Ernie Hawks The Soul Investigators
Scorpio Man

Two Afro-funk tracks from Pat Kalla, aka the voice of the Voilaaa Sound System. Features a cover of Serge Gainsbourg's 'Requiem pour un Con' on an afro-disco tip!

Another big record from International Anthem. In 2017 at London's Total Refreshment Centre, Chicago's Makaya McCraven teamed up a host of UK jazz talent; Nubya Garcia / Soweto Kinch / Joe Armon-Jones / Kamaal Williams and Theon Cross for what has now become a legendary London jazz session. The next day these tracks where reinterpreted by producers LeFtO / Don Leisure & Earl Jeffers / Ben LaMar Gay / Emma-Jean Thackray / Quiet Dawn and Lexus Blondin. On returning to Chicago, Makaya compiled these works into the 'Where We Come From (Chicago X London Mixtape)'. Makaya McCRAVENWhere We Come From: Chicago x London MixtapeInternational Anthem US

Super Afro Jazz & Afrobeat project ! Justin Thurgur has been at the heart of the UK's World Music scene for over twenty years, primarily through his collaborations with the Afrobeat maestro Dele Sosimi (former keyboardist for both Fela and Femi Kuti) and with the pianist Kishon Khan. Most recently in Khan's projects Lokkhi Terra and the Afrobeat/Cuban crossover, Cubafrobeat.Thurgur has worked with Cuban giants Giraldo Piloto, Changuito and Julito Padron, with the Nigerian drum legend Tony Allen and with Damon Albarn's Africa Express project; which included Cheick Tidiane-Seck and Fatoumata Diawara. He's also worked with the likes of Bukky Leo, Francis Fuster, Pandit Dinesh, Baby Akhtar, Inemo, Tony Kofi, Kodjovi Kush, The Soothsayers, The Levellers and The Selecter.He is perhaps most known as the trombonist from the multi-award winning 'folk' group Bellowhead. Their split in 2016 led to him forming his own band and releasing his debut album as a bandleader, No Confusion.The album features original compositions written by Thurgur in collaboration with double bassist Max De Wardener, piano/rhodes/Hammond organ player Kishon Khan and guitarist Phil Dawson, with band members including the likes of Graeme Flowers on trumpet, James Allsopp on bass clarinet and Oreste Noda on congas.

The SUGARMAN 3What The World Needs NowDaptone USt’s been a full decade since the last Sugarman Three album, and a lot’s happened in that time. Daptone has risen from an upstart label to spearhead an underground funk movement. Its flagship act, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, became a full-fledged success story, and Sugarman Three leader/saxophonist Neil Sugarman’s played with Amy Winehouse, Al Green and Jones’ Dap-Kings. This may account for the more relaxed vibe of What the World Needs Now compared with its 2002 predecessor Pure Cane Sugar. The revival mission’s already been accomplished, so the new disc doesn’t go out of its way to sound like a lost ‘70s funk nugget. The echo-drenched production of the earlier disc is gone, replaced by a no-frills live sound, and when they want some atmosphere, they bring in some friends to clap hands and shout in the background. Drummer Rudy Albin also sticks less tightly to the coiled-up funk backbeats he used to favor; allowing himself to open up and swing.

For fans of Mayfield, Redding et al, this is an unmissable set of rough-edged soul. North Carolina's Lee Fields has had a long career with some dramatic pauses, but the last few years have seen him stronger than ever with LPs on Truth & Soul and now Big Crown Records. "It Rains Love" is his second LP with The Expressions, and it strikes a classic Motown note that sounds utterly timeless in its execution. The production definitely has some of the warmth and grit of Motor City classics from back in the day, but Fields' conviction and power in his delivery sounds bang up to date. For fans of Mayfield, Redding et al, this is an unmissable set of rough-edged soul.

Leoparden dive into the summer with the warm, lovely space anthem “høyt oppe” and the dancing synth-disco groove “Løpebass” on the B side.Vocal: Y. ChangeziDrums: O. GravklevKeys: D. ApalGuitar: J. JelsMastered by Deckdaddy.Recorded at Hausmania for Lyskestrekk Records.