all now come to expect from Ferrazza.

'Phenomenal Women' by Macha Gharibian

I say,

It’s in the reach of my arms,

The span of my hips,   

The stride of my step,   

The curl of my lips.   

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,   

That’s me.

Legacy is an infinitely powerful thing.  Sometimes a person's actions can be like a pebble tossed into a still lake where we have no real understanding of how far the ripples can spread.

Revered writer, poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou has an incredible body of work to her name but it's the sentiments expressed in her 1978 poem entitled 'Phenomenal Woman' which ultimately brings us to the release of the fourth album by the multi-talented, Macha Gharibian.

As a singer, songwriter and pianist, Gharibian's music has always held a distinctive world view thanks in large part to her Armenian heritage, Parisian upbringing and affections for New York jazz.  With past releases including 'Mars' (2013), 'Trans Extended' (2016) and 'Joy Ascension' (2020), Gharibian seeks to use each project to immerse herself within different narratives affording her the freedom to veer off into a variety of creative and imaginative directions.

Through 'Phenomenal Women' - which Angelou's words serving as chief inspiration - Gharibian seeks to celebrate what it means to be a woman in the 21st century with a sensational release that inspires as much as heralds the paths her predecessors have walked before her.

Backed by an excellent line-up of musicians and contributors throughout, the band's core unit is comprised of bassist Sylvain Ruby and long-time collaborator in drummer Dré Pallemaerts whose contributions to Gharibian releases date as far back to 2016's 'Trans Extended'.  The invitation to collaborate is further extended to vocalists Lea Maria Fries, Linda Oláh and Isabel Sörling which resonates as an affectional and poignant technique when considering the context of 'Phenomenal Women' in its own right - it contributes to the idea of this album's story being bigger than one woman's so allowing a range of female voices to join in with their own form of celebration and expression proves an immeasurably classy move.

The music throughout is everything listeners would have come to expect from Macha Gharibian's releases to date - beautifully performed and elegantly composed with personality and charm exuded within each of the album's thirteen tracks.  Which brings us back to the concept of legacy... in the same way that a person can regard a piece of art and find inspiration from it 46 years after its initial unveiling, it would be fair to say that Macha Gharibian's 'Phenomenal Women' has now started its own ripples and will stand as a treasure in its own right for people to discover.

'Música Para Amansar Fieras' by Javier Rojo

Music - like most art - can very much serve as a monument to a time and place synonymous with its maker; a bridge of sorts to various facets of us as individuals but also as a way to connect with the hearts and minds of those around us.  And it's a connection to those we hold dear, those who have nurtured, inspired, supported, loved... or even hurt us, but connections that ultimately tell invaluable stories of the paths we all walk and the legacy we leave behind.

The release of Javier Rojo's 'Música Para Amansar Fieras' seems to finds its grounding within these very ideals.  For the Guadalajara-born, Basel-based saxophonist, music is very much entrenched as a part of his own being.  Following his studies in his now-home of Switzerland and having achieved a Masters in Performance at the Basel Jazz Campus, Rojo's explorations have seen his passion for the instrument, for performance and collaboration take him to stages across Spain and Europe and now to the hallowed walls of Fresh Sound New Talent.  

Serving as champions to new, innovative and undiscovered artists within jazz from all parts of the world, 'Música Para Amansar Fieras' makes such a worthy contribution to the catalogue of the Spanish label that boasts excellent somewhat recent releases from Mike De Souza, Tom Ollendorff and Jonny Wickham.

Backed by a close-knit ensemble comprised of trumpeter Álvoro Ocón, guitarist Eliott Knuets, pianist Noé Sécula, bassist Joan Codina and drummer Genius Wesley, Rojo's sextet have cultivated a precision in their performance honed over a considerable amount of time on the road around Spain and, as keen improvisers, the exquisite selection of ten compositions that adorn 'Música Para Amansar Fieras' represent the best of the band's spontaneity and ability to play off each other but still striking a masterful balance with Rojo's abilities as a band leader and composer.

And in line with the elegant tapestry of experiences, inspirations and devotion that went into the creation of each of the album's tracks, the respective narrative of each gifts us a beautiful mosaic of styles that see Rojo and company soar over the more spirited numbers like 'Coefusión Monstruosa' and 'Plátanos, Aguacates y Naranjas' while delivering an equally prestigious standard with the more introspective numbers like 'Riba' (which features a very welcome appearance by flautist Fernando Brox) and 'Clemirunas'.

'Música Para Amansar Fieras' is the musical embodiment of wearing one's heart on their sleeve.  At the hands of Javier Rojo, the album delivers as a wonderful introduction to an impassioned artist who has already mastered the art of steeping his music within his own truth and creating with honest and conviction.

'12 Angry Mushrooms' by Bosque Sound Community

Citing their seventh album release for 2024, A.MA Records proudly showcase their final project to round out an already exceptional year of new jazz - the release of '12 Angry Mushrooms' by the Bosque Sound Community.

Headed up by Serbian bassist Milos Bosnic, the Bosque Sound Community has led a compelling musical existence since its initial formation in 2015.  The group's debut affair came in the form of 'Four Noble Truths' noting Bosnic's affections for "classical instrumental jazz-rock" as the ensemble's inspiration for music-making.  It's a description that has proved fitting when assessing Bosnic's contributions throughout his professional career.

Having been awarded a Masters in Music Performance at the Belgrade's Faculty of Music Art, further distinctions include a Higher National Diploma in electric bass and production from the London Centre of Contemporary Music.  The years since have included performance as part of a variety of orchestral, jazz and musical ensembles but his work fronting the Bosque Sound Community has perhaps served as his biggest passion project to date.

With '12 Angry Mushrooms' as the collective's fourth full-length album release, each album has represented both Bosnic and Bosque in a different moment in time with albums that represent an evolution of their sound showcased through an ever-changing line-up of contributors with each go-round.  With arrangements on past albums showcasing quartet and quintet ensembles, 'Shambhala' (2022) presented a whopping thirteen musical contributors that introduced entirely new dimensions to the Bosque aesthetic.

'12 Angry Mushrooms' presents another enthralling inclusion within the ongoing Bosque lineage, this time represented by Stevan Milijanovic (keyboards), Aleksa Milijanovic (drums), Aleksandar Radulovic (percussion), Aleksandar Petkovic (saxophone) and A.MA labelmate, flautist Milena Jancuric.

Across the album's five compositions and 45 minutes, listeners are treated to an incredibly immersive Bosque experience with cited influences ranging from diverse names as Wayne Shorter and Chick Corea.  And the album is certainly indicative of those far-reaching inspirations - from the fifteen-minute opening marvel that is 'San Francisco Waltz' that proves a hard act to follow, but not impossible, thanks to the serene beauty of 'Please One for Goodbye'.  While the former bursts with complex and serpentine-esque arrangements and energy, the latter soars as a beautiful personality-laden ballad with a charm that resonates across the whole album.

'12 Angry Mushrooms' serves as a milestone release within the burgeoning Bosque catalogue and in years to come when even more releases have mounted up, '12 Angry Mushrooms' will certainly be a release that gleams amongst the assembled treasures.

'Da Typical Combo' by Da Typical Combo (Dusty x As Valet)

They started the phenomenal year that Oioji Records had together so it's only right that they end it together.

Working under the guise of Da Typical Combo, DJs and producers Dusty and As Valet present their first official full-length in the form of their self-titled release that works as a captivating ever-evolving soundscape that ebbs and flows over the course of the album's captivating 62 minutes.

As one-third of late-90s DJ trio, Jazz Liberatorz, Dusty's affections for an all-encompassing hip-hop aesthetic has been prevalent across so many of his productions and remixes - from the uplifting bounce of his 'Summer Fruit' remix for As Valet and Seisme to the gloriously abstract 'Hot Props Vibe' for French label Brain Connection to the golden era take on LaNote's 'Weekend' remix.  His has long been a bold and imaginative perspective on hip-hop and production that has found a veritable kindred spirit in As Valet...

With similarly like-minded and eclectic credentials, As Valet projects have run the gamut of contemporary sounds from his early days with the pioneering genre-melding Electric Conversation to his solo releases that showcased his penchant for hip-hop-inspired production to projects that would serve as his spiritual reconnection to his roots in the Caribbean Island of La Martinique - projects that would ultimately pave the way for Oioji Records' very existence.

That ideal has been carried through by Oioji Records through some sensational projects in 2024 featuring the boundless talents of Queen Ci ('Creole Lightening EP vol.1'), Eugene Neighbrs ('Wouj Vè Nwè Dialektics') and Rickysoul The C3PO ('Elektronik Révolisyon Vol. 1: Gwokhouse').  And as mentioned earlier, Oioji's year actually began with Dusty and As Valet's collaborative mixtape 'Cloud Over Frequency' which saw the duo tackle tracks by notable hip-hop luminaries including Mobb Deep and J-Cole compiling a thirteen-track remix project and showcasing their proclivity for dusty, jazz-inspired and golden era production.

But 'Cloud Over Frequency' was just the tip of the iceberg in terms of where the duo would ultimately take their music.  Over the course of the album's mammoth thirty tracks, 'Da Typical Combo' presents a fascinating and immersive musical scope that spotlights Dusty and As Valet at the helm of some incredible pieces that masterfully traverse a compelling array of musical realms including jazz, dub reggae and quintessential soul, lovingly wrapped up within an archetypal hip-hop aesthetic synonymous with both accomplished and visionary artists.  A further special mention goes to the incredible contributions of vocalist and producer LaNote who provides vocals for three of the album's fantastic tracks as well as helming the album's mixing and mastering.

With a long-time friendship and collaborative history between the two, it's wonderful to see the As Valet and Dusty relationship cemented in this fashion and with some luck Oioji Records will continue to prove a thriving playground for the two's collaborations going forward.

'Pauses in Shades' by Maya Belsitzman & Uriel Herman

'Pauses in Shades' marks the new collaborative release from Maya Belsitzman and Uriel Herman released through Ubuntu Music.

It's always inspiring to continually discover new projects that were born of the global pandemic's subsequent quarantine period.  Although much of that time now feels like an age away, its lengthy shadow still looms over many of us in a variety of societal and individual ways so to find these glimmers of beauty in the art around us - a proverbial rose that grew from concrete - proves to be an invaluable gift.

Maya Belsitzman's affections for musical collaboration have led her to a variety of ensemble projects including work with The Israel Jazz Orchestra and Acollective as well a series of duo projects pairing her cello and vocals alongside that of drummer Matan Ephrat and another with guitarist Ninet Tayeb.  

While 'Pauses in Shades' serves as Belsitzman's introduction to Ubuntu, pianist Uriel Herman can celebrate past projects with the label as well as a glittering career that has seen his work established as a soloist and as leader of the Uriel Herman Quartet.

For those familiar with each of these artists' past efforts, the union of Belsitzman and Herman in this duo setting presents enthralling possibilities for the variety of options available to them.  For two artists with such strong affections for the art of improvisation and music that straddles the lines of multiple musical genres from classical elegance to big band jazz arrangements and ensembles to Middle Eastern stylings, 'Pauses in Shades' had limitless possibilities available for its over-arching direction.

And unsurprisingly, the collaboration doesn't disappoint on any level.  With a series of ten compositions that present a beautiful collage of folk-tinged, neo-classical jazz - at times deliciously haunting and at others baroque and intimate.  'Pauses in Shades' genuinely boasts some exquisite compositions that sees each contributor excel in their efforts throughout.  Belsitzman's performance really adds some luxurious textures to the whole project managing to find their best life within the more stirring pieces as much as they do within the more introspective compositions while Herman's performance is met with such charm and personality.

'Pauses in Shades' delivers as a stunning piece of work.  A project that lends itself to rediscovery through repeated listens and an experience you'll relish each time you take it.  It really is a joy!