jazz
Premiere: Amine Mesnaoui and Labelle release new visuals for Bleu Noir; watch it here first
Taken from their forthcoming album African Prayers, out April 1st on the Lo Recordings imprint, is the new single Blue Noir from Berlin and Réunion based duo Amine Mesnaoui and Labelle, and we’re delighted to be able to premiere the Stephen Talneau directed video right here on Backseat Mafia today. The LP its taken from …
New Track: Akusmi previews ‘Fleeting Future’, title track from his forthcoming album of intricate minimalism and vibrant electro-acoustic conversations.
London based composer/producer Pascal Bideau aka Akusmi doesn’t do music that simply grows on you. Want proof then tune into those digi-platforms and catch his new track ‘Fleeting Future’ from his soon-come album of the same name. It’s a piece that draws you into a world of sound which flourishes as you listen, from the …
Live Review: Kokoroko / Aziza + Finguz – Sheffield University, Sheffield 25.03.2022
Another great night at Sheffield University’s Foundry; witnessing first: Aziza + Finguz, a talented local three-piece, then Kokoroko the headline act up from London. Warming up the Friday night crowd; Aziza + Finguz played their latest and greatest material, which went down well; a mix of hip/trip-hop with some electronic influence, backed by keyboard, double …
Album Review: Tapani Rinne & Juha Maki-Patola – Open: exquisite jazz electronica that restores and inspires.
Some records arrive that make you wonder if there is much value to writing about music. ‘Open’ by the Finnish ambient jazz partnership of reedist Tapani Rinne and composer/producer Juha Maki-Patola is one of those albums. Elusive, shivering with atmosphere, the immersive soundscape that the pair have crafted elevates listening beyond the incidental and reduces …
Premiere: Simeon Davis Group – Eden
“Eden” from the Simeon Davis Group’s upcoming album, ‘Of Narratives & Nocturnes’. In addition to the music itself, we’re excited to provide exclusive access to the music video premier, should you so desire! Davis comments “‘Eden’, like all the compositions on this album, is completely through-composed, combining jazz, soul, and subtle elements of my heritage …
Album Review: Ilmiliekki Quartet – Ilmiliekki Quartet : Essential atmospheric jazz
Trying to unravel the interconnections and collaborations in jazz is often like code-breaking. Players are likely to be in several groups at a time, they form their own units, perform solo, take a guest spot, record a one-off with new people to keep up that spirit of adventure. The four members of Helsinki’s Ilmiliekki Quartet, …
Premiere: Genre-defying Melbourne instrumental trio The CB3 release the tempting morsel ‘Teacups & Candy ft XANI’ and announce new EP ‘Bunny Hop’.
While described as R&B/Funk/Hip Hop, the sound of Melbourne trio The CB3 is eclectic and difficult to pin down, but their new single ‘Teacups & Candy’ is a pure ray of sunshine. The challenge for instrumental groups as always is being able to convey thoughts and feelings without words, and in ‘Teacups & Candy’, The …
Album review: Black Flower – ‘Magma’: a perfumed souk of North African psych jazz from the Lowlands quintet
THE WORLD of Belgian Eastern jazz outfit Black Flower is a well-woven and beautiful one; the quintet this week unveil their sixth full-length album for Ghent’s rather groove-obsessed Sdban Ultra imprint, with whom they’ve released two of their past three albums this past five years. Through this arch, if you will, to enter their aural …
Album review: Claude Cooper – ‘Myriad Sounds’: taut, essential Bristol jazz breaks and cinematic LSD groove
CLAUDE COOPER: a jazz breaks legend in his own lifetime, should he even exist; for who CC is remains a complete mystery. Certainly to me. Certainly to you. One physical single, early last year, “Tangerine Dreams” / “Two Mile Hill”, the initial orange vinyl pressing of which is, lemme tells ya, already ker-ching and anyhow …
Track: Chiminyo shares new live session video for ‘Reachin’
Today, London-based drummer and composer Chiminyo has shared a stunning new live session video for his track “Reachin’”. The track is taken from his critically acclaimed debut album “I AM PANDA”, which came out in 2020 via London analogue specialists Gearbox Records. The live session for “Reachin’” is the culminative brainchild of the same three creative …