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

The Best of Jef Gilson

A lifetime in jazz from the illustrious French musician, producer, composer, arranger, band leader, sound engineer, music teacher, label-owner, and multi-instrumentalist par excellence!

Our long-awaited 'Best of Jef Gilson' CD/double LP is finally ready! It looks and sounds GORGEOUS! Very pleased with this one. Despite our high standards this is still one of the best things we have done, I'm really happy how the album as a whole has come out. Available on our website very soon!

You get 80 mins of the finest music created over a lifetime, with 5000 words of biographical liner notes in place. They have all been translated into French too for the benefit of our Gallic friends. We've also amassed an amazing selection of hitherto unseen pics, photos and posters. You can see them on this video that Fryer has put together for us. This is the music of JEF GILSON!

Tracklist for LP and CD:

A1 Up to the Light 1:35
A2 Accueil 1:14
A3 Valse Pour Helene 2:30
A4 Blue-Bizz 6:59
A5 Valse a Quatre Temps 3:05
A6 Agnus Dei 2:55
B7 Modalité Pour Mimi 3:49
B8 Three Four One 3:53
B9 Chakan 2:26
B10 Jazz a la Quarte 3:28
B11 Un Pas, Deux Pas, Cent Pas 2:30
B12 Valerie’s Waltz 3:45
C13 Suite Pour San Remo: Ouverture 4:25
C14 Strings for One 5:40
C15 Suite Pour San Remo: Adriano 4:11
C16 Espagnolade 6:33
D17 Chant Inca 4:11
D18 Hommage a Rakotozafy 4:49
D19 The Creator has a Masterplan 11:28


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