New for 2012 - Spiritual Jazz 2 - Europe

I've been working on this for a while, now it's ready, and the double LP/CD/download will be out in Feb 2012.

 

As the ‘60s progressed, cultural and political revolutions occurred both in the US and in Europe. Jazz was both a victim and a saviour, with radical developments in the music occurring in both continents. In the US, artists took control of their own musical destiny as small labels broke away from the mainstream, expressing new and creative visions of freedom and peace against a backdrop of civil unrest, repression and war. Be sure to check the first volume of this series, Spiritual Jazz (JMANCD.020). In ‘60s Europe the jazz community forged ahead with a different revolution; that of breaking away from mere emulation of their American counterparts. A distinctive, European jazz sound began to develop that combined traditional music from across Europe and around the world with the creative freedom so abundant in American jazz. Over time the most forward-thinking creative talents of the post-Coltrane European jazz generation crafted and nurtured sophisticated and multi-faceted styles of jazz that were as radical as they were beautiful, giving modern jazz a characteristically European flavour.

THE MUSIC
A heady mix indeed; stirring jazz overtures with orchestra and choir, festival performances recorded live from the grassy heartlands of central Europe, modal montages inspired by pilgrimages to Asia and Africa, experiments in rhythm and sound where modern jazz meets traditional Balkan and Flamenco folk music. This is Spiritual Jazz – European style.

We dedicate this album to Michael Garrick, who died shortly before its release. His contribution to UK jazz was profound, and we’re proud to include one of his previously-unreleased tracks.

·All tracks fully licensed and digitally restored from the original master tapes

·Comprehensive liner notes with individual notes on each track with original stories direct from the musicians and artists

·16 page colour CD booklet with in-depth liner notes, album cover scans and previously unpublished photographs

·Most tracks never before reissued – previously only available on rare LP’s that change hands for hundreds of dollars.

·180g double vinyl pressing with thick, glossy double gatefold sleeve and colour inserts

·RARE and FINE music heard only on Jazzman – all because WE DIG DEEPER!

• 1. Erich Kleinschuster- Communion (Austria)
• 2. Albert Mangelsdorff - Varie (Germany)
• 3. Michael Garrick - Temple Dancer (UK, previously unreleased version)
• 4. Raphael - Archangelo (Belgium)
• 5. Barney Wilen - Africa Freakout (France)
• 6. Nicolai Gromin - Corrida (Czechoslovakia)
• 7. Heikki Sarmanto - Duke and Trane (Finland)
• 8. Wroblewski Jazz Quintet - Nana Imboro (Poland)
• 9. Dusko Goykovic - Bosna Calling (Yugoslavia)
• 10. Pedro Iturralde - Las Morillas de Jaen (Spain)
• 11. Hans Dulfer - Candy Clouds Pt 2 (Holland)

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London Metro 14 Nov

Here's a little piece in the London Metro that was published today. Can anyone guess which record it is?

Coming Soon - Tino Contreras CD/dbl LP

TINO CONTRERAS

JMANCD/LP.043

A lifetime of waltz-time exotica, latinesque choral chants and psychedelic modal jazz from Mexico’s best kept musical secret!

INTRODUCTION

Our never-ending mission to reveal the under-appreciated-yet-worthy-of-attention jazz masters around the world has now taken us far away and across the sea to Mexico. Not the first port of call you’d consider if you were looking for hard bop or modal jazz, but here we have found an incredible jazz drummer whose career has spanned over 5 decades, and is still playing to this day. In that time Tino Contreras has produced countless recordings, played on innumerable live dates, and has performed with various jazz groups all around the world. Yet he is still relatively unknown, and probably Mexico’s best kept secret in jazz.

We tell the story of the maverick that is Tino Contreras and showcase his unique and fascinating career with 16 tracks, a 12 page colour CD booklet and a double gatefold LP.

THE MUSIC

During his far-reaching travels over the years, all kinds of weird and wonderful sounds have come to influence the music of the imaginative Mexican jazzman. Hear latinesque ritual chants in Orfeo en los Tambores, insane percussion in the high-tempo jazz-dance favourite What is This Thing Called Love,  avant-garde experimentation with a psychedelic subframe in Orbita, exotic waltz-time jazz in Visnu and religiously-themed chamber jazz with choir in Credo, Santo and Gloria. Not only that, but noted influences from India, Egypt, Turkey and Brasil create a most fascinating jazz album, the likes of which you will most likely never have heard before. We hope you enjoy as much as Tino does:

·         Eclectic recordings made during the course of a lifetime by a very special Mexican jazz drummer during his worldwide travels

·         Never-before-seen pictures, photos and images from Tino Contreras’ personal collection on one CD/double gatefold LP

·         Extensive original liner notes in both English AND Spanish with comments from Tino himself

·         180g vinyl pressing with original art sleeve in gloss

RARE and FINE music heard only on Jazzman – all because WE DIG DEEPER!

Handmade knitted record bags

Now hear this! Kym 'Miss Shingaling' who used to work for us at Jazzman before she returned to her native USA has just started a line in custom handmade 'knitted' record bags. They're made of board and are covered in cosy knitwear. Yes, they actually work and are fully functional. These are a first I think? I've certainly never seen or heard of them before. Although not something I would use personally, unless it was black with a skull and crossbones or something, I think they're pretty cool.

An interview with the widow of Sahib Shihab

Here's a chap who is one of my all-time favourite jazzmen. Nobody else played the flute or baritone like Sahib. Interview

On the Radio with Little Miss Sunshine

The multi-faceted Orsi the Jazzgirl is an enthusiastic and dedicated music lover, and she kindly invited me on her highly respected radio show the other day. She drank all my beer and persuaded me to play some records. Have a look here and listen how it went:

Little Miss Sunshiine #27 feat. Jazzman by Laid Back on Mixcloud